“I heard that the Bureau of Astronomy in the palace predicted this winter will be especially harsh. Second Madam had already planned to make everyone new clothes, and today the Heir Apparent brought it up again. She immediately ordered all the estate’s embroiderers to visit every courtyard and take everyone’s measurements. Even us servants get a share! Sister Lichun, the embroiderers are here already—you should hurry over too.”
“All right.”
Xie Zhi nodded, threw on an outer robe, and stepped outside.
The moment she arrived at the servants’ quarters where everyone had gathered, she was dazzled by the colorful bolts of fabric spread out before them.
Nanny Zhai appeared beside her at some point and said evenly,
“These are all leftovers after the masters made their selections, but even so, it’s already a generous reward. Miss Lichun, go choose a bolt yourself.”
“Thank you, Nanny.”
Xie Zhi casually picked a plain, understated piece of cloth and went to the embroiderer to have her measurements taken.
Several of the maids who had shared a room with her on her first day caught sight of her and quietly drifted away.
Only the girl in the yellow dress cheerfully busied herself arranging the fabrics.
“This bolt of Purple Cloud Brocade should be saved for Sister Shuyue. Purple is her favorite color. If she weren’t injured, she’d definitely have come herself.”
“Lixing, you’re so thoughtful.”
“We all serve in the same courtyard. It’s only a small favor.”
Ever since she and Pei Du had spoken openly, he truly had stopped making things difficult for her. Xie Zhi found herself enjoying a rare stretch of peaceful days.
Everyone at Yangshan Terrace had their own duties. Whenever Xie Zhi offered to help with chores, aside from Lixing, no one seemed interested in speaking to her.
Occasionally she served tea to Pei Du, but he spent very little time in the courtyard. Most days, she simply sat in the garden sketching, or read miscellaneous books while teaching herself to recognize more characters. Life was quiet enough.
Shuyue’s injuries had almost completely healed. Whenever she happened to see Xie Zhi in the courtyard, she would avoid her with open disgust.
Xie Zhi couldn’t be bothered with her.
It was already late autumn, and each passing day grew colder. Even at noon, there was a chill in the air.
Holding a book, she sat on a stone bench, savoring the brief warmth of the afternoon sun.
Just then, Pei Du returned with Changming and headed toward the main hall.
Xie Zhi hurried over to Changming.
“Changming, is His Lordship free right now?”
“His Lordship is troubled by a case from the Ministry of Justice at the moment. Miss Lichun, what do you need?”
“Qingyi isn’t on duty today, so she invited me out tonight. I asked Nanny Zhai, and she said that if I wanted to leave the estate, I should ask His Lordship personally.”
“Then you’ll be waiting for quite a while.”
Changming glanced at the sky helplessly.
“His Lordship is truly busy.”
Xie Zhi sighed as well.
“But Miss Lichun, why do you always call him ‘My Lord’? It seems you’re the only one in the estate who addresses him that way.”
“Really? That’s how I addressed him back in Yangzhou. I suppose I never noticed.”
Perhaps, deep down, she still thought of Pei Du as the official who had judged her family.
And she herself was still the daughter of a condemned official whose family had been implicated.
The memories left her momentarily downcast.
She was about to return to her room when Pei Du’s voice came from inside.
“Lichun. Come in.”
She hurried inside and found Pei Du sitting in the eastern room, calmly brewing tea.
“What were you whispering about with Changming outside?”
“Nothing, My Lord.”
Pei Du glanced at her.
“What’s in your hand?”
Xie Zhi looked down at the storybook she was holding and suddenly remembered that she’d rushed over so quickly she’d forgotten to put it away.
She hastily stuffed it into her robes.
“It’s nothing. Just a simple storybook to help me learn characters.”
Qingyi had brought it back for her while accompanying one of the senior maids on a shopping trip. It was entertaining enough, though most of its stories revolved around romance and love affairs.
Better not let Pei Du see it.
But he refused to let the matter drop.
“Take it out.”
Xie Zhi stood silently for a moment.
Pei Du extended his hand toward her.
Pressing her lips together, she reluctantly pulled the book from her robes and handed it over.
Feeling nervous, she watched as Pei Du flipped through several pages before snapping it shut with a firm clap.
She braced herself for a lecture.
Instead, after a brief silence, Pei Du set the book aside, rose from his seat, and walked toward her.
“Come with me.”
She followed him all the way to the study.
Once inside, Pei Du led her around the small pond in the back, stopped before a bookshelf, took down a volume, and handed it to her.
Xie Zhi looked at the title.
Mengqiu.
“If you truly wish to study, that’s a good thing.”
“But judging from your handwriting and the notes you’ve written in those books, your education at home lacked proper guidance. Your foundation is still shallow. Without suitable instructional texts, relying only on miscellaneous books will likely do more harm than good.”
Xie Zhi stared blankly at the book in her hands before asking,
“I’m only a maid now. Aren’t you angry that I know how to read?”
Pei Du raised an eyebrow.
“What is there to be angry about? I’m not that narrow-minded.”
“The Guanxue Tower in the Pei residence has always been open to the servants as well. All living beings strive to better themselves. What is wrong with that?”
Those words completely changed Xie Zhi’s impression of him.
The world rigidly upheld the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, dividing people into countless social ranks.
Slaves occupied the very bottom.
Without the master’s grace in returning their indenture contracts, they would remain slaves for generations—looked down upon and often treated as little more than property.
She had always thought Pei Du was rigid, stern, and lifeless.
Yet unexpectedly, she had glimpsed a side of him that seemed almost contradictory.
Had she misunderstood him all along?
Then again…
Perhaps he had always been a man full of contradictions.
“My Lord!”
Changming’s voice sounded from outside.
“Lord Liu has sent word. They’ve discovered the murderer’s whereabouts. He requests that you come immediately!”
Hearing this, Pei Du immediately rose to leave.
“My Lord, wait.”
“I’d like to go out tonight. May I?”
Pei Du paused.
“Four serial murders have already occurred in Chang’an County. Every victim was a young woman around your age, murdered at night. The entire city is talking about it.”
“You didn’t know?”
“I didn’t.”
“I haven’t gone out these past two days, and the girls in the courtyard rarely speak to me.”
After absorbing the shocking news, Xie Zhi hesitated before saying,
“Please let me go just this once.”
Chang’an was enormous.
Surely everyone wouldn’t simply stop leaving their homes because a murderer was on the loose?
Besides, Pei Du had said the killer struck late at night. She only planned to stay within the inner wards, and Yongxing Ward was filled with the residences of nobles and high officials. Even after dark, the streets remained crowded with people. By late night, she and Qingyi would already have returned.
Qingyi was always busy with work. It wasn’t easy for her to find time to invite Xie Zhi out, and Xie Zhi didn’t want to disappoint her.
More importantly…
She had another important reason for choosing today to leave the estate.
After a moment’s silence, Pei Du relented.
“Very well. Go early and return early.”
“Changming, have a guard accompany her.”
“Yes, My Lord!”
Night fell, and the streets of Yongxing Ward bustled with people.
Performing troupes wandered through the crowds from time to time, their acts drawing wave after wave of cheers.
“Qingyi, His Lordship said there’s a murderer still at large. We’ve already finished what we came out to do, so let’s head back to the estate early.”