“You dare…” Hearing her threaten her precious daughters, Liu Shi felt a chill in her heart and couldn’t help but issue a warning.
“Auntie, why are you so nervous? What wouldn’t I dare to do? I haven’t even settled the score with Eldest Sister yet for sending Xianglan to scheme against me and ruin my reputation. If she disrespects me again, I’m telling you—not just her, but the entire Marquis’s household will know no peace. So, was it you who caused Chunhong’s death? What exactly are you plotting?”
Watching Liu Shi’s panic and false bravado, Wanqing smiled faintly. She stepped forward, bending down until she was almost face-to-face with her, her lips curling into a cold smirk.
“Chunhong’s death is related to me, but I wasn’t the one who killed her. She only has herself to blame for getting in someone’s way—otherwise, she wouldn’t have died. As for my intentions, forgive me, but I have my reasons for keeping silent.”
Wanqing’s words, though simple, sent a shock through Liu Shi’s heart. For some reason, this girl always gave her a sense of foreboding.
Gritting her teeth, Liu Shi finally relented, though she remained tight-lipped about her true motives.
“Reasons for keeping silent? What reasons?”
Wanqing was even more puzzled. She had assumed Liu Shi was the mastermind, but her reaction now left her confused.
“I truly have my reasons. If you ask about anything else, I’ll tell you what I know. But this matter—forgive me, I cannot speak of it.”
Thinking of the person controlling her and the warnings she had received, Liu Shi opened her mouth but could only look at Wanqing helplessly.
“Fine, if that’s how it is, I won’t press you. But there’s something else I must ask. Did you know about Xianglan framing me, even hiring someone to impersonate me at the brothel?”
Seeing that Liu Shi wouldn’t yield, Wanqing sighed and shifted the topic, though her thoughts lingered on the man hiding in the shadows.
“Xianglan? I don’t know exactly what that girl did. I only know she acted for your Eldest Sister’s sake, and that’s why she wronged you. But she’s already been punished. So, Qing’er, I beg you—even if your Eldest Sister was wrong, she was just momentarily blinded. She never meant for you to die. It was all Xianglan acting on her own…”
Hearing her suddenly bring up Xianglan, Liu Shi looked genuinely remorseful, lowering her head in supplication.
“Fine, I’ll believe you this time. But remember—from now on, I expect harmony in this household. If you cause trouble for me again, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Here’s the antidote. Take it. Xiatiao, see her out.”
With Liu Shi’s explanation and the hidden man likely having heard enough, Wanqing sighed and handed her the medicine before calling Xiatiao to escort her away.
“Brother, see? Liu Shi admitted it was all Xianglan’s idea. I wasn’t lying, was I?”
After Liu Shi left, Wanqing turned to the approaching footsteps, her expression pleading as she addressed the man who had doubted her.
“Fine, this time I’ll admit I misjudged you. Rest well—I have other matters to attend to.”
Leng Mingye hadn’t expected her to talk her way out of it. Though suspicions still gnawed at him, he could say nothing more and left with his men.
“Taking a risk paid off, I suppose. Xiatiao, let’s go for a walk.”
Relieved that the troubles of the past few days had been resolved—for now—Wanqing didn’t know what Leng Mingye would do next. But with Guiniang and Sun Changshun likely facing their own consequences, she decided to step out with Xiatiao.
“Qing’er, where are you off to in such a hurry? Going out for fun? Let me accompany you—how about it?”
Before they could reach the front courtyard, a figure appeared. Sun Fengyu, accompanied by a servant, stood before her, putting on an air of refinement.
“Brother Sun, why are you at the Marquis’s estate so early? Did you just come from Eldest Sister’s place? I am going out, but I don’t need your company. You should be with her. Why bother me? Xiatiao, let’s go.”
The sight of Sun Fengyu reminded Wanqing of his ulterior motives and his treatment of her sister, Mu Wanxia. Her tone turned sharp as she questioned him.
Noting that he had come from her sister’s courtyard, yet now sought to accompany her, Wanqing scoffed and motioned for Xiatiao to leave.
“Qing’er, wait! I did come from your sister’s place, but I only greeted her. Don’t be angry. I swear—from now on, I won’t see her again. I’ll even pretend she doesn’t exist. Is that enough?”
Seeing her anger, Sun Fengyu noted that the red marks on her face had faded somewhat. Without them, she did look more delicate.
But her status and ordinary looks paled in comparison to the graceful beauty he truly desired. Still, for the sake of his aunt the Empress’s favor, he suppressed his urge to leave and forced himself to stay, raising his hand in a vow.
“Brother Sun, I know you love my sister, and she loves you too. Why cling to me when you don’t even like me? Doesn’t it tire you? Because it tires me. Why don’t we each take a step back? You can pursue her freely, and I’ll even help you. Wouldn’t that be better?”
Sun Fengyu’s feigned affection was too much for Wanqing to bear. She sighed and laid out her thoughts plainly.
“Qing’er, I know—I was a fool before, blind to my own heart. But now, after these days together, I’ve realized I do care for you. I swear I won’t bother your sister again. Just give me a chance to prove myself. Please?”
His words almost made Wanqing roll her eyes. If not for the figure she spotted approaching, she might have retorted that trusting a man’s words was like expecting pigs to fly. Instead, she paused and asked with feigned disbelief,
“So I misunderstood? You truly want to pursue me seriously and hope I’ll give you a chance—is that it?”
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