CCWAD – Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Steward, Please Hear My Defense!

Prologue:

“Being falsely accused of an affair with the mistress was the fuse that led to Yan Qing’s expulsion in the original story. Now, falling upon me, a ‘fake man,’ makes it even more impossible to clear my name. A beating is a small matter, but revealing my true gender is a big one. It’s time to put these modern wits in my head to good use.”

—

The air in Lu Junyi’s study seemed to have frozen into ice, heavy and suffocating.

Yan Qing stood with her hands lowered, clearly hearing the frantic pounding of her heart within her chest. The disarray from the training grounds had not fully subsided, and now she was enveloped by Lu Junyi’s scrutinizing gaze, a gaze more intense than ever before. She felt a chill run down her spine.

Lu Junyi did not immediately erupt. He sat in his armchair, his fingers slowly tapping on the rosewood desk, producing a “tok, tok, tok” sound. Each tap struck Yan Qing’s taut nerves.

“Xiao Yi,” he finally spoke, his voice deep, betraying no hint of emotion, yet carrying the oppressive weight of an approaching storm. “Recently, there have been some whispers within the manor that have reached my ears.”

Yan Qing’s heart tightened. She forced herself to remain calm and said, “Brother, what rumors are these? Xiao Yi has always acted with integrity. It must be someone stirring up trouble.”

“With integrity?” Lu Junyi scoffed, his gaze sharp as a falcon’s, piercing her. “Some say that while I was away, you frequently entered the inner quarters and were… overly intimate with my wife.”

It’s here! Yan Qing’s mind buzzed. The plot from the original story, where Li Gu colluded with Lady Jia to frame Yan Qing, was unfolding prematurely! And now, with this ambiguous body and her complete lack of martial arts skills, her situation was far more perilous than the original Yan Qing’s!

“Brother, please see reason!” Yan Qing immediately bowed, her tone filled with the urgency of being wronged. “Xiao Yi’s loyalty to Brother is as clear as the sun and moon! This is absolutely not true! It must be those petty individuals, jealous of Brother’s favor towards me, who are framing me! It’s Li Gu! It must be that scoundrel!” Without hesitation, she pointed the finger at the culprit from the original story.

Lu Junyi’s eyes flickered, but he did not fully believe her. He stared at Yan Qing and continued, “Oh? Li Gu? Why would he frame you? Even if this matter is doubtful, then tell me, why has your behavior changed so drastically recently? Your martial arts are rusty, you avoid the other brothers, and even your temperament seems… much more effeminate? How do you explain this?”

Here it comes, the ultimate challenge. The physical changes and the loss of skills were undeniable flaws.

Yan Qing’s mind raced. She knew she couldn’t brute-force her way through this; she had to take a risky gamble. Her face instantly contorted into an expression of mixed humiliation, anger, and a hint of desperation. She abruptly raised her head, her voice trembling:

“Since Brother asks, Xiao Yi… Xiao Yi dares not conceal it any longer!”

She took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision. “Does Brother still remember that I went down the mountain alone a month ago to handle business for you in Cangzhou?”

Lu Junyi frowned slightly and nodded.

“It was on the way back!” Yan Qing’s voice quickened, filled with fear. “I encountered a group of extremely strange bandits! Their methods were venomous; they didn’t steal wealth, but specifically attacked a person’s foundation! I wasn’t careful and fell into their trap!”

“A trap?” Lu Junyi leaned forward slightly.

“Yes!” Yan Qing nodded heavily, a look of pain and shame appearing on her face, perfectly timed. “They used an extremely chilling palm strike that entered my body. It not only damaged the foundation of my hard-cultivated internal energy but also… also injured my… injured my Kidney Meridian Vital Energy!” As she said this, her voice lowered, and an unnatural flush spread across her face, as if it were difficult to speak of.

“Kidney Meridian Vital Energy?” Lu Junyi, a master of martial arts, naturally understood what this meant. The kidneys store essence and are the root of a person’s Yang energy and vital energy. If the Kidney Meridian is damaged, it can indeed lead to weakened Yang energy, lack of vitality, and even… cause some effeminate traits. And damage to the internal energy foundation would explain the loss of martial arts!

“This matter… this matter concerns a man’s dignity. Xiao Yi truly has no face to tell Brother and all the other brothers!” Yan Qing, at the opportune moment, displayed immense shame, her eyes reddening slightly. “That’s why I’ve been distant from the brothers recently, for fear of being discovered… As for entering the inner quarters,” she shifted her focus, her tone becoming wronged and frank, “it’s because Madam is thoughtful and noticed my unusual complexion, and inquired with concern. I… I was distressed and had no one to confide in, so I occasionally sought some warming and tonifying remedies from Madam. There was never any disrespect! If Brother doesn’t believe me, you can summon Madam to confront me, or you can question the servants who prepared my medicine!”

