Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 72

Qiao Wanyan leaned against the armrest of the soft divan, her back facing the door. She couldn’t see the group standing there at the entrance.

Feeling a faint, cool breeze brush past her, she drew the soft blanket around her a little tighter.

Yun Heng glanced at Yun Yao’s figure and felt a slight relief, but he didn’t scold her for sneaking out of the Medicine Valley. Instead, calm and composed, he issued a simple command:

“Close the door.”

Qiao Wanyan thought it was Chang’an, and without much thought, she lazily turned the page of her book, the lychee in her mouth still un-swallowed. “This lychee isn’t sweet,” she said indifferently.

Yun Heng instinctively reached out to her lips to catch it. Wanyan, used to being waited on all her life, didn’t feel the slightest guilt in taking advantage of him—she spat the small piece of lychee directly into his hand.

It felt entirely natural. Justified. And right.

Yun Yao’s jaw nearly dropped. Was this really her brother?

What about his so-called obsession with cleanliness? In the past, if she had accidentally eaten something spoiled and it touched his clothes, he would scold her mercilessly and even punish her by taking away dinner.

And now… he actually extended his hand to catch food spat directly from someone else’s mouth?

She must still be dreaming.

Qiao Yihuan was equally surprised. Along the way, Yanran had told her that the divine doctor Yun Heng of the Medicine Valley would fall for her charisma and do anything for her. His medical skills would become a great advantage on her future path to success.

She had only been somewhat skeptical, but based on Yanran’s words and the dreams she had experienced repeatedly, she had been almost certain—ninety percent sure.

But now, she felt uneasy.

It was as if everything that should have belonged to her was being stolen by someone she had never taken seriously, someone she could never even consider a rival.

Why did Yun Heng serve Qiao Wanyan so attentively, almost as if he were at her beck and call?

“Miss!!!” Zi Yuan was the first to rush forward. Seeing that her lady was uninjured and seemed to be doing well, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Hearing Yun Yao’s earlier words had made her heart pound with fear.

Thankfully, her lady was blessed—no matter where she went, she could quickly adapt and thrive.

Qiao Wanyan froze for a moment, then straightened on the soft divan. She turned to find the group at the door, all of them looking in her direction simultaneously.

Her thoughts quickly organized themselves, and almost reflexively, she stood with her gaze fixed on He Zhiyu. At the corners of her eyes flickered a trace of restrained grievance and joy.

“Your Highness!” she called out, but almost immediately retracted her joyful expression, turning her gaze away.

He Zhiyu’s heart lifted slightly at her first words, but seeing her avert her eyes as if trying to avoid him, he understood that she was still not fully at ease.

“Wanyan, I’m so relieved you’re safe. I was worried sick on the way here,” Qiao Yihuan said, visibly relaxing.

Liu Yanran sighed inwardly. A true heroine—no matter how many times she had been harmed by a malicious supporting female, she could still maintain her kindness.

But of course, if the heroine had been vengeful and unforgiving, she wouldn’t be the heroine at all.

Gentle, kind, uncompetitive, yet able to achieve everything—that’s what makes a heroine.

Even with a room full of people, Yun Heng’s gaze never left Qiao Wanyan.

He watched her expression shift slightly at a female voice, then followed her line of sight toward Qiao Yihuan.

Qiao Yihuan also felt a peculiar gaze on her. Meeting it head-on, her heart stirred with an inexplicable excitement. She lifted a harmless smile and nodded slightly at him—but Yun Heng did not return the smile. His eyes withdrew indifferently, no longer looking at her.

Qiao Yihuan furrowed her brows slightly, confused.

For some reason, she sensed a trace of impatience in Yun Heng’s gaze directed at her.

“Ah-Yan, I’m so glad you’re safe! And brother really, deliberately keeping me outside… making me worry all these days.”

Qiao Wanyan gave a gentle, faint smile and held her hand in reassurance. “Your brother only worried too much. He is the one who loves you most.”

Yun Yao pouted, her chubby cheeks tinged with pink like the first peach blossoms of spring—radiant, fresh, and utterly adorable.

In her heart, Yun Yao could not resent Yun Heng. He was her brother. Their parents had passed away when she was only one year old, and it was he who had raised her.

No matter how he treated her, she knew he would never truly harm her; his love for her was steadfast.

“By the way, brother… why are some of the adjacent rooms to the study on fire? What happened? Did it catch fire for no reason?”

Yun Heng’s voice was calm and detached. “Dry season, flammable. Fires are unpredictable.”

Qiao Wanyan looked at him, surprise flashing in her eyes, before a faint, almost imperceptible curve of a smile touched her lips.

Yun Heng noticed, but said nothing. Yet seeing her reaction, an inexplicable sense of satisfaction rose within him—far more gratifying than the success of any Jade Clarity Pill he had ever concocted.

He Zhiyu observed the subtle atmosphere between the two, a faint frost appearing on her noble, ethereal face.

Yun Yao understood that her brother was not one to easily interact with others. But with the crown prince present, she felt it necessary to make the proper introductions—even though the Medicine Valley normally remained secluded.

Yun Heng gave a slight nod and, in his usual indifferent tone, said, “Yun Heng greets the Crown Prince.”

Cold and impassive, perfectly matching his exterior.

He Zhiyu’s voice was calm, yet sharp. “Yun Gongzi, you are courteous. But I must ask—why did you abduct a noblewoman from the capital without cause?”

The atmosphere immediately grew tense.

Yun Heng remained composed. “Wanyan has forgiven me. Why should I explain myself to Your Highness?”

The weight in the air grew heavier, each breath measured and careful.

“Wanyan?”

He Zhiyu’s face remained unchanged, but Jingyuan, who had served him since childhood, knew all too well: the calmer His Highness appeared, the deadlier his intent.

Just as Qiao Yihuan was about to speak to ease the tension, Qiao Wanyan opened her mouth instead. She clearly explained the events leading up to her abduction by Yun Heng.

“Your Highness, Yun Gongzi acted without knowing we were heading to the Medicine Valley. I understand his concern for his sister and can forgive him.”

He Zhiyu’s eyes flickered with a subtle, sinister coldness. “Miss Qiao seems to have gotten along extraordinarily well with him these past few days.”

Otherwise, she would not have been so eager to explain to a stranger she had only known for a few days.

Qiao Yihuan’s gaze softened. “It is a good thing Wanyan can get along harmoniously with Yun Gongzi. As her elder sister, I can rest assured. She used to only associate with those she found agreeable; now, she has grown. Truly comforting to see.”