The afternoon sun beat down relentlessly. By now, Miss Mo and the Heir were most likely enjoying lunch together in the main hall.
Back in Mo Xiang’s courtyard, Gu Qingqing was packing her belongings.
She owned very little—just a few changes of clothing, several inexpensive pieces of jewelry that Mo Xiang had rewarded her with over the years, and the monthly wages she had painstakingly saved over more than a decade.
After counting them carefully, she found she had about fifty taels of silver. If she lived frugally, it would be enough to support her for five or six years.
She had endured humiliation and helped the woman who would become her greatest enemy in her previous life marry into the Marquis’s household for one reason: to reclaim her indenture contract—and to receive the settlement money Mo Xiang had promised her.
The Mo Xiang of today had not yet become the cruel woman she would one day be. Qingqing still believed she could trust her.
Besides, she had no other choice.
Her indenture contract was still in Mo Xiang’s possession. Until she got it back, she had nowhere to go.
That afternoon, Mo Xiang and Nanny Chen returned to the courtyard in high spirits, leading servants carrying chest after chest of betrothal gifts.
When everyone had left, Mo Xiang excitedly pulled Qingqing and Nanny Chen over to open each chest one by one. Every box was filled with gold and silver, precious jewels, fine silks, and luxurious brocades.
Mo Xiang’s face lit up with joy.
“Qingqing, I owe all of this to you. Without your help, I would never have what I have today.” She took out a stack of banknotes and placed them into Qingqing’s hands. “Here are one thousand taels. The Heir just gave me this money to prepare my dowry. Father and Mother will provide everything I need, so I won’t be using it. Take it. With this, you’ll never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of your life.”
“Miss…”
The Mo Xiang standing before her truly was kindhearted.
She was nothing like the venomous woman from Qingqing’s previous life.
After all, in this lifetime, Qingqing had never become her rival or shared the same husband.
“Take it,” Mo Xiang insisted. “Without you, none of this would have happened. This is the least I can do to repay you.”
She turned and picked up several documents from the table.
“And here are your indenture contract and the official papers removing your household registration from the Mo Family. From today onward, you are a free woman.”
Tears welled in Qingqing’s eyes.
“Thank you, Miss. Thank you for showing Qingqing such kindness. I sincerely hope that after you marry into Ding’an Marquis Manor, your life will be filled with happiness and that everything will go your way.”
She knelt and kowtowed three times.
Miss… in this life, I have done everything I could for you. I owe you nothing now. I only hope our paths never cross again.
Mo Xiang looked at her quietly.
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll have the steward prepare a carriage for you. You can leave then.”
She paused before adding solemnly,
“As for what happened between us… I expect you to keep it secret forever. If you ever betray me, I will not spare you.”
“Please rest assured, Miss.” Qingqing raised her hand in oath. “Once I leave, I will never set foot in the capital again. If I ever break this promise, may Heaven strike me down with thunder and deny me a peaceful death.”
Mo Xiang smiled faintly.
“Good… I know what kind of person you are. We grew up together.”
“Go and get some rest. You’ll have a long journey tomorrow. I’ll be busy with important matters, so I won’t be seeing you off. There’s no need to come and pay your respects in the morning.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Qingqing lifted her head for one last look at Mo Xiang before quietly leaving the room.
After she was gone, Nanny Chen asked softly,
“Miss… are you truly at ease letting that girl leave?”
“What is there to worry about?” Mo Xiang replied with a smile. “Qingqing has always been kindhearted and utterly loyal to me. If she hadn’t wanted to leave, I was planning to find her a good husband before long.”
“Miss is too kind. That girl’s truly fortunate.”
“Nanny, go tell the steward to prepare a simple carriage for Qingqing tomorrow. Nothing too conspicuous. A young woman traveling alone should keep a low profile.”
“I know, my dear Miss. You never stop worrying.”
With a smile, Nanny Chen picked up the washbasin and went out to fetch water.
…
Back in her room, Qingqing found an ordinary cotton dress.
She wrapped the thousand-tael banknotes in oiled paper, enclosed them in a small cloth pouch, and carefully stitched the pouch into the lining of the dress.
