Chapter Seven: The Secret Within the Rosewood Box

The rear courtyard of the General Ningyuan’s residence was not large, and soon enough, Qin Wanru led the group to the entrance of Qin Yuru’s quarters. When Qin Yuru saw that Qin Wanru was about to stride straight into her main room, she panicked. No longer caring about drawing attention, she hurried forward and blocked Qin Wanru with her arm.

“Second Sister, what do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, her face drained of color, glaring at Qin Wanru with hatred.

“Nothing much. I just want to see the letter Cousin wrote to you,” Qin Wanru replied coolly, her gaze chilling as she fixed it on Qin Yuru.

“A letter… what letter?” Qin Yuru’s heart skipped a beat; she almost bit her own tongue in fright. How had Qin Wanru found out about this?

Ever since Madame Di had schemed to marry her into the Marquis Yongkang’s household, she and Di Yan had grown close, exchanging letters in secret to express their feelings. The only reason the Marquis’s family had agreed to this match was because Di Yan had pleaded with the Marchioness on her behalf.

“Elder Sister, do you dare let me look for it?” Qin Wanru asked.

“How dare you! Your sister’s rooms are not for anyone to search as they please!” Madame Di snapped harshly.

“Then why not have Grandmother send someone to look? Would that be acceptable?” Qin Wanru’s long lashes fluttered twice, her voice calm and unperturbed. Yet her composure only made Qin Yuru more anxious; she looked to Madame Di for help. “Mother, do you see? Is our little sister mad? She’s determined to ruin my reputation!”

“Ruin your reputation? All I suggested was that Grandmother’s people search. Is that so ruinous? What exactly is it you’re so desperate to hide, Elder Sister?” Qin Wanru retorted with a cold laugh, seizing upon her words.

Everyone’s gazes turned suspiciously toward Madame Di and Qin Yuru. Judging by their panic, could it really be true?

“Grandmother, have someone search Elder Sister’s vanity, in the bottom right drawer. There’s a rosewood box there; inside, you’ll find the letters. The latest one from Cousin should mention this marriage,” Qin Wanru said, her eyes as cold and steady as a deep pool.

Everyone was stunned by how specific she was. Could it really be true?

If so, the reality was far different from what they’d imagined.

It wasn’t the Second Miss Qin who was willful and rude, snatching her elder sister’s betrothal by force. In truth, it was the eldest Miss Qin who scorned the magistrate’s son and wished to marry into a grander family in the capital, using her naïve little sister as a pawn to “steal” this so-called advantageous match.

If that were the case, the eldest Miss Qin was not only wanton by nature, but vicious as well—she was deliberately destroying her own younger sister.

And the Second Miss Qin, still so young and innocent—how could she possibly understand affairs of the heart?

Qi Tianyu’s gaze grew frosty. The twists and turns of this affair surprised him, and for the first time, he calmed down. The more he considered it, the more suspicious he found Qin Yuru. His eyes could not help but linger on Qin Wanru’s pale but stubborn little face.

She was really just a child.

Old Madam nodded and beckoned two matrons forward. Qin Yuru tried to stop them, but one of the matrons held her back while the other went inside. Soon enough, the woman returned with a rosewood box.

The servants and attendants began whispering among themselves.

When she saw the box, Qin Yuru forgot all about the matron restraining her. She shoved the woman aside, lunged forward, snatched the box from the matron’s hands, and clutched it tightly to her chest. Then she spun around and ran into her room, slamming the door shut behind her.

Everyone was dumbfounded, their expressions shifting rapidly.

“Yuru, Yuru, don’t do anything rash! Your sister didn’t mean to humiliate you—she’s just a child, she doesn’t know what she’s saying. Please, don’t do anything you’ll regret!” Madame Di reacted the fastest, pushing past the matrons holding her and rushing to the door. She pounded on it and wailed loudly, as if Qin Yuru were truly about to end her own life out of shame.

“Mother, when Second Sister and Grandmother distrust me so, even rifling through my private things before everyone, how can I face the world?” Qin Yuru’s voice came from inside, following Madame Di’s lead and bursting into loud sobs.

The letters, of course, could not be seen by anyone.

Her words were deliberate, implying that Old Madam was biased toward Qin Wanru, airing her private affairs in front of everyone to humiliate her.

Hearing this, Madame Di breathed a quiet sigh of relief, a flash of triumph in her eyes. With this, neither Qin Wanru nor Old Madam could continue pressing Yuru—if they did and something truly happened, no one could bear the blame.

Even Old Madam could not risk being accused of driving her own granddaughter to her death.

“Master Qi, I don’t believe there’s anything more that needs to be said,” Qin Wanru said, stepping back and casting a sidelong glance at Qi Tianyu, who was still standing there, stunned.

Her young, mocking gaze fell squarely on him, then slid away to rest on the green kerchief atop someone’s head nearby.

A green kerchief—a cuckold’s cap?

When Qi Tianyu understood the meaning behind Qin Wanru’s mockery, that flash of green was like a blade stabbing into his proud heart, shattering the balance he’d clung to.

His face turned white, his eyes reddened, and his hands at his sides clenched into fists. Striding forward, he made his way toward Qin Yuru’s door.

Madame Di thought he had something to say and hurriedly wiped her tears, making way for him. She had barely stepped aside when a great crash sounded behind her—the door was kicked open with a resounding bang.