In the speeding carriage, Qin Shuang tightly gripped Qin Wan’s hand. “What if that person is evil? Why did we trust him so easily? He didn’t even show himself… Ninth Sister, I’m scared…”
The sky had already darkened, and with only one hour before nightfall, at their current speed, it would be at least the first watch of the night when they returned to Baicao Garden. However, Qin Wan felt that any later would truly be too late.
“He escaped from Baicao Garden, why would he deceive us?”
Qin Shuang’s face was tearful. “But… but I don’t even know who he is.”
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes briefly, then suddenly asked, “When we went to the haystack, was he using the wooden stick with his left hand?”
Qin Shuang was startled, unsure why this was being asked. “I forgot… I think so… Why ask this? Can we determine his identity from this?”
Qin Wan’s gaze became distant for a moment. “His clothes were made of noble silk, and his boots were embroidered with silver thread. Though he was disheveled, his inner garments and boots retained traces of his true status. That Huzhou silk is of the highest quality, worth white gold per bolt, only used by noble families. The silver-threaded boot embroidery needs no explanation. He’s not a commoner from Chishui River, absolutely not.”
Qin Shuang was dumbfounded. “But what does this prove? It doesn’t mean he bears us no ill will.”
Qin Wan took a shallow breath. “Do you remember the dead cats we found in the mansion?”
Qin Shuang’s eyes constricted at the memory, but she nodded. Qin Wan continued, “Those cat corpses were dismembered, yet the wounds were remarkably clean – made by a knife…”
Qin Shuang was startled. “You mean the cats were killed by someone…”
Nodding, Qin Wan spoke in a low voice, “I also saw that the cats’ internal organs had been removed. Such technique could only come from a medical practitioner, and I know that some doctors practice their skills on animals.”
Horror filled Qin Shuang’s eyes. “Who are you saying…”
“That many cat corpses couldn’t be the work of someone’s momentary impulse. It must have been one person killing cats daily over a long period. Who else in Baicao Garden has both the authority and medical knowledge to do this?”
Qin Shuang gasped, “But Doctor Sun is a good person! He’s saved so many people!”
Qin Wan pressed her lips together without speaking. Of course, she hoped Sun Haoyue was good – she only hoped she was wrong.
“Let’s return to that person,” Qin Wan quickly continued. “He must have been imprisoned for more than a day or two, yet he only had common bone-softening powder and Miyao on him. This shows his captors only wanted to control him, and sealing his voice was merely to prevent him from speaking freely. In any case, his captors bore him no ill will.”
“In simple terms, Sun Haoyue bore him no ill will.”
Qin Wan’s eyes darkened. “He’s of noble birth, and since he appeared in Baicao Garden, his status must be equal to Sun Haoyue’s. Since Sun Haoyue meant him no harm, he likely bears no ill will toward Sun Haoyue either.”
“When I mentioned Fifth Sister’s disappearance, his expression changed. I suspect he knows something, but he didn’t immediately reveal why. Perhaps he didn’t want to expose Baicao Garden’s secrets to outsiders, but after we helped him, he hesitated before finally telling us to return to Baicao Garden.”
In the two carriages, Qin Shuang insisted on staying close to Qin Wan. Now four people occupied their carriage. As Qin Wan spoke steadily, the other three listened intently. After a brief pause, she continued, “Based on this reasoning, his identity can only be one of two possibilities: either he’s from the Sun family of Lian Province, or he’s from the Bai family of Yi Province.”
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes, recalling something. “When I mentioned Fifth Sister being invited to Yi Province by the Bai family’s young master, his reaction was extremely surprised, as if this news was completely absurd to him. He didn’t believe the Young Master Bai had invited Fifth Sister to Yi Province, and considering his left-handed use of the stick…”
Qin Shuang, Wan Ying, and Fu Ling all stared at Qin Wan.
Finally, Qin Wan said, “Because he is Bai Feiyu.”
At these eight words, Qin Shuang and Fu Ling gasped. Qin Shuang’s eyes widened. “How is that possible? If he’s Young Master Bai, then who was the Young Master Bai we met?”
Qin Wan lowered her eyes. “That one was an impostor.”
Qin Shuang felt chills down her spine. “If… if he’s fake, why did he send gifts to Fifth Sister? Why did he visit Fifth Sister? He must have noticed that Fifth Sister had feelings for him.”
