Sweat beaded thickly on Ji Yingying’s forehead. Steeling herself, she pressed her tongue against her teeth, opening her mouth to bite down hard. But Zhao Xiuyuan moved faster, instantly gripping her jaw and stuffing the handkerchief back into her mouth. “After all these years, I at least know your temperament. You’ll still have to watch me destroy the Yang family and become the unrivaled Brocade King. I won’t let you die.”
He gently caressed her face, soft as jade beneath his touch. Seeing tears rolling down her cheeks, gleaming like pearls, he couldn’t resist leaning in to gently kiss them away.
Ji Yingying had never known she could find Zhao Xiuyuan’s touch so repulsive. The revulsion was absolute. The feeling of his lips brushing her cheek was like a sewer rat crawling across her skin.
Her struggling body was like a dying fish, the taut curves accentuating her slender form. Zhao Xiuyuan’s gaze gradually darkened. His hand moved to her waist, fingers hooking her belt, his breathing growing rapid.
Ji Yingying let out a muffled cry of despair. In that instant, it was as if she had lived an entire lifetime, finally understanding the weight of regret. If there was another life, if she could live again, when Zhao Xiuyuan had first gazed at her curiously with his two young attendants, she would have turned and walked away, never to cross paths with him again.
She suddenly thought of Yang Jingyuan. Remembered him climbing through her window late at night, stubbornly declaring when she recognized him: “I’m just delivering a letter.”
That letter. She hadn’t even read it. He had mentioned something about Zhao Xiuyuan knowing the handkerchief was with him and harboring resentment toward her. Others had seen it so clearly, especially sending a letter to warn her. Why hadn’t she taken it seriously?
Zhao Xiuyuan wasn’t in a hurry. He had waited so many years; she was a bird in his cage now, and he had all the time and patience in the world. His hand slid inside her collar. Hearing Ji Yingying’s muffled sounds like a small beast caught in a trap, he couldn’t help but smile. She was a wild horse, but she would eventually be tamed by him.
“Second Young Master Zhao! Bridegroom! Come out quickly!”
“General! Young Master Sang, my young master isn’t here!”
“Get out of the way!”
“Say another word and I’ll slap you senseless!”
The argument erupting outside the Vine Garden made Zhao Xiuyuan pause. Seeing Ji Yingying’s suddenly widened eyes, he clicked his tongue and shook his head. This was the Zhao residence—who did she think would come to save her? He stood up, casually draping his outer robe back on: “Time passes too quickly when I’m with you. As the bridegroom, I must go attend to the guests. Wait for me.”
He closed the door, taking the lock from the maid and clicking it shut. Placing the key in his pocket, Zhao Xiuyuan descended the stairs with the maids. At that moment, Sang the Fourteenth, along with his attendants and the military escort officers who had come with the bride, pushed past Zhao Ping and Zhao An, bursting noisily into the courtyard.
The gatekeepers Zhao Ping and Zhao An had been slapped while trying to stop the intruders, their cheeks mottled red and purple. Seeing Zhao Xiuyuan, they lowered their heads: “Young Master!”
Zhao Xiuyuan looked at Sang the Fourteenth. It was him! The one who had been speaking intimately with Ji Yingying today! He instantly understood Sang’s intentions. Ji Yingying, is this the one you’re hoping will save you? Dream on!
Sang the Fourteenth pretended not to notice Zhao Xiuyuan’s cold, angry gaze, letting his eyes wander over the two maids’ faces: “Today is my future sister-in-law’s wedding day. The bridegroom isn’t in the bridal chamber or at the banquet—surely he’s not having a secret rendezvous with some young lady here?”
“We wouldn’t dare!” The two maids, frightened by Sang’s gaze, immediately fell to their knees.
The escort generals, being Deputy Commander Niu’s trusted subordinates who protected Fifth Miss Niu like their own, were instantly provoked. One raised his foot to charge upstairs: “Could there be other cheap servant girls hidden up there?”
Zhao Xiuyuan wanted nothing more than to kick Sang the Fourteenth to death for his provocative words. He moved to block the two men, smiling: “I can’t hold my liquor well, so I came here to rest for a moment. Today is my and Fifth Miss’s wedding day—how could I embarrass her like that?”
Sang the Fourteenth observed Zhao Xiuyuan, certain that Ji Yingying was upstairs. He smiled and held back the two generals: “Hey, hey, General Song. The bridegroom is just avoiding drinking. Let’s not create trouble.” He glanced at Zhao Xiuyuan, whispering in their ears, “Men, you know, with multiple wives and concubines, there are bound to be lovers. If what I suggested is true, wouldn’t Fifth Miss lose face?”
The two generals snorted, not giving Zhao Xiuyuan a chance to speak, and clapped their hands on his shoulders: “Second Young Master Zhao, today you must drink more with us generals! Come!”
As Zhao Xiuyuan was pushed out of the courtyard, he secretly signaled to his two attendants.
Sang the Fourteenth saw this and gradually slowed his pace. Once Zhao Xiuyuan had been dragged around the corner of the corridor out of sight, he and his attendant quickly ran toward the Vine Garden.
Ji Yingying, listening to the conversation outside, sat up with the desperate joy of finding hope in despair. Scanning the room, she spotted the candlestick on the low table beside the couch. She slowly moved off the couch, tilting her head to gauge the candlestick’s position, carefully inching closer, trying to burn through her bonds.
A hand reached out and removed the candlestick.
Ji Yingying turned her head in surprise, lost her balance, and fell at his feet. She looked up to see someone dressed in night-walking clothes, completely shrouded in a black cloak. He moved the candlestick aside and looked down at her.
Who was he? Would he help her? Ji Yingying’s eyes filled with pleading.
He crouched down, pulling a dagger from his boot. The bright blade made Ji Yingying shudder. Was he going to kill her? She closed her eyes.
The tears at the corners of her eyes clung to her snow-white cheeks, making her look like a pitiful lamb awaiting slaughter. As if possessed, he reached out and gently wiped them away.
The touch of skin made Ji Yingying’s eyes snap open, glaring at him fiercely. Her face was full of anger, as if saying ‘If you’re going to kill me, do it quickly.’
Their eyes met, and she saw the surprise in his eyes and the smile that followed.
He turned her body around, raised his hand to cut through her bonds with a swift motion, smoothly sheathed the dagger in his boot, and turned toward the window.
Ji Yingying shook off the ropes, pulled out the handkerchief from her mouth, and called out hoarsely: “Wait, benefactor!”
Outside the window, a flame appeared in the direction of the Ji family dye shop. In the darkness, this fire was particularly eye-catching. The gongs and drums at the opera stage were struck, and he watched as the wedding guests by the ceremonial arch ran toward the Ji residence.
What a pity—he wasn’t her benefactor, but the noose tightening around the Ji family’s throat.
He had no interest in playing the role of her rescuing knight.
He glanced at Ji Yingying, about to climb out the window.
“Benefactor…”
“Don’t thank me!” He leaned against the window frame, finally speaking, “I… just came to watch the excitement. I didn’t want to see you foolishly burn yourself to death with the candle.”
“Thank you…” Ji Yingying looked at him gratefully. Seeing him about to climb out the window, she bit her lip and called out to him again, her face reddening with embarrassment, “Benefactor, could you help me with one more thing?”
He turned around, looking at her curiously.
The door was locked, and she couldn’t open it. Who knew when Zhao Xiuyuan would return? Ji Yingying pointed at the window and said softly: “Could you help me escape from the Zhao residence?”
“Only if you can afford the price.”