Chapter 055: How Dare You Hit Me?!!

Xiao Jiu frowned as he looked at the dead snake. Judging by the shape of its head, it was indeed a venomous species. Yet...

“This kind of snake should only be found deep in the mountains and wild forests. How did it end up in Jin’er’s room?” As he spoke, Xiao Jiu inadvertently glanced at Qin’er, catching a fleeting look of panic in her eyes—a highly suspicious reaction.

“That’s not important right now,” Qin’er hurried to redirect the conversation, struggling to suppress her unease as she noticed Xiao Jiu’s odd gaze. “The real question is, why did the snake bite Jin’er, and yet she’s unharmed while the snake is dead?”

Before Xiao Jiu could reply, Jin’er let out a cold laugh and stepped off the bed. The fear and panic from earlier had vanished without a trace, replaced by an aloof indifference that startled everyone present, making them doubt if what they had witnessed moments ago had been real at all.

“You’re not concerned about why the snake died. What you really want to know is why I am still alive, aren’t you?” Jin’er advanced towards Qin’er, her presence so imposing that Qin’er instinctively wanted to back away.

“What—what are you trying to do? I told you, this has nothing to do with me! Don’t accuse the innocent!” Qin’er stammered nervously, her hand clutching the iron tongs trembling slightly. She wanted to avert her gaze from Jin’er’s cold, sharp eyes, but found herself unable to move, as if rooted to the spot.

With a clang, the iron tongs fell from her grasp onto the floor.

Jin’er halted, her eyes fixed on the dead snake, her brows deeply furrowed.

It was just a snake bite—why had she been so frightened? She loathed her own weakness. The poison inside her now was far more potent than any serpent’s venom; what had she to fear from them?

Jin’er, you must overcome your cowardice! From now on, you must never fear snakes again. Never allow yourself to be so pathetic!

Clenching her teeth, Jin’er drew a deep breath, stepped forward, and kicked the snake aside with all her might. Lifting her head, she continued towards Qin’er.

Xiao Jiu watched the sudden transformation in Jin’er with astonishment, a shock he could not put into words.

Was this change not too abrupt? She had been trembling with fear moments ago. Even if the snake was dead, she should still be wary.

While he puzzled over this, Jin’er was already standing before Qin’er. Though she was half a head shorter, her presence completely overshadowed Qin’er.

At this moment, Qin’er, feeling guilty, stared at Jin’er uneasily, unsure of her intentions. Yet she was not truly afraid—without evidence, how could Jin’er accuse her? She was certain her senior brother would not side with Jin’er’s family alone.

“I would very much like to kill you, do you know that?” Jin’er’s gaze was icy and unwavering as she spoke.

Xiao Jiu and another attendant were both taken aback, unable to believe such words could come from the usually obedient and diligent little maid. Even Qin’er felt a chill run deep within her.

She spoke seriously, yet with a certain ease, as if describing something utterly ordinary.

“But I don’t want to sully my hands, nor do I wish to upset Master.” Jin’er knit her brows, appearing both helpless and resentful.

“Tch!” Qin’er forced herself to ignore the chill in her heart, letting out a derisive laugh and turning away. This girl could boast without blushing! Did she think a casual threat would intimidate her? And to use Master’s feelings as an excuse—what a farce!

But as she laughed, a sharp slap landed on her cheek, hot and stinging.

“You!” Qin’er turned, astonished. “How dare you hit me?!”

“A slap is far too lenient for you,” Jin’er replied coolly, utterly unafraid of Qin’er’s rage.

The imprint of Jin’er’s hand still burned on Qin’er’s face, and her words made her flush red with anger and pale with humiliation. Suddenly, Qin’er raised her hand, ready to strike back, but her wrist was caught mid-air by a firm grip.

“That’s enough. This ends here.” Xiao Jiu frowned as he held Qin’er’s wrist.

“This ends here? Senior brother, did you not see her hit me? Why should I let her strike me for nothing?!” Qin’er protested furiously, unwilling to yield.

Before she could finish, Jin’er, as if nothing had happened, walked to the side, took a lantern from an attendant, and left the room without a backward glance.

“Senior brother, did you see that attitude? And you’re still siding with her?!” Qin’er, unable to retaliate and unable to break free from Xiao Jiu’s grasp, stomped her foot in frustration.

