Chapter 12

Ni Yan's eyes flashed with a glimmer of sharpness as he said slowly, "Don't worry. I have already sealed off the entire city. Next, we will search every household to make sure we find the stolen divine medicine. As for your brother, don't be too upset. People change, and perhaps he was dissatisfied with your uncle taking over the Qin Medical Clinic and thus fell into the path of darkness."

Qin Xin nodded, looking worried, "I hope so."

Inside the carriage, the handsome man and the beautiful woman leaned into each other's embrace. The carriage curtain was draped in gauzy layers, creating a dreamy and enchanting scene. From afar, it was a sight to behold, a perfect match that seemed made in heaven.

Their conversation was not intentionally hidden, as if they were deliberately telling everyone that Qin Huanzi was dissatisfied with their uncle taking over the Qin Medical Clinic, leading him to turn to darkness, commit murder, and steal the divine medicine, sparking a flurry of discussions among the crowd.

If this story about Qin Huanzi was told by Qin Lin or someone else, the people of Tang City might not believe it.

After all, the former Qin Medical Clinic had saved so many people, and the entire city still held great respect for their family.

However, since these words were spoken by Qin Lily, Qin Huanzi's own sister, even if people were skeptical, they had no choice but to believe it.

Qin Lily was, after all, Qin Huanzi's biological sister. How could she intentionally frame her own brother unless Qin Huanzi had truly committed some heinous acts that made her so ruthlessly turn against her own family?

Qin Lily's red lips curled into a mocking smile.

This act was indeed performed quite well.

She patted her sleeve and flicked her fingers. No one saw it, but a small pebble flew from her fingertips and struck the horse's abdomen.

The tiny pebble contained a tremendous force and caused the horse pain.

The horse, in agony, lifted its front legs and neighed loudly, then bolted into a wild run.

"Ah!!"

On the carriage, Qin Xin was thrown backward by the sudden acceleration and fell off the open, sightseeing carriage, landing heavily on the ground.

By sheer coincidence, due to inertia, she fell right in front of Qin Lily, landing face-first into the dust.

"Ah! Someone help! The carriage is out of control! Miss Lily has fallen from the carriage!"

The guards hurried over in a panic.

Qin Lily took a step back, looking at Qin Xin, who was kneeling and lying in front of her, feeling a sense of satisfaction in her heart. With her hands behind her back, she prepared to leave leisurely.

Qin Xin, helped up by the guards, looked up and saw the lingering glee in Qin Lily's eyes. Her anger flared up uncontrollably.

"Stop right there!" Qin Xin steadied herself and glared at Qin Lily fiercely. "Are you mocking me?"

Qin Lily looked at Qin Xin with a smile that was not quite a smile and spoke slowly, "Miss, do you have paranoia? When did I ever mock you?"

Her eyes were filled with thick sarcasm.

That gaze felt like a slap to Qin Xin's face.

From childhood to now, as an illegitimate daughter, Qin Xin had endured countless scorn and abuse.

This had made her extremely sensitive; even the slightest hint of disdain from others would remind her of all the ridicule and mistreatment she had suffered in the past.

Her eagerness to rise above others stemmed from this very point.

Before her now, the ragged, dirty boy in coarse linen clothes seemed to look down on her as if she were nothing but an insignificant ant!

The inferiority and desperate desire to become someone important overwhelmed Qin Xin's mind, making Qin Lily appear as the tormentors of her past!

Qin Xin swung a slap at Qin Lily, "Who do you think you are to speak to me like that?"

Her hand was firmly caught in mid-air by Qin Lily.

Qin Lily's eyes were icy cold, her filthy appearance failing to mask the killing intent she exuded!

"Who I am is none of your concern," Qin Lily said coldly. "You might want to take a look at yourself. Maybe you're not even worthy of being called 'something'."

"You!" Qin Xin was enraged, her face contorted with anger.

"Lily, are you alright? Did you get hurt in the fall?" After regaining control of the carriage, Ni Yan also rushed over. "Let me see where you're hurt!"

Qin Xin's expression changed when she remembered they were in the public eye.

Ni Yan had liked her previous soft and weak demeanor. If he saw her like this…

Qin Xin quickly adjusted her mood, taking a deep breath, and with reddened eyes, tears soon began to fall as she spoke with a tearful, pitiful voice, "I'm fine, it's just… just…"

She glanced at Qin Lily, then pretended to wipe away her tears.

Ni Yan followed her gaze and met Qin Lily's mocking eyes. He furrowed his brows and asked, "Who are you?"

As their eyes met, Qin Lily saw Ni Yan as if he were under an X-ray machine, every flaw and problem of his magnified in her eyes.

Qin Lily spoke meaningfully, "A naturally right-sided heart, left and right are reversed—that's quite normal. A slight bone deformity in the legs, fortunately covered by the wide robe. But that place…"

Qin Lily's eyes dropped down, focusing on a certain spot near Ni Yan's inner thigh, her gaze growing more significant.

Ni Yan's body suddenly stiffened.

He was certain he had never seen this dirty-faced youth before, and he was even more certain that only his parents knew about the congenital condition of his heart being on the right side of his chest.

Yet this person before him, with just a glance, had identified his condition and knew about his… shameful issue!