Chapter 20 Those Schemes

Chapter 20: Those Schemes

When Jian Ru emerged from the flower hall, he asked a maid for directions to the privy, but soon found himself disoriented. The Yuanwai's estate, far grander than the Li family’s, was a labyrinth of beautiful pavilions and winding corridors, making it hard to navigate.

Just as he was about to seek help, he overheard voices from around a corner. Jian Ru’s spirits lifted, and he moved to inquire, but paused, recognizing the speakers. That brief hesitation cost him the chance to slip away unnoticed.

"I’ve made myself clear before: there has never been anything between us, and from now on, we are merely ordinary relatives."

It was the Second Young Master’s voice, but unlike his usual gentle and polite tone—his voice was icy and detached.

"But Li Yingsong... he... you don’t know how he treats me. My life is miserable," Sun Yushuang sobbed.

"Your happiness or misery is none of my concern," the Second Young Master replied indifferently.

"How can you be so heartless? If not for you, how could I have ended up like this?" Sun Yushuang wept.

"You brought this upon yourself. You deserve it."

With that, he began walking toward the corner. Jian Ru quickly ducked back to hide.

"I can’t accept it! What does he have that I don’t? Why does he get to be with you, while I don’t?" Sun Yushuang chased after him.

"He is my husband. There’s no need for comparisons," the Second Young Master said coldly, his voice filled with disgust. "Speaking like this only humiliates you. Third Sister-in-Law, have some self-respect."

He then strode past the corner, his expression still rigid, his lips tight and eyes icy—a truly startling sight.

When he noticed Jian Ru hiding there, his face clearly stiffened.

From around the corner came the sound of soft weeping.

Jian Ru snapped back to reality, raised a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture, and tugged a stiff Li Jintong along, both of them sneaking off in the opposite direction.

Once they reached a secluded spot, Jian Ru pulled the Second Young Master into a corner and whispered, "What happened? Why was Sun Yushuang crying?"

The Second Young Master seemed anxious and quickly explained, "I didn’t do anything. His tears aren’t my doing."

"I heard everything. I know you didn’t do anything," Jian Ru said.

The Second Young Master relaxed. "It’s not convenient to talk here. I’ll explain everything when we get home."

Jian Ru nodded straightforwardly, his eyes full of trust.

Seeing his expression, the Second Young Master felt relieved and asked, "Where were you headed?"

Jian Ru slapped his forehead. "I was looking for the privy."

The Second Young Master chuckled, the coldness and hostility gone from his face. "I’ll go with you."

Jian Ru murmured in agreement and started to walk, but the young man grabbed his arm. Jian Ru turned to look at him.

The Second Young Master gazed down at him, his eyes soft and beautiful, saying nothing.

Feeling shy, Jian Ru lowered his head.

The Second Young Master blinked and asked quietly, "What’s wrong?"

Jian Ru fidgeted with his slender legs. "If we don’t hurry to the privy, I won’t be able to hold it in."

The Second Young Master laughed. "Let’s go, I’ll take you."

...

After spending half a day at his uncle’s house, the elderly couple sent them off with many return gifts—mostly for Madam Li, but something for everyone else as well, all arranged by Madam Li.

Hexi Town was small; the carriage ride from the eastern suburbs took less than half an hour.

Upon returning home, they first went to the main house to pay respects to the old lady and unload the gifts.

Madam Li went through each item, distributing them accordingly. She kept some for herself but gave most to her children. Even the female servants received gifts, with Granny Jin receiving more.

Granny Jin had come with Madam Li from her natal family, married into the Li household, and stayed on even after her husband passed away and her children married. Her status was naturally different.

Jian Ru received a large piece of fine fabric for a coat, a whole piece of soft lambskin, and plenty of snacks.

Everyone gathered in the room to chat. Madam Li asked about her second brother and sister-in-law’s well-being and listened as Jian Ru mentioned Madam Li’s plans to see Jin He off. The old lady sighed, holding her third daughter’s hand. "We’ll need to pack your luggage in the next couple of days."

Her expression grew somber.

Jin He’s heart ached too, pressing her face against her mother’s neck and hugging her waist. "I’ll come back to visit you after the New Year, in spring."

Jin Hui and her siblings watched, their hearts aching, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

Just then, Li Qiaozhi and Li Xianyu, led by Zhao Pin, came in to join the gathering.

Seeing her grandmother upset, Qiao Zhi sensibly fetched a handkerchief and gently wiped the old lady’s tearful eyes.

Xian Yu, however, was oblivious. He had his eye on a small basket of tamarinds Jian Ru had received but didn’t dare ask the fierce young aunt directly. Instead, he skulked along the wall toward her, his sly eyes darting between the tamarinds and Jian Ru’s face, like a little mouse.

Madam Li, who had been feeling sad, glanced up and burst out laughing at the sight of her grandson.

The old lady said, "How foolish of me—I kept thinking of saving snacks for the younger ones but forgot these two little darlings. Jian Ru, share some of those tamarinds with Qiao Zhi and Xian Yu."

"Of course," Jian Ru replied. He glanced at the basket, swallowed hard, and pushed it away. "I’m too old for snacks. Let the children have them all."

