Volume One, Chapter 17: The True Heiress Is the Powerhouse
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When An Ruowei saw An Qianqian arrive, she immediately lost all composure and burst out cursing, “An Qianqian, how could you be so vicious! I am but a weak woman, yet your people stripped me and hung me like that. How am I supposed to face the world from now on?”
An Huantuo was the first to step forward, hands on hips, striding out quickly.
“How dare you scold Qianqian? You’re the one who tore her clothes and wanted to disgrace her in front of everyone. If not for Qianqian’s quick wit, it would have been her who ended up stripped at the family reunion banquet! How do you expect her to stand her ground in the capital after this?”
An Huanyang also stood up. “Qianqian has always been with us. Whether or not she did this, even if she did, her actions were mild!”
Wu Miaomiao chimed in from the side, “In my opinion, sending her off to marry in Nanjiang was still too merciful. With her temper, she might not even be useful to the Duke’s household.”
Cheng Mingyue’s face grew stern as she called over the nanny beside her and searched for some time before discovering the servant tied up in the Orchid Pavilion.
Their mouths were gagged and their bodies tightly bound.
Green Qi, An Ruowei’s chief maid, knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face. “Madam, please save me! Just now, a group of black-clad men suddenly stormed into the Orchid Pavilion. Without a word, they stripped the Seventh Miss and hung her up.”
Cheng Mingyue said, “Describe carefully. What exactly happened?”
Though they interrogated, no one present dared to release An Ruowei.
Green Qi continued, “I don’t know who they were exactly. There were about ten of them, all strong and formidable. None of us could match them. Before they left, they threatened the Seventh Miss, telling her to keep in line and not to cause trouble behind their backs.”
An Qianqian listened, puzzled.
Could it be these black-clad men were taking revenge on her behalf?
But An Ruowei’s secret schemes should have been known by very few.
“System, do you know who did this?”
[It was ordered by Si Chengnian. He attended your family reunion banquet today but stayed mostly hidden in the attic. Because the attic has a good view, he saw An Ruowei being stripped and hung up and acted to vent for you.]
“He seems quite decent.”
Cheng Mingyue noticed An Qianqian standing silently on the side and understood the matter must have had nothing to do with her.
Though she hadn’t spent much time with this daughter, she knew she was not the type to act underhandedly.
“Qianqian, your mother plans to send Ruowei to the family temple early tomorrow morning. If nothing happens, she is not to leave the family temple again.”
Upon hearing “family temple,” An Ruowei, like a cat with its tail stepped on, cried out heart-wrenchingly, “Why? I am the victim! An Qianqian, you bitch! You must have bribed someone to harm me, wanting to ruin my reputation!”
An Huantuo’s face flushed red with anger. “Still denying it at death’s door! If you hadn’t started scheming first, you wouldn’t have ended up like this!”
Cheng Mingyue closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, there was no trace of mercy. She snapped at the nannies, “Put her down and lock her in the firewood room. Early tomorrow morning, send her straight to the family temple. No need for me to see her again.”
The nannies dared not delay and hurriedly untied the ropes.
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An Ruowei collapsed on the ground, still crying and cursing, but two burly women covered her mouth and dragged her out like a dying dog.
Green Qi wanted to plead, but one sharp look from Cheng Mingyue silenced her.
“This matter ends here,” An Mingxia said sternly. “Anyone who mentions it again will be punished according to family law.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
An Qianqian returned to the Spring Breeze Courtyard. After washing up, she lay on her bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
She climbed out the window.
Slipped away.
The familiar movements brought her once again to Si Chengnian’s residence.
The craftsmen had been working day and night, and the mansion was nearly refurbished.
They said it would be finished in three days, so spending the money had indeed been effective.
Si Chengnian was still awake, sitting at the head of the bed with a book in hand.
There was a soft knock at the gate outside. When he looked up, An Qianqian was standing at the door, her shadow long in the moonlight, carrying the chill of the night dew.
She said nothing, simply watching him quietly.
“System, Si Chengnian’s face is quite handsome.”
[Of course, his mother was the most beautiful woman in Yan Kingdom.]
Si Chengnian closed the book, tapping the cover lightly with his fingertip. “Is there something you want?”
His voice was low and gentle, like jade dipped in pure spring water. An Qianqian felt a flush at her ear, stepped slowly to the bedside, and after a long pause, spoke softly, “What are you reading?”
“Nanhua Jing,” he answered, flipping the pages.
Earlier today, he had quietly visited the Spring Breeze Courtyard and noticed this book on a small table in the bedroom. He thought An Qianqian liked it, so he took it to have a look.
An Qianqian said nothing, climbed onto the bed by herself, lying straight with her hands folded on her abdomen.
“Read,” she said calmly, emotionless.
Si Chengnian looked at her peaceful repose. His fingertip paused, and the edges of the book’s pages creased slightly.
A young man and woman alone in a room, and she showed not the slightest shame.
It seemed she truly loved him deeply.
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“You…”
He wanted to say something like “Men and women should keep propriety,” or “Let a maid attend to you,” but when he glanced at her serene profile, he swallowed the words.
If he let a maid come in, it might stir up gossip for her.
Besides, he had no maid here, only servants.
He steadied himself. His clear voice sounded again, lighter than before, as if afraid to disturb anything.
“‘In the northern sea, there is a fish named Kun. Kun is so large, no one knows how many thousands of li it spans; it transforms into a bird named Peng…’”
An Qianqian closed her eyes and breathed evenly.
His voice was like a thin veil, gently covering her heart.
When the candlelight dimmed, Si Chengnian stopped reading. Seeing her breathing steady in deep sleep, he closed the book and tucked the blanket securely around her.
Moonlight spilled through the window lattice, falling on her peaceful face. His fingertip hovered near her temple but finally withdrew.
The next morning, An Qianqian found herself back in her own room.
Familiar motions, familiar scents.
She stretched, pulled the bell at her bedside, and Spring Tang and others filed in.
“Miss, the Seventh Miss has been sent to the family temple. In a few days, it will be announced that she passed away from illness. Madam instructed me to inform you and to deliver this invitation.”
Spring Tang handed over the invitation. An Qianqian casually opened it; it was the crown princess’s announcement of an ice banquet ten days hence.
“Who will attend?”
“Officials of the second rank and above will attend with their families.”
“Good, I will go.”
After An Qianqian finished breakfast, Cheng Mingyue invited her to the main courtyard, and she went there with Spring Tang.
The July sun had just climbed over the walls, and the green tiles of the covered walkway’s roof were already scorching hot. Heat rose along the pillars, wrapping around one’s body uncomfortably.
An Qianqian had just finished crossing a corridor when she saw An Huantuo emerging from the moon gate, waving a large palm fan. His embroidered robe was soaked halfway through; sweat dripped down his jawline.
“Just came back from the stables. The sun was so hot, it could fry an egg on the saddle!”
He caught sight of An Qianqian and tilted the fan toward her. “Little sister, are you heading to the main courtyard? Hurry up, they have iced sour plum juice in the main courtyard.”
[Host, is it hot? Now I have a new task for you! Main quest: Please spend ten thousand taels of silver within two hours to buy ice.]