Chapter Thirty-Five: There Is Only One Truth

Sun Bo'an had set his sights on Qin Miaoniang; this was hardly a secret in Fangzhou city. His bold declaration that he would take her as a concubine was no longer news to anyone.

In fact, even as Qin Miaoniang left the city, she was already being persistently pursued by Young Master Sun. Naturally, Sun Bo'an knew that Qin Miaoniang was heading to the Immortal Inquiry Nunnery.

Yet, knowing full well that Daoist Xiao was not at the temple, he chose not to inform her.

He had already made up his mind: once Qin Miaoniang returned in vain, he would make a timely appearance.

From Changluo Mountain to Fangzhou city was a journey of five li; surely, after walking side by side and conversing at length, some affection would blossom between them?

Alas, Heaven had its own designs.

This sudden downpour not only ruined his plan to accompany the beauty back, but left him soaked and miserable.

Now, the rain fell steadily, and the atmosphere was anything but harmonious.

Wu Ning stood beneath the corridor, dabbing at his nosebleed, lost in reverie.

Sun Bo'an could only crouch under the eaves, feeling the cold raindrops drumming against him.

“Let it rain,” Wu Ning sighed from the corridor, “Let it pour till night—if they can’t return to the city, we can spend the evening together.”

Wait a moment. Sun Bo'an’s brow creased as his imagination took flight.

“They”? Which “they”? The men? Or the women?

My name is Sun Bo'an, a man embodying both composure and wisdom. With just a few words from Wu Ning, I immediately perceived the unusual truth behind the surface.

They? Unable to return to the city? Spend an evening together...?

All clues pointed to one conclusion: the Qin Miaoniang he had lost track of was likely sheltering in this very inn.

At this thought, Sun Bo'an made a decision:

He would continue his covert observation to uncover the truth.

...

Perhaps Heaven pitied Young Master Sun’s sorry state, for soon the rain lessened, showing signs of stopping altogether.

Not wishing to linger conspicuously by the door, Sun Bo'an hunched over and shifted his position, hiding in the shadow of the fence.

Within the courtyard, Wu Ning remained beneath the corridor. Soon, a woman emerged from the neighboring yard, braving the drizzle as she hurried into Xuncui Residence.

Upon entering, she spotted Wu Ning. “Oh, Ninth Lang, you’re back!”

Glancing at the door behind Wu Ning, she asked, “Well? Is that young lady still inside?”

Listen to that—two young ladies!

Sun Bo'an was beside himself with excitement. His instincts were correct; those two young ladies were almost certainly Qin Miaoniang and her maid.

He pricked up his ears.

“Ah... ah?” Wu Lao Jiu stammered, flustered. “Yes, yes, she’s still there!”

“Oh.” The fifth aunt relaxed, muttering, “These two young ladies have terrible timing, climbing the mountain in a downpour. When I invited them in, they were drenched through and through.”

“They looked so pitiful that I lit a fire for them, let them dry their clothes by the stove.”

“Ah!” The aunt seemed to recall something, squinting at Wu Ning. “You rascal, you didn’t barge in and frighten the young ladies, did you?”

“No!” Wu Ning waved his hands in panic. “Not at all!”

“Really?” The aunt was suspicious. “You didn’t go in?”

“Truly not!” Wu Ning insisted, pointing at his own clothes. “See? I haven’t even changed out of my wet things!”

Wait a second, outside the courtyard, Sun Bo'an’s heart leapt—he’s lying.

He could tell at a glance that Wu Ning was lying.

Why? Wasn’t it obvious? He had seen Wu Ning come out of that very room himself.

Stay calm. Stay calm! Must remain calm!

Wu Ning’s face was flushed, his gaze evasive.

He’s lying. Why would he lie? Unless he had done something shameful inside that room...

Calm, stay calm!

He continued to listen.

