Xie Ansu asked with concern, "Mingyue, are you tired? Would you like to rest?"
Lin Wanqing also said, "Sister doesn't look well. You must have been tired from waiting for me." As she spoke, her eyes filled with guilt.
Qi Mingyue shook her head: "It's alright." She looked at the distant mountains and rivers, her tone inscrutable, "I just suddenly remembered an old saying: It's easy to draw the skin of a tiger but hard to draw its bones; it's easy to know a person's face but hard to know their heart."
Everyone was taken aback by her words. Lin Wanqing's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure: "Sister is right. The human heart is the most difficult thing to fathom."
On the way down the mountain, Lin Wanqing deliberately lagged behind, walking with several female students. They talked for a while, and the female students kept glancing at Qi Mingyue with complicated expressions.
Back at the academy, rumors about Qi Mingyue's "aloofness and difficulty in getting along" intensified. Some even said that she was jealous of Lin Wanqing's talent and deliberately embarrassed her when climbing to a high place.
Upon hearing this, Xie Ansu came to Tingxue Studio to explain: "Mingyue, please don't misunderstand. Wanqing would never say such things. It must be someone spreading rumors."
Qi Mingyue was organizing the manuscript, not even looking up: "The innocent are innocent, there is no need for explanation."
Xie Ansu was about to speak again when Lin Wanqing rushed over, tears welling in her eyes. "Young Master Xie, Sister Qi, please don't misunderstand because of me." She sobbed, "It's all Wanqing's fault. If I hadn't been so weak and delayed our journey, none of this trouble would have happened..."
Xie Ansu quickly comforted her, "What does this have to do with you? Don't blame yourself."
Lin Wanqing cried even harder: "I just heard that someone was talking about Sister Qi, and I am really worried... If you blame me for this, I... I..." She seemed to faint as she spoke.
Xie Ansu quickly helped her up and said to Qi Mingyue, "Mingyue, look..."
Qi Mingyue put down her manuscript and said calmly, "Since Miss Lin is not feeling well, An Su should quickly take her back to rest." She looked up at Lin Wanqing, a slight smile playing on her lips, "After all, those who are weak need to take good care of themselves, don't they?"
Lin Wanqing met her gaze, suddenly shivered, and actually fainted.
The scene became chaotic. Xie Ansu quickly called for help and escorted Lin Wanqing back to her residence. After being examined by a doctor, she was diagnosed with a deficiency of both qi and blood and needed to rest for several days.
Afterwards, the school was abuzz with gossip, with everyone saying that Qi Mingyue's words were harsh and had made Miss Lin sick. Although Xie Ansu didn't believe that Qi Mingyue would do it on purpose, he also felt that her attitude that day was too cold.
Three days later, Lin Wanqing returned from her illness. The first thing she did was to apologize to Tingxue Studio: "It was all Wanqing's fault that day, which caused you to be criticized by others." Her face was pale, making her look even more pitiful. "If you are angry, I am willing to accept the punishment."
Qi Mingyue was playing the zither when she heard this, her fingers paused, and the music stopped abruptly. She looked up at Lin Wanqing and suddenly asked, "What is the relationship between Miss Lin and Bai Lian'er?"
Lin Wanqing was visibly taken aback, then laughed and said, "Sister, you're joking. Wanqing is new here, how could I possibly know any Bai Lian'er?"
Qi Mingyue's gaze swept over the sachet she wore at her waist—embroidered with the same lotus pattern as on Bai Lian'er's handkerchief.
"Is that so?" Qi Mingyue said softly, "Then perhaps I remembered it wrong."
After Lin Wanqing left, Zhishu said worriedly, "Miss, this Miss Lin's arrival is suspicious, and she's involved with Miss Bai. I'm afraid..."
Qi Mingyue plucked the strings again, and the music flowed like water.
“I know,” she said calmly. “Let’s see what she does.”
Outside the window, the autumn wind rustles through the fallen leaves. A storm is brewing.
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