Zhu Xingxu carefully climbed onto the shortest of the wooden cabinets, stepping up cautiously, one careful step at a time.
With each step, her heart lifted a little.
The closer she got to the jade plaque, the wider her smile grew.
Finally, she reached the highest point.
She stretched out her hand but still fell short.
She tiptoed, reaching for the Primordial Celestial Venerable’s hand, still just shy of touching it.
Looking down at the hundred-treasure shelf she was standing on, she decided against jumping.
If it collapsed, she’d be badly hurt.
Zhu Xingxu could only inch closer toward the Primordial Celestial Venerable statue.
Just a few millimeters away, a figure flashed past, effortlessly snatching the jade plaque.
Startled by the sudden turn of events, Zhu Xingxu was furious.
“Who’s there?”
She had climbed up with so much effort!
Turning, she saw the man sitting on the arm of the Daoist Virtue Venerable on the other side, smiling at her.
“I thought who would be so reckless as to stay during the fire, turns out it’s you.”
It was the masked man who had threatened her last night!
He still wore his mask and black clothes.
In the light, she noticed darker, mottled stains on his black clothing.
Probably blood. No doubt the Imperial Guards had given him a hard chase.
Zhu Xingxu glared at him, careful not to show her desire for the jade plaque.
The masked man frowned. “Why are you looking at me? Didn’t you want this?”
He flipped the jade plaque in his hands, tossing it into the air, then catching it again, infuriating Zhu Xingxu.
No, she couldn’t fall for his trick.
Feigning indifference, she slowly descended from the high perch.
Seeing her come down, he jumped down as well, landing on the ground.
Zhu Xingxu kept observing him.
Watching how swift and skillful he moved, she suddenly wished she could use light-footed skills too…
“Let’s make a deal. You agree, and I’ll give it to you,” he said.
He raised an eyebrow. This was like a lamb walking into a tiger’s mouth.
If she agreed to this deal, who knew if there would be another one after?
Even if this deal seemed simple, once completed, he could still refuse to give it.
They didn’t know each other; how could Zhu Xingxu know his true nature?
Still, she asked rather meekly, “What kind of deal?”
The masked man smiled, his eyes curving.
“When the fire is out, you bring me to your room. I need to recover.”
Huh? How did he know the fire would end?
Besides, weren’t they both staying in the side hall?
Zhu Xingxu looked puzzled.
He noticed, naturally, and said, “You just agree.”
Fine, she’d deal with it later.
Zhu Xingxu nodded. “Okay, I agree. Give it to me.” She reached out.
The jade plaque spun on her fingertips, then the masked man tucked it back into his clothing.
“When I’ve recovered, I’ll give it to you.”
Zhu Xingxu took a deep breath, restraining the urge to hit him.
“Fine, okay,” she ground out through clenched teeth.
The masked man drew a knife, twirling it skillfully on his fingertips.
“If you dare tell anyone a word, more than just that maid will die here.”
Zhu Xingxu swallowed hard.
Outside Sanqing Hall, Ji Chiying’s voice suddenly called.
“Xingxu… are you in there?”
The masked man smiled, disappeared behind the Sanqing statue, and before leaving, said, “I’ll come find you.”
Ji Chiying pushed open the door and, seeing Zhu Xingxu, brightened.
“I heard movement inside and wondered if it was you.”
She came over and took Zhu Xingxu’s hand.
Zhu Xingxu glanced behind her; no one else was there.
“Aren’t you with the others? Why are you alone?”
A flicker of annoyance crossed Ji Chiying’s brow.
“It was my younger sister… She pushed me into the pond while no one was looking. They left so quickly, gone in an instant.”
Zhu Xingxu looked down. Ji Chiying’s hem and shoes were indeed wet.
She glanced aside, retrieved a dry cloth, and knelt to wipe Ji Chiying’s skirt and shoes.
Since the masked man had said the fire would end, it probably wouldn’t reach here.
Calming down, Zhu Xingxu realized that the fire must have been set by him.
Ji Chiying looked surprised.
“Xingxu… you don’t have to do this.”
Zhu Xingxu shook her head. “It’s nothing. Take off your shoes, let them dry, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Ji Chiying nodded, found a place to sit, and removed her socks and shoes.
Zhu Xingxu helped air them out.
Her heart was soft…
Having read the book, she had always felt sympathy for Ji Chiying.
More than once, she had wished Ji Chiying hadn’t ended up with the Third Prince.
Seeing her now, lively and full of flesh and blood, her fondness deepened further.
Ji Chiying originally sat properly, mindful of noble etiquette learned in the Ji residence.
But the door was ajar, and the wind blew in.
She hesitated, then sat cross-legged.
Her cheeks tinged slightly pink.
“Xingxu… is this… not very proper for a lady?”
She still held a grudge about her early years spent among commoners.
After returning to the Ji residence, Ji Qingqing had constantly used this to suppress her.
Ji Chiying had learned to behave while crying at the same time.
Zhu Xingxu glanced at her, then spread her legs and shook them.
“Then by that standard, wouldn’t I be even less proper?”
Ji Chiying, seeing her wiggling legs and casual demeanor, let out a light laugh.
“Xingxu, I feel… you’re very different from others.”
Zhu Xingxu looked at her. “Different how?”
Ji Chiying lowered her gaze, thinking, then said, “It’s… you don’t seem to care so much about reputation. You act freely.”
