Chapter 27: Taking Them Away (Part I)

She immediately lowered her head, looking reserved, bashful, and deeply afraid.

"You... I..."

She wanted to ask something, wanted to say something, but in the end, she neither asked nor spoke. Her face flushed, and she would occasionally steal a glance at him before turning and hurrying away without waiting.

Lu Zhi sat with a dark face, not moving a muscle—not even his hand. His displeasure was evident. After a long while, he called out in a cold voice:

"Bring water."

Much later, with the night candles flickering, Yan Xi returned from the side room after changing her clothes.

She was trembling, her face burning hot. Upon entering, she saw the man sitting to one side, his expression icy.

Yan Xi still could not speak, so he broke the silence first: "How many days?"

The young girl answered quickly: "Ten..."

Lu Zhi said nothing, only let out a scoff, his disbelief clear.

Yan Xi hurriedly added: "Sometimes it really does take ten days. If you don't believe me, you can ask someone else."

She glanced toward the maid in the room.

Qinglian immediately chimed in: "Yes, Miss sometimes really does take ten days."

Lu Zhi ignored them, and naturally, he did not ask anyone else. Before long, he stood up, pulled his cloak over his shoulders, and put it on with deliberate, measured movements.

Yan Xi was both fearful and relieved, but she dared not show the slightest bit of joy on her face. Before he stepped out, she asked:

"The first three days will likely be very difficult. Can I go pawn the item in a few days?"

Lu Zhi still said nothing. He only fastened his cloak, cast a cold glance at her, and walked out.

He did not explicitly forbid it, which was as good as tacit consent.

Yan Xi gripped her hands tightly. It was only when Taohong ran back to tell her the news with joy that she finally dared to smile.

"Miss, he's gone, he's gone!"

The young girl let out a long sigh of relief, and a smile finally appeared on her face.

The room was quietly filled with joy.

Ten days—she would have at least ten days of peace. How could she not be happy?

That night, Yan Xi slept very soundly. Although her stomach hurt all day the next day, she was quite relaxed, no longer having to live in fear that he might break into her room at night to torment her.

The first day was peaceful, and the second and third days were the same. She did not see Lu Zhi again.

By the fourth day, her cramps had subsided, and Yan Xi began to ponder the task the man had given her.

On the way back from paying her respects to the Duchess that morning, she checked to ensure no one was around and whispered to her maids: "Should we do it today?"

Qinglian said: "It's windy and cold today. Let's wait and see tomorrow. After all, there's still plenty of time before the sixth day of the first lunar month. If we are a few days late, I don't think he will blame you—especially since you have a valid reason. He doesn't know you were having your period!"

Yan Xi thought about it and nodded.

Just as they were about to return to the North Courtyard, she suddenly felt as if a pair of eyes had been watching her the whole time.

Yan Xi turned to look, but seeing nothing unusual, she turned back.

But after walking a few more steps, the feeling returned.

Subconsciously, she stopped to look again, but still saw nothing amiss in the surroundings.

The two maids naturally sensed her unease.

Taohong asked: "What is it, Miss?"

Yan Xi said: "I feel a bit strange. Can you two feel as if someone is always staring at us?"

Taohong and Qinglian immediately turned their heads to scan the area.

After a moment, Taohong said: "No, Miss."

Qinglian agreed: "There is no one. It must be your imagination, Miss."

Hearing this, Yan Xi felt somewhat reassured and returned to Taoxiang Pavilion.

The fifth and sixth days remained peaceful.

By the seventh day, while on the way back from paying her respects to the Duchess again, that same sensation returned for no reason. Yet, after searching, she still found no one around.

Yan Xi felt increasingly strange.

On the eighth day, the sun finally came out. It wasn't very cold outside, and her period had ended.

Yan Xi usually paid her respects to the Duchess and the Old Madam every three days, and today, there was no need to visit.

After the three of them discussed it, they decided to leave the estate that day.

For eight consecutive days, Yan Xi had not seen Lu Zhi.

Since she could not serve him, he naturally did not come looking for her. After all, that was the only thing he wanted from her.

Early on, Yan Xi had Qinglian go out to hire a carriage.