“She’s been badly frightened, just let it go.” Believing Jin’er had already gone downstairs, Xiao Jiu finally released Qin’er’s wrist.

Before she could retort, he leaned in, his expression grave. “If you had anything to do with this, I suggest you stop now. Otherwise… don’t blame me for abandoning all sibling ties.” With that, he turned away and sat on the edge of the bed, refusing to look at her.

Qin’er opened her mouth to explain, but Xiao Jiu raised a hand to silence her. “I don’t want to hear another word. I’ve said all I need to. You’d best think carefully about your actions.” He pinched his brow, looking utterly exhausted.

Biting her lip, Qin’er glared at him for a long moment before storming off in a fury.

Was he suspecting her? How could he? Infuriating! Why was Jin’er’s life so stubbornly resilient?

The room grew quiet. Xiao Jiu glanced at the dead snake, which gave even him chills, and replayed the earlier events in his mind, his brows furrowing once more.

Judging from Jin’er’s attitude towards Qin’er, and Qin’er’s suspicious behavior, it seemed likely she was involved. And when Jin’er shouted at him, blaming him for everything—could it be that because he was kind to Jin’er, Qin’er resented her and devised ways to harm her?

No, impossible. Xiao Jiu shook his head in panic, unwilling to accept such a possibility. Qin’er could be willful and overbearing, but to take someone’s life? She couldn’t possibly have the courage.

Night was as cold as water, and the entire rear courtyard was shrouded in an uneasy, restless atmosphere.

Xiao Jiu was preoccupied with the events, Qin’er fumed and smashed her pillows in her room, and Jin’er sat in a daze on her bed.

Time ticked by. Jin’er, her eyes vacant, stared at the floor all night long.

At last, as the first rooster crowed, she slowly regained her senses and rose to leave her room.

It was still early, the darkness lingering.

A new day was about to begin. How was she to face them, to face Qin’er? If she remained, Qin’er would never let things rest. She had been lucky to escape twice—would her luck hold out forever?

She had only been here a little over two months, yet it felt as if years had passed.

Perhaps it was time for her to leave. With a helpless sigh, Jin’er returned to her room.

A stick of incense later, she emerged with a bundle in hand. Standing in the center of the courtyard, she gazed silently at Xiao Jiu’s room for a long moment, then turned and walked away without a backward glance.

At that moment, she didn’t think about how the others would react to her departure, nor what would happen if Mo Yan could not find her. She only wanted to leave this place that suffocated her.

People were beginning to fill the street, and the stalls and shops opening for the morning market.

Jin’er wandered aimlessly, not knowing where to go.

A delicious aroma drifted past her nose. She looked around and saw a noodle shop ahead, where someone was frying minced meat sauce, the rich scent wafting down the street.

It smelled so good! Jin’er swallowed hungrily, suddenly aware of her empty stomach.

“Boss, I’ll have a bowl of noodles,” Jin’er said, choosing a seat by the wall.

“Alright, just a moment.” The proprietor answered cheerfully and busied himself with her order.

Jin’er dug out a small piece of silver, preparing to use it for the bill. As her gaze was about to move away, she paused. It was silver given to her by Nangong Che.

“If you ever can’t find anyone, or run into trouble, come find me at the General’s Residence.” Nangong Che’s words echoed in her mind, and an idea began to take shape.

Should she seek him out? He had already helped her once—how could she trouble him again, when they were but passing acquaintances? Yet now, he was the only person she could think of...

After much hesitation, Jin’er finally resolved to go to the General’s Residence after breakfast. If they would just take her in, even as a mere scullery maid, that would be enough.

Just then, the boss brought over a large, steaming bowl of noodles.

“You’re my first customer today, so I made you an extra-large portion. Eat up, but be careful—it’s hot,” he said kindly, setting the bowl in front of her.

“Thank you.” Jin’er smiled at him, picked up her chopsticks, and ate with relish.

It had been so long since she’d eaten noodles. Back home, her favorite breakfast had always been noodles with meat sauce—she’d eaten them for years without ever growing tired. Since coming to this world, she hadn’t tasted them once.

It was delicious; the boss was quite the cook.

Jin’er ate with gusto, and soon her belly was full and round.

“I’m so full… Boss, the bill please.” She patted her stomach, handed over the silver, collected her change, and left the shop.

By now, the sun was fully risen and the street was bustling. Jin’er asked her way as she went, heading in the direction of the General’s Residence.