Chapter 20: The Truth

Upon hearing Cang Qian ask about Banai’s leg, Naiwa, Quangang, and Che Tai exchanged glances simultaneously.

At that time, rumors circulated that Cang Qian had deliberately knocked Banai unconscious and then enlisted others to break his leg; the source of this rumor was Sang Yingying.

But none of them ever imagined that Sang Yingying was not only the spreader of the rumor but also the culprit!

Che Baiyuan had long suspected this possibility, so when she heard Cang Qian’s question, she was not very surprised.

Chen Yu, however, suddenly looked at Cang Qian and then fell silent.

Naiwa saw his silence and scooped some ice water with a wooden spoon, pouring it over him. After five minutes, the sensation of thousands of ants gnawing at his skin intensified.

Chen Yu still bit his lip in pain, unwilling to speak.

Che Baiyuan said, “Keep pouring until he agrees to talk!”

Naiwa nodded and continued to pour with the wooden spoon.

After several repetitions, the gnawing sensation became unbearable, and Chen Yu finally broke down, “It was Yingying who made us do it!”

Cang Qian grabbed him by the collar, her eyes fierce, “How did Sang Yingying do it? Speak!”

At that moment, Chen Yu was intimidated by her gaze.

He quickly said, “That day, Yingying imitated your handwriting to write a letter to Banai, asking him to come out. Because Yingying knew Banai liked you, he would definitely come!”

“That day, you and the clan chief went to Uncle Chen’s house, so you weren’t home. After Banai entered your room, I don’t know how Yingying knocked him out, but then she had us come in and forcibly break Banai’s leg.”

Cang Qian continued gripping his collar, “Why were you willing to do this?”

Chen Yu turned his face away, “Banai’s spiritual power level is high... I... I envied him. I didn’t want him to improve further, so I agreed to help Yingying.”

Angrily, Cang Qian kicked him in the stomach, then sat back in the wooden armchair and asked, “Why did Sang Yingying want to break Banai’s leg? Was it to take revenge on me?”

Chen Yu fell to the ground, miserable, “Not only to take revenge on you, but because she liked Banai and was rejected!”

“She thought she had painted you as a vicious little female, yet Banai still liked you and even believed those things weren’t done by you!”

“So she was furious. She wanted Banai to hate you. She said if she couldn’t have you, she’d rather destroy you than let you have him!”

Cang Qian closed her eyes and leaned back in the chair, taking a deep breath. “So all those vicious things said to have been done by me before were actually done by Sang Yingying, or done by you on her behalf, framing me entirely?”

Chen Yu, now lying helplessly on the ground, could only nod in response, unable to speak.

Che Baiyuan, sensing the interrogation was nearly complete, said to Naiwa, Quangang, and Che Tai, “The rest is up to you.”

The three nodded.

They then dragged the unconscious Chen Yu, overwhelmed by the gnawing pain, toward the woodshed in the backyard.

---

Seeing Cang Qian’s expression, Che Baiyuan reached out to stroke her hair and asked, “Are you upset because your cousin treated you like this?”

Cang Qian shook her head, “How could I be upset because of Sang Yingying? I only feel sorry for Banai.”

“This was supposed to be between Yingying and me, yet Banai got dragged into it and even had his leg broken; he’s innocent!”

Che Baiyuan comforted her, “It’s not your fault. Sang Yingying is truly despicable!”

“Don’t blame yourself. If you really want to make it up to Banai, find a way to heal his leg, and then bear him a daughter with some male traits!”

Cang Qian smiled, “That’s essential! By the way, sister, what do you plan to do with Chen Yu?”

Che Baiyuan replied, “First lock him in the woodshed. Then my brother Che Tai will invite the clan chief over. He will have Chen Yu repeat everything just said to the clan chief.”

“So your grandfather can truly see how his beloved granddaughter has been slandered by that vicious granddaughter-in-law all along!”

Cang Qian yawned, “If my grandfather hears it, he’ll feel sorry for me and change his attitude toward Sang Yingying. But he won’t punish Yingying, since she is his granddaughter too, sharing half his blood.”

“I know.”

Che Baiyuan said, “But at least the clan chief will know you are the good female, and Yingying is the real villain!”

Cang Qian thought Baiyuan’s words made sense but worried, “Sister, if you help me deal with Chen Yu like this, will he retaliate against you?”

Che Baiyuan held her hand and patted it, “Don’t worry. In three days, my father and mother beasts will return and tell the clan chief about this.”

“Though Sang Yingying wanted to hurt you, she also tried to kill my cubs. My father and mother beasts won’t let her off, and they certainly won’t let Chen Yu or the other accomplices off.”

Cang Qian joked, “Hearing you say that, I feel like I’ve landed a wealthy and influential protector!”

“Exactly!”

Che Baiyuan laughed, “From now on, you’ll have me looking out for you. If you run out of beast coins, just ask me.”

Cang Qian nodded happily.

After finishing lunch, Cang Qian, feeling very tired, went to the guest room to rest.

Half an hour later, the clan chief Cang Lian arrived at the Che residence.

Quangang took care of the two little fox cubs while Che Baiyuan, Naiwa, and Che Tai brought Cang Lian to the woodshed to see Chen Yu.

Chen Yu confessed everything he knew, both what should be said and what shouldn’t.

After hearing the full story, Cang Lian felt deeply sorry for his granddaughter Cang Qian and Banai, but also disappointed in his granddaughter Sang Yingying.

Yet, both sides were family; his heart was heavy.

After the interrogation, he ordered the beast servants to take Chen Yu away but didn’t say how to punish him or Sang Yingying.

Che Baiyuan had already anticipated the clan chief’s desire to let things lie, but she was not in a hurry, waiting for her own father and mother beasts to return in three days.

---

By evening, the young beasts who participated in the harvest day returned.

As soon as Banai arrived at the village, Che Tai waited for him at the entrance and told him everything that had happened that day.

After hearing it, Banai immediately set down all his hunting spoils and hurried toward the Che residence without a second thought.

Inside the Che residence, Banai greeted Che Baiyuan, Naiwa, and Quangang briefly, then quickly went to the guest room.

Opening the door, he went to the bed and looked at the sleeping Cang Qian.

He lowered his head and gently kissed her.

Awakened by the kiss, Cang Qian smiled happily, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Banai, you’re back.”

Banai pressed his forehead against hers, a little displeased, “You were going to do something so big today—why didn’t you tell me?”

Cang Qian leaned into his embrace and explained, “You’re the team leader. During the harvest day, everyone goes hunting and gathering; how could I ask for leave? If I told you, you’d definitely ask for leave and stay here, and grandpa wouldn’t agree.”

“I couldn’t ask for leave, but if you knew, you’d worry, and being distracted while hunting is dangerous. Anyway, with Sister Baiyuan and the others helping, I just didn’t tell you.”

Banai held her tightly, slightly angry, “Next time this happens, if you don’t tell me, I’ll punish you!”

Cang Qian laughed, “How will you punish me?”

Banai’s lips brushed her ear, whispering teasingly, “Punish you for three days and three nights without leaving the bed!”

Cang Qian blushed and smiled, then held Banai’s hand and placed it on her belly. “Banai, here’s some good news—you’re going to be a father.”