As the horses gradually disappeared from view, Han Yan slowly stood up. Zhuang Yu Shan’s maid Yun’er had collapsed outside the carriage. Han Yan walked up to her and said calmly, “Didn’t you see? All the guards here have been poisoned and can’t move. Your Young Miss has been kidnapped—shouldn’t you hurry to report to the authorities?”
Yun’er was stunned, slowly coming to her senses. Suddenly realizing Zhuang Yu Shan had been kidnapped, she knew if Madam Zhou found out, she would surely lose her life. Hearing Han Yan’s words, she grabbed onto them like a final lifeline and stood up to run.
Han Yan kindly reminded her: “The authorities usually have many official duties to handle. Given the urgent situation, you should strike the drum outside the yamen forcefully to get the magistrate’s attention—only then can Sister Yu Shan be rescued quickly.”
Yun’er nodded and stumbled away. Only then did Han Yan dust off her hands and stand up. Ji Lan and Shu Hong also approached. When Zhuang Yu Shan was kidnapped, the fire-red cloak had fallen off. Han Yan picked it up from the ground, shook off the dust, put it back on, tied the strings, and then unhurriedly walked to the side of the only conscious guard captain.
Earlier, during the vegetarian meal at Feng Di Temple, Shu Hong had taken advantage of helping out to add something to the guards’ food. Taken alone, it had no effect. But when mixed with another fragrance, it would immediately cause unconsciousness.
After the guards ate, when Zhuang Yu Shan made Ji Lan and Shu Hong travel outside the carriage, it was within Han Yan’s expectations. The carriage couldn’t possibly fit five people, and Zhuang Yu Shan naturally wouldn’t make her maid leave, so Ji Lan and Shu Hong would inevitably be forced to walk outside with the guards.
While chatting with the guards outside the carriage, Ji Lan had dropped the fragrance from her sleeve into their sword sheaths. The guards were fine at first, but once they encountered bandits and drew their swords, the fragrance would be released, mixing with their earlier meal to become a sleeping poison. The guard captain was too vigilant, and Ji Lan, afraid of being discovered, only dared to add a small amount. That’s why the guard captain was only weakened but remained conscious.
Han Yan crouched beside the guard captain, a middle-aged man. He had seen everything. From the moment Zhuang Yu Shan was kidnapped, he recalled the carriage’s sudden problems along the way, Han Yan and Zhuang Yu Shan exchanging cloaks, the guards suddenly fainting, and Ji Lan and Shu Hong’s way of addressing Zhuang Yu-Shan. He suddenly understood. This young girl had been planning from the beginning, keeping them all in the dark, playing them thoroughly. She must have known about today’s plan and turned it against them, orchestrating Zhuang Yu Shan’s kidnapping. With this, Madam Zhou lifted a stone only to drop it on her own feet—the one whose reputation was ruined became Zhuang Yu Shan, while Han Yan remained unscathed.
Shocked, he squinted at the young girl beside him. Han Yan’s eyes curved in a smile as she looked at him with concern: “Brother, are you alright?”
He gritted his teeth and managed to reply: “Young Miss has quite the scheme.” Such cunning! To remain so composed, not revealing her true nature even now—he suddenly felt chilled.
Han Yan wasn’t bothered by his words and smiled sweetly: “Don’t worry, Yun’er has gone to report to the authorities. They will surely uncover the truth of this matter and clear your reputation.” She emphasized the word “reputation” heavily, then turned away from the guard captain without another glance, addressing Ji Lan and Shu Hong: “Can either of you drive a carriage? Sister Yu-Shan has been kidnapped, we must hurry to report this.” Before she finished speaking, a contemptuous snort suddenly came from behind.
Han Yan turned around to find Fu Yun Xi, He Lian Yu, Wei Ru Feng, and an unfamiliar young man.
That snort had come from Wei Ru Feng, who now stepped forward, looking at Han Yan with complete disdain, and said: “I never expected Fourth Young Miss Zhuang to be so vicious, not even sparing her sister?”
Han Yan’s gaze swept over these four people—one noble and imposing, one beautiful, one gentle as jade, and even that unfamiliar youth was like a fresh orchid, handsome yet innocent. In a crowd, they would surely capture the hearts of many young ladies.
However, the current situation wasn’t suitable for appreciating beauty, especially when… being caught doing something wicked. Han Yan’s gaze settled on Wei Ru Feng. The contempt in his expression stung her eyes. From her previous life to this one, she, Zhuang Han Yan, seemed to never meet his approval. Perhaps it was heaven’s arrangement—Zhuang Yu Shan had such good fortune. In her previous life when she was kidnapped by bandits, no talented young men had come to speak up for justice. As she thought about this, a mocking smile appeared on her face.
Wei Ru Feng didn’t know Han Yan’s thoughts. Today, he and several others from the court had gone to Feng Di Temple to hear Master Qing Feng’s teachings. Passing by on their return, they had witnessed everything. They had seen Han Yan’s every move, especially when she and her two maids called Zhuang Yu-Shan “Young Miss,” directing the bandits’ attention to her. Everyone present understood.
He had heard that there was often scheming between legitimate and illegitimate daughters in wealthy families. If this had happened to someone else, he wouldn’t have felt much. But when he recognized it was Han Yan, disappointment suddenly welled up in his heart.
Han Yan’s talent at the palace banquet had been clear to all. Judging character through writing, he believed Han Yan to be of noble character. Now seeing her ruthlessness, willing to sacrifice her sister for self-preservation, he felt extremely contemptuous. That’s why he had spoken those earlier words.
After speaking, Wei Ru Feng felt his tone had been too harsh. Han Yan was just a twelve-year-old girl, and being spoken to like that by a young man might cause her to lose face. Looking at her regretfully, he saw a casual smile appear on the young girl’s lips.
Her voice was clear and soft, yet like a muffled bell, subtly ringing in everyone’s ears.
“Why must Young Master Wei speak so? If you find my actions so contemptible and consider yourself a righteous person, why didn’t you step forward to help when you were watching earlier?”
Seeing Wei Ru Feng’s face instantly turn red, Han Yan continued: “Wanting to stay safely uninvolved while playing the hero—when has anything in the world been so convenient?”
She walked to the carriage’s side and turned back with a radiant smile: “Being vicious is at least more straightforward than being hypocritical.”
She mercilessly exposed Wei Ru Feng’s role as a mere spectator. “Pfft!” The unfamiliar youth was amused by Han Yan’s words, gleefully watching Wei Ru Feng’s stiff expression.
Lian Yu’s expression was somewhat complex. This young girl seemed different every time he saw her. Last time at the palace banquet, she had impressed everyone with her cleverness and wit. But today’s performance, seeing her ruthlessness toward her sister, showed she was quite formidable. Moreover, she spoke to Wei Ru Feng without any courtesy. Shouldn’t ordinary young ladies have their hearts flutter and blush at the sight of Wei Ru Feng? Yet she calmly retorted, leaving the capital’s talented scholar speechless—truly eye-opening.