Chapter Four: Is Springtime Feelings Rising?
The dagger gleamed coldly, and Shen Qingnian's expression changed.
Just as the dagger was about to slash Shen Qingnian's face, Gu Lingyu suddenly released her strength and patted Shen Qingnian's face with the short knife.
She can't do that now; if Brother Yan finds out, he'll hate her even more.
Gu Lingyu released Shen Qingnian and, with the old woman in tow, walked arrogantly toward the First Madam's courtyard.
Let's give this bitch a warning first. If she doesn't behave herself, don't blame me for actually touching her face.
Once Ling'er was free, she struggled to get up to help her mistress, but as soon as she got there and saw her mistress's face clearly, tears welled up in her eyes and blurred her vision.
The young lady's face was badly swollen and red on one side, her hair was askew to one side, and a few strands of hair clung to her cheek.
It pained her to see it.
As Ling'er helped Shen Qingnian up, she choked back tears, saying, "I'm so sorry, Miss. It's all my fault. I've dragged you into this..."
Shen Qingnian looked at the blood at the corner of Ling'er's mouth and saw Ling'er's tears streaming down her face. She took out a handkerchief and wiped it away for her, and said in a low voice, "Don't talk nonsense. It's not your fault. They've gone too far."
If anyone's to blame, it's that evil spirit.
She calmly and gently comforted him, "I will seek justice for you in the future."
Then another cheerful voice was heard: "Nian, little sister."
Shen Qingnian looked over and saw Xie Zhao walking towards them.
Xie Zhao had just accompanied his mother to see the old lady into the inner room. When they came out, all he could see was a corner of his cousin's clothes disappearing in that direction.
He hurried to catch up, and to his surprise, he actually saw it.
Only when he got closer did he see that his cousin's face was red and swollen, with five clear, bright red finger marks, indicating that she had been slapped.
Xie Zhao frowned and quickly stepped forward to ask, "Qing-meimei, who hit you?"
Just as Ling'er was about to speak, Shen Qingnian grabbed her hand, signaling her to be quiet.
She could tell that her cousin genuinely cared about her, but since she had just arrived, she didn't want to cause him any trouble.
Gu Lingyu is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Xinyang's family, and her cousin, a son from the second branch of the family, is not someone she can afford to offend.
Moreover, if this matter blows up, the ladies in the mansion won't feel sorry for her; instead, they'll think she's caused trouble and made things difficult for her aunt.
She said, "It's nothing serious, just a bug got on my face, and Ling'er swatted it off."
Xie Zhao was stunned. He looked at Ling'er and saw that her face was also red and swollen and her mouth was bloody. There was nothing he didn't understand. This was not an insect at all.
He pressed for more information, but Shen Qingnian looked at him with her bright eyes and said, "Cousin, please don't ask anymore."
"Please also ask my cousin not to tell my aunt about this."
She lowered her eyes as she spoke, saying, "I just arrived and don't want to cause any trouble."
Xie Zhao was stunned.
Suddenly, Shen Qingnian's appearance at this moment made his heart ache.
He remained silent for a moment, then nodded again, saying, "I'll take you back first."
Shen Qingnian slowly straightened up, but felt a sharp numbness in her legs. Her body swayed, and she was about to fall to the ground. Xie Zhao reacted quickly and reached out to pull Shen Qingnian into his arms.
Shen Qingnian leaned against Xie Zhao's chest, listening to the steady heartbeat on Xie Zhao's chest, and realized that she was in Xie Zhao's arms at this moment, so she quickly took a few steps back.
Suddenly losing the softness in his arms, Xie Zhao felt something was missing, and a sense of unease crept in.
Shen Qingnian said in a low voice, "Cousin, it's not far from Qianyue Residence. We can go back by ourselves. You should go back soon too."
She then gave Xie Zhaofu a slight bow and said softly, "Thank you for your help earlier, cousin."
After saying that, he turned and left with Ling'er.
Her hair was disheveled and her clothes were dirty. If people saw her like this with the man from the Marquis's mansion, who knows what kind of gossip would spread and what kind of trouble it would cause.
Xie Zhao stood there watching Shen Qingnian and the other person walk away. Their graceful figures appeared and disappeared, like a painting, exuding a sense of desolation.
As soon as that figure disappeared into the distance, he planned to return to his own courtyard. However, when he turned around, he found Xie Yanzhi standing not far away, staring straight at him.
His heart skipped a beat. He rarely saw his elder brother, and he had already encountered him twice today.
And how long has he been standing here?
"Big brother!" Xie Zhao called out to Xie Yanzhi.
"Hmm," Xie Yanzhi replied faintly, his eyes still fixed on the direction where Shen Qingnian and her servant had disappeared.
He saw everything that just happened.
Gu Lingyu is usually cunning and domineering, which makes her annoying. Although what she did today was a bit excessive, it's good that she made Shen Qingnian behave herself.
If she behaves herself, she won't have any trouble in the future.
Xie Zhao saw her older brother staring intently at the other end, and feared that her cousin might have bad intentions towards her again.
He knew his cousin well; he didn't like any of the women from this household.
This time, however, his reaction to his cousin was a bit excessive.
He earnestly said to Xie Yanzhi, "Brother, my cousin just arrived at the Marquis's residence yesterday and is still unfamiliar with the rules. If there is anything she has overlooked, please don't take it to heart."
Yesterday? In just one day, that woman had already made Xie Zhaochun's heart flutter?
Xie Yanzhi recalled how Shen Qingnian had rejected Xie Zhao earlier, but it was just a tactic of feigning reluctance.
She glanced in his direction as she left.
"Big brother...?"
Seeing that Xie Yanzhi had stopped speaking, Xie Zhao called out again.
Xie Yanzhi withdrew his gaze, pursed his lips, and turned to walk back without saying a word.
Just as Xie Zhao was feeling puzzled, Xie Yanzhi's cold voice came again: "Xie Zhao, remember your place! She is not suitable for you!"
Xie Zhao was stunned. His older brother was only four years older than him, yet his brother had seen through his little scheme immediately.
But he hasn't confessed his feelings to his cousin yet, and he doesn't know what she thinks. He can't let her be misunderstood at this time.
He then said, "My cousin lost her balance for a moment, so I helped her up."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yanzhi turned and glanced at him. Xie Zhao felt as if that glance could see right through him, and a chill ran through his body.
After seeing Xie Yanzhi off, Xie Zhao also headed out of the mansion. The Second Madam had asked him to go to Jishetang to get medicine for his father, as there was no time to delay any longer.
Shallow Moon Residence.
Shen Qingnian and Ling'er applied medicine to each other's wounds.
Seeing her mistress's furrowed brows and troubled expression, Ling'er thought for a moment before slowly speaking, "Miss, why didn't you mention your engagement to the eldest young master earlier?"
"That way they'll know you're the future Crown Prince's wife, and they won't dare bully you!"
"That Miss Gu keeps using seduction tactics; she's truly degrading herself."
Shen Qingnian shook her head as she looked at Ling'er's sullen face: "How do you know I am the heir apparent's wife? Would the Marquis's mansion allow a merchant's daughter to marry the eldest son and become the mistress of the mansion?"
Perhaps even her mother didn't know that Xie Yanzhi, to whom she was betrothed, was the eldest grandson and heir of the Marquis's family.
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