Lin Wanru spoke with deep sorrow, “Zhi Lang, these words must have come from Mother, haven’t they? Did she also say that I did this to get rid of Nuan’er and Concubine Li? Think about it, though Nuan’er isn’t my biological daughter, we have lived together for many years, just like a mother and daughter. How could I harm her? She’s just a girl who will eventually be married off. What could I possibly gain from targeting her?

As for Concubine Li, she was brought into this household by Mother for the sake of what, everyone in the residence knows full well. It was simply because Mother saw how you doted on me, yet I could not bear a son, which displeased her. To avoid making her angry, I willingly relinquished my authority as the main wife and withdrew from household affairs. I kept my doors shut and rarely intervened. Now that something has happened, instead of questioning Concubine Li, who manages the household, Mother is blaming me instead? Heaven knows, no matter how many faults I have, my greatest sin is failing to give birth to a son. That is why Mother despises me so much!”

Ouyang Zhi’s heart wavered, but he remained silent, lifting his teacup to take a sip. Lin Wanru slowly moved closer to him, leaning against his shoulder as she whispered, “Zhi Lang, we have been husband and wife for ten years. Do you really see me as a ruthless and cruel woman? When my elder sister was still alive, I personally took care of her medicine and never left her side. After she passed away, when Nuan’er cried in grief, I stayed with her day and night, treating her with even more care and devotion than Ke’er. Do you truly not believe me?”

“It really wasn’t you?” Ouyang Zhi’s furrowed brows relaxed for a moment, but suddenly, he recalled his mother’s words. Instantly, he withdrew his hand and pushed Lin Wanru away.

Lin Wanru had always understood Ouyang Zhi’s temperament well and never expected to be pushed aside. Yet, her face showed no trace of anger. Instead, she gazed at him with tearful eyes and vowed solemnly, “If I ever committed such a heartless and despicable act, may the heavens strike me down and grant me a miserable death!”

Ouyang Zhi nodded. “We have been husband and wife for so many years, and I naturally know your character well. Of course, I believe you are not a venomous woman. But, alas, Mother now suspects you. She is my own mother, the one who raised me into the man I am today. Even if she has wronged you, she is still an elder, and you ought to endure it. Otherwise, if word spreads, it will seem as though I am indulging my wife in disrespecting my own mother, which would be a grave sin of unfilial conduct!”

Hearing Ouyang Zhi’s final words, Lin Wanru fell silent. She understood that while Ouyang Zhi was easy to manipulate, Old Madam Li was a formidable opponent. Now that Ouyang Zhi had invoked filial piety, he was demanding that she endure everything without defying the old madam. The entire matter had, in fact, been orchestrated by her, and though the scheme had failed, she had not been implicated. If all she had to do now was act submissive, then that was already a fortunate outcome. Lin Wanru was a clever woman, so she knew when to stop while she was ahead. Without hesitation, she said, “Of course, I will be sure to serve Mother well.”

Seeing her compliance, Ouyang Zhi patted her shoulder and said, “It has been hard on you.”

Lin Wanru smiled and replied, “What hardship? A wife must obey her husband. Everything I have belongs to you. As long as you are happy, I will never feel wronged.” Then she added, “I also don’t want Mother to hold a grudge against me because of this. In a few days, I will invite an opera troupe to perform and lift her spirits.”

Ouyang Zhi pulled Lin Wanru tightly into his embrace and sighed. “You truly are my virtuous wife!” Though Lin Wanru had married into the household later, she was exceptionally considerate, devoted entirely to him, and handled matters flawlessly with a gentle and kind nature. Naturally, he cherished her deeply. As for Zhang Wending, if he could frame Ouyang Nuan, then how could he not frame Lin Wanru as well? It must be that the old madam had misunderstood Lin Wanru.

Lin Wanru, half-jealous and half-coquettish, murmured, “I am far inferior to others in many ways!”

