Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Behind the artificial rockery stood Marchioness Yongning’s nephew from her maiden family-Xu Zhiyuan, elder brother of Xu Ruyi-and Lin Jiayi, who had only moments ago been brimming with joy.

Only now, Lin Jiayi’s clothes were in disarray and she was unconscious, while Xu Zhiyuan reeked of wine, his chest bare.

“My lady, I truly do like this gift of yours very much.”

The Xu Family had been in decline for a long time. When Marchioness Yongning was still at home, her father and brothers had held things together.

But fortune is fickle. Marchioness Yongning’s father and brothers passed away one after another.

Her younger half brother took over the family business, but he was mediocre at best, and what remained of the estate had long since been squandered.

Now, Xu Ruyi and her brother both lived off Yongning Marquis Manor. Yet though Yongning Marquis Manor looked splendid from the outside, within it was already rotten beyond bearing. That was why they had set their sights on me.

Marchioness Yongning hated me bitterly for not knowing what was good for me-for refusing to hand over my family fortune and daring to break off the engagement over the slightest grievance.

At the Flower-Viewing Banquet, she had ruined my reputation, yet she still could not bear to let go of my family’s money.

Arranging for me to lose my chastity to her nephew from her maiden family was the best solution.

It would make my life worse than death, while also forcing me to marry in with my money.

In fact, once I had lost my virtue before marriage, with my status as it was, I might not even be able to become Xu Zhiyuan’s proper wife. I would likely only be fit to be his concubine.

If I had been completely unprepared for this vicious scheme of hers, I would truly have fallen into hell at this moment, my entire life destroyed.

So I could only return the favor.

Seeing that I had escaped, Marchioness Yongning’s expression turned exceptionally ugly. She clearly felt humiliated.

The noble ladies present exchanged meaningful looks, naturally aware that there was more to this than met the eye. But none of them were loose-tongued people. They merely stood aside and watched the spectacle for a good while.

Only after some time did the mistress of the Lin Family arrive, late and unhurried.

Madam Lin was the second wife, not the birth mother of the Lin siblings. After her marriage, she had borne no children of her own.

Master Lin had been deeply devoted to his first wife and guarded against Madam Lin in every way. Lin Jiayi and her brother also regarded her as an enemy, so there was little affection between them.

Yet now, with Lin Jiayi in trouble, Madam Lin did not kick her while she was down.

With pity in her eyes, she ordered someone to step forward and drape clothing over Lin Jiayi. Her tone was neither servile nor overbearing.

“Our girl has always been innocent and well brought up, yet now she has been ruined by such a lecherous scoundrel. Though the Lin Family may be of modest standing, we cannot endure such an insult!

“As for today’s matter, I hope all you ladies will spare my girl some dignity and refrain from speaking of it.”

The crowd echoed, “Of course, of course.”

Madam Lin had the maids take Lin Jiayi away, while she herself remained to handle the aftermath.

Though Marchioness Yongning felt somewhat embarrassed, she did not think this was any great matter.

Facing Madam Lin, she even carried herself with a hint of condescension.

“Given the situation, your girl can hardly marry anyone else now. With everyone here as witness, let the two children be betrothed. That way, we can turn hostility into harmony.”

Madam Lin’s face darkened, but she did not dare make the decision on Lin Jiayi’s behalf.

Marrying Lin Jiayi to Xu Zhiyuan was indeed the best option. In this world, if she could not marry Xu Zhiyuan, Lin Jiayi would have an even worse fate awaiting her.

I stood to the side and watched, yet felt not the slightest satisfaction-only an inexplicable chill in my heart.

Lin Jiayi had failed to harm me and instead ruined her own future. That was her own doing.

But in the end, the only person who had to bear all the consequences of this disaster was her.

As for Xu Zhiyuan, he gained a wife for nothing. He suffered no loss at all.

The Lin Family was, after all, a respectable and innocent household, and Lin Jiayi was still in the prime of youth.

For a man of Xu Zhiyuan’s character, being able to marry Lin Jiayi as his wife was already reaching far above himself.

But even so, once the matter had happened, the passive, cornered party was still the Lin Family.

How difficult it was to be a woman. We could not afford the slightest misstep.

Today it was Lin Jiayi. Tomorrow, it might be me-or any one of the countless sheltered daughters raised in the inner chambers.

Had I won this round?

Had I truly won?