Cousin, how could you do this?

Master Jin raised a finger and pointed at the string of prayer beads.

"That's right, exactly right. Years ago, this old woman was also fond of them and once begged the Great Master for a string, but he stubbornly refused to part with any. Throughout the entire Yunchao Dynasty, this seven-colored string of beads belongs solely to the eldest Miss Jiang," chimed in a white-haired elderly woman nearby.

A fair, plump young girl by her side asked, "Grandmother, is that the string you wanted to ask for for Mother?"

The old woman nodded, "Yes, that's the very one."

Gu Xin's expression changed drastically. He grabbed Jiang Shuwang's hand, his grip tightening.

Jiang Shuwan struggled, "Heir, let go of me! What are you trying to do?"

Gu Xin looked at her with deep, smoldering eyes, "Six years ago, did you ever go to the outskirts of Cien Temple?"

"I frequently visit Cien Temple for leisure, so perhaps I was there!"

"Then do you remember, six years ago, a man was bitten by a venomous snake?"

Jiang Shuwan tilted her head slightly, wearing a thoughtful look, and muttered to herself, "Did such a thing happen?"

Tassel stepped forward and said, "My lady, have you forgotten? Back then, you even sucked the venom out for that man and called a physician, but unfortunately, by the time you returned, he was long gone."

Jiang Shuwan wore an expression of sudden realization, "I remember now, there was indeed such a matter. But it was merely a trifling effort, so I didn't even recall it. I don't remember what that man looked like either. Does the Heir know him?"

Jiang Shuwan looked at him, asking with a puzzled counter-question.

Gu Xin murmured, "I never expected that person to be you."

Looking at the familiar face before him—skin so delicate it seemed a breath could break it, a melon-seeded face rounded softly at the edges, and round, doe-like eyes.

He had never noticed how beautiful Jiang Shuwan truly was; she was countless times more breathtaking than Lin Rou's soft, narrow, melon-seeded face.

"I just..."

Just as Gu Xin was about to say that he was that very man, a joyful voice rang out from behind. "Brother Xin."

Everyone turned to look in unison.

When Lin Rou saw their hands grasping and pulling at one another, the smile on her lips instantly vanished. She stepped forward furiously, "Jiang Shuwan, in broad daylight, how do you have the shamelessness to seduce another person's husband?"

With that, she raised her hand to slap Jiang Shuwan across the face.

Gu Xin immediately released Jiang Shuwan's hand, stepped forward, and pulled Lin Rou back a step.

"Brother Xin, why are you stopping me? Do you no longer love me?" Lin Rou demanded, her face pale with fury.

Gu Xin's eyes were filled with impatience. He raised a finger, pointed at the seven-colored string of beads, and demanded, "Lin Rou, is this seven-colored string yours?"

Lin Rou's face instantly turned pale, panic flashing across her features.

Her eyes reddened immediately. Too panicked to care about anger anymore, Lin Rou reached out to grab Gu Xin's hand, but he evaded her touch.

Lin Rou glanced at the seven-colored beads, remembering that Jiang Shuwan had taken them back some time ago, and never expected them to surface here. Seeing Gu Xin's reaction, she seemed to understand everything.

She turned to Jiang Shuwan, looking deeply aggrieved, "Cousin, back then you were the one who said my constitution was weak and specially gifted me the seven-colored beads to keep me safe. When you took them back a while ago, I didn't dare utter a single word of complaint."

As she spoke, she lowered her head slightly, looking as though she had suffered a monstrous grievance.

Gu Xin looked at her half-convinced, "Is that true?"

Lin Rou looked up at Gu Xin with tear-rimmed eyes, "It is. I even told Cousin the story of how I rescued you back then and sucked out the venom for you."

Reflecting on how Lin Rou had always been by his side—both in his past life and after his rebirth—so considerate, kind, and thoughtful of others, Gu Xin's heart quickly chose to believe her words.