As she spoke, Qin Shuang’s eyes grew larger. Suddenly she exclaimed, “They targeted Fifth Sister! They want to harm her!”
Qin Wan remained silent, only looking at the increasingly dark sky outside the carriage, tacitly agreeing. Qin Shuang’s eyes immediately reddened. “No wonder you said we must return to Baicao Garden after reading that note. If Young Master Bai is an impostor, Fifth Sister is in extreme danger. No wonder we haven’t encountered Fifth Sister – is she being held in Baicao Garden?”
Qin Shuang’s mind was now clear as she spoke rapidly. Fu Ling beside her broke out in a cold sweat. “What a poisonous scheme. They first lured Fifth Young Lady, knowing we wouldn’t reveal this matter. Once we left Baicao Garden, we’d never imagined Fifth Young Lady would still be trapped there. If we followed and couldn’t find her, we’d probably think Fifth Young Lady met with misfortune while eloping alone. This matter being improper, the Marquis’s mansion would likely find a reason to let Fifth Young Lady disappear properly from the world, by which time Fifth Young Lady might have already met with disaster in Baicao Garden.”
“We don’t need to wait until then, tonight might already…”
Qin Wan’s voice carried a hint of coldness, her heart in turmoil.
She never imagined, could never have imagined, that when she saw those cat corpses, she knew Sun Haoyue was practicing on cats. She found it cruel then, but given Sun Haoyue’s exceptional medical skills, he must have his methods of practice. As long as he didn’t harm people, she wouldn’t comment as an outsider. But she never imagined, never dared to imagine, that what happened to Sun Haoyue would happen…
If they hadn’t met the real Bai Feiyu, her suspicions would have remained just suspicions, and she wouldn’t have risked returning to Baicao Garden. However, since Bai Feiyu’s appearance exposed this deception, she had no choice.
Qin Shuang still held Qin Wan’s hand tightly. “Tonight? Will we make it in time? Third Brother and Steward Zhou haven’t appeared yet, and will that guard be able to get help from the officials in Ji County? Does Doctor Sun know martial arts? Can we… can we fight those people?!”
Qin Shuang was terrified, her voice trembling. Qin Wan held her hand back, feeling somewhat uneasy herself. She hadn’t wanted to bring Qin Shuang, but Qin Shuang insisted on coming. She had only brought the remaining few guards for this journey, leaving behind the carriages carrying luggage boxes, Wan He, Xiu Zhen, and other drivers. She certainly hadn’t come to fight.
“I don’t know if we’ll make it in time, but it won’t happen that quickly.”
Qin Wan didn’t know why Sun Haoyue had kept Qin Xiang, but she thought of Auntie Lin, Little Lizi, and Da Cheng – how were their illnesses cured? Zhang’s daughter died, yet Auntie Lin suddenly knew how to make tea pastries…
Qin Wan thought of some possibilities that even she found inconceivable, yet she wasn’t certain. She even felt that possibility was impossible. “Third Brother and Steward Zhou must be on our way. We’ll meet them, make plans together, and return to Baicao Garden. The Qin mansion has many guards, while Baicao Garden only has servants. We have a chance of winning. As for the officials, they will come.”
“But it takes a day and night for officials to arrive…”
Qin Wan shook her head. “That was during the snow before. Now it’s different. The guard will reach the county office tonight, and they will appear by noon tomorrow…”
“But we still have to wait all night.”
Qin Wan’s lips tightened. “We must wait this night, we must delay the people at Baicao Garden.”
Qin Shuang was both scared and confused. “How can we delay them? If we suddenly return, they’ll know we must have discovered something. If we go back… aren’t we walking into a trap?”
“One person can disappear, but so many people disappearing at once won’t work.”
Qin Wan squeezed Qin Shuang’s hand. “Stay calm, I have a plan.”
Meeting Qin Wan’s extremely composed eyes, Qin Shuang felt slightly reassured. However, moments later, she lifted the curtain to look at the rapidly retreating scenery outside. “Third Brother brought several guards, if anything happened there would surely be some commotion, but why haven’t we seen him? And what about Steward Zhou, wasn’t he taking this route?”
The last ray of light had sunk below the horizon, and the entire sky had darkened. Winter nights came early – though it was just past the hour of You, dusk had already fallen. Qin Wan watched the layers of dark clouds gathering at the horizon, feeling as if a shadow had been cast over her heart because, by her calculations, they were now very close to the fork in the road that led east.
