As Ziteng walked away, the maid seemed to suddenly remember something. She spoke up, “Miss, I was too flustered earlier. We have a resting area prepared for the dies in our household. It’s cold outside, and with your skirt soaked through, you might catch a chill. Why don’t you come with me to rest for a while? Once your maid returns with the clean skirt, you can change there directly.”

  “Oh?” Qin Shuying raised her brows with a faint smile, gncing at Qin Yunyun as if seeking her opinion.

  Qin Yunyun eagerly supported the idea. “Seventh Sister, this maid is right. Since our hosts have been so considerate, it would be ungrateful not to accept their kind gesture.”

  Qin Shuying hesitated for a moment before responding, “Since Sixth Sister says so, I’ll follow your advice. However, this is my first time at Duke Chu’s residence, and I’m not very familiar with the pce. I’m a little nervous. Sixth Sister, why don’t you come with me?”

  There was no way Qin Yunyun would go. While she desperately wanted the pn to succeed, she didn’t want to dirty her own hands. Instead, she gnced at Qin Fangfang.

  Qin Shuying, addressing Miss Liu and the others, said warmly, “Sixth Sister has always been so kind to me. When I was ill, she visited me every day without compint. Even when I was foolish st time, she didn’t hold it against me. Sixth Sister treats me the best.”

  Doesn’t Qin Yunyun love wearing a virtuous mask? Since she’s shown off her kindness and grace in front of these noble dies, how could I not py along?

  Qin Fangfang, already aware of today’s arrangements, eagerly seized the moment. “Seventh Sister, it’s been so long since Sixth Sister had the chance to chat with Miss Liu and the others. It’s rare for them to meet like this. Let me accompany you instead.”

  Qin Yunyun smiled and added, “That’s right. Miss Liu, it’s such a rare chance to spend time with you all. Caiyan, go with my seventh and eighth sisters to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

  According to the original pn, neither Qin Yunyun nor Qin Fangfang needed to accompany Qin Shuying personally. However, Qin Yunyun felt uneasy. If the maid who had been bribed didn’t carry out the task properly, they couldn’t do much to punish her. Since her mother had promised to deal with Qin Shuying harshly, and an opportunity like this was rare, Qin Yunyun was determined to ensure Qin Shuying’s total downfall.

  Having Caiyan accompany them served two purposes: she could report back in detail and also supervise Qin Fangfang.

  Qin Shuying’s expression remained calm as she smiled and followed the maid westward.

  At first, there were still people around, but as they walked further, the path became increasingly deserted. Qin Shuying, seemingly in good spirits, chatted with Qin Fangfang, asking about this and that, as if she had returned to her na?ve and innocent self. Qin Fangfang, preoccupied with her own thoughts, responded vaguely.

  Qin Shuying gnced around and finally spotted a figure in purple behind them. Her heart settled, and she decided to give her st performance. She turned to Qin Fangfang and said, “Eighth Sister, why haven’t we arrived yet? Let’s go back. If Grandmother and Aunt can’t find us, they’ll be worried.”

  Fearing Qin Shuying might actually turn back, Qin Fangfang quickly grabbed her arm. “No, no, no, we’re almost there!”

  After walking a bit further, Qin Shuying spoke again, “Eighth Sister, let’s really go back. This little tea stain isn’t a big deal, and no one will notice.”

  Annoyed, Qin Fangfang snapped, thinking to herself how fortunate it was that she had come along. Otherwise, with Qin Shuying’s hesitation and endless concerns, the maid would never have been able to lure her here. “How could it not be noticeable? We’re noble dies, and etiquette is of utmost importance. Even the smallest fw is unacceptable. Look, we’re here.”

  Sure enough, a red-roofed building appeared behind a rock garden. Winding past a cluster of pine trees, a solitary house stood outside the woods with its door ajar. This was the pce.

