Zhao Yunxiang's fury grew uncontrollable.
Rumors spread everywhere that Murong Yexuan was courting Bai Rouyuan, and they pierced his pride like thorns.
He had noticed for months how close the two seemed, but now—after seeing her unveiled beauty—rage clouded his reason.
"Bai Rouyuan belongs to me. No one else can have her.'"
Consumed by obsession, he sought out his sister, Zhao Shaoqin.
"What should I do?" he demanded.
Zhao Shaoqin leaned in, her voice low and poisonous.
"Sleep with her. Let everyone see it. She'll be forced to marry you instantly."
Her words were not born from sibling loyalty.
She was obeying orders from Princess Murong Yingwei, who was filled with jealousy after witnessing Murong Yexuan's reactions toward Bai Rouyuan during the Empress's banquet.
Princess Murong Yingwei wanted Bai Rouyuan humiliated beyond redemption.
And Zhao Shaoqin was more than happy to use her brother as a weapon.
She heeded Murong Yingwei's words not out of fear, but out of courtesy—for the woman was to become her future sister-in-law.
Her father, Zhao Jinming, had long spoken of the union: once the arrangements were finalized, Prince Murong Yuntai, Yingwei's elder brother, would take her as his wife.
Though no formal engagement had been held, Shaoqin carried no doubt in her heart; she believed her future already led toward Murong Yuntai.
Zhao Yunxiang smirked sinisterly, "How do we do it?"
"Next week is the Bai family matriarch's 60th birthday. I'll make sure they invite Rouyuan. That's where we embarrass her."
Zhao Yunxiang burst into laughter.
That very moment, the siblings summoned Bai Zhenying, Bai Yuxin, and Bai Yulan to Zhao Manor.
Bai Yuxin arrived joyfully—she hadn't seen Zhao Yunxiang since the Empress's banquet and thought he missed her.
Zhao Yunxiang didn't even look at her.
Zhao Shaoqin revealed her plot.
Bai Yuxin's smile froze, but she pretended not to care.
A Heartbreaking Secret
On the way home, Bai Yulan finally asked gently: "Jiejie, why do you look so sad?"
Bai Yuxin broke down.
She confessed her secret relationship with Zhao Yunxiang—his promise to marry her, his sudden coldness, and his new obsession with Bai Rouyuan.
Worst of all…
"I'm… pregnant," she whispered, trembling.
Bai Yulan's expression hardened with fury.
She promises her sister that she would never let Bai Rouyuan marry Zhao Yunxiang.
"We will do as Zhao Shaoqin plan, but we change a bit," she said.
'Let Murong Yexuan and the whole of Wuzhen glimpse the dirt she hides beneath her gentle facade' she thought viciously.
Bai Yulan laughed darkly.
The Birthday Banquet at Bai Manor
On the day of the celebration, Rouyuan arrived with Wen Xianyi and Xiaoya.
She originally wanted to decline, but refusing her grandmother's invitation would be disrespectful.
They entered the Rose Garden, where ladies gathered for a lady-only banquet.
Rouyuan presented her courtesy gift.
Her grandmother immediately put on a sorrowful face.
"Aiiiyaa, child… I was so sad when your family left Bai Manor," she sighed dramatically.
"I was praying at the Lotus Heart Temple with Ling Er. That's why I wasn't home that time."
"I seriously don't know what happened, " she continued.
Rouyuan smiled politely.
Inside her mind, she said: 'If you truly cared, you would have come to see us long ago.
I've been in Wuzhen for months, yet today is the first time you remembered I exist.'
Food and tea were served.
When Rouyuan lifted her teacup, she paused.
Something smelled wrong.
She leaned toward Xiaoya and whispered instructions.
Xiaoya slipped away quietly.
Rouyuan then whispered something else to Xianyi.
Rouyuan pretended to sip the tea.
Moments later, she pressed a hand to her forehead, her fingers trembling as she fanned her flushed cheeks—feigning dizziness and rising heat.
Right then, a maid 'accidentally' spilled tea all over Rouyuan's clothes.
Wen Xianyi tried to help, but Sun Rongyi stopped her gently.
"Let our maid assist her, Miss Wen. She knows the rooms better."
Rouyuan was led toward the inner residence.
The Trap Is Reversed
Inside a guest room, Rouyuan was laid on the bed.
The maid, believing Rouyuan had fainted, hastily closed the door and left.
She hurried back to the Rose Garden and gave Bai Zhenying the signal,
'A slight nod—everything was done.'
But—
The moment she left, Xiaoya and Xianyi slipped into the room.
Rouyuan sat up immediately—fully conscious.
"What did she say?" she asked.
Xiaoya reported, "She confessed. Bai Yulan ordered her to serve you that tea. I bribed her with gold to tell the truth."
"And Bai Yulan?"
"Already taken care of," Xianyi smiled mischievously.
Together, they walked to the next room—where Bai Yulan lay unconscious on the bed, they bring her back to the room and put her in the same position Rouyuan was meant to be in.
The Scandal Explodes
About an hour later—
A loud scream echoed from the Cherry Blossom East Wing.[1]
Everyone rushed there.
Bai Zhenying and Zhao Shaoqin shoved open the door, eager to expose Rouyuan's humiliation.
Instead—
They froze.
Their eyes widened in horror.
Inside the room were Bai Yulan and a filthy, dishevelled man, tangled on the bed.
The entire garden erupted in shocked gasps.
Grandmother Bai nearly fainted.
Bai Zhenling had to hold her upright.
Bai Yulan sobbed pathetically, her hair and clothes a complete mess.
At that moment, Rouyuan, Xianyi and Xiaoya stepped into the room.
"Where have you been?" Zhao Shaoqin demanded, panicked.
Rouyuan bowed politely, "My clothes were wet. I was waiting for Xiaoya to dry them in the next room."
She walked closer and whispered in Bai Zhenying's ear—"I am a physician. You cannot trap me. I smelled the drug in that tea."
Bai Zhenying's face drained of color.
He Langying burst in, chased the man out, and covered his disgraced daughter with her robe, trembling from humiliation.
Before anyone could recover—
Another scream erupted from the opposite chamber.
They stormed into the next room—and froze again.
Zhao Yunxiang was inside—half-dressed, furious, and trying to strike Bai Yuxin, who clutched her torn clothes.
Bai Yuxin sobbed hysterically.
She had planned to trap Zhao Yunxiang…but he was enraged at being tricked.
When the crowd entered, he stopped instantly.
Even Zhao Shaoqin was stunned.
Two daughters of Bai Manor, caught in scandal within the same hour.
Zhao Yunxiang quickly grabbed his clothes and went out immediately.
Grandmother Bai fainted outright.
He Langying collapsed to his knees, devastated.
Wen Xianyi whispered coldly: "Want to humiliate Rouyuan?
Serves you right for being humiliated instead."
[1] a guest room in the inner wings.