Chapter 39 : Warmth
39: Warmth
"Young Miss, why did they start by saying the Second Young Master beat someone to death, but then just now said the Second Young Master was wronged?" Fuling had been waiting outside all evening, only seeing people coming and going, not knowing exactly what had happened.
Qin Wan walked ahead. "The prefectural yamen didn't examine thoroughly, which led to the misunderstanding."
Fuling nodded, then suddenly wrinkled her nose. "Young Miss, what is that smell on you? It smells… strange…"
Qin Wan hesitated. "That room was too damp and musty."
Fuling's eyes widened. This was the Marquis's residence! How could a guest room have a musty smell…
Though she thought this, she didn't say it out loud. Lüyun walked ahead leading the way. After a moment, she said softly, "Ninth Young Miss, we've arrived."
Qin Wan and her maidservant looked up. Indeed, the Plum Courtyard was right before them.
It was an independent single-courtyard residence with blue tiles and white walls. Within the courtyard, green bamboo and plum trees stood in clusters. It wasn't the season for blossoms. At the moment, lights shone brightly, and several servant women waited outside.
Qin Wan and Fuling entered. Lüyun followed behind and said, "Everything here is prepared. Ninth Young Miss just now… you can wash up now. Madam will come shortly."
The interior decoration was of an elegant and refined style. Fuling, seeing the furnishings inside and out were all of high quality, inwardly exclaimed in admiration. She quickly thanked Lüyun. Lüyun repeatedly said it was nothing, then escorted Qin Wan into the side room.
Inside the side room, hot water was already prepared. Lüyun said, "This servant will wait outside. If Ninth Young Miss needs anything, please call this servant."
After speaking, Lüyun withdrew. Fuling let out a sigh of relief. "Young Miss, the Marquis's residence treats us so well. This courtyard is probably as exquisite as the Young Princess's own residence. Ah, Young Miss, what is that on your skirt"
Fuling saw the few specks of blood and was instantly shocked. "Young Miss, are you injured?"
Qin Wan felt somewhat helpless. "It's from treating the Grand Princess earlier."
As soon as she finished speaking, something fell with a clang. Fuling looked down and immediately saw the Cold Moon dagger with its gold-inlaid and gem-studded hilt. Fuling hurriedly picked it up. "Young Miss, what is this?"
Seeing Cold Moon, Qin Wan felt a bit helpless. "It belongs to His Highness the Young Lord. He lent it to me to help treat the Grand Princess."
"It's Prince Rui's son?"
Seeing Qin Wan nod, a light shone in Fuling's eyes. Looking at Cold Moon again, her gaze held a touch of reverence. She carefully placed it aside and helped Qin Wan into the bath. "Young Miss must be exhausted today. Treating the Grand Princess for half the day, then delayed so long this evening. Fortunately, the Grand Princess's condition has stabilized."
As she spoke, Fuling frowned again, curious. "How was the matter with the Second Young Master of the residence cleared up? Young Miss was with Madam earlier. Did you hear?"
The corner of Qin Wan's mouth tightened slightly. "It was clarified after re-examining the corpse."
Hearing the words "examine the corpse," Fuling's eyebrows twitched. "Examining a corpse… just thinking about it is scary…" Then she suddenly thought of something, her face paling slightly. "Speaking of which, Young Miss, do you know where the bride is?"
The bride Fuling mentioned was naturally the Song family's young lady, Song Rou. Song Rou was dead, and it had happened in the scene of a wedding dress and sedan chair. Even Qin Wan felt a tightness in her chest thinking about it. Fuling's eerie question sent a chill down one's spine.
"She should have been sent to the mortuary."
The mortuary was where corpses were stored. Usually, unclaimed bodies and those related to prefectural homicide cases were temporarily kept there. Fuling shivered again. "Miss Song died so tragically. I wonder if she'll come to this residence…"
The more Fuling spoke, the more frightened she became, constantly glancing out the window as if expecting something.
The bathwater was warm, making Qin Wan's cheeks slightly pink. She closed her eyes slightly, her tone somewhat helpless. "When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. Talk of ghosts and spirits is not to be believed. Don't scare yourself."
Fuling shut her mouth, not daring to say more, but her heart still felt somewhat apprehensive.
