coobybook Chapter 1357 Confession
Chapter 1357 Confession
A barrage of questions rained down on her, and Lin Yiwan's face finally darkened.
She slammed the teacup down on the table, spilling a few drops of tea onto the gleaming surface: "Zhan Mu! Is this how you should speak to your mother?"
"Your son wouldn't dare." Zhan Mu lowered his eyelids, but there was no respect in his voice. "Your son just can't understand what Zhiyu did wrong. She's just an orphan, all alone, and she sincerely wanted to please you. She got up at dawn to cook lotus seed soup and brought it to you. Even if you don't like it, you shouldn't have just watched her get hurt and ignored her!"
Lin Yiwan immediately realized that Zhan Mu had been provoked.
She clearly applied the medicine to Rong Zhiyu herself, so why is she ignoring it?
Unless she deliberately wiped off the ointment.
Thinking about this outcome, Lin Yiwan's expression grew even more unpleasant.
She said coldly, "Zhan Mu, you come back and question me without even knowing the facts. Have you been so bewitched by Rong Zhiyu that you can't even tell right from wrong?"
Zhan Mu angrily retorted, "You're clearly in the wrong, yet you're trying to shift the blame!"
Lin Yiwan coldly spat out three words through gritted teeth: "Get out!"
Before Zhan Mu could say anything more, he saw Zhan Yan walk in from outside with a cold expression. He said in a deep voice, "Amu, apologize to your mother!"
Zhan Mu was so frightened that he shuddered. He stammered, "Father, it was clearly Mother who was in the wrong. Zhiyu wanted to please her, but she didn't accept it. She even let her get burned and didn't care!"
Zhan Yan frowned and interrupted, "Your mother would never do such a thing. You must have misunderstood her!"
Zhan Mu retorted, "I didn't. I saw it with my own eyes. Zhiyu's hand was badly injured and swollen!"
At this moment, Ling'er quickly stepped forward and said, "Young Master, you have really misunderstood Madam. When Miss Rong came to the manor to deliver porridge, Madam greeted her with a smile. When she was scalded by the hot porridge, Madam immediately applied the best burn ointment to her. I just happened to have opened it before, and you can see for yourself if you don't believe me!"
Zhan Mu reached out and took it with a mixture of doubt and confusion, his expression inscrutable.
Zhan Yan said, "If Rong Zhiyu's wounds were indeed not treated with medicine when you returned, then she might be deliberately trying to provoke a conflict between you and your mother. Amu, you should analyze this matter rationally!"
A fierce struggle flashed in Zhan Mu's eyes; he couldn't believe Rong Zhiyu was that kind of person.
At this moment, Lin Yiwan calmed down and spoke rationally: "Amu, even if the ointment I made is washed off, it will still leave a scent. As long as Rong Zhiyu hasn't changed his clothes, this minty fragrance should still remain on his cuffs. If you smell it carefully, you'll know the truth!"
Zhan Mu immediately put the ointment into his pocket and said, "Alright, I'll go and verify it right away. If it really is her who slandered Mother, I will naturally make her come and apologize!"
After saying that, he turned and left in a hurry.
Looking at his retreating figure, Lin Yiwan's eyes were filled with complex emotions.
She said helplessly, "Why does Amu seem like a completely different person? Have we been neglecting him too much? Is that why he values Rong Zhiyu so much?"
Zhan Yan gently comforted her: "If Rong Zhiyu is a well-behaved girl, even if she has no background or family connections, our Zhan Yi Marquis's Mansion will accept her. However, if she harbors ulterior motives, then let Amu see her true colors for himself. Only in this way can we truly remove this person from his heart!"
Lin Yiwan shared the same thought, which is why she told him how to expose Rong Zhiyu.
Hopefully, he will wake up this time and not make the same mistake again!
When Zhan Mu returned to Rong Zhiyu's courtyard, it was already pitch black.
He went inside and saw her copying a book by candlelight.
He instinctively asked with concern, "Zhiyu, aren't you injured? Why are you still copying books? Put it down!"
Rong Zhiyu said with a smile, "Amu, look what this is? I found a record of strange events written by a great Confucian scholar from the previous dynasty. It's a unique copy, and I have to personally copy one for you to keep as a treasure!"
Zhan Mu felt a pang of heartache and immediately grabbed her wrist, forbidding her from continuing to copy.
She frowned: "It's just a minor injury, what's the big deal? Brother Mu, I'm not that delicate. Back at the academy, even when I caught a cold and was so sick, I still got up early to study diligently, didn't I?"
Zhan Mu said in a deep voice, "You said it yourself, that was in the past. You were in the academy, and you were thinking about passing the imperial examinations, so naturally you had to study hard. But now that you want to marry me, I will absolutely not allow your body to be damaged in any way!"
Rong Zhiyu lowered her eyes shyly, her pretty face blushing.
Zhan Mu suddenly remembered his intention, and without making a sound, he pulled Rong Zhiyu's sleeve up to his nose.
When the smell, similar to that of burn ointment, wafted over, he froze instantly.
Rong Zhiyu immediately noticed that something was wrong with him, and she subconsciously asked, "Brother Mu, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Zhan Mu released her and sat down beside her, lost in thought.
Rong Zhiyu nestled nervously into his arms, saying tearfully, "If you won't let me copy the book, I won't copy it anymore, okay? Please don't be angry."
Zhan Mu was silent for a moment before reaching out and patting her back: "Zhiyu, I brought some burn ointment. Shall I apply it for you first?"
Rong Zhiyu stepped out of his embrace and saw him take out a delicate little bottle.
He asked in a hoarse voice, "Do you recognize me?"
Rong Zhiyu's breathing became erratic due to nervousness, but she forced herself not to show it.
She whispered, "I don't recognize it. This bottle looks quite exquisite. I suppose this burn ointment must be quite valuable?"
Zhan Mu replied calmly, "This is an ointment made by my mother. It's priceless and has a very unique scent. Once it gets on fabric, the scent will linger for a long time!"
Rong Zhiyu's pretty face turned pale inch by inch, and her fingertips, hidden inside her sleeves, suddenly clenched.
She bit her lip hard, her heart pounding wildly.
Zhan Mu seemed oblivious to her unease. He slowly unscrewed the bottle cap, and the freshly used traces were extremely irritating to Rong Zhiyu.
After a moment, she suddenly grabbed his wrist with all her might.
She said guiltily, "Brother Mu, I'm sorry, I lied!"
Zhan Mu's tense expression suddenly relaxed. He was really afraid that Rong Zhiyu would keep hiding it, and he didn't know how to face her.
He asked suspiciously, "What lie did Zhiyu tell?"
Rong Zhiyu stammered, her voice trembling, "Actually, after my hand was burned at the Marquis's residence, the Marquis's wife personally applied medicine to it. I wiped off the ointment because I wanted to make you feel sorry for me!"
Her stubborn yet helpless appearance at this moment made Zhan Mu feel very sorry for her.
Even though I know she did something wrong, I can't bring myself to blame her.
He had no choice but to say helplessly, "Zhiyu, why did you do this? Do you know that because of you, I went back to question my mother, and she was very angry!"