She stepped forward to bow in greeting. When she looked up, she saw Pei Du clad in crimson official robes, with his official cap resting on the desk.
He must have just returned from the government office. Xie Zhi knew from her time in Yangzhou that this man was constantly busy, often working at his desk late into the night.
But why had he come to Guanxuelou so late?
“Your Excellency,” Xie Zhi spoke.
Pei Du lifted his head, his clear, cold eyes settling on Xie Zhi.
After a long moment, he finally spoke, but his words surprised her. “Has Wulang set his sights on you?”
Xie Zhi was taken aback. “Why would Your Excellency say that? Of course not.”
“Not?” Pei Du stood up, his tall frame blocking the candlelight, casting a sense of oppression over Xie Zhi that lingered for a long time.
When he wore his official robes, that sharp, imposing aura was even more pronounced, easily reminding Xie Zhi of the fear she had felt back in Yangzhou.
Steadying her nerves, she replied calmly:
“Truly not. What happened during the day was just a misunderstanding. Your Excellency is overthinking it.”
Pei Du’s gaze was scrutinizing, the same expression he wore when adjudicating cases.
Xie Zhi kept her head lowered, saying nothing, afraid he might detect something amiss and interfere with her plans.
Just as she was about to buckle under his stare, Pei Du finally spoke, his tone indifferent. “Wulang is naturally flirtatious, with countless concubines in his household. For a maid like you, with no background, that is no good place to be.”
“Think it over carefully.”
With those final words, he left without another glance at her, striding away.
Xie Zhi stared in the direction he had gone, her composure crumbling instantly.
Who had reduced her to such a state?!
And now this very culprit had come to lecture her!
Did he truly think she was willing to use such lowly tactics to seduce someone she didn’t even like?!
Furious, Xie Zhi grabbed the official cap from the desk and hurled it to the ground, stomping on it twice to vent her anger.
Wait—the official cap?
Why was Pei Du’s official cap here?!
Xie Zhi’s hands were already stained with oil paint from her painting, and a blotch of red and green now marred the black gauze of the cap. Combined with dust, it was truly unsightly.
Footsteps echoed from the corridor just then—likely Pei Du returning for the item he had left behind.
Oh no, oh no…
Why had she been so impulsive?!
As the footsteps drew nearer, Xie Zhi steeled herself and tossed the misshapen, trampled cap out the window—
At the same moment, Pei Du appeared at the stairway.
He strode over, asking, “Have you seen—”
But his voice trailed off as he took in the empty desk and Xie Zhi standing by the window.
“Your Excellency, a gust of wind just blew your official cap downstairs. I intended to retrieve it, but it was too late.”
Xie Zhi spoke without a change in expression or heartbeat.
Pei Du walked to the window, looked down at the placid pond below, and raised an eyebrow.
Xie Zhi asked again, “Shall I go down and retrieve it for you?”
“No need.”
Pei Du gave a faint, wry smile, adjusted his wide sleeves, and turned to leave.
Xie Zhi stood still for a while, listening carefully until she was certain no sound remained, and finally let out a sigh of relief.
Hah…
This time, he was truly gone.
…
Pei Hong seemed to have been confined to his quarters. For several days in a row, Xie Zhi hadn’t seen him, and there was no movement from Yuyang’s side either. Just as Xie Zhi thought she could catch her breath, Qingyi sought her out.
“Li Chun, did you know? County Mistress Yuyang gave the order this morning—she really intends to bestow you upon that groom, and even rewarded him with silver to make preparations.”
“How could that be? I had no idea myself.”
“Old Madam won’t be leaving until tomorrow. She’s waiting to catch you off guard all at once—why would she announce it so early and risk the news leaking? If I hadn’t run into Cuiluo from Handanyuan in the kitchen today, I wouldn’t have found out so soon.”
Xie Zhi irritably rubbed her temples, then sat at the table and took another bite of roasted pheasant, chewing noisily.
“You still have the appetite to eat? You’ve already spent most of the manuscript fee you just received.”
Qingyi patted the table.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take a risk tonight—no matter what, I must meet Pei Hong again.”
Xie Zhi murmured thoughtfully.
The evening sun fell upon her lovely face, making even the delicate tip of her nose glow faintly.
Qingyi stared, somewhat entranced. “Li Chun, with your looks, you’re sure to succeed.”
“I hope so. If everything in the world could be obtained through looks alone, it would have fallen into chaos long ago.”
She drooped her head, troubled.
…
After the two finished their meal at Bailingguan, they returned to Peifu.
Back in her room, Xie Zhi retrieved the broken jade hairpin tip from her dressing case and handed it to the page boy who was about to deliver books to Ninghuiyuan. After giving him a few instructions, she saw him out.
Once night fell completely, she changed into a pale yellow gauze dress with snow-white trim, draped a lotus-root-colored short jacket over it, and applied a touch of the rouge Qingyi had given her. Then she left for Xingbohu.
She had asked the page boy to relay a message to Pei Hong, inviting him to meet her at Xingbohu tonight.
That Pei Hong was a libertine, and with Third Master Pei still away at the palace, Xie Zhi was certain he would come.
Just as she reached the lakeshore and was heading toward the pavilion in the middle of the lake, she heard someone calling from behind, “Miss Li Chun! Miss Li Chun!”
Xie Zhi paused and turned to see a man in a brown short jacket striding toward her, his pockmarked face beaming with joy.
“Shuangfu? What are you doing here?”
Xie Zhi asked in surprise. The man before her was County Mistress Yuyang’s groom. They had met by chance in the estate two months ago, and ever since, he had persistently bothered her.
The trouble was, he was a bit simple-minded—no matter how she tried to reason with him, he never understood.
“I was delivering something to my parents and happened to run into you,” Shuangfu said, then grinned smugly. “Li Chun, I have good news to tell you. You’ll definitely be happy when you hear it.”
Xie Zhi snorted inwardly. Happy? Not a chance!
Not wanting to engage with him further, she turned and walked toward the pavilion.
“Hey, Li Chun, Li Chun, don’t go! Wait!” Shuangfu chased after her, his tone clearly growing anxious.
“Li Chun! Shuangfu!”
A stout, broad-shouldered matron came running from a distance, wiping sweat from her face with a handkerchief. She grabbed Xie Zhi’s arm, her face blooming with delight.
“Oh my, Li Chun! From now on, we’ll be family. You just behave yourself, give me a few plump grandsons, and this old woman won’t treat you poorly!”
“Mother, why have you come out?” Shuangfu stepped forward to support her.
“Mother is too happy—I couldn’t resist coming out for a stroll! And just in time to run into both of you! Don’t worry, since you’ve handed over the county mistress’s reward to me, I’ll make sure your happy event…”
Before Shuangfu’s mother could finish, Xie Zhi could no longer contain her irritation. She quickened her pace, trying to escape the mother and son.
“Hey, Li Chun, where are you going?” Shuangfu grew anxious and lifted his foot to chase after her.
“Stop right there!” His mother grabbed Shuangfu by the arm, her expression shifting as she lowered her voice. “Can’t you see that wretched girl is unwilling? I’ve heard she’s caught the eye of Old Madam. We must tie her down firmly—today, she must marry, whether she likes it or not!”