"This..." the reverend of Jingxin Monastery looked to torn between choices.
"Is this impossible?" asked Qin Wanru with wide-opened eyes.
"I can"t say it"s impossible, but it was you who rejected her offer when she picked you. You were not interested to study. Your grandmother had also told my junior sister apprentice that you would never want to pick up medical knowledge. After a few attempts, she finally gave up on asking you. She actually told me she doesn"t want to make any disciples anymore!" said the reverend politely.
What she was trying to say was that Mingqiu Nun was too upset over Qin Wanru"s rejection, so much so she did not ever want to make any other disciples. The thought of it made Qin Wanru feel guilty, all because she did not know how to appreciate the preciousness of such an offer and she made Mingqiu Nun sad.
"Reverend, when Mingqiu Nun returns, I will surely ask her for her forgiveness," said Qin Wanru determinedly with sincerity in her eyes. Although she was just a child, there was something about her that made people want to believe what she said, that she was not just a kid making empty promises.
The reverend could not help but smiled and said, "Junior sister apprentice had been through so much suffering and loneliness her entire life. She had never grown close to anyone, but only you caught her eyes. It must be fate that made your relations.h.i.+p special."
Qin Wanru could read into the deeper meaning of the reverend"s words, although she used euphemism and she bowed her head in shame.
The special relations.h.i.+p between people was predestined, just like when Mingqiu Nun who wanted to take Qin Wanru as her disciple the moment she first set her eyes on her. However, if she did not treasure this fate, a good opportunity would be missed.
"Second Miss, Second Miss，Elder Miss is looking for you!" Qin Wanru was stopped by Mei Xue when she was on her way from the reverend"s room back to her room.
"What"s the matter?" asked Qin Wanru as she stopped in her tracks.
"Second Miss, you will find out when you get there. Please follow me!" said Mei Xue. She pointed towards her right and said, "Elder Miss is waiting for you at the pavilion right in front!"
Therefore it seemed that Qin Yuru had been waiting for her since much earlier on.
A light flashed across Qin Wanru"s eyes and she curled up at the corners of her lips. She did not think there was anything to talk about between Qin Yuru and her. Their relations.h.i.+p had been broken and they only tried to put on an amicable front in the presence of outsiders. Qin Yuru"s friendly invitation was something new, which had never happened even before their relations.h.i.+p turned so awkward.
"Let"s go!" said Qin Wanru, not refusing the invitation. She turned and walked in the direction Mei Xue pointed towards. She wanted to see what Qin Yuru was up to after a few days of resting quietly.
Qin Yuru was sitting in the pavilion all alone. The pavilion was located right next to a medium size rockery and it was quite secluded.
However, this was not the General"s Mansion after all and they were visible to guests visiting Jingxin Monastery pa.s.sing by the pavilion from time to time. Most of the visitors were female although rarely, there would be some male visitors. However, male visitors were strictly not allowed to say overnight in Jingxin Monastery, although they were allowed there during day time.
The wound on Qin Yuru"s face had healed and the gauze covering it had been removed. It had healed well and the little patches around it had faded to be almost invisible. Thankfully, she looked as beautiful and gentle as before.
A smile broke out in her face when she saw Qin Wanru approached. She stood up and said, "Second Sister, over here!"
When Qin Wanru spotted Qin Yuru, she batted her eyelids and strode towards her, fixing her dark, s.h.i.+ny eyes on Qin Yuru.
"Please take a seat, Second Sister, I"ve been waiting for you for a while!" said Qin Yuru politely. When Qin Wanru reached the pavilion, Qin Yuru personally poured her some tea.
The teapot was sitting on the stone table and from how boiling hot the water in the pot was, Qin Wanru could tell that the tea was freshly made. The subtle fragrance of the tea diffused into the air and Qin Wanru could make out that it was chrysanthemum tea, her favorite.
"Please have some tea, Second Sister!" said Qin Yuru with a smile, as she lifted her head and pointed towards the teacup as she also took a sip from her teacup.
Qin Wanru looked from the teacup to Qin Yuru"s face and smiled slightly, saying, "Why are you in such a hurry to see me, Elder Sister?"
"Actually I wasn"t in a hurry. I just wanted to discuss something with you," said Qin Yuru, maintaining a smile on her face as she put down her teacup.
"What is it?" asked Qin Wanru, with a flash of light in her eyes.
"Nothing serious really. Old Grandma is left with the two of us who are the closest to her by her side now. I have something to discuss with you even if you are still so young," said Qin Yuru with a sigh, as if there was a lot she wanted to say. She waved to Mei Xue, indicating for her to leave the pavilion, and turned her eyes back to Qing Yue, who had followed Qin Wanru here, meaning that she should excuse herself, so Qin Wanru and Qin Yuru could have a private conversation.
Qin Wanru gave Qing Yue a look indicating that she should leave the pavilion, which she did, and stood at some distance away.
"Please say what you want to say, Qing Yue would not tell anyone about it, she is my trusted maid!" said Qin Wanru flatly.
"It"s best not to let others know about this... this matter," said Qin Yuru anxiously, gritting her teeth.
"Since you don"t want others to know about this, just keep it to yourself. I"m still a kid, so you don"t have to tell me. What if it slips off my tongue? That"ll create much trouble!" said Qin Wanru with an indifferent look on her face while a sharp look flashed across her eyes, and her lips curled up at their corners.
Qin Wanru seemed uninterested in what Qin Yuru wanted to tell her!
What a stubborn mule, thought Qin Yuru. She made a promised to herself that she would deal with her once she got rid of Shui Ruolan. To settle them separately would be more effective than dealing with the both of them together. Weighing the matter, Qin Yuru forced a smile on her face.
