92: Truth and Lies, Without Assurance
Seeing the small character "Yao," Qin Wan's brow imdiately furrowed.
'Yao'... In the entire Qin residence, only Yao Xinlan's surna was Yao. And this jade pendant was exquisitely crafted, the jade quality excellent. It was undoubtedly Yao Xinlan's possession. But how could her jade pendant have fallen into the water?
Qin Wan glanced around. In autumn, the scenery around Half-Moon Lake wasn't great, and with the recent cooler weather, the estate's master certainly had no reason to co here for sightseeing. Even so, there were still servants coming and going by the lake. She and Fuling could find this jade pendant; others could too. If it had been lost for three or four days, soone else would likely have picked it up already...
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. Could it be that Yao Xinlan had co to Half-Moon Lake yesterday?
"Young Miss, what is that thing?"
Seeing Qin Wan fall silent for a long ti, Fuling couldn't help asking. Her question snapped Huan Ning back to reality. Seeing Qin Wan's serious expression, he couldn't help looking at her hand. Although unclear, it vaguely resembled a jade pendant. Huan Ning blinked, confusion rising in his eyes. "What did you pick up?"
Qin Wan closed her hand around the jade plaque, hiding it behind her back. "This has nothing to do with Young Master Huan." Saying this, she sized him up. "Why did Young Master Huan co to the Qin residence to borrow books today?"
Huan Ning turned slightly sideways, deliberately avoiding looking at Qin Wan. "Naturally, to read them."
Qin Wan neither affird nor denied this, adding, "Eldest Brother will probably be here soon. Young Master Huan, please wait here for a bit."
With that, Qin Wan prepared to leave. Huan Ning turned, his brow furrowed into a deep crease. "Your Eldest Brother asked you to keep company. Is this how you treat a guest?"
Qin Wan stopped, her eyes narrowing. "Young Master Huan ca to borrow books, aning you have a request of the Qin residence. How can you still consider yourself an honored guest? If Young Master Huan wants to experience what proper hospitality is, then go to the main hall in the front courtyard. Soone will entertain you there."
After speaking, Qin Wan walked away. Huan Ning's face darkened profoundly. But watching Qin Wan's retreating figure, he seed to contain his anger, only clenching his fists. Fuling saw this and hurried after Qin Wan, glancing back to see Huan Ning standing motionless.
"Young Miss, why is Young Master Huan acting so strange today?"
Fuling spoke as she walked. Qin Wan frowned but didn't think too much about it. She lowered her head to look at the jade plaque in her hand. Suddenly, her steps halted abruptly. Qin Wan turned around, looked at Huan Ning still standing by Half-Moon Lake, hesitated a mont, then strode back. Fuling was stunned and quickly followed, not understanding what Qin Wan intended.
Huan Ning's heart had already turned icy watching Qin Wan leave. Seeing her return now, his eyes lit up instantly.
Qin Wan quickly walked up to Huan Ning and said in a low voice, "Don't tell anyone you saw pick this up!"
As she spoke, she gestured with the jade plaque in her hand. Huan Ning opened his mouth to speak, but Qin Wan didn't give him a chance. After a aningful look, she turned and left. Huan Ning's words clogged in his throat. Watching Qin Wan's retreating back, he ground his teeth in frustration. Don't tell? Why shouldn't he? Besides, just because she said not to, he wouldn't?!
Huan Ning felt both strange and annoyed. Fuling also asked, "Young Miss, why shouldn't Young Master Huan tell?"
Qin Wan paused her steps. Seeing no one around, she said, "Take this jade plaque to Linfeng Courtyard. Give it to Moshu. Say you found it by the small path outside the courtyard. See what she says."
Fuling was surprised. The jade plaque was clearly found by Half-Moon Lake. Why say it was found outside the courtyard?
Fuling's heart was full of doubts, but Qin Wan's serious expression was no joke. Fuling took the jade plaque from Qin Wan's hand, nodded, and headed towards Linfeng Courtyard. Qin Wan watched Fuling walk further away, lowered her gaze, and went towards Tinglan Pavilion. As she walked, she pondered what exactly was going on. Did Yao Xinlan go to Half-Moon Lake herself, or was her jade plaque stolen?
Qin Wan returned to Tinglan Pavilion with a heavy heart and went straight to the main room to sit and wait for Fuling. Soon, Fuling entered the room.
As soon as she entered, Fuling closed the door. "Young Miss, I handed it to Moshu. When Moshu saw it, she was overjoyed. She said she had just noticed the jade plaque was missing and was looking for it. She said this jade plaque is a Yao family heirloom. She saw the Young Mistress wearing it just yesterday but discovered it missing today. Because the Young Mistress was unwell, she didn't dare ask too much and searched for a long ti herself but couldn't find it. She never expected it to be outside the courtyard. She said the Young Mistress might have dropped it when she went for a walk yesterday."
Qin Wan's expression grew grave. "Did she say which places the Young Mistress walked to when she went out yesterday?"
Fuling shook her head. "She didn't say that. But she said the Young Mistress has been sowhat tired these past few days. She doesn't walk far each day."
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. A huge question arose in her heart.
