Chapter 019
Chapter 19: Now It’s My Turn to Be Gossip
Little Sister had said that after tonight, Su Qian Xue would no longer be Su Qian Xue. A soul from another world would take her place, the heroine destined to ruin the Yun family and drive them to a bitter end.
Measured against the Su family’s cruelty, the humiliation Father and he delivered today felt far too kind.
Just before Yun Wan Ye reached Duke’s Manor, a figure rushed out to block the road. The girl’s clothes were ragged and her face filthy, nothing like when she was thrown out of Yun Manor earlier. Red-eyed, she stared at him like he was her last hope and begged: “Elder Cousin, Elder Cousin, please save me.”
After being expelled, Xu Qing Qing had nowhere to go and returned to the Xu household. She had thought that even as a girl, she was still Xu blood. Without her mother, perhaps her grandmother would take pity and protect her. Instead, the old woman took her in only to pave the way for her grandson, planning to sell her as a concubine to a high official in his forties. Pretending to agree, Xu Qing Qing waited until they dropped their guard, then fled. Knowing she could not enter Duke’s Manor, she hid and waited over an hour until Yun Wan Ye appeared.
He narrowed his eyes and let a mocking smile touch his lips as he said: “Have you forgotten your surname is Xu? That is your family’s affair. What does it have to do with me?”
He had never liked this maternal cousin, always sensing a schemer. He tolerated her only for his mother’s sake. She lived off the Yun family’s kindness while envying and plotting against Yun Wan Yao; in days to come she would even join outsiders to harm his little sister. He was already merciful not to crush her. Now she dared ask his help. Ridiculous.
“Elder Cousin, I am your younger sister. How can you be so heartless?” Xu Qing Qing cried, tears sliding down her face in pitiful streams.
“Do not call yourself my sister. My younger sisters are Yun Wan Yao and Little Fourth. Since when did someone surnamed Xu become one of them?” he said, and walked away without a backward glance.
Xu Qing Qing lunged, but Cang Xuan’s cold stare froze her in place. She could only watch her last hope disappear.
Peace Keeping Courtyard.
By the time Yun Wan Ning woke from her nap, dusk had fallen. Well fed and comfortable, she lounged in Madam Yun’s arms and let her thoughts drift. Madam Yun closed her eyes and listened quietly to the little one’s amusing inner chatter.
[I have been reborn here for a few days already; I wonder if that famous movie actor’s scandal with Wu XX has had any twists.]
[Speaking of gossip, it is probably my turn to be gossip now.]
[Given my standing in the martial world, my autopsy results must have gone viral. I likely topped the trending searches. Those celebrities and influencers who were trending for scandals before me must be lining up to thank me for taking the heat.]
[The famed genius heir of the Medicine King clan poisoned herself with her own medicine. I wonder how netizens are mocking me. Ugh, what a disgrace, utterly humiliating.]
Thinking of the netizens’ ruthless memes, Yun Wan Ning ached to return and clear her name. Dying was shame enough; to drag her ancestors down with her was worse. How could she stay calm? Thankfully, she had been plucked straight here after reaching the Underworld. Otherwise, how would she face the elders still waiting for reincarnation?
Madam Yun opened her eyes, amused by the little bun’s regretful, embarrassed face. So, Little Fourth had accidentally poisoned herself to death before coming to them. Madam Yun did not understand movies, trending searches, celebrities, or netizens, but she gathered that her daughter had been famous, heir to a distinguished Medicine King line.
At that moment, Yun Wan Ye strode in and asked: “Mother, where is Yun Wan Yao?”
He had gone to report to Yun Zheng, only to find his father busy, then sought Yun Wan Yao and found her gone.
“Princess Hua Yang and the eldest Jiang girl heard Yao’er had returned from the women’s courtyard and invited her out,” Madam Yun said gently.
Hearing those names, Yun Wan Ye paused, a weight settling in his chest.
[Ah, Second Brother looks upset.]
[It makes sense. He has liked that girl since childhood, yet now he cannot even speak to her. She treats him coldly at every meeting. Heartbreaking.]
Yun Wan Ning tilted her head, her gaze bright with comfortable mischief.
Madam Yun’s eyes widened in shock. Ye’er liked someone? Princess Hua Yang, or the Jiang family’s eldest? Both were already betrothed. What should they do?
“Oh, I see,” Yun Wan Ye said, catching his mother’s look and schooling his face to calm. To keep Little Fourth from spilling more secrets, he scooped her up and planted several loud kisses on her brow: “Little Sister, did you miss Second Brother?”
[Please, you just held me at noon.]
There was no need to pretend. Since he could not hear her heart voice, she did not have to humor him.
“Ah, look at your eyes. Second Brother knows you missed me dearly,” he said.
[No. These eyes clearly say I want to roll them at you.]
“Hahaha, Little Sister is truly adorable,” he said.
[…]
Madam Yun watched their odd little dance, suspicion rising. Could Ye’er also hear Little Fourth’s heart voice? She set aside the question of whom he liked for later. She would coax the truth from Little Fourth when the time was right.
Remembering another matter, Madam Yun asked softly: “Ye’er, Little Tao said you went to Su Manor in place of your father. How is the Su family girl? Did you neglect etiquette?”
Truly, her husband had gone too far. She had told him to visit in person, yet he thrust the task upon Ye’er without care for offense.
“I was just about to say, Mother. Father went too far. He prepared only a potted evergreen and sent me to deliver it. Mother, tell me, who visits the sick and brings a tree?” Yun Wan Ye said, confessing now rather than letting her discover it later and anger boil. He had not even been paid for the errand; he refused to shoulder this blame. He tossed it cleanly onto his father’s head.