Perhaps Qin Yan had gone directly east to Guanyin Town, but why was there no trace of Zhou Huai either?
Qin Xiang’s fate remained unknown, and they had lost contact with Qin Yan and Zhou Huai. Now, their two carriages contained only six young ladies and five guards as their sole fighting force, but most terrifying was all the unknowns within Baicao Garden.
…
…
In the cold night as dark as ink, suddenly there came heavy knocking at Baicao Garden’s main gate.
The “bang bang” sounds mixed with the cold wind, echoing at the entrance of the old mansion halfway up the mountain. Nearby were white walls and black tiles, in the distance was the rustling bamboo forest below the mountain, and further still stood the towering Shen Nu Peak.
Fu Ling kept knocking on the courtyard gate. After about the tenth knock, there was finally movement behind it.
“Who is it? Who’s outside?”
Fu Ling steadied herself and said anxiously, “We’re from the Qin mansion. Our Young Lady suddenly fell ill on the way, please inform Uncle Dong and Young Master Sun – we’ve come seeking medical help…”
The person behind the gate seemed stunned – how could Qin Wan’s group, who had just left, be back again? And with a claim of seeking medical attention…
“Alright, wait a moment.”
After the male servant spoke, his footsteps “thump thump” ran away. Outside the pitch-black main gate, Wan Ying held a wind lantern, while beside her Qin Shuang anxiously whispered, “What should I say? I’m scared, how should I act? I don’t want to do this anymore…”
Qin Wan looked at Qin Shuang steadily. “Then I’ll pretend to be sick, and you handle the talking.”
Hearing this, fear grew in Qin Shuang’s eyes, truly looking like she might cry. “That’s even worse, I… I wish I hadn’t come with you… What should we do now?”
Qin Wan gripped her hand tightly. “If you don’t know how to act sick, surely you know how to faint?”
Qin Shuang’s eyes brightened slightly at this. “Yes, good, I can just pretend to faint…”
Qin Wan squeezed her hand hard, sighing inwardly. Their group was incomplete yet turning back halfway – however one looked at it, and it was suspicious. After much consideration, only seeking medical treatment wouldn’t arouse Sun Haoyue’s suspicions. Moreover, with Sun Muqing here, perhaps they could buy some time tonight until the officials arrive tomorrow.
Thinking this, Qin Wan turned to look down the mountain again. They hadn’t encountered Qin Yan or Zhou Huai.
Just then, several footsteps suddenly sounded behind the gate. Qin Wan and Qin Shuang’s expressions tensed. Qin Wan looked at Qin Shuang, who closed her eyes and collapsed into the carriage…
Qin Wan looked around and only adjusted Qin Shuang’s cloak collar.
The cold wind whistled outside, making Qin Shuang shiver. Qin Wan whispered, “Endure it, don’t make a sound.”
Qin Wan immediately shut her eyes tightly and remained still as the courtyard gate opened.
“Miss Qin? Is it Miss Qin returned…”
Uncle Dong’s voice came through, and as the gate opened, there was a group of anxious faces and two carriages outside.
Fu Ling looked nearly in tears. “Uncle Dong, we’re so sorry to return, but Sixth Young Lady suddenly fell ill on the way – vomiting and diarrhea, and she just fainted. We had no choice but to return. We didn’t bring enough medicine on the road, we only asked Doctor Sun to examine Sixth Young Lady…”
Uncle Dong had a light sweat on his forehead, as if tired from running over just now. A flash of surprise crossed his wrinkled, gaunt face. “Where is Sixth Young Lady? And the Young Master?”
Fu Ling’s eyes flickered, her words somewhat evasive. “Young Master… Young Master is with Fifth Young Lady. Fifth Young Lady isn’t feeling well either, so a few of us brought Sixth Young Lady here first.”
Uncle Dong nodded, not asking further as he looked toward the carriage. “Where is Sixth Young Lady?”
The carriage curtain lifted, and Qin Wan stepped out. She curtsied and said, “Sorry to trouble Uncle Dong again, but truly we didn’t know where else to go within a hundred li, so we had to turn back.”
“Miss Qin, please don’t say that. Let’s talk inside.”
