Free Web NovelChapter 187: Chapter 187: Dark History
The moment she finished speaking, the Gray Wolf Butler visibly stiffened.
Yi Nuo pressed his lips together, glancing at the person beside him.
Lin Xiyue frantically shook her head, raising both hands to proclaim her innocence. "It wasn’t me! I didn’t say a single word!"
Yi Nuo’s heart skipped a beat. He turned to see an ’I knew it’ expression appear on his lady’s face.
Jiang Qingli raised an eyebrow. "So it really was him."
She’d only had a vague suspicion. She hadn’t expected to trick the truth out of them so easily.
Lin Xiyue, realizing what had happened, shrugged at Yi Nuo. "You can’t blame me for this. Your lady figured it out herself." Then, she pressed her palms together, pleading with Jiang Qingli. "Sweetie, please don’t be mad at me. I was just worried you’d get angry..."
"I’ll deal with you later." Jiang Qingli flicked her friend’s forehead. "Why don’t you go play for a bit? I want to talk to Yi Nuo about... some things."
Jiang Qingli had wanted to say "my brother," but the title felt awkward as it reached her lips, so she swallowed it back and left it vague.
Seeing that her tone was even, Lin Xiyue knew she wasn’t truly angry and quickly fled the "battlefield." "In that case, I’ll go take selfies in your garden. There’s a really beautiful spot there."
"Go on, go." Jiang Qingli patted her on the back, walking her to the door.
The door closed, leaving only the two of them in the room.
Jiang Qingli turned and walked up to Yi Nuo.
She stood a few steps away, tilting her head back to look up at him, her eyes filled with dissatisfaction.
For a moment, panic flickered in Yi Nuo’s eyes. His long lashes drooped, concealing his gaze.
"I apologize, My Lady." The Gray Wolf Butler’s voice was as calm as ever, but he tilted his head back slightly, as if afraid something might suddenly pop out.
Jiang Qingli didn’t notice his unusual expression and walked around him to sit on the sofa.
She was still pondering the strangeness of it all. "You didn’t tell me, Doctor Meng didn’t say anything, and Yueyue kept quiet too. It’s very strange... Did Jiang Youchen order you all to do this?"
’So what if Jiang Youchen came back and happened to save me? Was that really something they needed to hide from me?’
Yi Nuo’s gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, and the fingers at his side clenched.
’My Lady really has changed so much.’
’A few months ago, just hearing the name "Jiang Youchen" would bring a look of deep disgust, defensiveness, and resentment to her face. But now, she could say his name so casually, just like she did years ago.’
’Jiang Youchen would probably be thrilled if he knew.’
"I apologize, My Lady. We didn’t mean to hide it from you," Yi Nuo said slowly. "Young Master Youchen returned to the First District early to discuss important matters with His Majesty. Very few people are aware of it, so it would be unsafe for the news to get out."
This was the truth.
It was just that Jiang Youchen had been the one to request the important meeting.
Jiang Qingli nodded, her suspicion allayed. "I see. In that case, I’ll keep it a secret, too."
The words had barely left her mouth when Yi Nuo approached and knelt at her side.
Jiang Qingli was puzzled. "What is it? Is there something else you need to tell me?"
Yi Nuo lowered his eyes, his posture humble. "I have deceived you, My Lady. Please punish me."
"It’s fine. You were just following his orders." Jiang Qingli had no intention of blaming him.
Yi Nuo looked up, his expression serious. "You are my master, My Lady. I only take orders from you."
’He had helped Jiang Youchen hide the truth, partly because he didn’t want to upset her.’
’On the other hand... perhaps it was also due to a secret, selfish reason he himself was unwilling to admit.’
Jiang Qingli, however, was oblivious to her butler’s secret. Her eyes curved into crescents as she reached out to ruffle the young man’s gray hair, praising him softly, "Good boy, good boy."
She had barely stroked his hair twice when a pair of wolf ears popped out on top of Yi Nuo’s head, the soft fur quivering.
Yi Nuo’s breath hitched, and he silently shifted a little closer to her.
’Though he was loath to admit it, deep down he had always hoped his lady would knead his beast ears and play with their tips, just as she had before.’
But the moment Jiang Qingli saw the wolf ears, she retracted her hand.