Hearing this, Li Xianyu cheered and dashed over, trying to grab the basket.

But he couldn’t lift it. Turning, he saw his uncle had quietly come over and was holding it down.

Xian Yu’s mouth turned down, on the verge of crying.

Li Jintong said, "I want some too. Take a bowl and fill half for yourself. Leave the rest for me."

Jian Ru looked at him in surprise.

Xian Yu frowned, his chubby face scrunching up, and went to fetch a bowl from his father.

Under his uncle’s watchful eye, he carefully scooped out exactly half of the tamarinds, not daring to take a single extra.

Once done, he clutched the bowl to his chest and shouted at his uncle, "You said you wanted some, but it’s really because Little Aunt wants to eat them! I saw him drooling!"

With that, he toddled off with the bowl.

Zhao Pin scolded, "This child, talking nonsense!"

Li Jinhui added, "This time, Xian Yu spoke the absolute truth. My little brother has really changed since marrying his husband—he’s become so much more attentive."

At this, Li Jintong simply lowered his head and smiled, while Jian Ru’s face turned bright red with embarrassment. He couldn’t help but touch the corner of his mouth to check if he had really been drooling.

Madam Li noticed this and waved her hand with a laugh, saying, "Alright, hurry back and get to your snacks before your drool turns into a river!"

…

The couple carried their portion of things back to their small courtyard. Once inside their own room, Jian Ru finally relaxed, his mind completely focused on the food.

After taking off their outer robes and washing their hands, the second young master went to the small kitchen and brought back the medicinal paste Xiao Ning had prepared earlier. He waved Jian Ru over.

Jian Ru picked up the basket of tamarinds and took an empty bowl for the peels, then sat on the edge of the bed, dangling his legs idly.

Li Jintong held onto his injured leg, and Jian Ru stopped swinging, letting him roll up the trouser leg.

While the second young master applied the ointment, Jian Ru peeled the tamarinds. After peeling one, he first fed it to the second young master.

Only when peeling the second one did he eat it himself.

After just one bite, his face puckered. "So sour, but delicious. This is my first time trying this," he said. Then he asked, "How did you know I wanted to eat this earlier?"

The second young master, with tamarind pulp in his mouth, replied, "It was obvious."

"Was it really that obvious?" Jian Ru touched his face, feeling embarrassed.

The second young master just smiled.

Jian Ru continued peeling tamarinds for both of them. After eating a few more, the medicine was applied, and they needed to lie down. Jian Ru was still reluctant, feeling he hadn’t eaten enough.

The second young master said, "Eating too much will hurt your teeth, and you won’t have an appetite for dinner. I’ll give some to Xiao Ning later and save the rest in the small kitchen for you to eat after breakfast tomorrow."

Jian Ru could only nod.

After finishing his tasks, the second young master also returned to bed and lay down.

Jian Ru fidgeted, his eyes still wide open.

The second young master asked, "Aren’t you going to sleep for a while?"

Jian Ru, preoccupied with something, replied, "I don’t feel like sleeping."

The second young master turned to face him. "Then do you want to talk?"

Jian Ru murmured in agreement. His expression made it clear what he wanted to hear, and the second young master saw it plainly.

Li Jintong said, "I didn’t want to tell you about these sordid matters, afraid they might offend your ears." He sighed softly. "It was two years ago, just before I fell seriously ill. My second uncle’s son, Li Yingsong, suddenly came to invite me out for an excursion…"

Squire Li’s third son was a reckless troublemaker. He had been a troublemaker since childhood and never did anything proper even after growing up. Squire Li had paid for his mistakes multiple times but never mentioned it in front of relatives to avoid embarrassment.

Still, having grown up with the Li family’s children, they were all quite familiar with him.

That time, Li Yingsong invited Li Jintong to a country villa in the suburbs for a visit. Madam Li was naturally reluctant to agree. Even though it was just an overnight trip, the third son was too unreliable. Despite his sincere promises, Madam Li still didn’t trust him.

In the past, if Madam Li refused, he would have given up. But for some reason, that time he was determined to take the second young master out. He visited twice to beg the old lady and even enlisted his mother to persuade her.

During that period, the weather was warm, and the second young master’s health was relatively stable. Unable to resist the persuasion, Madam Li finally agreed.

The second young master, having been stuck at home for too long, also agreed, thinking it would be a good chance to relax.

It was only after arriving that he discovered Sun Yushuang was also there.

At the evening banquet, Li Yingsong invited many of his drinking buddies. Since there were also two or three other young men, Sun Yushuang’s presence didn’t seem out of place.

However, a respectable young man attending such an occasion alone would ruin his reputation if word got out.

The second young master was displeased upon seeing this. He planned to stay through the meal to save face for the third son, then have Xiao Ning prepare the carriage so they could return home instead of staying overnight.

But after the meal, when he moved to the side hall for tea, he took one sip and realized the tea was off. By then, it was too late—he had already swallowed most of it, spitting out only a small amount.

It was then that he noticed the side hall was empty except for him and Sun Yushuang. The others had slipped away unnoticed.

