"I am deeply apprehensive, and I have said all I can say. I earnestly hope that my younger sister will take this to heart! Qi Huaihe."

The letter was short, but every word pierced Xin Jiuwei's heart like a cold needle! Had the Qi family's past been dredged up? Was it the work of a villain? Had the family been implicated? Was her brother-in-law…accusing her? Believing she had caused trouble in the capital, implicating the Qi family, and possibly even the Xin family?!

A chill instantly ran from her feet to the top of her head! Xin Jiuwei's fingers, gripping the letter, trembled slightly. She understood immediately! This was no coincidence! This must be Shen Zhiwei's doing! Having failed to gain any advantage at the gathering, she resorted to such underhanded tactics, targeting her family's foundation, attempting to shake her resolve and even sow discord between her and Xiao Xun!

What a brilliant "hidden in the nine earths"! Shen Zhiwei is trying to undermine his cause!

"Miss?" Xin Kui called out worriedly, seeing Xin Jiuwei's face turn pale instantly.

Xin Jiuwei took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Anger and resentment wouldn't solve anything. She couldn't afford to lose her composure, and she couldn't let Shen Zhiwei's wicked scheme succeed! She carefully folded the letter, her gaze regaining its firmness and sharpness.

"It's nothing," she said to Xin Kui, her voice tinged with coldness. "It's just some underhanded trickery."

As evening fell, Xiao Xun stepped into the warm pavilion and immediately noticed the lingering coldness in Xin Jiuwei's eyes. She was sitting under the lamp reading a book, but she was clearly distracted.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Xun walked to her side and asked directly. His gaze swept over the neatly folded letter in her hand, and the three words "Qi Huaihe" on the envelope made him frown almost imperceptibly.

Xin Jiuwei raised her head, made no attempt to hide anything, handed over Qi Huaihe's letter, and frankly stated her guess: "...Wei'er believes that this was Shen Zhiwei's doing. Since she can't touch me, she wants to start with the Qi family in Yuncheng, fabricating or bringing up old stories to create panic, intending to make the Qi family, and even my father, resent me, sow discord between us, and also... shake my foundation in the capital."

Xiao Xun quickly scanned the letter, his eyes instantly hardening with icy coldness. The implications and veiled accusations in the letter chilled him to the bone. He put down the letter, looked at Xin Jiuwei, and said in a low, resolute voice, "I have heard a little about the Qi family's past affairs. They are nothing but old, unfounded rumors, long since settled. They won't cause any trouble."

He reached out and gently smoothed Xin Jiuwei's slightly furrowed brow, his gesture carrying an undeniable reassuring power: "Shen Zhiwei? That's all she's good for, these underhanded tricks. You don't need to worry about this matter; leave it to me."

"What are Your Highness's plans?" Xin Jiuwei grasped his hand, her eyes filled with worry. "Her father, Shen Wei, is the leader of the Qingliu faction. If he..."

“Chen Wei?” Xiao Xun’s lips curled into a cold smile, exuding an air of domineering arrogance. “Just an old scholar who cherishes his reputation. If he’s smart, he should keep his daughter in check. If he can’t…” He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, “there are others who can manage her.”

He didn't say it explicitly, but Xin Jiuwei understood the unspoken meaning from the absolute certainty in his eyes. Shen Wei's upright position was not enough to protect Shen Zhiwei in the face of Xiao Xun's absolute strength and power.

"As for the Qi family," Xiao Xun's tone grew even colder, "Qi Huaihe is short-sighted, failing to investigate matters and instead blaming you. You don't need to reply to this letter. I will have Chen Qing personally go to Yuncheng to meet your father and the Qi family patriarch. They will understand what to say and what not to say." His words carried an iron-fisted force, directly extinguishing any possibility of Shen Zhiwei trying to sow discord.

The chill and anger in Xin Jiuwei's heart dissipated almost entirely under Xiao Xun's strong and direct protection. A warm current quietly surged up. He was always like this, shielding her from all open and hidden attacks with his strongest presence when she needed him most.

"Thank you, Your Highness." She nestled into his arms, absorbing the reassuring scent and warmth emanating from him. "But... Wei'er doesn't want to hide behind Your Highness forever. Shen Zhiwei wants to use her family to pressure me, and I'll let her know that the daughter of the Xin family isn't so easily shaken!"

Xiao Xun looked down at the renewed fighting spirit and stubbornness in her eyes, and the anger that had arisen in his heart because of Qi Huaihe's letter dissipated. He liked her resilience in the face of adversity. He embraced her and said in a deep voice, "Alright. Do whatever you want. If the sky falls, I'll hold it up."

The following day, Xin Jiuwei took the initiative to arrange to meet Lin Jingshu at "Yun Jin Ge", the largest silk shop in the capital.

"Sister Jing Shu, thank you so much for helping me out at the gathering the other day." Xin Jiuwei personally poured Lin Jing Shu a cup of fragrant tea and sincerely thanked her.

Lin Jingshu laughed heartily: "It was nothing. Who can't see through Shen Zhiwei's intentions? You handled it very well, sister, and she suffered a loss in silence." As she spoke, she lowered her voice, "However, sister, you must be careful. She is a very petty person and may hold a grudge and secretly trip you up."

Xin Jiuwei nodded, her expression calm: "Sister is right. So, the reason I asked you to come here today is to ask you for a favor."

"Oh? Please speak freely, sister."

"Wei'er would like to ask her sister for an introduction to join the 'Orphanage'," Xin Jiuwei said, revealing her plan.

"The Orphanage?" Lin Jingshu was somewhat surprised. The Orphanage was a charitable institution established by several highly respected old feudal lords in the capital. It specifically took in homeless orphans and abandoned infants, and hired female tutors to teach the girls basic needlework and literacy. Those who could join the board of directors of the Orphanage were all noble ladies and noblewomen in the capital who were truly renowned for their kindness and virtue. It was a symbol of status and a good place to accumulate prestige. Shen Zhiwei was one of the directors of the Orphanage and often used this to tout her benevolence.

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