Chapter Six: Guilty Conscience, Relentless Pursuit

"I want to break off the engagement! I never wanted this marriage—my eldest sister tricked me into it. And now, when I no longer wish to marry, she has Madam Fang hurt me! Must I be forced to wed, even at the cost of my life?" With a sudden coldness vanishing from her eyes, Qin Wanru shoved Qin Yuru’s hand away with all her strength and collapsed into Qingyue’s hastily arriving arms.

Her pale, bloodless face was filled with wariness as she guardedly eyed Qin Yuru.

At her words, the expressions of everyone present changed dramatically.

Yet at her age, she was free to speak her mind, and her words seemed to carry a certain truth. Instantly, every gaze shifted toward Qin Yuru.

“Second Sister, what…what are you talking about?” Qin Yuru took a step back in shock, her face ashen. She pointed a trembling finger at Qin Wanru, flustered and truly frightened.

“Wanru, what nonsense are you saying? It was you who stole this engagement from Yuru; how is it now your elder sister who made you take it? As for the injury, it was nothing but an accident! Your temperament is still so wayward, unteachable as ever, always blaming your elder sister when something goes wrong.” The expression of Madam Qin, who sat beside the Old Madam, grew stern as she stood by her eldest daughter's side and scolded harshly.

This Madam Qin was not Qin Wanru’s birth mother. Wanru had merely been fostered under her name, although she had not known this in her past life at this time.

“How could I not want to marry… Tianyu and I…” Qin Yuru’s eyes brimmed with tears as she clutched her handkerchief in grievance, a sight that made Qi Tianyu’s heart ache.

As for Qin Wanru’s claim that Yuru was unwilling to marry him, Qi Tianyu simply could not believe it. The two of them had grown up together—childhood sweethearts. Yuru had known from an early age that she was meant to marry him, and she had always been affectionate. They had exchanged many gifts in secret over the years.

“Ten days ago, did Grandmother’s family not send a marriage proposal? Was it not my eldest sister whom Cousin, the heir of the Marquis of Eternal Harmony, sought to marry? Did Mother refuse him?” Qin Wanru gripped Qingyue’s hand tightly, her words deliberate and clear, a hint of derision curling at her lips as she delivered her most damning blow.

Her words exploded like thunder, leaving everyone present reeling.

Even the Old Madam was unaware of this matter, and her brows furrowed tightly in distress, an oppressive heaviness rising in her chest.

Qi Tianyu, not a fool, was taken aback. He stared at Qin Wanru in astonishment, demanding in a harsh voice, “Is this true?”

He had originally dismissed Qin Wanru’s words as nonsense.

How could Qin Yuru be unwilling to marry him? Just the night before, when the two of them met, she had wept in his arms, insisting that it was not her wish to refuse the marriage, but that Qin Wanru was determined to take him for herself. With the Old Madam’s favor, she had no choice. She claimed that she had even tried to drown herself to be with him, only to be rescued and fall ill, after which she was closely watched. Only last night had she managed to slip past her attendants and secretly meet him.

Her words had been so full of feeling. But if the heir to the Marquis of Eternal Harmony in the capital had truly sent a proposal for her, how could she have spoken the truth? Qi Tianyu, a scholar, needed only a moment's thought to see through it.

“I…I don’t know! I know nothing about this!” Qin Yuru’s face turned ghostly pale as she stumbled back in panic. But she recovered quickly, bowed her head, covered her eyes with her handkerchief, and sobbed, “How would I know about such things?”

She cursed inwardly—how had Qin Wanru learned of this? Only a handful of people knew, so who had leaked the news?

But she dared not deny it outright, for she was indeed about to be betrothed to the Marquis’s heir.

“So is it true or not?” Qi Tianyu’s fists clenched tightly, his eyes glaring fiercely at Qin Yuru.

“Does Eldest Sister truly not know? And does Mother not know either? Does Mother dare to deny this? Dare you say that Eldest Sister could never become engaged to Cousin?” Qin Wanru’s brows arched as her gaze, unwavering, landed on Madam Di.

How could Madam Di dare deny it? Once the engagement was made, everyone would know, and even if she wished to keep it secret, it would be impossible.

“I…I knew nothing of a letter from the capital. What are you plotting now, Wanru? Are you trying to cause more trouble for Yuru?” Madam Di avoided answering directly, her eyes darting as she tried to turn the tables on Qin Wanru. After all, the letter would never fall into anyone else’s hands.

“Brother Qi, you…you truly doubt me!” Qin Yuru, ever adept at collaborating with Madam Di, raised her tearful eyes at just the right moment to look at Qi Tianyu, crying in grievance before turning to leave.

Today’s events had been far too unexpected: first, Madam Fang stabbed Qin Wanru; now, Wanru was speaking about her and Di Yan. Though her mother had managed to gloss over the matter, Yuru felt a growing sense of panic and wanted to leave while she could. The letter was in her room, and she was anxious to check on it.

Seeing the distress of the one he cared for, Qi Tianyu’s anger faded, replaced by a trace of guilt. “Yuru, I will break off the engagement. I would never marry a woman as arrogant, malicious, and entangled with my brother as she is.”

In her dream, it was just such a casual statement that had destroyed her reputation forever. Even after entering the capital, she was left to take the blame for another and was executed beneath the Golden Tower.

“Master Qi, remember that you are a scholar. Let your words be guided by evidence. Do not mistake your own assumptions for the truth. What you see is only what others wish you to see.” Qin Wanru’s voice was cold as ice, her frail body swaying yet her tone cuttingly sharp.

Her gaze swept slowly over the group Qi Tianyu had brought with him, a silent, mocking smile appearing on her bloodless lips. The look in her eyes was so piercing it made others ache for her. There was a weight in her gaze that belied her age.

“Follow me. I will show you what true evidence is!”

The young girl’s eyes swept coldly across the faces of those present, finally landing on Qi Tianyu. She smiled at him with contempt, her pale lips devoid of color, and her gaze was sharp and heavy beyond her years.

“Wanru, what nonsense are you speaking?” Madam Di stormed over in anger, reaching out to seize Qin Wanru.

“Grandmother, please have Mother step aside,” Qin Wanru said, stepping back to avoid Madam Di’s grasp and lifting her eyes to the Old Madam. Only the Old Madam could restrain Madam Di in this household.

The Old Madam, seeing Qin Wanru’s bloodied arm and her stubborn determination, felt a pang in her heart. With a sigh, she signaled to a matron at her side. The matron came over, took Madam Di by the arm, and gently but firmly drew her away, saying, “Since the Qi family has accused the Second Miss, Madam, you must give her a chance to defend herself. Right and wrong will become clear to all.”

Though her words were tactful, her grip was strong, pulling Madam Di away from Qin Wanru’s side.