Chapter 28: Taking Away (Part Two)

The carriage sped along. For a while, the three of them spoke, but soon they fell silent, and the cabin was once again enveloped in quiet.

Yan Xi’s pale, delicate face remained composed, but deep down, every other thought had been cast aside. Her mind was occupied by only one thing: "the matter of the day after tomorrow."

As the carriage jolted, Qinglian occasionally pulled back the curtain to peek outside. It was a casual glance at first, but she gasped, her heart sinking, as she realized the carriage was not heading toward the Ning Duke’s mansion.

"Miss!" Qinglian immediately called out to Yan Xi. The young girl and Taohong both looked out. Yan Xi also realized they were not on the path to the Lu residence.

Taohong’s voice trembled. "Where are they taking us? Surely it can’t be that they mean to..."

"Of course not," Qinglian interrupted, "don't frighten the young miss. If he intended that, why would he have bothered telling her about 'the matter of the day after tomorrow'?"

Taohong fell silent. The three of them stopped speculating, waiting quietly for the unknown to unfold. The two maids sat on either side of Yan Xi, shielding her more closely, especially when they felt the carriage begin to slow.

Soon, the horses neighed, the driver pulled the reins, and the carriage came to a halt. The door was opened, revealing two women and a man. One of the women was dressed exactly like Taohong.

"Miss Yan Xi, please forgive us." As soon as the woman finished speaking, she grabbed Taohong and pulled her out.

"Ah!" The young maid cried out, on the verge of tears. Yan Xi, frantic, moved forward. "What are you doing?" In her panic, the question escaped her, though a moment’s thought made their intentions clear.

The woman disguised as "Taohong" climbed into the carriage, bowed slightly, and performed a salute. "My master has ordered me to look after Miss Yan Xi for these two days."

Yan Xi said nothing, her small, soft hands clenching. Only a fool would believe this was about "looking after" her; it was clearly surveillance.

"And her? Where are you taking her?" Yan Xi pointed at the forcibly removed Taohong.

"Miss Taohong is going to a safe place ahead of you," the woman replied. "The day after tomorrow, you shall be reunited."

Yan Xi bit her lip. Lu Zhi was truly airtight; he wouldn't leave her even the slightest opening. By replacing Taohong, he achieved two things: surveillance to ensure she wouldn't ruin his plans, and an extra hostage.

Finally, the young girl spoke softly to her maid: "Don't be afraid." Taohong’s eyes reddened; she bit her lip and nodded heavily.

The carriage door was closed, and they set off again. Yan Xi and Qinglian held back the curtain, watching until Taohong was led away by the man and woman. Only when she was out of sight did Qinglian let the curtain fall, gently squeezing her mistress's hand. Both turned their gazes toward the "fake Taohong," neither speaking another word.

At noon, just as they had left, the carriage stopped at the north back gate of the Lu mansion. Yan Xi and Qinglian returned to Taoxiang Pavilion with the fake Taohong. With such a person in the room, everything felt different. Yan Xi and Qinglian almost never spoke of anything important, and the maid spent most of her time quietly tidying up. Thus, the day passed.

*******

The next day, the sixteenth of the twelfth lunar month, was two days before Yan Xi was to leave the Lu mansion. "Taohong" ate and lived in Yan Xi’s room, following her wherever she went.

The previous night, a fire had broken out in a small house on West Street, outside the Ning Duke’s mansion. When the news reached the Lu mansion at dawn, it eventually found its way to Yan Xi’s ears. It was the talk of the entire estate, though no one mentioned it in Taoxiang Pavilion. Yan Xi and Qinglian heard the news, and without needing to ask, they knew exactly whose house it was: Nanny Song’s.

The young girl was afraid. It wasn't because Nanny Song and Fulu were dead, but because of Lu Zhi. It wasn't just that he killed without hesitation; it was that she found him capricious and overly ruthless. Just as the maids had once said, compared to when she first met him at sixteen, he seemed truly different. Back then, he had been arrogant, perhaps a bit conceited, but never this cold-blooded.

Yan Xi was curious about what had happened to him during the six years she was away, but with a spy in the room, she had no chance to ask—until the Duchess summoned her to admire flowers.

After the messenger left, the young girl looked at "Taohong." "Are you coming, too?"

The woman declined, bowing her head. "I hope Miss Yan Xi will think twice before acting, and that everything goes smoothly. Please, do not anger the master."

Yan Xi’s face remained cold; this was a blatant warning. She didn't speak to her again, instead seizing the chance to call in the eldest maid in the pavilion. "You and Qinglian come with me."

The maid, Hehua, who was twenty and had served the Lu family since she was fourteen, was quite docile. She bowed and agreed. The three of them dressed and headed toward the Duchess’s quarters.

Along the way, Yan Xi spoke directly. The maids knew of her relationship with Lu Zhi, so there was no need for pretense. "You have been in this mansion the longest; you know everything that happens here without even having to ask. Tell me, what major events has the young master experienced in the last six years?"

Hehua replied as they walked, "Miss, the young master passed the imperial examination at eighteen. Before that, he mostly studied and practiced martial arts. After he excelled, he was soon appointed as the Governor of the Capital. He is now twenty-two and has been in office for over three years with outstanding achievements. It has been a smooth journey... as for anything else, nothing major comes to mind."

*He really is blessed by fate,* Yan Xi thought. If that was all, why the change? Was he just born a villain who had finally stopped hiding it?

