Chapter Forty-Nine: No sooner has one wave settled than another arises

Qin Huaiyong tossed out these words and left.

Lady Di was stunned, standing motionless in place, her face as pale as snow, watching Qin Huaiyong walk away, unable to utter a single word.

Nanny Zhou hurried in. Seeing Lady Di standing there looking so distraught, she quickly stepped forward and called softly, “Madam!”

That single word snapped Lady Di out of her trance. She reached out, grabbed Nanny Zhou's arm, and burst into tears. “How could he do this? How could he act like this? He actually wants to marry that harlot! Why? She’s nothing but a widow—does she think she can become his wife? I won’t allow it! I won’t!”

As she wept, she cursed fiercely, her face twisted with rage, veins bulging on her neck. Her sharp-nailed hand dug into Nanny Zhou’s flesh, making the old woman blanch with pain. Hastily, Nanny Zhou tried to pry her hand free, urging, “Madam, please, calm yourself. Try to calm down first.”

“What should I do? What should I do? I won’t let that wretch set foot in this household—I want her dead!” Lady Di sobbed uncontrollably. She had never imagined that the usually meek Qin Huaiyong would say such things one day, would suddenly oppose her wishes and insist on marrying Shui Ruolan.

How dare he? Wasn’t she the daughter of the Yongkang Marquis’s household? She had married beneath her station for his sake.

“Madam, please don’t panic. This matter isn’t settled yet. There may still be a way!” Seeing Lady Di’s state, Nanny Zhou quickly grasped her shoulders and shook her gently.

Her words brought a glint of cunning back to Lady Di’s eyes. She seized Nanny Zhou’s hand, as if regaining her senses. “Nanny Zhou, what are we to do? I can’t let that despicable woman enter this house. An equal wife? On what grounds? Even as a concubine, she’s not worthy! A widow, unchaste—she should count herself lucky not to be drowned in a pig cage!”

Lady Di ground her teeth in hatred, her voice low and venomous. She had been too shocked earlier to utter a word in front of Qin Huaiyong.

“The general wants to take Miss Shui as an equal wife?” Nanny Zhou’s face clouded as well; she hadn’t dared eavesdrop just now.

“Yes, that’s what he said. How dare Qin Huaiyong say such things? I am the daughter of the Yongkang Marquis’s household! Marrying him was a blessing bestowed by his ancestors. How dare he treat me this way? Does he not want to return to the capital?” The moment she spoke of it, Lady Di couldn’t contain herself, her eyes filled with venomous hatred.

“Madam, is this because of what happened at Second Miss’s courtyard?” Nanny Zhou ventured, trying to remind Lady Di this wasn’t the time for chaos.

“It’s not just that—certainly not. He must have harbored this intention all along! Now, with that wretch’s incident, it’s all come together. I regret it so much—if only I hadn’t led a drunken Qin Huaiyong to Shui Ruolan’s room, that she-devil wouldn’t have had the chance to exploit the situation.” Lady Di was beside herself with hatred, wishing she could tear Shui Ruolan apart.

“Madam, that’s all in the past. We must think about what to do next.” Nanny Zhou’s tone carried a hint of guilt—she had agreed with the plan to set up Qin Huaiyong and lead him to Shui Ruolan’s chamber. But who could have predicted that Qin Huaiyong would wish to marry Shui Ruolan openly, and that Shui Ruolan herself would agree?

Originally, they thought Shui Ruolan, ashamed and humiliated, would be grateful not to have to retire to a convent. Besides, Qin Huaiyong was supposed to feel guilty toward Lady Di. Even if Shui Ruolan entered the household, she would only be a concubine!

“What do we do next?” Lady Di was utterly at a loss.

“Madam, rest assured. The general cannot arrange this marriage immediately.” Nanny Zhou’s eyes suddenly lit up as she remembered something, and she tried to reassure Lady Di.

“Why not?” Lady Di asked.

“Madam, think about all that’s happened in our household recently. The entire General’s Manor is already tainted by scandal. If, at this moment, the general is rumored to be marrying an equal wife—worse still, a widowed cousin—what will people say? They’ll claim the general is lecherous and lustful! After what happened with the eldest miss, he still has the heart to take a wife? If this is reported to the authorities, it will hurt his prospects as an official.”

Nanny Zhou, once a servant of the Yongkang Marquis’s household, knew a thing or two about officialdom. Reputation was everything; this was a turbulent time for the General’s Manor. For the general to take a wife now would be most inappropriate.

“But... in time, he’ll still insist on marrying her.” Lady Di’s brows drew together, her face ashen.

Before she married, she hadn’t thought much of Qin Huaiyong. After marrying, she lost interest and turned her attention to the household, seizing power where she could. Now, with Qin Huaiyong seeking to take another wife—an equal at that—she simply could not accept it. She was a noblewoman from the capital; how could Shui Ruolan be her equal?

“Time is on our side, Madam. Don’t confront the general head-on for now. We’ll have time to plot. At the very least, we must wait for the scandal surrounding the eldest miss to settle down. With that much time, dealing with Miss Shui won’t be so difficult.” Nanny Zhou lowered her voice, her tone full of cunning.

