Zhu Residence

After Zhu Yao returned to the residence from Ning’an Manor, she had remained in her room the entire time without going out. Her health had already been poor, and on top of that, on the way down the mountain, Li Shiyan had suddenly come to ask her about Miss Ji. In her heart, she had already understood things quite clearly. So as soon as she returned, she became melancholic and heavy-hearted, constantly dwelling on every word Li Shiyan had said. As a result, staying in her room, she either stared blankly or lacked energy. From time to time, her eyes would redden, and when tears were about to fall, she would force herself to hold them back.

Her heart felt constantly sour and bitter.

Like being pricked with needles!

During this time, Minister Zhu had also come several times. Seeing his daughter like this, he sighed deeply several times.

In the end, truly not knowing what to say, he could only leave…

On the other hand, Madam Zhu felt sorry for her daughter and stayed in the room to keep her company throughout.

Seeing her daughter like this, she felt very distressed. Several times she wanted to speak up about the marriage arrangement between the two families, but when the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back down.

She truly didn’t know how to broach the subject!

So she just kept silently accompanying her, occasionally saying a few comforting words to Zhu Yao.

But Zhu Yao neither listened nor responded, just sat there listlessly.

She looked as though her lamp oil had run dry.

“Ai…”

Cai’er entered from outside at this moment, carrying a pot of goji berry tea in her hands. Walking to Madam Zhu’s side, she said, “Madam, why don’t you have some tea?”

Madam Zhu replied, “How can I drink tea at a time like this?”

Worrying about her daughter left no time!

Cai’er said concernedly, “Madam, why don’t you return to your room to rest? This servant will look after the young miss. It’s already the hour of Zi.”

Madam Zhu glanced at Zhu Yao sitting by the bed, sighed, stood up and walked over, grasping Zhu Yao’s hand. “Yao’er, Mother knows you’re feeling uncomfortable inside, so some matters aren’t good to discuss with you right now. But you must understand in your heart—don’t let yourself suffer like this. Mother is worried seeing you this way! Moreover, your father and I are doing this for your own good, not wanting you to suffer hardship in the future. This earnest care, Mother hopes you understand and can comprehend.”

Her tone was gentle.

Zhu Yao still didn’t move a muscle, her eyes weary, her gaze vacantly fixed on the floor. Her hands were tightly clasped together. It was unclear whether she had heard or not.

In the end, Madam Zhu truly had no choice. She could only instruct Cai’er, “Watch the young miss carefully. Absolutely don’t let her do anything foolish. If anything happens, you must come tell me immediately.”

Cai’er acknowledged, “Yes, this servant understands. Madam can rest assured.”

Madam Zhu was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something. Pulling Cai’er quietly out of the room, she asked, “By the way, a murder case occurred at Ning’an Manor this time. They say Yao’er found evidence and even knew about something… blood testing? She even examined a corpse? Yao’er has always been afraid of such things. How could she test blood and examine a corpse? What exactly happened? Explain it clearly.”

Cai’er hadn’t expected her to ask this kind of question. For a moment, she was at a loss for words. “This…”

“This what?”

Zhu Yao had promised Ji Yunshu not to tell outsiders. Cai’er had also promised not to speak of it, so she stammered and hesitated.

Madam Zhu became anxious, pulling her forcefully and scolding, “You girl, what’s gotten into you? Hurry up and speak! Exactly why would Yao’er know such things? If you don’t speak honestly, I’ll have to punish you!”

Cai’er’s heart filled with trepidation. She lowered her head as far as it would go, her shoulders hunched together. With great difficulty, she finally managed to squeeze out a sentence. “This servant also doesn’t know. Those matters… perhaps the young miss learned them from books.”

“You think I’ll believe such words?”

“This servant truly doesn’t know. Madam, please don’t press this servant anymore.”

“Not a word of truth!” Madam Zhu was angry, but she also knew Cai’er had always been loyal. Even if she knew something, she might not necessarily speak.

Unable to get anything out of her, Madam Zhu could only leave!

The night had deepened. Outside, the autumn wind blew bleakly, extremely cold. The cold wind made several windows in the room rattle loudly. After seeing Madam Zhu off, Cai’er returned to the room and quickly closed the windows. She also extinguished two of the candelabras in the room, then walked before her young miss and slowly crouched down, grasping Zhu Yao’s ice-cold hands. Her voice choked as she said, “Miss, please stop thinking about it. What must pass must still pass. If you and the Shizi are fated, no one can tear you apart. Better to let everything follow its course. That way… your heart will feel better too!”

