PWE – Chapter 163

Qin Xiaoling’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Take her to my house? You don’t mean… that she’s going to stay at my house for two months, do you, Sister-in-law?”

She was genuinely scared. She didn’t want her eldest sister in her home at all.

Xiao Wange glanced at her, a faint, almost teasing smile on her lips. “I have no intention of harming you, so of course I wouldn’t do that.”

Qin Xiaoling: “…” She suddenly felt a little embarrassed, instinctively reaching up to touch her nose. “I didn’t mean it that way, Sister-in-law. I was just scared—purely scared.” Her previous words had been a reflex of fear.

Xiao Wange said nothing further, instead giving her a glance that silently told her to quickly take her eldest sister inside.

“All right, I’ll go tell my eldest sister,” Qin Xiaoling said, turning and walking toward Qin Xiaole.

“Eldest sister, let’s go. We’ll talk more once we’re home,” Qin Xiaoling said, taking the luggage from Qin Xiaole’s hands and leading her toward the opposite building.

Qin Xiaole arched an eyebrow. Why had Qin Xiaoling’s attitude changed so quickly? Could it be something the woman said?

She looked up at Xiao Wange, puzzled. Who exactly was this woman, and how could she make Qin Xiaoling obey so completely?

The surrounding military wives saw Qin Xiaoling taking Qin Xiaole home and praised her, saying what a kind and loyal girl she was.

Qin Xiaoling felt a little uncomfortable hearing this praise. She was indeed loyal and kind, but her loyalty was for good people, not for someone malicious.

Thinking that her eldest sister might be up to something bad made her feel uneasy.

Fortunately, Sister-in-law Xiao Wange was here. Without her, there was no way Qin Xiaoling would have brought her eldest sister home today.

Hou Dayong also let out a mental sigh of relief as he watched Xiao Wange. He glanced at her and silently mouthed a thank-you, then invited Xiao Wange and Zhaozhao to come inside and sit for a while.

Xiao Wange didn’t refuse. She said, “All right,” and followed Qin Xiaoling and Hou Dayong inside.

…

The layout of Qin Xiaoling’s home was similar to the Zhan household.

After entering, Qin Xiaoling took the luggage to a room to set it down, then returned to the living room to invite Qin Xiaole and Xiao Wange to sit.

Qin Xiaole hadn’t expected Xiao Wange to follow. Along the way, she had been quietly observing her. Seeing Xiao Wange sit on the right side of the sofa, she quickly took a seat as well.

“Xiaoling, this young lady is…” Qin Xiaole looked at Xiao Wange, her expression both puzzled and timid as she asked Qin Xiaoling.

Qin Xiaoling poured water for Xiao Wange and Zhaozhao, then picked up a cup to pour for Qin Xiaole. She glanced at her eldest sister and said, “Oh, Sister-in-law is the wife of our Commander Zhan. Commander Zhan and Dayong are in the same regiment.”

So she was the commander’s wife.

Qin Xiaole understood, but a twinge of jealousy crept into her heart. All these women had better lives, higher status than her.

If she had married Hou Dayong back then, she too would now be the commander’s wife, a woman of status.

Thinking this, she felt increasingly dissatisfied and uncomfortable.

She clenched her hands tightly and glared at Qin Xiaoling with resentment. It was all this woman’s fault. If this woman hadn’t taken Hou Dayong from her, she wouldn’t be an ordinary rural woman now!

“Sister-in-law, why don’t you stay here for lunch with Zhaozhao?” Qin Xiaoling asked earnestly after pouring water for Qin Xiaole.

With the little ghost previously in the house and now her eldest sister arriving, she honestly wouldn’t have dared return home if Xiao Wange hadn’t come.

Qin Xiaoling gave Hou Dayong a glance, signaling him to invite Xiao Wange to stay.

Hou Dayong understood and quickly said, “Yes, Sister-in-law, you and Zhaozhao should stay.”

Xiao Wange picked up her cup and took a slow sip. She set it down and looked calmly at Hou Dayong and Qin Xiaoling. “No, we’ll go back to eat.”

“Sister-in-law…” Qin Xiaoling exclaimed, her heart racing uncontrollably. If Sister-in-law left, what would she and Dayong do?

She tried to persuade her to stay, but Xiao Wange said, “Don’t worry. I’ll handle your problem before I leave.”

Hearing this, Qin Xiaoling exhaled in relief, her tense nerves relaxing instantly.

Qin Xiaole, however, frowned. The commander’s wife had come to help Qin Xiaoling solve a problem? What problem?

Qin Xiaole wanted to ask, but Xiao Wange turned her gaze toward her.