After Uncle Dong spoke, he looked toward the carriage. Qin Wan glanced at Wan Qing and Xiu Yun, who immediately rushed to the carriage with worried expressions to help Qin Shuang down. Uncle Dong looked over to see Qin Shuang with eyes tightly shut, her eyelashes trembling lightly, body shaking – whether from cold or discomfort was unclear. Uncle Dong hurriedly said, “Quick, come in! Miss Qin’s courtyard hasn’t been locked yet.”
Qin Wan appeared anxious. “Uncle Dong, has Doctor Sun retired for the night? The Sixth Sister’s illness came on suddenly. Though I’ve studied medicine, I’m at a loss for what to do. Could we possibly ask Doctor Sun to examine Sixth Sister right away?”
The two male servants leading the way with Uncle Dong seemed to ponder briefly before nodding. “The Young Master was about to sleep, but something came up just now, so he should still be awake. I’ll take you to see the Young Master then.”
Qin Wan felt slightly relieved – if they could see Sun Haoyue and then delay him, could they save Qin Xiang?
Thinking this, Qin Wan became alert again. Uncle Dong said something had happened just now.
“Thank you, Uncle Dong. What happened earlier?”
Uncle Dong smiled wryly. “A stray cat from somewhere ran into the Young Master’s room. We had quite a time catching it. Because of this, the Young Master couldn’t properly accompany the Young Mistress, and he’s probably still troubled by it.”
Qin Wan knew there were many stray cats in this mansion. She felt relieved for a moment, then turned to look at those following behind.
They had entered the gate, and as they walked, Uncle Dong said, “As before, the guard brothers will stay in the outer courtyard. This old servant will take the two Miss Qins to see the Young Master. After examining the illness, you can stay in your previous quarters.”
Having just left that morning, naturally, they would stay in the same place – this was a perfectly reasonable arrangement. Qin Wan couldn’t object. After stopping briefly at the entrance, the guards whom Qin Wan had instructed were first arranged in the outer courtyard.
After settling them, Uncle Dong then led Qin Wan’s group toward Renxin Court.
Qin Wan looked westward. “What is Young Master Sun doing?”
Qin Wan trusted Sun Muqing – in such an unpredictable situation, Sun Muqing’s presence would help restrain Sun Haoyue better.
Hearing this, Uncle Dong replied gently, “Young Master Sun has retired. After you left, the mansion became quiet. Young Master Sun came over in the afternoon to talk with the Young Master for a while, they had dinner together, and then he returned to his courtyard.”
Qin Wan pondered briefly. “My Sixth Sister’s illness is somewhat strange. Could we possibly invite Young Master Sun as well?”
She quickly added, “I’m just worried about Sixth Sister, absolutely not doubting Doctor Sun…”
Uncle Dong nodded kindly. “This old servant understands. Don’t worry, Miss Qin, I’ll send someone to invite Young Master Sun over shortly.”
Qin Wan felt slightly reassured and turned to look behind her. As they had to retrace part of their path, Wan Qing was now carrying Qin Shuang on her back. Qin Shuang kept her eyes tightly shut, visibly tense. Qin Wan fell back a step to walk beside Wan Qing and patted Qin Shuang’s back. Qin Shuang’s rigid, tense body relaxed slightly.
Soon, Uncle Dong led Qin Wan’s group to Renxin Court.
Though it was late, lanterns still burned in Renxin Court. Auntie Lin was waiting at the door from afar, and seeing them, hurriedly came forward. “Miss Qin, greetings to Miss Qin. What’s happened to Sixth Young Lady…”
Auntie Lin spoke with concern, and Qin Wan hurriedly explained, “We don’t know if she caught a chill, but not long after we set out, she began vomiting and having diarrhea. Sometimes she had a fever, other times her body turned ice-cold. Then she simply lost consciousness. We had some medicine pills with us and gave them to her, but they had no effect. By afternoon we had no choice but to return.”
Being a woman, Auntie Lin stepped forward and felt Qin Shuang’s hand, immediately crying out, “Heavens! Why is Sixth Young Lady’s hand so cold? Her cheeks are like ice too. Quick, come inside…”
Qin Shuang, on Wan Qing’s back, inwardly sighed bitterly. In such cold weather, with her cloak collar loosened and hands exposed, of course, she was shivering from the cold. Not just her hands – her entire body was freezing…
Upon entering Renxin Court, Qin Wan saw Sun Haoyue waiting at the main door. In Qin Wan’s memory, she had only seen Sun Haoyue twice since coming to Baicao Garden. Seeing him again now, she still felt he was like some lofty deity.