Normally, Cai’er would never speak such supposed wisdom!

Zhu Yao’s eyes moved slightly, but in the end she still said nothing.

“This servant has always stayed with you, Miss. I know your heart. You like the Shizi and want to be with him, but some things cannot be forced. This servant sees you like this now and feels very worried and distressed. Miss, stop thinking about it, all right?”

“Cai’er…” Zhu Yao suddenly called out softly.

“This servant is here!”

“Have you ever loved someone?”

“…No!”

Zhu Yao smiled slightly, her smile tinged with bitterness. She looked at Cai’er for a good while, then suddenly stood up and walked step by step to the window, pushing open the previously tightly closed window once more.

In that instant, cold wind suddenly poured in, scraping painfully against people’s faces. But no matter how cold it was, it couldn’t match the coldness in her heart.

Cai’er quickly fetched a cloak to drape over her shoulders and was about to close the window—

But Zhu Yao blocked her hand. “It’s fine!”

“The wind outside is so strong, and Miss, your body isn’t well. Better close the window. If you catch another chill, what will we do? The loss wouldn’t be worth the gain!”

“Go rest. You don’t need to mind me anymore.”

“This servant isn’t tired. I’ll just keep you company like this.” Cai’er silently stood guard on the side. Seeing she persisted in not closing the window, she found a warming brazier and placed it nearby.

To make the temperature warmer!

She just kept waiting on the side. Zhu Yao didn’t know how long she stood before the window. Only when the sky was about to grow light did she finally go to bed to sleep for a while.

But—

After just one hour, she got up again.

As if she had had some nightmare!

When she woke, cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

She was also breathing lightly and rapidly.

As soon as Cai’er heard the sound, she entered, quickly walking to the bedside to ask worriedly, “Miss, what’s wrong?”

Zhu Yao’s eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, her complexion pale and terrible. Her entire person was weak and listless. After gasping several rough breaths, she immediately threw back the covers and got out of bed barefoot, muttering as she went, “I need to find Shiyan. I need to find him, find him…”

Find Li Shiyan?

She didn’t know what dream she had had. Right now she only wanted to immediately rush before Li Shiyan!

Cai’er was frightened. Just as Zhu Yao was about to rush out the room door, she quickly blocked her path, saying, “Miss, how can you go out in your current state? Quickly go lie down on the bed.”

“Don’t stop me. I need to find him, find him…”

“This servant cannot let you go out like this. Miss, no matter what, you must consider your own health. Don’t worry the master and madam anymore.” Cai’er said while crying.

Zhu Yao’s body was frail, her entire person drooping. If not for Cai’er supporting her, she would have already collapsed. And no matter what Cai’er said, she couldn’t dispel her intention. Right now she was single-mindedly set on finding Li Shiyan. She couldn’t forever be just a bird in a cage, couldn’t forever be controlled by others. Her own happiness—she wanted to fight for it herself. Otherwise, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

With reddened eyes, she grasped Cai’er’s hand and begged tearfully, “Cai’er, take me to find him, please. Let me see him once, just once. I can’t let it end like this, can’t let Father withdraw this marriage engagement. I’m begging you, take me to find him, I beg you…”

Where would a master beg a servant?

Cai’er also cried along with her, but she was in a difficult position too—on one side was Madam Zhu instructing her to look after the young miss well, on the other was the young miss she had served for so many years.

Caught between left and right, not knowing what to do!

“Miss, in your current physical state, how can you go see the Shizi? If something unexpected happens and illness piles upon illness, what will we do? You should wait until your health recovers before going.”

“I can’t care about all that anymore. Right now I only want to see Shiyan, to ask him just a few questions. If you don’t take me to see him, I’ll die. I’ll die right here.”

Ugh!

How serious!

In the end, Cai’er’s heart softened!

Finally gritting her teeth, she agreed. “Fine, this servant will take you. But Miss, quickly put on your clothes properly. This servant will go call for a sedan chair.”

Only then did Zhu Yao stop her tears. She put on her clothes and shoes. After Cai’er secretly prepared a sedan chair, they quietly left through the back gate. They headed toward the Marquis’s residence…