The fabric was torn apart.
Song Jinyin watched the frenzied Pei Yanzhou, her eyes completely cold, with only the ceaselessly falling tears silently resisting.
Pei Yanzhou stopped his movements, reached out, and with difficulty, wiped them away for her.
But the tears seemed as if they would never stop.
Perhaps sensing that his gesture was too gentle, Pei Yanzhou stiffened, then stood up and no longer looked at her. Only his spoken words remained, propping up his harshness.
"Song Jinyin, as long as you can endure all of this, I will allow you to leave or seek death. Otherwise, for all eternity, you will never leave my side."
Song Jinyin's lips trembled slightly, her vacant gaze fixed on the embroidered canopy above the bed.
It shouldn't be like this.
Just moments ago, he had still retained a trace of clarity, yet now Pei Yanzhou's hatred ran so deep it clouded her vision.
"I'll give my life to pay you back. Is that still not enough?"
Song Jinyin's collar hung open, her frail body curled on the bed. Chilled, her voice trembled faintly.
"Even if I don't admit to what happened back then, I'm still willing to give my life to pay you back. Is that not enough to buy my freedom after death?"
"You don't admit it?"
Pei Yanzhou looked down at her, his lips curling with scorn. "Don't forget, our Concubine Liu confessed everything back then."
Before leaving, Pei Yanzhou paused again, his back turned to her. "I've suddenly changed my mind. Even if you are willing to endure all of this, the Maishen Qi will never return to your hands."
"The world says Zhenguogong favors his concubine over his wife, that he drove the Duchess to her death for the sake of a widow. I want to see how the Shizifei will treat you… my exclusively favored maid… once she enters the mansion."
Song Jinyin closed her eyes, exhausted.
She had nothing more to say to him.
Over the years, she had watched Pei Yanzhou rise from his setbacks, transforming from reclusiveness back into the aloof dignity of a noble scion.
Yet no matter how Pei Yanzhou changed, he had never treated her well. The only brief period of softening had completely vanished with the death of someone from the past.
She had grown accustomed to it, but today, she was utterly exhausted. Even though she still lay on his bed, Song Jinyin didn't want to move an inch.
There was no hope left. What could he do to her if she slept for a while?
…
Pei Yanzhou stood outside the room, watching the light rain begin to fall again, unmoving for a long time.
Steward Wang stole several glances behind him, confirming that the closed door had not reopened, and felt puzzled.
The Shizi never allowed outsiders in his inner chamber, yet he distinctly remembered two people entering.
At this thought, Steward Wang's heart sank.
Although Song Jinyin's temperament was somewhat stubborn, her appearance was delicate and frail. Any martial artist could easily snap her neck if they grabbed it.
She hadn't emerged for so long now. Could it be that she had inadvertently provoked Shizi Ye and been…
Steward Wang was startled by his sudden thought, not daring to ask his silent master in front of him. He could only lament inwardly with sorrow.
That girl had grown up in this courtyard after all. Though she belonged to Shizi Ye, she had been under his care for so many years, and some affection had developed between them. If she were truly gone like this…
"Have the maid who serves her come and keep watch. Let her stay until Jinyin wakes up and returns to her room."
"Wakes up?"
Before a single tear could be squeezed out, Steward Wang was stunned by these words.
Although Song Jinyin already belonged to the Shizi, she had never stayed overnight in his quarters. Waiting directly for someone to wake up like this was truly the first time in all these years.
"The Shizi Ye cares so much for Jinyin Guniang, surely she will be deeply moved when she wakes!"
"Enough chatter."
Pei Yanzhou lifted his gaze to sweep a glance at him, yet he recalled the vacant, hollow look in Song Jinyin's eyes just moments before.
Moved?
She would only breed hatred, then allow that emotion to consume her, ultimately becoming just like him.
……
When Song Jinyin awoke, only half a shichen had passed, but she never expected to see Xueyu in the outer chamber—someone who had never lingered in this room before.
"Jinyin sister, you're awake!"
Upon seeing her, Xueyu grew so excited she seemed on the verge of tears.
This was the Shizi's room. Even with the Shizi absent, the entire place exuded an intimidating oppression that left her restless and uneasy.
"Did Steward Wang let you in? Why didn't you wake me?"
Song Jinyin's voice was slightly hoarse. Seeing Xueyu, her muddled mind suddenly cleared, and she remembered Pei Yanzhou's earlier threats. The hand she reached out with stiffened slightly.
Was this… truly about promoting this girl to replace her position?
Song Jinyin's lips moved, but no sound escaped.
Pei Yanzhou had likely promoted Xueyu with the intent to threaten her. Perhaps later, on a whim, he might even show a hint of affection from between his fingers. But what about Xueyu? This simple girl—would she be willing?
At this thought, a pang of guilt flashed through Song Jinyin's heart.
She shouldn't have provoked Pei Yanzhou earlier.
"Did Steward Wang tell you what work you're to do?"
"He did, Jinyin sister."
Xueyu carefully supported Song Jinyin's arm. "Steward Wang said I should watch over you until you woke."
"Nothing else?"
"Nothing else. Sister, your complexion looks so poor, even Steward Wang feared you might faint. Actually, come to think of it, I believe the Shizi still values you in his heart, otherwise he wouldn't…"
Xueyu's incessant chatter filled her ears, but Song Jinyin had long stopped hearing a single word.
What was he doing?
Slapping her, then sheathing the blade?
"Oh, right, Jinyin sister, Steward Wang said the Shizi Ye left a message: that sister must think carefully before making decisions in the future. If you act too impulsively, I'm afraid things might not end well…"
So this was where he was waiting for her.
Song Jinyin froze, then forced out a faint smile, her dark pupils like a still, withered well.
The side chamber was not as warm as Pei Yanzhou's room.
When the two pushed the door open, a wave of chill still greeted them.
"Jinyin sister, I'll go out to work now."
Xueyu did not linger. True to her word, she had only waited for Song Jinyin to wake before carefully escorting her back to her room.
And Song Jinyin, deflated by Pei Yanzhou's words, no longer wished to go to the front to work, so she simply remained in her room.
With this sudden idleness, she remembered the silver beneath her mattress—the money she had yet to properly store away.
Five taels per ingot. The Old Madame's rewards were always generous sums.
Her body still felt somewhat unwell. Song Jinyin slowly retrieved the wooden box from the cabinet, placing the silver ingots together with the broken silver and copper coins.
Beneath the wooden box lay a faded, old letter, its neat handwriting addressing: "To my daughter, Jinyin."
Song Jinyin's hand paused, hot tears instantly dripping onto the broken silver.
This was a letter her father had sent home during one of his long trips on official business while he was still alive.
One for her mother, and one for her.
Her father loved them dearly, never favoring one over the other.
Tears as large as beans fell hot and heavy as Song Jinyin carefully took out this letter that had always been her support.
Truth be told, what could she have understood back then as a young child?
It was simply her father’s affection that made her feel content and happy.
Little did she know that the first letter she ever received from her father would also be the last one in her lifetime.
“Father, Jinyin misses you so much.”
Whispering these words, Song Jinyin pressed the letter to her chest, feeling the despair that refused to fade in her heart, and the hope rekindled by this very letter.
She had almost, almost given up and resigned herself to despair within this mansion.
But she couldn’t.
Even if it meant death, she must escape this Guogongfu to properly offer incense for her father.
“Jinyin Guniang, are you there?”
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts—it was Lingqiao from Old Madame’s side.
Song Jinyin dried her tears.
It had only been an hour since she left Fuluyuan. For Old Madame to summon her now, it was unlikely to be something simple.