After presenting the gifts, the Qin and Chen families declined Steward Cao’s offer to stay for rest and prepared to take their leave.
“There’s no need to send anything more for us— Ban Qin has already delivered everything to our side,” they said with a smile.
Steward Cao and Ban Qin smiled in return, bowing and repeatedly expressing their thanks as they personally escorted the guests out of the city. The lively and grand procession along the way attracted considerable curiosity, with onlookers pointing, discussing, and inquiring about the occasion.
“So, it really is the family of Chen Shao…” First Master Cheng sat in the hall, listening to the steward’s report, his face turning pale.
The steward lowered his head and acknowledged the statement.
“There’s more,” he hesitated before continuing.
“Whatever it is, speak quickly,” First Master Cheng urged.
“The family of Zhang Jiangzhou…” the steward stammered.
First Master Cheng felt another pang of tightness in his chest.
“His family also sent someone?” he asked, gripping his teacup.
Why was the Zhang family involved as well? What in the world was going on?
The steward nodded.
“However, unlike the Chen and Qin families, the Zhang family said they were delivering gifts on behalf of a maid!” he said cheerfully.
First Cheng raised his hand and splashed the tea in his face.
“What difference does it make? Why hasn’t a maid from the Zhang family come to deliver gifts to you?” he shouted.
The steward fell silent, not daring to speak or wipe the tea from his face.
First Master Cheng stood up and began pacing back and forth.
What on earth had happened in the capital? Why was that fool suddenly receiving such favor from so many prominent families? Was it because of the Zhou family’s connections?
Bah.
First Master Cheng inwardly scoffed at the thought. If she had managed to deceive some distant, insignificant branches of those families—those who were desperate for money and beneath notice—into forming connections, it might have been possible. But to have servants openly arriving with their masters’ name cards, proudly announcing their family names to deliver New Year’s gifts? Not even one Zhou family, let alone ten, could ever command such respect!
What exactly had happened in the capital?
Meanwhile, at the Wang residence, First Madam Cheng was wiping away tears as she asked the very same question.
In the room, besides Madam Wang and Master Wang, Old Madam Wang was also present.
“Since we’re all family, there’s no need to hide anything from your sister. Tell her quickly,” said Old Madam Wang.
Madam Wang looked somewhat embarrassed.
“We haven’t been hiding anything…” she stammered.
Before she could finish, First Madam Cheng interrupted her.
“Fine, I’ll leave now and never set foot in your home again. I’d forgotten that I’m just a married-off daughter—like spilled water, never to be reclaimed,” she cried, rising to her feet as if to depart immediately.
Everyone hurried to stop her.
“We truly haven’t kept anything from you. We’ve only heard bits and pieces—apparently, that Lady Cheng seems to know some kind of mystical arts, like healing illnesses or something,” Master Wang spoke up. “Without witnessing it ourselves, and with only old servants repeating hearsay, we couldn’t confirm what was true or false. How could we have explained it to you? Besides, even if we had, would you have believed it?”
She knows mystical arts? And can heal illnesses?
First Madam Cheng stopped crying, stunned by the revelation.
Mystical arts…
If she had heard this before, she would never have believed it. But now, under these circumstances…
First Master Cheng’s words flashed through her mind:
And don’t even mention that Abbess Sun. How could she possibly suppress that fool? She even bowed in deep reverence to her!
If her mystical arts weren’t superior, why would she kowtow to her?
“I believe it,” First Madam Cheng said.
Her response took the Wang family by surprise.
She actually believes such a thing?
But perhaps it was for the best. Master Wang and his wife breathed a sigh of relief.
“What else?” First Madam Cheng pressed, her eyes sharp as she looked at Master Wang and Madam Wang. “If this was enough to win your favor, what made you change your minds?”
“Shi’qi simply wasn’t willing,” Madam Wang replied.
First Madam Cheng let out a cold laugh.
