Since that last time, Yinzhen had felt the young girl constantly avoiding him. Before, even if she was too shy to speak when they were together, those direct, unblinking little eyes would be glued to him wherever he went.
But now? When Yinzhen deliberately glanced her way, the girl startled, her round eyes widening like a frightened fawn. After barely a moment of eye contact, she immediately lowered her head.
"You're avoiding me?" He walked to her side, and the girl with her head bowed nervously twisted her fingers together.
He frowned, unable to understand her thoughts. That day she had cried beside his chair, saying she liked him—so why was she deliberately hiding from him now?
Song Xilou kept her mouth shut and refused to speak. After waiting a short while, he grew impatient and grabbed her chin with one hand: "Speak."
The skin beneath his fingers was as delicate as fine white jade. His hand against it was visibly several shades darker, and the force he had applied immediately lightened considerably.
When he moved his fingers away, sure enough, there was a red mark.
"Cough." Turning his head awkwardly, he said, "I was just a little impatient because you wouldn't speak." Heaven knew he truly hadn't used force—it was only that her skin was too tender.
Yinzhen had been with women before, but none had been as delicate as her.
The delicate little thing's voice had grown much softer too, sticky and sweet: "I know." She nodded, obedient as could be.
He restrained himself from reaching out to pat her head. If she was this frightened by a slightly louder voice, wouldn't she burst into tears if he actually bullied her?
"I…" She raised her head, hesitating: "Are you leaving soon?"
She wore a pink Hanfu, her waist cinched slender, her features delicate and beautiful with a natural, innate charm. She looked at him timidly, like a lotus blooming quietly—step closer and there was even the fresh sweetness of lotus seeds about her.
Yinzhen's throat bobbed. His voice was low: "Yes." He saw the light in the young girl's eyes dim immediately.
He had planned to bring her back to the capital. Even before meeting her, he had intended to take her back—so why not now, especially?
The flowers filling the courtyard all seemed to have gained a spiritual quality. Yinzhen had been struck by the beauty of these flowers more than once. If the Emperor saw them, he was certain to win his favor.
At that time—gazing into the distance, a storm seemed to brew in Yinzhen's dark, deep eyes. He squinted for a long while before withdrawing his gaze.
So, no matter what, he would bring this person back with him.
Song Xilou stood behind him, witnessing the flash of calculation that passed through his eyes.
As for what he was calculating, of course she knew. She clenched her hands inside her sleeves: what she feared was that she might not even be worth his scheming.
"Miss!" At that moment, Dongya ran over anxiously, panting heavily as she pointed outside: "Zhou Sheng has barged in with a lot of people!"
Yinzhen looked behind him and saw the girl's face instantly turn deathly pale. Her body wobbled and nearly stumbled in place, and he caught her just in time: "What's going on?"
Song Xilou's hands gripped his arm tightly, her eyes full of helplessness. She glanced around several times before snapping back to herself: "N-nothing."
"Go inside the house." She pushed him with her hands, "Don't come out for now. It'll be over, it'll be over soon." Her forced calm tone didn't seem to convince anyone, not even herself.
"What exactly is happening?" Pushed into the house by her, Yinzhen grabbed her hand and asked. This courtyard had only three people, and none of them had the nerve to cause trouble.
"You're injured. Just stay here properly."
"Don't, don't come out," she urged him anxiously, then turned and disappeared in a flash.
Zhou Sheng was nowhere near as easygoing as last time. His face was full of murderous intent, and he had brought quite a few men behind him. Judging by his eyes, he had spared no expense—these men were far more ferocious.
"Miss Song, I, Zhou, have come for our ten-day agreement." Zhou Sheng withdrew his calculating gaze, and his eyes landed on Song Xilou, unable to look away. He had never seen her in person before—who knew she would be this beautiful without her veil?
"If Miss Song doesn't want to move out, that's fine too." Zhou Sheng's face looked like someone had beaten him—covered in bruises and swelling, his smile was deeply unsettling: "I'll just move in and live with you instead."
His beady eyes roamed over Song Xilou's body without restraint, utterly disgusting. Song Xilou's face flushed red with anger as she kept stepping back. Nanny Wu promptly stepped forward to block Zhou Sheng's gaze.
Meanwhile, Yinzhen watched from the window and got the gist of it. He whistled to summon the guards waiting nearby, then tilted his head toward the door: "Go see what's going on."
The guard returned shortly and knelt at his feet: "Master, this servant learned that this courtyard originally belonged to the Zhou family. Miss Song came to Jiangnan a year ago and purchased it from Mother Zhou's hands."
"If she bought it, then why is there trouble now?" Yinzhen idly skimmed the foam off his tea with his fingers, looking unconcerned.
"The strange thing is that Miss Song's skill is remarkable—she grew all these flowers in the courtyard."
"Oh?" Yinzhen's hand paused: "The Zhou family has taken a liking to it and is going back on their word?"
"Yes." The guard nodded. "Miss Song originally agreed to move out in ten days, but… but." He cautiously lifted his head. What happened next didn't need to be said for Yinzhen to understand.
