When Qin Yuru saw Meiyan stepping out, she hastily asked, “Second Miss is uninjured, isn’t she?” There was a smug look on her face.
“First, First Miss…” Meiyan stammered, looking pale even now. She trembled as she looked helplessly at Qin Yuru.
“Speak!” Qin Yuru rebuked. She knew something had gone wrong.
“Second Miss… is badly injured!” Meiyan said, shuddering. She looked pitifully at Qin Yuru. She had no choice but to tell the truth; anyone could verify her words with a quick examination.
But she also knew the consequences of telling the truth. Qin Yuru would never let her off.
Her legs went weak and she fell on her knees with a loud thud. It was obvious that she was trembling.
Qin Yuru was stunned but quickly recovered her senses. With widened eyes, she cried, “Impossible!”
“What makes you say so?” With Qing Yue’s support, Qin Wanru was once again standing in front of the curtain. “If you don’t believe me, Big Sister, you’re free to send even more people to examine me.”
“I’ll… examine it myself!” Not even Qin Yuru knew where did this stubborn refusal to give in come from. Try as she did, she couldn’t suppress her anger.
“Enough!” Qin Huaiyong rebuked, his anger evident from the way his eyes and brows twitched. He kicked a nearby chair out the door and the chair crashed noisily on the floor. The entire house descended into silence.
“Father, I…” Qin Yuru said softly, beginning to feel afraid.
Holding Qing Yue’s hands, Qin Wanru stood in silence. Her long lashes fluttered downward and yet she said nothing.
“Isn’t your Mother ill? Injured too! What are you doing here, not attending to her?” Qin Huaiyong said sternly.
“Father…” Qin Yuru felt humiliated that Qin Huaiyong was admonis.h.i.+ng her in front of Di Yan. Her entire face was red and tears were flowing from her eyes.
“You’ll care for your Mother from now on. Your sister is so badly injured; how can she care for another person?” It was, of course, obvious to Qin Huaiyong by now that this was all the work of Madam Di and Qin Yuru.
He had endured Madam Di’s earlier show being severely wounded out of respect for Duke Yong’s Mansion. It was his fault, after all, and Madam Di was indeed injured. Then, they came up with this commotion that seemed to design to torment his younger daughter to death. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t suppress his fury this time.
“Father, I…” Qin Yuru began to feel mistreated. Even now, she refused to believe that Qin Wanru had truly sustained a heavy injury.
“What are you waiting for? Go back now! I don’t want to hear you causing more trouble!” Qin Huaiyong’s gaze was frigid. He was tremendously disappointed in Qin Yuru. He had hoped that this daughter would go even further. Madam Di and her unruly ways had shaped her daughter in her image. It seemed that he would have to consult his Mother about this. He couldn’t afford to have Madam Di misguide Qin Yuru.
The repeated admonishments from Qin Huaiyong turned Qin Yuru’s face as red as blood. She looked at him and then at Di Yan, who had his head lowered. Tears sprang forth. Sobbing loudly, she ran out of the house. However, she ran a little too fast and accidentally knocked into the chair lying on the floor. A quick-thinking maid immediately grabbed Qin Yuru’s arm but she shoved the maid aside with force. The maid staggered backward and fell down.
After pus.h.i.+ng the maid aside, Qin Yuru covered her face and ran out. Meiyan, who had been kneeling on the floor, hastily got to her feet. Lifting the hem of her skirt, she chased after her mistress.
“What a farce!” Qin Huaiyong roared.
“Uncle, I’ll excuse myself and check on Aunt as well. She was badly scalded earlier. I’m sure Cousin Sister is just concerned about her,” Di Yan said, raising his head. He had no choice but to speak up for Qin Yuru. Madam Di was his father’s sister, after all, he had come to Qin’s Mansion to bolster her influence. Even though he was unhappy with how Qin Yuru handled things, he must take her side.
“I apologize for showing you such a shameful show, Nephew!” Qin Huaiyong let out a deep sigh. Even though his expression was still cold, it had been somewhat relieved.
Di Yan, not knowing what else to say, bowed deferentially to Qin Huaiyong and excused himself. Had he known what a mess Qin’s Mansion would turn out to be, he would never come here. Even he was embarra.s.sed at all that commotion earlier.
Neither his Cousin Sister nor his Aunt was as he had imagined them to be. In fact, he found them loathsome. They had even tearfully lamented their mistreatment in front of Grandmother. Di Yan thought the one who deserved to lament anything was Qin Wanru.
After stepping out of the entrance of Zhifang Pavilion, he looked at the crossing and paused in his tracks. He was so frustrated that he had no mood to comfort Qin Yuru. With a turn of his foot, he began walking without a destination.
He hadn’t gone far when a person suddenly emerged from the side. The person was in such a hurry that he collided with Di Yan. Di Yan, already frustrated, looked vexed at someone knocking into him. He was about to berate the person when the person tugged at his hand. The one who was trying to stop herself from falling was Qi Rongzhi.
When Qi Rongzhi regained firm footing and saw that the person in front of her was Di Yan, her cheeks reddened. She hastily stepped backward, but because she did it so hastily, her body swayed and nearly fell.
Di Yan reached out to grab her hand in time.
Qi Rongzhi, finally firmly on her feet, looked at him. With red cheeks, she asked softly, “Prince… where are you heading?”
“Just walking around.” Di Yan scowled as he removed his hold on her hand. Indeed, he was planning to walk around because he didn’t know what to say to Madam Di and Qin Yuru after returning.
