At the Lu Residence.

  Nanny Yuan rushed into the matriarch’s courtyard, gasping for breath, her face pale with terror. “Old Madam! I saw her—I saw the te Young Madam standing at our gate!”

  Old Madam Lu frowned. “You mean… that dead girl?”

  Nanny Yuan cpped her hands. “Exactly!”

  Old Madam Lu wasn’t easily frightened. She had spent many years in the rough neighborhoods of the Three-Six-Nine Sect and had raised three children as a young widow. She wasn’t afraid of ghosts or monsters.

  “What’s there to fear? I wasn’t afraid of her when she was alive. Why should I be afraid of her now that she’s dead?”

  She spoke disdainfully.

  Nanny Yuan grew anxious. “Old Madam, I saw her clearly! I was sweeping the courtyard and looked up—there she was, standing right at the gate! Old Madam, do you remember the dress she wore on her birthday banquet? Bck with red patterns—elegant and striking. They said she was buried in that very dress. That’s what she was wearing when I saw her! She even smiled at me, Old Madam! My soul almost left my body. I hurried to tell you—we need to hold a ritual.”

  At this, Old Madam Lu grew serious. “You mean… the day Feng’er died, when we went to see her?”

  Nanny Yuan cpped again. “Yes! Exactly that!”

  After Qin Yaoyao was imprisoned for two months, Old Madam Lu had been furious and never visited her. After Feng’er’s death, she fainted from rage but made a single visit—that was the only time she’d gone to see her.

  And indeed, Qin Yaoyao had been dressed in that very outfit.

  “That’s evil! I saw her clearly, Old Madam! She smiled at me!” Nanny Yuan repeated, nearly weeping.

  Beside them, Qin Feifei suddenly recalled how Qin Shuying had once cimed to have seen a shadow in the garden. So much had happened that day, and Qin Shuying had pyed them all so ruthlessly that she hadn’t thought much of it afterward.

  Now, hearing Nanny Yuan’s account, she too began to feel a chill.

  “Could it be that Second Sister… she really doesn’t want to leave?” she murmured.

  She dared not mention another incident—when she had been at Qin Manor, she had seen Qin Yaoyao’s shadow herself.

  Only Lu Changxuan knew about it. After she was frightened, he had personally come to take her home, and they had agreed not to tell anyone in the Lu family.

  Old Madam Lu snorted coldly. “So what if she doesn’t want to leave? She brought this upon herself! I didn’t force her to die! If you don’t do shameful things, you don’t fear ghosts knocking at your door. If she wants to come back, so be it! Who’s afraid of her?”

  Her voice was loud and self-assured, but when Qin Feifei and Nanny Yuan exchanged gnces, they saw fear in each other’s eyes.

  Old Madam Lu had no reason to be afraid. But Qin Feifei and Nanny Yuan… they were the ones with blood on their hands.

  Qin Feifei almost wanted to flee. She stammered, “M-Mother… if she really returns, the entire household will be terrified. Nanny Yuan is right. We should invite someone to perform a ritual.”

  Old Madam Lu cast her a sideways gnce. “A ritual? Fine. Pay for it yourself. After all, your Second Sister only died to make space for you.”

  Qin Feifei’s heart skipped a beat, cold sweat breaking out on her back. Could it be that Old Madam Lu’s words just now were meant to imply something? Had she already found out about the things Qin Feifei had done?

  These days, no matter what she did, Old Madam Lu seemed to find fault with her, constantly looking at her with displeasure.

  After the scandal Qin Shuying had caused at the Lu family, as Qin Shuying’s paternal cousin, Old Madam Lu had directed all her anger onto Qin Feifei.

  Especially after learning that the Qin Matriarch had issued an order forbidding Qin Feifei from visiting the Qin residence ever again—it was all because Qin Feifei had used Qin Shuying’s belongings to curry favor with her, something that the Qin Matriarch had discovered.

  When Qin Yaoyao was still alive, Old Madam Lu had assumed the things Qin Feifei gifted her were her own. It wasn’t until Qin Shuying’s incident that she realized those things had actually belonged to Qin Shuying.

  If it hadn’t been for Qin Feifei’s stinginess and selfishness, how could she, an iron-willed, dignified matriarch, have ended up being cursed and ridiculed by others like this?

  It was all because of this troublemaker, Qin Feifei!

  Old Madam Lu was no fool; over the years, she had long been aware of Qin Feifei’s improper entanglement with Lu Changxuan. But since that was her own son, and since an official’s daughter was throwing herself at him, she simply turned a blind eye, figuring there was no harm in taking advantage.

  When Qin Yaoyao’s incident erupted, the disgrace had left her utterly humiliated in front of the guests. After locking Qin Yaoyao away, she had been secretly pleased to see Qin Feifei push her toward death.

  From start to finish, she had coldly watched from the sidelines—but that didn’t mean she was unaware of Qin Feifei’s schemes.

  That was why she had said those things.

  Lu Changju also chimed in mockingly, “Sister-in-w, you’re really nothing compared to your second sister. When she was alive, our household never cked for anything. Look at you—barely married, and the family’s expenses are already being cut. If Second Brother hadn’t been short on money to pull strings, how would he have failed the examination? Isn’t it all because you wouldn’t part with your silver? Now, I can’t even hold my head high outside. All the noble dies of the capital go out with fine pastries and fruits as gifts. And what about me? This morning, when I asked you for money, how did you respond? You truly have no shame!”

