His fingertips slipped beneath her skirt, leaving no room for refusal…
Ming Ying’s heart pounded like a drumbeat.
She could still see him, held in his embrace, making her want to struggle just to confirm the reality of this moment.
“Don’t move.”
Pei Xiaoyun’s clear, gentle voice brushed against her ear. He held her slender waist, as if a little more force could break it. “Why aren’t you wearing shoes? Feeling better?”
Ming Ying was gently placed back on the couch, her cheeks flushed with a faint pink. Like a kitten, she nuzzled against his shoulder. “Much better.”
As she spoke, her nose tingled with emotion, her voice trailing off with a heavier tone.
Seeing him enter, she understood everything. Those two old women earlier were definitely not acting on Pei Xiaoyun’s orders—they had deceived her. He truly wouldn’t be so heartless.
Pei Xiaoyun took out a jar of ointment, dipped his fingertip into it, and gently applied it to the slap mark on her face. “Mian’er, does it still hurt?”
Ming Ying opened her round, bright eyes and shook her head.
Like a delicate, obedient doll, she had no temper to speak of—a little coaxing was all it took.
“I’ve let you suffer.” After applying the ointment, Pei Xiaoyun took her slender, pale fingers and played with them. “That was never my intention, you know.”
When he had rushed over earlier, he heard the commotion in the courtyard. Those two old women had dared to lay hands on her in his absence.
He had been busy lately and hadn’t had time to deal with the people in the mansion. It seemed it was time to clean things up.
Ming Ying, oblivious to the shift in his gentle demeanor to something darker, nuzzled her soft hair against his chin like a pet seeking affection. “As long as you remember me and still come to see me, I’m happy.”
Toward her master, she felt both admiration and dependence.
But as a lowly servant, her admiration felt almost like a joke. All she could hope for was that he would soften his heart a little more, remember their bond, and tolerate her a little longer.
The shouting in the courtyard had ceased.
As if remembering something, Ming Ying cautiously asked, “Young Master, what happened outside earlier?”
As dusk settled, Ling Shuang entered to set the table. The clinking of bowls and plates echoed crisply in the room.
Unconcerned, Pei Xiaoyun continued chatting idly with Ming Ying inside the curtain. “Just dealt with a few troublesome servants.”
“That wretched maid Zhui’er always bullied you, didn’t she?” He reached out to twirl her dark, silky hair, his tone neither light nor heavy. “She was beaten to death—to vent your anger for you.”
Hearing the words “beaten to death,” Ming Ying’s breath hitched, and the hand he held in his palm stiffened slightly.
Pei Xiaoyun noticed her unusual reaction and said calmly, “What, you’re not happy?”
Ming Ying took a deep breath and lowered her head without speaking.
She didn’t need such a thing to vent her anger.
In fact, it frightened her a little.
Someone had just died outside, yet here they were, intimate inside the curtain.
No matter how Pei Xiaoyun touched her, her body remained stiff, devoid of the tenderness she had shown earlier.
Pei Xiaoyun lost interest and stood up first, tossing out a remark: “Shouldn’t a servant who betrays their master deserve death?”
His icy words, carried by the cold wind, seeped into the curtain. Ming Ying didn’t know how to respond, but seeing him rise, she instinctively got off the couch to attend to him.
The evening meal included her favorite dishes—lotus root stuffed with sweet osmanthus and sour plum duck—specially ordered by Pei Xiaoyun from the chefs at Qianwei Lou.
Seeing her standing there like a wooden post, motionless, he tapped the table with his knuckles, signaling her to come and eat.
As if receiving an unarguable command, Ming Ying immediately sat down beside him.
Although it was improper for master and servant to dine at the same table, back in Yangzhou, when Pei Xiaoyun allowed it, they would close the door and he would let her sit beside him.
"Eat more." Pei Xiaoyun placed a piece of duck meat into her bowl.
