Chapter Fifty: Cousin Qin Che

After dinner, Yue Lingjun sent Qingfeng to inform Lian Yue that they would be visiting their aunt in the afternoon, and asked her to prepare and send word when ready.

Lian Yue consulted Lanshui for her opinion. Seeing that she was reluctant to go, Lian Yue did not press her. In fact, her intention was to go ahead first and observe the situation, so she only brought Zizhu along.

Meeting her elder brother at the gate, she adamantly refused to ride in a carriage this time. Fortunately, the Yue family’s residence was only separated from the Qin family’s by two alleys, so Yue Lingjun simply accompanied her on foot.

Upon reaching the Qin family’s gatehouse, it seemed their aunt had made special arrangements, for a young servant immediately led them inside.

Lian Yue’s uncle was the magistrate of Heluo Prefecture, and the courtyard was arranged with unmistakable taste. But Lian Yue had no mind for such details now; her thoughts were entirely occupied with how best to respond to whatever might arise.

Lost in thought, she did not notice when they’d entered a grand hall, and only snapped back to herself when Zizhu nudged her from behind.

She found that all eyes in the room were fixed on her. The maids standing nearby struggled to maintain their composure, while a graceful matron of fifty or so, still retaining her beauty, sat with a face full of loving affection. Lian Yue, unaware of what had just transpired, could only stand awkwardly in place, feeling somewhat wistful for her second brother—if only he were here.

But reality was that Meng Chuchen was not present, so Lian Yue could only wish it so in her heart.

She had not seen much of this aunt, but in her recollection, the woman had always doted on her. Just as now—the look on her face was all tenderness, without a trace of reproach.

“Why, Lian Yue, have you forgotten your aunt?” the beautiful woman chided gently.

Lian Yue, hearing the warmth in her voice, responded with a playful pout, “How could I? How would I dare!”

Her aunt beckoned her closer with a smile. “Come here, dear child, come to your aunt.”

Lian Yue obediently approached, her hands quickly clasped tight by her aunt. Lian Yue felt herself scrutinized from head to toe at least three or four times before her aunt finally spoke: “Mm! I always said you’d grow into a beauty. And so you have!”

“Mother is quite right—she’s truly lovely,” came a fawning voice.

The gentle expression on the matron’s face hardened in an instant. She shot a sidelong glare at the woman who had spoken and scolded, “When your elders are speaking, what business have you to interrupt? All these years and still you’ve learned no manners.”

Lian Yue glanced at the woman thus rebuked, who fell silent and blushed, her appearance delicate and modest, in her early twenties, and clearly not a maid. The sight of her being so cautious stirred a pang of pity. Who was she, to be so disliked by her aunt and scolded openly before them all?

“Mother, there’s no need to make such a fuss—Jingru was only praising cousin a little,” came another voice.

This one, Lian Yue recognized immediately: her cousin Qin Che, the very one who had wounded Sister Lan so deeply. Now he seemed to be protecting only the same woman who had once appeared out of nowhere and snatched him away from Sister Lan.

Lian Yue’s gaze grew cold. For all her usual gentleness and wit, she was not one to forgive those who hurt her loved ones. Whatever the reasons of the past, now that fate had brought them face to face, she would not let things pass easily.

Suppressing the chill in her eyes, Lian Yue feigned curiosity as she asked her aunt, “Aunt, who is this? Do I know her?”

Yue Shiru’s expression, which had been laced with distaste, softened at once as she looked at Lian Yue. “Who else could it be? Just your muddleheaded cousin bringing her home.” Then, glancing at her son, fiercely protective of his wife, she added, “Do I need your permission to discipline her?”

Lian Yue put on an air of sudden realization. “Oh, now I remember. She’s the one who years ago sold herself on the street to bury her father, and after cousin gave her a silver ingot, she shamelessly clung to the Yue family, playing the pitiable waif, tricking cousin into sympathy until she finally climbed into his bed.”

Though brief, Lian Yue’s words laid bare that past in its most sordid form. The Qin family’s servants all lowered their heads, eyes fixed on the ground, while the woman called Jingru staggered as if about to fall, only to be caught by Qin Che.

This scene was a thorn in Lian Yue’s eye, and her gaze toward Qin Che sharpened.

Qin Che, having ensured his beloved was unharmed, turned on Lian Yue in displeasure. “Cousin, no matter what, Jingru is now your sister-in-law. How can you speak of her so?”

Lian Yue glanced at her aunt, who was calmly sipping tea and made no move to intervene. With a mocking curl of her lips, she retorted, “Sister-in-law? When did I ever recognize her as such? With her sorry state, she’s hardly fit to be called the sister-in-law of Yue Lian Yue!”

“She is my wife. I am your cousin. Jingru is therefore your sister-in-law,” Qin Che replied, feeling Jingru tremble in his arms and holding her tighter, his displeasure plain.

“Cousin, ever since your wedding, the refined and gentle Qin Che I knew ceased to exist for me. May I ask, just what sort of cousin are you supposed to be to me now?” Lian Yue’s words cut deep.

