Chapter 25: The Note

Tao Hong also laughed and echoed, "Exactly! Exactly! Sometimes they really look alike! But looking at him, it’s a world of difference..."

The maid, who had been beaming a moment ago, immediately withdrew her smile at that last remark.

Qing Lian’s expression also cooled, her smile vanishing.

Following that, silence fell between them.

The "he" they were both referring to was, without a doubt, Lu Zhi.

Yan Xi did not interject.

After her bath, she lay on the bed, lost in thoughts of that dream. Her current situation was truly treacherous, as if she were walking blindfolded, having no idea which direction was the right one.

As she pondered, her gaze drifted to the gauze canopy. Under the flickering candlelight, it looked hazy and blurred, and the lingering, sultry scenes from midday surfaced in her mind.

She thought of that man.

Her face instantly flushed hot again. Yan Xi slowly turned over, forcibly cutting off the memory.

The next day was the seventh of the twelfth lunar month—the Emperor’s Longevity Festival, marking the thirty-first birthday of Emperor Li Yin.

All government officials were granted a three-day holiday.

Naturally, on this first day, all officials of the third rank and above gathered at the imperial palace to celebrate Li Yin’s birthday. Foreign envoys also arrived to offer their congratulations, and the entire city of Chang'an was bathed in a festive atmosphere.

Lu Boling and his son, Lu Zhi, had left the estate early.

After breakfast, Yan Xi received some good news.

The message came from Dongfu, Lu Zhi’s personal attendant, telling her she could send a maid to visit A'Tai.

After a brief discussion, Qing Lian dressed herself neatly and set off, full of joy.

More than an hour later, she returned and recounted everything to Yan Xi.

"A'Tai has been moved elsewhere—to a woodshed in one of the Young Master’s private villas. You don't need to worry, Miss. He is alone in the new place, the mats and quilts are all provided, and his food and drink are quite decent. A'Tai is in good health; he said he can hold on and asked you to take good care of yourself."

Upon hearing this, Yan Xi finally let out a sigh of relief.

She secretly calculated the days; she was one day closer to the sixth of the first lunar month.

Her heart fluttered with anxiety. Sometimes, even just thinking about it filled her with dread.

She did not see that man that day, but she saw him the very next.

The Lu family was wealthy and powerful, throwing money around like dirt, possessing countless fertile fields and fine residences. This ancestral estate was, in particular, the height of luxury.

Every year, when deep winter arrived, the West Garden would be adorned with ice sculptures and ice lanterns, complemented by snow scenes and red plum blossoms for people to admire.

With everyone on holiday and the ice sculptures finally completed, the Duchess decided to gather everyone after dinner to enjoy the lanterns and see the sights.

Before dusk had fully faded, the young ladies, young masters, madams, and concubines had all gathered there.

Yan Xi originally did not want to go, but she was afraid Lu Zhi would come.

After all, he had dared to enter her room in broad daylight. Now that night had fallen and everyone else was gathered in the West Garden, he would likely be even more reckless and emboldened.

Thinking this, the young girl did not hesitate in the slightest. She dressed early and arrived at the West Garden.

There were many people present, and Yan Xi was not particularly close to any of them. She offered only shallow greetings and made small talk with whoever was nearby.

Before long, the man appeared.

Even if she didn't want to notice him, she couldn't help it. The moment he arrived, he drew many eyes, including Yan Xi’s.

Her maid gently tugged at her sleeve.

The young girl’s heart hammered in her chest. Without a second thought, she moved her delicate feet and headed toward a corner crowded with people to "take refuge."

Even if she couldn't join the conversation, she pretended to listen, smiling whenever others laughed. Her beautiful eyes were clear, and her expression was pure and innocent.

Yet, while her exterior remained calm, her heart was in turmoil.

As night fell, a half-moon rose into the sky.

The massive ice lanterns, shaped like flowering vines, were illuminated by colorful lights, looking like fireworks that would never fade.

The young ladies, young masters, madams, and gentlemen were all in high spirits, admiring the scenery and whispering their praises in small groups.

Yan Xi also lost herself for a moment, but just as she was captivated by the sight, a maid behind her tapped her.

"Miss Yan Xi..."

The young girl was slightly startled and came back to her senses.

She turned around. The person behind her was not a stranger; it was one of Lu Zhi’s people who had been to Tao Xiang Pavilion to deliver soup.

Seeing his person was no different from seeing him, and Yan Xi did not think it portended anything good.

Sure enough, the maid whispered, "The Young Master wants Miss Yan Xi to go over there."

Yan Xi looked in the direction the maid’s eyes indicated and understood that he wanted her to go to a secluded spot.

The young girl did not agree, only turning her head away in distress.

After a moment, she instinctively raised her eyes to look at the distant Lu Zhi.

The man was wearing a cold expression and gave a slight signal. Though he didn't speak, the meaning of his command and warning was clear.

Yan Xi’s heart beat even faster. Finally, she lowered her head and, biting the bullet, followed his wishes and walked obediently in the direction he had indicated.

