Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 31

“Your Highness, it’s already so late. You should rest for a while.” Qiao Yihuan’s face was filled with worry.

It was the middle of the night. The cliff below was vast and treacherous—finding two people there would be like searching for a needle in the ocean. Even if they searched all night without stopping, they might not find them.

He Zhiyu’s expression was grim. “Your younger sister has been pampered since childhood. Now she’s been shot by an arrow and fallen off a cliff—her life or death unknown. How could I possibly rest at ease? Not to mention… Jiang Qiyun fell down as well.”

One was the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue. The other, a precious young heir of the Marquis of Jing’an, practically raised by the Emperor himself.

If something truly happened to them, how could he face their families?

Qiao Wanyan should have already been on her way back to Yongzhou. It was only because he worried about her safety that he insisted she travel with him instead.

Yet unexpectedly, they encountered assassins during the rescue of Li Xiao. Because of him, she was dragged into this danger.

He Zhiyu’s heart was in chaos. Wanyan was supposed to stay safely with Yihuan by the carriage—why did she suddenly rush out and end up shot by an arrow?

Was it because she saw the arrow coming from the shadows… and ran out to shield him?

Qiao Yihuan whispered, “But if Your Highness wears yourself out, Yihuan will be heartbroken. I will go search for Qiyun and Wanyan in your place.”

He Zhiyu knew her heart was kind, and his tone softened. “How could I rest easy letting a weak girl venture into those mountains alone? Your heart is pure and worried for your sister, but if you fall ill because of this, then I’ll have to divide my care even further.”

Still, Yihuan shook her head, unwilling to give in, wanting to follow him.

He continued to persuade her gently, “Be good. Stay here. The guards will protect you.”

Then he turned to command, “Take good care of your young lady.”

Xiaoying bowed her head. “Miss, His Highness is only worried for you. Please wait here until they return.”

At last, Qiao Yihuan had no choice but to agree.

…

“Are you done yet?” Jiang Qiyun shivered outside, pacing back and forth in the cold.

He felt that the biggest mistake of his life had been that moment of kindness atop the cliff—stretching out his hand to pull her up. Not only did he fail to save her, she dragged him down with her.

Otherwise, why would his entire body feel like it had been run over by a carriage, aching from head to toe—while still being kicked out to freeze in the cold because she needed to change clothes?

So slow! She had been changing for nearly half a stick of incense already.

“Come in.”

Jiang Qiyun pushed the door open with irritation. But the moment his eyes landed on the woman inside, his steps froze.

She stood there in plain white mourning clothes, her ink-black hair falling like a waterfall down her back. Her delicate features were flawless, like a finely carved piece of jade, breathtaking beyond compare.

The fabric was rough, loose, and ill-fitted. And yet, on Qiao Wanyan, it looked more splendid than any silk or brocade—fragile, pitiful, and stunning enough to steal the breath away.

Even in the shabby, filthy thatched hut, she shone like a pearl, dazzling and radiant. Like a flower blooming in the realm of Asura—ethereal, dreamlike, unreal.

“Close the door. It’s cold.”

Jiang Qiyun snapped out of his trance, his tone annoyed. “Troublesome woman. Taking forever just to change clothes.”

Qiao Wanyan stretched her hands toward the fire, her gaze lowered. Her voice was quiet. “The wound hurts. Every little movement hurts. Naturally… I was slower.”

Jiang Qiyun shot her a glare. “If you hadn’t run about recklessly, would you have been shot? If you’d just stayed put, nothing would’ve happened.”

Qiao Wanyan lifted her gaze to him, eyes clear and unwavering. “You know I never would have stayed still.”

Jiang Qiyun choked on his words. Whatever retort was on his tongue was swallowed back down. He changed the subject stiffly. “Do you want to rest for a while? Dawn is still a long way off.”

But Qiao Wanyan kept her burning eyes fixed on him. “When I ran to Yihuan’s side, you followed too. You were afraid your Sister Yihuan would be hurt, so you stayed close to guard her.”

Her voice paused for a beat, then each word landed like a stone. “Your Sister Yihuan… doesn’t seem as gentle and kind as you think. A hypocrite is far worse than someone openly wicked—like me.”

Jiang Qiyun was struck dumb. He turned his face away. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Qiao Wanyan gave a cold laugh. “You saw it, didn’t you?”

He had been watching Qiao Yihuan so closely—how could he not have noticed? His reaction now only made his denial ring hollow.

“Whoever lies… is a dog.”

Jiang Qiyun’s brows furrowed. “Qiao Wanyan, are you calling me a dog?”

This shameless woman—she’d been much more obedient when she was half-delirious with fever.

Qiao Wanyan rolled her eyes at him. “Did I mention your name? I only said liars are dogs. If you haven’t lied, then what are you so nervous about?”

Jiang Qiyun felt stifled, unable to argue. After a moment of silence, he muttered, “Sister Yihuan isn’t like that. Maybe… maybe she saw someone in the shadows aiming at you and tried to push you out of the way. But things went wrong, and it backfired.”

The words lacked conviction even to his own ears.

Qiao Wanyan gave a short, scornful laugh. “If that’s the story you want to believe, then by all means.”

Jiang Qiyun lowered his head and fell silent. It was a long while before he spoke again. “I treated your wound. Don’t worry—I’ll take responsibility. When we return to the capital, I’ll go to your family and propose marriage. I’ll take you in… as my concubine.”

He had always wanted to marry Sister Yihuan as his wife. But Sister Yihuan and the Crown Prince were in love—he only wished for her happiness.

Even so, he swore the position of main wife would remain hers alone, even if he could never marry her in this lifetime.

“I won’t take a proper wife. You may be a concubine, but no one will dare oppress you. I won’t keep any bed-warming maids either. You can be at ease.”

When he finished, he risked a glance at her face. Seeing that her expression remained calm, without much reaction, he breathed a small sigh of relief.

If Qiao Wanyan became his, she would no longer compete with Sister Yihuan for the position of Crown Princess.

That way… he’d be helping Sister Yihuan too.

Qiao Wanyan crooked her finger at him.

He hurried over. “What is it? Does the wound hurt again?”

“Smack!”

Jiang Qiyun froze, clutching his face in shock. From childhood till now, not a single hair of his had ever been touched. Yet this woman had just slapped him—hard.

He should be furious. He should want to tear her to pieces.

But strangely enough, what hit him first was not the sting of her palm, but the faint fragrance clinging to her.

By the time the pain bloomed hot across his cheek… it didn’t even feel like pain anymore.

It felt… exhilarating.