Yue Shiru paused briefly in her tea, but soon resumed as before, indulging Lian Yue’s misbehavior.

“Lian Yue, enough nonsense!” Yue Lingjun, who had been silent since Lian Yue recovered herself, now rebuked her with a dark expression.

But Lian Yue knew his anger was not for her, but rather for Qin Che and the woman he clung to so protectively.

She arched a brow, feigning petulance. “Brother, how was I wrong? The cousin I know only ever had Sister Lan in his heart.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Qin Che stiffen at the mention of Sister Lan, his grip on Li Jingru slackening. Hmph, only now does he remember Sister Lan. “A cousin like that would never marry another woman.”

Li Jingru, who had been wilting in Qin Che’s embrace, now timidly piped up, “Is Sister Lan well?”

That was the last straw. Lian Yue’s anger flared, her murderous intent undisguised. “And what right have you, wretched maid, to speak Sister Lan’s name?”

“Yue Lian Yue!”

“Lian Yue!”

Both rebukes rang out, but Qin Che’s was tinged with anger, while Yue Lingjun’s was merely for show.

By now, Lian Yue considered Qin Che entirely lost to Li Jingru’s camp and gave him not a shred of courtesy. “Oh? Cousin, have you forgotten how she once sold herself to the Yue family just to get close to you? Though Sister Lan later tore up her contract, the fact remains. You expect me to address a servant as sister-in-law? Dream on—I simply cannot!”

Watching Li Jingru bite her lip in anger at being called a “wretched maid,” and Qin Che’s face growing livid, Lian Yue felt deeply satisfied.

“Is your anger appeased now?” Yue Shiru finally spoke, her tone utterly free of reproach. Instead, she handed Lian Yue the teacup she’d been cooling for so long, smiling. “Come, have some tea to soothe your throat. No need to harm yourself over someone unworthy.”

Lian Yue accepted the cup from her aunt’s hand and drank it all in one go. Indeed, her throat was parched after so long—she sweetly replied, “Thank you, Aunt!”—all traces of her former fierceness vanished.

“You child, what’s with this formality between us?” Yue Shiru chided gently, though her words were rich with affection. “If you can’t even stand, why linger here making a spectacle of yourself? Isn’t it shameful enough already?” Her tone was unchanged, but now carried a colder edge, her gaze never wavering from Lian Yue.

At these words, Li Jingru quickly disentangled herself from Qin Che’s arms, lowered her head and replied, “Daughter-in-law takes her leave.” Yet her mother-in-law paid her no heed, so she had no choice but to step away. But after only a step, she stumbled and leaned heavily on Qin Che.

Qin Che hesitated, then said, “I’d better take her back.”

Yue Shiru acted as though she hadn’t heard, ignoring him entirely.

Qin Che sighed, supporting Li Jingru as they left.

No sooner had their figures vanished from the doorway than Yue Shiru muttered in exasperation, “Truly a disappointing son.”

Lian Yue, seeing the anger in her aunt’s brows, realized her aunt cared deeply. “Aunt…”

Looking between Lian Yue and Yue Lingjun, Yue Shiru finally tried to excuse her son, “Don’t blame your cousin too much. After all, they’ve shared a bed for years, and she’s good at playing the victim.”

Since her aunt said so, Lian Yue could only nod in agreement, puzzled. “Can’t cousin see through her?”

Yue Shiru sighed. “What if he can? What if he can't? In the end, he simply refuses to believe it.”

Startled, Lian Yue exchanged glances with Yue Lingjun. Wasn’t cousin forced back then? But from her aunt’s words, it seemed he truly cared for her. The tension just now did not seem feigned.

Yue Lingjun’s face, already dark, grew even gloomier.

“By the way, how has Lanshui been these years? Did she not come along this time?” her aunt’s voice sounded close at hand.

Lian Yue withdrew her gaze. “She did come, but before we left I asked her, and perhaps she did not wish to see cousin. She specially asked me to send her regards to you.”

“That child…” Lian Yue could see her aunt’s concern was genuine. “After so many years, why has she not let go? If not for that time…”

Yue Shiru paused and sighed, “In the end, I was simply not destined to have her as a daughter-in-law.”

Lian Yue knew what her aunt meant. At the time, it was Grandmother Qian’s birthday, and her uncle had returned with her aunt for the celebration. Upon learning of the affair between Lanshui and Qin Che, her aunt had been more than satisfied—she had already regarded Lanshui as her future daughter-in-law. After the trouble with Li Jingru, her aunt had even intended to handle her personally, but Lanshui’s soft heart had dissuaded her.

Her aunt had hoped to resolve matters privately, but somehow the matter reached her uncle, a rigid and stubborn man. In his view, since Qin Che had compromised a young woman’s reputation, he must take responsibility, which allowed Li Jingru to seize her opportunity. Her aunt was unable to prevail against her uncle, and the two had quarreled bitterly over it. Qin Che, realizing his guilt and cowed by his father's authority, dared not resist, causing Sister Lan heartbreak.

Perhaps her aunt’s attitude toward Li Jingru was partly for Sister Lan’s sake.