Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Fighting Fire with Fire
There truly are no such coincidences.
For every occurrence, there is always a second; one never sees a thief stop after just one attempt, nor does a cheater succeed once without trying again.
People tend to have a lucky mentality, thinking that after the first success, they can’t help but try again when a second chance arises.
Cheng Ru’s sole reason for targeting Qu Fulan was Heir Pei. If she had the chance to collaborate with him, she would certainly seize it.
Qu Fulan deliberately let her participate in the grouping, precisely predicting that she would repeat old tricks.
Sure enough, when Qu Fulan checked the grouping situation arranged by Cheng Ru, each paper besides having names had a black dot — very inconspicuous, but only Cheng Ru’s name and Heir Pei’s name had them. Cheng Ru recognized them by these marks.
So last time during the climbing, she must have used similar methods.
She paired her with Young Master Liu and Mr. Tan, two young masters well-known in the Capital City for being dissolute; which woman could please them once in their hands?
At best, she would be flirted with and teased, at worst, her reputation would be utterly ruined.
Such malicious intent.
As a woman, she truly knew how to destroy another woman.
Meanwhile, Cheng Ru was comforted by the Third Miss and Fang Yuan for a while, and soon took the matter in stride, laughing and chatting as if nothing had happened.
This won her the respect of the Third Miss and Fang Yuan.
With the temper of her second brother, he truly could embarrass others without leaving them an exit; Fang Yuan had experienced such hardship in the past by taking fancy to something of his second brother, though she forgot what exactly it was now, only remembering that her second brother wouldn’t give it, and she took it regardless, resulting in the item accidentally breaking.
Her second brother’s face darkened immediately, called people without a word to "invite" her out, not letting her set foot in Lixiang Courtyard for a month.
At the time, Fang Yuan felt both ashamed and embarrassed, feeling mocked by the servants; she lost face and cried in front of her grandmother, but even the grandmother’s intervention couldn’t help, so her second brother truly ignored her for a month.
From then she knew some of her second brother’s reverse scales were untouchable.
She was also ashamed of facing people, unwilling to stay in Pei Mansion, opting to hide at home.
Now Cheng Ru could see things clearly so quickly, truly impressing her.
It is evident she is a well-bred and magnanimous person; how could one not like such a person?
However, once Cheng Ru returned to the other courtyard, she began to remember the grouping matter—her handwriting...
By instinct felt a bit flustered, then thought even if left behind, it was impossible to be discovered, who would check these for no reason?
She immediately relaxed.
Blame it on her being a bit hasty facing the Heir today, but there was no helping it; she had too few opportunities to meet him, and when even a small chance arose, she wanted to seize it.
Qu Fulan captured this very mentality; before someone they like, very few can remain calm and composed, so lapses are inevitable.
Qu Fulan had experienced such things to some extent, so naturally knew.
But some people would pretend everything is well before the person they like to make them reassured.
Undoubtedly, this must be the original protagonist.
To love but not obtain, to love humbly, are things not worth holding onto or advocating.
But committing unreasonable acts in the name of love is even less forgivable.
Qu Fulan for now acts as if she knows nothing.
Initially, Cheng Ru was somewhat worried, but after seeing Qu Fulan several times, with the other acting as usual, she was reassured.
Originally, Cheng Ru planned to jokingly ask Qu Fulan to return those notes, with an excuse already prepared, saying something like it’s not good if a girl’s handwriting is picked up by someone else — fearing it might draw attention and spoil things, she gave up.
Everyone remained peaceful until Pei Yuan’s wedding day.
Mr. Pei’s marriage, besides making the Second Madam worry, had Heir Pei also arranging external matters.
The Second Madam’s health had been worsening on and off, but since it was her son’s marriage, she couldn’t let everything be handled by her daughter and Cheng Ru, that would be improper, so she dealt with major matters inside the mansion, while leaving smaller ones to the Third Miss and Cheng Ru; whatever they handled had to be reported to the Second Madam.
The Second Madam would let someone report all arrangements to Heir Pei, who would point out any improprieties.
This shows the Second Madam’s wisdom; she knew she was merely acting as a proxy for managing Pei Mansion, that Heir Pei would be the true master in future, so she always measured things aptly in this respect.
And Qu Fulan heard all the reports to Heir Pei, so she knew all about the wedding day’s procedures.
On the wedding day, the mansion was crowded with guests; even though the marriage between Tan Family and Pei Family was unsuccessful, necessary social exchanges had to proceed, so Mr. Tan came on behalf of Tan Family to attend the wedding banquet.
The same went for Young Master Liu.
During the banquet, naturally, there was drinking and dice-playing, making it lively.
The ladies gathered for conversation. The Third Miss, to ensure delight among noble ladies, brought out Mahjong for everyone to play, a delightful thing; once started, it was hard to put down.
The noble ladies could play Mahjong and pass the time, while young maidens naturally gathered for conversation, or stood on high towers and observes guests in the mansion, hoping to encounter someone pleasing and thereby resolve their lifelong matters.
The Third Miss and Fang Yuan, including Cheng Ru, were responsible for entertaining these ladies, keeping them busy.
Qu Fulan, not being part of Pei Mansion now, was nominally a noble guest and advisor, so she wasn’t required to worry about these.
But on such a joyful day, she couldn’t just do nothing, so she accompanied the Third Miss in hosting guests, others asking the Third Miss saying she was a relative, none questioned further.
However, entertaining was a tiring affair, by afternoon, the Third Miss, Cheng Ru, and Fang Yuan felt fatigued, but as the hostess, the Third Miss couldn’t leave, so she allowed Fang Yuan and Cheng Ru to go back and rest awhile before returning.
Naturally, she let Qu Fulan return too, Qu Fulan only said she wasn’t tired, she could hold up.
Due to the original protagonist’s frail health, she needed to run outside for business, going here and there, seeing things; without exercising, she couldn’t manage, hence she started exercising early on, not difficult exercises, just jogging and yoga, now making her much healthier than before.
Cheng Ru and Fang Yuan were different, typical secluded young ladies seldom stepping outside, already challenging enough to endure so far.
The two had no choice but to each return and rest.
But halfway through, Cheng Ru felt unwell, needed a restroom urgently.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tan and Young Master Liu also felt stomach discomfort, led by a servant to the restroom, but it happened that the outside latrine was occupied due to many guests, forcing them to use the inner courtyard restroom intended for fewer occupants.
As soon as the two young men arrived, they impatiently undressed and stormed into the restroom, only to hear a woman’s shriek echoing skyward.