Chapter 215 – Interrogation
As Yan Xiaosi entered the courtyard, Ms. Wang shot her a glare.
“Auntie Tian, I only ate some of your cured meat and rice wine. Why are you looking at me like you want to devour me?”
Ms. Wang truly wanted to devour her. This little wretch led Dazhuang astray and constantly took advantage of her household.
“Dazhuang, didn’t you two go for a stroll? Why did you return so quickly?”
Tian Dazhuang replied, “Mother, Yan Shujing has gone to the foot of Four Sisters Mountain. Let’s hurry and follow.”
Perplexed, Ms. Wang asked, “Why would the Yan family’s young lady go to Four Sisters Mountain so late?”
Ordinary households wouldn’t let their daughters out this late, let alone a strict family like the Yans. Could it be true, as that little wretch Xiaosi claimed, that the Yan young lady had a paramour and was no longer a maiden?
Yan Xiaosi smiled faintly at Ms. Wang. “As you suspect, Auntie, the Yan young lady is meeting her lover at the foot of Four Sisters Mountain. Would you like to go see for yourself?”
“Yan Xiaosi, don’t talk nonsense.” Though she chided verbally, Ms. Wang’s bottom had already risen from the chair as she headed inside to change into walking shoes.
The three set out under the night, heading towards the foot of Four Sisters Mountain.
Upon arriving, they indeed spotted Yan Shujing’s figure. She held a lantern, standing alone under a Chinese parasol tree, looking around as if waiting for someone.
Ms. Wang ground her teeth in rage, her face sullen as she cursed Ms. Hu. “Curse that vile Hu Chunni for introducing such a despicable girl to my son – trying to make him a cuckold?”
Hearing her swear viciously about Ms. Hu, Yan Xiaosi chuckled softly.
“Auntie Tian, now you know who the good and bad people are.”
In her fury, Ms. Wang glared at Yan Xiaosi. “You’re no good either, kid.”
However, her tone scolding Xiaosi was clearly milder than at dinner.
“But I already promised that wretched Hu Chunni to let Dazhuang marry that despicable Yan Shujing. Xiaosi, what do I do now?”
Yan Xiaosi retrieved two sets of black outfits and two black cloths from the bushes.
Earlier that day, she had taken the dark clothes and cloths from her Portable Space and brought them to the Tian residence, stashing them here on the way for this very purpose.
“Brother Dazhuang, put this on.” She tossed him a set as she donned the black shirt and pants herself, covering most of her face with the black cloth.
Looking like a figure in black, she asked Dazhuang in a low voice, “Brother Dazhuang, can you see if the mole by my eye is covered?”
That distinctive mole needed concealing.
Tian Dazhuang nodded and asked, “Xiaosi, is it okay for us to dress like this?”
“Of course, Brother Dazhuang. Hurry, or Yan Shujing will leave after meeting her lover.”
Tian Dazhuang had no choice but to comply, donning the black outfit and face covering.
Once he was ready, Yan Xiaosi looked at Ms. Wang. “Auntie, Dazhuang and I will go play a prank on Yan Shujing. You stay crouched in these bushes and don’t make a sound.”
Ms. Wang stared at Yan Xiaosi in disbelief. She had thought Yan Xiaosi quite mischievous, but she was even more devious than expected.
However, Yan Xiaosi’s current devious plot aligned with her own interests.
“Dazhuang, Xiaosi, be careful not to get caught by Yan Shujing.”
Yan Xiaosi nodded slightly before pulling Tian Dazhuang out of the bushes.
Yan Shujing heard footsteps and thought it was Long Yu, her heart swelling with delight.
“General Zhan, is that you?”
Following the sound, she did not see the nobly dressed General Zhan, but instead two bandits clad in black with face coverings. She paled in fright.
Seeing her color drain as she backed away, Yan Xiaosi quickened her pace, approaching her gruffly. “Little lady, who are you waiting for?”
Hearing “little lady” made Tian Dazhuang stumble.
So young, yet so skilled at teasing women – who had Xiaosi learned this from?
Yan Shujing retreated a few steps but tripped over a vine, falling onto her bottom. Her frightened eyes fixed on Yan Xiaosi.
“You…you stay back! Do you know who I am?”
Under her mask, Yan Xiaosi’s mouth curled into a smirk as she said roughly, “You’re the Yan family’s eldest young lady Yan Shujing, am I right?”
“Since you know I’m the Yan family’s young lady, you still dare…”
Yan Xiaosi cut her off. “Why wouldn’t I dare bully you? I’ve heard the Yan family intend to marry you off to that Tian Dazhuang boy. That shows the family has already abandoned you.”
Mention of this marriage made Yan Shujing’s heart race.
“You’re talking nonsense! I won’t marry Tian Dazhuang – it’s my Aunt Hu who wants me to marry him.”
Yan Xiaosi grabbed her chin. “Aunt Hu, why does she want you to marry Tian Dazhuang?”
If not for Old Master Yan’s approval, Aunt Hu couldn’t have made this decision. Her doing so proved the Old Master consented, further proving something had happened to Yan Shujing.
Pressed like this, Yan Shujing was reminded of that night at the county court, her heart sinking.
“Don’t ask anymore, I beg you, please don’t ask.”
Yan Xiaosi shifted her hand to grip Yan Shujing’s slender neck without hesitation.
“If you don’t tell me, should I strangle you right here?”
Yan Shujing grit her teeth, eyes wide. “Even…even if you kill me, I won’t say.”
Her willingness to die surprised Yan Xiaosi.
Xiaosi drew out a sickle from behind her waist, gesturing towards Yan Shujing’s face with it.
In a chilling tone, “Little lady, I’ve changed my mind about strangling you. I think I’ll use this butchering knife to carve a few lines across your jade-like face. Once the wounds heal, the scars will crisscross like repulsive centipedes. Tsk tsk, quite a spectacle.”
Yan Shujing prided herself on her beauty and cherished her face. Hearing Yan Xiaosi’s words, a chill ran down her spine, leaving her utterly distraught.
Terrified that Yan Xiaosi’s hand might slip and mar her face, she spoke frantically, “Who…who are you? What do you want to do?”
Yan Xiaosi tapped the sickle against Yan Shujing’s face. “Young Lady Yan, did you lose your maidenhood, prompting Aunt Hu’s desperation to marry you off to Tian Dazhuang as his cuckold?”
Yan Xiaosi’s question made Yan Shujing tremble guiltily. “No…no…”
Seeing her guilt, Yan Xiaosi knew the answer, but to convince the hidden Ms. Wang, she applied a bit more force with the sickle, opening a bloody line on Yan Shujing’s face.
Yan Shujing felt a searing pain.
“I’ll say it, I’ll say it! I did lose my maidenhood. The Yan family wanted to preserve their reputation, so they decided to marry me off to Tian Dazhuang.”
