Chapter Fifty-Five: Resolve

“My parents are both natives of the capital, but I was born in Jiangzhou, so I suppose I should be considered a Jiangzhou native,” Qu Le replied hesitantly.

“How did your parents end up in Jiangzhou?” Qin Wanru’s watery eyes flickered as she asked.

“It seems they followed their master there... My parents were born into a household in the capital, but later became separated from their master and drifted to Jiangzhou. Since their master disappeared, they dared not return to the capital.”

At this moment, Qu Le spoke frankly, saying even things her father usually cautioned her to keep secret. She had no desire to return home, for there, she would only be sold again. The mistress before her, however, seemed somewhat kind, and had even protected her in such a situation.

Such things happened, but they had little to do with her.

“Do you know my eldest sister?” Qin Wanru thought of Qin Yuru’s reaction yesterday and changed the subject.

“No, I don’t.” Qu Le shook her head. “Yesterday was the first time I saw the eldest miss.”

“Then why would my sister target you?” Qin Wanru’s gaze grew somber as she looked at Qu Le.

“I... I don’t know.” Qu Le, frightened, began to cry. “I’ve never seen the eldest miss before, but I have seen Qingxue. I heard Qingxue serves in the General’s Mansion.”

“Qingxue?” Qin Wanru’s long lashes fluttered as she asked.

“Yes, Qingxue. Her family lives in the same village as mine. We played together as children, but later she was sold, supposedly to the General’s Mansion. Yet yesterday, I saw her again, and she was sold to the General’s Mansion a second time, though she had already entered it before.”

Qu Le wiped her tears as she spoke. She had recognized Qingxue yesterday but dared not say anything. Now, with Qin Wanru’s questioning, she spoke up, whether it was useful or not.

The madam and the eldest miss already disliked her. If she angered the second miss as well, she would surely be sold again.

Qin Wanru turned to look at Madam Yu, who thought for a moment, shook her head, and firmly said, “Miss, I have never met Qingxue.”

Qingxue was considered a capable maid—if she truly served in the General’s Mansion, Madam Yu would have known her. Yet no matter how she tried, she could not recall any such maid.

“Should we go ask her?” Madam Yu suggested.

Qin Wanru shook her head, her gaze returning to Qu Le. “Qu Le, I rescued you, but I can just as easily sell you. If you are faithful from now on, you’ll be safe. But if I ever find you wavering, you should know what will happen.”

“Yes, I understand. Please rest assured, Miss, I will be loyal to you and never betray you!” Qu Le, clever as she was, wiped her tears and declared her loyalty. “I will also find out more about Qingxue and report to you.”

She had noticed the second miss’s interest in Qingxue and immediately brought up her name.

Qin Wanru nodded. “Go wash up now, and stay away from the courtyard these days.”

“Yes, I understand.” Truly frightened, Qu Le relaxed only when Qin Wanru allowed her to leave. She sat up, bowed respectfully, and withdrew.

Standing under the gallery, she wiped her tears and went to the newly assigned quarters Madam Yu had arranged to change clothes.

Inside, Qingxue was already there. When Qu Le entered, Qingxue cast her a cold glance and turned to leave.

“Qingxue, wait!” Qu Le called after her.

“What is it?” Qingxue replied icily.

“Don’t you recognize me? I’m...” Qu Le began cautiously, watching Qingxue’s expression.

“You have mistaken me for someone else. I don’t know you,” Qingxue said coldly, glanced at her, and left.

Watching her leave, Qu Le frowned deeply. Though years had passed, she could still recognize Qingxue as her childhood playmate. Why was Qingxue pretending not to know her?

It must be deliberate.

The quarrel between the two maids was blown out of proportion. Rumors spread that the new maid was uncouth and full of lies, deceiving the second miss into believing she was innocent, even causing the eldest miss’s maid, Xihuan, to be moved out.

Others said the madam was compassionate and didn’t want to see the second miss upset, thus forgiving Qu Le.

There were also claims that Qu Le’s conduct had always been poor—she had stolen money as a child and was known for her lies in the village.

From Madam Yu, Qin Wanru heard a barrage of gossip, all suggesting Qu Le was untrustworthy, that her words were all lies. As for why such a poorly behaved maid remained, it was all due to Lady Di’s affection for her youngest daughter.

Lady Di even sent an old maid over to advise Qin Wanru not to favor Qu Le nor trust her words.

“She’s a sly one,” they said.

“So many rumors—all saying she lied!” Qin Wanru sat before her dressing table and remarked casually.

