Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 97

The door creaked open with a long squeak.

Both Qiao Wanyan and Ziyuan shivered at the same time, goosebumps spreading all over their arms.

After a long moment of tense silence, the two of them finally forced themselves to slowly turn their heads toward the door—only to see He Yanli standing there.

The two girls gasped sharply.

He Yanli’s gaze landed on Qiao Wanyan’s guilty, pitiful little look—shaking and trembling like a cornered rabbit. Her face was smudged black with soot, her clothes stained with gray dust, making her look like she had just escaped from some disaster site.

Propping one hand lazily against the doorframe, He Yanli looked down at the much shorter Qiao Wanyan and drawled,
“Still not running? Waiting for this prince to catch you himself?”

The words had barely left his mouth when Qiao Wanyan immediately grabbed Ziyuan’s hand and bolted.

—Yunyao, elder sister has already done her best. Even husband and wife are nothing but birds of the same forest; when disaster strikes, they’ll fly their separate ways.

You and I have known each other for less than half a year. Right now, sister can only protect herself first. As for you—may fate take care of you.

Don’t worry though—your funeral, Sister will definitely make it a grand one!

Behind them, Mo Xiao muttered, “Your Highness, Second Miss Qiao just ran off like that. What about our kitchen?”

He Yanli turned back with a cold look.
“Do you think the kitchen would magically be restored just because she stayed? What, you were expecting that spoiled little miss—who can’t lift a thing, who needs someone to carry her after walking a few extra steps—to rebuild a kitchen for you?”

“Or perhaps you’d rather she go and burn down this prince’s study next?”

Mo Xiao fell silent. After a moment of thought, he admitted inwardly—that did make sense.

Still… Second Miss Qiao blew up the kitchen. Could they really just let her off like that?

Mo Xiao’s mind was tangled in knots. Back in Beiming City, whenever His Highness mentioned Qiao Wanyan, the hatred in his eyes had been chilling enough to make one’s scalp go numb.

He had always believed that once they returned to the capital, Qiao Wanyan would be flayed alive, if not worse.

But now that they had been back for quite a while… not only had His Highness not laid a finger on her, he hadn’t even plucked out a single strand of her hair.

Was he perhaps plotting something bigger, biding his time for a grand act of revenge?

Or… could it be that all the accumulated hatred had simply vanished in an instant, the moment His Highness laid eyes on her again?

Mo Xiao stared at his master’s retreating back, deep in thought.

Yunyao was finally released the next morning.

Dusty, disheveled, and miserable, she stumbled back to the Minister’s Estate. The gate servants nearly failed to recognize her and almost chased her away.

At Yongning Pavilion, Qiao Wanyan was having breakfast when she spotted Yunyao’s pitiful figure appear at the doorway.

The young girl stood there with a sullen face, looking as though she had been through inhuman torment. The bright, sunny energy she once carried was completely gone.

“Ah-Yan jiejie…”

The moment she saw Qiao Wanyan, all the grievances buried deep in her heart suddenly erupted, spilling out as hot tears.

“Ah-Yan jiejie, you’re so good to me! Even after I made such a huge mistake, you still pulled me out! From now on, I’ll follow you for life, wuwuwu…”

Qiao Wanyan fell silent for a moment.
“…”

Huh?

She pulled her out?

Qiao Wanyan stood up, walked over, and gently patted her shoulder. Her voice was soft and soothing.
“Yao’er, don’t be afraid. Since you followed me to the capital, as your elder sister, I will naturally do my utmost to protect you. Even if it costs me my life, I will ensure you come to no harm.”

Yunyao blinked, then burst into louder sobs.
“Ah-Yan jiejie, you’re amazing! You’re even better than my brother—you’re the best person in the whole wide world to me!”

Qiao Wanyan smiled faintly.
“Alright now, go wash up and change your clothes first. I’ll have breakfast sent to your room. After you eat, make sure to rest properly.”

Yunyao nodded vigorously.
“Mm! Mm!”

Qiao Wanyan stayed obediently inside the estate for the next few days, not stepping out once.

Tomorrow would be the Grand Longevity Festival, so she spent her time in Yongning Pavilion carefully selecting outfits and jewelry to wear for the occasion.

“Miss, the Master requests your presence in the study,” a maidservant announced respectfully from outside.