After he arrived, the Song family couldn't very well move out, which was why today's scene had unfolded.
"Utterly audacious." The cup in his hand slammed onto the table. Yinzhen stood up. "How is Jiang Zhengqi running his post as prefect?"
With his guards, Yinzhen strode out, just in time to see Zhou Sheng leering with a lecherous grin. The young girl was terrified, and upon seeing him, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Yinzhen patted her head, saying with pity, "Don't be afraid."
The guards behind him swiftly and efficiently bound the group. Yinzhen glanced at them indifferently. "Send them all to Jiang Zhengqi. Let him take a good look."
Zhou Sheng's legs trembled as he was dragged away, shivering uncontrollably. He looked back greedily but saw Yinzhen's stern, ice-cold face. Pushed by the guard behind him, he felt his lower body tighten, and suddenly a stench of urine wafted through the air.
Yinzhen averted his gaze in disgust and raised his hand to shield Song Xilou's eyes, sparing her from the foul sight.
Only after they were gone did he lower his hand. Looking down, he saw the sorrow in Song Xilou's eyes.
"What's wrong?" His voice softened considerably. She stood beside him so delicately that even a louder tone might startle her. Yinzhen felt a natural surge of pity in his heart.
He didn't understand, but Nanny Wu, who accompanied Song Xilou, certainly did. This young master carried an air of nobility, his guards were impeccably trained, and even Prefect Jiang Zhengqi was beneath his notice. Such a high-ranking official could not possibly come from an ordinary family.
If the young lady had been able to deceive herself before, this now meant her hopes were completely dashed.
"The young master's injuries have healed, and your attendants have found their way here." Song Xilou bowed slightly in a graceful salute. When she raised her head again, the sorrowful expression was gone from her face.
"My courtyard is small, so I won't keep you, young master."
Only then did Yinzhen realize she was trying to send him away. He wanted to step forward and ask her why, but with so many people around, he had no choice but to give up.
As her figure disappeared from view, Nanny Wu stepped forward a few paces and probed cautiously, "Does the young master have a wife or concubines at home?"
Yinzhen saw no reason to hide it. "Yes."
Nanny Wu thought it a pity, and her voice dropped even lower. "Our young lady saving you was fate, but if word of this spreads, it will affect her reputation. I beg you, in light of her life-saving kindness, not to let this matter become known."
"I understand." Yinzhen nodded. Nanny Wu saw his dignified bearing and noble air, and the thought in her heart refused to be suppressed.
Clutching her sleeve, she steeled herself and said vaguely, "Our young lady is the daughter of a high official in the capital. She was switched at birth and ended up stranded here. If you would remember that bond of gratitude, could you help our young lady look into it?"
Only then did Yinzhen feel a flicker of surprise. "Which official's family?"
"She said—Niohuru."
That night, Yinzhen naturally stayed. It had started raining in the afternoon, and the wind outside beat the branches against the windows with a sharp clatter. Yinzhen found it irritating and, unusually, couldn't sleep.
He threw on his clothes and opened the door, finding himself walking to Song Xilou's doorstep without thinking. He'd come through the rain, and his clothes were damp and uncomfortable.
He'd intended only to glance at the door and leave, but to his surprise, the lamp inside was still lit. Drawing closer, he heard intermittent sobbing from within. After standing there for a moment, Yinzhen pushed the door open and went in.
The room was lit by a dim, yellow glow. The young woman sitting on the bed had tears still clinging to her cheeks. When she saw it was him, she couldn't even wipe her tears away in time—a flush of red crept up to her cheeks.
"You… why are you here?" she stammered, her hands gripping the blanket tightly. From this angle, even her neck was tinged with red.
"Why are you crying?" He walked to the bedside, tilting her chin up with his fingers, and saw at once that her eyes were red and swollen, puffy like a rabbit's.
"You could have left long ago. Your guards are all here."
She spoke vaguely, but Yinzhen understood her meaning. She was innocent and pure but not foolish—she understood what had happened during the day, and that there must be a reason he was staying.
"The river dike at the dark channel burst, and the floodwaters submerged over a dozen counties. Countless families lost their loved ones overnight." Yinzhen softened his tone, stroking her head, and explained as simply as he could.
"The court's disaster relief funds are still on the way, but grain prices have already multiplied several times overnight. Even when the silver arrives, it won't sustain tens of thousands of refugees for long."
"So you knew I had grain?" Song Xilou lifted her head. In her clear, bright eyes, one could see her emotions plainly—pure, without a trace of impurity.
"Yes." Faced with such eyes, he couldn't lie.
"Ma Yan, Magistrate Ma, came to see me." Song Xilou raised her chin slightly, looking seriously into his eyes. "He wanted to buy the grain I have, but I refused."
A fair, delicate hand pressed over Yinzhen's mouth as he was about to speak.
She tilted her head with a sly smile. "But for you, I'm willing."
Half a month later, the disaster was brought well under control. Having handled the matter properly, Yinzhen returned to the capital ahead of schedule. Riding on horseback, he glanced behind him.
A carriage was following at a distance. When the woman inside caught his gaze, she smiled shyly and quickly lowered the curtain in her hand.