In the Courtyard of Splendid Scenery.
Wang Qingyao and Wang Qinglin stared at each other.
With the conversation reaching this point, Wang Qingyao found it difficult to linger any longer.
As she was contemplating an elegant departure, she heard Wang Qinglin ask through gritted teeth, "Second sister, how is your calligraphy practice coming along?"
The topic shift was rather abrupt.
Even more abrupt was the smile she offered Wang Qingyao.
However, the smile contained four parts resentment, three parts forbearance, two parts pride, and one part disdain, making it seem insincere.
Indeed, life was like a play, all dependent on acting.
So, Wang Qingyao also smiled and replied, "It's the same as always, no progress. Perhaps I should return to my own place this afternoon and practice diligently, so as not to disturb Eldest Sister here."
"That would be good."
Wang Qinglin assumed Wang Qingyao was looking for an excuse to be lazy. In her opinion, Wang Qingyao didn't even have a proper study, let alone the brushes, ink, and paper.
Practicing calligraphy back there would be pointless.
However, Wang Qingyao genuinely practiced for several hours. When she finally rested, her entire right arm felt sore and swollen.
She hadn't studied this hard even for the college entrance examination.
The next day, her arm was even more sore. Not wanting to face the displeasure at the Courtyard of Splendid Scenery, she sent Zhi Zi to convey her message, stating that she would be practicing calligraphy in her own courtyard today.
Wang Qinglin couldn't have been happier.
Oh dear, she had been teaching Wang Qingyao wholeheartedly and without reservation. Yet, her second sister was both lazy and clumsy, and ultimately learned nothing. It wasn't her fault.
The morning passed uneventfully.
After a sumptuous lunch, she sat in the courtyard with Zhi Zi, Yin Zhu, and Nian Ma Ma, basking in the sun and playing cat's cradle.
Chun Lan, Qiu Ju, and the others sat on the other side, their expressions varied, each harboring their own schemes.
Just then, the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the courtyard. Everyone in the courtyard turned their gaze towards the entrance.
Chun Lan, in particular, became instantly excited. Her small mouth parted, her chest heaved, and she almost stood up.
Even without her clairvoyant eyes, Wang Qingyao knew it was Bai Shi, leading a group to "catch her in the act."
Bai Shi and her entourage arrived with fierce momentum, and had even managed to persuade the Old Madam Wang. Whatever she had said, the Old Madam's face was grim, her brows furrowed so deeply they could have crushed flies.
As soon as she entered the Cold Fragrance Courtyard, she cast a look of disgust at Wang Qingyao. Her slanted eyes scanned the surroundings, and she said coldly to Wang Qingyao, "I truly regret not raising you myself when you were young, which has led you to become this frivolous, malicious, and selfish person."
Yin Zhu and Zhi Zi, privy to the situation, stood behind Wang Qingyao with downcast eyes, betraying no unusual expression.
Nian Ma Ma, having come from the palace, was experienced. In an instant, she knew Wang Qingyao had been set up.
Wang Qingyao feigned innocence, "Old Madam, I don't understand what you are saying."
The Old Madam Wang was unwilling to elaborate. Seeing this, Bai Shi stepped forward and said, "Yao Yao, we know you are still resentful about the annulment of your engagement with the Tian family. However, this was a decision made by the Tian and Wang families after careful consideration of benefits and drawbacks. It has nothing to do with your Eldest Sister. How can you harbor resentment over such a trivial matter and commit such a forbidden act, disregarding familial affection?"
Hearing the word "forbidden," Nian Ma Ma's eyelids twitched.
Wang Qingyao inwardly sneered: They were using the engagement with the Tian family again. How annoying!
She maintained her naive facade, "First Madam, I truly don't understand what you are talking about. Can you please explain it clearly?"
The First Madam looked at Chun Lan, "Chun Lan, you tell her!"