Before leaving, she recalled the note he had given her: "Within five days, leave the estate through the back gate, hire a carriage to the market, go to the Chengkang Pawnshop, and pawn it."

Yan Xi followed his instructions, left the Lu estate with her two maids through the back gate, and after traveling for a while, boarded the hired carriage. They went into the market and arrived at the Chengkang Pawnshop, where she pawned the bracelet he had given her.

However, just as she stepped out of the pawnshop, Yan Xi’s heart suddenly trembled. On the bustling street, she felt that sensation of being watched—the same one she had felt at the estate—suddenly return.

The young girl was timid. Once or twice might have been a coincidence, but having experienced it three times, she could no longer ignore it. Instinctive fear took hold; the eyes visible above her veil clearly showed panic, and she gripped her maid’s hand.

Qinglian asked with concern: "Miss, what is wrong?"

Yan Xi did not answer. She only pulled her and Taohong’s hands and walked quickly.

The carriage was not parked nearby; it was a street away.

Yan Xi and her maids walked along.

When she walked fast, she felt the person also walked fast; when she slowed down, she felt the person also slowed down.

Qinglian and Taohong had naturally realized it by now as well.

When they reached where the carriage was parked, the person seemed to stop as well, hiding in the shadows.

"Miss!"

Qinglian said: "Don't worry about it, hurry and get in the carriage."

They didn't know who this was, but it was clearly a man, quite thin and agile, and with malicious intent—it was obvious he had been following them the whole way.

In just a short moment, Yan Xi was so frightened that her face turned pale and she was drenched in cold sweat. Her legs felt weak as she tried to board the carriage.

Just as she was terrified out of her wits, a man’s shout suddenly rang out. Yan Xi and her maids turned to see more than a dozen men in black, one of whom was holding a man who looked like a skinny monkey and tossing him onto the ground.

When they saw the man’s face, all three of them felt their pupils shrink in shock.

It was Nanny Song’s son, Fulu, the study companion of the Second Branch’s Third Young Master.

Before they could even recover from their shock or process what was happening, a luxurious carriage stopped at the mouth of the alley, and soldiers instantly surrounded the area.

A tall, imposing figure stepped out of the carriage with measured ease.

Before Yan Xi could even see his face clearly from a distance, her heart seemed to skip a beat.

Because she was far too familiar with that build—it was none other than Lu Zhi!

She hadn't seen him for eight days; the last time was that night, and what had transpired then.

Remembering that, Yan Xi’s face instinctively flushed, though fortunately, she was wearing a veil, so no one could see.

Fulu had already begun to beg for mercy.

"Master, spare my life! Master, spare my life!"

He likely still didn't understand what was happening.

As he was crying out, the man behind him approached, draped in a black crane-pattern cloak. He stood tall and upright, eyes lowered, giving a slight signal.

The man in black holding Fulu grabbed the boy's head and forced his face toward Lu Zhi.

As he looked at him, Fulu suddenly saw who it was. He was terrified, his legs trembling so violently that he wet his pants on the spot.

"Ah, Heir, Heir, Heir... I only, I only..."

He was incoherent, unable to speak clearly.

Lu Zhi frowned slightly and made a "tss" sound, remembering him.

It was precisely because he realized who it was that his dark eyes turned even colder.

The man raised his foot, his leather boots stepping onto Fulu's body, then moving to his face, slowly grinding down.

"Did your mother teach you this?"

He seemed to be smiling, yet he was also gritting his teeth. His voice was cold, yet carried a hint of amusement.

Fulu’s courage had long since shattered. Not only his courage, but that face, which had been reasonably decent, was instantly ground into a bloody mess.

"Ah!"

He screamed in pain: "I was wrong! I will never dare again! Master, spare my life! Master, spare my life!"

Lu Zhi let out a "heh" and said dismissively: "You scared her."

"Yes, yes, ah, I will never dare again! I was wrong, I will kowtow and apologize to the Miss! Ah!"

Blood streamed from his face and mouth, a terrifying sight.

Yan Xi saw it with her own eyes and immediately turned away.

Qinglian and Taohong hugged her, their own hearts racing with fear.

