When Xie Zhi saw her bundle snatched away, it finally dawned on her—
The man standing before her…
Had once again…
Ruined her plans.
Thinking of that, she lifted her head, glared at the infuriatingly handsome face before her, and couldn’t help blurting out,
“I hate you!”
“What did you say?”
The man’s eyes widened in astonishment, clearly caught off guard by her words.
Changming was so frightened that he quickly glanced at his master’s expression before hurriedly saying,
“Miss, y-you… what nonsense are you talking about?”
Perhaps because of the fever, Xie Zhi’s mind was muddled. Ignoring the expressions on both men’s faces, she staggered to her feet and said,
“Pei Du, if it weren’t for you, would I have ended up like this? Forced to scheme and calculate every step, never enjoying a single peaceful day?”
“So you tried to seduce Fifth Young Master, yet you still dare justify yourself? You’re utterly shameless!”
Pei Du’s voice turned cold. Seeing that she showed no remorse, his anger finally surfaced.
He strode forward, seized her wrist, and demanded,
“When I rescued you from Yangzhou, didn’t I tell you to behave yourself and harbor no wicked thoughts?”
His grip made her injured wrist ache, and the wound on her palm throbbed painfully as well. A wave of grievance welled up inside her. Before she knew it, tears were streaming down her face.
“You brought me into the manor, but never explained anything. Then you left without another word. Do you know how many rumors I’ve had to endure?”
“Everyone in Chunhui Garden stopped seeing me as a respectable young woman. They all treated me like your personal possession. Then after you came back, you wanted nothing to do with me. I lost every shred of dignity…”
“That alone would have been enough. I’m the daughter of a convicted official, and you’ve shown me kindness. No matter what, I’ll always be grateful. But why do the spoiled young ladies of your family keep targeting me at every turn?”
“If I’d known it would end like this, I would have run a little farther back then instead of hiding in your carriage halfway…”
By the time she finished speaking, tears had completely drenched her face.
Pei Du’s grip on her wrist gradually loosened.
But she had already lost her footing and collapsed straight toward the ground.
Fortunately, Pei Du reacted swiftly and caught her before she could fall.
“My Lord, th-this… what should we do?”
“Take her back first.”
Bending down, Pei Du effortlessly swept her into his arms.
…
When Xie Zhi woke again, she found herself lying in a bedroom at Guanxue Pavilion.
She coughed lightly. Her head pounded, and her entire body felt numb.
Supporting herself upright, she noticed her injured palm had been wrapped in thick layers of bandages.
“Sister Lichun, you’re finally awake.”
Turning her head, she saw the young page Mitong standing by the doorway, carrying a cup of tea.
Thin wisps of incense drifted from the carved Qingzhou porcelain incense burner beside the bed. The fragrance made Xie Zhi cough twice before she accepted the tea from Mitong and took a few sips to soothe her throat.
“Sister, you’ve been unconscious for over a whole day. I was so worried.”
“What? Over a day?”
Throwing aside the blanket, Xie Zhi sat up and grabbed Mitong’s hand.
“Th-then… did Shuangfu and his mother come here? Did Princess Yuyang visit?”
“Sister, what are you talking about? Princess Yuyang dislikes poetry and books more than anything. Why would she ever come here? I don’t know anyone named Shuangfu. The only person who’s visited these past two days was the Heir.”
Xie Zhi was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when she heard the words the Heir, causing her to grit her teeth.
The memories of that night flooded back like a tidal wave.
She smacked her forehead in frustration.
Was I so delirious from the fever that I actually cursed him?
Thinking of it, she hurriedly asked,
“Has the Old Madam already left?”
“Sister, the Old Madam set off quite a while ago.”
A trace of melancholy crossed Xie Zhi’s face.
“I wonder how much longer I’ll be allowed to stay at Guanxue Pavilion.”
“Sister Lichun, you’re leaving tomorrow.”
“What?”
“Brother Changming from Yangshan Terrace asked me to tell you that once you’ve recovered, you should pack your things and move there. Sister Lichun… why? I’ll miss you.”
Xie Zhi took Mitong’s little hand and comforted her,
“It’s alright. We’re still in the same manor. It’s not like we won’t see each other again.”
She wasn’t sure whether she was comforting Mitong…
Or herself.
What exactly is Pei Du planning?
…
“Miss, have you fully recovered from your illness?”
“Thank you for your concern, My Lord. I’m much better now.”
The crisp autumn wind rustled through the courtyard, making the flowers and trees sway gently.
The young woman stood quietly in a flowing smoke-colored gauze dress embroidered with scattered blossoms, a small bundle slung over her back.
The breeze lifted a few strands of her hair, and when she smiled, the tiny dimple on her cheek made it difficult to look away.
“Miss, His Lordship is inside. Since you’ve just arrived, you should first go in and pay your respects.”
Xie Zhi nodded.
However, when she reached the main hall, she was told that Pei Du was in his study instead.
A servant led her to the entrance, went inside to announce her arrival, and only after quite some time returned.
“Miss Lichun, His Lordship asks that you come in.”
She nodded and stepped inside.
Pei Du’s study was ingeniously designed.
Rather than an ordinary square room, a jade screen divided the reading area from the desk, while a small pond occupied the center.
The pond had no roof overhead, allowing sunlight to pour in. Rippling reflections danced across the water, casting shimmering light onto the handsome man seated by the bank.
It was his day off, and he wore only plain robes.
Seated beside the pond, he leisurely played the qin, looking completely relaxed and unhurried.
The last time Xie Zhi had seen him playing…
Was half a year ago in Yangzhou.
That day, she had been chased by guards sent from the brothel. Panicked, she fled into what she thought was an empty carriage parked by the roadside—
Only to discover that it belonged to the very man who had presided over her trial a few days earlier.
A few days after returning with Pei Du to his residence in Yangzhou, he prepared to leave for the capital.
She still remembered kneeling before him as he gently brushed his fingers across the strings of his qin and said,
“You are the daughter of a convicted official. Since you’re returning to the capital with me, you should change your name and treat it as a fresh beginning.”
“‘Lichun’ was the name of my former qin. From now on, you shall use that name.”
Her thoughts lingered in memories from half a year ago.
When she finally came back to herself, Pei Du had already stopped playing.
The music faded, and silence filled the room as the two looked at each other across the distance.
Xie Zhi was the first to speak.
“My Lord.”
Pei Du said nothing.
His fingertips merely brushed across the strings, producing a few soft notes.
“My Lord, I know I’m neither particularly gifted nor worthy of your notice, but… why did you summon me here to serve you?”
“My grandmother was too insistent. I couldn’t refuse.”
So that’s why.
Xie Zhi silently sighed in relief.
As long as he isn’t doing this just to torment me…
But recalling what she had said that night, she decided it would be better to apologize first.
“My Lord, about that night… I was delirious from the fever. I can’t even remember what I said anymore. I hope you won’t take offense.”
The moment she finished speaking, two cold chuckles drifted down from above.
Startled, Xie Zhi cautiously raised her head.
Her bright, star-like eyes blinked as she looked up at the man sitting before her.
“If you can’t remember anything, then why are you apologizing to me?”
“My Lord, I only feared I might have offended you. So… does that mean I didn’t actually say anything inappropriate that night? As long as you aren’t angry with me, that’s all that matters.”
“You…”