He wore white robes that billowed in the cold wind, yet his gaze was compassionate as he watched them approach, his eyes falling on Qin Shuang’s back. Under his gaze, Fu Ling and the others immediately grew tense.
“Doctor Sun.” Qin Wan curtsied without meeting Sun Haoyue’s eyes. “We truly apologize for troubling Doctor Sun. We never expected my sister to fall ill halfway, leaving us no choice but to return…”
Sun Haoyue shook his head, his voice gentle. “Come inside first.”
Qin Wan had been here before, but that was during daylight. She only remembered the main hall being cold and recalled the conversation between Sun Muqing and Sun Haoyue – other impressions had faded. Now in the deep night, Qin Wan hadn’t expected the room to still be ice-cold when their group entered. Looking around, I only an incense burner in the corner emitting wisps of white smoke. Qin Wan sniffed – it seemed to be sandalwood mixed with some other medicinal herbs.
“Place her here.” Below the window was a low couch, which Sun Haoyue indicated.
Qin Wan remained standing while Wan Qing and Xiu Yun hurriedly placed Qin Shuang there. Seeing this, a flash crossed Qin Wan’s eyes. She adjusted her clothes and slightly wrinkled sleeves, then brushed her wind-touched cheeks before walking several steps into the main hall. Sun Haoyue glanced at Auntie Lin, “Pour them tea, then you may retire.”
Auntie Lin quickly complied, pouring tea. The room was bitterly cold, leaving them all freezing. When Auntie Lin brought the hot tea, Fu Ling and the others drank without thinking. Qin Wan watched, unable to give any warnings in front of Sun Haoyue. Since Auntie Lin had poured the tea, she could only press her lips together in silence.
Qin Shuang lay there while Wan Qing stood worriedly by the couch. Sun Haoyue walked over and sat down, preparing to take Qin Shuang’s pulse. Qin Wan’s heart immediately tensed, but this was unavoidable. She could only continue the lie brazenly. While Sun Haoyue checked Qin Shuang’s pulse, Qin Wan couldn’t help but observe him.
In his white robes with hair half-tied, he appeared casually dressed as if about to retire, and his manner was composed and relaxed – not at all like someone about to do evil. Qin Wan scanned the room but still could detect nothing unusual.
Qin Wan almost believed she had been wrong, but remembering past experiences with her father, many killers were unimaginable as such before the truth surfaced. Bai Feiyu was an impostor – based on this alone, she shouldn’t waver.
“Doctor Sun, how is my sister?”
Qin Wan asked somewhat anxiously. Sun Haoyue quickly withdrew his hand, seeming to ponder for a moment. “Her pulse shows no major issues, though I’m unsure why she’s unconscious.”
Qin Wan’s heart jumped, but she continued, “To be honest with Doctor Sun, I know some medicine myself, but seeing my sister like this, I couldn’t locate the source of illness. Could it be some rare condition?”
Even the most skilled physicians eventually encounter puzzling cases – Qin Wan relied on this fact to maintain her lie. Sun Haoyue’s brow seemed to furrow slightly, and turning, he saw Wan Ying and the others standing.
“All of you, sit and wait. I need to examine her thoroughly.”
Though his face showed no smile, his voice was deeply soothing. Seeing this, Auntie Lin refilled their tea before setting down the pot and leaving. Wan Qing, already nervous, had no choice but to sit when Sun Haoyue spoke thus.
Sun Haoyue looked at the reclined Qin Shuang. “Miss Qin appears to be sleeping.”
Qin Wan remained impassive. “That’s why we’re worried. On the way here, she spoke deliriously in her confusion.”
Hearing Qin Wan say this, Qin Shuang grew nervous and uncertain, letting out two soft moans to play along. Fu Ling watched with trepidation – there was no need for such cooperation…
“When did it start? Are there other symptoms?”
Sun Haoyue spoke while touching Qin Shuang’s forehead, making her involuntarily shudder.
Qin Wan explained, “An hour after leaving here. At first, we thought it was from the carriage’s jolting, but soon she began vomiting and having diarrhea, then developed a fever…”
Qin Wan knew her words were somewhat absurd, but having begun the lie, she could only press on. As she spoke, she wondered: if Qin Xiang was still in Baicao Garden, where would she be kept?
