Chapter Twenty-Nine: Unveiling the Truth, Part Five

The reason was simple. While he suffered from facial blindness, he was far from a fool.

On one hand, there was a young woman who couldn't even identify the species of snake, yet claimed to have cured his venomous bite. On the other, there was the girl who had grabbed that very snake by its throat and slammed it against the floor with a rhythmic thud.

In truth, the Ninth Prince had been entangled by other snakes. In the original plot, Lin Wanyue had never encountered the wild cat that Lin Zhaozhao had intentionally released, nor had Arulang ordered so many snakes to be gathered.

But at this moment, Arulang thought to himself, "...Wow."

He wouldn't just praise her; she was truly a gallant and heroic young lady! Her movements were so agile—she was just like a little leopard from their Northern Rong grasslands. Marrying her would surely provide such a sense of security! She could definitely protect him!

Lin Zhaozhao, of course, had no idea what the young prince was thinking. She tied the stunned, unconscious red-banded snake into a tight knot, pondering that the venom could be used to formulate medicine, while the snake itself could fetch a good price at a traditional herb shop.

Before she could finish her thoughts, Arulang hurried over and asked, "Which family are you from, young lady?"

Just as Lin Zhaozhao was about to reply, Lin Wanyue jumped up and shouted, "Lin Zhaozhao! Did Grandmother not forbid you from leaving your courtyard? How dare you be so disobedient and unfilial!"

Her tone was so self-righteous, her attitude so fierce, that one would think Lin Zhaozhao was some heinous criminal!

Lin Zhaozhao couldn't even be bothered to deal with her petty schemes. "Do you have no idea why Grandmother confined me? Besides, I was resting perfectly well in my own courtyard when you started shrieking outside. One might think you were suffering from hysteria. I came out out of the kindness of my heart to check on you, and you’re still unhappy?"

"You know perfectly well why you came out!"

Lin Wanyue stood up and grabbed Arulang, saying, "Little Prince, this is my good-for-nothing sister. She has always been unruly. I hope you will not blame her for her lack of etiquette in shouting like this. I shall take her away at once!"

"Wait!" Just as Lin Wanyue reached out to pull Lin Zhaozhao away, Arulang caught sight of the golden locket on the other girl’s neck. His eyes lit up. "I understand now! This nonsense about you saving me—it never happened! You clearly stole someone else's credit! The person who truly saved me is not you, but this sister who is even prettier than you!"

His voice was not exactly quiet. Even Altai, who had rushed out upon hearing the commotion, heard every word clearly. He looked at his youngest son and asked, "Arulang, what did you just say?"

"Father, these Central Plains people are truly insidious and cunning! To think we actually thanked the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate for finding our benefactor, when in reality, they were just usurping the credit!"

Arulang was fuming. "We gave them a description—the golden locket, the refined beauty—and in the end, they brought us this fake to fool us!"

This blunt tone caused the expressions of everyone present to shift.

Lin Wanyue gritted her teeth. "What are you talking about! I saved you out of kindness, yet you bite the hand that fed you! Had I known this would happen, I never would have risked so much to save you!" Her eyes welled with tears, and she trembled as if deeply aggrieved.

Lin Qingci was heartbroken just watching her and interjected, "Why must you keep calling the Central Plains people insidious and cunning? Sister Wanyue grew up with me; she is not the type to steal someone else's credit! Besides, what is the status of our Marquis’s estate? Why would we care about your petty gratitude?"

*[Oh, please. You’re back to lecturing me on your precious Wanyue’s kindness and purity again?]*

*[What? Was it not her who lied and said I pushed her off the pavilion? Was it not her who usurped my place? Was it not her who stole my credit?]*

Lin Qingci’s face changed. What did she mean by stealing Lin Zhaozhao’s credit? That was impossible! Sister Wanyue had always been patient and accommodating toward Lin Zhaozhao. He would believe that Lin Zhaozhao stole from Wanyue, but the other way around...?

"You still have the nerve to be stubborn!"

Arulang pointed at the golden locket on Lin Zhaozhao’s chest. "When I was drifting in and out of consciousness that day, I clearly remembered that this locket was engraved with a sun and auspicious clouds. But look at what is engraved on your locket! I may have facial blindness, but my heart is not blind! You are absolutely not my savior!"

He grew more agitated as he spoke and grabbed Lin Zhaozhao’s arm, pulling her behind him. "Don't be afraid, little benefactor. I can see that this estate has kidnapped you, starved you, and abused you, forcing you to give up your credit! You must feel they are all wolves, but don't worry, your Arulang is here! I shall personally petition the Emperor today and have him order the execution of this wicked woman!"

Terrified by the threat of being dragged before the Emperor, Lin Wanyue’s face turned pale. She stepped back and stammered, "I didn't... I didn't abuse her! Don't go! I..."

"You what? If you dare claim you saved me, then recite the prescription you wrote for me! Let me warn you, that prescription is nothing like the ones found on the market!"

"..."

Lin Wanyue’s face drained of color. She opened her mouth, looking helplessly toward Lin Qingwu.

Arulang sneered. "What? Can't say it? I knew it! It’s a good thing I kept my wits about me! As for someone as money-grubbing as you, I don't even want to waste my breath!"

Lin Zhaozhao was amused to the point of laughter.

*[You haven't wasted a single breath! But please, keep scolding her! It’s music to my ears!]*

She then looked at the stunned Lin Qingci and let out a cold hum. "Didn't you say your 'little white lotus' was too pure to steal credit? Well? The facts are right in front of you—why have you stopped talking?"

Lin Qingci said nothing. It wasn't that he didn't want to speak; the impact of the revelation was simply too great. It was shattering his perception of Lin Wanyue. After all, he had always believed Lin Zhaozhao was the one with poor character. But ever since he had inexplicably begun to hear his sister’s inner voice, everything seemed to have changed. It was as if everything he saw with his own eyes had been wrapped in a layer of deception.

"Big Brother!" Seeing Arulang preparing to drag Lin Zhaozhao away to find the Emperor, Lin Wanyue was truly frightened. "Big Brother, say something!"

What could Lin Qingwu even say? With so many people in the front hall, and everyone now hiding to watch the spectacle, the entire reputation of the Marquis's estate was in ruins! He couldn't help but feel secretly resentful toward Lin Zhaozhao for her lack of loyalty—after taking so much of his silver, this was the result?

Lin Zhaozhao, receiving Lin Qingwu’s glare, stared right back without a hint of hesitation.

*[What are you looking at? If your precious sister hadn't been shrieking like a banshee after getting bitten by a snake, would I have had to come out to catch it? Besides, even if I hadn't come out, they aren't fools—would they really not have realized Lin Wanyue was lying?]*

One had to admit, Lin Zhaozhao was right. She had stolen the credit; the least she could have done was spend these few days quietly in the estate learning to identify snakes! She couldn't even recognize a red-banded snake!

Kaman spat on the ground and cursed, "Bah! And they call her the number one talented woman of the capital! A talented woman who steals others' credit? Had we known you were all such usurpers, we never would have conceded so much during the negotiations!"