Rumors Rise, I Am the Back‑Courtyard Killer

More than one person witnessed that scene—there were over a dozen noble ladies present. Even if the Jinyang Marquisate wanted to hush it up, it was impossible. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the Marquis of Jinyang and Elaine Jiang had been entangled for more than two years.

Chaos erupted in the Jinyang Marquisate. Although the Marchioness of Jinyang, after regaining consciousness, pleaded with the other ladies not to spread the news and promised to resolve it privately, how could such a scandal possibly stay secret? Within a single day, the disgrace of the Jinyang Marquisate was known to all.

At the same time, news broke that Prince Samuel’s Heir and Elaine Jiang had exchanged horoscope cards and were preparing for marriage. Now, not only were the Jinyang Marquisate and the Jiang clan implicated, but Dominic Zhai himself became the subject of gossip.

Although only the horoscope cards had been exchanged, and the formal betrothal had not yet occurred, it was almost certain the two households would be joined. This incident was a harsh slap in the face for Dominic Zhai.

The Jiang family actually tried to marry a woman who had been secretly involved with her cousin into Prince Samuel Manor. It was as if they didn’t care about Prince Samuel at all.

Everyone said Dominic Zhai was wearing a spectacular green hat. Their looks toward him were filled with sympathy, and for a while, Dominic’s face was ‘green’ in everyone’s eyes.

He was already working to handle the situation, hoping to minimize the damage or make it quietly disappear, but unexpectedly, the scandal exploded overnight—completely catching him off guard.

Dominic Zhai was so furious he nearly stomped his feet. He didn’t need to think twice to know that the mastermind behind this was Serena Feng. Otherwise, how could Elaine Jiang and the Marquis of Jinyang have carried on their affair for two years without anyone discovering it, only for everything to erupt now—right as a crowd of noblewomen happened to catch them in the act? There was no way to talk his way out of this, and the whole situation was a tangled mess.

But to confront Serena Feng over something like this would be far too humiliating. Dominic Zhai could only endure it, even though the pain seemed to reach his very heart and lungs. Any lingering trace of guilt he once felt toward Serena Feng was now gone.

Guilt? For what? Serena Feng’s kidnapping by the Third Prince of Southern Lyn was an accident, but Serena Feng framing him—now that was deliberate.

After such a scandal, the Marquis of Jinyang's own mother, the Old Marchioness, had no choice but to step in. With ruthless authority, she had several of the Marquis’s personal servants beaten to death, making her stance crystal clear:

She would never allow a woman like Elaine Jiang, whose reputation was ruined, to enter the manor—even if Elaine was her own niece. The Old Marchioness decisively sent Elaine back to the Jiang family, but the Marquis of Jinyang begged and pleaded, insisting he must marry his cousin.

After his mother refused, the shameless Marquis of Jinyang actually went to his legal wife, begging her to grant his wish. He swore he would never let a concubine take precedence over his wife, that her title as Marchioness would never be touched.

The Marchioness of Jinyang was utterly disillusioned. A man who could poison his own wife—could he ever be redeemed? Yet seeing him beg her to intercede with the Old Marchioness for Elaine Jiang, she couldn’t help but feel a stab of pain.

This man—this man was supposed to be her lifelong support.

Hahaha...

Serena Feng was right—this man was rotten to the core. She shouldn’t have held out hope for him. But divorce was unthinkable in their kind of family. All she could do was cling to her title and endure.

The Marchioness agreed to let Elaine Jiang into the household, but only on one condition: Elaine could never have children of her own.

What is the back courtyard? It’s a woman’s battlefield—and children are their strongest weapon. Elaine Jiang might be young and beautiful now, but how many years would that last? There would always be younger, prettier women. The Marchioness wanted to see just what fate awaited Elaine.

The Marquis knew his request was unreasonable, but when his wife named her condition, he quickly agreed. Then he turned to Elaine Jiang, promising he would love her for a lifetime and begging her not to worry.

Elaine Jiang clenched her teeth, but she had no way out. She was ruined—her whole life was ruined.

With her status, she could have married well—if only she hadn’t let the Marquis of Jinyang trick her into giving herself to him so early. Why else would she cling to this man and give up the chance to be a prince’s wife?