“Her forehead isn’t hot now.” Sun Haoyue continued, then suddenly changed the topic. “Where is Young Master Qin?”
Qin Wan, certain Sun Haoyue harbored guilt, stammered in response, “Third Brother… he had other matters… couldn’t get away at the moment, so he had us bring Sixth Sister back for treatment.”
Sun Haoyue nodded slightly. “Then I’ll prescribe to try first.”
Qin Shuang wasn’t ill, and Qin Wan didn’t believe Sun Haoyue had diagnosed anything, but seeing him write a prescription, she couldn’t stop him. Meanwhile, Uncle Dong placed the tea Auntie Lin had poured beside Qin Wan. “Miss Qin’s hands are red from the cold, please drink some tea. The Young Master and Young Mistress dislike the smell of charcoal, and this outer hall has no floor heating – you must be cold.”
Qin Wan remained alert, shaking her head. “Don’t worry about me, Uncle Dong. Let’s focus on Sixth Sister’s illness first.”
Uncle Dong smiled. “Don’t worry, with the Young Master here, any illness can be cured.”
Qin Wan’s eyes shifted. “Doctor Sun’s medical skills are certainly exceptional. I heard he cured the illnesses of Auntie Lin, Little Lizi, and Da Cheng?”
By now, Sun Haoyue was prescribing his desk. Uncle Dong nodded, “Indeed. Auntie Lin fell ill with age, while Little Lizi and Da Cheng were already sick when we bought them. The Young Master cured them all. With him here, no one in the mansion needs to worry about any illness, big or small.”
Qin Wan’s lips curved slightly. “What illness did Auntie Lin have?”
Uncle Dong smiled. “Chest pains. Sometimes they’d strike suddenly, hurting so much she could barely breathe. Everyone thought she wouldn’t live many more years, but unexpectedly, the Young Master cured her.”
Qin Wan blinked. “How does one cure such an illness?”
Uncle Dong suddenly laughed – his advanced age made his voice dry and hoarse, and somehow this laugh raised goosebumps on Qin Wan’s skin. After a pause, Uncle Dong said, “This servant doesn’t know, but since it was chest pain, the problem must have been inside, so naturally the inside had to be treated.”
Leaning on his cane, Uncle Dong raised his hand to point at his chest.
Qin Wan found Uncle Dong’s expression somewhat eerie and couldn’t help asking, “Treat the inside? How?”
Uncle Dong looked at the teacup beside Qin Wan. “If a teacup’s saucer is broken, but Miss Qin doesn’t want to discard the cup and lid, what would you do?”
A chill crept up from Qin Wan’s feet. She hadn’t drunk the tea, but somehow Uncle Dong’s image began to blur before her. Qin Wan blinked hard, but now she saw double Uncle Dong. Her head felt heavy and dizzy. Looking over, she saw Qin Shuang completely motionless on the couch, while Fu Ling and the others had all collapsed in their chairs. Qin Wan’s expression changed several times – she tried to speak but lacked even the strength to open her mouth.
The distant Uncle Dong seemed to sigh. “Ah… having left, why did you return?”
As he spoke, he slowly walked toward them.
Qin Wan’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Before falling into darkness, she only heard Uncle Dong ask Sun Haoyue:
“Young Master, what should we do with them…”
Qin Wan struggled to maintain consciousness as Sun Haoyue spoke in his compassionate voice, “Take them below.”
…
…
The sound of clothes brushing against bluestone floors continued for a long time. When it finally stopped, Qin Wan was placed on the cold ground. The floor was damp, and the surroundings were so quiet you could hear a pin drop, broken only occasionally by the “pop” of the lamp oil crackling.
After about half a cup of time in silence, footsteps and shuffling sounds began. Soon, someone was placed beside Qin Wan. The footsteps left and quickly returned, repeating three or four times before finally ceasing.
This was an underground chamber, known to only three people in all of Baicao Garden.
Uncle Dong stood watching Qin Wan and the others. Shortly after, footsteps sounded behind him.
Uncle Dong turned around. “Young Master, how long will they sleep?”
Sun Haoyue walked down with an indifferent expression, glancing at Qin Wan and the others. “One day.”
This was an extremely narrow storage room just past the entrance. Sun Haoyue walked past the doorway and deeper into the hidden residence. Uncle Dong closed the storage room door and followed Sun Haoyue.
