No matter how Mao Qingzhu tried to explain, they only thought she was trying to cover up for that wild man.
The Mao Family had always been strict, and Mao Qingzhu’s actions undoubtedly brought shame to the family.
Actually, there was another way to prove her innocence.
But once revealed, Qing Jun’s life could be in danger, reduced to mere material for cultivation.
Upon hearing this, Xiaohe’s face showed a look of compassion, advising, "Madam, why do you torment yourself? The Family Head he..."
"Xiaohe, there’s no need to say more."
Mao Qingzhu interrupted her, her voice light yet resolute.
She turned her head, and through the misty water vapor, her phoenix-like eyes widened when she saw Chen Ye.
No!
This wasn’t Xiaotao!
"How audacious!"
Mao Qingzhu’s jade-like face was flushed, her gaze filled with shame and anger.
With a gentle slap on the water, several water arrows formed in an instant, breaking through the air, aiming straight at Chen Ye!
This sudden change shocked Xiaohe nearby: "Madam, calm down!"
She couldn’t understand why Madam would try to kill Xiaotao, whom she’d always doted on.
Chen Ye reacted swiftly, quickly flashing a jade pendant.
This jade pendant was the very one Mao Qingzhu had given to Zhiwei in the past!
He originally wanted to take Qing Jun’s little bell as a token.
However, the little girl was so fond of the bell, always shaking it now and then...
In that instant, Mao Qingzhu forcibly restrained her attack.
This... how could this audacious intruder in her bath have this jade pendant?
Wait, is he Brother Ye?
Brother Ye risked danger to sneak into the Mao Family, could it be that something happened to Qing Jun?
"Cough cough..."
Mao Qingzhu suddenly coughed violently, holding her forehead, her face showing a trace of pain, her voice becoming extremely weak,
"Forget it... perhaps... perhaps an injury to the Divine Soul in the Heart Slaughter Cave has made my mind unsettled... Xiaohe, you may withdraw first, leave Xiaotao to serve."
What she said was reasonable, and although Xiaohe was puzzled, she didn’t dare ask more when she saw Madam looking pale and not faking it.
"Yes, Madam. Please take care of yourself." Xiaohe looked at her worriedly, and then reluctantly left the bath, looking back repeatedly.
As the beaded curtain fell, separating inside from outside.
The sound of water treading softly, the fragrance was pervasive.
Only Chen Ye and Mao Qingzhu remained inside the bath.
The atmosphere suddenly fell into a deathly silence.
It seemed as if Mao Qingzhu’s earlier shame and rage were merely an illusion.
She now returned to her usual gentleness and composure, slowly sinking her body into the water, letting the warm pool water envelop her, leaving only a section of her fair neck and delicate collarbone.
Chen Ye only felt uncomfortable all over, he lowered his head, eyes on his nose, nose on his heart, his voice trying to remain calm: "Sister Qingzhu, long time no see."
"Sorry for making Brother Ye laugh. Just now I didn’t know it was you, which caused a misunderstanding..."
Mao Qingzhu’s voice was soft, without any anomaly.
As if it were a chance encounter in an ordinary hall, rather than in this private intimate bath.
Chen Ye composed himself and said, lowering his head, "Sister Qingzhu, the situation is urgent, I had no other choice and was abrupt, please forgive me."
"I understand."
Mao Qingzhu nodded slightly, seeing Chen Ye kept his head down, silently breathed a sigh of relief.
She raised her jade-like hand lightly and casually toyed with her long black hair in the pool water, this unintentional action imbued with innate charm.
If Chen Ye hadn’t kept his head down, he might have turned into a little crawfish by now.
Seeing Chen Ye’s awkwardness, she smiled gently: "Between us siblings, there’s no need to be formal."
Goodness...
So the woman blushing just now wasn’t you?
Chen Ye silently complained, if he wasn’t being formal, it would be Mao Qingzhu who should be.
He kept his head down and recounted Xu Qingsong’s visit and the story about "bloodline disease" in full detail.
After hearing Chen Ye’s account, a layer of frost finally covered Mao Qingzhu’s warm face:
"Oh Xu Qingsong! Oh Xu Family! How dare they... dare to treat you like this!"
Although she said "treating you", Chen Ye knew she was truly angry at the Xu Family’s scheme and disregard for Qing Jun.
"Sister Qingzhu, Qing Jun... what exactly is going on?" Chen Ye asked in a deep voice, which was his biggest concern on this trip.
Mao Qingzhu closed her eyes, and when she reopened them, the anger in her phoenix-like eyes turned to confusion: "I don’t know either..."
"?" Chen Ye was dumbfounded.
Luckily, Mao Qingzhu wasn’t completely ignorant.
She bit her lip, lifted her gaze to see the man bowing his head, her long eyelashes trembled slightly.
This is still...
For the first time, she was without a stitch, yet only a few steps away from a man...
Strong shame caused Mao Qingzhu’s breathing to become slightly erratic, she unconsciously played with the water surface, then said:
"Actually... Qing Jun is not my child."
"?" Chen Ye was once again dumbfounded, couldn’t help but raise his head to look at Mao Qingzhu.
How could this pair of equally dignified phoenix-like eyes not be biological?
But before he could take a proper look at the woman’s face, his attention was drawn by her unconscious movements in the water.
The water surface was rippling, partly visible and partly not.
Previously, seeming gentle and decorous Mao Qingzhu, upon seeing Chen Ye look up, became flustered: "Brother Ye..."
She didn’t notice Chen Ye’s momentary glance getting caught, was simply shy.
Chen Ye thought his slight gaze had been caught red-handed,
Even though his face was as thick as a city wall, he felt embarrassed, hurriedly lowering his head.
"Ahem... I mean, Brother Ye needn’t be so formal..." The stunning woman hiding in the bath added again.
"..."
Even her stubbornness is a bit like Qing Jun.