Volume One, Chapter Seven: She Truly Has a Narrow Mind

The next morning, the earth was already covered in a blanket of white. The servants rose early to clear the path that the noble lady would soon take.

Qin Wan was having her breakfast when the door to her room was pushed open from outside, followed by a voice trembling with tears. “Miss, your humble servant has returned. I heard you were punished, and I was very worried. After burying my father, I hurried back. Please forgive me, Miss!”

Qin Wan looked at Wanxia kneeling on the floor, and a pang seized her heart. Both Wanxia and Wanshuang had been by her side since childhood. Though maids, their clothing and provisions were comparable to those of minor noble ladies.

Qin Wan honestly believed she had never mistreated them, yet they had sought refuge with her enemies in her time of downfall. While such behavior was understandable, to slander her was unforgivable.

Wanxia’s eyes were red as she gazed at Qin Wan. She expected Miss to vent her recent hardships as before and then seek her advice. But after kneeling so long, Qin Wan remained silent.

It was Wanshuang who spoke up beside her, “Miss, Wanxia has returned. Your humble servant is too dull to offer you counsel, but now, Miss, you have someone to give you advice.”

Following Wanshuang’s words, Wanxia rose and came to serve Qin Wan. “Miss, I have heard about this matter. Though it was your fault, it was true that Miss Yan only fell into the water when you were nearby...”

“This matter is over, no need to mention it again. You’ve just returned—go change your clothes first!” Qin Wan dismissed her, looking at her dust-covered appearance, and suddenly lost her appetite.

Wanxia was stunned for a moment; she had never seen Miss so cold before.

“Yes, Miss!” she replied and withdrew, thinking to herself: Perhaps Miss still feels wronged this time and is acting deliberately. Oh well, Miss always gets into trouble. This time it’s serious, with punishment to boot—no wonder she’s upset.

Qin Wan’s wounds had not yet healed. Although there was a soft cushion under her, she could not sit for long and barely managed a few bites of her breakfast.

A maid outside reported, “Miss, the heir has arrived!”

The food was cleared from the table, tea was set, and then Qin Ye entered.

“Wan’er, how is your body?” Qin Ye removed his cloak. As the heir to the Pingding Marquisate, his burly figure towered over Qin Wan by a full head.

This was the first time since her rebirth that Qin Wan had been so close to her elder brother.

She remembered how busy he usually was, yet he would travel hundreds of miles overnight just to satisfy her cravings with freshly baked peach blossom pastries. Yet, the same brother who doted on her would publicly slap her for speaking ill of Su Yan’er.

Thinking of this, Qin Wan felt a pang of pain in her heart.

“Brother!” she greeted him coldly.

Qin Ye was taken aback by her icy tone, feeling uncomfortable. The incident at the Empress’s birthday banquet had indeed wronged Wan’er. Feeling wronged, she could afford to be capricious once.

“Wan’er, I know your wounds haven’t healed. With the snow outside, you can’t leave your room anyway, so I brought you this to keep you entertained...” He reached behind his waist and pulled out a short white jade flute.

The flawless jade was translucent, clearly a precious item.

Qin Wan immediately recognized that this flute was not the one from before. Earlier, Qin Ye had a better one, which she had long admired and persistently asked for.

She thought he would give it to her, but he had said, “You’re no match for Yan’er in music and the arts. Giving you this flute would be a waste. It’s better to give it to Yan’er.”

Despite her repeated pleas, he never gave it to her, instead gifting it to Su Yan’er simply because she praised, “This flute is beautiful.”

Now he presented her with an inferior flute to placate her.

Qin Ye thought Qin Wan would be pleased and continued, “After giving the first one to Yan’er, I had another made, thinking you’d like it. I even drew up music sheets for you. Just follow them, and you’ll learn.”

He waited eagerly for her joy, but Qin Wan showed no reaction and said coldly, “Brother, I’m no match for Su Yan’er in music or the arts. It’s a pity to waste this flute on me. Please give it to Su Yan’er.”

These were the exact words he had once said to her, now returned verbatim.

Qin Ye froze, surprised she still remembered such a long-past slight. She truly held grudges.

After a pause, he felt the flute in his hand burning hot, almost wanting to throw it away.

Enough. The drowning incident was unfair to her. Better to soothe her.

He exhaled deeply and said again, “Wan’er, Yan’er already has a flute. This one is especially for you.”

“Brother, this is a precious item. I don’t know how to play the flute. Thank you for your kindness, but please take it back.” Qin Wan shifted her body carefully; every movement tugged at her wound.

Qin Ye frowned, losing patience.

“Wan’er, I know you feel wronged, but this was truly your fault. You’ve been punished and apologized. Why can’t we go back to how things were? Why hold a grudge?”

Qin Wan was stunned. What? She was wronged and yet not allowed to be angry?

Was she supposed to greet them with a smile and say, “Thank you for wronging me”?

She sneered inwardly. She had hoped her brother, as the heir, would be different, but he was just like them.

A belated apology was worth less than grass. She would not accept such an olive branch.

“I admit my fault and accept the punishment. What else do you want, Brother? Do you want me to apologize again just because I refuse this flute?”

“You...” Qin Ye struggled to find words but swallowed back the harsh ones.

She was unreasonable. If she were even half as sensible as Yan’er, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.

He had been foolish to think she’d change her temper. Father was right—her grievances must never be spoken of, or who knew what mischief she might cause.

Suppressing his anger, Qin Ye took back the flute and turned to leave.

Snowflakes fell cool against his skin. Before he could exit the Wan Yue Courtyard, Wanxia came running up behind him.

“Your Highness, please wait!”

Qin Ye stopped, recognizing Wanxia as Qin Wan’s personal maid.

Wanxia knelt before him. “Your Highness, please forgive my mistress’s rudeness. She was angry and spoke out of turn. I beg you not to take offense.”

Her eyes fell on the flute in Qin Ye’s hand. “Actually, Mistress still longs for this flute. You know her temper well; she’ll be fine in a few days. She wanted the flute but was too shy to ask, so she sent me to stop Your Highness.”