What business do you have with our young mistress?

“I don’t want to embroider anymore; trash should just be thrown away,” Jiang Shuwan said coolly as she withdrew her gaze.

In her previous life, she had been foolish too. After finishing the peach blossom sachet and giving it to Gu Xin, she had turned away shyly without going far, secretly watching from a corner. But after she left, Gu Xin had simply tossed it aside, even criticizing her handiwork.

Looking back now, she realized how blind she had been to fancy such a man.

Liusu, thinking of the things Gu Xin had done to Jiang Shuwan, found her words sensible and turned to throw the unfinished sachet into the fire.

Jiang Shuwan stared into the smoke rising from the hearth, her eyes growing increasingly deep and void.

From now on, between her and Gu Xin, there would only be unrelenting hatred—no trace of love would remain.

“Is the young lady in?” a knock came from outside the door.

Jiang Shuwan recognized the voice as that of Jiang Xueyu’s maid and signaled Liusu to answer.

Liusu walked around the two green bamboo-embroidered screens and headed to the door.

“What business do you have with our young lady?” Liusu asked, her tone tinged with resentment because of what Jiang Xueyu had done to Jiang Shuwan.

Liutiao, the maid, remained unruffled and delivered Jiang Xueyu’s message directly. “Please inform the young lady that our mistress invites her to the Mingfeng Tavern for tea at the hour of the snake.”

Without consulting Jiang Shuwan, Liusu flatly refused, “Tell your mistress our young lady is unavailable tomorrow.”

Liutiao was momentarily stunned. If she failed to complete Jiang Xueyu’s orders, she would surely be beaten again upon returning.

Grasping Liusu’s hand earnestly, she pleaded, “Miss Liusu, please, just inform her. Our mistress has urgent matters. I beg you.”

Liusu shrugged off her hand impatiently. “I already told you, she’s not free. Why are you so persistent...”

“Tell your mistress I will definitely go tomorrow,” Jiang Shuwan’s voice interrupted before Liusu could finish.

To Liutiao, this was music to her ears.

She bowed slightly to Jiang Shuwan outside the door, saying with excitement, “Thank you, young lady, thank you!”

After Liutiao left, Liusu frowned and advised Jiang Shuwan, “Miss, from the look of it, the second young lady means no good. Why did you agree so readily?”

Jiang Shuwan lightly rubbed the cup in her hand, a faint, mysterious smile playing on her lips. “I want to see what tricks she’s hiding. Since she invited me, I’ll play along.”

Liusu remained uneasy. “But...”

Jiang Shuwan interrupted, comforting her, “Don’t worry about me. I won’t let them bully me. Some think they are the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware that there’s a oriole behind them.”

Her gaze darkened with intent.

Jiang Xueyu was never one to suffer losses quietly. After being beaten by Jiang Xunian today, she would surely try to pin everything on Jiang Shuwan.

Since that was the case, Jiang Shuwan wanted to meet her and see what scheme she was really up to.

Noticing her resolve, Liusu held back her worries and said no more.

Still uneasy, she finally asked, “Miss, may I accompany you tomorrow?”

“Very well,” Jiang Shuwan replied, setting down her cup.

The next morning, Jiang Shuwan dressed leisurely, ate breakfast slowly, and only by noon did she and Liusu depart.

Not far from the courtyard, they encountered Lady Li.

Surprised to see Jiang Shuwan so properly dressed, Lady Li masked her astonishment, approached with a smile as if no rift had occurred between them these past days.

“Wan’er, where are you headed?” she asked, reaching to hold Jiang Shuwan’s hand.

Jiang Shuwan stepped back two paces, her face cold.

Though displeased, Lady Li kept her smile, saying, “What’s wrong, Wan’er? Are you still angry with Second Lady? I didn’t know about them wanting you to be buried with the deceased. Had I known, I would never have let them do that.”

Seeing her hypocritical expression made Jiang Shuwan sick with disgust.

In her past life, she was deceived exactly like this.

“Second Lady, what good does it do to say this now? You saw how close I was to death. Why did you choose to stand by and watch then?” Jiang Shuwan shot back.

Lady Li was left speechless, unable to reply.

Jiang Shuwan had no desire to continue and said coldly, “If Second Lady has nothing else, I have matters to attend to.”

With that, she bypassed Lady Li and headed toward the door.

Lady Li’s face darkened as she watched Jiang Shuwan’s retreating figure.

Yet she was somewhat puzzled. She felt Jiang Shuwan had changed a great deal.

No longer the easily deceived girl of before, she now seemed much smarter.

But since Jiang Shuwan had been under her watchful eye all along, Lady Li dismissed the thought as overthinking.

***

At Mingfeng Tavern, in a private room, Jiang Xueyu paced restlessly, eyes sharp and filled with malice.

“Did you deliver the message to Jiang Shuwan last night or not?”

Liutiao lowered her head, whispering, “I did, miss. The young lady herself promised she would come.”

Jiang Xueyu glared fiercely. “It’s nearly the hour of the snake—she wouldn’t dare not come, would she?”

She had booked the private room shortly after dawn and waited all day, but now nearly the appointed hour had passed with no sign of Jiang Shuwan.

“Go back to the mansion and check if Jiang Shuwan is playing me for a fool,” Jiang Xueyu ordered.

“Yes, miss,” Liutiao replied.

Just as Liutiao opened the door, Jiang Shuwan appeared at the entrance.

Jiang Xueyu, seeing her in a blue cotton jacket, still smiling, felt her fury ignite.

“Sister, you really caused quite a scene, making your little sister wait so long,” Jiang Xueyu sneered sarcastically.

Jiang Shuwan took off her jacket and handed it to Liusu before strolling calmly to the round table and sitting down. “No need to be angry. You know ever since my cousin pushed me into the water, my health has been poor. I woke late, so I’m a bit late.”

There was no guilt in her tone, only a faint smile, as if daring Jiang Xueyu to do something about it.

Jiang Xueyu’s face turned blue with anger.

But thinking of her purpose, she took a deep breath and sat beside her, pouring tea and pushing a cup toward Jiang Shuwan.

“Sister, you are right. I was inconsiderate.”

Jiang Shuwan glanced at the tea but did not drink. “Why did you ask me out? It can’t be just for tea, can it?”