“Miss, how did it go from saying Second Young Master killed someone to suddenly saying he was wrongly accused?” Fuling had been waiting outside all evening, only seeing people coming and going, not knowing what had happened.
Qin Wan walked in front, “The yamen didn’t investigate thoroughly, which led to the misunderstanding.”
Fuling nodded, then suddenly wrinkled her nose, “Miss, what’s that smell on you? It smells… strange…”
Qin Wan hesitated, then said, “That room was too damp and musty.”
Fuling’s eyes widened – this was the Marquis’s mansion after all, how could a guest room have a musty smell…
Though she thought this, she didn’t say anything. Lu Yun walked in front leading the way, and soon softly said, “Young Miss Nine, we’re here.”
Qin Wan and her maid looked up to see that indeed, the Plum Garden was right before them.
It was an independent single-courtyard residence with gray tiles and white walls. The courtyard was filled with bamboo groves and green plum trees, though no flowers were visible as it wasn’t the season. At this moment, the lanterns were brightly lit, and several maids were waiting outside.
As Qin Wan and Fuling entered, Lu Yun followed behind saying, “Everything has been prepared here. Young Miss Nine can freshen up now… Madam will be here shortly.”
The room was decorated in an elegant and refined style. Seeing that all the furnishings inside and out were of the highest quality, Fuling couldn’t help but marvel silently. She hurriedly thanked Lu Yun, who repeatedly demurred before showing Qin Wan to the side room.
Hot water had already been prepared in the side room. Lu Yun said, “This servant will wait outside. If Young Miss Nine needs anything, please just call for me.”
After Lu Yun left, Fuling let out a breath, “Miss, the Marquis’s mansion is treating us so well. This courtyard must be as exquisite as the Young Princess’s residence. Ah, Miss, what’s that on your skirt—”
Fuling noticed the spots of blood and was greatly shocked. “Miss, are you injured?”
Qin Wan was somewhat helpless, “It’s from treating the Princess Supreme earlier.”
Just as she finished speaking, there was a “clang” as something fell. Fuling looked down and immediately saw the gold-inlaid jeweled Han Yue. She quickly picked it up, “Miss, what is this?”
Qin Wan looked at the Han Yue with some resignation, “It belongs to His Highness the Crown Prince. He lent it to me to help treat the Princess Supreme.”
“The Rui Prince’s Crown Prince?”
Seeing Qin Wan nod, Fuling’s eyes brightened slightly. When she looked at the Han Yue again, there was a hint of reverence in her eyes. She carefully set it aside and helped Qin Wan into the bath. “Miss has exhausted herself today, treating the Princess Supreme for half the day, and then being delayed so long in the evening. Fortunately, the Princess Supreme’s condition has stabilized.”
As she spoke, Fuling furrowed her brow curiously, “How was Second Young Master’s matter cleared up? Miss was with Madam the whole time, did you hear about it?”
Qin Wan’s lips tightened slightly, “It was cleared up after re-examining the corpse.”
Hearing the words “examining the corpse,” Fuling’s eyebrows trembled, “Examining the corpse… just thinking about it is frightening…” Then she suddenly seemed to think of something and turned pale, “Speaking of which, Miss, do you know where the bride is?”
The bride Fuling referred to was naturally Miss Song Rou. Song Rou was already dead, and in her wedding clothes and bridal sedan no less. Even Qin Wan felt her heart tighten thinking about it. Fuling’s quiet question made it even more spine-chilling.
“She must have been sent to the public mortuary.”
The public mortuary was where corpses were kept. Usually, unclaimed bodies and those related to criminal cases would be temporarily stored there. Fuling shuddered again, “Miss Song died so tragically, who knows if she’ll come to this mansion.”
The more Fuling spoke, the more frightened she became, constantly glancing out the window as if afraid something might appear.
The warm bath had brought a pink flush to Qin Wan’s cheeks. She closed her eyes slightly, her tone somewhat helpless, “When people die, it’s like a lamp being extinguished. Don’t believe in ghosts and spirits. Stop frightening yourself—”
Fuling dared not speak further, but her heart still felt uneasy.