Moshu didn't say Yao Xinlan had been to Half-Moon Lake, so she truly hadn't gone. But how did the jade plaque end up in Half-Moon Lake? Did Yao Xinlan really not go, or did she go without Moshu knowing?
The ergence of this second possibility sent an inexplicable chill down Qin Wan's spine.
"Young Miss, what exactly is going on?"
Qin Wan took a deep breath. "It's nothing. Let's continue making the dicine."
Hearing this, Fuling could only suppress her doubts and continue helping Qin Wan with the dicine.
anwhile, when Qin Chen arrived at Half-Moon Lake from the inner courtyard library, he only saw Huan Ning standing alone by the lake. Upon closer look, Huan Ning seed sowhat troubled. Frowning, Qin Chen looked around but saw no sign of Qin Wan. "Brother Huan, why are you standing here alone? Where is my younger sister?"
Huan Ning inwardly sneered but quickly concealed his emotions, a slight smile curving his lips. "She left. I'm familiar with the Qin residence, as you know. No need for company."
Qin Chen frowned. "Did she leave on her own, or did Brother Huan not want her to accompany you?"
Huan Ning gave a light snort. "Naturally, I..."
Halfway through his sentence, Huan Ning felt sowhat guilty and didn't finish. Qin Chen sensed sothing was off and smiled apologetically. "How impolite. Please don't take it to heart, Brother Huan."
Huan Ning's face showed no sign of emotion, but inwardly, he snorted repeatedly. If he were to take issue with her, he would have done so countless tis already. Why would he co here of his own accord now? But he had already gone this far, and she still treated him so coldly! Where exactly was the problem?!
Thinking this, Huan Ning couldn't help recalling that Qin Wan had picked up sothing by the lake earlier. Looking at Qin Chen before him, Huan Ning's lips twitched, wanting to speak. But rembering Qin Wan's warning, his throat seed blocked; he couldn't say it. After a few monts, Huan Ning sighed in defeat. 'Forget it! Forget it!'
In Tinglan Pavilion, Fuling ran in and said, "Young Miss, Young Master Huan has left!"
Qin Wan turned from the window. "Where did Eldest Brother go?"
"Young Master went to the front courtyard." Fuling ca in and closed the door, her expression puzzled. "Young Miss, what exactly is going on? Why must this matter be kept from Young Master?"
Qin Wan shook her head. "That jade plaque was found by Half-Moon Lake. But everyone in Linfeng Courtyard says the Young Mistress hasn't been to Half-Moon Lake. Right now, I can't figure out who is telling the truth and who is lying."
Fuling also looked serious. She had heard the conversation earlier. Yao Xinlan said she dread of going to Half-Moon Lake. But how could a dream be taken as reality? Even Moshu didn't say Yao Xinlan went to Half-Moon Lake.
Fuling watched Qin Wan with so nervousness. Qin Wan sighed. "There's sothing strange about Linfeng Courtyard. Pay more attention to the happenings there these days."
Fuling nodded heavily. Only then did Qin Wan return to making the dicine.
She worked until evening. After dinner, Qin Wan locked the main room's door and waited for Qin Li in the warm chamber.
Last night, Qin Li had co around half-past Xu shichen. Qin Wan thought he would likely co at the sa ti tonight. Sure enough, just after three-quarters past Xu shichen, a faint noise ca from the window. Hearing it, Fuling hurried to open the window. As it opened, Qin Li was still standing outside, wearing his cloak and face covering. Seeing Qin Li in this state, Fuling's heart gave a jolt. Coupled with thoughts of his illness, she felt an inexplicable revulsion and instinctively took a step back.
"Ninth Sister." Qin Li bowed respectfully to Qin Wan.
The dicine packets had been prepared earlier. Qin Wan stood up, handed them over, and instructed calmly, "This one is for internal use. Boil in cold water, reduce three bowls to one bowl. Take four tis a day. This one is for external use. Wash the affected area. Once in the morning, once at night."
Qin Li reached out to take the packets from Qin Wan. Qin Wan glanced down and, seeing Qin Li's hands were still fine, felt slightly relieved.
Qin Li took the dicine packets. After a slight hesitation, he asked, "Ninth Sister, are you confident in your heart?"
Qin Wan t Qin Li's narrow eyes and shook her head. "No."
A flicker of pain crossed Qin Li's eyes. He quickly lowered his gaze, then raised it again, forcing a bitter smile. "Thank you, Ninth Sister. Shall I co again tomorrow night?"
Qin Wan nodded. "Yes, co. Co every night at this ti."
Hearing this, Qin Li relaxed slightly. Qin Wan giving him dicine ant she agreed to treat him. But there was a difference between wholehearted and perfunctory treatnt. Since Qin Wan instructed him to co every night, it showed the extent of her concern for his illness.
Qin Li said gratefully, "Good. I'll co again at this ti tomorrow night. Ninth Sister, rest early."
With that, Qin Li didn't linger. He pushed the window shut, and his footsteps faded away.
In the room, Qin Wan's expression was sowhat gloomy. She truly lacked confidence in Qin Li's illness, and for a healer, this itself was a heavy burden.
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