Without a word, Xiao Zhi grabbed Wan Tang’s right hand and strode into the room.
Wan Tang’s steps were not as long as his, and she stumbled along the way.
Zhao Fu, witnessing their actions, nearly had his eyes pop out of his head. As soon as they entered the room, he tactfully closed the door and stood guard outside, eyes downcast and mind focused.
The servants in Meiyuan were fewer than in other courtyards, and Xiao Zhi never allowed servants to enter or linger in his room without permission. Thus, only Xiao Zhi and Wan Tang were inside at the moment.
Xiao Zhi retrieved a high-quality Golden Sore Medicine and poured it onto the back of Wan Tang’s left hand without any gentleness, as if he wanted to dump the entire bottle onto it.
Wan Tang hissed twice in pain.
Xiao Zhi paused and looked up at her. Seeing tears welling up in her eyes, her reddened corners looking pitiful and innocent, he finally softened his movements.
He carefully wrapped her left hand with cloth, but his words remained sharp: “Your pride is greater than your courage. Now you know it hurts?”
Wan Tang stared at his large hands for a long while—slender yet strong, not frivolous, giving her an immense sense of security.
After a long silence, Wan Tang whispered, “I am just a servant. Many things are not done willingly.”
These past few days, Xiao Zhi’s sarcastic remarks had been somewhat overwhelming for her. Combined with today’s events, she suddenly understood why Xiao Zhi had made her wash her hands repeatedly for four consecutive days, and even had her wash her face three days ago. At the time, he seemed to have glanced at her chin several times. Only now did she belatedly recall that Xiao Yujue had pinched her chin that day.
Xiao Zhi was not Xiao Yujue. Even though she was just a maid, he would not give her to another man to toy with, nor would he tolerate other men getting close to her.
This realization made Wan Tang want to cry tears of joy.
She dared not speak ill of Xiao Yujue, but she could express her own resolve. Removing the wrist bracelet was the most powerful proof of cutting ties with Xiao Yujue.
Hearing her words, Xiao Zhi recalled the day he had used her as an antidote. Clearly, she had been unwilling then too.
“This servant thanks the Marquis for your compassion. I have never seen a master clean a servant’s wounds. To encounter a master as kind as you is a blessing from three lifetimes. From now on, I will serve the Marquis wholeheartedly. If the Marquis orders me east, I will never go west.” Wan Tang sobbed while flattering him, yet her words and demeanor seemed utterly sincere.
Xiao Zhi found himself both amused and exasperated. He spoke earnestly: “This Marquis has led troops in battle for years and cannot stand those who demean themselves. Those who belittle themselves will be belittled by others; those who respect themselves will be respected by others.”
The burden in Wan Tang’s heart lightened by hundreds of pounds. She obediently replied, “A teacher of knowledge is easy to find, but a teacher of character is rare. This servant has learned a valuable lesson.”
Such words did not sound like those of a servant. Xiao Zhi couldn’t help but look at her with newfound respect. Just as he was about to ask if she had studied, his peripheral vision caught her right hand tightly clutching the blood-stained wrist bracelet.
He suddenly felt disinterested, his gaze turning cold and sharp.
Wan Tang, who was boldly looking at him at that moment, quickly noticed his change in demeanor. She explained softly, “This belongs to Daye. I must return it. If it’s lost, I cannot afford to compensate for it.”
“Was the gold ingot I gave you that day not enough?” The silver wrist bracelet was not valuable. Even if thrown away, the gold ingots would be enough to cover it.
Wan Tang was stunned, unable to recall when he had ever given her a gold ingot.
Could it be that pouch of silver Zhao Fu gave her after she served as his antidote? She had been certain it was silver, but hadn’t had a chance to check after returning, and had hidden it away without opening it since. The thought that the pouch might contain gold made her eyes light up with excitement.
Xiao Zhi chuckled, “What, are your eyes blind even today? Can’t you tell gold from silver?”
Wan Tang flushed with embarrassment, silently chiding herself for being so foolish.
After all, she wasn’t a maid from Meiyuan. As she lingered for a moment before preparing to return to Jinxiu Garden, Xiao Zhi told her to leave the wrist bracelet behind.