Sun Yushuang, holding the teapot, looked alarmed when he saw the second young master had only swallowed half a sip. But when he noticed the second young master’s face quickly reddening and his eyes growing dazed, he perked up and urgently said, "Second Young Master, I’ve liked you since we were children. Why have you never glanced my way? I went to great lengths to ask Li Yingsong to invite you here. I beg you, please… grant me my wish."

With that, he tried to throw himself into the second young master’s arms but was shoved away in disgust.

Seeing that the second young master, though affected, was still conscious due to the small dose, Sun Yushuang realized he couldn’t succeed. Gritting his teeth, he drank most of the drugged tea directly from the teapot.

After drinking it, veins bulged in his neck as he said fiercely, "I’ve drunk it too, and much more than you. If you don’t grant my wish, I might not survive the night. Will you just stand by and watch someone die because of you?"

The drug was potent. Almost immediately, his face flushed deeply, and his steps grew unsteady.

With dazed eyes, he lunged at the second young master again but missed.

The second young master had already dodged. Glancing back with disgust, he strode quickly out of the side hall.

By the time Sun Yushuang cried out and chased after him, the door had already slammed shut.

The second young master locked the hall door and hid the key in nearby bushes. Struggling to stay conscious, he found Xiao Ning, prepared the carriage, and rushed home. But he passed out in the carriage before arriving.

"So, later, when you fell seriously ill, was it because of that half-sip of drugged tea, on top of the exhaustion?" Jian Ru asked in surprise.

Li Jintong nodded. "My father taught me to recognize herbs since childhood. As soon as I tasted it, I knew the drug was potent. If we hadn’t returned in time, and if my family weren’t well-versed in medicine, I might not have survived."

Jian Ru squeezed his hand fearfully. "Does Mother know about this?"

Li Jintong shook his head. "When I firmly refused the marriage later, Mother might have suspected something, but she probably didn’t imagine anything so vile. If she or Elder Sister had known, they would have made a huge scene. Sun Yushuang may be despicable, but if his reputation were ruined, he likely wouldn’t survive. His parents are old, and he’s their only son. I didn’t want his life. Before losing consciousness, I only told Xiao Ning I’d accidentally ingested conflicting tonics. The antidote was similar, and Elder Brother naturally knew what to do."

"Although the drug was strong, it wasn’t incurable. Drinking plenty of water to flush it out would suffice. I locked Sun Yushuang in the hall—no one could enter without the key. There was more tea inside besides that pot. If he drank it and endured, he would be fine."

Even in such a situation, the second young master was still considering the well-being of the one who had harmed him.

Jian Ru held his hand, his clear eyes fixed on him.

The second young master lowered his eyelids. After a long day and talking for so long, he was clearly exhausted.

"You know what happened after that. Since I recovered, I naturally refused the marriage. As for how he ended up with Third Brother, I have no idea."

Jian Ru had long noticed that when the second young master was tired, his double eyelids became more pronounced. The weariness on his face didn’t diminish his beauty in the slightest; instead, it gave him a pale, languid elegance.

Jian Ru gently traced his eyelashes with a fingertip. "You’re tired. Sleep now."

The second young master’s lashes fluttered. Just as they were about to close, he opened them again, his gaze still worried. "Do you think I was too heartless? Perhaps if I’d secretly sent for Sun Yushuang’s parents to take him home that night, he might not be in such a miserable state now."

Jian Ru understood. Sun Yushuang’s hasty marriage to Li Yingsong was likely due to something that happened after the second young master left that night.

Jian Ru stroked his long hair. "He nearly killed you. Not seeking revenge was already more than he deserved, and yet you’re still making excuses for him. There’s no one as kind as you."

The second young master seemed to finally set his mind at ease. With a weary smile, he said, "Xiao Ru, what if I’m not as good as you think?"

Jian Ru looked at him, his heart softening with tenderness. "Good or bad, I've already married you."

The Second Young Master chuckled. Jian Ru covered his eyelids and said, "Go to sleep."

After lying quietly pressed together for a while, Jian Ru shifted back slightly to look, and the Second Young Master was already breathing evenly in a deep sleep.

Jian Ru tucked the quilt snugly around him, then lay back on the bed, staring upward. After some thought, he concluded that Sun Yushuang was truly despicable. If you like someone, shouldn’t you treat them with sincerity? What kind of affection is it to scheme against them like that?

He used to think that although Sun Yushuang liked to look down on people, he was handsome and charming. But now it seemed absurd—how dare someone like him even fantasize about the Second Young Master? He wasn’t worthy!

If not for the Second Young Master’s quick thinking, managing to escape that night and waking up just in time despite his unconscious state, Sun Yushuang might have actually succeeded.

The thought made Jian Ru grit his teeth in anger. This immaculate Second Young Master had almost been taken advantage of by that scheming villain.

But now, the Second Young Master was with him... Wait, no—that wasn’t the right way to put it. The Second Young Master had chosen this himself. Willingness and coercion were entirely different things!

Lying there, Jian Ru’s mind raced—one moment seething with anger, the next breathing a sigh of relief—until, without even realizing it, he drifted off to sleep.