Chapter 13 He Secretly Switched and Hid Her Pouch’s Beaded Chain…

Chapter 13

He had secretly swapped and kept her pouch’s beaded tassel...

Zhu Yinluan looked again carefully—Shen Jingzhan wasn’t glancing in her direction at all. He had merely turned slightly to accept a wine cup offered by someone beside him.

It was the screen obscuring her view that had made her misinterpret his movement.

Of course, why would Shen Jingzhan look over here?

The earlier incident was nothing more than a trivial interlude.

Suppressing her doubts, Zhu Yinluan lowered her head and continued eating, focusing on Wei Mingyan’s words.

Before parting, Wei Mingyan gifted Zhu Yinluan plenty of tonics and fine fabrics, and offered many words of comfort as well.

Just as the carriage departed and entered an alley, it was abruptly stopped by someone chasing after it.

Ming Ya whispered through the carriage curtain, "Miss, it’s a maid from the Lu household." The Lu family was Wei Mingyan’s marital home.

"What?"

Puzzled, Zhu Yinluan lifted the curtain to look, only catching sight of the other party’s retreating figure.

"Miss, this is a brocade box they delivered, saying it’s something you left behind at the residence."

Zhu Yinluan took the box.

Upon opening it, she found the beaded tassel from her waist pouch.

When had it fallen off? It couldn't have been at the banquet.

If it had been lost at the banquet, why hadn’t Wei Mingyan returned it to her before she left, instead sending someone to deliver it now?

Besides, this tassel chain wasn’t particularly valuable, nor did it bear any engravings—how would Wei Mingyan have known it belonged to her?

Could it have fallen off while she was watching the koi in the back courtyard?

If that were the case, then it made sense.

But if it had indeed fallen there, there was no mistaking who had found it.

It was him...

If it was him, then he must have arranged for its return?

Though worried about propriety, the thought of Shen Jingzhan’s impeccable character inexplicably put her at ease.

"Miss, what is it?" Ming Ya asked.

"Nothing, just the beaded tassel from my pouch. I must’ve dropped it earlier." Without another glance, she closed the box and put it away.

"I see." Ming Ya asked no further.

Meanwhile, in the Shen family carriage heading the opposite direction...

The man lounged lazily, absentmindedly toying with the genuine beaded tassel chain—that rightfully belonged to its owner—in his palm.

Recalling how her eyes had widened in surprise when she looked at him earlier...

Calling her a startled rabbit wasn’t wrong...

Before Zhu Yinluan could return to the Wei residence, she was met by a maidservant sent to fetch her at the gate.

The usual excuse: her elder sister had quarreled with Luo Xuan, and she was needed to mediate.

In the past, Zhu Yinluan might have gone, but today her mood was pleasant, and she didn’t wish to be disturbed. Citing poor health, she deferred the matter until the next day.

The maidservant persisted, "Third Miss, you must come this time."

Leaning closer, she whispered, "The eldest young lady and her husband are in a terrible fight—they’re even threatening divorce!"

Though startled by the word "divorce," Zhu Yinluan still politely refused.

She assumed it was just said in anger. Back then, Luo Xuan had fallen for her sister at first sight and worked tirelessly to win her favor. Even if he truly grew to resent her now, he would still think of the Zhu family’s standing and hesitate to divorce.

But the maidservant pulled at her sleeve insistently, insisting things had gone too far this time.

Seeing Zhu Yinluan’s reluctance, the woman leaned in again and uttered one more sentence.

Zhu Yinluan went pale with shock.

"...How could this be?"

On the way to the Luo residence, Zhu Yinluan wondered what she should do about the situation upon arrival.

But what could she do? This was her sister’s marriage matters—what place did a younger sister have to interfere in her elder sister’s household?

"Has Mother been informed?" she asked the maidservant.

"We meant to, but Madam had gone out earlier to attend a banquet at the Duke’s residence. She must still be there now."

"What about Second Brother?" she asked.

"The Second Young Master had gone with the master to visit General Feng. He won’t return anytime soon."

With no one else to turn to at home, they had come to get her.

Otherwise, with something this serious, why wouldn’t the maidservant have sought help from the family first?

She knew full well that Zhu Yinluan and her elder sister weren't on good terms.

"Third Miss, will you go alone? Or should we notify your husband?"

Should they summon Wei Ruzuo as well?

Zhu Yinluan refused. "My husband said when he left this morning he had important business. He didn’t even attend his younger sister’s banquet—he probably can’t come here either."

The maidservant muttered, "Given how serious this is, Lord Wei might just come. After all..."

Displeasure flared in Zhu Yinluan’s chest. She wanted to demand what the woman meant by "after all."

These were old matters. If the maidservant truly cared for the reputations of the Zhu, Wei, and Luo families, she ought to know what should and shouldn’t be said...

But since this maidservant served Mrs. Zhu, the main wife, Zhu Yinluan couldn’t rebuke her.

Biting back her anger, she said nothing and closed her eyes.

Seeing this, the maidservant pursed her lips. "..." When they were nearly at the Luo residence, the woman surreptitiously sent someone to notify Wei Ruzuo regardless.

Upon entering the main hall of the Luo residence, Zhu Yinluan was startled by the sight of a woman standing at the center, holding a child.

This woman bore a striking resemblance to her elder sister...

No, to be precise, it was her elder sister who resembled *her*.

Was this Luo Xuan's long-cherished Bai Mingyue?