Just as Qin Wan had put on new undergarments, Madam Jiang arrived. Seeing Fuling wringing out Qin Wan’s hair, she quickly went over to take the towel from Fuling’s hands, “You just sit—”
“How could I trouble Madam—”
Madam Jiang smiled, “How is this trouble? You’re like my own daughter to me. Besides, you cured Mother and cleared Qing’er’s false charges. What’s this small matter in comparison?”
She sighed, “Jia’er and Qing’er are boys, and their father wouldn’t let me spoil them too much since they were young. They were sent to live independently at a tender age. Even Ning’er moved to her courtyard when she was just ten. I haven’t done these things for many years. Others think I’m idle, but I so wish I could personally take care of Ning’er’s daily needs. You and Ning’er are opposites – she appears strong on the surface but hasn’t experienced life’s hardships. You appear gentle and quiet on the surface, but inside you’re incredibly resilient.”
She continued, “Just now, even I, having lived half my life, could barely handle that scene. But watching you examine the corpse, everyone outside couldn’t help but admire and respect you. I—”
“Crash!” Madam Jiang’s words were cut off by the sound. Looking over, they saw that Fuling had dropped the teacup she was preparing for Madam Jiang, her hand having somehow slipped.
Qin Wan inwardly exclaimed “Not good” and quickly said in a stern voice, “Fuling—”
Fuling, pale-faced, looked at Madam Jiang. She wanted to ask something, but Qin Wan’s stern call made her immediately bow her head and say, “Please forgive me, Madam. This servant is too clumsy…”
Madam Jiang smiled, “It’s nothing. You’ve been serving Wan’er all along?”
While picking up the teacup, Fuling responded affirmatively. Madam Jiang said, “You’re a good one.”
“It’s this servant’s duty.” Fuling quickly replied, but as she turned to pour fresh tea, she was almost crying. If she hadn’t heard wrong, had the Madam said her Miss personally examined the corpse?!
Examine… Fuling’s hands and feet were going numb…
After finishing with the hair, Madam Jiang smiled and had Lu Yun summon the people waiting outside.
Two groups entered. One group of three or four people carried food boxes, while the second group of five or six each held trays containing fine silk clothes and two sets of dazzling jewelry.
“These clothes were all prepared for Ning’er, but she would never wear them. I noticed you prefer subdued colors, so I selected two sets of cloud gauze and two sets of sky-blue damask robes. You have the same figure as Ning’er, they’ll surely look beautiful on you.”
Qin Wan had only visited the Marquis’s mansion twice. Yesterday at the wedding banquet, her clothes had been quite luxurious, but today her attire was quite ordinary. Thinking of the rumors, Madam Jiang understood Qin Wan’s situation.
“These two sets of jewelry – one is Wu Mountain white jade, the other Kunlun green jade. The gold, silver, and precious stones are all of the finest quality, bestowed by the palace in the past. I’ve never worn them myself. After much consideration, I found these two sets suit you best.”
Speaking thus, Madam Jiang took a white jade orchid hairpin and held it against Qin Wan’s hair, looking in the bronze mirror before them, “See, the jade’s luster complements your complexion, you’re more beautiful than the flowers. Wan’er is so lovely, your mother must have been a stunning beauty…”
Qin Wan looked at herself in the mirror, then at Madam Jiang, instantly reminded of all the parental love she had received in the Shen family.
Her eyes reddened, and she quickly lowered her head.
Seeing this, Madam Jiang’s expression changed, her eyes full of compassion, “Look at my loose tongue, why did I bring up your mother? Good child, from now on you have me, you have the An Yang Marquis’s mansion. We won’t let you suffer any grievances.”
Qin Wan hurriedly said, “No, it’s Madam’s kindness that reminded me of my mother.”
Madam Jiang patted Qin Wan’s shoulder, “Then you must live well. Your mother is watching you from heaven, and only when she sees you living happily and contentedly can she rest in peace.”
Qin Wan raised her head, looking at herself in the mirror, her eyes alternating between bright and dark.
Her entire family had died unjustly. Until she could clear her father’s name, they would not know peace for a single day.