Aunt Shui was none other than Shui Ruolan, Qin Huaiyong's cousin, the daughter of old grandma's younger sister. She had come to take shelter under the Qins from a young age when old grandma's younger sister passed away. When she came of age, she got married, but her husband passed away later on before they bore any children. For this reason, old grandma brought her back to the Ningyuan Army General's house to be with her.
Shui Ruolan was a woman with a gentle spirit who had never said a word of complaint even though she had a sad life.
Qin Huaiyong had always had a soft spot for this cousin of his. Unfortunately, they each had their prearranged marriages respectively since young for this reason, they kept their distance in honor of their commitments. When Shui Ruolan returned to Qin Huaiyong's house as a widow, they continued to treat each other honorably. In fact, they did not see each other much within the manor grounds. Even when the need arose, they always met each other in the presence of some other people.
However, an accident happened 10 days ago when Qin Huaiyong came home drunk and went into Shui Ruolan's room by mistake and fell asleep on Shui Ruolan's bed. What was worse was in his drunken state, he had put his arms around Shui Ruolan and forced her to lie on the bed with him. When Mrs. Qin broke into the room and saw the scene before her eyes, she was so heartbroken that she broke down in tears and wailed.
When Qin Huaiyong came to his senses, he was deeply remorseful towards both Mrs. Qin and Shui Ruolan and was at a loss of what to do to solve this issue.
After that incident, Qin Huaiyong expressed his wishes to take Shui Ruolan in as his concubine, but Shui Ruolan refused the offer as she could not reconcile the idea and almost decided to become a nun.
Old grandma tried to talk her out of it until Shui Ruolan finally decided to go to the Buddha Hall to quieten her heart.
In the previous life, Shui Ruolan finally became Qin Huaiyong's concubine after taking old grandma's health into consideration. However, she had been unhappy because of the meaningless marriage arrangement. Subsequently she with child, but the baby came early at seven months and both the mother and the baby died due to the early delivery.
It was only later that Qin Wanru discovered that this was all part of Mrs. Qin's plan and that she had a hand in making the premature birth happen.
She did not really remember the incident which happened 10 days ago, but the memory of it became vivid at this moment. She suddenly realized that 10 days ago was the time the letter from Duke Yong arrived.
Just after the letter arrived, the incident of Qin Huaiyong getting drunk and went into Shui Ruolan's room happened. Stricken with guilt and remorse, Qin Huaiyong could not bring himself to take any action against the evil plan of her wife and eldest daughter.
Their plan was to set up the drama that happened today.
In order to reach their ultimate goal, the mother and daughter pair resorted to unscrupulous ways. On the surface, it seemed that they were taking a step back, but in fact, they were the ones who devised the entire plan with evil intent.
"Your Aunt Shui won't have the guts to do that!" old grandma sighed, frowning. This was another matter that was troubling her. What happened that day was blown out of proportion and the entire He family got to know about it. How could Shui Ruolan take such humiliation?
"The letter from the capital city, asking for the hand of Big Sister had arrived since 10 days ago, hadn't it? That coincided with the time father got drunk. Father had always treated me well, why then did he disregard my reputation but did as what mother and Big Sister told him to. Don't you think something fishy is going on?" Qin Wanru provoked.
Old grandma was smart enough to pick up the hint in Qin Wanru's words. The expression on her face changed suddenly as she exclaimed, "Could your Aunt Shui been set up so that she could be a pawn for them?"
"Grandma, now you can see clearly that father was obviously siding with mother and Big Sister in this entire matter," said Qin Wanru, lowering her long lashes.
Casting a look at Qin Wanru's pitiful expression, an irritated look flashed across old grandma's eyes. She banged the table with her hand and cried out, "This wicked woman, for the sake of her daughter, is out to destroy Ruolan and you!"
Putting together the incidents that happened these few days, old grandma deduced that Mrs. Qin must have used Qin Huaiyong's guilt to work to her favor. She must have requested for the chance in Yuru's marriage engagement. This must be why Qin Huaiyong kept this to himself instead of telling his mother about it. Old grandma had understood Qin Huaiyong's intention to marry his little daughter to the governor's household in place of his eldest daughter. It was not a big deal to sacrifice his little daughter so as to realize the bigger plan of marrying his eldest daughter into an even more wealthy and powerful family.
In addition to that, it was to make up to his wife for the matter regarding what he had done to Shui Ruolan.
For these reasons, Qin Huaiyong would not breathe a word to his mother.