Her dream of becoming a prince’s consort was shattered. Her dream of being a legal wife was gone. Once a concubine, always a concubine. For the rest of her life, she’d be beneath the Marchioness—even if the Marchioness died, she’d never be promoted.

Her reputation was in tatters. The Old Marchioness of Jinyang was her own aunt—if she married in, she could have counted on her support. But now?

After all this, both the Old Marchioness and the current Marchioness despised her. Her family abandoned her, too—she’d failed to marry into Prince Samuel’s household, and her disgrace even hurt other women of the Jiang clan. She had no one left.

With tears streaming down her face, Elaine Jiang drank the sterility potion, looking heartbreakingly pitiful. 'Cousin, you have to treat me well. I did all this for you—for our love. That’s why I’m suffering so much.'

The Marquis of Jinyang felt a pang of guilt and made promise after promise, but his words couldn’t touch Elaine Jiang anymore. Still, no matter how much she doubted him, she had to put on a show for everyone else.

Elaine Jiang clung tightly to the Marquis of Jinyang. She knew he was her only lifeline now. If he ever tired of her, her life would be worse than death.

And that was exactly what the Marchioness wanted.

No engagement, no exchange of horoscopes, no formal betrothal gifts, no auspicious date, no grand procession. The Jinyang Marquisate picked a random day, and at dusk, Elaine Jiang was carried in through a side gate in a small sedan chair.

If Elaine Jiang hadn’t suffered such a public disgrace and entered the Marquisate relying on the Marquis of Jinyang’s favor, once she bore him a child, the Marchioness’s days would have been miserable—most likely she’d end up poisoned, just like before.

The Marchioness of Jinyang really had no choice; only by doing this could she protect her own position.

But afterward, Serena realized she’d underestimated the women of the inner courtyard. The Marchioness didn’t deliver this gift for nothing—she wanted something in return.

Because of the poisoning, the Marchioness no longer trusted any physicians, not even imperial doctors. Whenever she felt unwell, she’d have herself carried by sedan chair to the Feng Manor, insisting Serena examine her. Naturally, she entrusted her son’s health to Serena too.

Once the two became more familiar, the Marchioness half-jokingly, half-seriously said, “Serena, my courtyard is far too quiet now. If you get the chance, help me find a few women—I don’t want respectable ladies, though.”

Serena was stunned on the spot, then nearly burst into tears—since when had she become a human trafficker?

Although the Marquis’s scandal was huge, it died down quickly. Because of the status of those involved, the whole affair only circulated among the nobility. It was nothing like Serena’s previous incidents, which shook the entire capital, from princesses to commoners.

That’s the difference in status. Ordinary people, even if they’re bored, wouldn’t dare gossip about the Marquis’s household. In less than five days, the whole thing settled down, rumors faded, and folks only whispered behind closed doors.

Everything returned to calm, and Serena’s injuries were nearly healed. She reviewed her plans and decided to visit the Sun Estate to check on Simon Sun’s mother, preparing for a chest surgery.

“Simon, you’ll be my surgical assistant for your mother’s operation. You won’t have to do anything hands-on, but be ready. Remember: whatever you see here, don’t be shocked, and never spread word of what happens in Feng Manor.” Careful is always better. Even though chest surgery isn’t that rare, as long as the technique is good, it can be done with ancient tools—but Serena still wanted no trouble.

“Okay, okay!” Simon’s eyes shone as he nodded eagerly, gripping his hands tight lest his excitement make him flail and scare Serena.

He’d spent this whole time practicing on animals—learning how to make incisions, calculating surgical cuts, and mastering sutures. He was already familiar with these skills, and had long wanted to try operating on a patient, but never got the chance.

This time, even if he couldn’t operate himself, just watching the whole process was enough to get excited. After all, it was his first time seeing surgery on a living person.

Once this kid got caught up in medicine, he forgot the patient was his own mother—he didn’t even worry about her safety.

“Silly boy.” Serena was younger than Simon, but when she said it, it sounded perfectly natural.

“Let’s go. Come with me to check on your mother. If her condition allows, we can operate tomorrow.” Serena walked out empty-handed—medicine and supplies? Wasn’t Simon here for that?

Why take on a disciple? Obviously, to have someone do the grunt work.