Chapter 5 005 Sleepless Night

Chapter 5 005 Sleepless Night

Qiao Yingxin's courtyard had far more maids than Qiao Wanyue's, as befitted the legitimate daughter of the Qiao family. Madam Wang had no complaints about this; she was grateful and content that Qiao Wanyue had grown up safely in the Qiao family and been married off successfully. Therefore, she always did her best when it came to Qiao Yingxin's matters.

But the trouble she had gotten herself into this time was truly serious; only Qiao Zhuofan could make the final call; she could only try to persuade him.

When she entered the room, Qiao Yingxin was passed out, her trousers rolled up to her knees while a maid applied medicine to her. She had knelt for so many days and still refused to admit her fault. She was really stubborn. It seemed she was dead set on calling off the engagement.

Qiao Zhuofan's attempt to salvage this marriage would likely be in vain.

"Go see if the doctor's here."

The maid went to check, while Madam Wang sat by the bed watching over her. After a moment, the maid returned with the physician. Madam Wang quickly pulled the quilt up to cover her, leaving only one arm out.

After the physician examined her and prescribed medicine, the maid went out to brew the medicine. Madam Wang still hadn't left, waiting for her to wake up.

After about as long as it takes for an incense stick to burn, Qiao Yingxin was woken by the pain in her knees. She opened her eyes and saw Madam Wang sitting by the head of the bed, and let out a small sigh of relief when she saw her wake up. Qiao Yingxin hated her gentle demeanor the most—pretentious and ingratiating, always putting on a show of being good and obedient before her father. She disliked Madam Wang.

All the anger that had built up over the past few days came bursting out at Madam Wang.

"Don't touch me. What are you doing here? Come to laugh at me?"

Having not drunk water all day, her voice was a bit hoarse. Qiao Yingxin coughed and continued, "Don't even think about watching me humiliate myself. Get out now. I don't want to see you. You're so annoying with all your fake kindness."

Her attitude was within Madam Wang's expectations. Ever since Madam Wang married into the family, Qiao Yingxin had never given her a friendly look. Madam Wang was used to it; if Qiao Yingxin ever spoke gently to her, she'd suspect some trick.

So she pretended not to hear her and went on talking herself: "The doctor said your knees can't get wet, your body's weak, and you need to rest. Don't go kneel in the ancestral hall anymore. I'll speak to your father about it."

"I don't need your fake kindness. If I'm punished, you and your daughter must be the happiest, huh."

"How could I be happy?" Madam Wang gave a light laugh, poured her a cup of water, and continued, "Your father can't eat or sleep because of your marriage. The Qin family is putting pressure on him, demanding an answer."

Qiao Yingxin looked at the cup of water, refused her kindness, and pushed it away. The tea spilled, soaking Madam Wang's dress. Madam Wang calmly set it aside and looked at her without speaking.

"I won't marry him. Ding lang and I have already sworn to be together."

Madam Wang nodded. Young girls were all like this: once they set their sights on someone, they think it's forever, and nobody can talk them out of it. Qiao Yingxin was the same. Fortunately, Qiao Wanyue was just lazy; she wouldn't handle such a big life decision carelessly. Madam Wang felt deeply relieved.

"I'll tell your father this."

Seeing that she was fine, Madam Wang stood up to leave. As she turned, she saw Qiao Wanyue enter, slightly out of breath. She came face-to-face with Madam Wang and stopped short.

Then she asked Madam Wang, "Mother, how is eldest sister?"

"She's fine. A few days of rest and she'll recover." Madam Wang pulled her out, "Don't come and cause trouble. Go back quickly."

"I came to see her."

She didn't get along well with Qiao Yingxin, but since she was staying in the Qiao residence, it was proper to come and visit. She didn't want to give people something to gossip about.

Madam Wang knew what she was thinking, but now wasn't the time for sisterly affection.

"She's fine. Go back."

