On her way from the City Lord's Mansion, Su Qinghan couldn't help but overhear idle whispers and notice the strange, appraising looks she received.
Fortunately, her resolve was strong, so she paid them little mind and soon returned to the Su Mansion.
For the past few days, everyone in the Su Mansion had been worried about Su Qinghan's situation, but no one dared to go to the City Lord's Mansion to inquire.
Seeing her return now, many of her family members breathed a sigh of relief, though many were also curious about what she had been doing at the City Lord's Mansion for the past few days.
Su Changkong and several family elders wasted no time, rushing to the courtyard pavilion where Su Qinghan usually resided.
Su Qingyao also ran over to see her, her face full of worry. After such a major incident in the family, Su Changkong had forbidden her from leaving the mansion for the past few days.
In the pavilion by the pond, numerous Qiutang and phoenix trees were planted. A light breeze rustled the dancing leaves, bringing a refreshing coolness to the air.
"Qinghan, are you alright…?"
When Su Changkong arrived, Su Qinghan was in the pavilion, gazing absently at the falling phoenix tree leaves.
She was still wearing the same plain white gown from the night of the banquet. Her expression was cold, possessing an air of worldly detachment, like a solitary peak on a frozen mountain.
His voice trembled slightly, his face filled with undisguised worry and self-reproach.
"Sister, you... why are you only back today? Did... did that scoundrel... hurt you?"
Su Qingyao followed behind Su Changkong, her jade-like face filled with worry. She clenched her small hands so tightly and was so nervous that she stammered as she spoke.
"I'm fine. I'm sorry to have worried you."
Su Qinghan looked at her father and younger sister. Seeing their tense, worried expressions, she felt a warmth in her heart and shook her head gently.
"Are you really okay?"
Su Changkong still didn't believe her. After so many days and nights spent at the City Lord's Mansion, he truly couldn't believe that nothing had happened.
"Sister, back at the banquet, you only did that because of me…"
Large teardrops welled up in Su Qingyao's eyes and began to stream down her face.
Su Qinghan gently stroked her sister's head and said softly, "Don't cry. I'm really fine. When have I ever lied to you? You and Father don't need to worry."
"Young Master Jiang... well, he's not what you think..."
Su Changkong was stunned by her words, then became deeply distressed. "It is I who have failed you," he said, his voice filled with anguish. "I should have been more decisive and taken you away by force. Did that scoundrel do something to you? Is he threatening you to keep you silent?"
Su Qinghan was left speechless.
'She knew that just trying to explain it was useless.'
'If she hadn't gotten to know Jiang Lan personally, she too would have found it hard to believe that the rumored Son of the Prime Minister had so many unknown sides to him.'
'But this matter concerned Jiang Lan's secrets, so she couldn't say much more.'
"Father, please stop making wild guesses about Young Master Jiang. In any case, he did not mistreat me…"
Su Qinghan said softly, then rolled up her sleeve, revealing an arm as white and delicate as snow.
On it, a dot of guardian sand, as vibrant as a flower, was clear and distinct.
Su Changkong was utterly stunned. 'It's really hard to believe,' he thought. 'With my daughter's beauty, that scoundrel Jiang Lan actually let her go? He didn't lay a hand on her?'
"Is he just feigning disinterest to make her lower her guard?" he murmured.
Su Qinghan felt a headache coming on. She composed her expression and repeated, "Father, please be careful with your words. Do not ask any more questions about Young Master Jiang."
Su Changkong looked a little sheepish. Seeing that Su Qinghan truly didn't seem to be in any trouble, he finally left so as not to disturb her rest.
News of Su Qinghan joining the Dao Cang Sword Sect had long since spread throughout the Su Family.
If it weren't for Lin Fan's assassination attempt on Jiang Lan, the Su Family would probably be hosting a grand banquet at this very moment, inviting guests from far and wide to share in their joyous news.
The Dao Cang Sword Sect was one of the Four Great Sword Sects of the Great Xia dynasty. Across the entire Nine Provinces Land, it was considered a powerful Dao Lineage with a deep heritage and an ancient history.
Having broken through to the Fourth Realm, the Illuminating Nether Realm, at such a young age, Su Qinghan's future could only be described as boundlessly bright.
"I know you're on good terms with Lin Fan, and that he's bought you little trinkets and snacks many times before. But from now on, you must cut all ties with him. He is the assassin who tried to kill Young Master Jiang and is wanted by the Great Xia dynasty. You cannot allow yourself to be implicated with him."
Su Qinghan said softly to her younger sister.
On her way from the City Lord's Mansion, she had seen the wanted posters plastered on bounty boards everywhere.
The crime of attempting to assassinate the Son of the Prime Minister was enough to ensure Lin Fan had no place left to stand within the borders of the Great Xia dynasty.
In addition to the bounty issued by the Prefect of Jiangling County, many Noble Sects had also put up wanted posters, hoping to capture Lin Fan and curry favor with the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Su Qingyao looked conflicted. "Sister, how do you know all this?"
Su Qinghan glanced at her but simply shook her head without explaining.
'Those boxes of cosmetics and other items in Su Qingyao's private chambers clearly weren't brought by her maids. Considering her friendly attitude toward Lin Fan, it wasn't hard to guess who gave them to her.'
'So why had Lin Fan gone to such lengths to get close to Su Qingyao?'
"Sister, what exactly happened these past few days? Why do I get the feeling that your attitude toward that big villa—I mean, Young Master Jiang, seems so much better?" Su Qingyao asked, grabbing her sister's arm, unable to contain her curiosity.
"Has it improved that much?"
Su Qinghan was a little surprised that Su Qingyao had noticed the change.
She didn't deny it, though. A faint, fleeting smile touched her lips before vanishing. "Some... unexpected things happened."
"Huh...?"
Su Qingyao stared blankly. 'What kind of answer is that? For the life of her, she couldn't figure out how that was any different from saying nothing at all.'
Su Qinghan reached out and affectionately pinched her nose. "Just remember this: Young Master Jiang isn't a bad person. I don't know what grudge Lin Fan has against him, but the fact that Lin Fan hid his strength and laid low in the Su Family for so many years, plotting in the shadows... that is far more terrifying."
'Someone who would rather endure years of heart-devouring agony than harm an innocent person can't be truly evil.'
Su Qingyao nodded, still a bit dazed. Then, she mumbled sheepishly, "Actually... when I first saw Young Master Jiang, I didn't think he looked like a bad person, either…"
Su Qinghan was speechless. 'I almost forgot this girl has had a weakness for pretty things since she was little.'
'To put it bluntly, she's a total sucker for a pretty face.'
...
In the City Lord's Mansion, Jiang Lan was in the middle of a meal when he felt another surge of the Power of Destiny flowing toward him from the unseen.
'Although the Power of Destiny is illusory and ethereal, after fusing with the Destiny Dao Fruit, my perception of it has become much stronger and more sensitive. I can even identify its source by sensing its 'aura'.'
'Su Qinghan is an easy one to fleece, but it's unlikely I'll be able to mature the Destiny Dao Fruit to its second stage in a short amount of time...'
Jiang Lan chuckled to himself. 'This heroine is clever, to be sure, but she's also far more naive than I imagined.'
'Once I deal with Lin Fan, I wonder how much more Power of Destiny I'll be able to obtain.'
"Young Master, per your instructions a few days ago, I have had the Prefect of Jiangling County order the local City Lords to place the city's apothecaries and herb shops under close watch. Should anyone appear purchasing large quantities of Flame Sun Attribute Medicinal Herbs, they are to be detained immediately…"
At Jiang Lan's side, Ying reported the matter in a respectful tone.