One incense stick later, Cao Jin arrived in great haste. At the sight of Nanny Hao, he grinned widely, "Where is she? Where is she?"
Nanny Hao’s face darkened. She glanced around, and seeing no one nearby, quickly grabbed the impatient man and warned, "The one sleeping inside is, after all, the daughter of Xuanyi Hou. Shizi, please keep your voice down and don’t make any commotion."
"How will outsiders know we’ve slept together if I don’t make any noise?" Cao Jin retorted unhappily, licking his lips eagerly. "I’ll make sure your young lady experiences ecstasy today. No need for an old woman like you to remind me. This Shizi knows exactly what to do."
Nanny Hao rolled her eyes silently. "Shizi, be careful not to kill her."
At the thought of Xue Ning’s snow-white skin, Cao Jin felt a shiver of excitement. A lecherous gleam flashed in his eyes. "Don’t worry, I won’t kill her. I’m still waiting to marry her and make her my wife!"
Unable to hold him back, Nanny Hao tremblingly let him in.
Cao Jin rushed to the door of the meditation room in a few strides, squinting his eyes and taking a deep sniff.
He felt as if the air was filled with the soft, sweet fragrance of a young maiden.
He knew how beautiful Xue Ning was and how fragrant she smelled.
Just walking past her had felt intoxicating, a scent that truly seeped into his very soul.
It was a pity that during the birthday banquet for the Marquise at Xuanyi Marquis Mansion, he could only admire such a delicate and stunning beauty from afar, unable to touch her…
But today, his dear cousin, eager to bring him and Xue Ning together, had given him this perfect opportunity.
Naturally, he wouldn’t let it slip. Soon, he would make sure Xue Ning understood just how formidable he was.
With this thought, Cao Jin gently pushed open Xue Ning’s door.
The candles inside had already been extinguished. Though dawn had not yet fully broken, a light snowfall drifted onto the open window lattice.
The meditation room was surrounded by deep, serene foliage, leaving the interior dim and shadowy.
Groping his way to the bedside, his large hand touched the soft quilt, and the rich, intoxicating fragrance of Xue Ning seemed to envelop him.
"Miss Xue, you smell so divine—"
"This Shizi is here to serve you now. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re comfortable."
His eyes gleamed brightly as he greedily swallowed and reached his hand under the covers.
"Huh?"
Instead of the soft body of a woman, he touched something hard and unyielding.
Before he could wonder, a woman’s sharp cry suddenly rang out from outside the window.
"Help! Catch the thief!"
"Someone’s broken into the meditation room to steal!"
"Quick, someone come!"
The woman’s shouts startled the entire quiet temple into a sudden uproar.
Nanny Hao’s heart sank in panic. She stood up in shock, but before she could push the door open to enter the courtyard, she saw a group of officers, long knives strapped to their waists, rush into the meditation room ahead of her. They quickly dragged out a cowering Cao Jin.
The sudden turn of events made her realize something was wrong. She turned to hide.
But as she turned back, she saw Xue Ning walking calmly into the courtyard from outside the meditation room.
Nanny Hao’s face instantly paled, and she stammered, "Y-young lady… Why are you outside?"
Xue Ning’s expression was stern as she said coldly, "Nanny Hao, how did you guard the door? How could you not know a thief had entered my courtyard?"
Cao Jin, held firmly by the officers, suddenly shouted, "I am the Shizi of Jiqing Bo! I am no thief!"
Xue Ning raised her fair, delicate face. "If you're not a thief, then why did you enter my meditation room?"
Cao Jin choked on his words, his face flushing red as he met Xue Ning's beautiful, tender features. "This Shizi was… was…"
He stammered for a long while but couldn't produce a coherent explanation.
The crowd of onlookers grew larger, with the nobles who had stayed overnight at the temple gathering around.
Xue Ning had anticipated that he wouldn't dare state his true intentions outright, and she had no intention of letting him off. She snatched the jade bracelet still clutched in Cao Jin's hand and presented it to the leading Xuan Ying Guard commander. "Sir, this is what Shizi Cao coveted. It is a priceless personal belonging of the Xuanyi Marquis's wife. A few days ago, when Cao Jin attended the madam's birthday banquet at the Marquis's residence, he took a fancy to this bracelet. I never expected he would follow me all the way to Zhenguo Temple just to steal it. If you don't believe me, you can take this bracelet to Madam Jiang, the Marquis's wife, and Shizi Su Zhan of the Marquis's residence for verification."
A single jade bracelet couldn't stir up much trouble.
But the mere mention of Su Zhan, who had already risen to the position of Vice Minister of Justice at such a young age, made everyone present adopt a solemn expression.
The leading Xuan Ying Guard glanced at the bracelet and tightened his grip, causing Cao Jin to yelp in pain.
"I didn't do it! Let go of me at once, or I'll make you regret it!"
"Shizi of the Jiqing Earl." The leading Xuan Ying Guard sneered. "Since you refuse to admit stealing from the Xuanyi Marquis Mansion, we'll have the old Earl come immediately to speak on your behalf."
"Don't!"
Cao Jin was instantly terrified, his face paling with panic.
He didn't dare admit that he had conspired with the third branch of the Marquis's household to set up a scheme for his own ulterior motives.
Fortunately, stealing a jade bracelet wasn't a major crime for someone like him.
Once back in Dongjing, he could simply have his servant bail him out with silver.
"It's just a bracelet. What if I did take a fancy to it?"
The leading Xuan Ying Guard chuckled coldly and said sternly, "Take him away. Await the magistrate's judgment!"
Cao Jin had no choice but to accept his fate, glaring fiercely at Nanny Hao.
Nanny Hao hung her head, not daring to utter a word.
Cao Jin then turned his gaze to Xue Ning, his heart crawling with a thousand ants.
He had long been infatuated with Xue Ning, swearing that he must have her in this lifetime.
Today, his plan had been on the verge of success, only to be ruined by Xue Ning and a single bracelet.
This delicate-looking girl had a bit of cleverness to her after all.
He narrowed his eyes, filled with resentment.
Several meditation rooms were situated by the water here, next to a large natural lotus pond.
The Xuan Ying Guard bound his hands.
Pretending to follow them for a couple of steps, Cao Jin suddenly turned and charged straight at Xue Ning.
Someone gasped in shock.
"Ah—"
"Miss, be careful!"
Chaos erupted among the crowd as the situation abruptly changed, catching Xue Ning completely off guard.
But she was standing right at the edge of the pond, speaking with the Xuan Ying Guard commander, and had no time to dodge.
Clenching his teeth viciously, Cao Jin rammed into Xue Ning, sending her tumbling into the lotus pond.
With a splash, Xue Ning felt the icy, bone-chilling water rush in from all sides, flooding her mouth and nose.
She wasn't a strong swimmer, and though the pond appeared shallow, its depths were unfathomable.
She struggled desperately for a moment, but her body sank rapidly.
Cao Jin stood on the bank, laughing heartily. "Hahaha, someone help! Miss Xue has fallen into the water! Everyone, hurry and save her!"
The people on the shore exchanged uneasy glances, while the monks hurried off in a panic to fetch bamboo poles.
Saving a life is important, but Miss Xue is, after all, a young lady.
The women dared not enter the water in the harsh winter, while the men hesitated greatly. Upon hearing it was Miss Xue from the Xuanyi Marquis Mansion, none of them dared to act.
"Please, everyone, save my young lady!"
"Young lady—!"