When I returned, I saw Qin Yiheng standing in the small courtyard, his hands clasped behind his back. I had no idea how long he had been standing there.

He looked me up and down, and when he saw that I had changed my clothes and was struggling to move, his expression shifted abruptly.

I gave a bitter laugh in my heart. Ever since he decided to give me away to that man, hadn’t he already foreseen all of this?

What was the point of this act now?

“Was it you… who gave me to that man?” I asked softly.

He reached out to steady me, unable to help himself: “You and him…”

I lowered my eyes and said nothing. Even if there really was nothing between that man and me, I had no desire to explain.

If I hadn’t dared to believe it before, I had certainly received my confirmation now.

From the moment Qin Yiheng decided to have me take Lan Nianhua’s place and handed me over to another, he had already pushed me away.

Seeing that I didn’t speak, he seemed to panic. He pulled me into his arms: “Niantang, I regret it. The moment you left, I regretted it…”

Regret? I smiled faintly, looking up at him—the man I had loved so deeply.

Qin Yiheng was of noble blood, high and mighty. Even when he was on the verge of death, I had never seen such a panicked look on his face.

Exhaustion suddenly washed over me. I was bone-tired and whispered, “He said he agreed to help you.”

As soon as I finished speaking, I could no longer hold myself up and collapsed toward the ground. Qin Yiheng caught me, repeating over and over, “Don’t worry, I will marry you as a secondary wife. Whatever Lan Nianhua has, you will have too.”

I reached out and clutched his sleeve. I wanted to tell him that I didn’t care about titles, that I didn’t care at all…

But how could you have given me away?

If Lan Nianhua couldn’t do it, why was it okay for me to do it…

Before I could get the words out, my consciousness plunged into darkness.

In the days that followed, Qin Yiheng never came to see me, but I witnessed his wedding to Lan Nianhua.

The ten miles of red silk and finery were enough to make countless women envious, but they only burned my eyes.

I watched with my own eyes as Qin Yiheng sat on his tall horse, full of spirit, marrying his wife and securing a significant bargaining chip.

I returned to the manor, found that painting, and tore it to pieces, bit by bit—just as I was tearing Qin Yiheng out of my heart.

The chapter describes the narrator’s return to the garden after a long absence, reflecting on the events that transpired. The narrator is deeply affected by the events and the emotional turmoil they experienced.

When I returned, I saw Qin Yiheng in the small courtyard. He stood there with his hands behind his back, though I didn’t know how long he had been waiting.

He looked me up and down. When he saw that I had changed clothes and was moving with difficulty, his expression shifted abruptly.

I smiled bitterly in my heart. From the moment he gave me away, hadn’t he anticipated all of this?

Why put on this act now?

“Was it you… who gave me to that man?” I spoke softly.

He reached out to support me and couldn’t help but ask, “You and him…”

I lowered my eyes and said nothing. Even if nothing had truly happened between that man and me, I had no desire to explain.

If I hadn’t dared to believe it before, I had my confirmation now.

From the moment Qin Yiheng decided to let me take Lan Nianhua’s place and gave me away, he had already pushed me aside.

Seeing that I remained silent, he seemed to panic slightly. He pulled me into his arms. “Niantang, I regretted it. The moment you left, I regretted it…”

Regret? I smiled faintly and looked up at him—at the man I had loved so deeply.

Qin Yiheng was of imperial blood, high and mighty. Even when his life was hanging by a thread, I had never seen a trace of panic on his face.

A wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over me. I was tired to the bone. I spoke softly, “He said he agrees to help you.”

After saying that, I could no longer hold myself up and collapsed toward the ground. Qin Yiheng caught me, saying repeatedly, “Don’t worry, I will marry you as an equal wife. Everything Lan Nianhua has, you will have too.”

I reached out and gripped his sleeve. I wanted to tell him that I didn’t care about titles. I didn’t care at all…

But how could you give me away to someone else?

If Lan Nianhua was off-limits, was I fair game?

But before I could speak, my consciousness sank into darkness.

For the next few days, Qin Yiheng didn’t come to see me, but I witnessed his wedding to Lan Nianhua.

Ten miles of red dowry—a sight that would make countless women envious, yet it seared my eyes.

I watched with my own eyes as Qin Yiheng sat atop a tall horse, high-spirited as he married his wife and secured a significant bargaining chip.

I returned to the house, found that painting, and tore it to shreds bit by bit, as if I were purging Qin Yiheng from my heart piece by piece.

Upon returning, I saw Qin Yiheng in the courtyard. He was standing there with his hands behind his back, though I didn’t know how long he had been waiting.

He looked me up and down, and upon seeing that I had changed my clothes and was struggling to walk, his expression shifted abruptly.

I gave a bitter laugh. From the moment he handed me over to that man, he must have foreseen all of this, right?

What was the point of this act now?

“Was it you… who gave me to that man?” I asked softly.

He reached out to steady me, unable to help himself: “You and him…”

I lowered my eyes and said nothing. Even if nothing had truly happened between me and that man, I had no desire to explain.

If I had dared to doubt it before, I was now certain.

From the moment Qin Yiheng decided to use me as a substitute for Lan Nianhua and sent me away, he had already pushed me aside.

Seeing my silence, he seemed to panic. He pulled me into his arms: “Niantang, I regret it. The moment you left, I regretted it…”

Regret? I smiled faintly, looking up at him—the man I had loved so deeply.

Qin Yiheng was of royal blood, high and mighty. Even when he was on the verge of death, I had never seen a look of panic on his face.

A wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over me. I was so tired. I whispered, “He said he agreed to help you.”

After saying this, I could no longer hold myself up and began to collapse. Qin Yiheng caught me, repeating over and over: “Don’t worry, I will take you as a secondary wife. Whatever Lan Nianhua has, you will have too.”

I reached out and clutched his sleeve. I wanted to tell him that I didn’t care about titles, that I didn’t care at all…

But how could you give me to someone else?

If Lan Nianhua was off-limits, was I just a disposable pawn?

Before I could speak, my consciousness slipped into a void of darkness.

In the days that followed, Qin Yiheng did not come to see me, but I witnessed his wedding to Lan Nianhua.

The ten miles of red silk and finery were enough to make any woman envious, yet they burned my eyes.

I watched with my own eyes as Qin Yiheng sat atop his horse, high-spirited and triumphant, marrying his wife and securing a significant bargaining chip.

I returned to the residence, took out that painting, and tore it to pieces, bit by bit—just as I was tearing Qin Yiheng out of my heart.