Ouyang Zhi chuckled softly, “None of them compare to you……” And with that, he forgot all about his initial intention to interrogate Lin Wanru, instead pulling her into the inner chamber.

────ρя

This translation is by Pocketrobbin at S h a n g h a i f a n t a s y . c o m

After the incident with Zhang Wending, Lin Wanru issued strict orders forbidding any discussion of the matter within the residence. However, the hardest thing to silence was people’s tongues. Within just two days, rumors spread like wildfire. People claimed that the second miss had secretly set a private meeting with Zhang Wending and then deliberately framed her own elder sister.

Following the scandal, Ouyang Nuan carried on with her daily routine without any sign of avoidance, maintaining an air of dignity and composure. In contrast, Ouyang Ke was so furious that she shut herself away for half a month, refusing to leave her room. Even when Lin Wanru personally visited to persuade her, she still refused to come out. Seeing this, the servants of Ouyang Manor became even more convinced that the second miss had indeed planned to rendezvous with a man and falsely accused her own sister when found out. Lin Wanru exhausted every effort to suppress the rumors, but the more she tried to stifle them, the more exaggerated they became. Before long, everyone in the household realized that the balance of power had shifted.

As usual, Ouyang Nuan went to pay her respects to Old Madam Li. As she passed through the garden, a woman suddenly stepped forward, blocking her path. The other party bowed gracefully and spoke in a delicate voice, “Greetings, Eldest Miss.”

Ouyang Nuan looked at the woman before her. The other party was dressed in a honey-colored cotton jacket with a silver-fox-trimmed cape draped over her shoulders and a pale yellow embroidered skirt. Her features were delicate and her manner charming, exuding a warmth that seeped into the bone. This was none other than Concubine Zhou, the beauty gifted to Ouyang Zhi by his superior, the minister of personnel.

Concubine Zhou had been in the household for five years. When she first arrived, she had enjoyed considerable favor. However, with Lin Wanru’s methods, she was soon suppressed so thoroughly that she never had the chance to rise again. Though she no longer held Ouyang Zhi’s affections, she still relied on the fact that she was a gift from his superior, maintaining a tense rivalry with Lin Wanru. Clearly, Concubine Zhou had deliberately sought out Ouyang Nuan today, which piqued Ouyang Nuan’s curiosity. What could the other party possibly want?

With that thought, Ouyang Nuan smiled lightly and said, “Concubine Zhou, there is no need for such formalities.”

Though Ouyang Nuan’s tone was warm and pleasant, Concubine Zhou was visibly nervous. She looked up at the young lady before her. Though still young, Ouyang Nuan had an elegant and refined beauty that many noble ladies in the capital could not compare to. In the past, she had always sided with her stepmother, but after the recent incident, it was clear that she and Lin Wanru were not of one mind at all. In that case, didn’t that mean Concubine Zhou now had an opportunity?

As that thought crossed her mind, Concubine Zhou instinctively touched her stomach, feeling a surge of courage. “Eldest Miss, I have come specifically to see you.”

“Oh?” Ouyang Nuan tilted her head slightly, a hint of doubt in her expression, though her gaze carried an almost imperceptible trace of scrutiny.

Nanny Fang, standing nearby, fixed Concubine Zhou with a cold stare, her displeasure evident. What did she mean by coming specifically to see the young miss? If she had something to say, why not visit Tingnuan Pavilion? Why intercept the young miss in the garden in front of so many servants? Clearly, Concubine Zhou had an ulterior motive!

Under Nanny Fang’s piercing gaze, Concubine Zhou’s heart pounded wildly. She lowered her head in unease, momentarily questioning whether she had made the right decision. But it was too late to back down now. For the sake of her future, she had no choice but to take the gamble.

Steeling herself, Concubine Zhou suddenly dropped to her knees, pressing her forehead firmly against the cold ground as she pleaded in a trembling voice, “Eldest Miss, please save me!”