Thinking of how he had been repeatedly played for a fool by Jiang Shuwan, Gu Xin glared at her angrily, "It must be you, a venomous, scorpion-hearted woman, who lied about being my savior just to drive a wedge between me and younger sister Rou. How utterly malicious you are!"

A flash of triumph crossed Lin Rou's eyes, though it vanished instantly. She looked at Jiang Shuwan with a soft expression of disbelief, "Cousin, how could you do such a thing?"

She then stepped forward, tears streaming down her cheeks as she asked with a slight sob, "Brother Xin, you must believe me."

Watching the woman he loved shed tears, Gu Xin felt his heart ache. He raised a hand to wipe away her tears, saying apologetically, "I'm sorry, younger sister Rou. I wronged you."

Looking at the bustling crowd whispering among themselves and pointing accusingly at Jiang Shuwan:

"No wonder Lord Heir didn't want to marry the eldest Miss Jiang. Her character is so vile. If it were me, even if she paid me to take her, I wouldn't marry her."

"A dignified noble marquise's daughter actually stooping to such despicable behavior. It truly brings shame to the Pingning Marquis."

Jiang Shuwan cast a cold, sidelong glance at the speaker. The person was so frightened by Jiang Shuwan's commanding aura that they didn't dare utter another word.

Jiang Shuwan withdrew her gaze and looked at Lin Rou with eyes as cold as ice, "Cousin, are you truly certain that these beads were a gift from me? Did you ever wear them six years ago?"

Lin Rou faltered for a moment, but quickly firmed her resolve, "Naturally."

"Very well," Jiang Shuwan called out toward the entrance, "Master Yuanming."

Everyone looked toward the door in puzzlement.

They saw a man walking in, dressed in white robes, holding Buddhist prayer beads, completely bald, and possessing a benevolent, gentle expression.

A commotion swept through the crowd. They exchanged bewildered glances, looking at one another in sheer disbelief.

"Isn't that Master Yuanming of Cien Temple?"

"Indeed! Why would he appear here? I've heard that even His Majesty finds it harder than ascending to the heavens just to catch a glimpse of him. In our dynasty, he is practically a divine figure."

"That goes without saying."

Master Yuanming acted as though he heard none of their murmurs. He walked straight up to Jiang Shuwan, a smile gracing his lips as he nodded to her, "Amitabha, we meet again, Miss Jiang."

Jiang Shuwan bowed respectfully and slightly, "Master Yuanming."

The surrounding crowd also bowed slightly, "Greetings, Master Yuanming."

"No need for such formalities, everyone. This poor monk is merely a mortal."

With a smiling curve of her lips, Jiang Shuwan said happily, "I never expected that Master Yuanming would actually come to honor our appointment."

Master Yuanming smiled familiarly and said, "Miss Jiang, where is that unique, one-of-a-kind zither score? You mustn't deceive me."

"The whole world says Master Yuanming is obsessed with the art of the zither. It seems that is indeed true," Jiang Shuwan teased playfully.

The Master Yuanming standing before them now bore no resemblance to the lofty, untouchable figure seen at Cien Temple; instead, he felt like a warm elder of one's own household.

"Amitabha."

"The unique score is indeed with this junior, but since this junior has been entangled in malicious rumors, I sincerely hope Master Yuanming can help clarify the truth."

While tailing Gu Xin and Lin Rou earlier, she had happened to catch sight of Master Yuanming. It was only after stepping forward to plead with him that this scene before everyone materialized.

Master Yuanming's expression shifted, his gaze sweeping across those present, "Who is it that dares to slander Miss Jiang?"

Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to utter another word.

Tassel stepped forward, pointed directly at Lin Rou, and declared, "It's her! She falsely claimed that my lady gave her the seven-colored prayer beads. In truth, it was my lady who lost the beads, and this thief picked them up."

Master Yuanming glanced sideways at the seven-colored prayer beads in Jiang Shuwan's hand, and comprehension dawned on him instantly.

He furrowed his brows slightly, "How can such a thing be? These prayer beads share an affinity with Miss Jiang alone. If bestowed upon anyone else, it will inevitably bring harm upon themselves."