Chapter 6: Is Your Face That Valuable?

Du Wan narrowed her small phoenix eyes, put her hands on her hips, and scolded loudly, "Who do you think you are? How dare you tarnish my reputation?! Do you think spreading rumors comes without a price? When I return to the capital, I will certainly report this to my uncle the Emperor and have him punish you. Besides, my mother said that I am the kindest little girl in the entire capital."

"Shameless—" the young man was about to say something more.

The young man in white robes reprimanded in a low voice, "Dacheng, shut up!"

The youth called Dacheng immediately lowered his head. "Yes."

When the young man in white looked at Du Wan, his cold eyes suddenly softened. "Wanwan, long time no see. When I first heard you had gone missing, I was worried for quite a while. Seeing that you are safe now, I am finally at ease."

Hearing this, Du Wan’s brows furrowed so tightly a fly could have been crushed between them.

The other party’s tone was intimate—were they well-acquainted with the original owner?

Since she hadn't inherited the original owner's memories, she found it difficult to respond for a moment.

Du Wan glanced at Hu San, raised a hand to cover her small mouth, leaned in, and whispered, "Hu San, who is that person?"

"Uh?" Hu San was stunned. He looked at her with suspicion and uncertainty, then mimicked her small voice as he replied, "...The seventh young master of the Xie family, Xie Zhang."

Du Wan: "..."

What kind of divine luck is this?

Did she run into the male lead?

*Heh.*

Du Wan deliberately ignored the male lead and turned her focus to Qin Yuyu: "A life for a life, paying debts with money—these are the principles of heaven and earth. A human life is at stake, and I am waiting for you to pay for it."

"...It’s not like that."

Qin Yuyu clenched her fists, looking as if she were swallowing her humiliation.

"Not like what? Did I say something wrong?" Du Wan didn't want to let this slide easily.

Before Qin Yuyu could answer, the boy not far away, who couldn't beat Hu San and looked like a wolf cub, roared at Du Wan with all his might: "It was me! I killed that old woman, it has nothing to do with Yuyu!"

Only then did Du Wan look at him directly. "Did you really kill her?"

"She was restless and wanted to run out to call for help, she deserved to die!" The boy showed no remorse at all.

"...You beast!" Du Wan was furious.

He was fifteen or sixteen years old, with thick black brows and eyes full of malice.

This was a rather important supporting male character in the book named Qin Miao, who had no parents. From the moment he appeared, Qin Miao possessed the potential of a loyal dog. Later, he would become a first-rank general, conquering territories for the male and female leads, and would never marry for the rest of his life because of Qin Yuyu.

To Qin Yuyu, this boy was a great asset.

Conversely, to Du Wan, he was destined to be a major hidden danger.

The original owner's brother would eventually die at this person's hands!

Du Wan’s face darkened, and she took a step back. "Hu San, kill him!"

"Yes!"

Hu San drew his blade, acting decisively.

But with the female lead present, it was as if the plot itself was shielding her. The moment she saw Qin Miao in danger, Qin Yuyu actually used her own frail body to block the path in front of him.

Hu San’s blade was already out and did not stop!

In an instant, a hidden weapon flew in.

*Clang!*

It struck the blade, causing Hu San’s strike to veer off course.

The youth called Dacheng took the opportunity to draw his sword and rush forward, blocking Hu San’s next strike.

The male lead’s high-and-mighty intervention, and the female lead was saved!

The supporting male character was deeply moved to see the female lead trying to block a blade for him...

Du Wan watched this scene, feeling a sense of secondhand embarrassment.

So, Du Wan waved her hand. "All of you, attack!"

"Yes!"

The accompanying guards immediately moved.

Once both sides drew their weapons and began to fight in earnest, it was no longer a place for a group of children to step forward. Du Wan’s side held an absolute advantage; it was like swatting flies.

Of course, Hu San and the others didn't actually kill anyone.

They simply used the backs of their blades to knock the children to the ground.

Soon, Qin Miao was pinned to the ground, unable to move.

Xie Zhang hadn't expected Du Wan’s attitude to be so tough.

He finally spoke again, "Wanwan, it is better to resolve grievances than to keep them. Give me some face today and let them go, will you?"

Du Wan raised her small, delicate brows. "Is your face worth that much?"

"It is!" Xie Zhang laughed heartily, ignoring the insult in Du Wan’s words.

Du Wan was so angry she laughed. "Are you really going to pay their debt?"

"Yes."

"Fine, then write an IOU."

"I have always been a man of my word."

"No, no. Compared to verbal promises, I find black and white more reliable."

"..."

Du Wan’s lack of trust drew angry glares from two of the guards.

However, Du Wan’s skin was thick enough to ignore it. "Hurry up and write it. I don't want silver, just grain will do. Write that Xie Zhang owes Du Wan ten thousand catties of rice, and specify that it must be paid off within a month."

"Nonsense, we didn't take that much!" Qin Yuyu clenched her small fists and retorted.

Du Wan spoke coldly, "You should be grateful that I want grain and not your lives."

Qin Yuyu wanted to say more, but Xie Zhang stopped her and had his subordinates fetch pen and ink, then wrote the IOU.

Hu San took the IOU and handed it to Du Wan.

Du Wan pretended to look it over.

*Holy crap!*

What kind of script was this? She didn't recognize a single character!

Since transmigrating, this was the first time she realized she was still illiterate. The reason was that the script used here was not Chinese characters. Fortunately, there was no barrier to verbal communication.

Du Wan handed the IOU back to Hu San. "You take a look and see if there are any traps or anything."

Hu San’s face twitched, and he almost couldn't hold back a laugh.

However, his thick beard hid part of his expression.

Hu San kept a stoic face, his eyes darting quickly toward Xie Zhang, dying to see if the highly prestigious seventh young master of the Xie family would lose his composure.

It was a rare opportunity, so Hu San held the IOU and read it over and over again.

He read it so many times that the two sword-wielding brothers wanted to draw their blades and cut him down.

A lowly commoner, daring to humiliate their young master?!

Sometimes, questioning someone’s character is enough to offend them.

To the others, Du Wan and Hu San’s repeated inspection of the IOU was an act of humiliation and provocation.

Compared to the two sword-wielding brothers, Xie Zhang was much calmer.

Du Wan’s internal vigilance toward him rose several times over.

Qin Yuyu was smart, but she was young and couldn't hide her emotions. Xie Zhang was different; his expression hadn't changed from beginning to end. It was as if he didn't care about the humiliation at all.

Du Wan weighed the situation.

There was no point in arguing further.

So, Du Wan glanced at Qin Miao, who was still being held down.

She stood tall, puffed out her chest, and put her small hands behind her back, exuding the aura of someone pointing out the fate of the world. "I only want one of his hands and one of his feet, and then our grievances will be settled."

As soon as these words were spoken, the men she brought immediately executed the order.

*Crack, crack!*

Two sounds of bones breaking, followed by two muffled groans.

"Ah!"

Qin Miao screamed as his hand and foot were broken.

After the scream, Qin Miao glared fiercely at Du Wan and the guards, as if memorizing their faces.

A trace of regret flashed in the depths of Xie Zhang’s gentle eyes.

No matter how good the seedling was, it wasn't worth cultivating once its hands and feet were broken.

He had wanted to stop it, but the guards moved too quickly. Only a family with a deep foundation could cultivate subordinates with such swift, clean efficiency.

Thinking of Du Wan’s identity, Xie Zhang was no longer surprised.