Minister Qiao beamed the moment he saw his daughter walk in.
“Yan’er, the matter you asked of Father—I’ve already taken care of it. That man, Sun Gui, has been released from the Ministry of Justice’s prison. As for the prison warden who arrested him without authorization, the Earl of Pingyang’s estate put enough pressure on him that he didn’t dare drag anyone else down. He shouldered the entire blame and was executed as a warning to others.”

Qiao Wanyan, however, didn’t seem very concerned about that.
“And what about Sun Gui’s younger sister?”

Since she’d already left Mingyue Tower, why not simply have her serve in the Qiao residence? Specifically, she could be tasked with making osmanthus cakes for her. That way, she wouldn’t have to send someone out every time she craved them.

Minister Qiao’s eyes glowed with pride.
“My precious girl, your heart is far too kind. No matter who you marry in the future, that boy will have struck gold! Don’t worry, Yan’er—how could Father not handle such a small request beautifully for you?”

Qiao Wanyan’s lips curved into a bright smile.
“Father, you’re the best. So where is she now? I’ll have Ziyuan fetch her.”

Minister Qiao raised a brow, puzzled.
“Fetch her? What for? Father already sent her to the Imperial Kitchens. Didn’t you say she could cook a little? Father thought, if she served there, she’d earn a higher monthly allowance and also have more money to send back home. Well? Wasn’t Father thoughtful?”

He chuckled again.
“Don’t worry, Yan’er. Father even instructed the Head Steward of the Kitchens to look after her. No one will bully her.”

Qiao Wanyan’s smile froze.
“Father.”

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? No need to thank me. Whatever Father does for you is only natural.” His face was full of doting affection, completely different from the stern and intimidating presence he showed his colleagues.

Qiao Wanyan’s voice turned frosty.
“Father, I want Mother to find me another father!”

With that, she spun on her heel and stormed off.

“Huh?” Minister Qiao was left dumbfounded. What on earth had just happened to his precious girl?

On her way back to Yongning Pavilion, Qiao Wanyan crossed paths with Qiao Yihuan, who was about to head out. These days, Yihuan practically lived at the Princess’ manor and rarely spent time at the Qiao estate.

“Little sister,” Qiao Yihuan greeted first, with a gentle smile.

Qiao Wanyan didn’t even glance at her, brushing past without a word.

Yihuan instinctively stepped aside to give way, then turned to look at her younger sister’s retreating figure. Her gaze chilled.

Xiaoying muttered in a low voice,
“Second Miss really is something. You clearly greeted her first, but she pretended not to hear and deliberately gave you a cold shoulder. Outside, she puts on a show of being a loving sister, but at home she can’t even be bothered to act!”

Suddenly, Qiao Wanyan paused mid-step. She didn’t turn around, only leaned slightly toward Ziyuan and whispered something. Ziyuan nodded, waiting until her young lady had walked several paces ahead before turning to follow Yihuan and her maid.

Qiao Yihuan, meanwhile, was lost in pleasant anticipation. Tomorrow was the Emperor’s grand birthday celebration. Baozhu’s suggestion had been brilliant, and with the hundreds of catties of ginger that Qi Yun had helped her prepare, she was certain she’d win His Majesty’s delight.

By then, she would no longer be just a forgotten daughter of the Qiao household.

But her pleasant thoughts were cut short when several servant girls suddenly blocked her path.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.

Ziyuan stepped forward, head held high.
“Eldest Miss, you’ve failed to discipline your maid. Allow this servant to do it in your stead. At the very least, Xiaoying needs to learn that whether in the Qiao residence or elsewhere, a servant must never slander her master.”

Several girls immediately restrained Xiaoying, while two others stopped Yihuan from interfering.

“What are you going to do to her?!” Yihuan’s face paled.

Ziyuan’s tone was ice-cold.
“Eldest Miss, you finally sound concerned now? Yet day after day, you’ve let Xiaoying run her mouth unchecked. If she’s being punished now, the blame lies with you.”

She paused, then added pointedly,
“Or perhaps, those words were exactly what Eldest Miss wished to say herself—but lacked the courage. So you let Xiaoying speak them in your place.”

“You—!” Qiao Yihuan’s chest heaved with anger, her brows knotted tight.

Ziyuan gave a short, derisive laugh.
“A servant who slanders her mistress is without rules. Thirty strokes of the rod. Take her away!”