Zhi Zi and Yin Zhu shot sharp glances at Chun Lan. Chun Lan trembled, and with a "plop," knelt in the middle of the courtyard. First, she kowtowed to Wang Qingyao and said with great sorrow, "Miss, I am sorry to you, but I cannot stand by and watch you make mistake after mistake!"
Then, she kowtowed to the Old Madam, "I also stumbled upon this by accident... Although the other three sisters and I entered the Cold Fragrance Courtyard, Miss has always forbidden us from entering her room. Those who serve her closely have always been Eldest Sister Yin Zhu and Eldest Sister Zhi Zi."
"Three nights ago, when Eldest Sister Zhi Zi and Eldest Sister Yin Zhu were not around, I wanted to enter the room to express my loyalty to Miss. Who would have thought I would see Miss holding a small effigy in one hand and a long needle in the other, stabbing it while muttering: 'Wang Qinglin, I'll stab you to death, I'll make you snatch my fiancé'..."
"Second Miss's face was ferocious, like a demon. I was terrified at the time and dared not make a sound, so I quickly retreated... That night, I couldn't sleep at all. Hearing noises in the courtyard, I quietly peeked through the window and saw Second Miss burying a black box at the foot of the wall!"
"The more I thought about it, the more scared I became. I was afraid that Eldest Sister might suffer some misfortune due to Second Miss's curse. Eldest Sister is such a kind person, and she never puts on airs with us maids. I truly couldn't bear it, so I reported it to the First Madam..."
With this, Chun Lan recounted the entire sequence of events clearly and lucidly, not forgetting to flatter Wang Qinglin.
The Old Madam's expression of disgust intensified.
Witchcraft, regardless of the dynasty, was strictly prohibited.
Even if someone in the imperial palace was involved, they could hardly escape unscathed.
If this matter were to spread, let alone whether Wang Qingyao could still become the Consort of Ding'an, the Wang family itself would be implicated.
This was what the Old Madam hated the most.
The interests of the Wang family were paramount. She would never allow anyone to jeopardize them.
Nian Ma Ma's face turned pale. Hearing this, what else did she not understand?
The method of framing was crude and lacked sophistication, but it was foolproof against Wang Qingyao, an orphaned girl with no one to protect her.
Yet, Wang Qingyao still showed no sign of panic. She seemed not to understand what had happened, and asked with both confusion and surprise, "Chun Lan, what are you talking about? When did I ever stab an effigy, bury a box, and curse Eldest Sister?"
Truly as stupid as a pig, Bai Shi regretted having overestimated Wang Qingyao earlier. Even if she hadn't done it, she should have realized by now that she was being framed.
"Yao Yao, are you still being stubborn? Will you only admit your mistake when the box is dug up?" Bai Shi tilted her chin slightly, like a queen in control of the entire scene.
Wang Qinglin looked at Wang Qingyao with heartache, "Second sister, did you really do such a thing? I don't believe you are that kind of person."
Wang Qingyao replied, "Thank you for your trust."
Wang Qinglin: "..."
Wang Qingyao turned to Chun Lan, "Chun Lan, do you dare to swear that every word you speak is true?"
Chun Lan replied without hesitation, "If I utter half a lie, may lightning strike me and may I die a terrible death."
Chun Lan was fearless, for that item had been given to her by the First Madam herself, and she had buried it personally.
As long as it was dug up and shown to everyone, Second Miss would be convicted of a grave crime.
At that time, this handle over Second Miss would be firmly held by the First Madam. To smoothly marry into the Ding'an Prince's mansion, she would have no choice but to obey the First Madam in everything.
And she, as the greatest contributor to this matter, had already been promised by the First Madam that she would not have to accompany her into the Prince's mansion as a dowry maid.
As for Xia He, Qiu Ju, and Dong Mei, the three of them would smoothly ascend to higher positions and, as principal dowry maids, would constantly restrain Second Miss.
It was truly killing three birds with one stone.