Chapter 45: Shui Ruolan, Let's Make a Deal!

The Di family matron sought out Shui Ruolan at the ancestral hall the following day.

Since that incident, Di and Shui Ruolan had not seen each other. Originally, Di could have avoided coming here, leaving Shui Ruolan to stew, so she might humiliate her at a more opportune moment. But now, she had no choice.

“Cousin, have you been well these past days?” Di entered the room, gently covering her mouth with a handkerchief and smiling faintly. After a night of cold compresses, the swelling on her face had nearly faded. With a touch of rouge and powder, there was no trace of yesterday’s slap.

“I’m fine,” Shui Ruolan replied calmly, having prepared herself. Her dark eyes met Di’s, serene as water.

Di eyed Shui Ruolan’s fair, youthful face with a hint of envy. Shui Ruolan, dressed in jade-white garments, looked fresh and young. Her gaze was tranquil, yet there was an air of elegance. Di had always disliked this seemingly refined composure. She thought it improper for a widow to appear so unruffled, as if she were heartless.

Now, recalling Qin Huaiyong’s actions in the study, Di felt a burning anger, as if her heart was being gouged out.

She had orchestrated that event, but somehow it seemed Shui Ruolan had deliberately made her believe she cared nothing for Qin Huaiyong.

“You’ve grown thinner, cousin. What happened that day was the general’s fault. He believes you deserve an explanation. There will always be a place for you in this household,” Di said, secretly clenching her fist before relaxing and sitting down, dabbing her nose with the handkerchief, pretending concern.

The so-called “place in the household” clearly meant taking Shui Ruolan as a concubine, and reluctantly at that.

Di’s mind twisted with malice. What if the general favored her? She would only be a concubine, and Di, as the mistress of the house, had countless ways to deal with a concubine. The old matron herself was in a precarious state; disposing of a concubine was but a word away.

“Madam, I will not be a concubine,” Shui Ruolan set aside the incense in her hand, raising her eyes to Di with an indifferent gaze.

Her words stunned not only Di, but also Zhou Mama, standing behind her.

Di was astonished, her expression darkening. “Cousin, what do you mean by this? Do you expect me to step aside for you?”

“I deserve an explanation. I was quietly in my own courtyard, and such a thing happened—do you think I planned it?” Shui Ruolan’s voice was icy. “Gather all the servants and investigate thoroughly—it shouldn’t be difficult. The prefect’s wife could assist, to avoid suspicion.”

Ask Lady Li to help investigate?

Di’s face turned green with anger. She hadn’t expected Shui Ruolan, usually so delicate, to be so sharp. Her brows knitted, her gaze almost hooked with hostility.

“Shui Ruolan, you’re certainly calculating!” Di gritted her teeth. “Careful not to let your tongue get swept away by the wind!”

“I fear no wind. I fear only being plotted against. I came merely to spend some time with my aunt, never intending to be drawn into this. But since I’ve been dragged in, I refuse to run again!” Shui Ruolan swept her gaze over Di, casually brushing ash from her sleeve.

Di bit her lips hard. She had come to put Shui Ruolan in her place, never expecting such resistance. She pressed her hand to the table, ready to rise. Surely, she thought, she could deal with someone of no status like Shui Ruolan.

Her gaze fell on Shui Ruolan’s sleeve, where the familiar corner of an envelope peeked out. Her heart raced—she recognized that envelope as Qin Yurou’s letter.

She remembered slipping it into the pouch herself.

Suppressing her fury, Di forced a cold laugh, softening her tone. “Shui Ruolan, you are a widow. Do you mean to climb above others?”

Shui Ruolan, unyielding, responded, “If you plot against someone, can you expect to remain secure? Should I reveal everything to my cousin, it’s not hard to guess what he would do.” She flicked her sleeve, making the hidden letter rustle.

She used to call Di “sister-in-law,” but now she addressed her only as “madam.”

Di sneered, her gaze sharp as she stared at the sleeve. Clenching then loosening her fist, she said, “Shui Ruolan, do you think a single letter proves anything? Let’s make a deal.”

If possible, she would never let Qin Huaiyong see that letter.

“Let’s forget about deals. I prefer to be honest with my cousin. I don’t want anything concealed from him,” Shui Ruolan said.

“Don’t push your luck, Shui Ruolan!” Di abruptly stood, her expression cold and voice harsh.