“Don’t forget, I am also a member of the Wang family. I share the same blood,” she said. “Do you think I don’t know what the Wang family is truly like?”
Madam Wang fell silent, visibly embarrassed.
“We’ll tell you, but you mustn’t be frightened,” Master Wang said after a moment of hesitation.
First Madam Cheng scoffed.
“What in this world could still scare me? I’ve already endured so many shocks!” she retorted.
“She killed someone,” Master Wang stated bluntly.
First Madam Cheng didn’t react at first, staring at him in stunned silence.
“What?” she asked, disbelief in her voice.
“She killed someone—two people, in fact,” Master Wang repeated, holding up two fingers.
Killed someone…
First Madam Cheng’s expression turned to one of shock, and the chaos that had once erupted at home echoed in her ears.
Murder! Murder! She had a bow and arrows—she almost killed me…
So it was true—she had actually killed someone?
“Shi’qi saw it with his own eyes. And she did it cleanly and efficiently. It wasn’t even clear whether those two men truly posed a threat to her, but she struck first without hesitation. She’d rather kill by mistake than let a single one escape,” Master Wang explained. Recalling the old servant’s description, he spoke as though he had witnessed it himself.
A dark night, raging flames, fierce winds—a girl with a longbow in hand, arrows flying like shooting stars. It was just as the poem described: swift as a meteor, taking a life with every ten steps, leaving no trace behind for a thousand miles, brushing off her robes once the deed was done.
First Madam Cheng’s face grew slightly pale.
“Is it true?” she asked.
Master Wang nodded, a hint of regret in his expression.
If only she were my son… No, wait—if only she were my daughter.
Old Madam Wang murmured a Buddhist chant.
“No wonder Shi’qi returned so terrified, hysterical and convinced he was going to die,” she said. “Bringing someone like that into the family—who knows when one might lose their life!”
“That’s why there was simply no other way. We didn’t want to put you in a difficult position, but Shi’qi… To be honest, he’s attempted hanging twice already,” Madam Wang added, dabbing at her tears.
First Madam Cheng’s expression softened.
“Why would you hide such an important matter from me?” she said.
Madam Wang and Master Wang exchanged a glance, a hint of relief passing between them.
“We didn’t want to add to your burdens, especially with everything already going on in your household,” Madam Wang explained.
“You must cut ties with that fool as soon as possible. It’s best to drive her out—don’t keep her around. She’s nothing but a curse,” Old Madam Wang urged anxiously. “I’ve always said that child is ill-omened. She never should have been kept in the first place. One by one, she’ll bring ruin…”
“Oh, Mother, please don’t say anymore. This is already difficult enough for Sister,” Madam Wang interjected quickly.
First Madam Cheng sighed. Now that the truth was clear, she had no desire to stay any longer.
“Look at how pale and worn out you are,” Old Madam Wang said, her heart aching for her daughter. “Stay here and rest for a few days.”
“Rest? I’ve already been away for two days. Who knows what else has happened at home in the meantime,” First Madam Cheng replied with a sigh as she rose to take her leave.
Master Wang and Madam Wang personally escorted her out, watching as the carriage rattled slowly through the gates. The couple exchanged a glance once it was out of sight.
“Was it right to deceive her like that…?” Madam Wang hesitated.
Master Wang cut her off.
“Which part was a deception? Didn’t we tell her everything?” he said. “Did we not mention the healing? Did we not mention the killings on the road?”
Madam Wang paused, then nodded thoughtfully. It was true—they had disclosed everything. A faint smile touched her lips.
“Let’s not trouble ourselves too much with her family affairs. You should focus on how to collaborate with Lady Cheng instead. Who knows what might capture her interest…” she said lightly.
Master Wang nodded and stepped back inside.
As dusk began to settle, First Madam Cheng, who had rushed back without pause, arrived home. Without even taking a moment to wash away the weariness of her journey, she hurried to share what she had learned with First Master Cheng.
