Chapter 86: Scapegoat

Chapter 86: The Substitute

Kill her?!

Qiu Shuiyi was scared out of her wits.

Was she discovered?

Just as her anxiety was peaking, that voice spoke again, “Are you truly willing to… kill her?”

Qiu Shuiyi covered her mouth, not daring to make a sound.

Why did they have to pause like that?

It was terrifying.

Han Zicheng’s voice followed, thick with pain and despair.

“Aunt, I… I can’t bear to…”

The woman, seeming prepared and unsurprised, chuckled softly. “My foolish boy. If you can't bear it, then kill me instead, right now.”

“Aunt!”

A *thud* sounded—Han Zicheng had knelt, his voice heavy and pained.

“I lost my parents when I was young. It was you who raised me all these years. On the surface, we're aunt and nephew, but in our hearts, we're as close as mother and son. How… how could I bring myself to do it?”

By the end, his voice trembled.

The woman was silent for a long moment.

When she spoke again, it was a rebuke. “So indecisive, how can you achieve great things?”

“Aunt, I…”

Her voice turned cold. “You have two choices: kill her, or kill me. Decide in three days.”

Footsteps retreated softly into the distance.

After a long while, Han Zicheng rasped, “Aunt, I'll do as you say.”

The woman’s gentle laughter, carried by the breeze, reached Qiu Shuiyi’s ears. She heard the woman return, the rustle of her helping Han Zicheng up.

“…Good Cheng’er, Auntie knows you're the only one who truly listens to me…”

The laughter was like clouds in the sky, light and soft, carrying a doting tone, yet it sent chills down Qiu Shuiyi’s spine.

No wonder, no wonder!

No wonder Han Zicheng had captured her!

He'd known all along that his aunt wouldn’t spare Qiu Lianying. His act in front of her was just a smokescreen.

He wanted her to die in Qiu Lianying’s place once again!

Qiu Shuiyi gritted her teeth, anger blazing higher, nearly burning away all reason. She wished she could get up and tear Han Zicheng to pieces right then.

Her fingers dug into the soil, and when she pulled them out, her once clean nails were filled with dirt.

Qiu Shuiyi took a deep breath, the scent of grass filling her lungs, slightly calming the raging fire.

Once she regained her composure, she quickly stood up, brushed the grass from her clothes, agilely climbed the wall, and slipped back in through the window.

After restoring the wooden bars, Qiu Shuiyi retraced her steps.

Back in the cell, she closed the door, buried her head in her knees, and curled up in the corner, putting on a pitiful act.

Moments later, footsteps echoed in the empty dungeon.

Qiu Shuiyi slowly looked up.

Han Zicheng stood outside the door, glanced at the intact lock, and snorted coldly.

In the corner, Qiu Shuiyi shivered all over, timidly glancing at him.

A flicker of impatience crossed Han Zicheng's brow. Perhaps because, in his memory, Qiu Shuiyi was always the meek and timid village girl, he didn't even bother with the lock, just kicked the door open, every inch of him radiating contempt.

“Let’s go.”

Qiu Shuiyi’s anger flared again.

She had never hated anyone so much in her life.

Han Zicheng—even his name was repulsive.

Qiu Shuiyi slowly stood up, tears in her eyes as she peeked at Han Zicheng, then timidly followed behind him.

Han Zicheng sneered and strode away, not caring whether Qiu Shuiyi could keep up.

Qiu Shuiyi didn’t want to share the same air with him, so she deliberately dragged her feet. When Han Zicheng impatiently snapped, “Are your legs broken?” she shuddered and shuffled forward.

When they reached Qiu Lianying’s cell, Han Zicheng gave Qiu Shuiyi a hard shove from behind.

Qiu Shuiyi stumbled, nearly falling, but Qiu Lianying quickly caught her arm.

“Yi’er, are you alright?” Qiu Lianying asked worriedly.

“I’m fine.”

Qiu Shuiyi shook her head.

“Lian Ying, rest well. I’ll come see you again in three days.”

Han Zicheng said softly, his gaze lingering on Qiu Lianying’s face, filled with attachment and reluctance.

Qiu Lianying turned away in disgust, unwilling to say another word to him.

Han Zicheng’s heart ached, darkness swirling in his eyes.

After one last deep look at Qiu Lianying, he turned and left.

“Yi’er, he didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

Qiu Lianying pulled Qiu Shuiyi closer, examining her from head to toe.

Qiu Shuiyi shook her head, but thinking of what she had discovered, a hint of hesitation appeared on her face.

Noticing her hesitation, Qiu Lianying asked, “What’s wrong?”

Qiu Shuiyi hesitated for a beat, and finally spoke up.

Qiu Lianying listened in silence.

At first, she betrayed no reaction, her stunning face impassive.

She only moved after Qiu Shuiyi finished speaking.

A loud clanging and banging erupted as Qiu Lianying lashed out at the iron door with her foot.

One kick wasn’t enough—she unleashed several more.

The sound of metal clashing set Qiu Shuiyi’s teeth on edge, and she couldn’t help but shudder.

Blinded by rage, the seemingly indestructible iron door looked ready to give way.

She gripped the iron bars, pressed her forehead against the door, tears welling up in her eyes as she clenched her teeth.

“This is beyond the pale.”

“Han Zicheng, this is too much!”

Closing her eyes, Qiu Lianying choked back a sob. “Yi’er, I’ve let you down.”

Qiu Shuiyi watched her quietly.

“What a failure of an elder sister I am. Not only could I not protect my own sister, but because of me, you’ve been put in harm’s way again and again. Yi’er, do you hate me?”

