Volume One, Chapter 14: This Slap Was Still For Her, Su Yan'er

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After speaking, Han Shu’s tears fell even more heavily. Qin Wan’s heart trembled slightly—now that she cared about her, where had she been all this time?

In her previous life, Qin Wan had stayed at Leishan Temple for two whole years without a single visitor. Even when her family went to the temple to pay respects, none had once come to the back courtyard to see her. This was an insurmountable wound in Qin Wan’s heart.

When Qin Huai had said, “The Pingding Marquisate no longer has such a daughter,” Qin Wan had felt she was no longer part of the Pingding Marquisate.

Their love had already withered away during those years she spent at Leishan Temple, leaving no chance for repair.

How many nights had she needed them, and yet they were nowhere to be found? Now that she no longer needed them—

Seeing Han Shu cry even harder, Qin Ye’s newly kindled guilt vanished in an instant. He shouted with even greater severity, “Qin Wan, enough! This punishment is what you deserve. If you’re unhappy, why must you drag the whole family into chaos? If you were half as sensible as Yan’er, you wouldn’t have ended up like this!”

Whether it was her imagination or not, at the end of Qin Ye’s words, Qin Wan caught a glimpse of a smug expression on Su Yan’er’s face, as if to say, “Look, you’re nothing compared to me!”

In the past, Qin Wan would have argued back, but now she dismissed their approval and was too indifferent to respond.

Han Shu, seeing Qin Ye truly angry, clung to him tightly, fearing he might act impulsively.

“Ye’er, Wan’er is hurt, don’t lose control!”

“Mother, just look at her now—always acting as if the whole family owes her something. She’s so arrogant she even dares to anger you. If you don’t discipline her, what will become of her when she goes to her in-laws?”

With that, Qin Ye broke free from Han Shu’s grasp and moved to chastise Qin Wan.

However, Han Shu held him back firmly, so he couldn’t get away. Yet, his fury did not subside when faced with Qin Wan’s insolent attitude.

Qin Wan, unwilling to yield, said coldly, “I don’t need your concern about how I behave. If someday my family is beaten to death by my in-laws, you won’t be able to stop it either. I’m tired now; please leave my garden immediately.”

Rather than calming things, these words completely enraged Qin Ye. Pointing at Qin Wan’s nose, he cursed, “You think you can meddle in the marriage with the Fourth Prince? Even if I were the Empress, I wouldn’t want a daughter-in-law like you. The scar removal ointment the Fourth Prince begged for on your behalf? I think it’s a waste to even give it to you!”

With that, Qin Ye raised his arm and, with a loud ‘smack,’ smashed the jar of ointment in his hand. White lotion splattered everywhere, staining the hem of Qin Wan’s skirt.

The deafening sound made everyone tremble. Qin Wan’s body shook with anger.

Her eyes reddened as she glared at Qin Ye—once her beloved eldest brother, now hurling cruel words at her.

Seeing this, Su Yan’er timidly stepped between them. “Big Brother, Fourth Sister, please don’t be angry. After all, this matter started because of me…”

“Shut up!” Qin Wan, now consumed by fury, could not stand to see Su Yan’er’s timid posture. She snapped, “You say this all started because of you, but why didn’t you explain at the birthday banquet? Why didn’t you push me into the water? And now you pretend to be the good person here—what is that supposed to mean?”

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Before Qin Wan could finish, Qin Ye raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.

Being a man, he didn’t hold back, and the slap sent Qin Wan stumbling to the side.

Fortunately, Wan Shuang’s quick reflexes caught her from falling, preventing further injury.

“Miss, you…” Wan Shuang’s eyes reddened as she helped her mistress up, heartbroken. This was not her mistress’s fault; why was she being beaten? It felt so unfair, but as a maid, she dared not speak out.

Han Shu was stunned, never expecting Qin Ye to actually strike her. “What are you doing?”

She instinctively pushed Qin Ye, then hurried forward to support Qin Wan. Seeing the clear handprint on Qin Wan’s face, her heart shattered.

But the moment Han Shu helped Qin Wan, Qin Wan shook off her hold.

Qin Ye was stunned as he looked at his reddened hand and Qin Wan’s swollen cheek, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth—proof of how hard he had hit her.

He hadn’t meant to; he didn’t know why he had lost control.

He had come to give her scar ointment—how did it turn into this?

Seeing Qin Wan reject Han Shu’s support, Qin Ye clenched his hand into a fist. The guilt he felt vanished once again.

Su Yan’er was frightened to tears, standing helplessly, pitiful in her demeanor.

“Wan’er, are you alright?”

Han Shu stepped forward again. As her daughter, how could she not feel heartbroken? But she couldn’t blame Qin Ye entirely. At this point, though Wan’er said it was over, her heart still resented Yan’er. She felt innocent despite being punished, thinking the flogging unjust.

Qin Wan pushed Han Shu away once more, wiping the blood from her lips.

That slap shattered all her illusions about her family and only strengthened her resolve to leave the Marquisate.

The commotion in the Wan Yue Courtyard was loud enough to shock others in the residence.

Qin Lang and Qin Yi entered one after another, seeing Qin Wan pushing Han Shu.

Without hesitation, they hurried over, lifting the heartbroken Han Shu and shouting at Qin Wan, “Qin Wan, what trouble are you causing now?”

The harsh fall had aggravated the wound on her backside, pain piercing her like a knife, making cold sweat break out. Hearing Qin Lang’s scolding, she glared defiantly.

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“What? You want to hit me again?”

Enduring the pain, her tear-glazed eyes burned with stubbornness.

Qin Lang intended to chastise her, but seeing the redness and swelling on her face, his heart tore with pain.

How could the eldest brother be so harsh?

The usually strict Qin Lang now showed a hint of tenderness.

But Qin Yi felt no sympathy. He still resented her for giving away the token of affection, and now he had witnessed her shoving their mother. How infuriating!

“Qin Wan, don’t think we won’t touch you again just because you’re injured. Mother cares so much for you, yet you push her—do you have any conscience?” Qin Yi helped Han Shu up, angrier than anyone else. “Hmph, how could I forget? You already have no conscience. You even gave away the token I gave you. What’s a little pushing compared to that?”

Su Yan’er, standing at the edge, trembled inwardly—it was clear the accusation was aimed at her!

Qin Wan looked at her family standing in opposition—once those who cherished her, now treating her like an enemy.

She thought her heart had died that snowy night, but today’s scene still brought unbearable pain.

She had done nothing wrong—she hadn’t comforted her weeping mother; she only expressed displeasure at Su Yan’er’s dishonesty. Isn’t that natural? So why did she get slapped for it?

Forget it—this wasn’t the first time he had hit her.

The last time was because of Su Yan’er, and this time, it was still for her.

Perhaps in their hearts, they had long accepted Su Yan’er as their sister and condemned Qin Wan as a heinous sinner.

Eventually, Qin Wan’s tears came. After holding them back for so long, they finally fell.

Large tears dropped, sinking into the hearts of everyone present.

Su Yan’er, originally on the outskirts, squeezed through and knelt before them all.

“Aunt, big brothers, fourth sister, please don’t be angry. This is all my fault. I know fourth sister resents me, and if it would make her less angry, I am willing to leave the Marquisate. I beg Aunt to have mercy and allow me to go.”