That was because Zhu Xingxu didn’t want to marry…
So she hoped her reputation would be tarnished.
Madam Xu, however, was quite amusing.
On one hand, she wanted her reputation a bit lower, but feared it would affect Zhu Ruoyi and Zhu Can’er. Many things she did were subject to Madam Xu’s management. Seeing her struggle, Zhu Xingxu felt a bit amused.
Zhu Xingxu said, “Really… maybe others are just like that on the surface; privately, everyone has their own personality.”
Ji Chiying’s gaze drifted, lost in thought, as if recalling something.
Zhu Xingxu asked, “And that Third Prince…”
Ji Chiying’s face flushed.
“I… have nothing with him…”
She hadn’t even said much, and yet her reaction was like this?
Knowing it was bold to provoke the female lead, Zhu Xingxu still mustered courage. “The Third Prince isn’t a good man…”
After saying it, she shut her eyes and turned her head away, unable to look at Ji Chiying.
Her courage to stir trouble for the lead pair was truly bold.
Her words surprised Ji Chiying.
She froze for a moment. “You know the Third Prince?”
Zhu Xingxu shook her head. “I know the Fifth Prince…”
Once again, she used Pei Xie as a shield.
Remembering he had said to inform him next time, she decided she would.
Ji Chiying frowned.
The Fifth Prince was indeed under the Third Prince’s command. Did he say something to Zhu Xingxu?
“Did the Fifth Prince say anything to you?”
Zhu Xingxu had wanted to say he mentioned some negative things about the Third Prince, but reconsidered.
What if it led to a quarrel between the Third and Fifth Princes?
That would be detestable behavior.
If Pei Xie found out, with his abilities, crushing her would be effortless.
“Not really, it’s just my own thoughts.”
Ji Chiying fell silent.
Zhu Xingxu, thinking she had upset her by speaking ill of the Third Prince, added, “I mean no offense, just hope you consider carefully.”
Ji Chiying slowly nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind…”
Zhu Xingxu knew clearly they were destined for a fateful and troublesome bond.
Not something she could break in a few words.
She only hoped Ji Chiying would suffer less than in the original story.
Outside, the hurried footsteps of the Imperial Guards echoed.
Having just extinguished the fire, they were now inspecting for other damages.
Pei Yan and Pei Xie appeared outside the door, approaching from the other side.
Pei Yan first noticed Sanqing Hall’s wide-open doors.
He pushed the door, walked in, and immediately saw the pale purple shoes and socks by the threshold.
A flush rose to Pei Yan’s face. He recognized the owner.
Inside the temple, only she wore that color.
He looked up and saw Ji Chiying sitting not far away, legs crossed, her purple dress covering her feet.
His face turned even redder.
Pei Xie, standing behind him, looked puzzled that he hadn’t entered yet.
“What’s wrong?”
Upon entering, he saw Zhu Xingxu sitting with legs apart.
Strangely, in the past, if Pei Xie saw someone sitting like that, he would have been displeased.
But seeing Zhu Xingxu, he only felt as expected—and didn’t dislike it.
Pei Yan also noticed Zhu Xingxu.
“Why are you sitting like this?”
Ji Chiying’s heart raced as she had already seen Pei Yan.
“My shoes and socks are wet… I’m waiting for them to dry.”
Pei Yan nodded and had the guards prepare new shoes and socks.
Seeing his consideration, a blush spread across Ji Chiying’s face.
Pei Xie looked around.
Almost instantly, he noticed the jade plaque missing from the Primordial Celestial Venerable’s hand.
He then looked at Zhu Xingxu.
In a low voice, he said, “Zhu Xingxu, come here.”
Confused, Zhu Xingxu followed him outside, leaving a puzzled Ji Chiying and Pei Yan behind.
In a corner, Pei Xie frowned at her.
“Give me the Vermilion Bird jade plaque.”
“What?”
Zhu Xingxu was stunned, but quickly realized Pei Xie thought she had taken it.
“I didn’t take it.” Pei Xie seemed somewhat irritated.
“If not you, then who would want it?”
He paused, then said, “You can’t hold it. Once the jade plaque disappears from Zhenguo Temple, word will spread across Jianghu. Everyone will want it; you could die.”
His tone grew increasingly agitated.
Zhu Xingxu was annoyed too.
“I really didn’t take it. It was that assassin!”
She glared at Pei Xie. His emotions gradually settled.
“Really?”
Zhu Xingxu nodded vigorously, her gaze somewhat resentful. “Really! Why don’t you believe me?”
Seeing her flustered, Pei Xie felt a twinge of unease.
He sighed. “It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just…”
Afraid for her safety. Pei Xie softened, and Zhu Xingxu’s anger eased.
She wanted to tell him about the masked man.
But then she recalled the chilling words he had said.
Even knowing she would return to the modern world, and all this would be fleeting, if someone died because of her, she’d feel terrible.
She had to find another plan.
“Oh, by the way… Ji Chiying seems to be friends with the Third Prince?”
Zhu Xingxu had originally wanted to hint at something more, but it would damage Ji Chiying’s reputation, so she chose a safer explanation.
Pei Xie replied absentmindedly, “Maybe.”
His thoughts were otherwise occupied, focused on his schemes.
Although unconsciously, other feelings had begun creeping into his singular intentions.
Zhu Xingxu fiddled with the hem of her clothes.
“Um… I told Ji Chiying the Third Prince isn’t very good…”