Madam Wang forcefully pulled her away. Qiao Wanyue couldn't resist her, so she gave up struggling and let her mother have her way.

Just then, Qiao Yingxin's voice came from inside: "Little sister."

Uh-oh. She actually called her "little sister." Qiao Yingxin only said that when she wanted something or was mad; normally she used her full name, never so sweetly.

Qiao Wanyue shivered, pushed aside Madam Wang's hand, and walked straight in. Qiao Yingxin was the biggest tattletale. Since she wasn't Qiao Zhuofan's own daughter, she had to think of her mother and not let her get caught in the middle and create friction.

"Elder sister, you're awake. How are you feeling?"

Qiao Wanyue didn't leave, so Madam Wang came back and sat outside, sipping tea and listening to them.

Qiao Yingxin sat up, glaring at her fiercely. "I met with Ding lang at the Qingxin Temple. You're the one who informed on us."

Qiao Wanyue, who had just sat down, immediately jumped up and hurriedly explained, "How could it be me? Yesterday Father said it was someone from the Qin family's second branch who saw it. She told Qin Yan. It has nothing to do with me, elder sister. You're way off base."

She then thought of her lost sachet. Had Qiao Yingxin really picked it up? If not, why would she suspect her?

Her heart pounded, and she started sweating from nervousness, but she forced herself to appear calm.

Qiao Yingxin knew she wouldn't admit it. She sneered, took the sachet from under her pillow and threw it at her. "This is yours, isn't it? You went to the back courtyard of Qingxin Temple that day and saw us together. If it wasn't you, then who?"

So elder sister really had found her sachet.

Now she calmed down, picked up the sachet, and looked at it. "That day, Su Su and I went to offer incense. I don't know when I lost it. I didn't expect elder sister to have found it. But I never went to the back courtyard. That's strange."

Her voice was full of confusion and doubt, completely brushing off Qiao Yingxin's accusation. "Maybe someone else picked it up, found it useless, and threw it away."

It wasn't her who told. A little white lie was okay—Heaven wouldn't punish her for it.

Qiao Yingxin snorted. "Even if you don't admit it, it doesn't matter. I'll get you back one day."

She raised an eyebrow and replied with a casual "Oh." Madam Wang had overheard everything. She couldn't sit still any longer and came in from outside.

"You're always forgetting things. When will you ever change?"

"Don't scold me too. I lost an earring that day as well."

Madam Wang frowned and scolded her right in front of Qiao Yingxin, not caring about her dignity.

Qiao Yingxin, annoyed by the scene, raised her voice. "Enough! Who wants to watch you two mother and daughter act all fake? Get out!"

The expressions on the mother and daughter's faces changed slightly; they shot a sidelong glance at Qiao Yingxin.

"Get some rest. I'll talk about it in detail with your father later."

Madam Wang gave her a look and then followed her out. Once outside Qiao Yingxin's courtyard, Madam Wang's expression changed. She grabbed her daughter's arm and asked in a low voice, "Is what your sister said true? Did you already know about her and Ding Chengyou?"

The tension that had just relaxed came surging back. She clenched her fists and shook her head. "Why are you like elder sister, jumping to conclusions? I don't know anything."

"Don't lie to me. Spill the truth."

Madam Wang suddenly recalled the day she had come back from outside and the expression on her daughter's face, like she wanted to say something but held back. That seemed really suspicious now. She must have found out that day.

"You saw them together?"

Qiao Wanyue wanted to keep lying, but her mother had a way of knowing. Fine, she'd tell the truth.

"Yes." She leaned in and whispered in Madam Wang's ear, "Don't tell Father." Madam Wang's mouth dropped open in shock, and she quickly covered it. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Exactly because I was afraid of something like today happening."

Wang Shi understood and grasped his concerns. She didn't push it. After a moment’s thought, she advised, “Don’t bring this up again in the future. Pretend it never happened.”

“Mm.”

Neither mother nor daughter wanted trouble; they were on the same page.

