Two months ago, Lu Changxuan officially married Qin Feifei as his principal wife.

  At Yin Garden, Qin Shuying looked at herself in the mirror, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile. Less than two months after his ex-wife's death, Lu Changxuan hastily elevated a concubine to the position of wife. What a deeply affectionate and considerate man!

  Yet in the capital, everyone praised Qin Feifei for her devotion to her te sister Qin Yaoyao. They spoke of how she spent days in the temple copying scriptures and praying for her sister’s peace, even falling ill from her efforts.

  Two years ago, after witnessing that unspeakable scene in the study, Qin Feifei had started frequenting the Lu household. A year ter, Lu Changxuan took her as his concubine. Publicly, it was said that Qin Yaoyao herself had arranged for her sister to join the household as a concubine, earning widespread accim from the men of the capital who hailed her as virtuous and understanding—a model wife who put her husband’s needs above all else.

  The truth was far less fttering. Qin Yaoyao had been forced into that arrangement because Lu Changxuan had used Feng’er, their son, as leverage against her. With Madam Xu’s persuasion, she eventually accepted the arrangement, believing that having her sister as a concubine was better than an outsider. Despite the humiliation, she succumbed to her fate.

  But who could have predicted that this decision would ultimately lead to Feng’er’s tragic death?

  Qin Shuying scrutinized her delicate hands in the mirror. These fwless, pale hands, untouched by bor, seemed to demand care and reverence from anyone who saw them. Yet, she wondered, how swift might these hands be when it came to taking a life?

  Although elevating a concubine to principal wife was typically a low-key affair, the deaths of Qin Yaoyao and Feng’er had left Lu Changxuan’s mother and Qin Feifei so grief-stricken that they cimed the marriage was to bring joy back to the household. As a result, they hosted a slightly rger banquet, with many uninvited guests coming to pay their respects.

  The banquet was filled with ughter, chatter, and clinking cups, leaving no room for anyone to remember Qin Yaoyao or her precious son, Feng’er.

  Although Qin Feifei had been elevated, the title carried no prestige. Lu Changxuan’s mother still disapproved of her. When Qin Feifei returned to her natal home after the marriage, the Old Madam deliberately took Qin Shuying to the temple, avoiding her entirely.

  Now, it was Qin Feifei’s second time returning home as Lu Changxuan’s principal wife.

  The Old Madam had made her disapproval clear by avoiding her the first time. However, with Qin Feifei coming again, further avoidance would seem unnecessary. Thus, Qin Feifei was sure to visit the Xuantang Hall today.

  Qin Shuying sat in the Xuantang Hall’s embroidery room, working on needlework she had volunteered to take on herself.

  Xiangqin entered and announced, “Third Miss and the Third Master are already in the courtyard waiting to pay their respects to the Old Madam.”

  Qin Shuying’s heart began to race uncontrolbly, pounding so hard it felt like it might escape her chest. Her entire body seemed to freeze, caught in a surreal state.

  The Old Madam sighed softly and said, “Let them in.”

  Qin Shuying remained seated, dazed, as if she hadn’t heard the Old Madam’s words. She wasn’t even aware when the Old Madam left the room.

  Moments ter, steady footsteps echoed through the hall, accompanied by lighter ones. Lu Changxuan, dressed in a blue brocade robe, and Qin Feifei, in a pale red dress, entered and knelt respectfully to pay their respects to the Old Madam.

  “Your granddaughter and grandson-in-w greet Grandmother!”

  Qin Shuying’s hands clenched tightly around her skirt, her face turning pale. For dozens of nights, she had rehearsed how she would react when she saw Lu Changxuan again. Yet, now that the moment had come, it was too soon—too soon for her to control her expressions, her actions.

  The searing hatred twisted her face before she could stop it. She quickly closed her eyes and clenched her fists, forcing herself to calm down.

  Taking a deep breath, Qin Shuying opened her eyes, carefully arranging a smile on her face. No matter the circumstances, she couldn’t let her true emotions show—not even in a seemingly unnoticed corner.

