Chapter 5

Well, that did it. The whispers around us could no longer be contained.

A few pampered young ladies huddled together, laughing. One of my least favorite people spoke with chilly amusement.

“My, this newly reclaimed daughter certainly thinks highly of herself. Walking out of the count’s banquet whenever she pleases?”

“I hear the eldest Miss Lin spent years running wild in the countryside. Now that I’ve met her, I can see she’s every bit as ridiculous as they say.”

“Since she’s back in a marquis’s household, she ought to learn some manners. We can’t have her lowering our standing by mixing with us.”

The malicious little group grew more animated with every word.

Something inside me flared.

How dare they talk about my sister right in front of me?

Did they think Lin Wanwan was dead?

I stamped forward and planted myself squarely in front of Lin Qingwu, chin raised sky-high.

“Well, would you look at that. I haven’t even come looking for trouble, and you’ve brought it to me?”

“Wang Wanrong, last month you stole your legitimate elder sister’s expensive eyebrow pigment and got caught red-handed. You were too frightened to leave home for a month. Where was all this grandeur then?”

Miss Wang flushed scarlet. “You—you filthy liar!”

I scoffed and turned to the girl beside her in green.

“Second Miss Bai, at the last polo match you deliberately knocked Censor Liu’s daughter off her horse to steal the limelight. Every young lady in the capital knows it. And you have the nerve to call someone else ridiculous?”

The girl in green shrank back, her face white.

Last, I fixed my eyes on their ringleader, Sun Xiaoya.

We’d disliked each other for years. Time to settle old scores along with the new.

“And you, Sun Xiaoya.”

“You pushed your own little sister into a cesspit so you could shine at the palace banquet. Now those are manners worth seeing.”

The words came pouring out. I hit every shameful secret they least wanted exposed.

Watching their faces turn ashen made me practically fizz with pleasure.

Once I’d enjoyed myself, I grabbed Lin Qingwu’s wrist behind me.

“The stink coming out of people’s mouths in here is giving me a headache!”

“Come on, Sister. We aren’t staying with these ignorant creatures!”

Head high and spirits higher, I marched Lin Qingwu all the way to our carriage.

When I turned, though, her lips were pressed so tightly together they’d gone pale.

“Wanwan, have I caused trouble for the family?”

I gave a little snort. “Now you’re worried? Do you know what sort of household Count Cheng’en has? What sort of man his son is?”

“You embarrassed him in public today. What if he holds a grudge and makes trouble for Father at court?”

As I spoke, I sneaked a look at her reaction.

Sure enough, Lin Qingwu’s expression changed at once.

“I—I didn’t know I’d see him.”

“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come for anything. It’s my fault. All my fault.”

Her eyes reddened rapidly. None of her usual calm remained.

I’d never seen her like that!

Every last thought of frightening her fled my mind.

“Oh, don’t! Don’t be upset!”

I fumbled for a handkerchief, only to discover I hadn’t brought one.

I had to wipe the corners of her eyes with my sleeve. “I was teasing! Father’s position is perfectly secure!”

Afraid she wouldn’t believe me, I added, “Really! May I turn into a puppy if I’m lying! Please—don’t cry.”

I spent the journey coaxing her and finding things to talk about until she finally swallowed back her tears.

By the time we got home, she looked much better, though her eyes were still a little red.

“Thank you for today, Wanwan.”

Her look made me squirm. I turned my face away.

“Who asked you to thank me? They deserved it.”

“You belong to our household. Was I supposed to stand there and let outsiders bully you?”

She laughed softly and stroked my head. “No. Our Wanwan is very fierce.”

My ears felt warm.

After a great deal of awkward hesitation, I finally managed to mutter,

“Go drink some hot tea and get a good sleep! You’re as pale as a ghost. Hideous!”

Then I gathered my skirts and ran without looking back.

Hmph. I wasn’t worried about her!

I simply didn’t want to face a sickly sister.

Beating her like that wouldn’t be a fair victory.

Exactly. That was all!