Chen Wanqing nodded, her expression gradually calming.

Since things had come to this, she couldn’t be bothered to tamper with the scene. She simply locked the door and walked out with the others.

Suddenly, Chen Wanqing asked casually, as if making small talk, "I’ve been out running errands all day. Did anything happen in the village?"

One of the more outspoken women slapped her thigh. "Actually, something did happen! Today, the Li family from the county town came again. They came to break off the engagement with the third branch."

"And did they succeed this time?"

"Of course they did."

The group chattered excitedly, describing the scene to Chen Wanqing.

"You should have seen it. That Mr. Li was covered in blood. They said she had just been punished in the county town before she came straight here to break off the engagement. She made some harsh threats, too. Said she’d already endured thirty strokes with the board, so there was no other punishment she couldn’t handle. She said she doesn’t care if she lives or dies, but if anyone dares to threaten her over her son, she’ll put her life on the line to drag that person to hell with her."

"So my grandmother and the others were intimidated?"

"You bet they were! It wasn’t just your grandmother and the others. Even those of us who just went to watch the spectacle were scared stiff. The last time that Mr. Li came, she was such an impressive figure, dressed in silk, with a silver hairpin in her hair and a pair of large gold earrings. This time, she was just wearing coarse clothes, with blood from her backside and legs dripping down and soaking her lower half. She didn’t even seem to care. She just wiped a handful of blood onto her face. The sight was so horrifying, I’m sure I’ll have nightmares tonight."

"The engagement was broken off, but the betrothal gifts weren’t returned. Then again, I doubt there were many gifts to begin with. Otherwise, the old matriarch’s expression wouldn’t have been so ugly."

"And my cousin? How did she react? Did she cry? Did she make a scene?"

"She didn’t cry or make a scene. She never even showed her face."

Chen Wanqing returned to the Zhao residence and said to Zhao Jing, "I suspect Wanyue is behind this. From start to finish, she’s the one who has lost the most in this affair. She’s furious and can’t just let it go, so she would definitely find a way to vent."

Chen Wanqing then told him how Wanyue had tried to kill herself by banging her head against a wall the day before, emphasizing just how desperate she was to marry Li Cun.

’But this isn’t something she can decide on her own. She can call the shots at the old residence, but she can’t control the Li family. Mr. Li threatened them with her own life, and it’s not like Grandmother has a death wish. How could she dare to meet that head-on?’

’The engagement was called off despite her outrage, so Wanyue must be absolutely apoplectic.’

’Blinded by rage, she’d do something like sneak into our house and smash the place up for revenge. That’s absolutely something she’s capable of.’

’And because the Li family broke off the engagement, there was a new commotion for everyone to talk about. The laborers working next door were chattering away. Their loud voices would have provided cover for Wanyue’s movements, allowing her to pull it off undetected.’

’If Jing hadn’t gone back to the house and discovered it, all the evidence might have been washed away after a single rainfall. It would have been impossible to find the real culprit then.’

Zhao Jing thought the same, but he found even the mention of Chen Wanyue’s name repulsive.

"It has to be her. Only she would do something so vile. You didn’t go confront her—are you worried she’ll deny it to her dying breath? Or are you hoping to make Father and Mother see what those people are truly like and sever ties with the third branch completely?"

"First, it’s late and I can’t be bothered to get into a war of words with her. Second, my father has long been aware of what kind of people the third branch are. But he’s still clinging to the last shred of familial affection and refuses to cut ties. But Wanyue... she’s a time bomb, just like my mother said. She’ll hurt herself, she’ll hurt her own family, and those of us related by blood will get dragged down with her. Father’s official career is going well, and you and De’an have bright futures ahead of you. We can’t let her ruin all of that for you."

Chen Wanqing undressed and climbed into bed. "As for how to deal with this, let’s see what my father wants to do. My father isn’t made of clay. Do you think he’d let someone humiliate him so thoroughly and still cling to that shred of affection? I’m not worried about my father. It’s just thinking about our desecrated home that makes my heart ache."

"It’s just the contents that are ruined; the house itself is fine. Tomorrow, after your father has seen the scene, I’ll burn everything and replace it all. It will go back to being the warm, comfortable home you remember."

Chen Wanqing didn’t say anything, but her spirits were still low.

But she was on her period and had been utterly exhausted the last couple of days. After nestling in Zhao Jing’s arms for only a short while, she fell fast asleep.

Zhao Jing watched her as she slept, unable to resist kissing her pale cheeks again and again.

’In the end, it all comes down to me not being capable enough.’