  “Rise,” said the Old Madam. Taking the prepared gifts from Nanny Gu, she handed them to Lu Changxuan and Qin Feifei, her tone indifferent. “Since you are married, live your days well.”

  The couple responded in unison, “We will remember Grandmother’s teachings.”

  The Old Madam then turned to Qin Feifei. “Third Miss, leave us. I have words for the Third Master.”

  Although puzzled, Qin Feifei obediently replied, “Yes.”

  As she finished speaking, Qin Feifei exited the room, her heart simmering with anger. Knowing full well that she was pregnant, the Old Madam still made her kneel—a subtle but unmistakable show of dominance!

  The room fell into silence. The Old Madam sipped her tea slowly, saying nothing for a long while. Lu Changxuan stood respectfully by her side, not daring to make a sound, while Nanny Gu kept her gaze lowered, staring at her feet.

  Qin Shuying’s mind raced with countless thoughts in an instant. Did the Old Madam know something?

  “Should I call you the second grandson-in-w or the third?” the Old Madam finally sighed.

  Lu Changxuan’s heart clenched. He swept aside his long robe and knelt heavily on the ground. “Grandmother, please forgive me! Yaoyao’s life was short and filled with misfortune. I failed to care for her properly, and her passing has left me in unbearable pain. It is my eternal regret. But heaven has given me a second chance. Since Yaoyao entrusted Feifei to me, I will cherish her as I should. Please be assured, Grandmother!”

  So, the Old Madam did know something. But Lu Changxuan’s response was vague and noncommittal. His outward deference masked a refusal to truly concede. And why should he? The Old Madam, after all, couldn’t really do much to him or his household anymore.

  Realizing this, Qin Shuying felt a cold shiver run through her, and her brows furrowed deeply.

  The Old Madam let out a long sigh. “The second girl had no fortune in life. This old woman can only recite prayers for her during the quiet hours of the night, wishing her peace and happiness in her next life.”

  Qin Shuying’s eyes became misty. Qin Yaoyao, like a bird in flight, left no trace, as if she had never existed in this world. Yet, even with nearly a dozen grandchildren, the Old Madam still remembered this illegitimate daughter. Such a sentiment deserved respect, and Qin Shuying felt that honoring her grandmother was only right.

  The Old Madam’s tone shifted, carrying a trace of frustration. “The second girl was foolish, incapable of discerning true character. She blindly sacrificed herself for others, and there’s nothing more to say about it!”

  Qin Shuying was taken aback. The Old Madam’s words were veiled but sharp—clearly criticizing Qin Feifei’s schemes while menting Qin Yaoyao’s naivety. When Qin Yaoyao’s tragedy unfolded, the Old Madam had been praying at Fuyuan Temple. Madam Xu had concealed the news, refusing to inform her. By the time the Old Madam descended the mountain and learned of the events days ter, Qin Yaoyao was already dead.

  Tears welled up again in Qin Shuying’s eyes.

  Lu Changxuan dared not lift his head, inwardly muttering that Qin Feifei had been right—the Old Madam wasn’t easily fooled.

  The Old Madam’s tone turned stern. “You must never forget that the second girl was your first wife. The third girl must observe the proper etiquette of a concubine when facing her elder sister’s spirit tablet. Do not forget this! The current emperor rules with filial piety and the ws of propriety. To ignore these principles would be unacceptable! Do you understand?”

  The earlier trace of indifference vanished from Lu Changxuan’s demeanor. He bowed deeply again. “I will heed your teachings, Grandmother!”

  Qin Shuying closed her eyes, her emotions a storm of contradictions. The Old Madam was sharp and insightful, her mind clear. But what of it? To her, both Qin Yaoyao and Qin Feifei were merely grandchildren. Even if she suspected that Qin Yaoyao’s death was unnatural, the most she could do was express her discontent with Lu Changxuan and Qin Feifei. The dead were gone, and the Old Madam wouldn’t pursue justice for Qin Yaoyao.

  This was a vengeance Qin Shuying would have to carry out herself.