The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 55: Chapter 055: I Am the Evil Sister (Part 10)

”A stroke of luck from a disaster?”

He Yi stood there stupefied after hearing what the Wife of Marquis Yongchang relayed.

For a moment, she couldn’t identify the mixture of emotions welling up inside her—

The very person who harmed her was not only spared from suffering during their punishment but also had their genuine illness cured!

What on earth was going on?

The thought that He Tian had been on the brink of death, only to recover from her ”self-punishment” and slowly regain her health, disgusted He Yi as though she had swallowed a live fly.

A nameless indignation simmered within her.

It was simply unfair, heaven was too unjust.

Why should it be that the wrongdoer not only got away without paying for their faults but also managed to gain from misfortune?

As for the concerns the Wife of Marquis Yongchang had about her own marriage prospects, He Yi wasn’t thinking too much about that at the moment.

However, she quickly began to feel the scorn and strange looks from others.

”...Tsk, she has the nerve to show her face, a young miss from a good family, eager to become her sister’s successor in marriage while her sister is ill, truly shameless!”

”Exactly, the He Family is after all from the nobility, how can they act with less and less decorum?!”

”But you know, Third Miss He’s wishful thinking has utterly collapsed now. That person from the Duke’s family, blessed by heaven, was critically ill when Imperial Doctor Yang of the Imperial Hospital diagnosed her true ailment—”

”What? You mean Lady He’s illness is cured?!”

”It is, I heard that in the past two days she’s been able to leave her bed albeit still weak, but she’s on the mend!”

”My goodness, that really is something rare. The last time I went to visit her, oh dear, she was nothing but skin and bones, it was pitiful to see!”

”...So, you see, people should really do more good deeds, that way they’ll receive blessings!”

At the flower viewing banquet held by the Eldest Princess’s Manor, the noblewomen huddled together chattering about the gossip from Duke Wei’s Mansion.

Just as the Wife of Marquis Yongchang had feared, the whole Capital City was practically abuzz with the news of He Tian’s serious illness and the He Family’s plans to marry He Yi off to the Duke Mansion as a replacement wife for her brother-in-law.

If the matter had been successfully resolved, it might have been worth the He Family and He Yi enduring some gossip.

But the problem was—

Alas, to put it inappropriately, it was like trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice.

Initially, with the backing of Duke Wei’s Mansion and the status of being the legitimate eldest daughter of Marquis Yongchang, He Yi could have married well.

Now, though there was nothing untoward between He Yi and Duke Wei, the rumors in the Capital caused everyone to look at He Yi with a mix of ambiguity and scrutiny.

There were also some young ladies of the same unmarital status as He Yi who started to distance themselves from her.

As if He Yi were some repellent contagion, associating with her could sully their own reputation.

He Yi finally felt the pain of isolation.

She was, after all, just a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl, doted on by her parents at home, and regarded highly by others outside for being under the Duchess Wei’s patronage.

Thus, even if the He Family fell from grace, she hadn’t had to endure much of the world’s coldness.

However, at this moment, seeing the strange looks from everyone and hearing their whispers, He Yi felt her young face burning with embarrassment, wishing she could just disappear into a crack in the ground.

At last, overwhelmed by these feelings, He Yi, her face pale, ran out without looking back.

Her maid couldn’t catch up with her and did not dare to call out loudly, for fear of attracting even more sidelong glances and ridicule, so she had to turn back, sneak away to seek help from the Wife of Marquis Yongchang.

Unfamiliar with the layout of the Eldest Princess’s Manor, He Yi ran headlong for quite some time, eventually becoming lost within the winding courtyards.

”Eh? Isn’t that Third Miss He?”

The servant alongside Kang Mo of Duke Wei’s Mansion suddenly exclaimed softly.

Kang Mo originally had little interest in this flower-viewing banquet, but out of respect for the Eldest Princess, he had come to make an appearance and then planned to return home.

Kang Mo didn’t want to attract attention, so he intentionally sought out a secluded path.

Unexpectedly, he encountered the lost He Yi.

Seeing He Yi’s flushed face from running, and her eyes that seemed especially bright after being washed with tears, Kang Mo’s heart was involuntarily moved again.

”Third Miss, how come you’re here? Where is your maid?” Without thinking too much, Kang Mo stepped forward to reach He Yi’s side.

However, He Yi was startled.

Recognizing that the person approaching was her familiar brother-in-law, a complex expression emerged from the depths of He Yi’s eyes.

There was surprise, grievance, avoidance, and even an unrecognized hint of affection.

”Greetings, Lord Duke!”

He Yi maintained a deliberate distance from Kang Mo and bowed before turning to run away.

That eagerness to escape, as if Kang Mo were some kind of flood or ferocious beast.

The smile on Kang Mo’s face stiffened, but being a kind and observant person, he thought back to He Yi’s expression just then and seemed to realize something.

”Go ahead and inquire if the Third Miss has suffered any grievances.”

”Right, it seemed like the Third Miss was lost; she’s not familiar with the Eldest Princess’s Manor. You, you find a servant from the princess’s manor to follow and see how she’s doing!”

The servant hurriedly agreed and then set about following Kang Mo’s instructions.

Before long, confirming that a servant from the princess’s manor had found He Yi and brought her back to the flower-viewing banquet, Kang Mo felt reassured enough to leave.

On the way, the servant returned with a respectful yet hesitant report, ”Lord Duke, there, there seems to be some unfavorable rumors outside!”

”What rumors?” Kang Mo reined in his horse, bringing it to a halt.

The servant dared not withhold anything and quickly relayed all the criticisms concerning He Yi circulating in the Capital City.

In fact, Kang Mo had already vaguely guessed He Yi’s current situation was not good, without needing the servant’s report.

After all, the He Family’s original scheming was not very secretive, and He Yi, an unmarried girl, was living at Duke Wei’s Mansion under the guise of ”caring for her sister” for several days at a time.

The influential figures of the Capital City were not fools; with the He Family behaving such and Duke Wei’s Mansion seemingly condoning it, it was not hard to guess the intentions of both households.

But plans cannot always keep up with changes.

Even Kang Mo did not expect that his wife, who seemed on the brink of death, could actually recover.

Of course, he, he did not wish for his wife to die.

Seeing his wife and son crying and embracing each other, Kang Mo was happy in his heart.

But, but... alas, it was a disservice to the Third Miss.

Returning to the mansion, Kang Mo first paid a visit to his mother and then headed to the main room.

Seeing ”He Tian” still looking weak, Kang Mo felt distressed, but he did not forget about He Yi’s situation.

”Tiantian, there’s something—”

Before Kang Mo could finish, He Tiantian spoke up first, ”Lord Duke, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you!”

Kang Mo swallowed his words, smiling, and said to He Tiantian, ”What is it? You go ahead and tell me!”

”It’s like this. Because of my illness earlier, I specially invited Yiyi to stay at our mansion. Although we’ve done nothing to hide, outsiders might think too much!”

”After all, Yiyi is still an unmarried young lady, and reputation is of the utmost importance. Now that I’m feeling a lot better, I was thinking of inviting the noblewomen of the city to our home, taking the opportunity to help clarify things for Yiyi!”

Kang Mo: ...

His wife also thought of these issues, yet instead of feeling an intuitive joy, Kang Mo had a strange feeling!