  Qin Feifei could barely catch her breath.

  How was this her fault? How could this possibly be bmed on her?

  But that wasn’t the end of it. Old Madam Lu added coldly, “People outside are right—you’re a jinx. Schor Liao was fine before he married you. After marrying you, he became an invalid and died without leaving an heir. Since you entered our Lu family, nothing good has happened. First, the family business went under, leaving only two struggling shops. Then came all this nonsense, dragging Changsong down with you.”

  Qin Feifei’s eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling. “Mother, you’re wronging me…”

  Lu Changju lightly rubbed the broken silver piece in her hand and remarked sarcastically, “Sister-in-w, you’re at fault here. Mother is trying to teach you, yet you cry—who are you trying to gain sympathy from? If you’re sensible, you’d take out some silver and atone for your sins. Only then can our Lu family have peace.”

  Qin Feifei looked at her as if she’d seen a ghost. Even she dared to ridicule her now?

  ___

  At General Zhengxi Mansion, Liang Zhe burst into hearty ughter after hearing Liang Yanjun’s report. “Interesting! How very interesting! That little dy is something else!”

  Liang Yanjun wore a pained expression. Young Master, this young dy is already engaged…

  Could he not show such interest in another man’s fiancée?

  “To be able to turn the tables on them under such circumstances—that’s true cleverness!” Liang Zhe chuckled. “And she’s ruthless too, showing no mercy to her cousin. Good, very good!”

  Liang Yanjun tried to remind him, “Young Master, Seventh Miss Qin is engaged. She’s betrothed to the eldest legitimate son of Liu Gongshan, head of the Liu family in Huzhou. He ranked third in the metropolitan examination and is favored to become the youngest Tanhua in Great Zhou’s history. The betting houses are already ying odds on it.”

  Liang Zhe clearly knew this and said, “Pce a bet for me too tomorrow—bet that he’ll win the title.”

  Knowing she was engaged yet still paying such close attention… Liang Yanjun couldn’t figure out what his master was really thinking.

  “You and I should make a bet too,” Liang Zhe said, a pyful glint in his eyes.

  Liang Yanjun reflexively replied, “Let’s not wager too much!”

  Liang Zhe scoffed. “Look at you—no ambition.”

  Liang Yanjun grimaced. “Young Master, I still have a sister who needs a dowry.”

  His master loved to gamble and gambled big. Several people had lost everything to him before, even the shirts off their backs. If he lost badly this time, what would become of his sister’s dowry?

  “You haven’t even heard the wager, and you’re already certain you’ll lose?”

  Liang Yanjun tested cautiously, “Could it be that even you, Young Master, aren’t sure you’ll win?”

  Liang Zhe shot him a gre. “If I were certain, it wouldn’t be a bet. If I wagered that I’d eat meat tonight, what fun would that be?”

  Liang Yanjun couldn’t help but chuckle. Every meal at the manor featured fish and meat, cooked so roughly it hardly suited such a refined household.

  After ughing, Liang Yanjun added, “Young Master, the whole capital talks about you that way. Don’t you get angry?”

  Liang Zhe replied casually, “What’s there to be angry about? Why would I? They say I’m fierce and violent—aren’t I? On the battlefield, if I weren’t ruthless, would I still be alive today? They say I’m coarse and vulgar—don’t I love meat? We martial men train daily; if we don’t eat meat, how would we wield our swords? They say I’m idle and dissipated. Well, there are only a few fragile beauties in the pace. What’s there to do besides sleep?”

  Liang Yanjun forced an awkward smile. No, his master wasn’t that kind of person. Not at all.

  He was fierce in battle, but well-read and astute beyond compare.

  “All right, enough of that sour face. Let’s set our wager,” Liang Zhe said. “Seeing how thin and pale you’ve grown since returning to the capital, I won’t make it too harsh. Fifty taels of silver.”

  Liang Yanjun wailed, “Young Master, my monthly stipend is only five taels!”

  “Then you’d better find a way to win. Wouldn’t you earn fifty taels that way?”

  “Young Master, you’re shameless!”

  “I’m giving you an opportunity.”

  “… Fine, I’ll take it. What’s the wager?”

  Liang Zhe smiled. “Let’s bet whether Qin Shuying will end up marrying Liu Junqing.”

  Liang Yanjun blinked. “What’s there to bet? The engagement is already settled.”

  Liang Zhe shook his head. “Nothing is certain. That’s why we’re betting.”

  Liang Yanjun thought for a moment and said, “I’ll bet they’ll marry.”

  Liang Zhe’s smile deepened. “Then I’ll bet they won’t.”

  Just as the two were getting into the spirit of it, Nanny Lu walked in. “Young Master, Third Young Master, and Fourth Young Master are here.”

  Liang Zhe’s smile faded slightly. “Invite them in.”

  A moment ter, two nearly identical young men entered the room—twins.

  They were Liang Zhe’s younger half-brothers, both sixteen years old. The elder was named Liang Dong, the younger Liang Jie.

  Both were strikingly handsome, impeccably groomed, and dressed in fine clothes.

  In unison, they called out, “Big Brother.”