That day, when Fulu heard his mother's schemes, his lust had clouded his judgment. Combined with the temptation of becoming a son-in-law to the Lu family, he had been dazed for days. Especially when he thought of the young girl’s celestial beauty, he became more regretful and desperate!

He had been following Yan Xi for many days, intending to use his mother’s method—to find an opportunity to play the hero and save the beauty. But it was winter, and the lake was frozen. Furthermore, Yan Xi feared the cold and rarely went out, let alone near the water. Opportunities were scarce. He couldn't find a chance and was so consumed by his desire that he lost his mind and followed her again and again. He never expected...

"I only admired Miss Yan Xi, I only wanted to look at her a few times, I was wrong, I was really wrong, Master, please spare me..."

He begged incessantly, but received no reply.

After a while, Lu Zhi finally lifted his foot and gave an indifferent look to the men in black beside him.

Then, Yan Xi heard Fulu’s mouth being gagged as he was dragged away.

Sensing something was wrong, she turned back and saw the man walking toward her.

The young girl’s voice was like a mosquito’s hum, her first reaction: "Don't, don't take a life..."

Before she could finish the sentence, her chin was lifted by Lu Zhi.

"You really are a temptress..."

Yan Xi whimpered. Already shocked and terrified, her face alternated between pale and flushed. She couldn't get the words out. At that moment, she saw him glance slightly toward his subordinates: "Take care of his mother, too."

Yan Xi’s heart skipped a beat.

If she were to be honest, she didn't like Nanny Song. For the past six years, the woman had mistreated her, secretly pocketed much of the money the Lu family had given her, and had never been kind to her. She did hope she would be punished, but not with death.

But before she could say anything—and she didn't dare to—she heard the man speak to her again:

"Go back and pack your things. The day after tomorrow at noon, at the back gate... don't play any tricks..."

Hearing this, Yan Xi was stunned. She forgot everything else; her mind couldn't even process what he meant. She tilted her face up, staring straight at him...

The man stood tall, looking down at her with a detached expression. His thin lips parted, and he repeated his words in a cold voice.

"I said, go back and pack your things. Come out the back gate at noon the day after tomorrow. Did you hear me?"

This time, Yan Xi understood, and her heart gave a heavy thud.

He was going to take her away the day after tomorrow!

*******

A short while later, she was personally escorted into the carriage by him. The young girl obediently climbed in, without the slightest resistance—naturally, she could not resist, and she lacked even the words to do so.

She sat there quietly, exchanged a glance with the man, and then looked away.

Lu Zhi stared at her for a moment before signaling the coachman to flick the whip.

Qinglian and Taohong had followed her into the carriage.

Before long, the soldiers cleared the way, and the carriage she was in was the first to depart.

The three of them in the carriage remained silent for a long time.

Finally, Taohong spoke first: "But the day after tomorrow is only the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month..."

Qinglian added: "That's right, wasn't it said that we wouldn't leave until the sixth day of the first lunar month?"

Yan Xi’s small face was cold. It would be a lie to say she wasn't afraid.

She was terrified, and it took a long while before she replied: "Perhaps it was intentional."

Qinglian and Taohong asked: "?"

Yan Xi said: "He purposefully didn't want to give us any room to breathe."

Qinglian and Taohong understood.

Then, silence returned to the carriage.

Yan Xi gradually thought of Nanny Song and Fulu again.

"Those two..."

Taohong, likely guessing what her mistress was thinking, comforted her: "That Fulu was just like Wang Qing'an; he had evil intentions toward you. He just didn't have the opportunity; if he had, he might have done exactly what Wang Qing'an did. Dying is what he deserved!"

Qinglian added: "Nanny Song embezzled money from the Lu family. If the Duke and Duchess found out, she wouldn't have had a good end anyway. It could be said she got what she deserved."

Yan Xi understood. But she was, after all, a powerless young girl; it was impossible for her to be completely unmoved by the matter of death.

And even though she had already experienced Lu Zhi’s ruthlessness, seeing it happen still frightened her.

After all, he didn't even know that Nanny Song had embezzled the Lu family's money.

Yet, he had just killed them...