“I am not the one pushing. I only wish to reclaim what is mine. If I’ve been plotted against and trampled on, I will fight for justice, even at the cost of my life,” Shui Ruolan’s voice was cold. She had once had no desires, but that did not mean she was easy prey.

Seeing Shui Ruolan so resolute, Di felt uneasy, yet still tried to bluff. “I don’t know if you were plotted against, but the general certainly was. He always treated you as a relative, keeping you out of kindness. Who knew kindness would breed resentment?”

“Let’s go speak to my cousin,” Shui Ruolan said calmly, turning to leave as soon as Di finished.

“Don’t force me, Shui Ruolan!” Di shouted, waving her hand so several old servants blocked the door.

Shui Ruolan turned, glanced at Di, and gave a slight, contemptuous smile. “Is Madame resorting to force? Surely you don’t think I’m foolish enough to keep a genuine letter on me?”

“You… it’s fake?” The words were squeezed out through Di’s clenched teeth.

“You really think I’m so stupid? After being plotted against once, would I let it happen again?” Shui Ruolan smiled faintly, unruffled.

Her composure unsettled Di, who eyed her suspiciously, gaze lingering on the sleeve.

“You can take this letter. Once you leave, I’ll go to my cousin and ask him to judge the matter. If you forcibly seize it, it only betrays your guilt. When he sees the real letter, he’ll believe me!” Shui Ruolan spoke calmly.

Di nearly toppled backward with rage—was Shui Ruolan baiting her into a confession?

“What do you want?” Di demanded, irritated, her voice trembling. With so many people involved, if the general wanted to investigate, he certainly could.

“I will not be a concubine!” Shui Ruolan’s gaze was cold as she repeated herself. “Until this is resolved, please leave, Madam. In a few days I’ll leave the ancestral hall and care for my aunt. I can’t stay locked in here forever.”

“You…” Even these mild words provoked Di, who clenched her handkerchief, wishing she could tear Shui Ruolan’s face apart. How dare she say such things, using Qin Huaiyong and the old matron against her.

Di had been mistress of the Qin household for years, always wielding power. When had she ever been so stifled?

“Please leave, Madam!” Shui Ruolan took two steps forward, picked up several sticks of incense from beside the censer, lit them, and placed them in the burner, as if indifferent to whether Di stayed or left.

“Go!” Knowing she could do nothing to Shui Ruolan now, Di bit her lip and stalked out.

“Madam, what now?” Zhou Mama hurried after her, anxious.

“I will never agree!” Di said through clenched teeth.

“But… the letter…” Zhou Mama reminded her. The letter Shui Ruolan held would not be easy to explain, even if the handwriting differed from Di’s usual script. “If the general suspects, everything you have said before will be unearthed.”

One lie led to another—Di had hidden much from Qin Huaiyong.

“Under no circumstances can the general believe the letter, or believe Shui Ruolan,” Di said, grinding her teeth.

“Madam, why not find someone to take the blame? Even if Miss Shui tells the general, with someone to shoulder the guilt, he won’t suspect us,” Zhou Mama suggested.

Di’s heart jolted—this was indeed a good idea. “Who should take the blame?”

“The second young lady!” Zhou Mama said, pointing toward Qin Wanru’s courtyard. “If we pin it on her, we can push everything away. Say she framed the eldest miss, wrote that disgusting letter, then tossed it where it would be found.”

It was habitual to let Qin Wanru take the blame. Zhou Mama instinctively shifted the responsibility onto her.

“Will the general suspect?” Di was tempted.

Seeing Di’s interest, Zhou Mama quickly continued, “Of course the general will believe it. The relationship between the eldest and second miss is strained. The second miss learned her birth mother isn’t you, resents you for hiding it, and sought ways to harm the eldest miss.”

Such arguments were Di’s favorites. Zhou Mama, as her confidante, knew precisely what to say.

As expected, Di considered, then nodded, a cold, triumphant gleam in her eyes. “Good. But we can’t direct suspicion ourselves—someone else must do it.”

“Madam, you mean…?” Zhou Mama waved away the other servants, then leaned in and lowered her voice.

“Write another letter,” Di said with a cold smile.

“Miss, Miss, I found a letter—so strange, whose could it be, lying at our courtyard gate? Is it yours?” Qingcui had gone to the kitchen for snacks, and returned with a letter in hand, calling out loudly, causing all the maids and servants in the courtyard to gather and watch.