"Go see if the young lord has arrived."
Qian Le'er fidgeted, feeling as though she had done something wrong by letting Yi Zixing seek out Yun Shu.
Xiao Ju could only agree, promising to go once the rain stopped. The rain had been intermittent all day, and she had already gone out several times.
It was predictable that the young lord would not be there this time.
She had a hunch that the young lord would not come today. From what she had seen of him at the Marquis's mansion, he seemed to have lost his former affection for her mistress.
In the past, the young lord wouldn't bear to see his lady cry.
As soon as Xiao Ju stepped out, Qian Le'er went to the door, craning her neck to look out.
She hoped to see Yi Zixing.
But she waited and waited.
Xiao Ju returned alone.
Qian Le'er was utterly disappointed, her gaze towards Xiao Ju slowly turning fierce. "Is the young lord truly going to abandon me? Xiao Ju, did you tell him something? Is that why his attitude towards me has changed so drastically?!"
"Your maid did not! Your maid is loyal to you!" Xiao Ju cried out in panic, trying to prove her innocence.
But Qian Le'er, consumed by anxiety, was in despair and didn't believe Xiao Ju. She raised her hand and slapped her. "Xiao Ju, if it weren't for me, you'd still be begging on the streets, perhaps even sent to a brothel. How dare you be disloyal to me!"
For a moment, Qian Le'er wished she could unleash all her fury upon Xiao Ju.
However.
What Qian Le'er didn't know was that the figure she longed for had already appeared outside the door.
Xiao Ju saw him.
She covered her face, looking at the figure with wide, frightened eyes.
"Young lord..." she began.
But before she could finish the word "lord," Qian Le'er stopped her, slapping her again. This slap was even more forceful than the previous one. In her anger, Qian Le'er disregarded her demeanor.
She reverted to the arrogant and overbearing manner she had exhibited in the village.
This was a side of her Qiu Lu had never seen.
She stood with her hands on her hips, shouting, "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Have you been plotting to become the young lord's concubine, to be half a mistress served by others? I tell you, Xiao Ju, you are not worthy. With your background, these are mere fantasies!"
Xiao Ju was utterly stunned. Another slap made her vision swim. Her hands trembled as she pointed outside and repeated, "Young lord..."
"Calling for the young lord again? Are you planning to complain to him?" Qian Le'er was furious.
She couldn't understand why Yi Zixing's feelings for her weren't steadfast.
Why the hesitation?
As a woman herself, she had long seen through Xiao Ju's feelings for Yi Zixing. Whenever Yi Zixing appeared, Xiao Ju would steal glances at him.
Initially, she paid it no mind, never believing Xiao Ju could capture Yi Zixing's attention.
But now, she felt Xiao Ju had ruined her plans!
Xiao Ju closed her eyes. Why was her mistress saying such things?
And why didn't she believe her?
"So this is how you treat those around you when I'm not here, Qian Le'er. Which one is the real you?" The man outside the door watched this scene, his face growing paler, almost disbelieving what he was seeing.
Until the very last moment, he had wanted to believe her.
He had even refused to believe the rumors.
But now.
He realized he had misunderstood his father.
And he had misunderstood Qian Le'er, mistaking her for a delicate woman in need of protection, a kind-hearted woman at that.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, how could he believe she had been wearing a mask, acting in front of him every day?
Were all women in this world untrustworthy?
Hearing Yi Zixing's voice, Qian Le'er's body stiffened. She turned around slowly, disbelief etched on her face.
Her body felt as heavy as lead, and turning felt incredibly stiff.
Her mind roared.
The face that had been flushed with anger moments ago instantly lost all color.
"Young lord..."
How could it be the young lord?
Why him!
"Young lord, listen to me. It's not what you see. It's her, she provoked me, and because I haven't seen you for the past two days, I lost my head and lost control of my temper. I deeply regret it. Young lord, everyone gets angry, and everyone has moments when they lose control. You must believe me!"
Qian Le'er explained in a panic.
But these words suddenly felt weak against the ironclad reality.
Qian Le'er felt utterly frantic and helpless. What should she do?
She had never imagined he would witness such a scene.
She turned to look at the stunned Xiao Ju. "Xiao Ju, tell him, speak quickly! Did you deliberately sow discord between me and the young lord just now, which is why I hit you?"
At this moment, she pinned all her hopes on Xiao Ju.
Hoping Xiao Ju wasn't so foolish now.
Knowing what to say at this critical juncture.
Xiao Ju knelt down with a thud. "Young lord, what Madam said is true. It is this servant who was ignorant and foolish, fixated on the young lord and wanting him to take me as a concubine. But I always hid these feelings from the young lord. These past two days, with the young lord away, I became bolder. Madam's punishment is justified. This servant will be well-behaved from now on and will never harbor such delusions again."
"Please, my lord, do not blame Madam! It is all this servant's fault!"
Every word of this struck a chord with Qian Le'er.
Qian Le'er was very satisfied. It seemed Xiao Ju wasn't stupid. She quickly looked at Yi Zixing with teary eyes. "Young lord, I will not lose my temper so easily in the future. After all, anyone who sees the young lord will be smitten. I was just too angry for a moment. Xiao Ju has always been well-behaved, and I believe she will not make mistakes in the future."
Yi Zixing had been blinded before; no matter what Qian Le'er did, he attributed it to her fragility and insecurity. But now, he saw everything clearly.
As the heir of the Zhongyong Marquis Mansion, how could he not see through these things?
"Le'er, I am too disappointed in you," Yi Zixing said coldly.
Seeing Yi Zixing's sudden change in attitude and his words of disappointment, Qian Le'er became thoroughly flustered. Even after explaining this much, he still didn't believe her?
She said in a panic, "Young lord, believe me, please believe me. What must I do for you to believe me?"
"When you first approached me, weren't you being bullied for several days straight?" Yi Zixing asked coldly.
Qian Le'er's body stiffened completely. "Didn't I explain this before? Someone falsely accused me, I..."
"Take care of yourself. This residence is considered a gift from me. From now on, do not appear before me, nor should you claim to be my concubine in front of others." Yi Zixing said with an icy tone, then turned to leave.
It seemed he truly intended to sever ties with Qian Le'er.
Qian Le'er chased after him and threw her arms around Yi Zixing. "Young lord, I truly love you! In this world, there are few who are good to me. You were so good to me, I truly want to be with you for life! Why don't you believe me, young lord? Can you bear to do this? Don't leave me, young lord!"