With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

In the back garden of Prince Ningxiang's mansion, the moonlight shone like mercury spilling onto the ground.

Yun Nian walked hurriedly through the garden.

Qiluo had already prepared a spot and informed her of Lady Ruyang's whereabouts.

It was in this rugged rockery in the back garden.

As she walked, she kept an eye on what was behind her out of the corner of her eye.

A crimson figure appeared furtively behind the moon gate.

Qin Jiaxue lifted her skirt and followed behind, thinking she was being discreet.

Yun Nian sneered inwardly, but on the surface she appeared even more "guilty." She quickened her pace, making several turns, and soon led Qin Jiaxue to the artificial hill.

She herself slipped behind a thick clump of purple bamboo and held her breath.

Qin Jiaxue followed them here and, seeing that Yun Nian was nowhere to be found, became puzzled and anxious, looking around anxiously.

At that moment, a woman's voice, though trying to be low, was filled with excitement, and it came faintly from behind the artificial hill.

"Are you crazy! Calling me out at a time like this? What if someone sees us..."

It was Lady Ruyang's voice.

Qin Jiaxue was startled and immediately followed the sound, tiptoeing closer.

She hid behind a protruding rock, cautiously peeking out half of her head.

Lady Ruyang had her back to her.

Standing before her was Qin Yuanzhan, who should have been in the military camp.

Qin Yuanzhan gripped Lady Ruyang's shoulders tightly with both hands, his voice low and urgent, "Yao'er! Tell me, is that child really mine?"

Lady Ruyang shook her head vigorously, "Yuanzhan, what... what are you saying! The child is of course the Marquis's! We didn't meet on the day the imperial physician diagnosed the child."

"The dates?" Qin Yuanzhan interrupted her, his voice suppressing pain and ruthlessness. "If you calculate the dates, it's been a month. You and I were at Xiangguo Temple; the timing clearly matches up perfectly!"

Lady Ruyang's body trembled violently as she tried to break free from Qin Yuanzhan's grip, but to no avail.

After a while, she collapsed and was caught in Qin Yuanzhan's arms.

She buried her face in his chest and sobbed, which was considered her acquiescence.

Qin Yuanzhan then hugged her even tighter, "Is she really mine?! Yao'er, she's really my flesh and blood!"

"But...but the Marquis..."

Lady Ruyang raised her tearful eyes, filled with despair, "If he finds out, I'm doomed, Yuanzhan!"

"I know! I know!"

Qin Yuanzhan's voice trembled, but he forced himself to remain calm, stroking Lady Ruyang's back. "Don't be afraid, Yao'er, I'm here. This child must be born and become the heir of the Ruyang Marquis's mansion! This is our only hope!"

Hiding behind the rocks, Qin Jiaxue was already terrified, her hands and feet turning ice-cold.

She covered her mouth tightly to keep from screaming.

Lady Ruyang is pregnant with her second uncle's child?

This...this is a huge scandal!

How dare she?!

At this moment, Yun Nian, who had been hiding behind the purple bamboo bushes, seized the opportunity and kicked the stones.

"Gurgle..."

The sound of pebbles rolling down was especially clear in the quiet night.

The two people behind the artificial hill separated abruptly, like startled birds.

"Who?!"

Qin Yuanzhan shouted sharply, his hawk-like gaze instantly sweeping towards the source of the sound.

Qin Jiaxue was so frightened that she didn't dare to stay any longer and turned to run away.

But she was too panicked and tripped over a gnarled tree root, stumbling forward.

She scrambled to her feet and ran off, quickly disappearing behind the dense foliage.

Qin Yuanzhan and Lady Ruyang cautiously chased after them, naturally not seeing Qin Jiaxue's disheveled escape, but they immediately noticed the dazzling golden-red reflection in the grass under the moonlight.

Qin Yuanzhan bent down and picked it up. It was an exquisitely crafted butterfly hairpin, with the rubies on the butterfly wings shimmering with a dark luster under the moonlight.

