High-class Spring Joy

Qingyuan's expression changed drastically, and she immediately tried to get up to retrieve it, but Jiang Qingyun whipped her back.

That was the only keepsake her sister left her!

How come this silly girl can't understand polite words?!

Furthermore, kneeling here with clothes scattered on the ground, if someone with ulterior motives were to report this to the old lady, she would surely receive a scolding.

Your Honor, she's truly been wronged!

As the third whip reached her, Qingyuan grabbed it. Just as she was about to speak, she heard a cold, authoritative male voice—

"What are you doing?!"

Chu Jingyu noticed the commotion, with Jiang Qingge beside him.

Jiang Qingyun looked as if she had suffered a great injustice and threw herself into Jiang Qingge's arms: "Sister... I just... I just got lost for a moment, so I came to the back garden to practice my whip skills. Who knew... who knew she... would chase me away because I'm not the master of this Marquis's mansion..."

OK OK.

She's the one who started the false accusation? Not a single word of it is true; it's all made up!

Qing Yuan was secretly amused with anger, and looked at Chu Jingyu: "Young Master, it's Miss Jiang the Second..."

She had barely uttered two words when Jiang Qingge interrupted her, saying, "Ah Jing, it seems Yun'er acted rashly and accidentally injured this young lady while practicing with the whip. It's her fault. But Yun'er is still young, and a child wouldn't have any bad intentions. It's my negligence in disciplining her. Why don't I, as her older sister, apologize to this young lady?"

Jiang Qingge was about to bow and apologize to Qing Yuan when she was stopped.

Chu Jingyu quickly helped Jiang Qingge up, his expression gentle: "Gege, what did you do wrong? Yun'er is just a child, a little playful. She only accidentally got two lashes, why does it have to come to the point of apologizing?"

Jiang Qingge looked at Qing Yuan, who was kneeling on the ground, with a hint of hesitation: "But Miss Qing Yuan..."

Chu Jingyu turned around, took off his outer robe, and threw it in front of Qingyuan: "Today's events were sudden, and Yun'er didn't mean to make things difficult for you. You've always been gentle and kind, and you're the most tolerant and kind person. I'm sure you wouldn't hold a grudge against a child. Let's leave it at that. It's getting cold, so you don't need to serve me anymore. Go back and rest."

He looked down at him, and when he threw down his outer robe, his eyes were calm and indifferent, only his brows furrowed, as if bestowing a favor.

Yes, for someone of his noble birth to be given an outer robe by a mere maid was already an immense favor.

Qingyuan stared at the brocade and luxurious robe on the ground in front of her.

It reminded her of a torrential rain that lasted for more than ten days a few years ago. She went to Qingyun Mountain alone to find medicine for Chu Jingyu and encountered a flash flood. She was frozen in a cave for three days and three nights. By the grace of God, she was found by a passing woodcutter and her life was saved.

At that moment, she so wished that this outer robe, imbued with Chu Jingyu's scent and warmth, could protect her; she didn't need much, just a little warmth would suffice.

Now that it was actually thrown in front of her, Qingyuan didn't want it at all.

She stood up and stared straight at him: "Young master, the second young lady has put my purse into the lake."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingge glanced down at Jiang Qingyun before reluctantly saying, "It's just a tattered purse! Even if there were a hundred, it's not like I can't afford to pay for them. I'll pay you back another day!"

"Second Miss can't afford to pay for it." Qingyuan didn't back down, but looked at Chu Jingyu: "That was the only thing my sister left me."

Chu Jingyu's expression changed, as if he had realized why Qingyuan was sulking, and he softened his voice, trying to comfort her:

"Understood, I'll have someone look for it. If they can't find one, I'll find you a better one..."

Qingyuan knew that she wouldn't be able to get it back easily.

She wanted to go into the water to look for it, but she could only wait for another opportunity.

"Yes"

Without even a proper greeting, Qingyuan turned and left with the tray in her hand.

"Ah Yuan..."

The sobbing in her voice finally pierced Chu Jingyu's ears. He slightly lifted his leg, then paused.

Chu Jingyu noticed that his gaze was fixed on Qingyuan.

Jiang Qingge frowned slightly and glanced at Jiang Qingyun.

Jiang Qingyun understood immediately, and then skipped and hopped onto Chu Jingyu's arm, saying coquettishly, "Brother Jingyu, you promised to make tea with me and my sister~"

Chu Jingyu then looked away and smiled at the two sisters, "Of course, I have never broken my promise to your sister."

-

Qingyuan carried the tray in her hand and walked behind the artificial hill, her mind filled with thoughts of when she could fish the purse out of the lake.

The Jiang sisters have always made things difficult for her, so they probably won't let her succeed easily. They might even drag Chu Jingyu to the lakeside pavilion for a whole day.

It seems she can only go at night.

I wonder if the wooden comb will be ruined by soaking.

Qingyuan felt sad and melancholy. In her scattered thoughts, she looked around and caught a glimpse of a light green handkerchief out of the corner of her eye.

She went over and took a look; it was the handkerchief she had lost a few days ago, with the green rice seedlings on it embroidered by herself.

Qingyuan didn't even have time to think about how she ended up there. She quickly put away her handkerchief and was about to leave when she suddenly heard a man's voice behind her—

Have you ever found a handkerchief?

Qingyuan turned around and saw a tall man in black robes pushing a wheelchair. The person in the wooden wheelchair was Chu Jingxian, whom she had seen earlier.

Handkerchief?

He wouldn't be referring to her handkerchief, would he?

Qingyuan was slightly flustered, but she didn't show it on her face: "Replying to young master, this servant did not see it."

"you……"

The tall man frowned, about to ask a question, when Chu Jingxian seemed to recognize Qing Yuan's voice:

"Blue Kite?"

His voice was deep and clear, and when he uttered those two words, it was like raindrops falling on a lotus leaf.

Qingyuan's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly replied, "It was this servant."

Chu Jingxian's expression was indifferent: "I lost a light green handkerchief. That handkerchief was left by someone important. Chen Sha was careless. Did Qing Yuan see it just now?"

No way...

Did she really drop this handkerchief in jail that night?

How did it end up in Chu Jingxian's hands...?

Qing Yuan felt a sense of foreboding, a sudden headache hitting her head. Just as she was about to make an excuse, she heard Chen Sha say in a chilling voice:

"Just now, I saw it; the one you picked up was exactly light green."

Qingyuan was speechless.

OK OK.

She's kept this handkerchief close to her body for years, can't she just pick it up?

She should have acted faster and grabbed it and run. Why did she have to be caught red-handed?

Chu Jingxian…could he be planning to use this handkerchief to find out who drugged him?!

She absolutely cannot admit that, or her life will be over...