Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 62

Qiao Yihuan said, “Mother, don’t worry. I will make sure to bring you out of here.”

Wu Shi rolled her eyes at her daughter, irritated. “All you do is talk. How long has it been and you still have no definite answer? Forget it, you useless girl. Let me teach you something. If you won’t take risks yourself, then eliminate anyone standing in your way.”

“Mother, I don’t understand what you mean.”

Wu Shi lowered her voice. “You have someone ruin Qiao Wanyan’s reputation. Once her name is tarnished, forget marrying the Crown Prince—she won’t even find a respectable match with a butcher! People who aren’t ruthless will never have a stable position!”

Qiao Yihuan’s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at her mother in shock. She couldn’t believe she was suggesting such a thing.

“No, I can’t do that!”

“You useless girl!” Wu Shi scolded. “If you don’t act, that little brat will step over you and marry the Crown Prince! Do you think men only have one true love? Especially in the royal family—you can’t expect him to remain devoted to just one person, with no concubines!”

Even if he wanted to, he wouldn’t be able to resist outside pressure!

Qiao Yihuan stood up. “I trust His Highness. I would never do something like that! If there’s nothing else, Mother, I’ll take my leave.”

With that, she turned and left.

On the way, Xiao Ying noticed her gloomy mood and suggested stopping at a tea house for some tea and pastries. Qiao Yihuan didn’t refuse, nodding as she followed her to a fairly busy tea house.

“Let me tell you, the Second Miss of the Qiao family is just born lucky. She’s the most noble young lady in the capital and a beauty renowned across the land—born to live in luxury!”

“Exactly! I don’t know why the Crown Prince would notice that concubine’s daughter of the Qiao family. Must be something about her charm, I suppose?”

“I heard her mother had her child through some scandalous way. Could a daughter be anything less capable than her mother? Otherwise, Qiao Shangshu would have long married the only daughter of that imperial merchant!”

Everyone laughed loudly, while Qiao Yihuan’s face gradually turned pale.

“Just this morning, I saw the Crown Prince, Prince Jing, and the Second Miss of the Qiao family at the gate of Mingyue Pavilion! Guess what I saw?”

The crowd leaned in eagerly. The speaker looked like he was bragging, exaggerating as he continued: “Most people wouldn’t dare get close. Lucky for me, no one stopped me. I heard Prince Jing tried to take revenge on the Second Miss, but the Crown Prince rushed over to save her!”

“What? There’s such a thing?”

Qiao Yihuan suddenly stood up with a start. Her chair toppled with a harsh crash that drew all eyes.

The onlookers glanced at her, saw a stranger, and paid little attention. They returned to their gossip, which unsurprisingly became more exaggerated with every retelling.

By evening, Yun Yao had recovered enough to start packing her things.

“This is perfect! Brother’s never seen this before—I have to bring it for him to see. This osmanthus cake too! Uncle Zhang can’t make anything this delicious! And this, this I must also bring along.”

The next day, she would depart for the Apothecary Valley. Though she loved exploring, returning home made her excited as well.

She wanted to bring all the strange and wonderful things she had seen back for her brother, to show him, to share the things she liked.

Yet, deep down, she was a little afraid—afraid that her brother would scold her for sneaking out to play.

“Ah Yan, how about I write a note for you? You can take it to Apothecary Valley to find my brother. I’m a little… I’m a little scared to go back myself.”

Yun Yao frowned, her small face full of fear.

Qiao Wanyan’s voice was gentle. “Yao Yao, you’ve been away from home so long that even your brother doesn’t know where you are. He would be worried sick. Family is the closest to you—can you bear to let your brother fret all day, unable to eat or sleep?”

Yun Yao shook her head. “I… I couldn’t bear that.”

Qiao Wanyan patted her head. “Then that’s right. If your brother scolds you, your sister will help talk to him.”

If the little girl refused to go, how else could she meet Yun Heng?

A genius doctor known throughout the land—being acquainted with someone like him could save more lives in the future.

Later, when the Crown Prince was poisoned on a trip to a neighboring country and no doctor could cure him, it was Qiao Yihuan who invited Yun Heng, and he saved the Crown Prince. Even the Empress, who had long opposed Qiao Yihuan becoming Crown Princess, had to reluctantly relent.

By the next morning, the capital was covered in a thin layer of icy frost. Everything glimmered in silver-white crystals, dreamlike and surreal.

When He Zhiyu’s carriage arrived at the entrance of the Shangshu Mansion, two other carriages were already waiting—those of Qiao Wanyan and Qiao Yihuan.

Just then, Qiao Yihuan stepped out. Seeing He Zhiyu, a smile immediately appeared on her lips as she hurried forward.

“Your Highness.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, and coupled with her delicate, harmless expression, it stirred an inexplicable affection in anyone who looked upon her.

He Zhiyu nodded. “Why are you dressed so lightly? Your health is poor—what if you catch a chill?”

Qiao Yihuan felt a warmth in her heart. “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am fine.”

“What about your sister? It’s getting late. We should depart soon.”

Qiao Yihuan looked back. “I don’t know, but she should be close. Shall I go urge her?”

Before He Zhiyu could respond, they saw Zi Yuan rushing over with a small soup pot toward one of the carriages. When the door opened, a scream escaped—immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

He Zhiyu strode forward. “What happened?”

Zi Yuan was in disbelief. “M-Miss… she’s gone!”

She looked around frantically, only to realize Lu Jinye had also vanished. Panic gripped her, fearing something had happened to her lady.

He Zhiyu frowned. “She vanished? How could that be?”

Zi Yuan hurriedly explained, “Miss said she didn’t want to delay departure, so she was waiting in the carriage early. But the soup got a bit cold, so I went back to the mansion to get it. When I returned… she was gone! Zhang Er, where did Miss go?!”

The coachman frowned. “I don’t know! I went to prepare some fodder for the horses. When I returned, there was no one unusual—no idea where Miss went!”

Qiao Yihuan frowned. “Zi Yuan went back for the soup, and the coachman and others were gone just now… who would be bold enough to snatch Wanyan right from the Shangshu Mansion gate?”

When Yun Yao came out carrying her bag, she noticed the serious expressions around her and asked, “Why aren’t we leaving? What happened?”

Qiao Yihuan gently explained the situation, and Yun Yao immediately grew anxious.

Jing Yuan discovered a strange concealed weapon on Qiao Wanyan’s carriage. He drew it out, inspecting it carefully in his hand.

Yun Yao froze for a moment, then snatched it and examined it closely. “This… this is a Four-Leaf Green!”

“What’s a Four-Leaf Green?” Qiao Yihuan asked.

Yun Yao’s face darkened. “It’s a hidden weapon only from the Apothecary Valley. Sister Ayan has been taken by her brother!”