Upon hearing this, Mrs. Cui understood everything.

Her dear son-in-law had already privately pledged his life to his cousin and broke the engagement to rise up the social ladder of the Jiujie Mansion; now, before he even passes the examination to become an Advanced Scholar and be appointed as an official, he wants to rekindle his old flame.

Nothing more shameless than abandoning a bridge before you’ve even crossed the river!

This is all because her dear daughter spoiled him.

Mrs. Cui’s eyes glinted with cold light, and she sneered, "Dear son-in-law, this matter has blown up to the point where it is irreparable. The Qin Family and the Cui Family are both prominent families; how can we let this matter pass ambiguously and tarnish a century-long reputation? The daughter I raised would never act out of jealousy, and even the servants in our house are well-restrained. Her words have ruined the reputations of both the Qin Family and the Cui Family. If I spare her, has she spared the reputation of the Qin and Cui Families? Even if our Jiujie Mansion agreed, we still have to see if the Dingbei Marquis Mansion agrees."

Lin Ziqi mumbled and couldn’t utter a word.

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Mother, allow me to go and see my sister first. If she’s in severe pain, preserving the pregnancy is the priority. All the evidence and witnesses are in their hands anyway, so if we need to see the authorities, it’s just a word from us."

Lady Yu couldn’t help but shrink back and exclaimed, "Madam, why go to the authorities?"

Qin Yuan snorted coldly, gently moved her steps like a lotus, and was about to bypass her to enter the room and see Qin Wan.

Lady Yu, frightened, wailed and threw herself onto Qin Yuan’s calf.

"I beg the Marchioness to spare my daughter’s lowly life."

Before she could finish speaking, she was swiftly kicked aside by Gu Shiba.

Hong Ye screamed sharply, "You’re really shameless, how dare you create a scene around our lady? If the lady gets scared, do you have multiple lives to compensate?"

Lady Yu curled up on the ground, watching helplessly as Qin Yuan’s shoes, embroidered with colorful patterns and adorned with East pearls, walked lightly past.

It was as if, in this wealthy woman’s eyes, she was merely an ant under her feet.

Seeing Qin Yuan leave, only then did Mrs. Lin dare to come forward and offer words of comfort to Mrs. Cui.

Lin Ziqi felt sorry for Lady Yu but did not dare to upset Mrs. Cui, so he could only lower his eyes and force himself to endure.

Although Qin Wan was lying inside the room, her ears were constantly focused on the commotion outside.

Seeing Lady Yu get rebuffed, she was overjoyed.

"We must drive this wretch away, only then can I vent my anger."

A maid reported through the door, "Ma’am, the Marchioness wants to come in and see you."

Qin Wan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Invite her in to speak."

Soon, Qin Yuan, full of grace, entered with a few maids. Qin Wan had a maid help her sit up and placed a pillow behind her before pretending to be weak and said, "Sister has come; forgive me for not being able to get up and greet you."

Qin Yuan glanced at her, then sat down on the embroidery stool by the bed.

"Are you feeling better, sister?"

"A bit better. How troublesome for you to run here for me, which is due to my own incompetence."

Qin Wan showed an apologetic expression on her face.

The look on Hong Ye’s face was one of utter surprise.

It was a rare thing to hear the second young lady speak so politely in this lifetime.

Qin Yuan got straight to the point, "What exactly are you planning to do?"

Since she had disturbed Mrs. Cui and called her over, Qin Wan surely had something in mind.

Qin Wan replied, "I’m not afraid of being laughed at by my sister; this cousin was Lin Ziqi’s sweetheart back in his hometown and might have even been engaged before."

She glanced at Qin Yuan.

Seeing no surprise on Qin Yuan’s face, she asked, "Sister, aren’t you surprised?"

Qin Yuan glanced at her and said, "Speak about the matter at hand."

Whether surprised or not, it’s not like he’s her husband now.

Qin Wan’s interest waned significantly and said, "This person has a malicious heart, and Ziqi has old feelings for her. She is the niece of the old lady’s family; if she is taken in, I cannot control her."

Qin Yuan said, "Do you want to send her back to her hometown?"

Qin Wan nodded.

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "That might be a bit difficult."

Qin Wan got anxious, "Sister, you’re not willing to help me?"

Qin Yuan said, "Why wouldn’t I help you? It makes life easier for you, means less worry for our parents, and saves me some troubles."

"Then why?"

Qin Wan widened her eyes.

Qin Yuan said, "Hiding one’s eyes to catch a sparrow is self-deception. If even small creatures cannot be tricked to gain an advantage, what about a person? Did you not hear what she just said? She insists that you’ve lost a child and accuses you of being driven by jealousy, instructing Yanhong to do it."

"But... but she drugged me too! It was poisonous!"

Qin Wan shuddered at the thought.

Qin Yuan said, "I suspect she might be capable of that. But don’t forget, her drug was mistakenly put into Lin Ziqi’s medicine. The one who boiled the medicine was your little servant; as long as Lin Ziqi insists it wasn’t her, she will never admit it. What can you do then?"

Qin Wan was angrily clenching her fists, pounding the bed.

"Is there truly no solution?"

Qin Yuan said, "That depends on what Lin Ziqi plans to do. As of now, he seems to still want to protect his cousin."

Qin Wan was furious, "He has been secretly involved with that wretch for a long time. I caught them in an affectionate embrace at the Marquis Mansion, planning to bring her in once he becomes successful, and deceiving me daily, saying he would marry her off as an extra hand. I was foolish to treat him sincerely."

Qin Yuan sighed and said nothing more.

Lin Ziqi has new lovers constantly but never forgets old ones. In the past, his house was full of concubines, and Lady Yu remained favored continuously.

If this person enters, Qin Wan’s days will be hard.

Qin Wan suddenly said, "You must help me. Even if I have wronged you, I have also acted as a shield for you."

Qin Yuan was taken aback.

Hong Ye couldn’t help but snicker.

The second young lady sure doesn’t lack a thick skin; she robbed Lin Ziqi for herself despite her stubborn delusions, expecting gratitude.

Still, this Lin Ziqi truly is a good-for-nothing.

Fortunately, Miss didn’t marry him.

Qin Wan’s face slowly turned red, but she still stubbornly looked at Qin Yuan.

Evidently, her words were heartfelt.

Qin Yuan was touched and said, "Acting as a shield is not accurate, but I really should thank you; if not for you, such a good husband as the Marquis wouldn’t have been available for me."

Qin Wan was also taken aback, staring intently at Qin Yuan, she said, "Then you must support me."

Qin Yuan coldly laughed, "If I support you, aren’t you afraid of ruining your relationship with Lin Ziqi?"

"Ruin the marital relationship?"

Qin Wan didn’t understand.

Qin Yuan knew she couldn’t grasp the reasoning yet, so she broke it down.

"You know that Lin Ziqi wants to protect his cousin. Currently, things haven’t escalated, and in front of Mother and me, he hasn’t taken her side yet to avoid angering us or making matters unnecessarily difficult."

Qin Wan snorted.

Qin Yuan continued, "If this goes to the authorities, Lin Ziqi will stand by his cousin, and your charges won’t stand. Yanhong could suffer and end up getting flogged."

Qin Wan angrily said, "She was the one who went to block Yanhong, and Yanhong didn’t know she was pregnant."

Qin Yuan said, "The Capital Governor Mansion doesn’t operate on your whims. If she adamantly accuses you of acting out of jealousy, even if you don’t lose, your reputation will be ruined."

Qin Wan was angry to the point her stomach hurt, holding her abdomen and wailing, "I’m so angry it’s making my stomach hurt."