Ever since then, Qin Feifei had frequently visited the Lu residence. Publicly, it was said she came to visit her "sister," but in truth, she was meeting with Lu Changxuan in secret.

  Qin Yaoyao worked hard to conceal the matter. After all, Qin Feifei had been widowed two years prior, and such a murky retionship would bring not only shame to Feifei but also the harshest scrutiny on her own son, Feng'er. What would people think of him?

  Moreover, Lu Changxuan protected Qin Feifei fiercely, leaving Qin Yaoyao no room to speak. It was only then that she realized the truth: Lu Changxuan had always been in love with Feifei, the legitimate daughter, not her, the illegitimate one. Back then, Lu Changxuan was just a lowly schor, and as a fifth-rank official with real power, Qin Yongtao would never have married his legitimate daughter to him. So, Lu Changxuan married her instead but never let go of his feelings for Feifei, waiting until Feifei became a widow.

  Two months ago, something unimaginable happened—a staged scandal. She was found in bed with the steward, caught red-handed by none other than Lu Changxuan and Qin Feifei, who had brought along a group of servants to witness it!

  And it happened on the very day of her mother-in-w's birthday banquet. The entire city of the capital was abuzz with the disgraceful gossip.

  Her mother-in-w wanted to beat her to death, but after Qin Feifei’s tearful pleas, Qin Yaoyao was spared and sent to live with Feng’er in a small, secluded courtyard.

  Later, when Feng’er fell gravely ill with a persistent fever, she begged Qin Feifei for a doctor, only to be mocked. Helpless and untreated, Feng’er died.

  With her son gone, she wanted to follow him in death. But even that small wish was denied. No matter what method she used, Qin Feifei would always save her at the st moment, as if relishing her suffering. Lu Changxuan, meanwhile, hadn’t appeared once since she had been confined to the back courtyard.

  She still remembered, just a few days ago, learning from Qin Feifei’s own lips that the tragic deaths of her aunt, uncle, and their entire family were all connected to Madam Xu and her daughter.

  Qin Feifei had said smugly, “Second Sister, I have to thank you. Without your years of careful management, the Lu residence wouldn’t have the wealth it does today. Only because of you can I, as the Lu family’s matriarch, live in luxury and ease.

  “Thanks to you, Changxuan was able to reach where he is today. And let’s not forget, the countless silver you sent to the Qin family over the years—it saved Mother time and again and allowed Big Sister to thrive in the pace, navigating the court with ease.

  “So tell me, Second Sister, how should I repay you?”

  The maids were right. Everyone in the Qin family knew that Qin Yaoyao had spent her life working for others, crafting their success while believing in the illusion of her own happy marriage.

  Her aunt’s death. Her son Feng’er’s death. The extermination of her uncle’s family.

  Feng’er… her poor, sweet Feng’er.

  She could still feel the warmth of his small, soft body in her arms, hear his tender voice calling her “Mother,” and see his bright, radiant smile as if it were right in front of her.

  Tears blurred her vision, and her swollen eyes looked like ripened peaches. Yet, the tears wouldn’t stop. She bit down on her bnket, trying to muffle her sobs.

  What did she have left to lose? What was left to protect? Even if it meant descending into hell, she would exact justice for her loved ones!

  Tears dried on her face only to fall again as her body trembled uncontrolbly. Her teeth chattered, a constant, eerie ctter echoing in the room.

  Lu Changxuan, Madam Xu, Qin Feifei, Consort Lian… all of you who have wronged me, I’m back. Are you ready? You must stay well, for my vengeance has nowhere to go if you’re not alive to face it. Yes, stay well. Stay well. You must. You must.

  From this moment on, Qin Yaoyao was no more. In her pce was Qin Shuying, reborn from hell, living solely for revenge!

  Lying on the bed, Qin Shuying stared at the canopy above, lost in thought.

  Her body’s increasing frailty was undoubtedly tied to Madam Xu.

