Chapter 11: Frame

Chapter 11: The Frame-Up

Returning to Ciyun Temple, Xin He felt an inevitable surge of nervousness and unease.

Just like last time, upon reaching the mountain, the female family members were first arranged to rest temporarily, awaiting the auspicious hour for the Ritual Send-off.

Again, Xin He shared a room with Qiong Hua, while the other three concubines squeezed into another.

Shortly after settling in, Xin He claimed hunger as an excuse and dispatched Qiong Hua to the dining hall for vegetarian fare.

Once Qiong Hua departed, Xin He quietly slipped out of the guest courtyard and hurried towards the Stele Garden.

Fang Xu’s maid had been secretly observing Xin He.

The moment Xin He left, the maid reported her departure to Fang Xu.

The Stele Garden, nestled on the back mountain, was a secluded and tranquil spot, rarely frequented by visitors.

By the time Xin He arrived, Zhou Shuisheng was already there.

He had been dozing against a tree trunk but sat up and stretched upon seeing Xin He, extending his palm with a grin.

Xin He produced the silver notes, but just as she was about to hand them over, she abruptly withdrew her hand.

Zhou Shuisheng’s smile faltered, and he narrowed his eyes at her. "What do you mean by this?"

"Let’s be clear first. Take these two hundred taels, and you’ll keep that matter buried forever," Xin He stated, clutching the silver notes.

Zhou Shuisheng snatched the notes from her hand, counting them as he spoke. "You think two hundred taels is enough to brush me off? Do you take me for a beggar?"

"I’ve sold everything I could just to scrape together these two hundred taels!"

"Oh, so you’re playing the pauper with me! Everyone in Qingyuan County knows that since you became pregnant with Master Wei’s posthumous child, Young Master Wei has been showering you with care, providing you with the finest clothes and food. You live more comfortably than a proper wife!"

Xin He trembled with anger.

She never expected that the consequences of Wei Mingjin’s hypocrisy would fall squarely on her.

Zhou Shuisheng made another exorbitant demand: "I won’t ask for much. Next time, bring me another three hundred taels."

Three hundred taels! Did Zhou Shuisheng think she ran a bank?

"I don’t have it!"

"If you don’t have it, I’ll go ask Young Master Wei. He definitely has it."

Zhou Shuisheng was nothing but a scoundrel. Now that he had Xin He cornered, he intended to extort money from her endlessly.

Xin He loathed Zhou Shuisheng to the core.

If she weren’t afraid that Wei Mingjin would discover she was the one from that night at Drunken Moon Pavilion, she would have fought him to the death.

Xin He took a deep breath, struggling to suppress all her emotions, and said, "I just managed to gather two hundred taels for you. Right now, I really can’t come up with three hundred…"

Just as she spoke, the sound of bells suddenly chimed from the direction of the Stele Garden entrance.

Xin He’s face changed, and she immediately urged, "Someone’s coming. You need to leave."

Unlike Xin He’s panic and urgency, Zhou Shuisheng not only stood still but also seized the opportunity to threaten her: "Then, do you have the three hundred taels I asked for? If not, I’ll go ask Young Master Wei for it."

Xin He had already guessed who was approaching. She couldn’t let them catch Zhou Shuisheng, or her secret would be exposed.

Gritting her teeth, Xin He relented: "Fine. In seven days, I’ll bring it to you here."

Satisfied with her answer, Zhou Shuisheng finally departed.

Almost the moment Zhou Shuisheng disappeared, Fang Xu and her maid appeared at the end of the path.

Ever since returning from Ciyun Temple last time, Xin He had noticed someone secretly monitoring her every move.

At first, she thought it was Wei Mingjin.

But later, she realized it was Fang Xu’s maid.

Fang Xu had never gotten along with her, and Master Wei’s passing had not only failed to resolve their past grievances but had instead intensified Fang Xu’s hostility.

Fang Xu had rushed over hoping to catch them red-handed, only to find Xin He alone in front of the Stele Garden.

Seeing the mistress and maid, Xin He feigned surprise and asked knowingly, "What brings Yiniang Xu here?"

"And why are you here, Yiniang Xin?" Fang Xu retorted without answering, then shot her maid a glance.