"Don"t say that, little sister. Actually, I can"t really find anyone else to discuss this matter with. Although you"re still a child, you"re a very smart one. I"m sure we can get to a decision if we have a discussion," said Qin Yuru, forcing a smile and suppressing the rage in her.
The servants sent by Mrs. Qin had time and again reminded Qin Yuru never to fall out with Qin Wanru at this juncture.
"Alright, tell me about it, Elder Sister!" said Qin Wanru, smiling and looking to be an obedient child. Although she was still a child, she had a pair of crystal clear eyes, which attracted people"s attention. Even the many visitors to the quiet Jingxin Monastery had taken notice of her.
Among them were those who recognized that they were the two daughters of the army general.
Moreover, the Eldest Miss Qin was the subject of many rumors recently, so the visitors who recognized her were especially curious about what the two sisters were discussing.
Did the rumor not say that the Elder Miss Qin set the Second Miss Qin up, so she could marry into a powerful and wealthy family in the capital city? Why did it appear that their relations.h.i.+p had been salvaged? Unless something else happened?
As Qin Wanru glanced at the pa.s.sers-by, she could more or less guess what was on their mind. A smiled formed on her lips as she waited patiently for Qin Yuru to continue her story.
It could be said that Qin Yuru"s reputation in Jiangzhou was ruined. It was not going to help any even if she tried to explain herself. It was pointless to put on a show to pretend that she had a good relations.h.i.+p with her younger sister because no one would believe, so it was not going to help her situation.
What did Qin Yuru want to do exactly? She looked around and rested her eyes on the rockery facing her!
"Little sister, do you know about the matter regarding Aunt Shui and Father?" asked Qin Yuru. Qin Wanru hesitated for a second, then moved closer to Qin Yuru and began whispering to Qin Yuru.
"Wasn"t it Mother who set up the incident involving Aunt Shui and Father?" Qin Wanru lifted eyes to look at Qin Yuru innocently, then continued, "I overheard this Grandma and Father talking about it and this was how I found out. Elder Sister, why did Mother do this? Does she not like Aunt Shui?"
Qin Yuru"s face turned pale as she looked at Qin Wanru"s innocent face. She did not see this coming. How could Qin Wanru pa.s.s judgment on Mother straight away?
"How could you say that of Mother, little sister?" said Qin Wanru as her face fell and she started to boil inside. She had tried to be ambiguous with her opening words, hoping to continue with some gossip regarding Shui Ruolan.
"But... these were the exact words of Father!" said Qin Wanru, pretending to look puzzled. She could clearly see Qin Yuru"s rage on her face.
Qin Yuru almost could not remain sitting there calmly. She glared at Qin Wanru as she thought that Qin Wanru to be a dim wit. She could not wait to deal with her after she settled Shui Ruolan.
"Father was... was afraid to make Grandma upset because she liked Aunt Shui all along. If Grandma found out that Aunt Shui was behind this, she would very sad, what"s more, Grandma is getting old and is here to recuperate," said Qin Yuru, sighing, as she took up the teacup and took a sip, looking down.
She was looking down deliberately to hide her rage look of disdain in her eyes from Qin Wanru.
To Qin Yuru, Qin Wanru did not really belong in the General"s Mansion, but adopted. She did not understand why she should win the favor of both Father and Grandma. If not for Mother, she would be begging in the streets. What right did Qin Wanru have to fight with her?
"But what happened that day... was indeed Mother"s plan! She distracted Aunt Shui"s maid and led Father into Aunt Shui"s room, thereby ruining Aunt Shui"s reputation! Unless Mother is planning to frame Aunt Shui again?" Qin Wanru said with righteous anger. Her face tensed as she tried to sound like she was fighting for justice for Shui Ruolan.
"You... you are talking nonsense!" cried Qin Yuru as the smile on her face disappeared. She put the teacup down on the table with force and made a loud thud.
"I"m not talking nonsense... Father did a thorough investigation. If you don"t believe me, you can send men to clarify with Father," said Qin Wanru with a tinge of mockery flas.h.i.+ng across her eyes, while she kept a straight face.
By now, Qin Wanru was fully aware of Qin Yuru"s intention!
"You... why couldn"t you get me? That incident had nothing to do with Mother. It wasn"t Mother who set it up. Just think about who was going to benefit from this!" bellowed Qin Yuru in rage.
"Is wasn"t Mother? But I heard Mother was going to let Father take Aunt Shui as a concubine. Why should Aunt Shui, such a wonderful person want to become a concubine to someone?" asked Qin Wanru innocently. She was a child after all, so it was alright for her to say somethings which Qin Yuru could not. Sounding adamant, Qin Wanru continued, "Don"t you believe me, Elder Sister? Then let us send someone to ask Father!"
Qin Wanru would fight for Shui Ruolan to be rightfully married to her Father since Mrs. Qin tried to play tricks again.
"You... Wanru, you"ve changed, you"ve been brainwashed by Aunt Shui to say such things about Father and Mother," Qin Yuru suppressed her anger immediately and tried to wear a sad look on her face. She stood up and pretended to hold on to Qin Wanru and started to speak to her softly.
Qin Yuru"s pretentious sweet-temperateness disgusted Qin Wanru. She was even able to suppress her anger and put on a front. This was what she loved to do in front of Qi Tianyu.
Behind the sweet and gentle facade was an evil, malicious person like a venomous snake, just as Mrs. Qin was like a poisonous scorpion.
"Looks like Elder Sister is unwilling to confront Father, yet you are trying to speak ambiguously. Was it because Mother had given you instructions to destroy Aunt Shui"s reputation while we are here in Jingxin Monastery?" questioned Qin Wanru, as she stood up suddenly, tearing away the veil between the two sisters.