Under the gaze of his dark eyes, Ming Ying picked up the food and put it into her mouth, chewing it tastelessly and swallowing with difficulty.
She took small bites of the meat, the duck's grease smearing her lips, creating an indescribable, glossy allure.
Pei Xiaoyun watched, suddenly feeling the urge to lean in and taste that hint of sweetness.
A pretty, obedient little plaything, raised for three years, yet he still couldn't bear to let her go.
He tossed out a reward as if bestowing a favor: "Be good, and when I marry my official wife next spring, I'll take you as my concubine. This villa is no longer safe. I can't rest easy leaving you outside. Tomorrow, I'll take you back to the mansion."
After speaking, he quietly observed her expression.
He was giving her status, bringing her into the mansion—she should have dreamed of this.
He hoped to see a pure, sweet smile on her face.
But she didn't.
Her fingers, gripping the chopsticks, even trembled slightly, and she remained silent.
Pei Xiaoyun thought it was the mention of marrying a wife that had upset her, and he smiled faintly, as if amused. "I was always going to marry eventually. Are you jealous? Don't worry, I can't bear to abandon you."
Ming Ying could only force a smile uglier than tears.
He had admitted it himself—it seemed his marriage was set in stone.
But what more could she possibly want?
Becoming his concubine was already an immense blessing. With her status, even if she adored him, could she ever hope for a lifetime with him alone?
She was just a little afraid.
Zhui'er had been chattering away just last night, but today she was gone; the people from Guogongfu were also aggressive and showed no mercy.
She had never entered those high-walled courtyards. Was it truly a good place?
She stood up and bowed slightly. "This servant dares not. I was just thinking… since you are not yet married, would it be improper to bring me into the mansion first?"
"You don't want to go back with me?"
The curve of Pei Xiaoyun's lips faded, as if a cat he had been playing with had scratched his palm, stirring displeasure from deep within.
This flicker of displeasure happened to bring up something he hadn't originally intended to mention.
"Mian'er."
His voice turned cold, drifting through the cramped room.
"Who did you meet at Baimasi the day before yesterday?"
That chill drained the warmth from Ming Ying's blood. She pressed her lips together and looked up. "I met… a relative."
She knew Pei Xiaoyun had always disliked her going out. She thought she had been flawless, but she hadn't expected him to find out.
"Didn't all your family die out? What relative?" Pei Xiaoyun stared at her. "Didn't I tell you to go out less?"
Ming Ying knelt with a thud, not daring to deceive him, and answered truthfully, "He is the son of my foster mother, like an adoptive brother. Their family took care of me for over a year. They've also come to the capital now. The day before yesterday was the anniversary of my parents' death. I went to Baimasi to pray for them and ran into my adoptive brother. He said his mother was seriously ill and begged me for help. I couldn't bear it, so I gave him some money."
After kneeling for a long while, Pei Xiaoyun finally helped her up.
"I believe you."
A shadow fell over them.
Seeing her timid appearance, he was convinced she wouldn't dare betray him or have anything to do with anyone else.
Ming Ying sat back beside him, obediently eating the food he placed in her bowl.
When he brought up returning to the mansion again, she no longer dared to refuse.
That night, after some intimacy, Pei Xiaoyun reached to undo the buttons of her clothes.
Ming Ying's body softened, her eyes brimming with spring-like tenderness. She pressed his hand and said, "Young Master, I've caught a chill. I'm afraid I might pass the illness to you."
"No matter, it's just a chill. What is there to fear?"
Pei Xiaoyun's fingers slipped beneath her skirt, leaving no room for refusal.
Ming Ying felt both hot and cold, but his large hands held her steadily, preventing her from drowning in the intoxicating atmosphere.
Morning arrived, the snow had ceased and the sky cleared.
When Ming Ying awoke, the indentation in the bed was cool, and the pillow beside her was empty.
As she rose, every joint in her body ached, and her fair neck was covered in marks. She heard clattering sounds from the courtyard—likely servants moving things and preparing the carriage.
