Volume One, Chapter 8: I Should Have Followed Miss Yan From the Start

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Qin Ye lifted the jade flute in his hand. “Did she say herself that she wanted this jade flute?”

The evening glow nodded. “Yes, Miss truly likes it in her heart!”

Qin Ye snorted coldly. As expected, she was still the same as before; just now she had only been pretending to hold on.

After handing over the jade flute to the evening glow, the heavy weight on Qin Ye’s heart seemed to ease somewhat.

The evening glow returned to the room. Seeing Qin Wan moving about, she took the initiative to support her.

Qin Wan turned her head and immediately saw the dazzling white jade flute in the evening glow’s hands. A bad premonition rose within her.

“What is this?” Qin Wan asked.

The evening glow presented it with both hands. “Miss, I overheard your conversation with the young master just now outside the door. I know you truly desire this white jade flute, so I took the liberty to catch up with the young master and brought it back to you, as a gift!”

Qin Wan was stunned. In the past, when she said she didn’t want something, it was merely stubbornness. But now, after her rebirth, when she said no, she truly meant it — she did not want any ties with the Hou family. It was best to sever all connections as soon as possible.

Yet, the evening glow had taken it upon herself to accept the jade flute on her behalf.

The evening glow was secretly pleased, thinking, “Miss surely wants it in her heart. Because I went to such lengths to get it for her, she’ll be happy. When the Miss is happy, she will surely reward me...”

“Who told you to act on your own accord?” Qin Wan’s sharp scolding startled the evening glow.

The shout caused Qin Wan’s body to sway; fortunately, Wan Shuang arrived just in time to support her, preventing her from collapsing into the chair.

“Miss~”

The evening glow appeared aggrieved, her wide eyes reddening slightly.

“I have served Miss for many years, so I understand what’s in your heart. You have mentioned this jade flute many times and told me repeatedly you wanted it. I know you desire it, but you were just sulking earlier. I did this for your own good!”

For her own good!

For her own good, she had turned to serve another mistress the moment Qin Wan fell out of favor, even slandering her behind her back — this was what she called "for her own good"!

“I have already said I do not want this jade flute. For you to take it upon yourself to accept it is to disregard my orders. Now, you have two choices: either return it, or you will no longer serve by my side!”

What?

No longer serve by her side?

The evening glow was stunned. What madness had seized Miss today? Wasn’t it just about a jade flute? Why now was she driving her away?

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The evening glow swallowed hard. She absolutely could not leave the Graceful Courtyard. Now, as Miss’s personal maid, if she left, she would become an ordinary servant. She would have to do all the hard labor for less pay and would rarely receive any rewards.

Weighing the pros and cons, the evening glow immediately made her choice, kneeling down and saying, “Miss, please calm down. I will return it right away!”

Wiping away her tears, she hurried out.

Wan Shuang, having witnessed everything, helped support Qin Wan to the side, puzzled. Usually, Miss liked to talk with the evening glow and even sought her advice. When the evening glow made mistakes, Miss only scolded lightly. Why was she so furious today?

“Miss, please calm yourself. Don’t let anger harm your health!”

...

The evening glow wiped her tears as she walked toward the Maple Leaf Courtyard, clutching the jade flute tightly, her pitiful expression stirring sympathy.

Before she reached the courtyard gate, someone called out to stop her.

“Miss Evening Glow?”

Su Yan’er stepped forward, looking at the tear-streaked evening glow with heartfelt concern. “What’s wrong with you?”

Su Yan’er’s voice was soft and gentle; even women would find it hard to scold with such a tone. The evening glow wiped her tears again, looking at Su Yan’er’s concerned face, feeling even more wronged.

She had served Miss for so many years — when had Miss ever been this gentle to her?

Miss was always the one who caused trouble and relied on her to come up with solutions. If Miss were even half as quiet as Miss Yan’er, she wouldn’t have to worry every day about those schemes being exposed as hers.

The evening glow now envied Cuizhu, the maid beside Su Yan’er. If she could serve by Miss Yan’er’s side, many worries would vanish.

“Miss Yan’er!” The evening glow bowed deeply.

Su Yan’er stepped closer, noticing the jade flute and the reddened hands from the cold. “Where are you rushing off to?”

As she spoke, Su Yan’er handed her a warm soup bowl to ward off the chill.

The evening glow was overwhelmed by the kindness and, unable to refuse, accepted it, her envy of Cuizhu deepening.

“The young master just brought the jade flute to Miss, but she refused it...”

The evening glow recounted the whole story to Su Yan’er, half narrating, half complaining about Qin Wan’s arrogance.

After hearing everything, Su Yan’er smiled warmly and comforted her, “I saw that young master already left the mansion. You won’t find him at the Maple Leaf Courtyard. Miss Fourth is angry, but it’s really because of me. She should take it out on me, not punish you maids!”

That was the mark of a true noble lady, a good mistress!

The evening glow regretted not having volunteered to serve Su Yan’er when she first entered the mansion.

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Su Yan’er took the jade flute from the evening glow’s hands. “Since the jade flute has already been given to Miss Fourth, I will go over once more to handle it.”

“Thank you, Miss Yan’er. If Miss Fourth were even half as kind as you, I wouldn’t have had to run out in this heavy snow!”

Hearing the comparison, Su Yan’er’s heart blossomed with joy. The better she behaved, the more others praised her. The more she was compared favorably, the longer she could stay in this Hou mansion and the greater her chances of marrying Qin Lang.

With the jade flute now in Su Yan’er’s hands, the evening glow followed her back into the Graceful Courtyard.

The servants had just cleared the path, but in moments, the heavy snow covered it again. The crunch of footsteps filled the air. At the room’s door, the maid saw Su Yan’er’s arrival and reported inside.

“Miss, Miss Yan’er is here!”

Inside, Qin Wan froze upon hearing the news.

Su Yan’er?

What was she doing here?

Qin Wan didn’t know Su Yan’er’s intentions but had a bad feeling. She was sure it was not for anything good.

Qin Wan was tidying her small storage room — this was her preparation for leaving the Hou mansion. Hearing the noise, she hurriedly put away a small box.

After a while, a voice finally responded from inside.

“Come in.”

Su Yan’er entered. The heavy scent of medicated plasters made her want to vomit, but she held her breath and endured.

Qin Wan’s eyes immediately fell on the white jade flute in Su Yan’er’s hand, then on the evening glow standing behind her, holding the warm soup bowl. She roughly guessed the truth.

She had thought the evening glow had only switched allegiances after she fell out of favor, but in truth, she had long had other intentions. How foolish she had been to not realize it, continually pouring out her heart to her, while perhaps the evening glow had been speaking ill of her behind her back.

“Miss Fourth!” Su Yan’er bowed deeply.

A slight smile curved Qin Wan’s lips. “Outside is heavy snow. Miss Yan’er, why are you not staying in your own courtyard? What brings you to me?”