Soon, the two arrived before a closed door where someone stood guard.
The man wore silver robes, tall and slender with refined features – who else but the “Bai Feiyu” who had appeared before everyone earlier?
“Shang Lu, is she awake?”
Shang Lu bowed to Sun Haoyue. “She’s awake.”
As he spoke, Shang Lu turned to open the door. When it opened, the room was brightly lit.
The room wasn’t large, only about forty to fifty square feet, and though simply furnished, it was bone-chillingly cold.
Sun Haoyue entered and saw the room was built with ice bricks, with two crystalline ice beds in the center. Currently, one bed was empty while someone lay on the other.
Uncle Dong and Shang Lu remained outside as Sun Haoyue walked alone to the bedside.
Qin Xiang lay on the bed, her black hair spread out, her magnificent cloak and dress long removed, now wearing only middle and inner garments. Though lying on an ice bed, she couldn’t feel the cold at all, her entire body lacking even a hint of strength.
Her mind was foggy, unable to remember how she’d arrived here. She only remembered rising early and leaving without explanation. She had meant to go to the west gate but saw Bai Feiyu waiting for her before she reached it. She had been overjoyed then, walking toward Bai Feiyu, and then…?
Qin Xiang couldn’t remember anything else. But she had been awake for half an hour now, lying terrified in this incredibly strange room, looking at the empty ice bed beside her with absolute horror. She knew something was wrong!
Just as her tears were nearly exhausted, she heard the conversation between Sun Haoyue and “Bai Feiyu.”
Who was Shang Lu? Was “she’s awake” referring to her?
Qin Xiang’s eyes widened in disbelief!
When Sun Haoyue approached, he saw Qin Xiang’s terrified expression but acted as if he hadn’t noticed. He merely raised his hand to check her pulse while Qin Xiang’s entire body trembled. When she tried to speak, her throat was so hoarse she could barely make a sound.
“Sun… he… Young Master Bai…”
Qin Xiang couldn’t feel the pain in her throat, but after just four words, she went completely mute. Tears streamed down her face. She knew that given this setup, this was no mere farce. What was Sun Haoyue planning to do to her?
“The dosage was slightly off. She’s too conscious now.”
Sun Haoyue’s cold voice was so familiar. Qin Xiang had been awestruck when she first saw Sun Haoyue, but what did he mean now? What dosage? What was he going to do to her?
“Yes, Master. How much more should we add?”
“One qian. Any more and her heart won’t be usable.”
This exchange between “Bai Feiyu” and Sun Haoyue made Qin Xiang stop breathing. She stared at Sun Haoyue, then struggled to turn her head toward the door. Sure enough, she saw the figure in silver robes.
In that instant, Qin Xiang’s vision went black. “Thi… thi…”
Qin Xiang wanted to call out “Third Brother,” but couldn’t get past “Thi” no matter how hard she tried. From her angle, she could only see Sun Haoyue’s exquisite profile and those eyes – compassionate yet cold. Despair filled her heart as she suddenly remembered the man who had held a knife to her throat. What had he said? Something about his daughter dying here, at Sun Haoyue’s hands.
Qin Xiang’s lips trembled. Though she had no sensation, tears poured down like a broken dam. The tears rolled down her cheeks, quickly freezing into ice crystals on the bed. Sun Haoyue’s hand moved to her eyes, forcing them open, then touched her neck before turning to leave.
“Add the medicine. Call me in two hours. Prepare the box.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Bai Feiyu’s” voice came closer, and soon his face appeared above Qin Xiang. She stared at this face she had once found so handsome, now devoid of expression, his eyes completely cold. He simply forced her mouth open and poured in a strange medicinal liquid.
He manipulated her jaw, and with a “gulp,” Qin Xiang swallowed the medicine.
Without any delay, “Bai Feiyu” turned and left. With a “creak,” the door closed.
Qin Xiang’s mind grew increasingly foggy. Her eyes, though without feeling, continued to weep. After some time, her tears ran dry, but her eyes felt as if they’d been cried blind. Just then, the door opened again.
It felt as if a large hand was choking her throat – Qin Xiang couldn’t even breathe. They were back! She was going to die!
At the height of Qin Xiang’s terror, a cold but delicate hand touched her wrist. It took Qin Xiang a long time to realize – this hand… wasn’t a man’s…