Capital City, Marquis Yong'an's Estate, study.
In the oppressive atmosphere, Zhang Qingyue, who had remained silent, slowly raised her head.
Her gaze was the calmest of all, sharp with an insight that seemed to see right through people.
"Actually, there's another way."
Zhang Qingyue's voice was not loud, but it brought the noisy discussion to a halt. "I think Zhang Yu's abnormal behavior isn't because he's truly made of stone. There must be a reason behind it."
"Third Sister, what do you mean?" Zhang Heng asked with a frown.
Zhang Qingyue rose to her feet and swept her gaze across the room, laying out her reasoning step by step.
"Think about it. What was Zhang Yu like before?
He obeyed Mother in everything, yielded to Brother Heng at every turn, and granted Sister Luohan's every wish. He would have gladly torn out his heart for her.
So why did he suddenly change?"
She paused, her voice growing more emphatic. "It all started when he went to prison in someone else's place, and when he found out Brother Heng was going to be engaged to Sister Luohan!"
"One thing ruined his future; the other took away the woman he loved most.
For a man, that's a crushing humiliation, a calamity that could destroy him."
Qin Xuehua nodded thoughtfully. "Qingyue makes sense. That wretch may be useless, but he used to listen to me. His reaction this time really was too extreme."
"So,"
A calculating curve touched Zhang Qingyue's lips.
"His 'toughness' now may be an extreme form of self-protection. He's sulking, venting his resentment.
He doesn't truly want to destroy the Marquis Estate. He just wants us to see how much he's hurting, to show us that he has a temper too."
"Third Sister, are you saying... he's putting on an act?"
Zhang Wanning asked in surprise.
"You could put it that way."
Zhang Qingyue looked at Jiang Luohan, her gaze meaningful.
"Especially when it comes to Sister Luohan.
We all know how deeply Zhang Yu feels for Sister Luohan.
Having to watch the woman he loves marry his younger brother is enough to drive him mad.
Everything he's doing now—refusing to help, watching coldly from the sidelines—is meant to provoke Sister Luohan, to tell her, 'You'll regret leaving me.'"
Jiang Luohan's irritation vanished the moment she heard this.
An indescribable vanity and satisfaction began to grow and spread through her heart like poisonous weeds.
So... that was it?
Zhang Yu had become so extreme because he loved me too much and couldn't bear to lose me?
He'd done all this to get my attention, to make me regret it?
The thought instantly transformed her resentment toward Zhang Yu into a lofty sense of superiority, as if she were in control of everything.
She knew it. How could Zhang Yu, that lovesick lapdog, really let go of her?
His earlier coldness had been nothing more than a clumsy attempt to play hard to get.
"Little Sister Qingyue, your analysis is spot on."
Jiang Luohan lifted her chin slightly, once again wearing the haughty air of a celestial maiden. Her tone held a trace of pity and disdain.
"Zhang Yu... really does love me deeply.
I just didn't expect him to use such a self-destructive way of seeking my attention. How childish, how pathetic."
"Now that we know what the problem is, we can solve it."
Seeing that Jiang Luohan had taken the bait, Zhang Qingyue immediately pressed her advantage.
"The one who tied the knot must untie it. Since Zhang Yu was provoked by Sister Luohan's marriage to Brother Heng, then for now... we can call off the public announcement of the engagement."
"Call it off?"
Zhang Heng's expression changed. He was reluctant.
"Only to make Zhang Yu believe it. We won't really call it off."
Zhang Qingyue reassured him.
"Then Sister Luohan can visit Zhang Yu in the Heavenly Prison and say a few soothing words. Tell him the engagement is off. If necessary, coax him a little."
"This..."
Jiang Luohan furrowed her delicate brows. To make her humble herself to that good-for-nothing Zhang Yu would be a downright trampling of her pride.
"Sister Luohan, I know this is asking a lot of you."
Zhang Qingyue took Jiang Luohan's hand and urged her earnestly.
"But this is for the future of the Marquis Estate—and for that 'gold mountain' that can churn out Qi Nurturing Pills without end!
As long as Zhang Yu comes around, the Alchemy Workshop can reopen. Then you'll have all the resources you could want."
"That's right, Luohan," Qin Xuehua quickly chimed in. "Just think of it as coaxing a dog. Keep him calm for now. Once he's repaired the Alchemy Workshop and paid off the debt, what happens after that will be up to you, won't it?"
Jiang Luohan was tempted.
She craved Qi Nurturing Pills, and the feeling of her cultivation soaring.
If all it took was a few lies and a little acting to get everything back, then perhaps... it wasn't impossible to accept.
"Besides,"
Zhang Qingyue lowered her voice, her tone tinged with seduction.
"Just imagine how overjoyed Zhang Yu will be when he sees you coming back to him.
He used to worship you like a goddess. By then, won't you be able to make him do whatever you want?
Whatever you want him to do, he'll have to do it.
Isn't it wonderful to hold a man's life and death in the palm of your hand?"
Those words struck Jiang Luohan right in the heart.
She wanted more than just pills. She also relished being adored to the point of madness and having everything under her control.
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