“Young Master—”
Fu Ling held the broom uncertainly, lowering her head in a curtsy.
Qin Chen strode forward, looking at Qin Wan and her maid with surprise, “You two… what are…”
Qin Wan’s gaze quickly swept over Qin Chen’s thin boots.
The soil in the orchid garden differed from elsewhere due to the flower beds; anyone who had been there would likely have traces on their shoes.
But looking now, Qin Chen’s shoes were spotlessly clean.
“Young Master, someone was hiding in the orchid garden.”
Qin Chen had a refined demeanor, and his gaze was gentle when looking at others. Among the Qin family, he was one of the few who treated Qin Wan and her maid kindly. Fu Ling’s throat tightened as she complained with some grievance.
“Someone hiding?” Qin Chen raised his eyebrows, looking around, “How could someone be hiding? Perhaps you were mistaken?”
“No, servant—”
As Fu Ling tried to continue, Qin Wan nudged her with an elbow.
“Fu Ling was just moving some orchids indoors when she was startled by a sound. I came with her to check, perhaps… it was just the wind she heard.” Qin Wan set down the iron spade, finally regaining her proper, elegant bearing.
“It’s indeed easy to see things wrongly late at night.” Qin Chen’s lips held a faint smile, his gaze toward Qin Wan exceptionally warm and kind, “But how could two young ladies dare come here alone? You should have called for male servants to accompany you.”
Qin Wan lowered her eyes, “Yes, Brother is right. Qin Wan was careless.”
Qin Chen scanned the orchid garden once more, “It’s fine now. Tomorrow I’ll have someone tidy up this garden. Just keep the side door locked during the day. Come, let me show you the gift I’ve brought.”
So Qin Chen had come to Tinglan Court to deliver a gift.
Qin Chen led the way back, with Qin Wan and Fu Ling following.
Besides Qin Chen, his attendant Cheng Xin had also come.
Cheng Xin held a brocade box, which he quickly handed to Qin Chen upon his return. Qin Chen took it, saying, “It’s too late for me to come in. I had planned to bring this tomorrow morning, but thinking of how you saved Xinlan and I hadn’t properly thanked you, I felt uneasy.”
He opened the box, “This is a set of sapphire jewelry I bought for Xinlan earlier. She loved it but never wore it. You saved both mother and child today, this is just a small token of our appreciation.”
When the box opened, its brilliant jewels dazzled.
Qin Wan frowned, hesitating at such an expensive gift.
Seeing Qin Wan’s reluctance, Qin Chen continued, “Xinlan has awakened and taken her medicine. She chose this herself. Ninth Sister, if you refuse, wouldn’t that mean you disapprove of our choice?”
Qin Wan looked up, meeting Qin Chen’s gaze. This eldest son of the Qin family’s third branch had exceptionally gentle eyes, and combined with his warm smile that felt like a spring breeze, Qin Wan’s vigilant spirit relaxed.
Qin Wan accepted the box, “Thank you, Brother.”
She was neither naive nor overly virtuous, and given her current difficult situation, there was no reason to refuse.
Qin Chen sighed in relief, his smile deepening, “That’s good then. Xinlan’s health will need your continued attention.”
He glanced around the courtyard again, “We’ve wronged you before. From now on, if you need anything in this courtyard, just tell me. Xinlan rarely saw you before, but after you saved her, she said she likes your calm and steady nature very much. When you have time, visit her more often.”
Qin Wan didn’t respond verbally, only nodding.
Seeing her somewhat aloof manner, Qin Chen hesitated but still said, “Ninth Sister, I just heard about your fall into the lake. No matter how despondent you feel, you mustn’t take your own life. You must never do such a thing again. I heard you fell ill after waking up – are you better now?”
Qin Wan pressed her lips together, gaze lowered, “I’ve recovered well, Brother need not worry.”
Hearing Qin Chen mentions this, Fu Ling’s heart ached, but she spoke as if trusting him completely, “Young Master doesn’t know, but Miss injured her head in that incident and can’t remember many things from before.”
Compassion filled Qin Chen’s eyes, “Ninth Sister, the family wronged you before. From now on, we will treat you well, you…”
“Thank you for your concern, Brother.” Qin Wan cut off Qin Chen’s words, “It’s late, please return.”
Qin Chen seemed to want to say more, but seeing Qin Wan’s downcast eyes, he understood she didn’t wish to discuss the matter further.
Qin Chen sighed, “Very well then. You should rest. I’ll take my leave.”
With that, he turned and left.
Watching him leave, Qin Wan’s eyes grew deep with thought.
“Miss, these jewels are from Jinxiu Workshop in the city! Jinxiu Workshop is famous not just in Jinzhou but throughout the south. Their jewelry is only made for officials and nobles; ordinary people can’t even buy them.”
“These sapphires… both color and quality are supreme, they must have cost a fortune. Miss, Young Master is humble and unpretentious, and very learned too. In the entire Qin family, he treats us the best.”
Qin Wan turned her head, “How so?”
Fu Ling sighed, “You’ve forgotten. Young Master often studied away from home before, but even then, he would have people send us silver. He has helped us many times.”
No wonder Fu Ling seemed so familiar with Qin Chen, thought Qin Wan as she glanced toward the courtyard entrance, then the side door.
“Go lock the side door. We should rest.”
Remembering the shadowy figure from earlier, Fu Ling hurried to lock the side door. Upon returning, she added, “Miss, why didn’t you let me finish telling Young Master earlier? He’s kind-hearted and would surely help us investigate!”
A flash of calculation crossed Qin Wan’s eyes, “Nothing would be found. It’s late, and there are many paths outside the orchid garden. Even he wouldn’t mobilize people just for us.”
Making too much noise would only alert their quarry.
“Who could it have been? The servant is certain it was a person.”
After entering the room and closing the door, Fu Ling continued muttering while helping Qin Wan prepare for bed.
Qin Wan lay on the new bed, her thoughts somewhat unsettled.
“Fu Ling, we must be more careful when moving about the Qin mansion from now on.”
Fu Ling, lying on a small couch nearby, made a surprised sound. She seemed to sense something unusual in Qin Wan’s warning and asked nervously, “Miss… do you think that person means us harm?”
Not just harm, but perhaps murderous intent.
Qin Wan thought this but couldn’t say it directly to Fu Ling.
“The people here have long disliked us, best to be cautious.”
Fu Ling exhaled, “Miss fears we’ll invite trouble? Don’t worry, servant understands.” After a pause, Fu Ling fearfully wrapped her blanket tighter, “Miss, let’s keep a lamp lit tonight.”
Through the light curtains, Fu Ling could faintly see Qin Wan’s lying figure.
Qin Wan remained silent as Fu Ling continued trembling, “Servant keeps thinking about Duke Song’s daughter. Who could have been so cruel to kill the Song family’s daughter? How can there be such vicious people in the world?”
As Fu Ling spoke of this, Qin Wan was also thinking about this strange and terrifying murder case, starting with the Ninth Miss’s death.
What kind of person would kill a new bride in such a cruel manner?
Thinking about it, it seemed only a devil could be so deranged.
But Qin Wan’s previous experience accompanying her father in criminal cases had taught her clearly that devils were merely ordinary people, completely unremarkable. They lived alongside you day and night, they dined at the same table…