“That’s the gist,” Madam Yu nodded. “I still don’t understand what the madam is up to.”

“She wants us to mistrust Qu Le,” Qin Wanru replied, smiling faintly.

“All this fuss over a maid’s words? Is it really necessary?” Madam Yu couldn’t comprehend. The situation was baffling: first the eldest miss wanted the maid, then she tried to frame her and drive her out. Clearly, there was something unusual about this girl.

“Let’s leave it be for now and observe,” said Qin Wanru. Qingxue was suspicious, and so was Qu Le. She would keep them together and see which was the greater problem. “Are the preparations for the trip to Jingxin Nunnery ready?”

“They’re all in order, but...” Madam Yu hesitated, “I heard the eldest miss will go as well.”

“Even in her condition, she’s going to Jingxin Nunnery?” Qin Wanru glanced at her reflection, biting her lip.

“They say she’ll go, and the abbess will help treat her burns,” Madam Yu replied.

Her words were courteous, and after considering them, Qin Wanru asked, “Has Aunt given instructions for when we’re to depart tomorrow?”

“Miss Shui hasn’t sent anyone yet. I doubt it’ll be early—old Madam’s health won’t permit an early start,” Madam Yu analyzed.

Her reasoning made sense. Qin Wanru nodded, opened a compartment beneath the dressing table, and took out a medical book, spreading it out before her.

“Miss, are you reading medical books again?” Madam Yu craned her neck curiously. Recently, the miss had stopped reading her beloved storybooks and only studied medicine, which Madam Yu found odd.

Qin Wanru had always loved those novels from outside. Whenever she left the mansion, she would find ways to sneak into bookstores, buy a few, and smuggle them in. Even now, many lay hidden beneath her bed.

“I want to study medicine,” Qin Wanru said, turning a page and nodding as she read. In her previous life, she knew nothing. Even when Abbess Mingqiu gifted her this medical book, she had never looked at it, merely tossing it aside.

But later, while caring for the sick, she learned medicine for a time. Long illness made her a skilled nurse. That person’s medical skills were superb, but even the best physician cannot heal himself.

This thought brought a pang of sorrow to her eyes. If given the chance, she wished to save that person—the one who had taught her medicine. His illness had been delayed by neglect.

This time, taking advantage of the trip to Jingxin Nunnery, she intended to ask Abbess Mingqiu to teach her medicine.

“Are you planning to study medicine under Abbess Mingqiu?” Madam Yu was startled, knowing Qin Wanru’s circumstances. “It’s such hard work; old Madam won’t agree.”

Old Madam cherished her second granddaughter and wouldn’t want her to tire herself.

“Grandmother will agree. She’s getting older, and if I master medicine, I can care for her myself should anything happen,” Qin Wanru sighed. She did know some medicine, but hadn’t dared reveal it, having never formally studied before.

With Abbess Mingqiu’s guidance, she could legitimately claim her medical knowledge.

Studying medicine was not only for herself but also to save others—especially the one she desperately wished to save in her previous life.

In that brief existence, she owed him gratitude.

The next morning, Qin Wanru first visited old Madam. Seeing that preparations were complete and only waiting for her to rise, she returned for breakfast. As soon as she finished, Shui Ruolan sent someone to call her out.

The carriages waited at the gate—four in all. The first, largest carriage was for old Madam and Shui Ruolan; the second for Qin Yuru; the third for Qin Wanru; and the fourth carried miscellaneous items and servants not accompanying their masters.

When Qin Wanru emerged, Qin Yuru was already waiting by the gate. Seeing her, Qin Yuru suddenly smiled warmly, “Second sister, would you like to ride with me? We could chat along the way.”

Such affectionate words, as if nothing had happened.

“Elder sister, we’re both injured. We may need to lie down. Sharing a carriage wouldn’t be practical,” Qin Wanru shook her head.

Riding together would make them seem close, but given the present circumstances, Qin Wanru had no intention of feigning friendship with Qin Yuru.

Qin Yuru hadn’t expected Qin Wanru to refuse her so openly. Her smile faded, “If you don’t wish to ride with me, then never mind.”

With that, she no longer waited, taking Meixue’s hand and boarding the second carriage. Qin Wanru lingered outside a moment longer, until Shui Ruolan supported old Madam out, accompanied by Qin Huaiyong and Lady Di on either side, and the group exited the General’s Mansion.

Qin Wanru fetched a small stool from the carriage front. When old Madam approached, she quickly helped her up, and with others pulling from above, they managed to get old Madam onto the carriage.

Once everyone was settled, the carriages set off at a gentle pace...