A bowl of brown medicinal brew, as usual, sat by the bedside—the Contraception Decoction she had to drink every time. This couldn't be delayed. Having drunk it for three years, she was accustomed to it. Just as she was about to pick it up and drink it in one go, Pei Xiaoyun lifted the curtain and entered.
He wore a lake-blue brocade robe edged with gold thread, looking refreshed and noble, his every gesture exuding the demeanor of a young master from a prestigious family.
He sat on the bed, smoothed the stray hairs on her forehead, picked up the bowl, and fed her a few sips while speaking to her: "I looked through your vanity case—it's all rather unimpressive. I've added a few new sets of jewelry for you. You are my woman, so dress more elegantly on ordinary days."
Ming Ying drank the bitter medicine expressionlessly and nodded.
"Alright, drink the rest yourself." Pei Xiaoyun rose, adjusting his robe. "I'll go outside to check on things. Finish quickly, get dressed, and freshen up. We should leave soon. There's no need to bring any of the old things."
On the way, Pei Xiaoyun was intercepted by the Crown Prince's men, who said the Crown Prince urgently needed to discuss matters with him. He had no choice but to let Ming Ying follow Ling Shuang back to Lanqing Zhuoyuan while he went to the Eastern Palace.
After he left, Ming Ying felt uneasy.
After alighting from the carriage, Ling Shuang took her hand. "Don't be afraid. There aren't many people in Eldest Master's courtyard. I'll take you there. I'm sure Eldest Master has already had an empty room prepared for you."
Ming Ying was grateful for Ling Shuang's kindness. With her company, she felt much more at ease and offered her a sweet, faint smile.
Lanqing Zhuoyuan was the largest courtyard in Guogongfu. During the years Pei Xiaoyun spent in Yangzhou, no one lived there, but the servants never neglected its upkeep.
Upon entering the courtyard, the fragrance of flowers wafted gently, and every step revealed a picturesque scene.
Ming Ying indeed had a room of her own. She and Ling Shuang, along with others, moved the luggage in and arranged everything.
She didn't have many belongings—just a few pieces of clothing and the jewelry Pei Xiaoyun had given her. She selected a hairpin that was neither too plain nor too ostentatious, thinking she would wear it for him when he returned.
After working for a while, she stepped into the courtyard for some fresh air. A basin of hot water was splashed at her feet, and if she hadn't reacted swiftly, her clothes would have been soaked.
The one who splashed the water was a woman in a purple skirt, with willow-like eyebrows and a delicate nose, but her words were sharp and caustic: "So this is Miss Ming. Truly a delicate and charming beauty, like a fairy. Looking at her, she doesn't seem like someone raised in an ordinary household. Such a delicate flower must have been cultivated in a brothel dedicated to serving ladies."
Ming Ying understood the deliberate mockery, but she never liked to provoke conflicts. She simply smiled faintly and said, "You, miss, are pure and radiant. It seems only delicate cultivation could produce such beauty."
"You think everyone is as shameless as you!" Yu Zhong's expression changed, and she grabbed Ming Ying's hand to prevent her from leaving. "I'm not like you. I have a father and a mother. I'm a proper young lady from a respectable family."
Ming Ying had no desire to argue and tried to step past her.
"I need to attend to my duties."
Yu Zhong felt as if she had punched cotton, blocking her path and lifting her small face defiantly. "Zhui'er was like a sister to me! It was you who bewitched the Eldest Master and caused her death!"
Ming Ying, still shaken by the events of the previous night, spoke softly, "I didn't harm her."
She turned to look for Ling Shuang, ignoring Yu Zhong's shouts.
Ling Shuang, mindful that Ming Ying was new here, led her around the courtyard. When they grew tired, the two of them brewed tea at Lanfang Xie.
Before they could even take a sip from the steaming kettle on the small stove, Ling Shuang was called away by a gatekeeper servant on the pretext of discussing some matters.
