Chapter 19: The Duke (Part One)

At last, she sobbed out, “I’ll go with you, I’ll go with you...”
“Don’t harm anyone else...”
Only then did Lu Zhi release her face.
The corners of the man’s lips twitched slightly. “If you’d been this obedient earlier, why drag out so much unhappiness?”
As he spoke, he raised a hand to wipe her tears.
Yan Xi was forced to meet his gaze, biting her lip, her sobs faint and broken. She looked all the more pitiable—though she had yielded, the helpless look in her eyes still betrayed a spirit unwillingly subdued.
Lu Zhi snorted softly through his nose, amused; she was too beautiful.
At that moment, he lifted his head slightly, folding his arms behind his back, his tone indifferent and cold as he asked another question: “Can you serve me?”
“No.”
Yan Xi hadn’t answered a word to his earlier remarks, but to this question she responded swiftly and resolutely, her voice breaking with sobs, tears welling as if on the verge of weeping again.
Lu Zhi merely pulled at his lips, then his voice deepened: “Then I’ll come again in a few days.”
After speaking, he lowered his gaze to look at her for a moment longer, leisurely straightened his clothes, and turned away.
The room gradually returned to quiet, save for the girl’s intermittent sobbing.
Soon hurried footsteps approached outside, and the door was pushed open once more.
The two maids, Qing Lian and Tao Hong, still unsettled, rushed in one after the other.
“Miss!”
With no one around earlier, she had held back, but now with her maids present, as if finding some support, Yan Xi’s sobs grew louder and she cried out fully.
“Miss!”
Both Qing Lian and Tao Hong’s eyes reddened as they went to embrace her.
The three clung together, crying for quite some time.
Midnight.
The candlelight flickered softly, shadows dancing behind the gauzy curtains. On the bed, everything was dim and hazy; all had returned to calm.
None of the three had slept.
Yan Xi lay on the bed while the two maids stayed by her side, occasionally feeding her water, sometimes covering her with a blanket.
Qing Lian and Tao Hong already knew their mistress’s decision.
Though none wished to witness the current predicament, they all understood that they were truly trapped.
“The sixth day of the first lunar month...”
Qing Lian repeated, “Just over a month left...”
“Did he say how he plans to take Miss away?”
Yan Xi shook her head, her gaze somewhat vacant, but she heard every word her maids said.
They hadn’t even discussed “how” he would take her away.
At present, Yan Xi’s mind was not on the events a month from now, but on the present moment.
She didn’t know how she would survive this month ahead.
Just before leaving, the man’s words had been blunt beyond measure.
He would come to her room whenever he wished.
The manor was not hers alone.
No matter how formidable he was, once or twice might be bearable, but if he came frequently, what if one day a slip-up occurred...
Though she had yet to be formally inducted into the ancestral shrine or pay respects to the Lu family ancestors, everyone in the Lu household already tacitly recognized her as Lu Zhi’s sister.
Such an absurd notion, if discovered...
Just thinking of it made her face burn with shame—something she could not bear to contemplate.

Naturally, she also knew that worrying too much was useless and only added to her troubles.
For now, she could only take one step at a time and try to think of hopeful things.
And there were some.
First, she could save Ah Tai.
Second, perhaps leaving Chang’an was the right choice? She might avoid entering the palace, avoid disaster by relying on Lu Zhi.
Yan Xi’s thoughts grew more confused the more she pondered, and eventually she grew weary.
The next morning, heavy snow fell, thick as goose feathers, the cold wind cutting like knives against the face.
The howling wind alone sent shivers down the spine.
Few pedestrians were outside the Lu mansion; both masters and servants alike stayed indoors if possible.
Inside the Taoxiang Pavilion, the dragon incense burned warmly, a stark contrast to the cold outside.
Yan Xi had yet to eat breakfast when Qing Lian returned with good news.
The attendant sent to inquire about Jiang Zhiyan had finally brought back news.
As Yan Xi had suspected, his fall was not serious—no bone injuries—but he would suffer and require time to recover.
The young lady sighed in relief.
Lu Zhi was ruthless and heartless, acting without regard for consequences, capable of anything!
He intended to threaten her, not to kill Jiang Zhiyan outright, but accidents on horseback could spiral beyond control.
Even a small mistake could ruin someone’s life—a cruelty beyond measure!
Fortunately, the situation was not too bad.
After breakfast, Yan Xi stayed in her room with the two maids, painting at the table.
With the biting cold outside, all three naturally thought of Ah Tai.
And thinking of him, they inevitably thought of Lu Zhi.
While grinding ink, Qing Lian said, “It always feels like the young lord isn’t the same as when we first saw him as a child.”
Tao Hong, lying on the side, looked up and added, “I feel the same. Back then, people said he saved Miss and she was grateful to him. That gratitude has long been worn away by what he’s done now. I truly hate him now! But back then, though he was hard to approach and looked down on us kids, it seemed just the arrogance of a noble born. Not like now—so cruel and wicked!”
Qing Lian sighed.
Yan Xi was painting lush greenery in a blazing summer, with a little cat crouching among willows—thinking of him, even the cat’s nose was drawn crooked.
At that moment, a noise came from outside; someone knocked on the door—it was Xiao Liu.
Tao Hong got up to open the door, brushing the snow off the visitor, and led her to Yan Xi’s bedroom, not allowing her in to avoid bringing in the chill. She stopped outside the beaded curtain.
Xiao Liu said, “Miss, I heard news just now—Duke Guo has returned. He arrived in Chang’an this morning and is currently paying respects at the palace...”
Yan Xi’s delicate fingers paused, and she lifted her misty apricot eyes toward the curtain, blinking slowly.
“He’s coming back today?”
Xiao Liu nodded. “Yes. Madam has already given orders; the kitchen is bustling, preparing a welcome feast for Duke Guo.”
“Understood. You may leave.”
Xiao Liu bowed and departed.
No sooner had she left than Tao Hong exclaimed, “Shouldn’t we tell Duke Guo what he’s done? Won’t he... won’t he give him a good whipping?!”
Before her words had even faded, the door — just closed by Xiao Liu — was flung open again.
All three flinched, drawing a sharp breath.
Who else but Lu Zhi would enter her room so brazenly without knocking?
Yan Xi and the maids rose, faces pale, cautiously looking toward the beaded curtain.
Sure enough, a tall figure appeared—Lu Zhi.
Qing Lian quickly pulled the curtain aside and stepped out with a duster in hand, bowing her head nervously as she said,
“I’m sweeping the snow off the young lord. Miss worries you might catch cold...”