When she arrived and stopped, the man slowly followed, arriving at her side a moment later.

Yan Xi felt an instinctive tension.

They stood side-by-side, a large figure and a small one, gazing in the same direction. From time to time, people glanced over, but since they were both of the main branch and would soon be siblings, standing somewhat close and occasionally speaking was perfectly normal, so no one paid them any mind.

With no one else nearby except for her maids, Qing Lian and Tao Hong, Yan Xi was still terrified, her hands unconsciously clenching.

Lu Zhi spoke in a cold voice, his thin lips barely parting, his tone icy: "Are you courting death?"

Yan Xi knew he was referring to her deliberate attempt to avoid him earlier. She immediately said obediently, "There were too many people... I... I was afraid of being noticed."

Lu Zhi continued, "Who could notice?"

Yan Xi didn't know; she was simply afraid.

The man looked down at her from his height, took off his thumb ring, and wiped it slowly with a handkerchief. He spoke in a calm, cold, and commanding tone:

"Do not hide from me again when you see me. Do you hear me?"

Under his control, Yan Xi responded obediently, "Yes."

At this, she heard him change the subject to something else.

"Did you see the person?"

Yan Xi knew he meant A'Tai and nodded in response. "Yes."

Lu Zhi let out a "ha," brought the wiped ring before his eyes, and stared at it with his deep, peach-blossom eyes. He said:

"You are quite good to him!"

Yan Xi answered, "We grew up together. He is... the son of my wet nurse..."

The man continued, "Oh, so you are quite good to those you grew up with!"

His voice was as cold as ice.

Yan Xi’s hands clenched tighter. She felt he was acting strangely, not knowing why he kept bringing this up, nor why she had said anything wrong.

As she paused, the voice came from above again.

"Come out tomorrow at noon. East Chang'an Street, Wen Family Cloth Shop. I will send someone to fetch you."

Yan Xi’s heart suddenly began to race. Her delicate lips parted, and she said immediately, "I can't."

Her voice was tiny, barely audible, but firm.

She naturally knew what he wanted her to go out for. Her face turned red instantly, but fortunately, she was wearing a hood, and it was dark, so no one could see clearly.

"I don't want to go..."

Lu Zhi did not speak for a long time. Finally, he put the ring back on his finger and let out a light, mocking laugh. With an air of nonchalance mixed with provocation, he said:

"Tell me, I particularly enjoy watching you look so unwilling. What should we do about that?"

Yan Xi clenched her soft hands even tighter. "You... you must not bully people too far..."

"Oh."

Lu Zhi raised an eyebrow, looking completely unconcerned.

Her voice was sweet and soft, and she looked so fragile and easy to bully that the more he looked at her, the more his heart itched.

Yan Xi did not dare to look at him again, let alone speak, fearing he would bring that matter up once more.

Fortunately, there was no follow-up. A moment later, he put his hands behind his back and changed the subject again.

"Under the fourth peach tree to the left in the back garden of your pavilion, I have left something. Go back and do as instructed."

Yan Xi was slightly startled, but upon reflection, she seemed to understand a little and said nothing more, simply acknowledging it.

A while later, the moonlight was obscured and a cold wind rose. Snow began to drift down from the sky, and at that very moment, the Duchess’s voice came:

"It’s getting cold and it’s starting to snow. We shouldn't stay out too long. Let us disperse."

Everyone responded, and soon they began to leave the West Garden one after another.

Yan Xi slowly moved her feet, her heart trembling; she was terrified that he would continue that previous topic.

He was right beside her, and occasionally their bodies would brush against each other.

She was fearful and timid, like a child who had done something wrong, guilty and terrified that someone would see the anomaly between them.

A short while later, she finally exited the West Garden. Yan Xi found a young cousin who lived in the same garden and hurriedly walked by her side, not daring to look at the man again. She returned to her quarters without once looking back.

Once she arrived, she went to the back courtyard herself, her watery eyes fixed on the fourth peach tree the man had mentioned, and called her maids.

"Go and look there. Is there anything?"

Qing Lian and Tao Hong responded and went over together.

Yan Xi watched intently. The maids didn't search for long before they found something near a stone.

The two picked it up and brought it back. Yan Xi took it and saw that it was a silk pouch.

She tucked it into her sleeve for the time being and returned to her room.

Once inside, Yan Xi opened it immediately. There were only two things inside the pouch:

A gold bracelet and a note.

The note was concise and clearly written: "Within five days, leave the estate through the back gate, hire a carriage to the market, go to the Chengkang Pawnshop, and pawn it."

Yan Xi was slightly stunned after reading it. She crumpled the note, not understanding.

The two maids were also very confused.

Tao Hong asked, "Miss, what does he mean by this?"

Yan Xi shook her head, not thinking deeply.

But she didn't need to think too deeply; she could roughly fathom it. It ultimately had to do with him taking her away.

She let the matter rest for now.

That night, lying in bed, the young girl blinked slowly and secretly hid the crumpled note under her mattress.