“M-My Lord? W-Why are you here?”
Xie Zhi stammered, her face pale as paper, her delicate features drained of color. Soaked from head to toe, she looked utterly pitiful.
“What? Are you disappointed to see me?”
“I-I didn’t mean…” Xie Zhi fumbled over her words, unable to understand why the person who had saved her was him.
When she looked up again, she saw that his face was dark, with a trace of suppressed anger.
He probably hadn’t expected it to be her either.
She couldn’t understand what he was angry about. He disliked her so much… could it be that he regretted saving her?
Before she could think any further, Pei Du rose to his feet.
“Stay here. Don’t move.”
After giving the brief instruction, he turned and left without another glance.
Not long afterward, Nanny Zhou arrived carrying a thick cloak. Seeing Xie Zhi drenched to the bone, she hurriedly wrapped it around her shoulders while grumbling,
“What on earth happened to you?”
Ignoring the question, Xie Zhi grabbed Nanny Zhou’s arm and pulled her toward the place they had come from.
“Nanny, forget about that for now. Come with me!”
No matter what the truth was, the first thing she had to do was distance herself from that mother and son before they had the chance to frame her.
…
“Lichun, what happened to you?”
Supported by Nanny Zhou, Xie Zhi saw one of the maids by the lakeside staring at her in surprise. She calmly explained that she had accidentally fallen into the lake and had fortunately encountered Nanny Zhou on the opposite bank, who had saved her.
“So that’s what happened. You’re truly lucky.”
The old servant woman surnamed Zhang, seeing that the scheme had failed, could only force a smile and offer her congratulations.
“All right, everyone disperse. Miss Lichun, the Old Madam wishes to see you,” Nanny Zhou said.
The Old Madam was leaving for the Southern Suburbs tomorrow.
Why had she suddenly summoned her before departing?
Unable to figure it out, Xie Zhi changed into dry clothes before following Nanny Zhou to Chunhui Garden.
…
“Lichun, have you been doing well at Guanxue Pavilion these past few days?”
“Replying to Old Madam, this servant has been well. Thank you for your concern.”
Xie Zhi smiled faintly, dimples appearing at the corners of her lips, making her look especially bright and lovable.
The Old Madam set down her teacup and gently patted her head.
“You accidentally fell into the water today. When you return, drink a bowl of ginger soup before sleeping, or you’ll catch a chill tomorrow.”
Her voice was warm and kind, and suddenly Xie Zhi felt her eyes sting with tears.
Now that today’s plan had failed, the thought of what awaited after the Old Madam left filled her with sorrow.
Her eyes reddened as she murmured,
“Old Madam… please take me with you. I’m willing to serve you for the rest of my life.”
“Silly child. The temple is cold and austere. What would you do there? Go back, get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow will be a fine day.”
The Old Madam sounded sleepy now. Her voice slowed, and her eyelids drooped.
“Miss Lichun, it’s already very late. The Old Madam needs to rest. You should return now,” Nanny Zhou reminded gently.
Knowing the Old Madam’s daily routine, Xie Zhi dared not disturb her further. She bowed respectfully and took her leave.
As soon as she was gone, Nanny Zhou helped the Old Madam into the inner chamber.
“Old Madam, why didn’t you simply tell her? Tonight, the Heir Apparent agreed to let her serve at Yangshan Terrace.”
“Let her have one peaceful night’s sleep. She’ll find out tomorrow.”
The Old Madam looked absent-minded as she recalled her stroll through the garden that evening.
She had happened upon Third Young Master interrogating a young page.
But when she had asked about it, he had brushed the matter aside without explanation and quickly changed the subject.
“Oh, that page belongs to Guanxue Pavilion, doesn’t he? If I remember correctly, Lichun is there too. She has quite a connection with you.”
“What is Grandmother trying to say?”
“Nothing much. Back when she served me, she was clever and attentive, always quick to pour tea and wait upon others. You’re surrounded by nothing but rough guards all day. If you hadn’t always refused, I’d have liked to send her to…”
“She isn’t anyone particularly important. But since Grandmother has spoken, let her work in my courtyard as a sweeper.”
The Old Madam and Nanny Zhou exchanged astonished looks.
Neither could hide the disbelief in their eyes.
He had actually agreed this time?
…
Not long after Xie Zhi returned, the little page from earlier that day quietly came to find her.
Fighting back tears, he told her everything.
As she listened, the teacup in her hand trembled violently.
Hot water splashed across the floor, and the porcelain shattered into pieces.
A chill, colder than the lake itself, spread through her body.
So… that was what had happened.
The token she had sent had never reached Pei Hong.
Pei Du had intercepted it halfway.
He had known from the very beginning.
No wonder the man who appeared at Xingbo Lake tonight had been Pei Du.
He had come intending to expose her.
As for saving her…
That had merely been an accident.
Perhaps tomorrow he would finally settle accounts with her.
“Sister Lichun… did I say something wrong?”
“No. It has nothing to do with you.”
She gently rubbed the boy’s head.
“Go back and get some sleep. Children who stay up too late won’t grow tall.”
After sending him back to his room, she returned alone.
Her steps had become unsteady. Her head felt heavy, and the dizziness worsened the moment she sat down inside her room.
She touched her forehead.
It was burning.
She had probably caught a fever.
But she had no time to care about that.
What would happen tomorrow hung over her like a blade suspended above her heart.
Once the Old Madam left…
Either Yuyang would marry her off to Shuangfu…
Or Pei Du would settle the score with her.
A splitting headache pounded in her skull.
She tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
At the third watch of the night, she suddenly sat upright in bed.
Shaking her feverish head, she threw aside the quilt and climbed to her feet.
No.
She couldn’t just sit here waiting to die.
She quickly packed her valuables and slipped out of Guanxue Pavilion under the cover of darkness, heading toward the carriage depot.
The Old Madam would be away for more than two months.
All of her luggage had already been packed into the traveling carriages.
If she hid inside one of them tonight, then tomorrow she could leave the city together with the Old Madam’s entourage.
That would be enough to escape this disaster.
Once they reached Ci’en Temple, she could beg the Old Madam again.
After all, they did share some affection.
Perhaps the Old Madam wouldn’t force her back to the Pei residence.
As for what came afterward…
She would deal with each obstacle as it came.
With that thought, Xie Zhi quickened her pace.
Yet the farther she walked, the weaker her legs became.
The fever raging through her body only intensified.
Tomorrow will be better… Tomorrow will be better…
She repeated the words silently to comfort herself.
When she reached the lotus pond, her legs suddenly gave way.
She stumbled and fell hard onto the pebbled path.
Pain shot through her body.
Looking down, she saw blood welling from her scraped palm.
I’ve never been more miserable than I am today…
Just as she struggled to stand, a cold voice sounded above her.
“Where are you going?”
Her fever left her mind hazy.
She looked up blankly to see a man in a black robe standing before her, his tone unmistakably displeased.
“M-My Lord?”
“What are you sneaking around for?”
His eyes narrowed.
“Planning to run away?”
“O-Of course not…”
Her voice was muddled with fever.
“I wasn’t.”
Pei Du glanced at Changming.
Understanding immediately, Changming stepped forward, picked up Xie Zhi’s bundle, and handed it to his master.
Pei Du took the bundle and gave it a sharp shake.
Gold, silver, and valuables spilled all over the ground.
“And you’re still trying to deny it?”