Wan Tang glanced uneasily at Xiao Zhi, only to see him call Zhao Fu into the room again: “Bring Zizuo here.”
Zhao Fu accompanied Wan Tang back to Jinxiu Garden. Having enjoyed her pastries many times, Zhao Fu had a favorable impression of her, but couldn’t help gossiping along the way: “I originally thought Miss Wan Tang was a sensible person, but how could you serve Daye while also getting entangled with the Marquis?”
Wan Tang opened her mouth but said nothing.
“A few days ago, I told you about the woman Doctor Xu admires—she once dreamed of climbing high, but in the end, she couldn’t reach the heights and couldn’t marry into a good family. In my opinion, we servants should know our place and honestly marry into ordinary households.”
Wan Tang forced a bitter smile: “I wish I could marry into an ordinary household.”
Not hearing what he wanted, Zhao Fu gave her a distant glance and said nothing more.
Wan Tang understood—different paths don’t lead to the same destination. From now on, Zhao Fu would no longer be warm toward her…
Xiao Yujue arrived at Meiyuan in confusion, but his face paled drastically when he saw the wrist bracelet in Xiao Zhi’s hand.
Before Xiao Yujue could defend himself, Xiao Zhi threw the bracelet into his arms. The little bells jingled incessantly—the same sound that had once stirred Xiao Yujue’s fantasies now felt like a death knell.
Xiao Zhi berated him for bringing the vulgar customs of brothels into Houfu.
He scolded him for neglecting his studies and being ignorant.
He accused him of being incorrigible and lacking ambition…
Finally, even the butterflies embroidered on his robe became a target for harsh criticism, with Xiao Zhi condemning him for indulging in wine and women, and idling away his time.
When Xiao Yujue returned to Jinxiu Garden, his face was darker than the bottom of a pot.
He summoned Wan Tang before him—this time, not in secret. However, Song Zhiyun was ordered to stay in the inner chamber, unable to hear their conversation clearly.
Xiao Yujue glared at Wan Tang, grinding his teeth as he whispered accusingly, “Was it you who reported me to the Marquis?”
Wan Tang guessed he wouldn’t dare confront Xiao Zhi directly, so she replied, “This servant wouldn’t dare. It was… it was the bells on the wrist bracelet that the Marquis heard.”
Xiao Yujue gnashed his teeth in anger. Noticing the cloth wrapped around her left hand, he narrowed his eyes: “What happened to your hand?”
“The wrist bracelet was… was torn off, and the skin on my hand was scraped.” Wan Tang deliberately spoke ambiguously, leading Xiao Yujue to believe that Xiao Zhi had personally torn it off. This way, Xiao Yujue would think Xiao Zhi wasn’t protecting her but was genuinely furious at him for being lustful and improper even within Houfu.
But Xiao Yujue had never been one for self-reflection.
Today, anger flared in his eyes: “This is all your own fault! If you hadn’t been so ungrateful, how could you have ended up like this? And you even dragged me into being scolded!”
Song Zhiyun, staying in the inner chamber, couldn’t hear clearly and lifted the door curtain to step out: “Tomorrow is the Ancestor’s birthday family banquet. I hope nothing goes wrong, right?”
Xiao Yujue’s face turned ashen as he pointed at Wan Tang’s nose and scolded, “This loose-lipped one! When Father asked about my studies, she didn’t even try to cover for me, causing Father to summon me and give me a harsh scolding!”
He lied with such shameless confidence.
Song Zhiyun was still fuming over the incident of Xiao Yujue and Wan Tang rolling around together, so hearing that he had been scolded actually brought her some relief. She put on a show of reprimanding Wan Tang a few times before waving her off.
But Xiao Yujue couldn’t swallow his anger. That night, he specifically ordered her to keep watch.
Xiao Yujue was unusually fierce that evening, deliberately tormenting Song Zhiyun until she cried out repeatedly.
Wan Tang was forced to stand not far away, listening to the intimate sounds. No matter how tightly she covered her ears, it was useless.
This was the first time in this life she had served them like this. In the past, Song Zhiyun would deliberately send her away.
“Huh? Master, what happened to your arm?” The entwined figures inside the bed curtains paused.
Hearing this exclamation, Wan Tang held her breath nervously.