Volume 1, Chapter 20: Nothing More Than Selfish Desire

Qin Wan had no desire to involve herself, so she intended to bypass the back garden, unaware that she had been spotted after only a few steps.

"Fourth Sister!" Su Yan’er’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

Han Shu followed close behind. Seeing that the swelling on Qin Wan’s face had subsided, she felt a slight sense of relief. "Wan’er, are your injuries healing well?" she asked with concern.

Qin Wan found this concern truly laughable. If Han Shu truly cared for her, she would have visited the Wanyue Courtyard. The back garden was only a short distance away; if she had the intention, the distance would not have been an obstacle. It was just like in her previous life, when she was at Leishan Temple; had they truly cared, they would not have gone two years without visiting her even once.

Over the past two days, as Qin Wan recovered in her room, she had heard the maids gossiping about how the Mistress and Miss Yan’er were going out together again. All the servants knew they were inseparable; how could they possibly have time for her?

"I am recovered," Qin Wan replied coldly.

Knowing Qin Wan was still angry and wishing to mend their relationship, Han Shu stepped forward to take her hand. Qin Wan’s hand was ice-cold, devoid of any warmth, which tugged at Han Shu’s heart. "Wan’er, Yan’er was just suggesting we plant begonias here. What do you think?"

Qin Wan smiled. Why ask her now? When she had previously suggested planting begonias, why hadn't Han Shu agreed? Now that Su Yan’er was the one suggesting it, she came to ask for her opinion. Qin Wan found the woman’s hypocrisy unbearable. Feeling that it was time to pay her respects to the Old Madam, she pulled her hand away from Han Shu’s grasp.

"Whatever you like," Qin Wan said, her voice icy.

Han Shu felt a profound sense of hurt, her eyes reddening. Su Yan’er caught sight of this and immediately supported her, gathering the courage to speak to Qin Wan. "Fourth Sister, Mother has been selecting flowers these past few days, thinking of planting whatever you like in the courtyard. She has been working tirelessly from dawn till dusk for this. Your coldness truly chills Mother’s heart!"

Qin Wan gave a bitter smile. What month was it? It was the twelfth lunar month. Even someone who had never gardened knew that the dead of winter was no time to select flowers. Had her maid, Wanshuang, not seen Han Shu and Su Yan’er out shopping and dining at a restaurant that day, she might have believed these words. She could not understand: if they did not care, why pretend to?

"So, according to you, I should be thanking you? Is this back garden not my own courtyard? Are the flowers planted here for anyone but me to see?" Su Yan’er bowed her head at these words, shrinking behind Han Shu, looking aggrieved.

Qin Wan looked away from Su Yan’er and back to Han Shu. "Begonias are too insipid; they are not suited for this place. I think we should let it be." With that, she turned to leave. Han Shu’s eyes were brimming with tears, ready to fall at any moment.

"Wan’er, Mother knows you are still angry. Give me a chance to make amends, I will definitely..." Han Shu could not hold back, hoping to awaken some shred of conscience in Qin Wan.

But Qin Wan knew deep down that her conscience had perished along with her life in her previous existence. "Mother, it is freezing cold; it is truly not the time for selecting flowers. Such matters can be left to the servants; there is no need for this."

Qin Wan had not spoken too harshly, but her words still pierced Han Shu’s heart. She could not fathom why the daughter she had raised had become so distant. Not wanting to be delayed any further from paying her morning respects, Qin Wan continued walking.

Perhaps she had been distracted, but as she turned, she nearly collided with Qin Lang. Before she could speak, she was met with his furious gaze. "How can you speak to Mother like that? Have you truly lost all sense of propriety?"

With those words, Han Shu, feeling wronged, let two lines of tears fall. This sight struck straight at Qin Lang’s heart, causing him to forget why he had come and immediately begin scolding Qin Wan.

"Qin Wan, is this fun for you? You suffered a caning, and now you are causing trouble time and again. Are you hoping to throw the Marquis’s estate into chaos? What benefit does this bring you?" Qin Lang’s gaze was oppressive; he was determined to make her admit her fault.

Su Yan’er handed a handkerchief to Han Shu, wondering to herself what exactly the Fourth Sister had said to the Second Brother that day to keep him from attending the opera. If their relationship could fracture further, perhaps the Fourth Sister would no longer be able to influence him, and he would not go back on his word to her.

Although Qin Lang was looking down, Qin Wan still had to raise her head to meet his gaze—a feeling of being looked down upon that she detested. "Move aside," she said, not wanting to be late for her respects to the Old Madam.

Qin Lang did not budge. He had seen everything clearly; she had been the one to speak rudely, and she needed to apologize! "Mother dotes on you so much, everything she does is for your own good, yet you chill her heart again and again. Apologize to her!" Qin Lang lowered his voice, exerting an air of authority that brooked no resistance.

*For her own good.* If it were truly for her own good, why not send real medicine for her wounds? Why not visit the Wanyue Courtyard once? Was this performative effort truly for her benefit, or was it merely a mask to satisfy their own selfish desires?

Qin Wan gave a light, dismissive scoff. "I will say this once more: move aside."

Qin Lang remained motionless, roaring, "Apologize!"

Why should she apologize when she had done nothing wrong? Was it a crime to point out that the current month was unsuitable for selecting flowers? Perhaps, in their eyes, everything she did was wrong.

Qin Wan did not wish to tangle with him further and tried to walk around him, but Qin Lang, determined to extract an apology, would not let her leave so easily. As she passed, he instinctively grabbed her wrist. Being a man, he did not control his strength in his anger, and she felt as if her bones were about to shatter. Qin Wan winced, a sharp intake of breath escaping her.

Wanshuang, seeing this, moved to intervene. "Second Young Master, what are you doing? Please release the Young Miss at once; she is still injured!"

"Get lost! She doesn't leave until she apologizes!" Qin Lang kicked Wanshuang aside.

The more Qin Wan struggled, the more her wrist throbbed, as if it were about to snap. Han Shu, feeling distressed, said with concern, "Lang’er, what are you doing? Release your sister!" But she only spoke; she did not step forward to stop him. If she were to try and pry his hands apart, he would not show her any respect.

Qin Wan felt this family becoming increasingly hypocritical. "Are you going to apologize?" Qin Lang seemed to have lost all control, and he could see the agony on Qin Wan’s face.

She thought to herself: if I don't apologize today, my wrist will surely break. Just like at the birthday banquet, if she did not admit fault, she would be sent back to Leishan Temple. Qin Wan felt a deep sense of resentment, but she wanted to leave the Marquis’s estate, and her body was her only leverage. If her wrist were broken, she would be bedridden for days, forced to remain entangled with them.

Just as Qin Wan was about to concede, Mother Sun from the Jingxin Courtyard approached.

"Greetings to the Mistress, the Second Young Master, and the Fourth Young Miss," Mother Sun said, bowing to each in turn. Her gaze finally settled on Qin Lang’s hand gripping Qin Wan’s wrist.

"The Fourth Young Miss was expected to pay her respects to the Old Madam today. The Old Madam has been waiting for quite some time and, seeing that she had yet to arrive, sent me to check on her. It seems you have been delayed here. If there are no other matters, please allow the Fourth Young Miss to come with me. Do not let the Old Madam wait any longer."