Left alone, Ming Ying sat in the waterside pavilion sipping her tea.
This Guogongfu was nothing like the residence she had shared with Pei Xiaoyun in Yangzhou, which was separated from the bustling streets only by an alley. There, she could hear the clamor of the marketplace just by opening the window and step outside to buy candied haws.
She looked up. Within these towering walls, everything was refined and serene; even the servants sweeping the grounds dared not make a sound.
The wind by the lake was strong, and feeling the chill, Ming Ying decided to head back. Just as she was about to leave, an unfamiliar maid entered through a side gate.
"Are you Miss Ming?"
"Yes, that's me. May I ask who you are?" Ming Ying studied her. Since she had come from the side gate, she didn't seem to be from Lanqing Zhuoyuan.
The maid replied, "I'm from the storeroom in the front courtyard. Since you're from the Eldest Master's courtyard, come with me to the storeroom to collect the fabric for this month's clothing."
She spoke urgently, grabbing Ming Ying's hand and pulling her along. Unable to refuse, Ming Ying had no choice but to follow.
The two walked along a secluded path into the back garden. The deeper they went, the fewer servants they encountered.
Wisteria trellises blocked the light, making even the coral stones on the ground difficult to see clearly.
As Ming Ying stepped into the deepest shadows, a sense of unease crept over her, sending chills down her spine. She stopped. "Sister, I've only just arrived and don't know what fabrics to choose for the courtyard. I'm afraid I might neglect the master's needs. Let me go back first and return later with Sister Ling Shuang."
She turned to leave but was blocked by a solid figure. A strange man pressed close to her.
The man grabbed her hand, caressing it greedily as he inhaled her scent.
Ming Ying was horrified. She pulled her hand back and retreated step by step. "Who are you?!"
Behind her was a rockery, leaving her with nowhere to go.
"You were brought back by my elder brother, and you don't know who I am?" The man laughed frivolously.
Ming Ying studied his features, which bore some resemblance to Pei Xiaoyun's, and finally understood. Forcing herself to remain calm, she said, "So it's the Second Master. This servant has offended you. Please forgive me."
Her instincts told her this Second Master was no good. After apologizing, she tried to run past him.
Pei Jingzhou grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him. "What's so good about following my elder brother? He holds no title, while I am the heir of this Guogongfu. Besides, the County Mistress has a fiery temper—do you think she'll tolerate you in the future? Why not come with me? I'll hide you away and treat you well."
This little thing even spoke in such a sweet, sticky manner—clearly obedient and easy to handle. He couldn't understand why, after three trips to Yangzhou, he had never managed to get his hands on such a pleasing plaything.
"Second Master, please don't joke. This servant already belongs to the Eldest Master!"
Seeing that he was determined to force himself on her, Ming Ying cried out in panic. But the man's rough hand covered her mouth and nose, and the hidden buttons on her front were on the verge of coming undone. Suddenly, a gust of heavy wind swept through.
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, hearing only Pei Jingzhou's agonized scream.
Pei Xiaoyun appeared before them at some unknown moment. With a powerful grip, he lifted the supine Pei Jingzhou from the ground and kicked him fiercely in the abdomen, the force so brutal it seemed intent on taking a life.
Struggling to rise, Pei Jingzhou clutched his stomach and spat out a mouthful of blood. "Big brother, spare me! It wasn’t me… it was her! She seduced me! She ran into me on the road and said that since you were about to marry, you probably wouldn’t tolerate her anymore. She wanted to follow me, so she lured me behind this rockery to… to be together."
Pei Xiaoyun found the noise grating.
His icy gaze shifted to Ming Ying, whose face was drained of color from shock. In that moment, the look he gave her was no different from the one he had just directed at Pei Jingzhou.
"Mian'er, is that true?"
Author's Note:
The male lead is a real jerk, a total jerk!