Wang Qinglin was lifted onto the carriage by Tian Yu. She chose to faint at the opportune moment, giving Tian Yu a chance to escape the awkward situation.
Inside the carriage, as the curtains were drawn, tears streamed from Wang Qinglin’s eyes.
Tian Yu couldn't bear to see her distress and tried to comfort her. “It’s alright. It’s just a matter of face. In a few days, our incident will be forgotten.”
He was a man; being gossiped about wouldn’t affect him much. But Wang Qinglin was a young lady, highly concerned with reputation. Spring was the time when young ladies visited each other most frequently. How would she face her friends in the future?
Stealing her cousin’s fiancé, spewing lies, instigating others against her own sisters…
The thought of these labels being attached to her filled her with despair, and she sobbed against the carriage wall.
Tian Yu sighed and voiced his own confusion. “You… why did you say those things?”
Wang Qinglin’s crying paused for a moment, then resumed. Only when her sobs turned into gasps did she manage to speak intermittently. “Wasn’t it… wasn’t it for you? The Bai sisters knew you were once betrothed to my second sister and asked about it. You have your major exams coming up soon, and I was afraid it would affect your reputation, so I… I…”
Tian Yu sighed again. “There was no harm in telling the truth.”
Wang Qinglin gazed at him with tear-blurred eyes. “Brother Yu, are you blaming me? I’m sorry, I was just too hasty…” As she spoke, she began to cry again, her nose and eyes turning red.
Tian Yu had known her for so long, yet he had never seen her cry like this, especially not for him. His heart ached with urgency. He quickly took her hand. “How could I blame you? You were only trying to do what’s best for me.” He embraced her. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here for you. Stay home and feign illness for a few days. In time, no one will mention this again.”
Wang Qinglin nodded obediently, a flicker of malice in her eyes. Wang Qingyao, she would never forgive her!
Meanwhile, Wang Qingyao was still cleaning up the mess Wang Qinglin had created. She bowed to the onlookers. “My apologies, everyone. My family’s private matters have caused you all amusement.”
The crowd chuckled awkwardly, no longer daring to stare, and dispersed to their own activities.
Bai Junchun had suffered a significant loss today, not only losing her jade spider but also offending both Wang Qingyao and Wang Qinglin. Seeing Wang Qingyao about to leave, she stepped forward and pleaded abjectly, “Second cousin, I’m sorry. I misunderstood you today. Please be magnanimous and don’t hold it against me.” She dared not mention the jade spider again.
Wang Qingyao knew Bai Junchun had been manipulated by Wang Qinglin, but such a foolish and ill-intentioned person was not worthy of sympathy.
She nodded slightly, saying nothing more.
As Bai Junchun was about to speak again, Bai Junya pulled her away. Bai San and Bai Si gloated, “Eldest sister, how will you explain this to Father and Mother when you get home?”
Bai Junchun’s face lost all color.
Bai Junya said, “Just tell them the truth. Everyone makes mistakes. Uncle and Aunt will forgive you.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Junchun seemed provoked. She suddenly pushed Bai Junya away. “I don’t need you to tell me what to do!”
She stumbled away. Fearing for her safety, Bai Junya sent a maid to follow her. The others also lost interest in the outing and boarded their carriages to return home.
Wang Qingzhen also wanted to go home, but Wang Qingzhu insisted on playing a while longer. Wang Qingzhen was surprised. Wang Qingzhu was usually indecisive, agreeing with whatever she said. Besides, with the situation having escalated like this, how could she still be in the mood to play?
Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun had clearly indicated they didn’t want to be with them. Why would they seek out further embarrassment?
However, Wang Qingzhu insisted on staying close to Wang Qingyao.
Wang Qingyao had initially wanted to play longer, but seeing the two of them like this and unable to shake them off, she decided to give up. “Let’s all go home!”
Getting into the carriage, Wang Qingyao asked Xiao Yun, “What else did Wang Qinglin say to you?”
Xiao Yun smiled and replied, “She said you and Tian Yu were deeply in love, childhood sweethearts, innocent and pure.”
Wang Qingyao couldn’t help but curse. “Bullshit.” She muttered to herself, “She hated me being involved with Tian Yu the most. Why is she acting so strangely today?”
“Perhaps she can’t stand to see you happy.”
Wang Qingyao’s gaze fell on Xiao Yun’s face, and she pursed her lips. “The way she was acting, it looked like she was trying to seduce you.”
Xiao Yun, who was drinking tea, choked. He said self-deprecatingly, “You’re overthinking it. Besides you, who else would want a short-lived husband?”
“Then she’s addicted to snatching my things,” Wang Qingyao analyzed. “Some women are like that. They specifically target other people’s men to prove their own charm.”
Xiao Yun chuckled. “Then she’ll definitely never snatch me. I’m a very devoted person.”
His words sounded like a promise, especially as he looked at Wang Qingyao while saying them.
Of course, the carriage was small, and he couldn’t look anywhere else.
Wang Qingyao blushed.
Oh dear, being stared at by a handsome man made her so shy.
“I’m also very devoted,” she said coyly. “After you die, I promise I won’t remarry.”
Xiao Yun: “……” Thank you very much!
The noise outside the carriage gradually increased. Wang Qingyao was puzzled. She glanced outside and realized they weren't heading back to the Wang family residence.
“Where are we going?”
“To Sangjia Wazi.”
It was Qingming Festival, and although many people had gone out of the city for spring outings, Sangjia Wazi was still bustling with activity, packed with people.
Xiao Yun bought tickets and led her to a storytelling hall. As the storyteller clapped his wooden clapper, she realized he was narrating her novel, “The Secret History of Palace Tragedies.”
The hall was packed, and the audience was captivated, as if they had entered a distant land of Java with the storyteller’s intonation…
Wang Qingyao was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.
“Did it sell so quickly?”
“Yes, and it’s very popular! The boss is urging me for the next few chapters! I’ve already negotiated the price for you: one tael of silver per chapter, and you can’t sell it to anyone else. Oh, right, I’ve also given you a pen name, Wang Niangniang. Are you satisfied?”
“Satisfied, satisfied.” The name didn’t matter; what mattered was earning money.
Wang Qingyao was very pragmatic.
About half an hour later, the storytelling concluded. Xiao Yun led her backstage to meet the boss and the storyteller.
Upon learning she was Wang Niangniang, everyone backstage was astonished. The boss repeatedly expressed that if she had any more works in the future, she must sell them to him first.
“Young lady, you are truly talented! Your works perfectly capture the audience’s psychology!”
“Your ideas are so unique and interesting! Where did you come up with those plot points?”
Wang Qingyao felt guilty under the praise. Cough, cough, these novel tropes were already cliché in modern times…
The storyteller even discussed the inner thoughts of the novel’s male and female protagonists with her, aiming for even better performances next time.
Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao played until dusk. They had dinner at Xinghua Restaurant, and then Xiao Yun escorted Wang Qingyao back to the Wang family residence in the spring evening breeze.