His tense brows relaxed a little when he saw that Wen Ran was safe and sound.
Yan Qing and Luo Huai exchanged glances and figured that the situation would not be so tumultuous with Wen Ran around.
When Qin Wanwan saw Shen Wu and Wen Ran looking at each other, she started to think about Qin Susu's tragic death even more.
However, she forced a kind smile on her face and said, "You're not feeling well, Ranran. Why don't you rest in the room a while more?"
Ever since Wen Xun brought Qin Wanwan to the Immortal Ascension Mansion, she had been trying her best to play the role of a virtuous stepmother. Alas, her efforts repeatedly failed in all those years because Wen Yu was exceptionally predisposed to angering her!
Wen Xun loved addressing her as 'Concubine Qin', which was exactly how those in the mortal world addressed concubines!
She, however, was Wen Xun's wife and not a concubine!
However, when Qin Wanwan complained about it to Wen Xun, he scoffed at her in a displeased tone, "Doesn't concubine have the word for 'mother' too? [1] Don't be unreasonable and make such a big fuss about it. Ranran is clearly quite fond of you."
Qin Wanwan, who had been deemed 'unreasonable', was so angered that she found it hard for her to sleep.
"If I had rested a little more, I wouldn't've had to see Concubine Qin making a big scene here now, would I?"
There she was being unreasonable again!
Qin Wanwan gritted her teeth. "Ranran, do you not realize that Shen Wu chose to sacrifice Susu to save you? Like it or not, Susu was like a sister that grew up alongside you. Don't you feel any guilt for her death?"
"I feel guilty, of course." Wen Ran turned her face slightly, lowered her eyes, and wiped the corners of her eyes as if she was wiping away some tears.
In fact, she was just using her fingers to rub her eyes and turn them red to make her sadness look more convincing.
Wen Ran looked at Qin Wanwan with reddened eyes and choked between sobs. "Susu chose to sacrifice herself! Her actions were so noble! How can anyone not feel moved by it? Do you see me as a stone-hearted person? Do I leave such a bad impression in your heart? Am I that big of a failure as a person?"
She had just recovered her strength and her face was still a little pale, making her look as delicate as a peach blossom after rain.
Her senior brothers quickly consoled her.
"Junior Sister, we all know that your heart is the kindest!"
"That's right. You even placed a small bird back to its nest when it fell off. No one is as kind as you!"
"None of us wanted Junior Sister Qin to die. The main culprit was that devil, and we can't possibly blame you for what it did!"
...
Fortunately, the consolation they made was enough to calm the desolate and sorrowful Wen Ran.
Qin Wanwan's eyelids twitched. She was proficient at stirring pity to her advantage countless times in the past, and she never would have expected Wen Ran to do it right in front of her eyes!
At that moment, Shen Wu broke free of his junior brother and took two steps forward. Even though his body was covered in blood, he still straightened his back and bowed to Qin Wanwan.
He said in a firm, clear, and cold voice, "It's my fault for not being able to save Junior Sister Qin. This matter has nothing to do with Wen Ran. I sincerely hope you won't take out your anger on her, Madam Qin. I'm willing to bear all the blame."
"Eldest Senior Brother!" The group of junior brothers called out anxiously.
"I'm aware that all of you have good intentions, but..." Shen Wu lowered his head slightly, as if recalling the scene of Qin Susu valiantly falling off the cliff that day. In the end, there was a slight change of emotion in his tone. "It's my fault that I couldn't save her. I should be punished."
Everyone knew what kind of person Shen Wu was. He could be too righteous at times, and that quality was a part of him that no one could hope to change. Everyone then turned to look at Qin Wanwan.
Their gaze seemed to warn Qin Wanwan that they might not be able to control themselves from stopping her if she decided to act on Shen Wu.
Qin Wanwan was startled. She had always known that Shen Wu had a good reputation in the Immortal Ascension mansion, but she did not expect him to have so strong an influence that the entire group of disciples would go so far as to rebel on his account!
Wen Ran glanced at Shen Wu. He stood there like a Jade Tree, but he was still lowering his gaze slightly as if he was still unable to break free of the guilt and self-blame. It was hard for anyone to see such an agonized emotion in someone so noble and virtuous.
It was no wonder that the group of senior brothers and junior brothers were more than willing to act on their impulse for his sake and 'go against their superiors'.
Wen Yu then turned to Qin Wanwan. "We understand how uneasy you must feel when Eldest Senior Brother couldn't save junior sister Susu. Do you perhaps feel that he should've saved her and just leave me to die?"
Qin Wanwan could not care less if Wen Ran died, but it would be imprudent of her to reveal that in her emotion. "Why would I think that way, Wen Ran? I would never want anything to happen to either of you. Everyone was in a tight spot that day, but I do feel that the devil only captured you to try and seek a way out. If Shen Wu had been more patient when handling the situation, perhaps Susu wouldn't have to die. "
TN:
[1] 姨娘 - This was the word used and it means concubine. The latter character (娘), when taken on its own, can be understood to mean 'mother'. There is no equivalent in English.