Volume One, Chapter Nine: You Know All the Truth Deep Down

Qin Wan waved her hand, signaling for her to take a seat.

Wanxia, a maid of the Graceful Courtyard, naturally obeyed Qin Wan’s command.

Before Wanshuang could move, Wanxia politely pulled a stool from under the table and placed it behind Su Yan’er.

“Miss Yan’er, please have a seat!”

Qin Wan observed this attentive scene clearly and formed a resolute thought within her heart.

Since Wanxia’s loyalty no longer lay here, there was no need to keep her around.

Su Yan’er nodded slightly but did not sit immediately; instead, she walked over to Qin Wan’s side.

“Fourth Sister, earlier on the road I happened to see Wanxia and inquired about the whole matter. I know you are still upset in your heart. But, after all, this punishment is because of me and has nothing to do with Big Brother. As for the white jade flute Big Brother sent, please accept it, Fourth Sister.”

Su Yan’er’s eyes were full of expectation; lowering her posture, she presented the white jade flute with both hands.

Qin Wan looked at Su Yan’er like this and sneered coldly.

“Big Brother!”

That address sounded truly intimate, even more so than a dear sister might use.

It was no wonder she acted like this—since entering the manor, the entire family treated her as their own daughter, their own sister. How could she not be close?

“I’m not skilled in playing the flute, so this jade flute would be wasted in my hands. Doesn’t my younger sister know how to play? Then this jade flute should be for her.”

Qin Wan naturally refused; the flute had been brought by Wanxia on her own accord, and now this broken instrument was anyone’s to take.

Upon hearing this, Su Yan’er instantly became disheartened, her hands slowly lowering the flute.

“Fourth Sister, it’s all my fault. I know you are angry, but please direct your anger at me, not at the brothers. The brothers and Aunt have already been deeply grieved by your matter; none of them have smiled these past few days. If only you would calm down, even if you scold or beat me, I would accept it!”

Qin Wan frowned sharply. What was this white lotus up to now?

Seeing Qin Wan remain silent, Su Yan’er took a step back and suddenly knelt on the ground.

“Fourth Sister, if you can let go of your anger, even if I leave the Hou mansion, it will be fine. Please calm down and accept this jade flute!”

Qin Wan was momentarily stunned, but before she could react, a sharp voice came from outside the door.

“Qin Wan, what are you trying to do again?”

Qin Lang strode in, glanced at Su Yan’er kneeling on the ground, and immediately pulled her up, shielding her behind his body.

“Qin Wan, wasn’t pushing Yan’er into the water enough? Now you want to bully her again? Have you forgotten the punishment the Empress Dowager gave you? Do you have no memory?”

Looking at Su Yan’er now, whether she was pretending or truly so, her eyes were full of tears, utterly wronged.

Qin Wan sneered coldly, finally understanding.

Su Yan’er had come to the Graceful Courtyard on her own, knelt on her own, and took all the blame upon herself.

Qin Wan had spoken no more than three sentences, yet Qin Lang had already condemned her.

“Second Brother, Fourth Sister didn’t bully me. I saw she was still angry, so I wanted her to calm down. That’s why I knelt and begged her!”

Su Yan’er’s words only made Qin Lang more convinced that Qin Wan was at fault.

He had thought that her deliberate coldness these past days was truly because she was upset and waiting for them to appease her. Who would have expected she harbored ill intentions, plotting to secretly bully Yan’er?

“Yan’er, you don’t need to defend her. Today, with me here, no one can bully you!”

Then Qin Lang clenched his fists, glaring furiously at Qin Wan.

“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes today, I wouldn’t know how badly Yan’er was about to be bullied by you. You forced her to kneel and wanted to drive her out of the Hou mansion—your heart is truly ruthless!

I think you really should have been sent to Leishan Temple to quietly repent, to realize your mistakes!”

Qin Wan met his gaze. Though she already knew what kind of person he was, after this misunderstanding, her heart felt as if it were being cut to pieces.

Words of explanation were on the tip of her tongue, but no matter how she wanted to speak, she couldn’t. She knew that once they had made up their minds, no explanation would be of any use.

Qin Lang’s fierceness broke her heart. He had always been gentle to her, but now this harsh side was aimed right at her.

“Are you deaf? I told you she knelt on her own, and if she wants to leave the mansion, that’s her own decision. I never said a word otherwise.

You judge me by what you saw alone—who would have thought the famous young general of Fengdu City would be someone who condemns without hearing both sides!”

Qin Lang understood what kind of person Qin Wan was. He knew her well and was convinced she had forced Su Yan’er to kneel, just as he had believed she pushed Yan’er into the water that day.

“I know your character well. Yan’er must have been frightened into silence by you. If I hadn’t seen it today, with your domineering nature, Yan’er wouldn’t even have safely left the Graceful Courtyard’s gate!”

Qin Wan felt bitter inside. No matter how much she explained, it was all in vain. Their belief was fixed; they would not listen to her side of the story.

Her cold gaze then settled on Su Yan’er, and she spoke lightly.

“You know the whole truth in your heart—whether I pushed you into the water that day, whether I forced you to kneel today, you know perfectly well.

Since you think you were wrong, then explain everything clearly. If not, then leave quickly and don’t block my sight!”

Having said that, Qin Wan turned her back and headed to the inner chamber, unwilling to engage any further.

Su Yan’er furrowed her brow tightly, palms sweating as she clenched the white jade flute.

Indeed, falling into the water at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet was because she had lost her footing.

Though there was a clear force from behind, it didn’t feel like being pushed but rather struck by something.

Su Yan’er couldn’t be certain if Qin Wan was the assailant, but since Qin Wan was the only person nearby, she had concluded it was her.

Now that Qin Wan had already been punished with the cane, if she were to say it wasn’t Qin Wan, the other side might retaliate even more fiercely. The Hou household would surely think her a liar. No, she absolutely could not say it!

Until she married Second Brother, the truth of this matter must remain buried deep within her.

Qin Lang was momentarily stunned, watching Qin Wan’s limping figure disappear inside. His heart stirred—her injury hadn’t healed?

But recalling her unrepentant attitude just now, his anger flared anew.

She had bullied Yan’er more than once, always fiercely denying it, crying and shouting that it wasn’t her fault. Today, without tears or pleas, it must be because she was caught and had no explanation.

Wan Shuang had been by the side the whole time, knowing the whole story. Seeing her young mistress so wrongfully accused, she could no longer hold back.

“Second Young Master, Miss did not force Miss Yan’er to kneel, nor did she say anything about driving her out of the Hou mansion. Yan’er appeared here in the Graceful Courtyard on her own.

None of this has to do with Miss. Second Young Master should not question Miss over this!”

Wan Shuang spoke out of fear and urgency. After all, she was just a maid and had no right to speak, but she felt if she remained silent, her mistress would be wrongfully condemned to death.

“If Second Young Master does not believe me, you may ask the others present—they are all witnesses!”