Lu Zhi halted, slowly stretching out his arms outside the curtain, his gaze hazy as it fell through the veil onto Yan Xi inside.
Tao Hong had long since closed her mouth, not daring to utter a word.
Yan Xi likewise said nothing, uncertain if he had heard Tao Hong’s earlier words, her heart pounding with fear and anxiety. It was daytime, though snowing and dim, and few people were about—but he was grown and bold—did he not fear being seen?
Yan Xi remained silent.
Her own worries had not eased; the first was still pressing, while the second weighed more heavily—what was he here for?
While she pondered, Qing Lian finished brushing the snow from his clothes.
Through the curtain, Yan Xi saw him slowly withdraw his outstretched arms, lift his cloak, and toss it to Qing Lian, then coldly command, “Leave.”
Qing Lian hesitated, lowered her head, eyes red and heart aching, but still obeyed.
The curtain was drawn back, and the man stepped inside.
Tao Hong also hesitated, unable to move at first.
She and Qing Lian had grown up with their mistress, always shielding her from harm; now she felt abandoned, which pained her deeply.
Yan Xi nudged her gently.
Tao Hong had just insulted him moments before he opened the door—Yan Xi feared he had heard and might trouble the maid. She urged her again to leave swiftly.
Tao Hong lowered her head and slunk out.
Left inside were only the two of them in utter silence, so still Yan Xi felt she could hear her own heartbeat.
The incense in the burner crackled softly.
The man spoke first.
Lu Zhi turned and sat lazily on a chair nearby, reclining comfortably.
“You’ve heard, haven’t you?”
Yan Xi stood four or five steps away, unsure what he meant, shaking her head at first, then realizing.
He likely referred to two things: Jiang Zhiyan’s condition and Duke Guo’s return.
Lu Zhi’s voice was cold: “If you don’t know, I’ll tell you.”
Yan Xi tensed, stepping back instinctively, then after a moment’s thought, asked, “You mean... about Duke Guo?”
Lu Zhi replied, “Come closer.”
She did not move, softly saying, “If you have something to say, just say it.”
He said nothing, his tone growing more impatient and heavier.
“What? Do you want me to come over myself?”
Yan Xi’s palms were clammy with sweat, her whole body trembling with fear. Summoning courage, she stepped forward.
Stopping about a foot away, he raised an eyebrow.
“Not close enough.”
She moved closer.
“Still not enough.”
Another step and she would touch his leg.
The girl, anxious and flustered, her cheeks flushing deeper, spoke softly, helplessly, “If you have something to say, just say it.”
No sooner had she spoken than her hand was seized as if by electricity.
Before she could react or struggle, her legs weakened, and she found herself seated on his lap, pressed down by his body.
Yan Xi gasped lightly, breath quickening, her whole body suddenly burning hot—powerless to resist.
He sat upright, lifting her dark tresses, one arm casually draped over her shoulders, the other hand cradling her delicate face, fingers brushing behind her ear.
His other hand gripped her slender waist tightly.
His handsome face neared hers, breath mingling, eyes deep and intense.
He finally spoke: “My father has returned. What will you do now? Hm?”