"Little sister, you've come just in time! Please judge for me—is he even human to treat me this way?" Zhu Chentan was weeping again. This time, she stood up and pulled Zhu Yinluan over, demanding she take her side.

Zhu Yinluan felt awkward. She first greeted Luo Xuan, who looked visibly irritated, before standing beside Zhu Chentan to console her.

The woman standing in the center of the hall with the child had no standing yet. She bowed to Zhu Yinluan, who gave a slight nod in return, her gaze briefly sweeping over the child the woman shielded.

The child appeared rather big, timid, with shifty eyes that studied Zhu Yinluan. There was indeed a slight resemblance to Luo Xuan.

Luo Xuan rubbed his temples, listening to Zhu Chentan's tearful complaints. He wanted everyone to sit down, but Zhu Chentan refused, even insisting the woman and child be thrown out.

Zhu Yinluan tried to soothe her, urging her to speak calmly—perhaps there was some misunderstanding?

Zhu Chentan sobbed uncontrollably. "What misunderstanding?! Whose side are you on—mine or hers? Did you come here to help me or not?"

Zhu Yinluan was getting a headache. What good would all this crying and shouting do? It was just exhausting for nothing.

Yet she didn’t know what else to do. Her elder sister had been spoiled by their stepmother and father. At home, she had always been this way—throwing tantrums whenever things didn’t go her way, refusing to relent until she got what she wanted.

Zhu Yinluan coaxed quietly beside her, saying that crying like this would strain her eyes and ruin her beauty, making her the laughingstock of noble society. If word got out, it would be disastrous.

Zhu Chentan seemed to listen to some of it, reluctantly quieting down.

After a while, just as Luo Xuan was about to speak, a maid announced that Mrs. Luo had arrived.

At this, Zhu Chentan immediately quieted down and stood up alongside Luo Xuan.

The group bowed and greeted Mrs. Luo.

"What on earth is going on here?" Mrs. Luo glanced at Zhu Chentan’s red, tear-stained eyes.

Zhu Yinluan clearly saw the suppressed displeasure beneath her composed expression, but her elder sister, too distraught, seemed oblivious.

"Mother-in-law, you must back me up!" Zhu Chentan didn’t even question why Mrs. Luo had been alerted. She immediately launched into accusations, saying Luo Xuan had a woman on the side—this woman had been with him long before she married into the family, and they even had a child together! Now he actually brought them home!

"Look at the mess you’ve made!" Mrs. Luo, upon hearing this, slapped Luo Xuan across the face.

Zhu Yinluan quickly lowered her eyes, trying to make herself small.

Witnessing her elder sister’s family drama was as awkward as she had feared when coming here. She hadn’t expected Mrs. Luo to strike her own son right in front of her, his sister-in-law.

Seeing Luo Xuan struck, the woman stepped forward as if to intervene, but Luo Xuan gave her a warning look, signaling her to stay back and remain silent.

The exchange of glances just made Zhu Chentan angrier.

"How could you do something so disgraceful to Chentan? She has been married into our Luo family for nearly four years—hardworking, obedient, and tolerant in managing the household, keeping everything in perfect order. Is this how you repay her? Have you forgotten the vows you made when you welcomed her into our home—?"

Mrs. Luo went on and on scolding Luo Xuan, pointing at his head.

Zhu Yinluan listened quietly.

This was likely all an act—but for whose benefit? Her elder sister’s, of course.

On the surface, it seemed like Mrs. Luo was standing up for Zhu Chentan, but in reality, it was a tactic of "setting her up for a fall." First, she would elevate Zhu Chentan with flattery, setting the stage.

The words "hardworking, obedient, and tolerant" were particularly ironic.

By chastising Luo Xuan under the guise of defending Zhu Chentan, Mrs. Luo was buttering her up before applying pressure.

Having spent over a decade as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, she knew Zhu Chentan was obsessed with saving face. Scolding Luo Xuan in front of everyone was meant to give her a chance to save face.

But after this "sweetness" would come the "slap."

Zhu Yinluan’s hunch was spot-on. After reprimanding Luo Xuan, Mrs. Luo turned to Zhu Chentan and said, "This was his fault, and I’ve already given him an earful for you. Nothing like this will happen again."

"But now that the mistake has been made... the child is already born, after all, and it is a Luo by blood. You... your health has been poor for years and have no children of your own. Why not raise this child as your own? In the future—"

Zhu Chentan immediately grasped Mrs. Luo’s intention. Flattered by her earlier defense, her temper flared up, and she interrupted Mrs. Luo before she could finish. "Absolutely not!"

Her words were harsh—she even called the child a "bastard."

The moment the word was out, the expressions of everyone present darkened.

Especially Mrs. Luo’s.

The displeasure she had suppressed earlier started showing, and Zhu Yinluan saw it clearly.

Zhu Chentan must have noticed too, but spoiled rotten since she was little, she wouldn't budge. "That bastard and his mother will only set foot in the Luo household over my dead body!"

Seeing the grim expressions on both Mrs. Luo and Luo Xuan’s faces, and the child clinging to the woman for protection while Luo Xuan’s gaze lingered on them, Zhu Yinluan stepped forward. "Elder Sister, let's talk this through."

But Zhu Chentan snapped at her. "Get lost."

"If you’re not here to help me, then keep your mouth shut!"

Zhu Yinluan could only shut up.

Then, Mrs. Luo showed her true colors.

Glaring at Zhu Chentan, she said scornfully, "So this is the carefully raised eldest daughter of the esteemed Zhu clan?"