With Zhao Rui humiliated and cast aside, Hua Lian turned her gaze back to the Hua household. Though Second Aunt and Hua Mei had already been disgraced, they still lingered on the fringes of society, spreading whispers to poison Hua Lian's rising reputation.
"She must have bewitched Xu Han," Second Aunt sneered at the wives of other noble families. "After all, what man of high birth would truly choose her otherwise? Surely it is some trick — the girl has always been cunning."
The words slithered like snakes into the ears of curious listeners. Rumors began to stir once more.
But this time, Hua Lian was ready.
At the Mid-Autumn banquet, when families gathered beneath lanterns and mooncakes, Hua Lian allowed the whispers to swirl. Then, with a serene smile, she stood before the assembled guests.
"I have heard," she said softly, "that some claim my betrothal is the result of trickery. That Xu Han was forced, or deceived."
Gasps spread — the crowd had not expected her to address the matter directly.
Xu Han, seated beside the elders, rose immediately. His voice was clear, firm, unshakable.
"Let there be no doubt. I, Xu Han of the Xu family, asked for Hua Lian's hand of my own accord. If anyone dares claim otherwise, they insult me, not her."
The hall trembled with his words.
Then Hua Lian added, her gaze as sharp as a blade hidden in silk:
"And yet, curious it is… the same voices who spread this poison were, not long ago, cast out of the Hua family for dishonor. Tell me, would you trust the venom of those who could not even keep their own house clean?"
Her words struck like thunder. Faces paled. Heads turned. And in that instant, Second Aunt and Hua Mei were revealed as the very source of the malicious rumors.
Second Aunt, who had crept into the banquet to curry favor, leapt to her feet in panic.
"N-No! I never—"
But her cries only made her guilt more obvious.
The nobles whispered:
"So it was them all along."
"Pitiful. Even after losing everything, they still try to bite."
"Truly a snake eating its own tail."
Second Aunt collapsed, trembling, as Hua Mei clutched her sleeve in despair. No one came to their defense — they had already been abandoned by society.
This time, there was no recovery. Their remaining allies turned their backs. The little influence they clung to was stripped away in an instant.
That night, Hua Lian looked out at the moonlight, her eyes calm and cold.
"Second Aunt, you destroyed yourself. In this life, I need not raise a blade — the snake devours itself."