The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

"Xu Qianhui, don't forget how good Aqing used to be to you! Go out and see for yourself, which young master would fan a woman with no status on a hot day, and which young master would threaten his mother for a penniless woman!"

With trembling hands, Madam Fu knocked Xu Qianhui's teacup to the ground and said sternly, "For the past three years, Aqing has had no intention of getting married. He finally agreed to this good match, do you really have the heart to drag him down with you?!"

The teacup shattered on the ground. Xu Qianhui sighed, "What a pity for such good tea."

She looked at Madam Fu.

"Aunt, I haven't told him all these years, so I won't let him know again."

"In any case, the Duke's Mansion took me in back then, which was a great kindness, and I cannot repay kindness with enmity."

Fu stared at her, as if trying to find flaws and lies in her face.

After a long pause, she softened her tone.

"You promise you won't ruin Aqing's marriage."

"I promise."

Madam Fu's complexion improved considerably.

It wasn't because of Xu Qianhui's promise. After all, someone who swore never to return to the capital had moved into the Duke's mansion. What did that promise mean?

She simply felt that Xu Qianhui's words made sense.

Three years have passed, and she hasn't revealed a single word, clearly wanting to secure a good future for herself.

As long as she isn't pushed too far, she has no reason to do something stupid that would ruin her life.

"In that case, after Mother passes away, I will give you another sum of money to settle our relationship."

Xu Qianhui immediately replied, "Aunt, please be careful with your words. The old lady will surely live to be a hundred years old."

Fu didn't seem to care at all: "As long as you understand what I mean."

"Then Ah Hui thanks Aunt in advance."

Xu Qianhui bowed and took her leave. As she crossed the threshold, she glanced out of the corner of her eye at the lake-blue hem of her skirt peeking out from behind the screen.

Lin Rulan is wearing this color today.

She heard everything, and that's good.

In fact, whether she swore an oath or made a guarantee, Xu Qianhui was not someone who was willing to keep a secret.

But any secret needs the right moment to be revealed.

She has enough patience to wait for the moment when she can reap the greatest benefits.

Moreover, it wasn't through her that the truth was revealed.

Only in this way can her grievances, pitifulness, brokenness, and forbearance be highlighted.

......

Back in the side room of Ci'an Hall, the room had clearly been tidied up.

The bedding on the bed was folded neatly, and even the towels in the bathroom had been replaced with new ones.

The two maids didn't bring the food over until lunchtime.

Xu Qianhui was a little curious about where they were when they weren't around.

Just as I was about to ask, Granny Fang walked in carrying a small Ru kiln dish, her steps light and graceful.

"Miss Xu is having her meal right now, what a coincidence."

She placed the small dish on the corner of the table; the dish contained four pieces of glistening, translucent water chestnut cake.

"The old lady is thinking of the young lady and specially sent this old servant to bring her some pastries to sweeten her mouth."

"A gift from the old lady must be of the finest quality." She bowed slightly. "Please thank the old lady for me, Granny."

"You're too kind, young lady."

Granny Fang smiled, turned her head and waved for the two maids to leave.

As soon as the door closed, Granny Fang's smile faded, and she lowered her voice.

"Miss, the second young master went out this morning with a black eye."

Xu Qianhui's hand, which was holding a pastry, froze in mid-air.

She knew perfectly well how he got this black eye after he climbed out the window last night.

Granny Fang continued, "As soon as he returned to the manor, he instructed people to tidy up the artificial hill and woodland next to the pond in the second branch of the family."

"Later, Miss Lin and Miss Qin will be coming to the manor to play, and the young master will also be there to join in the fun."

Xu Qianhui took a small bite of the water chestnut cake.

It's sweet and chewy, but doesn't have much flavor.

She picked up a silk handkerchief and wiped her fingertips: "What about the second young lady? Is she going?"

"The second young lady is not feeling well today and will be resting in the courtyard."

"Okay, I understand."

After swallowing the pastry in her mouth, Xu Qianhui looked at Granny Fang.

"I'm going to take a walk over there in a bit. I'd appreciate it if you could help me find a way to move all the servants around the artificial hill further away."

Granny Fang was a shrewd woman, and nodded in agreement: "This old servant understands."

After seeing Granny Fang off, Xu Qianhui ate some food casually and then put down her chopsticks.

She went into the inner room, took out the purse hidden in her riding clothes, and then went to the small kitchen of Ci'an Hall for a while.

Seeing that there was fresh chicken blood available, she put a bag of it in her bosom with moisture-proof oil paper to prevent it from solidifying.

Even after doing all this, she wasn't entirely at ease.

But she thought, if the truth of the world were hidden beneath filth, then the world would be far too dirty.

By laying out the facts one by one, she was giving them a choice.

......

The artificial hill is nestled against a pond built with Taihu stones.

In autumn, the pond water is so clear that you can see the bottom, and fish frolic among the swaying water plants and withered lotus leaves.

Neither of the brothers were present, and there were no servants around.

Qin Miaoyun sat on a low rock by the pond.

Today she wore an extremely delicate begonia-colored silk dress, and a red-gold filigree hairpin was inserted diagonally into her hair.

Despite her luxurious attire, she couldn't hide the sorrow on her face.

Lin Zhiwei comforted her gently, stroking her back repeatedly.

Xu Qianhui walked slowly toward the two of them and stopped by the pool.

Lin Zhiwei caught sight of Xu Qianhui and immediately straightened her posture.

"Weren't you kicked out of the manor? What are you still doing here!"

This morning when she went to the main courtyard of the mansion to pay her respects, the Duchess clearly promised that she would send this woman away.

Xu Qianhui said, "My aunt did have that intention, but the old lady stopped her."

Lin Zhiwei's expression turned very ugly.

She looked Xu Qianhui up and down, a cold glint in her eyes.

"Miss Xu, I know your background isn't good enough for any decent family, but the Duke's mansion is certainly not a place you can aspire to. To become someone's mistress is a shameful act. If word gets out, it will bring disgrace to your ancestors for eight generations."

"Even if you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about your future child. Don't let him be born with the stigma of being a mistress and hate you for being a heartless mother."

When the child was mentioned, Xu Qianhui's face turned cold for a moment.

She suppressed the coldness in her eyes, her tone flat and emotionless.

"I think you've misunderstood. I'm just a cousin of the Duke's family, invited back to take care of the old lady. I haven't been anyone's mistress, and I have absolutely no connection with your future husband."

Sitting on a low rock, Qin Miaoyun suddenly turned around, her eyes red-rimmed and tears still clinging to her eyelashes.

"Miss Xu, I know you had a secret engagement with the Second Young Master, but it doesn't count without his approval."

Xu Qianhui nodded: "I know."

She always knew.

For her marriage to Lin Zuo'an to take place, it must be in Jiangnan, a place under the control of her maternal grandfather.

The second wife only ever wanted to enter the mansion as a concubine.

Qin Miaoyun hastily wiped the corner of her eye.

"Since you understand everything, I only want to ask you one thing."

"Miss Xu, have you truly severed ties with the Second Young Master?"