Lady Ruyang took a closer look, and her face instantly turned even paler than the moonlight.

"This is Qin Jiaxue's hairpin. I saw it at the banquet today. She loves butterflies the most, so I can't mistake it."

Qin Yuanzhan's fingers, which were gripping the hairpin, suddenly tightened.

His eyes flashed with murderous intent, and his voice was chillingly cold: "Qin Jiaxue, it's her."

"What should we do?"

Lady Ruyang grabbed Qin Yuanzhan's arm. "It really was her. She was the one hiding in the wardrobe at the Empress's birthday banquet. I wasn't mistaken."

Qin Yuanzhan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging violent emotions.

He gripped the hairpin tightly in his palm.

"What's the panic?"

His voice was low but calm, "Now that she's got something on us..."

He paused, a cruel and cold smile curving his lips.

"Then let's find something to use against her."

The cold moonlight shone on the artificial hill and rocks, casting distorted and warped shadows of the two people...

-

The moonlight was cold and eerie, and the whispers and the lingering fear behind the artificial hill were still palpable.

Yun Nian left quietly and returned safely to her courtyard.

The day after tomorrow will be the Qixi Festival, the most romantic and ritualistic festival of the year in the Great Jin Dynasty.

On this day, whether noble ladies or commoners, everyone would dress up and go out.

The streets were brightly lit with lanterns, and the crowds were dense.

People of all ages and genders can exchange gifts such as lanterns and pastries. If the recipient accepts the gift with pleasure, it is considered a token of the recipient's goodwill.

It is the perfect opportunity for unmarried men and women to subtly express their feelings.

Inside Yun Nian's room, Qi Luo was deftly arranging several exquisite lotus lanterns and jade rabbit lanterns.

"Miss, do you like these lamps? They were all made according to your designs, and I found the best craftsmen to make them."

Qiluo's voice carried a hint of pride.

Yun Nian turned her gaze from the window to the lifelike lanterns and nodded: "Very good."

She paused, then asked, "Qiluo, have all the clothes and things I asked you to prepare been ready?"

Qi Luo immediately replied solemnly, "Miss, the dress has been altered to your size and scented with the 'Cold Plum Fragrance' you requested. As for the lanterns..."

She lowered her voice, "It's all prepared as you instructed."

Yun Nian nodded in satisfaction and then asked, "Has everything been clearly explained to Guard Chen Sha?"

Mentioning Chensha, Qiluo's cheeks flushed involuntarily. She lowered her eyes and said, "Don't worry, Miss. I've already spoken to Guard Chensha about it."

Seeing her shy yet earnest expression, Yun Nian couldn't help but smile: "Not bad, our Qi Luo is becoming more and more capable. She can even get a blockhead like Chen Sha working."

Her teasing remark made Qi Luo blush even more, and she stamped her foot in a coquettish tone, "Miss!"

Joking aside, Yun Nian had her own plans in mind.

The Qixi Festival is a good opportunity, but it also requires careful handling.

In my past life, many "accidents" happened on this day.

However, she is no longer the same as before and will make arrangements in advance.

However, what concerned her even more was something else: there were only nine days left until her wedding with Qin Senyao.

Time was of the essence, and she had to speed things up and find a breakthrough with Qin Jiuchen.

Soon, the evening of the Qixi Festival arrived.

Yun Nian changed into a delicate pinkish-white silk dress, the hem and cuffs of which were embroidered with tiny intertwined floral patterns in silver thread, shimmering with light as she moved.

Her face was lightly powdered, and her lips were adorned with vermilion. She was charming and bright, like a peach blossom just beginning to bloom on a branch, fresh and lovely, yet still retaining the liveliness of a young girl.

Qi Luo's eyes lit up as she watched: "Miss, you look so beautiful dressed like this!"

Yun Nian smiled slightly at herself in the mirror, but her heart was not particularly stirred.

She had her reasons for dressing like that.