A faint, intrigued smile played at Xiao Wange’s lips. “Eldest sister Qin, how is your eldest son recently?”

Qin Xiaole froze, taken aback. The commander’s wife was asking about her eldest son?

A trace of confusion passed through her eyes. She smiled gently and said, “He’s fine. He’s doing well at home.”

“How can someone who has lost a soul be fine? As the saying goes, three souls and seven spirits make a complete person. He’s already missing one spirit. He’s no longer a complete person. How can that be called ‘fine’?” Xiao Wange raised her brow, her tone tinged with interest.

Qin Xiaole’s breath caught. Shock filled her eyes instantly.

How did this woman know that Tiedan was missing a spirit? Where did she find out?

“You’re probably wondering how I know,” Xiao Wange said with a faint smile. “I know a lot about you. For example, that you made a deal with an evil practitioner. Or that you wanted to harm your own sister, to take away her happiness.”

“You’re lying!” Qin Xiaole reflexively retorted.

She frowned tightly, glaring at Xiao Wange. “You’re talking nonsense! I don’t know any evil practitioners. I never intended to take Xiaoling’s happiness. What’s wrong with you? How can you say such things here?”

Turning to Qin Xiaoling, she said, “Xiaoling, what’s with this commander’s wife? How can she falsely accuse me like this? She’s slandering me. The commander must know about this; he should control her.”

Qin Xiaoling and Hou Dayong exchanged glances: “….”

Seeing Qin Xiaole twisting the truth so blatantly made them feel annoyed and disgusted.

Now that they knew the real face of their eldest sister, they found her so exasperating.

Frowning slightly, Qin Xiaoling said nothing, instead turning her gaze to Xiao Wange.

Xiao Wange let out a cold laugh. Looking at Qin Xiaole, her voice became sharper. “You came here this time to harm your sister, didn’t you? If not, why did you bring so many talismans?”

She then looked at Qin Xiaoling. “Go get your eldest sister’s luggage. There are quite a few talismans hidden in it—deadly talismans, meant to take her life.”

Qin Xiaoling’s eyes widened in shock, a chill running through her entire body.

Even knowing her eldest sister’s visit wasn’t simple, she had never imagined her sister actually intended to kill her!

What kind of heart was that? How could someone harm her own sister?

“This is nonsense! You’re lying!” Qin Xiaole panicked, now genuinely afraid of the commander’s wife. How did she know so much? How did she seem to know everything about me?

Her eyes blazed with anger and fear as she glared at Xiao Wange, then grabbed Qin Xiaoling. “Xiaoling, don’t believe her! I’m your real sister! How could I harm you? She’s lying—completely lying!”

Qin Xiaoling frowned and looked at her eldest sister. She shook off her hand and headed to the opposite room, where the luggage had been placed.

Seeing Qin Xiaoling go for the luggage, Qin Xiaole panicked. She got up and tried to stop her. “Xiaoling, don’t do this. I really didn’t mean to harm you!”

Hou Dayong stood from the sofa and strode toward the room. Coldly, he said, “We’ll know for sure once we see what’s in the luggage!”

“Dayong, don’t…” Qin Xiaole reached to stop him, panic rising.

But Qin Xiaoling tightly gripped her wrist. “If you truly didn’t want to harm me, then let’s see what’s in the luggage!”

Qin Xiaole: “….” She was dumbfounded, not knowing what to say.

Hou Dayong quickly brought out the luggage.

He placed it on the floor, glancing at Qin Xiaole. “Do you want to open it yourself, or should I?”

Biting her lip, Qin Xiaole wanted one last struggle. “There’s nothing in my luggage, just clothes and personal items. You have no right to go through it!”

Hou Dayong didn’t respond. With a cold snort, he quickly opened the luggage under Qin Xiaole’s panicked gaze.

“Hou Dayong, you can’t do this!” Qin Xiaole shouted, trying to stop him.

But Hou Dayong was fast. In the blink of an eye, he pulled out the talismans hidden inside.

His eyes darkened as he looked at them, and his face instantly went cold.

Holding the talismans, he glared at Qin Xiaole. “What is this? What are these things?!”

Qin Xiaole’s face turned pale. Seeing the talismans, her hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.

Her throat dry, she tried to explain, “Those are peace charms… I requested them from the temple for protection.”

“Peace charms? Do peace charms require this many?” Hou Dayong gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot with anger.

Qin Xiaoling, looking at the talismans, felt an icy chill all over her body.

She looked at her eldest sister in disbelief. “You actually intended to harm me… You really… wanted my life!”