“Hahahahaha!”
With a “splash,” the ice-cold lake water suddenly submerged Qin Wan’s head. Caught off guard, she swallowed several mouthfuls of water. In her ears, she heard piercing laughter from the shore.
Fortunately, the water near the shore wasn’t deep. Qin Wan struggled to stand up.
Completely soaked and standing in waist-deep water, she coughed while wiping her face. When she gathered herself, she saw her attacker standing on the shore – a somewhat pretty face with narrow eyes full of mockery and satisfaction, dressed as a servant. Seeing Qin Wan look over, she raised her chin and snorted lightly, showing no guilt or remorse.
Qin Wan then looked toward the distant black tortoise stone, where the earlier laughter had come from.
At that moment, seven or eight people stood on the tortoise stone. Most conspicuous were two young ladies at the front, both wearing elaborate clothing and holding round fans, covering their mouths as they shook with laughter.
Fu Ling knelt on the ground, restrained from behind by two servants who covered her mouth.
Having completed their attack, the two released their hand from Fu Ling’s mouth.
Fu Ling’s tears rolled down as she whimpered, “Young Miss—”
Qin Wan’s lips pressed together slightly. She had been careless, too focused to notice people approaching.
“How pitiful, falling into the lake again!” The speaker wore an apricot-pink jacket and skirt with white flower patterns, had a round face with large eyes, and was short and plump. She had laughed the loudest. After a slight pause, she continued, “Sister, shall we go take a look? Her appearance is quite amusing.”
Speaking thus, the two walked over with graceful postures.
Each was followed by two servants, while Fu Ling remained restrained.
“Fifth Young Miss, Sixth Young Miss, Ninth Young Miss must be pining for Young Master Huo unsuccessfully and wants to jump in the lake again!”
Fifth Young Miss and Sixth Young Miss? Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. Fu Ling had mentioned them in the past few days – Fifth Young Miss Qin Xiang and Sixth Young Miss Qin Shuang were the ones who loved bullying the Ninth Young Miss most in this manor.
Though the water was still shallow by the shore, it would rise above Qin Wan’s head if she went forward just a bit more.
These two sisters didn’t care about her life at all.
A cold light flashed in Qin Wan’s eyes as her hand slowly clenched at her side.
The speaker was Wan He, Qin Xiang’s maid. Hearing this, Qin Shuang sneered, “I’ve never seen anyone so stupid. Doesn’t she realize that Brother Huo is the Prefect’s son? How could he ever look at someone like her?”
The servants chimed in agreement as Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang approached.
While Qin Shuang’s voice was loud, sharp, and overbearing, Qin Xiang only smiled without speaking. She wore a purple empire-waist pleated dress, had a thin face with fine eyebrows and long eyes, and looked at Qin Wan with an expression full of superiority as if they were from different worlds.
Neither sister was particularly likable.
As the two approached, the servant who had attacked earlier stepped aside.
Seeing Qin Wan standing motionless in the water, Qin Shuang walked brazenly to the shore’s edge and said with disgust, “Why didn’t Wan Qing push harder? Doesn’t she want to die? Let her die then! What is Bodhisattva possession? Look at her, soaked like a drowned dog – how dare she?”
Qin Shuang cursed viciously, but she hadn’t expected Qin Wan to dare look directly at her. Not only did Qin Wan look straight at her, but her gaze was dark and bottomless, making Qin Shuang’s heart tremble.
Qin Shuang thrust out her chest, “What are you looking at? You’re nothing but a harbinger of death clinging to our family, shamelessly coveting Brother Huo, trying to force his attention by threatening to jump in the lake. Do you think this will make Brother Huo look at you even once? In his eyes, you’re just mud beneath his feet! Didn’t you want to die? Why don’t you go ahead and die, you bringer of misfortune, you jinx…”
Qin Shuang leaned forward as if wanting to drown Qin Wan with her spittle. The morning breeze blew her waist sash, making it dance in the air, almost brushing Qin Wan’s face. Watching the spittle-spraying Qin Shuang, Qin Wan pulled hard!
“Ah—”
With a sharp cry, Qin Shuang’s plump body fell uncontrollably into the lake!
She plunged in headfirst, floundering like a fat fish before finally standing up. Her eyes were red from choking on water, her whole body soaked, hair plastered to her face. Qin Shuang coughed violently, looking at Qin Wan in disbelief!
This person! How dare she treat her like this!
Qin Shuang pointed at Qin Wan, trembling with rage and grievance!
The Qin Manor servants on shore stared at Qin Wan in shock, even Qin Xiang was dumbfounded.
These people had always bullied Qin Wan together. Every time they had bullied her until she was covered in injuries, yet she never dared say a word. But this time, this time she had pulled Qin Shuang into the lake!
“I wanted to die, but the King of Hell wouldn’t take me.”
“Guess whether he’ll take you?”
Qin Wan stared directly at Qin Shuang, her voice low and chilling. Remembering that Qin Wan had died once, Qin Shuang felt her skin crawl. She quickly withdrew her pointing finger, no longer daring to utter a single insult.
Seeing this, Qin Wan lifted her skirts and slowly walked toward shore.
As she moved, everyone on shore stepped back.
She had already seemed somewhat otherworldly after returning from death, and now she dared pull Qin Shuang into the water in front of so many people. Those on shore inexplicably felt a murderous air about her—
If they truly angered her, would she go mad and kill them all?
Even Qin Xiang stepped back twice, looking at Qin Wan with complex emotions, uncertain and afraid.
Qin Wan didn’t even glance at Qin Xiang, walking straight toward Fu Ling, who was also stunned – her Young Miss had fought back?!
Seeing her approach, the servants restraining Fu Ling quickly released her and retreated.
Qin Wan said softly, “Let’s go back.”
Fu Ling, her tears not yet dry, came to her senses and rose to support Qin Wan. They turned toward the western rear courtyard. Of all the people present, watching them walk further and further away, none dared to make trouble.
Qin Shuang stood dazed in the lake, then suddenly burst out crying with a “waa!”
Back at the western rear courtyard, Fu Ling’s hands trembled more the more she thought about it. Once the gate was closed, she anxiously said, “Young Miss… although Sixth Young Miss isn’t born of the main wife, she’s still very much loved by Madam. Will Madam punish us?”
“Whose maid is Wan Qing?” Qin Wan asked instead of answering.
Fu Ling was stunned, then realized after a moment, “Ah, Wan Qing is Sixth Young Miss’s maid. Old Madam was already planning to minimize Young Miss’s incident, yet they dared push Young Miss into the lake again – they’re in the wrong!”
Fu Ling looked at Qin Wan’s back in amazement, too excited to speak.
Her Young Miss was no longer the pure, timid young lady who could only be bullied!
“Go find me some clean clothes.”
As soon as Qin Wan gave the order, Fu Ling hurried to look. The lake was too cold, and her Young Miss was already weak from falling in once before – she could easily fall ill this time!
As Fu Ling entered the inner room, Qin Wan walked to the warm pavilion. She released her grip on her skirt, and with a soft pat, a branch fell from her crumpled skirt.
It was a three-inch length of fresh bamboo, its deep green faded to light green from being soaked too long in water.
Soon after, Fu Ling came out carrying dry clothes.
Just as she stood still, Qin Wan asked, “Is there a purple bamboo grove in the manor?”