This was a rare opportunity. Madam Zhou could barely contain her excitement as Elder Madam Zhou also moved forward with a beaming smile. “Fourth Young Lady, please let the officer examine your wound.” The corner of her lips curled with the confidence of someone who held all the cards.
Han Yan coldly observed these people with malicious intentions. They all wanted her dead. In her previous life, she hadn’t even been their enemy, yet they had still poisoned her. In this life, history seemed to be repeating itself, but their methods were even more ruthless than before. These ugly faces were now etched in her heart. One day, they would pay their blood debt with blood!
“What if Han Yan refuses?” she asked, looking at the medicine bowl before her with an unreadable expression.
The guard captain had already noticed the tension between Han Yan and the Zhou sisters and was content to watch the drama unfold. Either way, as long as there was some explanation about the assassin, it would only benefit him.
“Fourth Young Lady,” Madam Zhou’s voice slithered like a venomous snake, “you cannot refuse!”
“Very well then.” Han Yan showed no weakness as she raised her sleeve. “Look all you want!”
Where her sleeve was pulled back, layers of bandages were wrapped, with spots of blood seeping through, staining them crimson.
Madam Zhou and Elder Madam Zhou exchanged glances, clearly not expecting this move. Zhuang Yu Shan thought for a moment before smiling, “Fourth Sister, why don’t you remove the bandages?”
“You go too far!” Zhuang Han Ming was furious. Seeing Han Yan injured was already like a knife to his heart, and now these Zhou women were being so hateful, forcing Han Yan to tear open her wound just to confirm their suspicions!
Madam Zhou watched Han Yan but could find no flaws in her expression – neither confidence nor guilt was visible, leaving her somewhat bewildered. Elder Madam Zhou spoke up: “Yan’er since you’ll need to change the dressing anyway, why not remove this bandage now?”
She was convinced that Han Yan’s previous reluctance to show her wound must have had a reason. Though Zhuang Yu Shan’s words were direct, they offered the best solution. She instinctively felt Han Yan was lying, or at least must have seen the assassin. Now that they finally had a chance to bring her down, they couldn’t let it slip away. Moreover, seeing Han Yan’s nonchalant expression, she knew this opponent was too dangerous – if not eliminated, she would become a serious threat in the future!
Hearing Elder Madam Zhou’s words, Madam Zhou smiled and added, “Yes, Fourth Young Lady, unless… there’s something you don’t want us to see?”
Han Yan smiled back sweetly: “It’s not that I won’t show you all, I just fear you won’t be able to handle it.”
“What do you mean?” Zhuang Yu Shan asked suspiciously. Han Yan’s tone made her somewhat fearful, though she was certain Han Yan had no counter-move.
Han Yan smiled again: “Nothing much, just… I hope none of you regret looking because regret will be useless afterward!”
Madam Zhou steadied herself: “Fourth Young Lady, we don’t quite understand your words. However, we must examine the wound. We truly care about your health. If it leaves a scar…”
Han Yan’s lips curved into a smile. Without a word, she swiftly ripped off the bandage with one hand. The white bandage, stained with blood, was forcefully torn from the flesh wound. Even Zhuang Han Ming couldn’t help but clench his teeth at the sight. Yet Han Yan didn’t even furrow her brow. With a wave of her hand, she tossed the bandage aside and looked up at Madam Zhou with a half-smile: “Is Aunt satisfied now?”
Where the bandage had been removed was a mess of blood and flesh. Han Yan instructed Ji Lan: “Bring some hot wine.”
The guard captain, who had seen countless gruesome sights, was surprised by Han Yan’s disregard for her wound. Usually, young ladies from wealthy families were delicate – they would cry for half the night over a simple scratch, let alone tearing bandages directly from a wound. But this young lady’s ruthlessness toward herself made him shudder.
Ji Lan quickly returned with a pot of heated wine. Han Yan grabbed it without hesitation and poured it over her wound without even blinking. A searing pain shot through her, making her bite her lip and pause before looking up with a smile: “Now then… Officer, Aunt Zhou, Madam Zhou, Sister Yu Shan, have you seen clearly?”
She enunciated each name slowly, not as if calling them, but as if committing them to memory for future retribution. Everyone felt a chill down their spine. Where the hot wine had washed away the blood, a finger-length wound was revealed, seemingly caused by a sharp weapon, with flesh turned outward and the wound appearing extremely deep.
Han Yan smiled at everyone, ignoring her still-bleeding wound: “Does anyone have any other questions they’d like Han Yan to answer?”
The guard captain forced a smile: “A misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. There was no assassin here. I hope Young Lady can understand.” He was about to leave when he heard Han Yan’s light “Stop.” His feet froze, and he slowly turned around.
Han Yan examined her wound before looking up at him and speaking slowly: “What if I don’t understand?”
The guard captain was startled, internally lamenting. This young girl was not easy to deal with. He had been too focused on watching the drama unfold and hadn’t anticipated that once nothing was found, she wouldn’t let him off easily. Though he was a guard captain, being afraid of a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl seemed ridiculous. However, having spent years reading people, he knew this young lady had ways to make things difficult for him.
“This…” he hesitated.
Madam Zhou, not seeing what she had hoped for, spoke shrilly: “How can Fourth Young Lady speak to the officer this way? He’s carrying out the Emperor’s orders. Does Fourth Young Lady intend to settle scores?”
Han Yan smiled coldly: “I naturally wouldn’t dare speak a word against the officer. But what about the Princess Consort of Xuan Qing?”
At these words, Madam Zhou fell silent, and Elder Madam Zhou’s expression turned ugly.
Han Yan’s tone suddenly turned severe: “Can the officer use searching for an assassin as an excuse to force the Princess Consort of Xuan Qing to vacate her chambers for inspection? Can the officer be so aggressive, insisting on seeing Han Yan’s wound before being satisfied?” These words ostensibly criticized the guard but were aimed at Madam Zhou and the others. Everyone present understood the implication, making Zhuang Yu Shan turn pale with anger, nearly shredding her handkerchief.
Han Yan’s voice rang clear but carried an underlying chill: “I am not yet married, still a maiden in the inner chambers. Exposing oneself to outsiders is a grave taboo. Aunt and Madam Zhou are both married women; surely you understand this principle.” She glanced at the guard captain: “I am the Prince’s betrothed wife, suffering such humiliation. What do you think the Prince will do?”