-

Qiao Zhuofan didn't get home until evening. He looked exhausted and downcast. Wang Shi dismissed the servants and considerately poured him a cup of tea.

“Honey, did something happen?”

Qiao Zhuofan forced a smile and replied, “It’s just court matters. Nothing serious.”

He was so worried it must be something important, but Wang Shi didn’t understand and didn’t press further. She told him about the day’s events.

She focused on Qiao Yingxin and told him about her fainting that day. Qiao Zhuofan’s brow furrowed.

“Let her rest for a couple of days. She doesn't get to decide about marriage. Otherwise, I, Qiao Zhuofan, will disown this daughter.”

An alliance with the Qin family—what a wonderful match! She must be out of her mind to refuse. How could he have such a stupid daughter? Qiao Zhuofan had been thinking for two days: if Qiao Yingxin still wouldn’t yield, then he would have no choice but to take action against Ding Chengyou.

Wang Shi didn't interfere with how to punish Qiao Yingxin. As her stepmother, she feared people would gossip if she punished too harshly. So she kept her mouth shut.

“In the afternoon, Qin Yan sent someone to say he has been waiting for you for days. He asked when you would go see him.”

Hearing this, Qiao Zhuofan’s brow furrowed even deeper. He sighed, “Qin Yan cannot wait any longer. If I don’t reply in three days, I’m afraid he will come in person.”

“Yes, he also asked when he sent a gift.”

“What gift?” Qiao Zhuofan seized on the key point.

The teacup just touched her lips when she set it down again, smiling. “Wan Yue went to the Lin residence to find Su Su and happened to run into Qin Yan. He accidentally stepped on her skirt and dirtied it. So he sent someone to bring a new skirt as an apology.”

“Who delivered it?”

“His young servant, Chang Sheng.”

Qiao Zhuofan nodded silently, head bowed in thought. After a moment, he looked up. “Was the apology the main reason?”

The question was odd, and Wang Shi couldn’t guess his thoughts, so she replied, “Yes. And he also asked when the Qiao family would give him an answer.”

After that, Qiao Zhuofan said nothing more, bowing his head in thought.

Wang Shi didn’t disturb him and went to wash up. When she came out a short time later, Qiao Zhuofan was still sitting there, his posture unchanged. What was he thinking about? What was troubling him?

“If there’s something bothering you, think about it tomorrow. You’re tired today; get some rest quickly.”

She urged him, but Qiao Zhuofan acted like he didn't hear. Wang Shi walked over and lightly patted his shoulder. Only then did Qiao Zhuofan snap out of it.

“Oh, you go to rest. I need to think something over carefully.”

“Alright, don’t stay up too long. It’s bad for your health.”

Qiao Zhuofan sat like that all night. Not until dawn did he move his numbed legs.

Wang Shi woke up early. When Qiao Zhuofan lifted the gauze curtain, she woke up and saw he was still wearing yesterday’s clothes. She asked, “Didn’t you sleep all night?”

“Yes, I’ve been thinking all night. Now I've got a plan.”

Wang Shi was curious about what he had been thinking about all night.

Before she could say anything, Qiao Zhuofan spoke: “Both daughters need to marry. It doesn’t matter which one marries—after all, we’re allying with the Qin family. Since Qin Yan is dissatisfied with Yingxin, we’ll go with the other one.”

“What do you mean?” Wang Shi didn’t understand.

“Let Wan Yue marry into the Qin household.” He said it point-blank.

Wang Shi was shocked. “No, that can’t be done. How is this possible? Not to mention whether Wan Yue is willing—the Qin family certainly won’t agree.”

“Although Wan Yue bears the surname Qiao, the whole capital knows her background. Wan Yue is not worthy of such a match.”

Wang Shi agreed with some of what he said, but not allowing Qiao Wan Yue to marry—that was out of the question.

“It's definitely a mismatch, but as long as Qin Yan is willing, it doesn’t matter. The Qin family elders will back him up.”