“Enough!” the aunt commanded. “What are you, a young man, doing loitering at a young lady’s door? Go inside and change your clothes. I’ll keep watch here.”

“Oh...” Wu Ning replied, but his eyes lingered reluctantly on the guest room before he slunk off to his own chamber.

By now, the rain had dwindled to a drizzle.

Wu Li, Wu Qi, and Tiger poked their heads out from the main house. “Old Ninth, what took you so long?”

Creak—the guest room door opened.

Qin Miaoniang and Xianglan emerged, holding hands, both faces flushed, eyes downcast.

Seeing the aunt at the door, they hurriedly bowed. “Thank you for your help, madam!”

The aunt beamed at the sight of Qin Miaoniang, now in dry clothes. “That dried quickly, didn’t it?”

“I told you—just light the stove, take off your wet things and dry them by the fire; once dry, they’re so much more comfortable to put on.”

“Sit down, ladies. I’ll have Ninth Lang make you some hot soup to drive out the chill.”

The two girls instinctively glanced at Wu Ning.

Wu Ning, who had been gazing at Qin Miaoniang in a daze, suddenly shifted his eyes and feigned blindness.

“Please wait a moment, ladies. I’ll prepare two bowls of ginger soup for you.”

With that, he groped his way toward the kitchen as if he could not see.

“Old Ninth, are you ill?” Wu Li was baffled. What was wrong with him, walking as if blind? And that “ladies” address—how could he say such a thing without cringing?

He nudged Wu Qi. “What’s wrong with him?”

Unfortunately, Wu Qi ignored him, staring blankly at Qin Miaoniang. “Miaoniang...”

Qin Miaoniang wanted nothing more than to leave this troublesome place, not to sit and drink hot soup.

The sight of Wu Ning only made her more anxious.

Then Wu Qi’s softly spoken “Miaoniang” made her realize that the son of the city’s military commander was present as well.

Recollecting the recent embarrassing events, she felt she could not stay a moment longer. With a hurried bow to the aunt, she said, “I dare not trouble you further, madam. I must take my leave!”

With that, she grabbed Xianglan and fled into the rain, vanishing from the courtyard in the blink of an eye.

...

Sun Bo'an swiftly pieced together the clues from the courtyard conversation.

The woman had said, “Take off your clothes and dry them, and they’ll dry quickly.” Sure enough, Qin Miaoniang’s clothes were dry.

Wu Ning was flustered, his gaze...

What gaze? The man looked blind now.

Combining that with the fact that Wu Ning had come out of Qin Miaoniang’s room, yet was trying to hide it—

Take off clothes... went in, came out.

Therefore, there could be only one truth.

Sun Bo'an, a man of composure and intelligence, did not give chase after Qin Miaoniang. Instead, he made a decision:

“Peasant!”

“I’ll fight you to the death!”

He sprang up, kicked through the fence, broke off the thickest post, and charged into the courtyard with a roar.

Damn it!

Wu Ning was shocked. There was still someone lurking?

Seeing that it was Young Master Sun, Wu Ning’s eyes widened in anger. “Who the hell are you calling peasant?!”

Wu Li and Wu Qi, seeing Sun Bo'an storm in wielding a club, suddenly recalled something their father Wu Changlu had said recently:

“If that son of Wu Hongde dares to cause trouble, I’ll smash up his yamen myself!”

They exchanged a glance. So be it! If the old ones aren’t afraid, why should we, his sons, be cowed?

Fight!

The brothers exchanged a look, then dashed out in unison, each delivering a flying kick.

Off you go!

Sun Bo'an was still cursing, “Peasant! Damn your ancestors, how dare you defile my Mia—”

Thud.

Young Master Sun flew backward and landed face-first in the mud.

...

Raindrops splattered his face, making it hard for Sun Bo'an to open his eyes. All he could see was that infuriating peasant standing over his head.

“Remember this...” Wu Ning’s voice was cold and menacing from above:

“From this day forth, she is mine!”

...