"I'm going to get your Aunt Shui out of the Buddha Hall in a while. I won't allow the wicked woman to get what she wants!" said old grandma in rage as she made up her mind.
Not only did she set Ruolan up, but she also instilled guilt in her son and even manipulated Wanru's marriage. Mrs. Qin thought she could cover up everything that she had done.
"What if Aunt Shui is not willing?" Qin Wanru reminded old grandma the possible scenario.
In the previous life, Shui Ruolan had gone to stay at the Buddha Hall for half a year at one go and became a devote Buddhist in the family. It was only when old grandma fell seriously ill that she finally came out from there to look after old grandma. It was then that she finally became father's concubine.
Shui Ruolan did not have feelings for father by then, so she was never jealous of Mrs Qin. In fact, she would often ask father to go to Mrs. Qin instead. It was because the false stories weaved by Mrs. Qin's maid that Qin Huaiyong doted on Aunt Shui, that finally led to jealousy. Eventually, Mrs. Qin and her maid banded up to make trouble, which finally led to the death of Shui Ruolan and her baby.
In the previous life, Shui Ruolan had been especially kind to Qin Wanru. She continued to watch out for her even after old grandma passed away. However, how could she guard over Qin Wanru if she could not even protect herself?
In this current life, Qin Wanru would not allow Shui Ruolan to be mistreated by Mrs. Qin. However, she needed to consult old grandma's opinion. Shui Ruolan was a prideful woman and would never want to become someone's concubine, which was why she was not jealous of Mrs. Qin.
Qin Wanru dropped a hint to old grandma to get Shui Ruolan out of trouble.
As for Shui Ruolan, Qin Wanru's plan was to help her resolve the knot in her heart. Shui Ruolan may have a gentle spirit, but she was definitely not dumb. She was, in fact, a rather strong woman behind her gentle character.
"I will warn Ruolan about this and not allow her to become a scapegoat!" Old grandma snorted and Qin Wanru could see a determined expression on her face. Old grandma had been through much infighting herself and she could fully grasp Mrs. Qin's evil intent. Since this wicked woman did not treasure a nice lady like Shui Ruolan, old grandma made sure she did.
Qin Wanru could feel the burden taken off her shoulder once she knew that old grandma was going to take care of Shui Ruolan. She relaxed her tense body by leaning back and put away the cold look in her eyes. "Grandma, do you still have that Fenghua glass light?" Qin Wanru said, changing the topic.
She did not dare to take the matter regarding Prince Chen lightly.
When old grandma heard this, her expression changed drastically.
"You want that Fenghua glass light?" marveled Mrs. Qin. "Yes!" Qin Wan blinked and nodded. "You really want it?" Mrs. Qin asked again. "I really want it!" Qin Wanru said with resignation. Actually, it was not what she wanted, but Prince Chen who wanted it. Even if she did not ride on his coattail, she dared to offend him. Since a Fenghua glass light could satisfy him, why not giving it to him! "Why does Prince Chen want the Fenghua glass light? His role is so extravagant. He must have seen all the good products, so why does he want my Fenghua glass light? There must be something to do with it." "Fenghua glass light is certainly precious. As a prince, what treasures cannot he own?" Now look at grandmother's behavior, Qin Wanru gained a deep understanding that this Fenghua glass light was probably not simple. But she did not want to ask! "Grandmother did not have the Fenghua
"Qin Wanru, you want to go out to fetch Fenghua glass light?" Prince Chen said in a mild tone and raised his black eyes with his customary elegance. He turned over and coughed weakly and sickly. One day was enough for him to know Qin Wanru. Of course, Qin Wanru knew that the so-called gentleness was actually an illusion. "Yes, I hope that the prince can help!" Qin Wanru requested sincerely though she was nervous. If there is anyone in the house who can persuade father to let me go, he must be prince Chen in front of me. "Is this related to me?" The young man raised his beautiful eyes and looked at her with his head tilted. His smile was still elegant but his tone was a bit of ironic. "It is the Fenghua glass light that the prince wants." Qin Wanru said respectfully with her fist clenched. It seemed that she did not see the irony in his eyes. "I wanna see whether you can go out on your own or not!" Pr
Qin Wanru stood on the swing and felt it safe by pulling the ropes of the swing. "Old grandma ordered people to fasten the ropes in case of my playing it secretly. Since the swing was safe, Qin Wanru sat on it. However, she hesitated after sitting on it." She touched the place where her arm was injured, not knowing whether she would misplay. Looking up at the tall courtyard wall, she found when the swing swayed, it was likely to hit the courtyard wall. "Anyway, I have to try it." She held the ropes on both sides with her feet slammed back. Then the swing swayed, slipped down later and was about to hit the trunk behind it. When Qin Wanru felt right, she kicked the trunk behind. Then, the swing went out again. Then the swing came back again. She kicked it again. She was familiar with the swing, so she kicked almost at the same position. As the swing was getting higher and higher, she was closer and clo