Understanding the hint, the maid immediately turned and began scanning the area.

"I lost an earring here last time, so I thought I’d come today to see if I could find it."

"Is that so?" Fang Xu sneered. "What does Yiniang Xin’s earring look like? I’ll have my maid help you search."

"It’s a gold filigree white jade gourd earring."

Soon, Fang Xu’s maid returned and subtly shook her head at Fang Xu.

Fang Xu angrily clutched the handkerchief in her hand.

She had thought she would catch them red-handed today, but instead, she came up empty-handed.

It was all because of that bell she accidentally bumped into at the entrance. The sound must have alerted Xin He, allowing her lover to escape before Fang Xu arrived.

But why would there be a bell in such a remote place?

Suddenly, a possibility occurred to Fang Xu.

"It was you!" Fang Xu looked up sharply, her gaze piercing Xin He.

Fang Xu had phoenix eyes—charming and alluring when she smiled, but sharp and harsh when she was angry or cold.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about, Yiniang. It’s almost time for the Ritual Send-off. We should head back." With that, Xin He turned and left.

When she first noticed Fang Xu’s maid secretly watching her, Xin He had initially decided not to meet Zhou Shuisheng today.

But on second thought, she changed her mind.

Watching Xin He walk away, Fang Xu, still unwilling to give up, searched the entire Stele Garden with her maid. Only after finding no one did she reluctantly abandon her efforts.

Xin He walked slowly back the way she came. Passing by the Guanyin Hall, she even went in to burn incense.

But just as she finished offering incense and sat on the corridor bench to rest, she saw Fang Xu and her maid passing by below the steps with stern faces. Not far from them, monks were repairing the pavement.

Xin He waved her handkerchief and smirked down at her. "Yiniang Xu, you said you’d have your maid help me look for my earring. Did you find it?"

Fang Xu was boiling with rage.

Not only had she failed to catch Xin He sneaking around with someone, but she had also taken a nasty fall and torn her sleeve on her way back.

In stark contrast to her disheveled state, Xin He stood calmly on the steps. She clearly knew Fang Xu had intended to catch her in the act, yet now she arrogantly mocked her with her earring.

Furious, Fang Xu immediately lifted her skirt and hurried up the steps.

Xin He, who had been sitting, slowly rose to her feet. As Fang Xu reached her, she put on a show of concern: "Oh, Aunt Xu, did you fall? Your sleeve’s torn!"

As she spoke, Xin He reached out solicitously to check Fang Xu's injury but was abruptly grabbed by the wrist.

Fang Xu’s pretty face twisted with anger: "Stop pretending! Xin He, don’t celebrate too soon. I will eventually catch your lover and prove to everyone that the child you’re carrying isn’t the master’s posthumous child at all—it’s a bastard child!"

"Aunt Xu, the master is gone. There’s no point in us fighting any longer. Can’t you just let me go?" Xin He softened her tone, humbling herself to seek reconciliation.

But Fang Xu only sneered: "Let you go? In your dreams! I will rip off your fake mask and show everyone exactly what kind of person you are."

With that, Fang Xu made to release her grip and leave, but suddenly, Xin He seized her wrist.

Xin He sighed, lifting her thick lashes to look at Fang Xu with regret in her voice: "Aunt Xu, I have no intention of being your enemy. But since you insist on not letting me go, don’t blame me for what happens next."

Before Fang Xu could grasp the meaning of her words, Xin He suddenly cried out: "Aunt Xu, can’t we talk this over? Don’t hit me! I’m pregnant..."

"What are you doing?" Fang Xu frowned, immediately trying to pull her wrist free.

She hadn’t laid a hand on Xin He, yet Xin He let out a startled scream and went tumbling down the steps.

Fang Xu’s face instantly turned ashen.

She hadn’t pushed her! Xin He had fallen on her own!

Lying at the bottom of the steps, Xin He heard hurried footsteps rushing toward her, but her eyes remained fixed on Fang Xu above.

Fang Xu stood pale as a ghost, swaying like she might faint.

Xin He had given her a chance moments ago—it was Fang Xu who had refused to let her go.

Now, she’d brought this on herself.