Just as Xiao Mingyue walked out of the alley, she ran into Gu Liyu and Shen Wanxin.
“What are you two doing here?” Xiao Mingyue asked.
“Uh…”
The two were instantly left tongue-tied, exchanging silent glances.
Xiao Mingyue grew somewhat anxious; she had to go and confirm Xiaochun’s safety immediately.
Seeing that she wanted to leave, Gu Liyu suddenly called out to her: “Hey, who on earth are you?”
“Didn’t I tell you? My name is Liuli, a member of Prime Minister Pei’s staff,” Xiao Mingyue said, continuing forward.
Just then, she overheard Gu Liyu and Shen Wanxin discussing:
“If Xiaochun finds out Mingyue is gone, she’ll probably follow her to the grave.”
“Sigh, why is my Mingyue so unfortunate? Feng Buji is truly a piece of trash.”
“Hush, keep your voice down! How dare you curse Feng Buji—have you lost your mind?”
“I’ll curse him all I want! He was never anything good anyway, so he can just swallow my curses! Our Mingyue was his childhood sweetheart, innocent and devoted, and waited for him for three years, only for him to take her life the moment he returned! To hell with that piece of dog filth!”
Hearing Xiaochun’s name, Xiao Mingyue turned back in a hurry.
“What did you just say?” Xiao Mingyue asked nervously.
“I said Feng Buji is a piece of dog filth!” Gu Liyu replied. She had never liked an arrogant, insolent second-generation heir like Feng Buji in the first place, and his return from fighting in the frontier for a few years had only made him even more lawless.
“Not that sentence—what did you say happened to Xiaochun just now?”
“Nothing happened. Wait, no—do you even know Xiaochun, asking about her like that?”
Just then, a sudden gust of wind blew out of nowhere, lifting a corner of her veil and revealing half of her exquisite face.
“Woah, it really is you, Xiao Mingyue! You actually feigned death! And you didn’t even tell me!” Gu Liyu suddenly cried out, yanking off Xiao Mingyue’s hat in one swift motion, exposing her familiar, stunning face to the daylight.
Crying, Shen Wanxin moved to hug Xiao Mingyue: “Wah, so you’re not dead after all!”
Xiao Mingyue quickly pushed them away, saying testily: “Since you’ve found me out, I won’t pretend anymore. Where is Xiaochun?”
Gu Liyu said: “Xiaochun was injured, so she’s secretly recovering in my manor.”
“Why is she at your house? Also, how did she get injured, and what on earth happened during this time?”
“Sigh, it’s a long story.”
“Then make it short,” Xiao Mingyue’s face turned solemn.
“Isn’t the Xiao family… On the day news of your death arrived, Xiaochun couldn’t stomach the injustice and went to risk her life against Feng Buji. She stabbed Feng Buji viciously, but he kicked her so hard she spat blood, damaging her internal organs.”
“That wretched woman Hua Heng wanted to kill Xiaochun, but Feng Buji wouldn’t allow it and had Xiaochun driven out of the Prince’s manor instead. Unexpectedly, Hua Heng sent people to murder Xiaochun, but luckily our men spotted her and saved her—the very maid who followed you into the alley just now.”
They had seen it all. They never expected Xiao Mingyue would have such a ruthless day; had she been like this earlier, she wouldn’t have been bullied to such an extent.
Hearing this, Xiao Mingyue finally felt a weight lift from her mind.
“It’s truly wonderful that Xiaochun is safe,” Xiao Mingyue breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Liyu and Shen Wanxin rolled their eyes testily: “It’s truly wonderful that you are fine! Xiaochun was so anxious she nearly killed herself to accompany her master to the grave.”
Xiao Mingyue smiled knowingly, holding their hands with deep emotion: “It’s so good to have you two. My life in this world hasn’t been in vain after all.”
“Good that you know! Making us so grief-stricken—you didn’t even let us know you were alive, you monster!” Shen Wanxin’s eyes were red; it was clear she had been genuinely heartbroken.
Xiao Mingyue gave them a hug. “By the way, why were you two following behind me? Did you know it was me?”
Xiao Mingyue clearly remembered that she was disguised. She surmised the jewelry she gifted had raised their suspicions, but surely that wouldn’t warrant tracking her, right?
At this mention, Gu Liyu glared at Xiao Mingyue in speechlessness: “Originally, we were merely suspicious. But then we saw a few strangers tailing behind you, and fearing something bad might happen again, we followed along.”
“What? What about those strangers? What did they look like?”
How careless! She hadn’t realized she was being tracked.
“Don’t worry, those few men were dealt with by our people,” Gu Liyu said triumphantly, though her expression quickly turned solemn as she reconsidered. “Speaking of which, those men wore black robes embroidered with moon patterns, carrying crescent-shaped blades at their waists. Their movements were cautious and mysterious, resembling members of some sect in the martial world. How did you get involved with people like that?”
Xiao Mingyue was utterly baffled. She had no idea who those people were. The court had always frowned upon ministers colluding with figures from the martial world, and as a lady raised in her boudoir, it was even more impossible for her to know any martial arts practitioners.
After pondering for a moment, Xiao Mingyue said: “It’s enough that Xiaochun is fine. Please take care of her for me during this period, and be careful yourselves as well. It’s inconvenient for me to show my face, so I am using the identity of Pei Yanli’s sister. You must pretend not to know me in public, and if anything comes up, we can write letters just like before.”
“Don’t worry!”
“I understand!”
The two spoke in unison with firm expressions. It was hard to tell if they truly understood; both came from prominent families, possessing noble status, and as wealthy young ladies, most were spoiled and domineering—just as she used to be.
“I must head back now. The injustice against the Xiao family is still waiting for me to clear. Take care!”
“Alright, alright! We’ll also help you gather evidence in secret.”