Seeing that the prince also jumped into the wall, Xiao Xuanzi was scared. "Fortunately, my master did not like lady Wanru who was lying on the wall. He was standing still and seemed to be stable." Chu Liuchen stood on the wall of the courtyard, seeing a drop of blood on the wall with his eyebrows wrinkled and then seeing a drop of blood outside the courtyard. From the wall to the tree was a trail of blood which could be seen until somewhere along the trunk. Over there was a rut so it was possible that she left by carriage. Prince raised his eyes and looked ahead, only to see the back of a carriage. She was a clever little girl who left through this method. Then there was nothing interesting to see. He had his feet diverted and fell from the wall. Xiao Xuanzi was scared when he saw his master falling from the wall, reaching for the high wall on one side and coughing up with sharp pain in his chest. "P
"Where did this medicine powder come from?" the master of the Jingxin monastery asked casually as he took a clean cloth and wiped away the powder mixed with blood on Qin Wanru's wound. No one noticed darkness flickered over her eyes and eyebrows. Her hands trembled a little. But soon she held one hand tightly. When her hands were raised again, they were not trembling at all. "Is it the man's medicine? After all these years, did he finally show up?" "It must be the medicine from the doctor who was called by grandma!" Qin Wanru looked at the wound on her arm with a little confusion since she really didn't know. "Please ask old Mrs. Qin, which doctor gave her the medicine powder after going back." The voice of the master of the Jingxin monastery was soft, but there was a kind of heaviness which could be heard by Qin Wanru in her voice. Qin Wanru titled to look and thought, "Does the medicine have a problem?" "OK, I w
Qin Wanru had entered the room directly this time. The guards at the gates must have wondered how she got out in the first place. Nevertheless, since the general and wife only instructed them not to let her out, but did not say not to let her in, so they did not dare to stop her. Although Second Miss was never the mistress's favored daughter, Qin Wanru had always been the one old grandma doted on, and so no one in the Ningyuan Army General's house dared to be rude to her. Qin Wanru headed straight to the house where Prince Chen was. She was soon summoned into the house after waiting for a bit outside. Qin Wanru realized that Prince Chen seemed to have changed into a new of clothes within since the last time she saw him. He was currently clad in a bright red robe, which no man would have carried with grace. Only Prince Chen would have looked so stunningly handsome in such apparel. However, she also no
"Can I request that the prince help me get hold of an item?" Qin Wanru said softly, testing the water. She was certain that he had brought with him many men on this trip, given his status. Although there were only a few men here with them, Qin Wanru these were but some of the many men who showed themselves openly. There was bound to be many other men who were secretly watching over the prince. "What item is that?" said Chu Liuchen, smiling slightly with grace. It looked as if he was not the devil who provoked Qin Wanru to the point of gnashing her teeth. "A seal." Even Qin Wanru did not fully understand the use and purpose of this seal. What she knew was that Qin Yuru had used this seal to obtain favor from the Old Ladyship of Xing Kingdom, and was subsequently taken into the royal family to be taken care of as an adopted daughter for a period of time. For this reason, Qin Yuru had used her status to trample Qin Wanru underfoot and even thei
Qin Wanru walked to the table, picked up the brush, pondered for a moment then put the brush to the paper and began to paint. When she finished painting, she put down the brush and cautiously brought the painting to Chu Liuchen and said, "Please have a look, Prince Chen. This is the pattern I talked about." "This is indeed the correct pattern!" said Chu Liuchen when he set his eyes on the painting and raised his eyebrows. Qin Wanru felt a sudden bitterness in her heart as she remembered how in her previous life, she was so fearful of facing people when she entered the capital city, that she had to resort to painting to get by. For this reason, her painting skills improved leaps and bounds every day. However, her masterly painting skill did not get her anywhere. In fact, it was precisely her painting skill that led her to her tragic death, being cut in half at her waist. At that moment of death, she felt that even the sky appeared twisted. Wh