They soon arrived at the Duchess’s chambers. Fang, the Duchess, smiled as she saw her, pointing to the colorful flowers before her. "Are they beautiful?"

"They are," Yan Xi replied with a faint smile, though she had no heart for flowers.

Fang said, "I called you here because I wanted to send two pots to your room. Which do you like?"

Yan Xi thanked her and pointed to two at random, her mind elsewhere. Fang called for someone to have them moved to her room, then pulled Yan Xi to sit on a low couch. "The day is drawing near. It is already the sixteenth; in less than half a month, you will be joining us. How are you feeling?"

"I have already accepted it," the young girl lied.

Fang patted her hand. "That is good. If you ever have trouble, go to your brother. He has dreamed of having a sister."

Hearing Lu Zhi mentioned, Yan Xi felt a slight churning in her stomach. She certainly hadn't seen any sign that he dreamed of having a sister. She parted her rosy lips and asked, "Is brother’s temper good?"

Fang shook her head with a resigned smile. "Good? He is infuriating when he wants to be. Not like you, who are so well-behaved. I truly am fond of you, Yan Xi." She stroked Yan Xi’s head with maternal affection, even referring to herself as "mother."

Yan Xi looked at her. In the short time they had spent together, she felt that the Duke and Duchess were genuinely fond of her. *Would they stand up for me?*

Yan Xi didn't dare follow that thought. She listened as Fang continued, "I see that he is quite fond of you, too. That day he insisted on taking you back to your room, and when you were watching the ice lanterns, he took the initiative to go over and talk to you for so long."

Yan Xi was speechless. For a moment, she was tempted to complain, but the thought of Lu Zhi’s ruthlessness, and the fate of A-tai and Taohong, kept her silent. They chatted for a while longer until Fang had other matters to attend to, and Yan Xi was excused.

Night fell, and the day passed in quiet.

********

The next day, the seventeenth of the twelfth lunar month, was one day before Yan Xi was to leave. After today, at noon tomorrow, she would be gone.

That night, Yan Xi tossed and turned, her fear mounting. She couldn't sleep. Not only was he terrifyingly strong, but his very presence was something she couldn't handle. If she were in his territory, wouldn't he be even more unbridled and brazen? What would she do? Would he kill her?

In her desperation, she even thought of seeking out Li Yin. She didn't know how she finally fell asleep. When she woke at dawn, she was agitated, picking fights with "Taohong" and losing her temper several times. But the woman, perhaps having anticipated this, remained unmoved, showing not a hint of panic. She was no ordinary woman; Yan Xi suspected she was one of Lu Zhi’s assassins. But what did that matter now?

Just at noon, Jiang Zhiyan arrived. The woman interrupted, "I hope Miss Yan Xi will not see him."

Yan Xi refused. With nowhere to vent her frustrations, she looked at him with teary, delicate eyes, her voice resolute. "What right do you have to control me? I will see him. Even if Lu Zhi were here, I would see whom I wish!"

The woman didn't speak, but as Yan Xi was leaving, she said, "One more day, Miss Yan Xi, and you shall be reunited with A-tai and Taohong. Let us hope nothing goes wrong." Yan Xi’s hands clenched tightly.

Her time with Jiang Zhiyan was short. He was earnest and happy, but Yan Xi was distracted and lacked enthusiasm. Before long, Jiang Zhiyan kindly suggested she go back to rest. Yan Xi complied.

********

The next day, the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month, only half a day remained before Yan Xi was to leave the Lu mansion. The young girl hadn't slept all night. When the time came, whether because "Taohong" had sent a message to Lu Zhi, the man himself appeared near noon. He said nothing, but with a single look, the young girl was reduced to sobbing like a frightened kitten. In the end, she resigned herself to her fate.

*********

At noon, the sun was bright and warm, and a few plum blossoms drifted down. Everything in the Lu mansion was peaceful, as it had always been.

As evening fell, the lamps were lit. Laughter drifted from Lu Boling’s room as he clinked his cup against his son’s. "You are right!"

The room was bathed in bright candlelight, the furnishings luxurious. Two maids waited nearby. Fang sat on a chaise lounge. "You two have such high spirits today. Why not send for Yan Xi? Don't just keep the joy to yourselves; let me share in it, too. Let me get a taste of the joy of having both a son and a daughter..."

Lu Boling, slightly tipsy, nodded boldly. "Call her! Send for Yan Xi! Someone, go and bring my dear daughter here!"

Lu Zhi smiled, setting down his cup and pouring more wine. The wine splashed into the cup with a soft sound. Fang’s personal maid smiled and bowed. "As you wish, Master, Mistress. I shall go fetch her immediately."

She turned toward the beaded curtain, but before she could reach it, the sound of urgent footsteps echoed from outside. A maid rushed in, looking as though she had lost her soul. This agitation shattered the joyful atmosphere. Fang’s smile faded, replaced by clear displeasure.

In an instant, the maid pushed through the curtain. "Master, Mistress, something is wrong!"

Fang’s face darkened. "What is all this frantic behavior? Speak calmly!"

The maid, her face deathly pale, stammered, "Master, Mistress... Miss Yan Xi is gone!"

The air in the room froze. Fang and Lu Boling were stunned into silence.

In that moment, Lu Zhi picked up his filled cup, his wrist flicked, and he drained the wine in one gulp.