After inspecting every seam and making sure there wasn’t the slightest sign of alteration, she finally folded the dress away.
She washed her face, changed out of her outer robe, and lay down quietly to sleep.
…
At dawn the next morning, Qingqing woke before sunrise.
She put on the dress with the hidden banknotes, checked everything one last time, slung her bundle over her shoulder, locked her room behind her, and headed toward the rear gate.
Before long, the steward arrived leading a carriage.
“Qingqing.”
“Steward Mo, I’m sorry to trouble you.”
The old steward chuckled.
“You silly girl, don’t be so polite. Miss has granted you permission to return home—that’s your good fortune. Once you’re on the road, be careful. Don’t reveal too much to strangers.”
“Thank you, Steward. I’ll remember.”
She bowed respectfully.
“Please take care of yourself as well. Qingqing bids you farewell.”
“Go then. Safe travels.”
“You should head back.”
Taking the reins, Qingqing climbed onto the driver’s seat and guided the carriage away.
Driving was nothing new to her. Whenever Mo Xiang went out to attend gatherings or enjoy an outing, Qingqing had always been the one handling the carriage.
She steered toward the city gates.
Passing a steamed bun shop, she bought several buns and flatbreads with a few pieces of loose silver, then asked the owner to fill her water flask for the journey.
As the carriage rolled onward, Qingqing realized she still had no destination in mind.
Then she remembered something from her previous life.
One of the maids she had known came from Peach Blossom Village, more than a thousand li south of the capital.
The village was nestled among mountains and rivers, surrounded by endless peach orchards stretching across the hills.
Back then, hearing the maid describe the breathtaking sea of peach blossoms, Qingqing had secretly wished that one day she might see it for herself.
Now…
She was free.
She had money.
Perhaps she could settle there, in Peach Blossom Village, and spend the rest of her days living a quiet, peaceful life far from the schemes of the capital.
…
“What did you just say?”
The Marquis’s face darkened.
“Repeat it.”
Lin Heng knelt with his head lowered.
“The affair between the Heir and Miss Mo… was orchestrated entirely by Miss Mo herself. Afterward, she dismissed her maid from the household.”
“And where were you?” the Marquis thundered. “You weren’t at the Heir’s side, and this happened under your watch. You cannot escape responsibility.”
He slammed his hand against the table.
“Men! Take Lin Heng away. Give him poisoned wine, fifty strokes of the board, then dump him at the mass grave outside the city. Let him live or die as fate decides. A useless servant has no place in this household.”
“This servant accepts his punishment.” Lin Heng bowed deeply. “I only beg Your Lordship not to tell the Heir the truth. I’m afraid… it would break his heart.”
“Take him away!”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Several guards dragged Lin Heng into the rear courtyard.
The thick wooden boards came crashing down onto his back.
Again.
Again.
Again.
He clenched his teeth, refusing to cry out.
He deserved this.
He blamed neither the Marquis nor the Heir.
It was entirely his own failure.
And yet…
He did not regret it.
Because at last, the Heir would be able to marry the woman he had longed for.
One of the servants carrying out the punishment sighed.
“Brother Lin Heng, what terrible mistake did you make? Why not beg the Heir to plead for mercy? You won’t even let us tell him. If you keep enduring this, it’ll cost you your life.”
Lin Heng shook his head.
“It was my fault. It has nothing to do with the Heir.”
“Don’t mention any of this to him.”
The servants exchanged helpless glances.
“Suit yourself. You’re the one suffering.”
“Thirty-five…”
“Thirty-six…”
“…Forty-nine…”
“Fifty.”
“The sentence has been carried out.”
Steward Xiao stepped forward holding a cup of wine.
“Commander Lin… this is the wine bestowed by the Marquis.”
He let out a quiet sigh and turned his face away.
Lin Heng struggled to bow toward everyone present.
“My thanks to all of you… and to Steward Xiao.”
He accepted the cup and drank it in one swallow.
Steward Xiao looked away.
“You men, load him onto a carriage. Take him to the mass grave outside the city and leave him there.”
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
The remaining servants stared in shock.
“W-Why, Brother Lin?”
Lin Heng merely shook his head.
He lifted an arm toward one of them, silently asking for help onto the carriage.