Just as Qin Wan had changed into a newly made undergarment and gotten up, Jiang‑shi arrived. Seeing Fuling drying Qin Wan's hair, she hurried over and took the cloth from Fuling's hands. "Just sit still."
"How dare I trouble Madam…"
Jiang‑shi smiled. "How is it trouble? To me, you are like my own daughter. Moreover, you cured Mother and cleared Qing'er's name. What is this small thing?"
She sighed. "Jia'er and Qing'er are boys. Their father never allowed me to spoil them too much. They lived alone from a young age. Even Ning'er stopped sharing a courtyard with me when she was ten. I haven't done these things for many years. Others may think I have leisure, but how I wish I could personally take care of Ning'er's daily needs. You and Ning'er are opposites. She appears strong-willed on the surface, but ultimately hasn't experienced storms and hardships. You appear gentle and serene on the surface, but inside you are incredibly resilient."
She continued, "Even I, having lived half a lifetime, found that scene earlier somewhat hard to bear. But seeing you personally perform the autopsy… all of us outside couldn't help but feel inferior and deeply admire you. I…"
Clang! Jiang‑shi's words were cut off. Turning to look, it was the teacup in Fuling's hand that had fallen to the ground. It was the tea she had poured for Jiang‑shi. Somehow, her hand had slipped.
Qin Wan inwardly exclaimed bad. She quickly said in a low voice, "Fuling!"
Fuling stared at Jiang‑shi, her face deathly pale. She had wanted to ask something, but being called by Qin Wan, she immediately lowered her head. "Please forgive this servant's clumsiness…"
Jiang‑shi smiled broadly. "It's alright. You're the little maid who has always followed Wan'er?"
Fuling, while picking up the teacup, answered affirmatively. Jiang‑shi then said, "You are a good one."
"It is this servant's duty." Fuling hurriedly said. As she turned to pour tea again, she was nearly in tears. If she hadn't misheard, the Marquis's wife said their Young Miss personally performed an autopsy?!
Autopsy… Fuling's hands and feet felt somewhat numb…
After drying her hair, Jiang‑shi cheerfully instructed Lüyun to have the people outside come in.
Two groups of people entered. One group of three or four carried food boxes; they were delivering meals. The second group of five or six each held a tray with new silk and satin clothing and two sets of dazzlingly splendid jewelry.
"The clothes were originally all prepared for Ning'er, but she absolutely won't wear them. I noticed you like plain, elegant colors, so I selected two sets of cloud gauze and two sets of sky-blue damask dresses. Your figure is similar to Ning'er's. They will definitely look beautiful on you."
Qin Wan had only been to the Marquis's residence twice. Yesterday, when she came for the wedding banquet, her dress was quite luxurious. But today, when she arrived, her dress was made of very ordinary material. Considering the rumors, Jiang‑shi naturally understood Qin Wan's situation.
"These two sets of jewelry, one is Witch Mountain white jade, the other is Kunlun green jade. The gold, silver, and gem fragments on them are also of high quality. They were bestowed from the palace in the past. I've never worn them. After much selection, I felt these two sets suit you best."
As she spoke, Jiang‑shi took a white magnolia hairpin and held it against Qin Wan's hair, then looked at the bronze mirror before Qin Wan. "Look, the jade reflects your beauty, the person is more charming than the flower. Wan'er is so lovely. Your mother must have been a peerless beauty…"
Qin Wan looked at her reflection in the mirror, then at Jiang‑shi. Instantly, memories of the loving parents in the Shen family surfaced.
Her eyes reddened, and she quickly lowered her head.
Seeing this, Jiang‑shi's expression changed, her eyes filled with pity. "Look at my mouth. Why did I bring up your mother for no reason? Good child, from now on, as long as I am here, as long as the Anyang Marquis's residence is here, we will definitely not let you suffer any wrongs."
Qin Wan hurriedly said, "No, it's Madam's warmth towards Qin Wan that made me think of my mother."
Jiang‑shi patted Qin Wan's shoulder. "Then you must be well. Your mother in heaven is surely watching over you. Seeing you live happily and peacefully, she can be at ease."
Qin Wan raised her head, looking at her reflection in the mirror, her gaze flickering between light and shadow.
Her entire family had died unjustly and tragically. Until the day she cleared her father's name, they would not rest in peace.