  Qin Yongzhou’s position as Salt Transport Commissioner was lucrative, and he was exceptionally clever. The businesses he had established had amassed a fortune, now all under Qin Shuying’s name. How could Madam Xu not be envious?

  If Qin Shuying were to die, her wealth would be absorbed into the Qin family’s communal treasury. As the matriarch of the Qin family, Madam Xu would have ample opportunity to secretly take a considerable portion for herself.

  Outwardly, Madam Xu maintained a reputation for being virtuous and kind. Even Qin Yaoyao had been deceived by her gentle facade, treating her as a confidant and turning to her for advice in times of crisis.

  But not anymore. Qin Shuying now saw through the lies.

  In the capital, anyone familiar with the social circles knew that Madam Xu had a reputation as a great phinthropist. She was known for her compassion toward the less fortunate and her charitable acts. Even the food, clothing, and education provided to the illegitimate sons and daughters under her care rivaled that of legitimate daughters.

  Because of this, Madam Xu’s treatment of Qin Shuying was a delicate bancing act. On one hand, she wanted to swallow up Qin Shuying’s wealth entirely; on the other, she had to maintain her reputation as a virtuous and kind woman. Thus, the manner in which Qin Shuying died would have to be handled very carefully.

  Hadn’t it been the same with Qin Yaoyao?

  Everyone in the capital knew Qin Yaoyao was condemned for her ck of virtue. Yet, Qin Yongtao and Madam Xu, out of their so-called love for their daughter, disregarded their dignity and begged the Lu family not to divorce Qin Yaoyao, pleading for her to be given a sembnce of honor. To atone for Qin Yaoyao’s "wrongdoing," they even offered to marry their legitimate daughter, Qin Feifei, into the Lu family.

  And now, from the maids’ earlier gossip, Qin Shuying learned that after Qin Yaoyao’s supposed act of self-immotion, Madam Xu had gone to a temple to personally pray for Qin Yaoyao’s next life, asking for her to have good fortune. Throughout the capital, Madam Xu’s actions were praised for their heartfelt sincerity and dedication.

  Self-immotion?

  That fire wasn’t Qin Yaoyao’s doing—it was set by either Lu Changxuan or Qin Feifei, because Qin Feifei was already pregnant.

  A low, angry voice interrupted the maids’ increasingly loud chatter:

  “What are you all standing around here for? Don’t you have work to do? Has Miss’s hot water been prepared?”

  That voice—it was the same one filled with concern and worry that Qin Shuying had vaguely heard during her delirium.

  At the sound, the maids scattered like startled birds and beasts. Soft footsteps paused for a moment beneath the eaves before a faint sigh was heard. Then, a middle-aged woman wearing a turquoise satin jacket embroidered with silver-thread patterns and a blue front-csped coat stepped into the room. She was around forty years old, her face etched with worry.

  This was Qin Shuying’s wet nurse, Nanny Fu.

  Thinking that Qin Shuying was still asleep, Nanny Fu walked to the bedside, tucked the bnket carefully around her, and let out another soft sigh.

  “Miss, the second miss passed away three days ago. They say she lost her mind and set herself on fire. But this old servant doesn’t believe it.

  "The madam is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, one who devours people and leaves nothing behind. And the third miss? She’s no less than a devil hiding behind a beautiful face. It’s clear as day that they killed the second miss.

  "But now, all the rumors outside are against the second miss. They say her scandal was exposed long ago, and to secure favor, she schemed to have her widowed younger sister marry her husband. They’re calling her selfish and maniputive, accusing her of using her widowed sister as a pawn. Everyone is spitting on her name!

  "But I don’t believe it! The second miss’s death was undoubtedly a trap set by that mother-daughter pair!

  “As, what use is it for this old servant to say all this? The second miss is already gone, and the third miss will soon become the official wife of the Lu family…”

  Qin Shuying’s fingers clenched tightly, her nails digging so hard into her palms that she didn’t even feel the pain. Her chest heaved as though stuffed with cotton, making it impossible to catch her breath. Her throat itched unbearably, as though countless insects were gnawing at it—

  “Cough, cough…”