“She knows mystical arts and can heal? And she even dared to kill on the road?” First Master Cheng exclaimed in astonishment.
“Yes, it seems she’s managed to intimidate all those families with such tricks,” First Madam Cheng replied, letting out a sigh. “This kind of thing isn’t all that rare—I’ve heard of it before. Sometimes a man or woman who’s a fool or mute suddenly becomes possessed by some spirit, gaining the power to heal and see into matters. Since she’s a simpleton, it actually suits her quite well.”
First Master Cheng looked at her, his expression tinged with helplessness.
“You spent two days away, only to come back deceived like this?” he asked, shaking his head with a cold laugh. “That brother of yours is truly ruthless and recognizes neither kin nor reason. It’s best you don’t go there again.”
First Madam Cheng was left utterly bewildered by his words.
“If she were truly relying on mystical arts to heal, would those families have come to propose marriage?” First Master Cheng retorted, shaking his head.
Such charlatans and practitioners of dubious arts could never openly enter the respectable gates of prominent families, let alone be sought after for marriage by those of high status.
First Madam Cheng suddenly understood, yet she also felt a surge of frustration.
“This… this…” she stammered, her mind in disarray.
How could this be? How had she failed to see something so obvious?
“It’s not difficult to figure out. They didn’t exactly lie to you—they just told half the story,” First Master Cheng said with a dismissive snort. “That girl must indeed possess some healing ability. Regardless of her methods, she evidently managed to cure someone within one of those families.”
He paused briefly in thought.
“Perhaps it was the Qin family, the Chen family, or one of the other families that came to propose.”
First Madam Cheng listened in stunned silence.
“But she also killed people,” she said. “Shi’qi was terrified out of his wits—that’s why he called off the engagement.”
“The part about killing wasn’t a lie,” First Master Cheng replied. “That girl is highly skilled with a bow. If she had the intent, killing would not be beyond her capabilities.”
He stroked his beard thoughtfully and nodded.
“Shi’qi witnessed it himself… which means they found out after returning…” he murmured to himself. “…The Qin family sent someone after their return… yet they only refused the marriage proposal very recently…”
At this, he let out a cold laugh and slapped the table.
“Calling off the engagement because of this? If Shi’qi was frightened by the killing, do you really think your brother would be scared? He’d probably be thrilled! In my opinion, it’s precisely because of this that they’re so eager to secure the marriage!”
First Madam Cheng stared at him, growing even more confused.
“Think back—how did your sister-in-law behave when the Qin family’s people arrived that day? What exactly did she say to you?” First Master Cheng asked, his expression stern.
What had been said at the time?
When she first arrived, her sister-in-law had seemed somewhat uneasy, her complexion not quite right, and she had hesitated as if there was something difficult to say… Then came the news that the Qin family’s representatives had arrived…
There were plenty of people with the surname Qin in the world—who could have immediately guessed which specific family it was? Yet Madam Wang had identified them without hesitation…
That could only mean she already knew something—at the very least, she was aware of some connection between the Qin family and Cheng Jiao-niang.
Then she had blurted out that the marriage should be hastened, and afterward, she had pulled her aside, insisting that it was all arranged by the Zhou family and repeatedly urging her not to agree…
First Madam Cheng clenched her fists, her face turning ashen.
No matter how prestigious those families were, they had nothing to do with her Cheng family… In the end, she had merely paved the way for the Zhou family.
People always have to look out for themselves, after all.
Yes—no matter how influential those families were, they had nothing to do with the Wang family either. They had simply been used to benefit the Cheng family. People always have to look out for themselves…
With a sharp cry of fury, First Madam Cheng violently overturned the table in front of her and hurled it away.
Liars! Liars! All of them—liars! And worst of all, they’re our own kin deceiving us!
What kind of family affection is this? What kind of relatives? They’re all frauds! Every last one of them—utter scoundrels!
