Chapter 18: Threat (Part II)

Peach Blossom said, “Miss, don’t be afraid. Let’s go.”

Yan Xi’s eyelashes trembled; her flushed face showed her anger. Her breathing was still uneven, and after a few moments, she fell silent.

That night, the moon shone brightly, stars were sparse, and all was peaceful.

Qinglian and Peach Blossom stayed with her for a long while. Yan Xi lay on the bed, tossing and turning, eventually falling asleep without her knowing when.

The next morning, she awoke peacefully; everything was fine.

After venting her emotions several times and with the passage of time, Yan Xi gradually calmed down.

In the morning, she gently tugged at the quilt with her delicate fingers, her eyes clear yet misty, staring blankly at the auspicious cloud patterns on the canopy above her bed, her heart heavy with unease.

It was not without reason.

The man’s words from the night before were full of dark implications.

Given his character, Yan Xi feared he would do something terrible.

She had spent the entire previous day in a daze, lying on the bed. Today, she rose.

After washing up and dressing properly, she sat before her dressing table and called for her maid.

Qinglian bent down to listen.

The young girl’s voice was small, almost pitiful, trembling slightly: “Keep an eye on some news, especially…”

She hesitated briefly before continuing, “Especially concerning Atai…”

Fear was foremost in her heart, worry overwhelming.

Who was she confronting? A powerful and wealthy high official, ruthless and cunning.

And what did she have?

No money, no backing, no one to rely on—just an orphan living under others’ roofs.

Qinglian understood, seeing that her mistress had become somewhat composed, nodded in acknowledgment, and soon left the room.

All morning, Yan Xi remained on edge, but fortunately, nothing happened.

Yet the calm only made her more anxious.

After all, Yan Xi knew well that the man would never rest.

By the afternoon, after being cooped up for two days, she finally ventured outside with her maid for some fresh air.

Though she called it fresh air, she had other intentions.

Whatever the man planned, whatever he intended to do to her, at the very least, the news would reach her ears.

She didn’t go far—just around the garden behind the pavilion; she didn’t enter the garden itself, only wandering nearby.

Even so, as expected, she overheard something.

The young girl hadn’t walked long when her heart began to tremble slightly, drawn by the low murmurs of two passing maids.

“Will he be ruined? Will he ever recover?”

“Not sure about the severity of his injuries, but since word has reached our residence, it must be serious.”

“If he can never stand again, Young Master Jiang, so young and handsome, such a good man… but it would be such a pity!”

At the mention of “Young Master Jiang,” Yan Xi’s heart sank heavily. Her face paled noticeably. She hurried toward the two, her voice trembling as she urgently asked, “Who are you talking about? What happened? What exactly is going on?”

The two maids kept their heads down, speaking in hushed tones. The spot was somewhat secluded, with many trees, so they failed to notice the person ahead—Yan Xi.

“Miss Yan Xi…”

The two stopped and looked over at the voice.

In an instant, Yan Xi hurried away with Qinglian and Peach Blossom.

All three were anxious.

The young girl asked again, “Who exactly were you talking about? What happened, really?”

The maids, hearing her ignorance, did not hide anything. Everyone in the household knew that the Jiang family had proposed marriage to Miss Yan Xi.

Though not yet finalized, the marriage was already a settled matter.

Hearing she was unaware, the two began to speak in turn.

“Miss Yan Xi, you don’t know yet, but Young Master Jiang has been gravely injured!”

“This morning at the market, Young Master Jiang fell from his horse. He reportedly injured his leg and was carried back to the Jiang residence. No one knows how serious it is or whether he’ll ever walk again.”

“The news has spread to our Lu family as well. The two of us just heard it in the southern garden. I think many in the household already know.”

Upon hearing this, the young girl swayed slightly, her legs suddenly weak. Qinglian and Peach Blossom supported her.

Her chest tightened with waves of fear and anger. She could barely stand, clutching her hands tightly, her eyes reddening, tears threatening to fall. Finally, she said, “You… you must go find someone at the Jiang residence and find out more!”

Qinglian hurried, “Yes, yes, I’ll go at once!”

Meanwhile, Yan Xi, supported by Peach Blossom, returned to her chamber.

Once inside, she burst into tears.

As dusk fell, the cold wind howled outside, snow began to fall softly, stirring up drifts.

Inside, the candlelight flickered as the young girl sobbed quietly.

Just as in the previous days, there was a noise at the door.

The door was opened, followed by a heavy breath. The maid who opened it was dragged out in silence, another pulled out by his men.

Yan Xi startled and looked back, but the man was already standing inside, the door firmly closed behind him.

His eyes carried a smile, but his expression was distant. He stood there as if holding victory in his hands, utterly confident and certain of her submission.

Unable to contain herself, though weak, she knew it was like striking a stone with an egg, yet she still rose and approached him. As she neared, she raised her hand to strike him.

“Bastard!”

But the slender wrist was caught firmly by the man.

Mixed with a faint cry, Yan Xi’s delicate feet stumbled back several steps until she had nowhere left to retreat. He pressed her against the wall.

The two were mere inches apart.

Yan Xi struggled, crying and cursing, “You’re a bastard!”

He laughed instead of getting angry. “Oh? Am I?”

Yan Xi opened her mouth to say, “If he really becomes crippled, I—I will never forgive you!”

Lu Zhi only smiled silently, his long fingers brushing over her fair cheek.

“How could I let him become crippled? I only want you…”

“As long as you come with me, he and I will still be friends…”

Yan Xi raised her tearful face and cursed again, “You are utterly shameless!”

The man’s hand moved to her waist, the other gently grasping her face. His voice was calm but full of menace, growing colder with each word: “So, Miss Shen, have you thought it through? Will you come or not?”

Yan Xi was silent, only sobbing and struggling, her slender white hands striking his body.

He moved even closer, his voice low and pressing, “Hmm? Will you come or not?”

The young girl wept, her tears flowing relentlessly as he held her fast.

Though she sobbed and could barely speak, her heart was clear as a mirror, facing reality.

His words had hidden meaning. Jiang Zhiyan was likely unharmed this time, but this didn’t guarantee the next time would be the same.

Whether or not he harmed Jiang depended on her compliance.

Against him, she had no chance.

He had her completely under control.

She had to worry about her reputation, those around her, innocent people.

He seemed like a madman.

He cared for nothing, feared nothing.

If she fought him to the bitter end, telling Uncle Lu everything…

In the short term, he probably wouldn’t fare well; but in the long run, the one who suffered would be her.

The Lu family would likely marry her off to Lu Zhi as a concubine.

Or perhaps not even as a concubine…

After all, when her father had just died, Uncle Lu publicly declared he would treat her as his own daughter.

If so, how could she become his son’s concubine?

That would be a family disgrace.

Family scandals cannot be made public.

So, for her, none of this would end well. She seemed to be trapped with no way out.

Putting all this aside, there was still that dream.

Could that dream not be changed?

If it couldn’t, did that mean she was destined to enter the palace and die at Li Yin’s hand in a few years?

Thinking of this, her tears flowed uncontrollably.

Finally, she cried out, “I’ll go with you, I’ll go with you… just please, don’t harm anyone else…”