Her words calmed Lady Di, who nodded hatefully. “Fine, let that wretch enjoy her days of triumph for now.”

“Exactly, Madam. If you oppose the general now, it will only make things worse,” Nanny Zhou hinted. Qin Huaiyong now had evidence of Lady Di’s schemes—not only concerning Shui Ruolan, but also Qin Wanru. Although there was no solid proof, everything pointed to her. Now was not the time to clash head-on with him.

“So what if I defy him? He can’t divorce me!” Lady Di bit back, unconvinced. “I am the daughter of a noble house. If not for... hmph, I’d never have married such a useless man.”

“In the past, perhaps not, but now that the general is enraged, he just might. If word of this got out, Madam, you would not have the upper hand,” Nanny Zhou cautioned, then added in a whisper, “Madam, you must never mention the past again. Not a word—let it all rot in your heart.”

“I won’t speak of it.” Lady Di nodded, sat heavily in her chair, took up a cup of water, and drained it in a few angry gulps before setting it down. “Nanny Zhou, go and help Qin Wanru clear out the servants from her courtyard. No matter whom she objects to, remove them all, so she doesn’t use this matter to provoke the general again.”

Though resentful of Qin Huaiyong’s attitude, Lady Di knew she had to bow her head for the time being.

On one side was Shui Ruolan, on the other Qin Wanru. Compared to the two, it was better to deal with Shui Ruolan first. Qin Wanru was only a child. Without Shui Ruolan stirring the pot, Lady Di believed she could handle her.

“Don’t worry, Madam. I’ll see to it right away and have the broker bring in new girls for Second Miss to choose from. Madam, during this time, it’s best to treat Second Miss well, if only to mollify the general!” Satisfied that Lady Di hadn’t lost her reason, Nanny Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and offered her a reminder.

“I will!” Lady Di gritted her teeth, twisting her handkerchief out of shape. “I’ll pay close attention to that girl’s affairs now—no less than to Yuru’s. But as for that wretch, I won’t let her off so easily.”

“What do you mean, Madam?” Nanny Zhou asked cautiously.

“Isn’t the old lady unwell again? Every year, she likes to visit Tranquility Nunnery for treatment with the abbess. She should be going in the next few days.” Lady Di’s face was dark—she meant to make a move against Shui Ruolan at Tranquility Nunnery.

“You wish to act against Miss Shui there?” Nanny Zhou immediately understood, gesturing toward the direction of the nunnery. Whenever the old lady fell ill, she would go there; this year would be no exception.

“I can’t touch her in the household for now, but if something happens outside, it won’t come back to me. If Shui Ruolan brings disgrace upon herself, she’ll have no one to blame!” Lady Di’s lips curled into a sinister smile.

“You won’t send anyone to Second Miss’s side?” Nanny Zhou hesitated.

“I will, why wouldn’t I? I’m just not acting against that girl for now—it’s not forever! As for choosing maids, let her pick as she likes. Tomorrow, I’ll have Yuru pick a few as well.” Lady Di’s eyes narrowed, the shape turning almost triangular, filled with malice. She happened to have someone she wanted to place beside Qin Wanru, and sending Qin Yuru would only add to the chaos and fan the flames.

“Yes, I’ll see to it at once!”

All the maids and matrons in Qin Wanru’s courtyard were dismissed. The head maid, Qingcui, was sold off to another household. For a maid disloyal to her mistress, even if some other family bought her, she would never again be trusted as a favored maid—she’d be relegated to the lowest ranks, suitable only for menial work.

Jiangzhou was not a large city; news traveled fast. Qingcui’s fate was sealed.

When the broker brought in new servants, Shui Ruolan had just returned from the ancestral hall. She first went to see the old lady, then came to Qin Wanru’s courtyard to help her select new maids.

Because word had spread that Second Miss of the General’s Manor needed many new servants, the broker brought a large group of maids and matrons. The courtyard was crowded to the brim.

Qin Wanru and Shui Ruolan sat together on chairs beneath the veranda. Qingyue and Nanny Yu stood behind Qin Wanru, while Qionghua attended Shui Ruolan.

“Second Miss, these girls are all clever. Would you like to choose a few more? The Madam has instructed that Second Miss must be completely satisfied!” The broker, skilled in flattery, understood that today’s selection was up to Qin Wanru and sang her praises accordingly.

As she spoke, she pulled one of the girls forward. “Second Miss, look at this one—she’s thirteen, very good at looking after people. She has several younger siblings at home, all cared for by her. If her family weren’t too poor to feed them all, they’d never have sold her.”

This girl was slender and plain, but not unappealing. She was nothing like the previous head maid, Qingcui. Her looks would naturally invite favor from a young lady like Qin Wanru—calm, gentle, and trustworthy.

Though still young, she appeared mature. Startled when the broker pulled her forward, she nevertheless lowered herself in a respectful curtsey to Qin Wanru, then stood quietly aside with head bowed.

Quick-witted but composed—just the sort of maid a young noble girl needed at her side. Such girls were often chosen as personal attendants, both to care for their mistress and to offer gentle guidance.

“Come here,” Shui Ruolan called softly, her gaze falling on the girl. She, too, found herself taken with her.