As Yi Nuo watched in confusion, she stood up and patted his shoulder. "Alright, I’m going to find Yueyue now. You should get up too. Kneeling for too long is bad for your knees."
Yi Nuo paused, then answered in a muffled voice, "Yes, My Lady."
He followed close behind Jiang Qingli, matching her step for step.
As she opened the door, Jiang Qingli suddenly heard Yi Nuo ask, "My Lady, are you returning home tonight?"
"But aren’t I home right now?" Jiang Qingli replied instinctively.
The words left her mouth, and she frowned, then quickly tried to cover for her slip. "I’m not feeling well right now. Um... I’ll recuperate here for a while, and then I’ll head back."
’Besides, she’d heard from the servants that her parents were attending a summit on the other side of the district and likely wouldn’t be back this week.’
’It should be fine as long as I leave before they get back, right?’
A glint appeared in Yi Nuo’s eyes. "Very well, I will inform all the Beast Husbands." He paused. "My Lady, should I schedule visiting times for them here?"
Jiang Qingli thought for a moment. "In that case, let’s just stick to their usual visitation schedule."
’The scene from earlier, with that whole crowd of Beast Husbands (and Yuan Shiyao) jostling for her attention, was a little overwhelming...’
’Her skills at juggling all of them weren’t that polished yet. It was better to meet them one by one.’
"Oh, right."
When they reached the ground floor, Jiang Qingli stopped and turned to ask Yi Nuo, "Will Jiang—that is... will he be staying here during this time?"
’Out in the open, she suddenly didn’t dare to say Jiang Youchen’s name, as if she were afraid of being overheard.’
Yi Nuo understood who she meant. "Are you referring to Young Master Youchen? I don’t know where he is staying, but it’s highly unlikely that you will encounter him."
’Well, that’s a relief.’ freewebnσvel.cѳm
With that potential problem dealt with, Jiang Qingli smiled and raised her hand. Yi Nuo obediently bowed his head, his wolf ears flattening back like an airplane’s wings.
Her slender fingers paused for a moment before patting his shoulder. "Thank you for all your trouble."
With that, she headed toward the garden.
After hearing Yi Nuo’s footsteps fade in the other direction, Jiang Qingli let out a sigh of relief and slapped her own hand in frustration.
’Stupid hand, control yourself!’
’I almost touched his ears and started "courting" Yi Nuo again...’
The Jiang Family estate was enormous, like a castle, and its interior was just as luxurious.
Tucked away in corners, one could occasionally spot a few cute dolls and figurines.
Though they looked quite old, they were immaculately kept—clean and clearly well-loved.
Jiang Qingli’s pace gradually slowed as a wave of complex emotions washed over her again.
Her heart felt like a waterlogged sponge, aching with a heavy, sour feeling that brought a slight sting to her eyes.
Jiang Qingli shook her head and walked into the garden.
Lin Xiyue was sitting in the glass conservatory, snapping picture after picture.
The place was truly beautiful. Inside the exquisite glass conservatory were roses of every color, blooming in dewy splendor under meticulous care, filling the air with their rich, sweet fragrance.
The fragrance of the roses helped to lift Jiang Qingli’s spirits.
She walked toward Lin Xiyue. "I’m here! Want me to take some photos for you?"
"First, look at what I found!"
Lin Xiyue turned around and showed Jiang Qingli what she was holding.
It was a small sculpture.
The person who made it must have been very young; they had molded five lopsided little things that could barely be called "human figures."
One could vaguely make out that the clay figure in the center was a little girl with pigtails and a dress... The girl was holding hands with four other people, two on each side. It was impossible to tell their gender, but three had short hair and one had long hair.
Jiang Qingli offered a diplomatic review. "Hmm... did you make this? It’s... very creative."
"You don’t recognize it?" Lin Xiyue let out a laugh and handed her a card she’d picked up from nearby. "See for yourself. It’s from your cringey past."
Jiang Qingli froze, then took the card.
The card was yellowed, clearly quite old.
Opening the card, the first thing she saw was a line of childish script:
[TO Brother:
Happy Birthday, Jiang Youchen!
I made this. It’s Mama, Papa, me, you, and Brother Baili. We have to stay together forever!
Jiang Qingli.]
But that wasn’t all.
Below it, another line had been added in a refined, elegant script:
[Thank you, Ah Li. Brother loves it. But next time, just make it Mother, Father, and the two of us.]
