Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 93

The luxurious carriage rolled slowly down the long street, its curtains swaying gently in the breeze. A faint fragrance drifted into the air, a subtle display of wealth and power.

Inside, Qiao Wanyan picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the tray. She took a bite, then stopped.
“This isn’t from Mingyue Pavilion, is it?”

Ziyuan nodded. “It is from Mingyue Pavilion. But the shopkeeper said the young girl who used to make the osmanthus cakes suddenly got married. She won’t be working there anymore, so the taste isn’t quite the same as before.”

Qiao Wanyan set the cake back down. “Married? Just like that?”

“I don’t know either. Perhaps she met a good match and found her Mr. Right.”

The carriage came to a smooth halt at the entrance of the Ministry of Justice’s prison. The coachman placed down the carriage stool, and Ziyuan reached out to help her mistress alight.

Qiao Wanyan lifted her gaze to the massive plaque above the gates. Her palm-sized face was as smooth as jade, glowing faintly with a soft pink hue, like spring peach blossoms in full bloom—delicate and radiant.

The two guards at the entrance couldn’t help stealing glances. They were used to seeing only vicious criminals here. When had they ever laid eyes on such a refined and noble young lady from an influential household?

Just one look, and it was as if the entire street had faded to black and white—save for this single, dazzling bloom of luxury and grace.

“This is the Ministry prison. Idlers, keep away,” one guard said stiffly.

The other turned to him in surprise. Normally, this man snapped coldly at anyone who approached recklessly. But today, his voice carried a gentleness that gave him goosebumps. Was this really his partner of so many years?

How to describe that tone? It was like a middle-aged uncle in his forties carefully speaking to someone else’s precious little daughter—terrified of frightening her.

Ziyuan stepped forward. “My lady is here to see His Highness King Jing. Is the Prince inside?”

The guard’s heart gave a heavy thump. She’s here to see that demon?!

Ever since King Jing took temporary charge of the Ministry’s leftover cases, he had often visited this place. These guards had witnessed firsthand the methods of the Ghost King of Dayou.

He wasn’t human.

In all their years at the prison, they had never seen anyone as ruthless as him. For those who fell into his hands, death itself was a luxury.

“King Jing isn’t here at the moment,” one guard answered carefully. “But I heard he’ll be coming this afternoon. If miss is in a hurry, you may come in and wait with a cup of tea.”

Ziyuan glanced at her mistress. Seeing Qiao Wanyan give a slight nod, she turned back with a smile. “Then I must trouble the two of you to lead the way.”

As she spoke, she discreetly slipped some silver into their hands. The guards immediately became more courteous, opening the doors and escorting them inside.

Along the way, Qiao Wanyan asked, “Have you recently taken in a young girl named Yun Yao? She usually wears her hair in twin buns and dresses in a green gown.”

The guard nodded. “Yes. We rarely have young women locked up here, so I remember her. But… it seems she once let slip a criminal King Jing was hunting down—an old remnant of the former dynasty. I’m afraid she won’t be getting out of here anytime soon.”

Qiao Wanyan’s brows drew together slightly. “Could you take me to see her?”

“That can be done. This way, please. But you’ll need to be quick—if His Highness finds out, I might lose my head.”

“You have my thanks.”

Inside the prison, the air was damp and cold. Dim oil lamps flickered faintly, their flames casting light over the moss and filth on the walls. The sight made one’s skin crawl, adding a chilling, eerie atmosphere to the place.

Qiao Wanyan let her gaze sweep casually over the prisoners locked in their cells, then withdrew her eyes without expression.

This was the kind of place she thought she would never step into in her lifetime.

“Yo, isn’t this Qiao Wanyan? What a surprise, running into you here.”

Qiao Wanyan turned her head. From around the corner came a young man—Sixth Young Master of the Pingyang Earl’s Manor, the Earl’s most pampered youngest son.

Situ Yue raised his brows, lips curved in a smirk. “What’s this? Did you hear I was here and come specially to look for me?”

Qiao Wanyan gave him a slow once-over, eyes filled with disdain. “And you are…?”

Situ Yue froze for a moment, clearly not expecting that after all this time her words could still cut so deep.

Of course she remembered him. Her memory had always been good—even if she hadn’t spoken much with someone, she would still retain some impression. And this fool, who had once quarreled unpleasantly with her, she remembered even better.

But she deliberately pretended otherwise, just to make him choke.

When it came to making people uncomfortable, this was her specialty.

“You really don’t remember me? Qiao Wanyan, you’re joking with me, right?” Situ Yue’s tone was tinged with anger, his cocky, mocking smile vanishing completely.

Qiao Wanyan’s expression remained calm. “I’ve never bothered remembering the faces of useless people. Now, could you step aside?”

Situ Yue frowned. “You think you’re too good for me?”

Unbothered, she replied, “You came up to greet me—you must’ve had something to say. But since I don’t know you, I can’t imagine what that might be. How about I burn a stick of incense and bow to you three times instead?”

“You—Qiao Wanyan!!!” Situ Yue was furious, especially at that light, airy tone of hers.

The nearby Ministry of Justice guard’s eyes went wide. When he first saw this young lady outside the ministry, his impression had been that she was beautiful yet fragile—someone who would catch a cold from the slightest breeze and would only cry if bullied.

But now…

Her words hit harder than any weapon.

With just a few lines, she had driven the man to the brink of exploding.

“My name does sound pleasant,” Qiao Wanyan said almost kindly, “but out of a dog’s mouth, it’s a bit unpleasant. Could I trouble you not to call my name again?”

If someone was useful, she could feign innocence and harmlessness. But for irrelevant fools like this one, she had no patience.

They weren’t worth her effort.

She did as she pleased—whether the other party choked on anger or not was none of her concern.

Situ Yue laughed in fury, about to jab a finger at her nose when Zi Yuan swiftly knocked his hand aside.

“Don’t you dare point at my young lady!”

Qiao Wanyan didn’t even bother stopping her maid. “Get out of my way. Don’t block my path.”

Situ Yue’s eyes burned with rage. “And what do you think you are? Even the Crown Prince doesn’t want you, yet you still dream about marrying into the Eastern Palace?! Yes, you once saved the Crown Prince’s life—but tell me, has he ever shown the slightest intention of repaying that debt by marrying you?”

His tone dripped with mockery. “A so-called noble daughter, outshone by a concubine-born sister in every way. That alone shows just how unlikeable you really are!”

The Ministry guard held his breath, stunned by the venom in those words.

Too vicious. Far too vicious.

Any ordinary girl would have broken down crying from such humiliation.

Did this Sixth Young Master of the Earl’s Manor have no sense of pity for women at all?