Chapter Thirty: Foes Bound by Fate

Jinghu and Qingrou stood firm at the doorway. Jinghu tilted her head slightly and asked, "Sister Qing, is this your Fifth Sister?"

Of course, she knew who she was. As Magistrate Ke had said, if a woman were to grow up looking like her, or like the Lady of Huaiyi, it would be difficult to forget such a face.

The two beauties of the capital were now standing before her.

She had never compared her own appearance to theirs before. Youth fades in the blink of an eye, and they were six years her senior—like peach blossoms and lotus flowers blooming in different seasons.

However, Princess Zhenjing had told her that she resembled Lady Zhao the Fifth, and the Magistrate Ke she admired so much had once favored the very woman before her: the Lady of Huaiyi.

No woman is indifferent to her appearance, and all wish to be admired by those they hold dear. At that moment, Jinghu could not help but lift her chin, eyeing the Lady of Huaiyi with a hint of arrogance.

The Lady of Huaiyi was indeed beautiful. Her brows were like willow leaves, her lips like cinnabar, and her skin as luminous as snow. She had been speaking with her sister-in-law, and the smile had not yet faded from her face. As she smiled, it was like the moon emerging from behind clouds, possessing a unique and refreshing grace.

Though she was dressed less ornately than Jinghu or Lady Zhao the Fifth, her beauty was in no way inferior to theirs.

Did Ke Mingxu… truly favor a woman like this?

Jinghu stopped in front of them. As a County Princess, her rank was higher than theirs, so the Lady of Huaiyi and Lady Zhao the Fifth greeted her together.

The Lady of Huaiyi certainly recognized her, yet she chose to feign ignorance. "I don't believe I have met you before."

The implication was clear: even if they had met, she did not remember her. Whether it was just childish spite or not, Jinghu felt she was superior to her.

The Lady of Huaiyi replied, "The Princess Consort of Yongning is my aunt. I have visited the Yongning Estate as a guest before; it is simply that you do not recall me, County Princess."

Qingrou was right beside her; how could she not know that the Princess Consort of Yongning was her aunt? Was she trying to use the Princess Consort’s status to suppress her?

Ever since Jinghu had stopped them, Qingrou had been gripping her hand tightly, as if pleading for her not to be impulsive or cause a scene.

Jinghu knew better than to cause trouble here. This was her grandmother’s residence. If she made a scene here, her father, the Prince, would not easily forgive her.

Jinghu said nothing more, keeping her gaze fixed on the Lady of Huaiyi. She heard her greet Qingrou, "It has been a long time, Eighth Sister. How have you been faring at home lately?"

Qingrou was the most observant of etiquette; even if she was reluctant, she maintained her composure. "Thank you for your concern, Fifth Sister. I have been doing very well at home."

Doing well? She had just been crying in her room moments ago.

At this thought, the protective young County Princess felt a surge of irritation and couldn't help but snap back, "If it weren't for you, how could the Lady of the Duke of Ding have moved out of the main quarters and into the Xihe Garden? Don't bother acting concerned, Sister Qing, you are being hypocritical."

As soon as she finished speaking, the expression on the Lady of Huaiyi’s face changed. The smile vanished, replaced by an icy coldness that truly made her look as distant and bright as the moon.

She remained silent, but Lady Zhao the Fifth spoke up, "This is a private matter for the Xu family; there is no need for the County Princess to concern herself with it."

Jinghu had been hoping they would speak. If they engaged in a verbal exchange, she might be able to glean some information.

She hesitated for a moment, then watched as Lady Zhao the Fifth raised her elegant brows and added, "The Lady of the Duke of Ding comes from a prominent family. When outsiders make such wild guesses, I wonder if they have considered why the Grand Tutor Ke’s mansion has remained so silent if the Lady of the Duke of Ding has done nothing wrong?"

Just as Jinghu was about to retort, she felt Qingrou squeeze her hand harder. She couldn't help but look at her; Qingrou’s eyes were filled with utter bewilderment.

What Jinghu had said earlier at the Fangshi Pavilion meant exactly this. Understanding a situation was one thing, but being slapped in the face with it in public was another.

Judging by Lady Zhao the Fifth’s tone, it seemed she was privy to the inside story. If even she, a sister-in-law from a different branch, knew, why was Qingrou, the biological daughter of the Duchess, kept in the dark?

Even if the Duchess was at fault, it was likely that the Lady of Huaiyi was not entirely innocent either—the others were simply shielding her!

Jinghu observed Qingrou’s expression; she was on the verge of a breakdown, yet her "good" sister refused to let her go.

"I have told you before: if you truly wish to know what your mother has done, I will tell you when you are thirteen."

"There is no need to listen to what others say; the more you listen, the more distorted the truth becomes. Today is a joyous day, and I do not wish to bring up such matters."

With that, she bypassed them and walked away.

Jinghu wanted to pursue her, but Qingrou pulled her back. "Jingling, don't. I beg you."

Tears welled up in Qingrou’s eyes; if Jinghu moved even an inch further, they would surely fall.

Jinghu had no choice but to stand still. Seeing Qingrou so distressed made her own heart ache. Sometimes, Jinghu felt Qingrou was too weak; if it were her, she would have turned the entire household upside down.

But what would turning everything upside down achieve? What if the truth was truly too unbearable? What if the Lady of Huaiyi was keeping it from her out of a genuine desire to protect her?

Still, she couldn't help but whisper, "Your sister is nothing but a hypocrite. If she truly cared for you, why would she refuse to tell you anything when she sees you in such pain?"

"Is this matter really so great that you cannot bear it? The Duchess is such a gentle person; what could she possibly have done?"

Qingrou took out a silk handkerchief and carefully wiped away her tears. "Perhaps this matter really is that significant, and that important."

Jinghu fell silent. She truly could not understand. Having no sisters of her own and being accustomed to a straightforward life, she did not know that the relationships between sisters could be so convoluted.

They could not stand there forever. She waited a moment longer until Qingrou had dried her tears and regained her composure, then accompanied her to the main hall to pay their respects to the Dowager Princess.

There were few people left in the main hall. As expected, her grandmother spoke up immediately, "Huer, the auspicious hour has arrived. Why haven't you taken the Eighth Young Lady to the main hall to witness the ceremony? Your brother and your new sister-in-law must be bowing to each other by now."

"You, who always love to join in the excitement, should hurry over and take a look."

Jinghu became anxious the moment she heard this; she had her own important business to attend to today.

As her Third Brother and new sister-in-law exchanged vows, Magistrate Ke would surely be in the main hall to witness the ceremony. Although it would not be a convenient time to talk, it was the only opportunity she had to pass him a message and arrange to meet him in the garden that afternoon.

For her, this was the most important task of all. She had been preparing for this day for a month.

She hurriedly took Qingrou’s hand, bid her grandmother farewell, and pulled her toward the main hall.