Volume 1 Chapter 6 Playing Along

“Wan’er, Wan’er!” Han Shu’s voice was like a knife, piercing Su Yan’er’s heart.

Clearly, it was Qin Wan who had apologized to her, yet it sounded as if Qin Wan had been wronged. The token they had insisted she accept—how had it suddenly become her fault?

Su Yan’er felt as though a heavy stone pressed against her chest, suffocating her.

In the end, this predicament arose because she was an outsider. Once she truly became a member of the Hou residence, who would dare treat her so disdainfully?

Meanwhile, Han Shu caught up to Qin Wan’s side, steadying her on the other arm.

“Wan’er, your mother knows you are feeling wronged, but this matter was indeed your fault. You—”

Qin Wan no longer wished to hear such words and interrupted her, “Mother, this matter is my fault. I have already admitted it; how could I blame you?”

Han Shu was stunned. Those words wounded her more deeply than any punishment. Her daughter was not like this.

Wan’er used to cuddle in her arms, acting coquettish; she would hold her and speak ill of Father and her brothers; she would even ask for kisses.

But now, between them, it was as if they were strangers.

Han Shu’s heart ached unbearably, yet she remembered Qin Huai’s warning not to be too kind to Wan’er during this time; otherwise, she would never learn her lesson.

Han Shu took these words as Wan’er’s complaint and said no more.

At that moment, Granny Sun, the attendant by the side of the matriarch, approached the two and bowed respectfully.

“Greetings, Madam, Fourth Miss!”

“Granny Sun, is there something you need?” Since she was the attendant of the matriarch, she must have been sent by her. Now that the matter was settled, they absolutely could not let the matriarch worry.

“Fourth Miss, the matriarch is waiting for you at the Wan Yue Courtyard.”

“Very well, I will return immediately.”

With that, Qin Wan withdrew her hand from Han Shu’s grasp. Supported by Granny Sun and Wan Shuang, she made her way toward her courtyard.

Han Shu stood frozen, watching Qin Wan’s retreating figure, her heart aching as if swarmed by a thousand ants.

Wan’er had always been prone to mischief, especially since Yan’er entered the residence, trouble had never ceased. It was her failure as a mother to raise her properly.

Though Wan’er now hated her, if this could make her repent, it would be worth it. She would find a chance to make amends from now on!

Qin Wan quickened her pace, enduring the pain in her body, and returned to the Wan Yue Courtyard.

---

Upon seeing the matriarch, Qin Wan, who had held back tears all day, finally let them flow like a broken dam.

She lay across the matriarch’s lap, tears dropping one by one. She tried to hold them back but found she could not.

The matriarch watched this scene with a heavy heart, truly feeling for the little granddaughter in her arms.

After wiping the tears from her eyes, the matriarch spoke gently.

“Wan’er, rest assured, I will stand up for you. You are the legitimate youngest daughter of the Hou residence; no outsider shall ever bully you!”

Having traveled this difficult path, battered and bruised, Qin Wan lay on the bed with her head on the matriarch’s lap—this was what she had longed for these past two years.

Hearing those words, Qin Wan wiped away her tears and forced a faint smile at the matriarch.

“Grandmother, you have quarreled with Father many times over me these past days. I do not wish for you to worry on my behalf.

I know how kind you have been to me. This matter has passed, so let it remain in the past.”

The matriarch looked at this considerate Qin Wan as if in a dream. Previously, if Wan’er felt wronged, she would have stood up for her, but today...

She must have been bullied badly—yes, that must be it!

Her precious granddaughter had been mistreated so terribly. If it happened again, she would not let it go so easily!

This matter was firmly etched in the matriarch’s heart; next time, no one would be allowed to treat her beloved granddaughter this way.

It was the dead of winter. The day had been clear, but as evening approached, the weather changed. Snowflakes drifted down, soon blanketing the earth in white.

---

In Qin Huai’s study, Qin Ye returned from outside, a layer of snow dusting his shoulders. After brushing it off, he pushed open the door.

“Father!”

Qin Huai glanced up briefly, then his gaze returned to the booklet in his hand.

“All quiet in the barracks? Why have you come back at this hour?”

Qin Ye removed his cloak and hung it on a nearby rack, then stepped forward.

“Father, this afternoon the Fourth Prince told me that Yan’er’s falling into the water wasn’t because Wan’er pushed her. The scene we saw of Wan’er pressing Yan’er underwater was actually Wan’er trying to save her!”

Qin Huai was taken aback for a moment, then looked up sharply. “Explain.”

“At that time, a young eunuch witnessed the incident and said Yan’er was two meters away from Wan’er when she fell—Wan’er did not push her.

The Fourth Prince personally interrogated the eunuch, who said the situation was tense and he was too afraid to come forward and testify for Wan’er.”

Qin Huai’s heart tightened; he put down the booklet and sighed. If that was true, then he had indeed misunderstood her.

Still, Wan’er was usually spoiled and overbearing. If this misunderstanding could lead to her repentance, perhaps it was a kind-hearted lie.

Qin Ye recalled when Qin Wan was punished with twenty lashes—a punishment she did not deserve—and felt both angry and ashamed.

“Father, this was our fault. We should apologize to Wan’er.”

Hearing this, Qin Huai pondered briefly before stopping him.

“This incident was a misunderstanding, but it’s also because she often causes trouble that we assumed she pushed Yan’er into the water.

At the birthday banquet, her crying and protesting disturbed the Empress’s mood. Thankfully, she stopped and admitted her fault; otherwise, she might have been sent to Leishan Temple for reflection. That would have been the end of it!

She has already been punished and apologized, which is a marked change.”

“Since this matter is over, let’s just let it be. In the Hou residence, only you and I know about this—no one else must find out!”

Had Wan’er insisted on crying at the banquet, she would have been sent to Leishan Temple for meditation.

Though called meditation, it was actually a royal punishment for unruly young ladies. Those sent there invariably endured harsh treatment.

Girls sent to Leishan Temple were considered poorly disciplined at home, and the current emperor placed great importance on this.

If Wan’er had truly been sent, the Hou residence would inevitably suffer. To protect the family, they would have had to abandon her.

Qin Huai sighed with relief that Wan’er had seen the error of her ways before making a grave mistake. She had changed significantly this time, so it was not all in vain.

Qin Ye wanted to argue further but, considering Wan’er’s usual behavior and recent changes, he felt Qin Huai was right and said nothing more.

In that case, he would make amends to her in the future.

Outside, the snow continued to fall amid the bitter wind. The candlelight in the courtyard flickered, as though on the verge of extinguishing.