Chapter 82: Another Cunning and Malicious Scheme Emerges

Xue Fanzhi recalled Wang Yunzhi's words; if she spoke out, it could implicate Wang Yunzhi in the murder of Prince Shou, which would be stirring up a hornet's nest.

No matter whether out of a sense that she should not meddle, or for other reasons, she should not tell the truth—to anyone.

Pressing her lips together, Xue Fanzhi shook her head. “I don’t know, I truly don’t know!”

But Xiao Yi knew her too well; she was not skilled at lying.

He had already guessed Wang Yunzhi was involved—when she changed her clothes!

Did Azhi not trust him, or was she trying to protect Wang Yunzhi? The thought pained Xiao Yi, but he still smiled gently at Xue Fanzhi and said, “Then I’ll wait for you.”

He told himself in his heart: there will be time in the future.

…

The Zhang family did come looking for Xue Fanzhi again. This time it was Lady Zhang herself, acting rather unreasonably, but Old Madam Xue was having none of it and refused to let them through the gate—she didn’t even let them into the courtyard.

Upon hearing this, Xue Fanzhi was deeply grateful to her grandmother. Apart from Xiao Yi, this was the first time she had felt the happiness of being protected by her own family. She was so delighted she could hardly sleep and called Hongxiao to play chess with her.

As for Honglian, it wasn’t just that she didn’t know how to play; even if she did, Xue Fanzhi wouldn’t have let her. Honglian still had a task to accomplish. After what happened to Fifth Lady Xue this time, Xue Fanzhi worried she might try something again, so she had Honglian keep an eye on her.

But before Honglian returned, as the lamps were being lit, Xue Fanzhi was treated to a good show—though she didn’t witness it herself. It was a matter between the third and fourth branches of the family.

Fifth Lady Xue and the Third Old Madam returned to her courtyard, and as grandmother and granddaughter sat together, the more they thought, the angrier they became. They could not figure out who had set them up.

It was obvious: Young Lord Xie had said a servant boy had passed a message to Fifth Lady Xue. Neither the Third Old Madam nor Fifth Lady Xue were fools; they felt Young Lord Xie had not lied, so someone truly had delivered a message to him. But who?

Though no one had mentioned Fifth Lady Xue by name, the message was passed in her name—otherwise how could Second Lady Xie have latched onto her so tenaciously?

It seemed as though someone was defending Fifth Lady Xue, but in truth, not at all. Between being ridiculed and being bitten by Second Lady Xie, Fifth Lady Xue would have chosen the former any day. Second Lady Xie was like a mad dog, and after all this, no matter how hard Fifth Lady Xue tried, she would never be able to marry into the Xie family.

This completely destroyed her hope for a good match with the Xie family.

So who was it, really?

The Third Old Madam did not know about Fifth Lady Xue’s scheme against Sixth Lady, so she simply could not imagine who had targeted the third branch. It couldn’t be the main branch; if they had wanted the third branch gone, they would never have made it as far as Jiankang.

If not the main branch or the second, then who?

Fifth Lady Xue narrowed her eyes, suddenly seeing things clearly. “It was the fourth branch!”

The Third Old Madam was skeptical. She disliked the fourth branch, certainly, but their sister-in-law was not only petty but timid as well—she wouldn’t dare.

“Could it be? Why would the fourth branch do such a thing?” The Third Old Madam simply couldn’t make sense of it.

Fifth Lady Xue saw no need to hide her thoughts from her grandmother and recounted how she had sent a message to Young Lord Xie. “At the time, Sixth Lady was very resistant—she turned on her heel and left. When I went to find her later, she refused to see me. I barged into her room, and she said, ‘Fifth Sister, I trusted you so much. We’re sisters—how could you take me to meet a strange man without telling me?’”

The Third Old Madam pursed her deeply wrinkled lips, looking like a steamed bun. “She wasn’t pleased? That was Young Lord Xie! You shouldn’t have passed on the message—you don’t know what’s good for you!”

Fifth Lady Xue replied, “I wasn’t doing it for her sake. I wanted to win Young Lord Xie’s trust, but all my effort was wasted and now Sixth Lady holds a grudge against me!”

The Third Old Madam also felt today’s opportunity had been a great pity. Her granddaughter could have married into the Xie family, if not for Second Lady Xie’s sharp tongue.

Fifth Lady Xue continued, “I was the one who sent someone to get Second Lady Xue to make things difficult for Sixth Lady. I heard Second Lady Xie’s initial target was indeed Sixth Lady—so how did it suddenly become Young Lord Xie being caught and the suspicion falling on me?”

The Third Old Madam’s face grew stern. “So it was Sixth Lady’s doing? But would she dare?”

It was Sixth Lady, not Fourth Lady. Fourth Lady might have dared, as she had the old lady of the fourth branch to back her, but Sixth Lady was not like that. If Xue Fanzhi from the main branch was honest and wooden, then Sixth Lady was silent and timid—how could she dare?

But Fifth Lady Xue was certain. “Who else but her? She must have borne a grudge over Young Lord Xie and got an unknown servant boy to impersonate me, just to get back at me!”

The Third Old Madam, always protective of her granddaughter, was immediately incensed. “That little wretch—how dare she?”

Fifth Lady Xue nodded. “She dared. She goes out once and, emboldened by her looks, flirts with the young gentlemen to raise her own worth. Now she dares anything!” Her expression darkened. “Grandmother, I want to get rid of Sixth Lady. I don’t want to see her face anymore. What’s so special about her? She’s got one nose and two eyes, nothing remarkable!”

“Get rid of her…” The Third Old Madam fell into contemplation. To get rid of Sixth Lady?

Fifth Lady Xue saw her opening and dropped her voice. “Grandmother, do you think Fourth Lady is the pillar of the fourth branch? No—it’s Sixth Lady. She’s the beauty.”

She was even more beautiful than Fifth Lady Xue, and since the two were about the same age, if Sixth Lady was not dealt with, she would always be an obstacle to Fifth Lady’s prospects. After all, everyone said Sixth Lady was prettier.

If that was the case, then she truly needed to be removed.

The Third Old Madam clenched her innermost false teeth and said in a low voice, “How do you plan to get rid of Sixth Lady?”

Fifth Lady Xue curled her lips with confidence. “By utterly destroying her—and blaming the main branch.”

By dusk, Sixth Lady Xue had already heard about Second Lady Xie’s outburst at her home. She felt a surge of relief—thank goodness she’d kept her distance from Young Lord Xie and rejected his advances, or she would have been the one unable to show her face today.

And as for Young Lord Xie, when trouble arose he shirked responsibility and pushed all the blame onto Fifth Lady. How could such a man be entrusted with one’s life?

Filled with lingering fear and relief, she finished her supper.

By then, darkness had fallen. Though it was meant to be a crescent moon, the moon was nowhere to be seen; only a few stars flickered. It was not so dark one could see nothing, but it was far from bright—a night on which one really ought not go out.

Sixth Lady Xue was preparing for bed when Huang Ying brought in a girl of thirteen or fourteen. “My lady, she’s from Eighth Lady’s quarters. She says she has something to discuss with you.”

Sixth Lady Xue had not yet slept, but her hair was already down, proof that it was indeed late.

Why would someone from Eighth Lady’s quarters come at such an hour?