Chu Ruoyan's heart skipped a beat: "Has a physician been consulted?"
Chu Jing shook her head: "I've been so busy these days, barely touching the ground—when would I have the time?" Noticing her niece's horrified expression, she chuckled reassuringly, "Don't worry, it's not pregnancy. The experienced nanny in my household said it’s likely due to exhaustion. Once this busy period passes, I’ll rest properly."
Only then did Chu Ruoyan relax.
If her aunt were truly pregnant, Xue Gui might resort to underhanded methods to induce a miscarriage and then divorce her on grounds of infertility. By then, even her father wouldn’t be able to intervene.
Just then, a servant announced that all the guests had arrived, and Chu Jing hurried off to preside over the ceremony.
Nanny Zhou suddenly spoke up: "Miss, there’s something off about the scent on Madam Chu."
Chu Ruoyan narrowed her eyes: "Could you identify it?"
"I couldn’t quite place it—it’s too faint. It resembles... perhaps tuberose or ylang-ylang..."
Nanny Zhou hesitated, but Chu Ruoyan urged, "Speak freely."
"Very well. It reminds me of the fragrances used in... certain intimate settings."
Chu Ruoyan froze. Nanny Zhou looked equally stunned: "Have you and Third Young Master Yan never...?"
"Used what?"
Seeing her blank expression, Nanny Zhou lowered her voice to explain. Chu Ruoyan’s face flushed crimson, her usually eloquent tongue failing her.
"That’s odd. Could Third Young Master Yan be... incapable? But that wouldn’t affect such matters..."
As Nanny Zhou’s speculations grew wilder, Chu Ruoyan cut in: "Let’s not dwell on this. My cousin mentioned that the Marquis of Cheng’en has been accompanying Aunt lately. Could that be the reason?"
Nanny Zhou shook her head: "Impossible. Tuberose and ylang-ylang—either alone would overstimulate a man. Combined, they’d be life-threatening!"
Chu Ruoyan’s expression darkened.
If her aunt hadn’t taken the fragrance willingly, but was instead being framed...
Then this was an attack on her virtue.
She took a deep breath: "Nanny, stay by Aunt’s side from now on. If she goes anywhere secluded, report to me immediately!"
"Yes, miss!"
After the ancestral rites, Xue Gui led the ceremonial offerings.
Then the second branch of the family brought forth Xue Baiqing, placing him in Chu Jing’s care.
The well-mannered child knelt before her with a cup of tea, proclaiming clearly, "Please accept this tea, Mother."
Chu Jing’s eyes welled up. After drinking the tea, she helped him rise, completing the adoption ritual.
During the banquet, Xue Ling adored Xue Baiqing, happily downing several cups of fruit wine.
Noticing Chu Ruoyan’s distracted demeanor, she teased, "Why aren’t you drinking? Oh, I know—you’re jealous I have such a wonderful little brother! Why not ask Uncle to adopt one for you too?"
Chu Ruoyan burst into laughter, while Lady Jiang the Younger, seated nearby, scowled and coughed pointedly.
Xue Ling awkwardly smiled, but before she could speak, Nanny Zhou whispered to Chu Ruoyan, who promptly stood: "Cousin, Mother, I’ll visit the privy. Enjoy yourselves."
Xue Ling waved her off, but Lady Jiang sensed something amiss. However, the adoption matter left her hesitant to send anyone after her.
In a secluded corridor of Xue Mansion, Nanny Zhou pointed to a room: "Madam Chu felt unwell, so her maids brought her here. Soon after, they all left."
Chu Ruoyan studied the location—remote yet strategically placed between the main hall and inner quarters, ensuring any disturbance would draw attention.
"Has anyone entered?"
Nanny Zhou retrieved a leaf from the door crack: "I placed this earlier. It’s undisturbed—no one’s gone in."
Chu Ruoyan nodded and pushed the door open. The room was dimly lit.
At the bedside, her aunt lay breathing heavily, her face flushed an alarming shade of red.
Chu Ruoyan’s gaze turned icy.
Footsteps approached outside: "This should be the place..."
A man mumbled as he entered, spotting the figure behind the bed curtains. His voice dripped with excitement: "The tutor didn’t lie! Miss Xue, don’t fret. Once we’re bound by intimacy, your mother won’t object—ugh!"
The moment he lunged toward the bed, a strike to his nape rendered him unconscious.
Chu Ruoyan stared coldly at the man—Zhang Ji, the minor official Xue Ling was being matched with.
Xue Gui’s scheme was vile: first dosing Chu Jing with aphrodisiacs, then luring Zhang Ji to defile her. The shock would drive her aunt to madness.
As for Xue Ling, believing her mother’s virtue ruined, she’d likely suffer in silence, even marrying this beast to salvage their honor...
No wonder, in her dreams, her father’s visits were repeatedly refused.
Xue Gui... Xue Gui!
She covered a faint cough with her hand.
Nanny Zhou fretted: "Miss, you mustn’t exert yourself! Are you unwell again?"
"It’s nothing. I only wish I could slit his throat myself..."
Nanny Zhou paled, but Chu Ruoyan continued, "Search him."
The nanny complied, retrieving a small vial from Zhang Ji’s robes. After sniffing it, she sneered: "Potency pills. The wretch came prepared."
"Force them all down his throat."
"Miss?!" Nanny Zhou gasped. "This dosage could kill a bull! Shouldn’t we inform the Duke first?"
A seasoned veteran of household intrigues, she recognized the setup—Zhang Ji, the drugged Chu Jing, the aphrodisiacs—all signs of a plotted disgrace.
But Chu Ruoyan shook her head: "An unfinished scheme leaves room for retreat. We must sever all escape routes."
Reluctantly, Nanny Zhou fed Zhang Ji the entire vial. They then moved Chu Jing to an adjacent chamber.
Returning to the banquet, Chu Ruoyan wore a calm facade.
"Ruoyan, you took so long! Come, Baiqing wants to toast his ‘Aunt Chu’!"
Xue Ling’s radiant smile made Chu Ruoyan swallow her words.
After all, Xue Gui was her birth father. Some deeds were best done by her own hands...
She sipped her tea, then spotted Xue Gui among the elders. Seizing the moment, she approached: "Uncle."
Xue Gui blinked: "Ah, Ruoyan. What is it?"
Feigning concern, she said, "Have you seen Aunt? I must leave early but can’t find her to bid farewell..."
Xue Gui’s eyes darted nervously: "She’s probably resting. No need for formalities—" He abruptly cut himself off. If the Duke’s household witnessed the scandal firsthand, even that old fox Chu Huaishan wouldn’t dare interfere!
He sprang up: "Let me help you look!"
As they reached the corridor, Xue Gui glanced at the room before suggesting, "She’s truly vanished. We should gather more searchers from the main hall."
Chu Ruoyan lowered her eyes in assent, her lips curling into a frosty smile.
How cautious Xue Gui was—wanting her to see the disgrace, yet fearing she might conceal it, hence demanding an audience of witnesses.
Little did he consider that by subjecting the mistress of the household to such torment, the reputation of the Xue family would also suffer!
To bring back his mistress and illegitimate child, he was truly willing to spare no expense...
Chu Ruoyan turned away, while Xue Gui hurried to the door of the room, pressing his ear against it—why was there no sound from within?
Hesitating for a moment, he still pushed the door open, intending to verify for himself.
Yet before he could step inside, a pair of large hands suddenly reached out and yanked him violently inside!
