Chapter 20: Mother and Daughter Both Fall into the Water

“Sister Chen, it’s fine. Children are fickle at times—one moment they say they don’t want something, but as soon as someone else eats it, they suddenly want it,” Qin Xuan promptly consoled.

The maid hurriedly explained, “Miss, it’s already summer, and this dessert sells very well. When I went to Qixiangzhai and queued up, by the time it was my turn, there were only three pieces left. Thinking of your instruction to buy a variety, I had the shop assistant pack up these as well.”

Qin Xuan quickly added, “Sister Chen, I saw it earlier—there were three pieces. An’an shared one with Miaoyi, but Miaoyi didn’t take it. It’s not the maid’s fault.”

Meng Xiang listened to Qin Xuan’s explanation, her smile fading as she interjected, “After all, they’re children. If she wants to eat it, just give it to her.”

She called her maid over. “Go to Qixiangzhai and see if they’ve made more. Buy plenty if they have.”

Chen Susu waved her hand to dismiss the maid, covering her smile with her hand. “Sister Qin’s children are just too lovable. Even my sister-in-law, who’s usually indifferent to children, has taken such a liking to them.”

She glanced toward the distant pink figures and added, “As for me, I prefer An’an and Er’er more.”

They were more radiant and lively compared to Fang Miaoyi. Most people, upon seeing them, would make the same choice as Chen Susu.

Meng Xiang’s heart skipped a beat at these words. She realized she’d overstepped.

Fortunately, neither of them suspected anything. Otherwise, they might start having doubts about her.

Yet, judging from Qin Xuan’s demeanor, Meng Xiang felt she was being accused of neglecting Fang Miaoyi.

It was just a piece of dessert, and Qin Xuan wouldn’t even try to find it for her daughter.

Meng Xiang forced a faint smile. “I suppose it’s just that I feel more of a connection with them.”

Fearing they’d notice something amiss, she quickly changed the subject.

Meanwhile, the two children had begun chasing each other.

Fang Yuean held onto the dessert, running swiftly like a nimble little pheasant darting through the path. Fang Miaoyi yelled angrily as she pursued her relentlessly.

The household staff trailed behind. Only Hong Ye and Bi He managed to keep them within sight, while the rest lagged far behind.

Fang Yuean ran to the edge of the pond and, cornered by Fang Miaoyi, retreated onto a stone by the bank.

“This dessert is mine!” Fang Miaoyi panted heavily, still insistent as she advanced.

Fang Yuean hid the dessert behind her back. “I offered it to you earlier, and you didn’t want it. Now that I’m eating it, you want it again.”

“Yes, I do! So what? You little wild child, give it to me!” Fang Miaoyi shouted, recalling how her grandmother referred to Fang Yuean.

“No way!” Fang Yuean firmly refused.

Enraged, Fang Miaoyi lunged to snatch it. However, Fang Yuean dodged, and Fang Miaoyi tumbled straight into the pond.

The staff who had arrived could only watch helplessly. Though they shouted and rushed to help, it was too late to stop her fall.

A piercing scream broke the stillness. “Fifth Miss has fallen into the water!”

The women in the pavilion jumped up in alarm.

Meng Xiang hurried toward the edge of the pond, leaning forward to look and shouting at the staff, “Hurry, go save her!”

Qin Xuan and Chen Susu observed Meng Xiang’s reaction closely before hurrying to the pond.

When the three of them arrived, they pushed through the crowd and saw an older maid diving into the water to rescue Fang Miaoyi, providing some relief.

As the maid lifted the soaked and disheveled child from the water, Meng Xiang stepped forward anxiously, only to lose her balance on a loose stone. She wobbled, nearly falling into the pond herself.

Qin Xuan steadied her, but Meng Xiang’s reaction betrayed her concern. She couldn’t retreat, her gaze fixed on her coughing, sputtering daughter.

Nearby, Fang Yuean spotted something under Meng Xiang’s foot. Picking up a willow branch, she darted forward.

“Sister, I’m here to save you!” With a leap, she landed on the same loose stone Meng Xiang had stood on.

Qin Xuan turned toward her daughter’s voice, instinctively reaching out to steady her, but inadvertently stepped onto the stone herself.

A sharp cry rang out as Meng Xiang, standing on the other end, was tipped into the pond.

Feigning remorse, Qin Xuan quickly ordered the staff to rescue her, then scooped Fang Yuean into her arms and stepped aside.

The scene by the pond became chaotic. Some staff fetched bamboo poles and jumped into the water to rescue people, while others worked together to pull everyone ashore.

Dripping wet and sobbing, Fang Miaoyi scrambled toward Qin Xuan, pointing at Fang Yuean. “Mother, she pushed me! Wahhh…”

Qin Xuan glanced at her daughter, who looked both pitiful and uneasy. Fang Yuean took a step forward, wiping her forehead with her dessert-stained hand, and quietly protested, “Mother, I didn’t push her.”

It was me dodging her, haha!

Whoever lies will wake up a turtle tomorrow.

Mother, watch out—she’ll turn into a turtle tomorrow!

Qin Xuan’s heart softened at her daughter’s vulnerability, but the amusing inner thoughts she overheard mended her spirits.

She patted Fang Miaoyi’s back to comfort her. “Once we get home, I’ll find out the truth.”

As Meng Xiang was pulled from the water, Qin Xuan approached with Fang Miaoyi in her arms. “You should thank your Aunt Meng. She rushed forward when she saw you fall, and she ended up in the water too.”

Meng Xiang, confused by the sudden movement of the stone, suppressed her coughs and straightened her soaked hair. She reassured Fang Miaoyi, “It’s fine. I wasn’t careful.”

But Fang Miaoyi turned away, burying herself in Qin Xuan’s arms, crying to go home.

Chen Susu took the thin cloak handed by a maid and draped it over Fang Miaoyi. “Quickly, take her to the bathhouse to get cleaned up and changed, so she doesn’t catch a cold.”

Meng Xiang, feeling despondent at her daughter’s indifference, nodded. “Yes, the child’s health comes first. Go quickly.”

After Fang Miaoyi had been washed and changed into fresh clothes, Qin Xuan declined Chen Susu’s offer for lunch and took the child back home.

Once Chen Susu had seen Qin Xuan and her daughter off, Meng Xiang, now dressed in new clothes, hurried over, carrying the Bijiang Bean Cake the maid had bought, only to find that they had already left.

She quickly asked, “The child’s all right, isn’t she? After all, she fell into the water at our house. Should I prepare some gifts and go visit her?”

Chen Susu concealed her emotions, replying, “She’s fine. Qin Xuan told me before she left that such things happen often between children, so we needn’t worry too much.”

However, Meng Xiang misinterpreted these words.

Could it be that Miaoyi was living poorly at the Fang family’s house, constantly being bullied?

This simply couldn’t stand.

She would have to find some time to meet with her aunt and ask properly.

She couldn’t allow Qin Xuan to be so biased and treat Miaoyi unfairly.

After chatting for a little while longer, Meng Xiang left.

Chen Susu watched her retreating figure, tightly clenching her fists.

What else was there to doubt now?

She had to make those two pay for what they had done.