Noticing his lack of enthusiasm, Qi Rongzhi knew something must have happened. An idea came to her and she asked concernedly, “Did you just leave Sister Wanru’s place? How is her injury?”
Her concerned expression reminded Di Yan that Meiyan had said Qin Wanru was badly injured. Now that he thought about it, Meiyan had said Qi Rongzhi’s injury was minor and Qin Yuru had made snide remarks about it. It made him feel even more smothered.
He thought Qin Yuru was too insistent and excessive. If Qin Wanru was that badly injured, how could Qi Rongzhi’s injury be minor?
Qi Rongzhi had gotten injured out of the blue and even had to hear snide comments. Qin Yuru’s action was truly disappointing.
With such a thought, his expression turned gentler. He smiled and replied, “The physician is still attending to Cousin Sister Wan’s injury. It’ll probably be better with some ointment and medicine. Miss Qi, how’s your injury?”
“I’m fine. It’s no big deal. It just hurts a little when my feet touch the ground.” Qi Rongzhi stomped her feet as if she was trying to walk for Di Yan, but her legs gave in and she nearly crashed to the ground. Her long and shapely brows were knitted tightly in agony. It really made one feel a deep heartache for her.
Di Yan immediately reached out his hand to prop her up. His gaze fell on her legs. “Does it hurt that much?”
“No, not at all. It’s just a bit inconvenient!” Qi Rongzhi said softly, shaking her head in a panic as if she was afraid that he wouldn’t believe her.
However, she was still holding onto Di Yan’s hand. To support the weight of her body, she was practically leaning on him. The faint smell of fragrance drifted and filled his nose.
Di Yan lowered his head to look at her lovable face. Imperceptibly, his breathing began to quicken. He didn’t push her away. His expression began increasingly gentle as he said, “Why did you run out for a look in your current state? I’ll walk you back to your house.”
“That’s… inappropriate, isn’t it?” Qi Rongzhi looked bashful as she gave Di Yan a gentle push.
Di Yan looked around before letting go of her hand and adjusting his clothing. He nodded and said, “Then I’ll watch you walk home from here.”
It was truly inconvenient this time!
Inside Zhifang Pavilion, Nanny Yu led a few maids to quickly and efficiently clean the house. Qin Huaiyong sat on the central seat while a maid helped Qin Wanru sit on a hair on the other side. The physician had left after leaving behind the necessary medicine.
The house was quiet. The silence was so strange that it gave the people inside an unexplainable feeling.
Nanny Yu, who stood behind Qin Wanru, stared at the floor in front of her. She remained on tenterhooks. Even with her head lowered, she could still tell that the mood of the room was off.
The maids, Qing Yue, and Yujie, were long dismissed.
“Wanru, I’m so sorry!” Qin Huaiyong’s voice was quiet but severe. He rubbed his temples, looking like he had a headache.
“Father, I don’t blame you,” Qin Wanru replied softly. Her gaze was both serene and tranquil, without the slightest bit of Qin Yuru’s temper and agitation. It was as if she was the older one of the two. She faced everything calmly, without any fluctuation in emotion.
After a deep sigh, Qin Huaiyong looked up and looked at Qin Wanru as if he had something to say. In the end, however, nothing came from his mouth. He paused for a moment before saying, “From now on, Yulan Pavilion’s affairs don’t concern you.”
This meant that Madam Di could no longer interfere with Qin Wanru’s affairs or torment Qin Wanru using some other excuse or the status of an elder.
Nanny Yu’s heart skipped. She was so agitated that she nearly leaped. Qin Huaiyong’s words spelled a great advantage for her mistress.
“But… what will Duke Yong’s Mansion say?” Qin Wanru looked a little worried.
“Di Yan is here today; he’s seen everything. Even if I don’t say anything, I believe Duke Yong’s Mansion won’t interfere in this. Moreover, this is a matter within my inner courtyard!” A trace of anger flitted across Qin Huaiyong’s expression but he swiftly suppressed it. Now wasn’t the time for him to have a fall out with Duke Yong’s Mansion.
“Then, thank you kindly, Father!” Qin Wanru dropped the courtesy. Holding onto the chair arm, she stood up with immense difficulty and made a deep bow at Qin Huayong. When she looked up, childish joy was reflected on her face.
It was obvious that she was sincerely happy.
But that hardly warranted an explanation. Whoever met someone like Madam Di would feel emotionally exhausted even seeing his or her shadow. It was best to stay away from Madam Di.
“But Mother will still have to interact with Madam.” Her smile on her tiny face swiftly dimmed. Qin Wanru’s delicate brows furrowed as worry filled her expression. “Mother is still pregnant. If Madam deliberately creates trouble like the kitchen incident and targets Mother’s people, how can she take care of her unborn child in peace?”
Imperceptibly, two different matters were linked together!
“I have arrangements for your Mother. I’ll let my other two concubines handle the inner court affairs. Your Mother will just have to deal with them!”
Qin Huaiyong had been thinking about this for a long time. His mother was so old and frail that she could no longer take charge of the household matters. But if Madam Di continued to create fresh drama each day, Shui Ruolan’s health wouldn’t be able to take it. The two concubines would be his best bet at handling the household affairs. Shui Ruolan would only have to deal with them.
This was just an idea in the beginning, as he had to worry about Duke Yong’s Mansion. But the commotion earlier swiftly made up his mind.
This was what Qin Wanru had been waiting for. A flicker of an unfathomable expression crossed her eyes as she smiled and said, “Father, I have an idea but I don’t know if it’s feasible.”