Тhis wаs a rarе орроrtunity. Madаm Zhоu could hаrdly cоntаin hеr ехсitement, whilе Madam Da Zhou steррed fоrward with а bеаming smilе. "Fourth Мiss, рlеаsе let thе officers sее yоur wound." Her liрs curved intо a cоnfidеnt smilе, аs if shе hеld аll the cаrds.
Нan Yаn wаtсhed thеse sсhеming individuals with cоld еyеs. They аll wanted her dеаd. In hеr prеvious life, she hаd nоt еven bееn thеir еnеmу, yеt thеy hаd pоisoned hеr all thе sаmе. Now, in this lifе, histоrу sеemed to bе repeating itself, but thеir methods werе even mоre ruthlеss thаn befоre. These ugly faces were now etched into her heart. One day, she would make them pay in blood!
"What if Han Yan refuses?" she asked, her gaze fixed on the medicine bowl before her, her expression unreadable.
The officer in charge had already sensed the tension between Han Yan and the Zhou sisters and was more than happy to watch the drama unfold. No matter the outcome, as long as the assassin was dealt with, it would only benefit him.
"Fourth Miss," Madam Zhou’s voice slithered out like a venomous snake. "You cannot refuse."
"Very well," Han Yan retorted without backing down, raising her sleeve. "Then take a look!"
Where her sleeve was rolled up, layers of bandages were wrapped around her arm, with specks of blood seeping through, staining the fabric a deep crimson.
Madam Zhou and Madam Da Zhou exchanged a glance, clearly not expecting such a move. Zhuangshan thought for a moment before smiling and saying, "Why not remove the bandages, Fourth Sister?"
"You go too far!" Zhuang Hanming was furious. Seeing Han Yan injured had already felt like a knife twisting in his heart, and now the Zhou mother and daughter were so despicable as to demand she tear open her wound just to confirm their suspicions!
Madam Zhou watched Han Yan closely, but her expression revealed no cracks—neither confidence nor guilt. This left Madam Zhou somewhat bewildered. Meanwhile, Madam Da Zhou spoke up, "Yan'er, since you need to change the dressing anyway, why not just remove the bandage?"
She was convinced that Han Yan had been hiding her wound for a reason. Though Zhuangshan’s words were blunt, they were also the most effective approach. Her intuition told her that Han Yan was lying—at the very least, she must have seen the assassin. Now that they finally had a chance to bring her down, if they didn’t seize it, it would only become harder in the future. Moreover, looking at Han Yan’s indifferent expression, this opponent was far too dangerous. If not eliminated now, she would surely become a formidable threat later.
Hearing Madam Da Zhou’s words, Madam Zhou also smiled and said, "Indeed, Fourth Miss. Unless... there’s something you don’t want us to see."
Han Yan smiled back at her. "It’s not that Han Yan refuses to show you, but I’m afraid you might not be able to bear the sight."
"What do you mean?" Zhuangshan asked suspiciously. Han Yan’s tone made her uneasy, yet she was certain Han Yan had no tricks left.
Han Yan chuckled. "Nothing much. I just hope you won’t regret it after seeing it, because regret will be useless!"
Madam Zhou steadied herself. "We don’t quite understand Fourth Miss’s words, but we must see the wound. We truly care about your health, Fourth Miss. If it leaves a scar..."Han Yan curled the corner of her lips and said nothing. With a swift motion, she tore open the bandage with a ripping sound. The snow-white bandage, stained with blood, was forcibly peeled away from the flesh wound. Even Zhuang Hanming couldn’t help but grit his teeth at the sight. Yet, Han Yan didn’t even furrow her brows. With a flick of her hand, she tossed the bandage aside, then raised her head and looked at Madam Zhou with a faint, mocking smile. “Is Concubine satisfied now?”
Where the bandage had been torn away, the flesh was a bloody, mangled mess. Han Yan instructed Ji Lan, “Go fetch a pot of hot wine.”
The officer had witnessed countless gruesome scenes in his line of work, but seeing Han Yan treat her own wound with such indifference still left him astonished. Most young women, especially those from wealthy families, were delicate and pampered. Let alone tearing a bandage directly from a wound, even a minor scrape from a fall would send them weeping in their rooms for half the night. Yet this young girl’s ruthlessness toward herself sent a chill down his spine.
Ji Lan quickly brought a pot of steaming hot wine. Han Yan took the pot without hesitation and, without blinking, poured it directly over the wound. An excruciating pain shot through her, and she gritted her teeth, pausing for a moment before lifting her head with a smile. “Now… Officer, Concubine Zhou, Madam Zhou, Sister Yu Shan, have you all seen clearly?”
She enunciated each name slowly and deliberately, not as if calling out to them, but as if committing their names to memory for future retribution. A cold shiver ran down the spines of those present. As the hot wine washed over Han Yan’s wound, the bloodstains cleared, revealing a gash as long as a finger. It appeared to have been made by a sharp weapon, with the flesh torn open and the wound alarmingly deep.
Han Yan smiled at the crowd, ignoring the blood still dripping from her wound. “Gentlemen, do you have any further doubts you’d like me to clear up for you?”
The officer forced an awkward smile. “A misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. It seems there are no assassins here after all. I hope the young miss will understand.” With that, he made to take his leave, only to freeze in his tracks at Han Yan’s soft, almost airy command: “Stop.” He slowly turned back around.
Han Yan examined her wound for a long moment before lifting her gaze to meet his. Slowly, she spoke, “And what if I don’t understand?”
The officer was taken aback, his heart sinking. This young girl was not someone to be trifled with. He had been too caught up in watching the spectacle earlier and hadn’t considered that once the matter was resolved, she would surely not let him off easily. Though he was an officer in charge, it would be unseemly to fear a girl of twelve or thirteen. Yet, after years of navigating the complexities of human interactions, he trusted his judgment—this girl undoubtedly had ways to make him suffer.
“This…” he hesitated, at a loss.
Madam Zhou, not having witnessed the scene she had hoped for, shrilled, “How can Fourth Miss speak to the officer like this? The officer is only carrying out The Emperor’s orders. Surely Fourth Miss doesn’t intend to settle scores?”
Han Yan sneered. “Naturally, I wouldn’t dare speak a word against the officer. But what about the Xuan Qing Prince Consort?”
At these words, Madam Zhou immediately fell silent, and Madam Da Zhou’s face instantly turned ashen.Han Yan's tone suddenly turned severe: "Does being an officer grant you the right to force the Xuan Qing Prince Consort to vacate her chamber under the pretext of searching for an assassin, allowing others to rummage through it? Does it permit you to press so aggressively that you won't relent until I reveal my wound?" These words ostensibly targeted the officers, but everyone present understood the veiled accusation against Madam Zhou and her party. Zhuangshan's face paled with rage, and the handkerchief in her hand was nearly twisted to shreds.
Han Yan's voice, clear and bright, carried a faint chill that reached everyone's ears: "I am not yet married and remain a maiden in my chamber. Exposing my body to outsiders is a grave taboo. Auntie and Madam Zhou are both married women—surely you understand this principle." She glanced at the officer in charge: "I am the prince's betrothed. If I suffer such humiliation, what do you suppose the prince will do?"
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