"Do we need to hang out in the garden to reminisce about the past?" Shen Weiwan suddenly raised her voice, her delicate jade fingers pointing to Li Xiu's waist. "Oh, by the way, this jade pendant on Mr. Li's waist looks quite familiar - it seems to be the gift my mother gave to my cousin when she was 15 years old! Cousin, when did you 'lend' such a valuable thing to my cousin?"

Everyone followed her finger and saw a jade pendant with two fishes adorning Li Xiu's waist. The jade was smooth and the carving was exquisite. It was the gift Liu had found among Shen Weiwan's mother's belongings when Shen Ruorou came of age the previous year. Seeing this, Shen Ruorou felt dizzy and her vision went black. She nearly fell to the ground.

"Enough!" Liu could no longer maintain her dignity, and the powder on her face fell off in anger. She pointed at Shen Weiwan and roared, spitting everywhere, "You girl, you are talking nonsense! Come on, send the second lady back to her room!"

"Don't be anxious, auntie," Shen Weiwan moved aside to block the way, gently waving the handkerchief in her hand like a flag of victory, "so many noble ladies are here, it's a good time to judge - my cousin and my 'cousin' were arguing in the garden, and even gave each other jade pendants and handkerchiefs. If this gets out, will the general's mansion still have face?"

She paused, then suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes wide open in feigned terror. "Oh! I remember now! The other day, Master Li was blocking me in the garden, telling me he wanted to marry me in a grand sedan chair! And now I've suddenly become my cousin's 'brother'. Could it be that he wants to...want to have his cake and eat it too, and marry both of us?"

"boom--"

The ladies' chatter instantly escalated, their gazes toward Li Xiu and Shen Ruorou filled with disdain and mockery. A few of the bolder ones even let out undisguised sneers. Li Xiu felt a thorn in his side from the gazes, a surge of blood rushing to his head. Fuming with rage and anxiety, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the bluestone slab before him. He then collapsed to the ground, his crutches rolling far away.

After witnessing this scene, Shen Ruorou could no longer hold on. She screamed, fainted completely, and fell limply into the arms of the maid.

"Master Li! Second Miss!" Liu was so frightened that she tried to help them in a hurry, but was stopped by Wang Ruohan neither softly nor hard.

Wang Ruohan looked at her with a half-smile, her tone tinged with a barely perceptible sarcasm. "Madam Liu, I think we should send for a doctor first. But this 'cousin' story' will spread throughout the capital before the doctor even arrives."

Shen Weiwan stood aside, watching the chaotic crowd, watching Liu's flustered and embarrassed state, watching Li Xiu and Shen Ruorou's miserable state, like dogs that had lost their homes, and finally a happy smile curled up at the corner of her mouth. The sunlight fell on her face, illuminating her clear eyes with a glimmer of victory. She subconsciously turned her head and looked at the waterside pavilion not far away - the seventh prince Xiao Yu was standing by the railing, his black brocade robe particularly eye-catching against the green trees. He was playing with a black jade chess piece in his hand, his eyes fixed on her through the layers of flowers and trees, a meaningful smile on his lips, his eyes as deep as an ancient well, making it difficult to see clearly.

For some reason, being stared at by those eyes, Shen Weiwan's heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks felt slightly hot. She hurriedly looked away and winked at Chuntao: "Let's go, don't be an eyesore here, and don't pollute your eyes."

Back at Qinghui Courtyard, Chuntao was as excited as a kitten that had just stolen some fish. While handing Chen Weiwan some cold tea, she chirped, "Miss, you were really amazing today! There are witnesses and evidence, and the evidence is as solid as a mountain! I wonder how they can argue in the future!"

Chen Weiwan took the cold teacup, her fingertips caressing the rim, feeling the chill that penetrated her heart. She raised her eyes, their gaze as cold as frost. "Quibbling? They're probably in dire straits now. Li Xiu wants to cling to the General's Mansion, Shen Ruorou wants to take my place, and Liu wants to swallow up the family fortune... The reckoning has only just begun."

Just as Shen Weiwan had predicted, within half a day, the news that "Mr. Li and Miss Shen's second affair, caught red-handed by Miss Shen's eldest daughter," spread like wildfire throughout the capital. Gossipers exaggerated the story, portraying Li Xiu as a shameless two-timing scumbag and Shen Ruorou as a dissolute noblewoman who disregarded her dignity and engaged in secret meetings with men other than hers. Some even dug up rumors of Li Xiu's previous proposal to marry Shen Weiwan, disparaging his actions completely.

In the evening, the old housekeeper hurried to Qinghui Courtyard, holding a bunch of heavy copper keys in his hand, his beard trembling with excitement. "Miss, I have the storeroom key back for you! The Second Madam is so worried and restless now, she can no longer take care of the storeroom!"

Shen Weiwan took the cold brass keys. They felt heavy in her hand, as if she were holding the century-old foundation of the General's Mansion. The keys still carried the warmth of the old housekeeper's palm, yet also bore the vicissitudes of time. She recalled how she had foolishly given the keys to Liu in her previous life, ultimately leading to the destruction of her family. She felt a mixture of emotions. Now, the family business left by her father was finally returning to her hands.

She walked to the window and half-opened it. The setting sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, painting the sky a brilliant orange-red. The capital city in the distance was still bustling, but her battleground had only just begun.

Li Xiu, Chen Ruorou, Liu... your retribution is still to come.

At that moment, in the waterside pavilion, the Seventh Prince, Xiao Yu, gently tapped the black jade chess piece in his hand on the stone table, making a clear, crisp sound. He watched the lights gradually brighten in the direction of the General's Mansion, his eyes as deep as the night. This daughter of the General's Mansion, who always brought surprises, was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, sending ripples through his heart. It seemed that this summer in the capital was destined to be anything but boring. His smile deepened, and he murmured to himself, "Interesting."