The scene today was incredibly similar to many years ago.
She was always the target, surrounded and judged by everyone.
But back then, for Gu Yanchi's reputation, she was willing to suppress all her sharp edges and swallow those unbearable rumors alone.
Even when people pointed fingers and called her shameless, even when she was confined to the inner courtyard, she never offered a single defense.
At that time, her heart and eyes were filled with him, only hoping that her forbearance could protect his reputation for a lifetime and not betray his promise of a marriage contract from back then.
But now, that carefully guarded affection suddenly had no purpose.
Thus, after Lin Meijun uttered the words, "Even if there is fault, it should be with those who harbored improper thoughts," Qin Xianyue slowly raised her lowered gaze.
"Miss Lin, you are mistaken."
She was not hysterical, nor did she complain or accuse.
Her voice was clear and calm, yet every word was distinct.
"A sage is pure and upright, excellent and without fault; if others feel admiration and affection, and keep it within their hearts and within proper bounds, there is also no fault.
The fault is never in 'harboring thoughts,' but in someone using these thoughts to trample on another's dignity, using the guise of fairness to inflict harm."
Lin Meijun was somewhat surprised, not expecting the usually obedient Qin Xianyue to refute her so directly.
With that said, Qin Xianyue no longer wished to linger for another moment.
Just as she was about to rise and leave, the cabin door was gently pushed open, and Gu Yanchi's figure appeared in view.
He had just changed into a moon white brocade robe, his posture tall and straight, his features handsome, though his expression carried a hint of the detachment that comes after handling affairs.
His gaze swept over everyone in the cabin, finally landing on Qin Xianyue. His steps paused slightly, then he slowly walked over.
Gu Zhaoyun, quick-eyed, saw Gu Yanchi appear and immediately seized Qin Xianyue's movement to rise. While everyone's attention was drawn to Gu Yanchi, she swiftly bumped into the corner of the table.
With a crisp "crash," the teacups on the table were instantly overturned. The scalding tea water rolled down the edge of the table, pouring directly towards Lin Meijun beside her.
Lin Meijun cried out in surprise and abruptly stood up, instinctively gathering her skirt.
Gu Yanchi's expression tightened, and he quickly stepped forward to check.
Seeing that Lin Meijun had only gotten her clothes wet and was not scalded, his expression finally softened.
Gu Zhaoyun, seeing this, immediately rushed to Gu Yanchi's side, pointing at Qin Xianyue with a tone full of indignation.
"Eldest Brother! It's all her! Qin Xianyue is jealous of Miss Lin, jealous that you are good to Miss Lin, and deliberately bumped the table when she stood up, overturning the teacups to scald Miss Lin! She is simply malicious and cannot stand to see Miss Lin do well!"
Qin Xianyue stood in place, her body unmoving.
If one wants to accuse, they will always find a reason; if she hadn't understood this principle during her years at the Marquis's Estate, she would have lived in vain.
Lin Meijun, at the opportune moment, spoke to smooth things over.
"Younger Sister Zhaoyun, don't say that. Perhaps Sister Qin just accidentally bumped the table when she stood up; it was definitely not intentional."
"What do you mean not intentional!" Gu Zhaoyun was relentless. "Eldest Brother, you can't indulge her anymore! What if this tea water had been hotter and really scalded Miss Lin? Her intentions are impure; if she can do something like this today, who knows what more excessive things she might do tomorrow!"
Qin Xianyue ignored Gu Zhaoyun's accusations, only looking up at Gu Yanchi.
Just as she had risen, he happened to push open the door and enter.
Whether she had touched the table corner or deliberately overturned the teacup, from his perspective, he could absolutely see it clearly.
But in the next moment, the man's voice rang out, without the slightest hesitation, directly delivering two words.
"Apologize."
Qin Xianyue looked up in a daze, her gaze quickly scanning between the three of them, and instantly understood.
Lin Meijun might disdain to frame someone like Gu Zhaoyun, but she was very willing to use this opportunity to test Gu Yanchi's stance.
And on whose side Gu Yanchi stood, the answer was already obvious.
Gu Zhaoyun, seeing that even Gu Yanchi wasn't protecting that Jian Ren this time, pushed her advantage further.
"Just apologizing isn't enough! She almost scalded Miss Lin, so she should be made to kneel and apologize to Miss Lin, and personally clean her wet clothes to make proper amends!"
"That wouldn't be appropriate."
Lin Meijun repeatedly waved her hands.
"Laundry is done by maidservants; how could Sister Qin do it herself."
Gu Yanchi was silent for a moment, then said to Qin Xianyue.
"There are no spare women's clothes on the painted boat. You should take off your outer garment and lend it to Miss Lin for now.
Afterwards, once the wet clothes are handled and returned intact, this matter will be dropped."
The lake wind blowing through the corridor was biting, but it couldn't compare to a fraction of what was in her heart.
Qin Xianyue didn't know how she got back to her room.
Bao Xiang stepped forward, wanting to take the clothes from her.
"Miss, let me do it. You've caught a chill, you can't touch cold water anymore."
Qin Xianyue just shook her head slightly, pushed Bao Xiang's hand away, her eyes filled with a dead silence.
With stiff hands, she slowly placed the wet clothes into the basin, poured in soap, and began to scrub them bit by bit.
After an unknown amount of time, the room door behind her made a soft sound.
Gu Yanchi walked to Qin Xianyue's side, squatted down, took her hands out of the cold water, and carefully warmed them with a hand warmer.
"I've wronged you."
He completely enclosed Qin Xianyue's hands in his palms and said in a hoarse voice.
"That maidservant Zhaoyun has a mischievous temperament and speaks without restraint. After we return, I will definitely discipline her properly and will never let her bully you again."
Qin Xianyue was indifferent.
"You should have disciplined her before, and besides, it was you who ordered me to do the laundry for Miss Lin today."
Her words were like needles, piercing the sliver of guilt in Gu Yanchi's heart and amplifying his impatience.
His expression darkened.
"In the past, for my sake, you could swallow even the greatest grievances. Now, I am also in a difficult situation. Can't you show me some understanding?"
Gu Yanchi paused, his gaze not letting go of any expression on her face.
"Or is it because I said I would form a marriage alliance with the Lin family, and you are jealous of Lin Meijun?"
Qin Xianyue's movements paused.
After a long while, she said directly.
"Before today, perhaps I was jealous."
Gu Yanchi's expression slightly stiffened, as if surprised by her honesty.
However, Qin Xianyue saw a hint of a mocking smile in his momentarily lost gaze.
It seemed to be mocking her unworthiness.
She couldn't help but sigh at how times had changed, how people could transform as drastically as fields turning into oceans, becoming unrecognizable.
"So you are disappointed? Merely because I cannot marry you?"
He asked.
"Jiao Jiao, you are also a woman well-versed in literature and history. When did you become so short-sighted, focusing only on romantic love?"
Qin Xianyue raised her eyes, her expression clear and sharp.
"Before, I did fantasize about marrying that young man who would secretly slip me my favorite flower cakes, who would argue until his face turned red for me, who would kneel outside Maternal Grandmother's room for a whole night to beg for a marriage contract for me, for our future.
But you are not him."
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