Meng Xizhou’s blood ran cold. She swiftly pressed herself against the shadowed interior of the door, holding her breath.
Footsteps paused outside the inner chamber moments later, followed by a mocking female voice that slithered like a venomous snake: “Sister Liu, I just heard some foolish thief disturbed you. I came at once to check…”
The voice paused, carrying a chilling amusement, “…Which guest would wander into this filthy place instead of resting in their own room at such a late hour?”
It was Ji Shi!
…She came personally! And so quickly!
It seemed Meng Qinrui’s House Arrest Decree meant nothing to Ji Shi.
Meng Xizhou pressed her spine against the door, cold dread crawling up her back.
Ji Shi’s voice was right outside, dripping with cat-and-mouse amusement.
Rustling fabric sounded in the outer room—she had brought others!
What to do?
Force her way out? That would be like a lamb walking into a tiger’s den!
Hide? But this tiny inner chamber offered no concealment!
Ji Shi’s laughter rang out again, laced with triumph: “I thought you’d be more cautious, at least not giving me such a perfect opportunity to catch you…”
Meng Xizhou clenched her fists, remaining silent.
“What? Has the ‘Second Young Miss’ gone mute? Or… are you searching for something your lover left behind?”
She emphasized “lover” like a poisoned needle piercing Meng Xizhou’s nerves.
“Pity he left too cleanly, leaving nothing behind… The master will arrive shortly. I’m almost moved by your midnight visit to mourn your lover, but such feelings have no place in this world.”
Meng Qinrui’s angry bass voice sounded outside: “What’s happening? What’s this commotion in the middle of the night?”
Meng Qinrui was here!
Ji Shi intended to catch her red-handed, cementing the accusation of mourning her lover at night! The freshly cleared “elopement” smear was about to be nailed upon her again by Ji Shi!
Ji Shi could almost hear her own heart pounding with excitement!
As the mistress, spies filled every corner of the estate. When informed Meng Xizhou went to Liu Yiniang’s courtyard, she rushed over immediately!
This little wretch handed her the perfect opportunity—escape was impossible!
Saving the Princess only proved what Meng Xizhou did on the road, but her reason for leaving the estate could still be elopement!
Suppressing triumphant laughter that threatened to escape her throat, she sent someone to urgently inform the master that “Meng Nanyi” was mourning her lover in Meng Jingming’s courtyard. If the master saw her alone in her lover’s birth mother’s room late at night, her relationship with Meng Jingming could never be cleared!
“Master, see, I was worried about Sister Liu… She’s still ill and shouldn’t hear such things.” Ji Shi’s voice held perfectly measured concern as she signaled the matrons, “Open this door! Let the master see what shameless creature hides inside!”
Bang! The door was shoved open!
Servants flooded in with lanterns, illuminating every corner of the narrow, dim inner chamber.
However, the anticipated scene of Meng Xizhou in panic did not materialize. Instead, what met their eyes was the back of a woman dressed in simple yet exquisitely patterned attire.
She was sitting sideways by Liu Yiniang’s bedside, her fingers steadily manipulating the silver needles inserted into Liu Yiniang’s acupoints, her movements focused and skilled.
Hearing the commotion, she stood up and turned around calmly.
“Father, Mother.” Meng Xizhou’s voice was as steady as ever.
These serene eyes, this aura of slight detachment and resilience—where was the delicate and affected Meng Nanyi?! This was unmistakably Meng Xizhou!
“Xizhou?! Why are you here?” Meng Qinrui blurted out, his voice filled with disbelief.
He abruptly turned his head, his sharp gaze shooting toward Ji Shi like a knife, carrying a strong accusation: Wasn’t it said that “Meng Nanyi” was in the courtyard?!
The smug smile on Ji Shi’s face froze completely! She stared at Meng Xizhou as if she had seen a ghost!
Meng Xizhou had earlier impersonated Meng Nanyi with such convincing theatrics, and now, reverting to her true self—the transition was so seamless it was chilling!
Moreover, when she had left the Ancestral Hall, she was wearing coarse linen clothes, but now she was dressed in fine garments Ji Shi had never seen before!
“It is your daughter.” Meng Xizhou met Meng Qinrui’s scrutinizing gaze frankly, her breath having steadied after hastily changing into the clothes Liu Yiniang had kept hidden away.
“Earlier, I heard Mother mention that the physicians were all at a loss regarding Liu Yiniang’s condition. Though unskilled, I learned a little during my time with the Princess and dared to come and try. Fortunately, it had some effect. Yiniang regained consciousness for a while and spoke a few words with me before falling asleep again.”
Her gaze swept over the peacefully breathing Liu Yiniang on the bed, carrying just the right amount of a physician’s compassion.
Ji Shi felt a chill shoot from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head!
Knowing medicine… further proved she was Meng Xizhou! Nanyi knew nothing of medicine at all.
Seeing Meng Qinrui’s fury, she instinctively tried to explain: “Husband…”
“Enough!” Meng Qinrui’s angry roar cut her off. “You’ve truly lost your senses today! You can’t even tell your own daughters apart! For the next few days, do not step foot outside Youlan Courtyard. Rest well and reflect!”
“Husband!” Ji Shi cried out in agitation. Compared to the earlier act in the Ancestral Hall, this was a real confinement!
“Wait!” Ji Shi’s eyes suddenly caught sight of the maid Meng Xizhou had knocked unconscious in the shadowy corner, as if grasping at a final straw. “A medical visit? Then why did you knock out the maid attending her?!”
All eyes instantly focused on the unconscious maid.
A look of helplessness and pity appeared on Meng Xizhou’s face. “Mother, this maid is one who fawns on those in favor and neglects the fallen. Seeing that Liu Yiniang is bedridden and out of favor, she served with utter negligence. When I arrived, she was already fast asleep here. I did not knock her out. Why would you think such a thing of me?”
With these words, she firmly placed the heavy accusation of mistreating a concubine squarely on Ji Shi, the mistress of the household!
A countermove!
Meng Qinrui looked at the unconscious maid in the corner, then at the critically ill Liu Yiniang on the bed. The last trace of doubt in his heart turned into disappointment with Ji Shi!
Mistreating a concubine, indulging a wicked servant, slandering his legitimate daughter… one incident after another, did Ji Shi even hold him, the head of the family, in any regard at all?
“Hmph!” Meng Qinrui couldn’t be bothered to spare another glance at Ji Shi, his gaze resting on Meng Xizhou instead. “Xizhou… you’ve worked hard too. Go back and rest early.”
“Yes, Father.” Meng Xizhou responded, calmly putting away her needles into the Needle Pouch.
As she passed by Ji Shi, whose face was as pale as snow, Meng Xizhou’s footsteps paused slightly.
She turned her head and gave Ji Shi an exceedingly gentle smile.
That smile was as if she were looking at a mischievous child destined for failure.
Ji Shi stood rigidly in place, as if nailed to the pillar of shame by that smile! Watching Meng Xizhou’s retreating figure disappear into the darkness, feeling Meng Qinrui’s icy gaze and the servants’ faintly perceptible peeping, a surge of metallic sweetness suddenly rushed up her throat!
That wretched woman!
Why hadn’t she realized it before? With Nan Nan absent, wasn’t Meng Xizhou free to do as she pleased?
…She needed to seriously think of a solution, otherwise she would just be led by the nose!