  Qin Shuying, having mentally calcuted their direction along the way, sneered inwardly. Behind this house was a wall, and beyond the wall y the outer courtyard. If her guess was correct, there would be a small gate nearby leading to the outer courtyard.

  If a drunken male guest happened to wander through that gate and into this house, and she just so happened to be inside…

  What a well-thought-out trap!

  “Ah!” Qin Shuying suddenly slipped and stumbled forward, crashing into the maid. The maid, caught off guard, was shoved forcefully to the ground, with Qin Shuying nding on top of her. “Oh no! Ouch!”

  Frustrated, Qin Fangfang signaled to Caiyan. Caiyan stepped forward to help Qin Shuying up, but Qin Shuying didn’t budge. Instead, she cried out loudly, “Eighth Sister, my leg, my leg… it hurts so much!”

  Qin Fangfang panicked and quickly covered Qin Shuying's mouth. “Don’t scream… You’re a noble dy! How embarrassing it would be if someone heard!”

  Afraid someone might actually hear and come over, aren’t you? Qin Shuying pretended to understand and nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. “Eighth Sister, my leg, my leg is twisted… It hurts so much!”

  The maid, caught off guard by the situation, was flustered and in pain herself. She forced herself to stand, only for Qin Shuying to speak again. “Dear sister, it feels like my leg might be broken. Could you please go find someone to carry me? Eighth Sister, this ground is so cold. You and Caiyan should help me into that house to rest while we wait for someone. By the time they come, Ziteng should have returned, and I can change my skirt.”

  The maid looked to Qin Fangfang for confirmation. Not wanting any further mishaps, Qin Fangfang nodded reluctantly. Supporting herself on Qin Fangfang’s arm, Qin Shuying stood up slowly and limped toward the house.

  Twenty steps, fifteen steps… Qin Shuying gnced back and saw the maid’s figure disappear into the pine grove. At the same time, a figure dressed in purple emerged from the shadows behind a rge tree.

  Ten steps, five steps… Qin Shuying’s sharp eyes caught the house’s details. The door had a hanging lock, but the interior didn’t seem to show signs of occupancy.

  Three steps, two steps, one step…

  Suddenly, Ziteng sprinted from the side, holding a thick wooden stick, and struck Caiyan hard on the head. Caiyan colpsed instantly.

  At the same time, Qin Shuying shoved Qin Fangfang into the house with great force. She then quickly stepped back over the threshold, and Ziteng smmed the door shut and twisted the lock, sealing it tightly.

  Qin Fangfang, completely unprepared for this turn of events, scrambled to her feet and rushed back to the door. She pulled at it frantically, but it was already locked. She banged on the door, shouting, “Open the door! Open the door!”

  Only silence answered her.

  Outside, Ziteng and Qin Shuying carried the unconscious Caiyan into the woods. Finally, they left her beneath a rge tree. Not yet satisfied, Ziteng struck Caiyan’s leg with the wooden stick, breaking it.

  After finishing, Ziteng said darkly, “I just checked through the back window. There’s a drunk man inside!”

  Though Qin Shuying had expected this setup, hearing Ziteng’s confirmation still made her clench her fists tightly. Ziteng’s expression grew even colder.

  “Qin Shuying, you wretched woman! Open the door for me!” Qin Fangfang’s enraged voice echoed from within. Even now, she didn’t understand why Qin Shuying had so willingly gone along with her pn, assuming it was some kind of prank. “Open the door! Open the door!”

  Qin Fangfang grew increasingly terrified, pounding on the door furiously. “You vile woman! Open the door!”

  Suddenly, a pair of strong, calloused hands wrapped around her waist. The heavy stench of alcohol filled the air as a man slurred, “Vile woman? Who’s calling for me here?”

  “Ahhh!” Qin Fangfang screamed in terror, struggling desperately. However, the man’s hands were powerful, and as a sheltered noble dy, she had no way to fight back.

  “My dear, come on. Let this lord love you properly…”