This explanation was a mixture of truth and falsehood, reality and fabrication. The loss of internal energy and the damage to the Kidney Meridian were lies, but attributing it to the “venomous trap” of “strange bandits” perfectly explained the loss of martial arts and the effeminate disposition. It also rationalized her “avoidance of brothers” and “contact with the mistress,” even highlighting her “loyalty” and “endurance.”

Lu Junyi fell silent. He scrutinized Yan Qing carefully. Seeing her agitated expression, which didn’t seem feigned, especially the shame and embarrassment when mentioning “Kidney Meridian damage,” which didn’t feel acted. Coupled with her recent pale complexion and unusual behavior, this explanation was seamless and logically consistent.

More importantly, Yan Qing’s proactive offer to confront Lady Jia and verify the medicine prescriptions demonstrated her confidence. If there were truly an affair, she would never dare to do so.

The atmosphere in the study subtly shifted. The frost in Lu Junyi’s eyes began to melt, replaced by a complex emotion—relief, sympathy, and even a trace of imperceptible guilt.

“There was such a thing…” Lu Junyi murmured, his tone much softer. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? To suffer such injustice and make me…” He wanted to say “misjudge you,” but swallowed the words. His dignity as the head of the household prevented him from immediately admitting fault.

Just then, a slight commotion was heard from outside the study. Yan Qing’s sharp ears caught Li Gu’s slightly shrill voice whispering to someone, with a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.

An opportunity has arisen!

Yan Qing steeled her heart and decided to add fuel to the fire. She dropped to her knees with a thud, her voice choked with sobs, yet remarkably clear:

“Brother! Xiao Yi has been ambushed and my martial arts are completely ruined. I am now a useless person! If Brother feels Xiao Yi is an eyesore in the manor, or if you do not trust Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi is willing to leave immediately without any complaints! I only beg Brother to investigate clearly and not fall into the trap of those who frame me, chilling the hearts of loyal servants, and allowing… allowing true villains to succeed!”

Her words were like tears, seemingly a voluntary departure but actually a strategic retreat. Every word pointed to “someone framing me” and “villains succeeding.”

Lu Junyi looked at the kneeling, slender figure of “Yan Qing” with red-rimmed eyes. Recalling his past demeanor, his heart softened. The remaining doubts vanished. He stood up and personally helped Yan Qing to her feet.

“Xiao Yi, it is I… who misjudged you. Rise and speak.”

He sighed. “You have served my Lu family wholeheartedly. Now that you have suffered such a calamity, how can I abandon you? I will thoroughly investigate this matter and seek justice for you!”

“Thank you for Brother’s trust!” Yan Qing rose with the flow, a great stone lifting from her heart. She knew this hurdle had been temporarily cleared.

Lu Junyi pondered for a moment, a glint of fierceness in his eyes. “You said just now, it was Li Gu?”

“Xiao Yi dares not speak carelessly, but recently the rumors in the manor have mostly come from the mouths of his servants. Furthermore…” Yan Qing lowered her voice. “On the day I returned injured, I vaguely saw him outside the manor talking with some suspicious individuals. I didn’t pay it much mind then, but thinking about it now, it’s very suspicious!”

This was, of course, Yan Qing’s improvisation based on the original story and the current situation, a mix of truth and falsehood, aimed at guiding Lu Junyi’s investigation.

Lu Junyi’s expression darkened completely. Li Gu was a steward he had promoted. If he had indeed colluded with outsiders, ambushed Yan Qing, and spread rumors, his crime was unforgivable!

“A fine traitor seeking glory!” Lu Junyi snorted angrily. “Xiao Yi, rest assured and recover. I will handle this matter.”

His gaze towards Yan Qing returned to its former warmth, even carrying a hint of pity. “As for your condition… do not despair. There are many skilled individuals in the world, and a cure can always be found.”

“Yes, Brother,” Yan Qing replied, lowering her head to conceal the emotions in her eyes. The immediate crisis was averted, but she knew this was only a temporary measure. As long as Li Gu was not dealt with, endless trouble would follow. And she would have to maintain the pretense of her “injury” indefinitely.

Living, in this perilous Liangshan, was truly not easy.

But at least, with her quick wit, she had bought herself some precious time.

—

(End of Chapter 3)