“I did.”

As soon as the words were spoken, Qiu Lianying’s body convulsed.

Qiu Shuiyi smoothed her clothes and sat down against the wall. Recalling the scene at the time, she mused, “At first, I did hate you. If it weren’t for you, I would have lived a peaceful, ordinary life in that small village, secure and stable.”

“But if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have had parents and an elder brother who loved and cherished me. They were truly wonderful, so good that I was sure you, having been raised with so much love, must be a good person too.”

“Later, when I thought about it again, if Han Zicheng were a decent person, he would never have come up with such an extreme method. In the end, it all comes down to his vicious nature.”

After meeting Qiu Lianying, Qiu Shuiyi had felt a strange sensation in her heart, as if she were a child basking in the sun with her grandfather in the courtyard, enveloped in warmth and gentleness.

They had depended on each other for survival since they were in the womb. Even after sixteen years apart, what was etched in their bones would never change.

With a gentle smile at Qiu Lianying, Qiu Shuiyi said, “So, I don’t hate you anymore. Elder Sister.”

*Splash.*

Tears burst forth like a floodgate opening, instantly overflowing.

Qiu Lianying doubled over, swallowing her sobs back into her throat, crying silently.

After a long while, she wiped away her tears, walked step by step toward Qiu Shuiyi, and gathered her into an embrace, vowing, “Yi’er, Elder Sister won’t let you die.”

Absolutely not.

…

Night fell once more.

Qiu Shuiyi suddenly opened her eyes.

The moment she got up, Qiu Lianying woke, rubbing her eyes and asking, confused, “Yi’er, what are you doing?”

Qiu Shuiyi didn’t answer, instead picking up the iron lock hanging on the door to examine it.

Qiu Lianying silently came over to her side, watching her movements.

With a *click*, the lock opened.

Qiu Shuiyi opened the door with extreme caution.

Perhaps to guard against Lady Yun, most of Han Zicheng’s men were stationed at the entrance of the dungeon, leaving almost no one near their cell.

Even so, they had to be exceptionally careful in their movements.

Qiu Shuiyi pulled Qiu Lianying along. “Come, let’s get out of here.”

A resistance from behind halted her action.

Qiu Shuiyi turned back in confusion, her bright eyes filled with questions.

What’s wrong?

Qiu Lianying shook her head at her and explained softly, “We’re unfamiliar with this place. Rushing out recklessly might alert them.”

Qiu Shuiyi fell silent for a moment.

This was the stronghold of the Qiyun Sect. One misstep, and they could fall into an abyss of ruin.

She asked, “What do you want to do?”

“I’ll stay here,” Qiu Lianying whispered. “Leave your outer garment with me. I’ll cover for you.”

Qiu Shuiyi seriously considered the feasibility of this plan.

Over the past two days, only Bage had been delivering their meals. He would almost always just set the food down and leave without a second glance or lingering for even a moment.

Under such circumstances, Qiu Lianying might be able to deceive him.

Once she had scouted the terrain and routes, it would be safer to bring Qiu Lianying along later.

A series of thoughts ran through her mind, and Qiu Shuiyi nodded. “Alright.”

She took off her outer garment and handed it to Qiu Lianying, then stood up to leave.

“Yi’er.”

Qiu Shuiyi turned back. “What is it?”

Qiu Lianying smiled gently and said to her, “Once you’re out, if you find an opportunity, leave quickly.”

“What?” Qiu Shuiyi frowned.

“Shen Yuchao must be looking for you right now. After you escape, you can have him come rescue me later.”

Shen Yuchao’s whereabouts were unknown—how could she find him?

Qiu Shuiyi shook her head, dismissing Qiu Lianying’s words, and carefully instructed, “Be careful. Wait for me to return.”

Watching her departing figure, tears welled up in Qiu Lianying’s eyes.

There's no need to come back.

Go, quickly.

She is the source of all this; why should her innocent sister bear the consequences?

Clutching Qiu Shuiyi's clothes tightly, Qiu Lianying looked up at the window.

The hazy moonlight reflected in her eyes, carrying a hint of coldness.

...

Once she landed, Qiu Shuiyi looked around.

During the day, her mind had been preoccupied with Han Zicheng and Madam Yun; only now did she have the chance to carefully observe her surroundings.

Before her stood a dilapidated house, its roof tiles and eaves appearing desolate under the moonlight.

The house wasn't large. Crossing the front gate should lead to the path toward the dungeon.

Qiu Shuiyi stepped forward in surprise.

She remembered that the wooden window was clearly in the opposite direction from the entrance, yet the exit was so close. It seemed an immense effort must have gone into the dungeon's initial construction.

Who would have thought it would be used to imprison two defenseless women?

A faint, mocking smile curled Qiu Shuiyi's lips.

After walking a few steps, Qiu Shuiyi sensed something was amiss.

Why were the guards outside the dungeon so lax?

Where had everyone gone?

The night breeze brushed against her skirt, sending a sudden chill down her spine.

Qiu Shuiyi took a deep breath.

She'd come too far to give up now.

She pressed on resolutely.

The night was starless, the moonlight dim. While it hindered visibility, it also perfectly concealed Qiu Shuiyi's figure.

Sheltered by the night and the grass, she moved like a newborn creature, cautiously observing the world.

Along the way, she encountered almost no one. While relieved, a strange unease lingered in her heart.

Ahead, light shone from a house. She dropped to the ground and inched forward, hiding in the grass.

"Who's there?"