Chapter 42: Escape (Part I)

Having learned from her past life that the two of them had genuinely become siblings, Yan Xi felt an even stronger aversion toward Lu Zhi. Coupled with his actions in this present life, she became all the more certain that they were simply not cut out for the same path.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and spring arrived.

Over the past half-month, Yan Xi had been remarkably well-behaved, leaving the estate only three times—and solely to purchase a few sundries. Most of the time, she would leave early and return early, spending the last fifteen days deliberately appeasing that man.

That scoundrel was exceedingly busy with official duties, and aside from state affairs, heaven only knew what other ruthless and underhanded deeds he had been up to. Assassins frequented the estate almost every night.

***

On the third day of the third lunar month, a spring rain had just cleared up by morning. By afternoon, the sky gradually turned clear and bright, with raindrops falling from the petals of flowers, mingling with the scent of damp earth.

Yan Xi and her two maids once again came near the lotus pond on the western side of the estate.

After waiting for a moment, a man dressed as a servant walked over carrying a pot of penjing. He stopped not far from her, then brought the potted landscape closer and set it on the ground before her.

"Young Madam..."

His voice was very soft.

Yan Xi sat upon a cushioned stone stool, leaning forward to gently stroke the blossoms in the penjing with her jade-like fingers. Her voice was delicate and sweet as she acknowledged him, asking with apparent concern:

"How is the health of your younger sister these past two days?"

The man, named Yun Sheng, was a groom employed by the estate. His voice was respectful, choked with emotion, and imbued with deep gratitude: "Thanks to the generous rescue of the Young Madam, my sister's constitution is growing better day by day. My sister and I will never forget this immense kindness."

As Yan Xi listened to him speak, she had already slowly stood up, walking around the potted plant to inspect it, occasionally reaching out to touch it as if discussing its form and arrangement with him.

"I told you before, I am not helping you for nothing; there will come a day when you must repay this favor."

Yun Sheng's voice grew even more agitated: "I am willing to offer my utmost loyalty and service to the Young Madam!"

Yan Xi said nothing more and gave a subtle cue to Qinglian standing beside her.

Qinglian retrieved a money pouch from her bosom, while Taohong used her body to shield them from view, allowing Qinglian to slip the pouch directly into Yun Sheng's hands.

Only then did Yan Xi continue, "For the cost of the medicine for these next ten days..."

Overcome with gratitude, Yun Sheng desperately wanted to kneel and express his thanks, but circumstances prevented him from doing so.

"Rest assured, Young Madam, Yun Sheng will willingly brave fire and water for you."

Yan Xi nodded. "Go. Await word from Ah Tai."

The servant acknowledged the command, lifted the penjing, and departed.

Not long after he left, Yan Xi and her two maids also turned back.

Along the way, Qinglian remarked, "If things go smoothly, this can be considered mutually beneficial. Your sister's illness only happened to cross paths with our young miss; otherwise, it wasn't merely a matter of lacking money for treatment. In this vast city of Yangzhou, I doubt there is any physician with the profound medical expertise of our young miss."

Taohong chimed in with unconcealed pride, showering her with praise: "Exactly, exactly! Our young miss is simply amazing!"

Yan Xi retorted, "What expertise? It is merely a matter of having read a few more books. If anyone is to be thanked, it should be the divine physician Xia. The books were read at his establishment, and as luck would have it, his sister's symptoms were identical to those of a young woman who went to Divine Physician Xia for treatment five years ago. I merely followed a well-worn pattern... Still, it is indeed a good deed; it can save a life, and it leaves us with someone we can employ..."

The divine physician Xia she referred to was the elderly healer who had treated her back when she was recovering from illness in Suzhou.

During her first two years, when she was gravely ill, she had spent a considerable amount of time lingering at the immortal pavilion of Divine Physician Xia. Passing the time by browsing through medical texts and occasionally listening to him diagnose other patients, she had naturally absorbed and learned a thing or two through subtle influence.

Yun Sheng was the candidate scouted by Ah Tai, whom Yan Xi had tasked with the assignment half a month ago.

The man was honest and dependable, with only a younger sister in his family.

The two depended on each other for survival, shared a deep bond, and had happened to fall into dire straits.

It dovetailed perfectly with Yan Xi's needs, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement. Everything had proceeded quite smoothly.

Once the three of them reached a populated area, they naturally ceased discussing the matter and returned directly to Tinglan Pavilion.

***

In the blink of an eye, another three days passed.

On the seventh day of the third lunar month, Yan Xi finally waited for the opportune moment when time, place, and circumstances aligned.

During the day, the estate received a formal calling card.

At present, the military commissioner's residence lacked a mistress.

Given the harmonious relations between her and Lu Zhi, she essentially functioned as that mistress.

Therefore, the moment this calling card arrived at the front gates, it was swiftly delivered into her hands.

Yan Xi took it, unfolded it, and drew in a sharp breath.

The reason was simple: this card had been written by members of the Lu family.

Though to call them members of the Lu family wasn't entirely accurate; strictly speaking, they were individuals residing within the Lu family estate.

The note had been penned by the two paternal cousins of Lu Zhi, who were the nieces of the third branch's mistress.

The message on the calling card was concise and to the point. The gist of it was that the two of them would be arriving in Yangzhou shortly and wished to stay at their cousin's residence for a few days.

The signatures at the bottom were none other than Meng Wenhui and Lin Yao'er.

Yan Xi naturally knew both of these individuals.

Moreover, the cousin whose name contained the character "Hui" was precisely the one infatuated with Lu Zhi.

She was also the very person whose conversation Yan Xi had accidentally overheard in the back garden of Taoxiang Pavilion on the second day of her return from Suzhou to the Lu residence.

Although Yan Xi had not interacted deeply with either of them subsequently, she had exchanged brief words with them a couple of times.

She had never expected them to travel all the way to Yangzhou, let alone request to lodge at the estate.

Yet, upon reflection, it made sense: since Meng Wenhui harbored feelings for Lu Zhi, she would naturally seize any opportunity to come and see the man of her affections.

Yan Xi accepted the calling card and exchanged a meaningful glance with her maid.

That very evening, as the man returned to the estate, Yan Xi did not wait for him to approach her; she took the initiative to go out and meet him.

"Lord Marquis..."

The young lady stepped forward to greet him at the floral-framed gates.

Lu Zhi strode in and caught sight of her immediately. He paused slightly in his tracks, clearly not expecting her presence, and cast a cool, sideways glance at her.

"What is it?"

Looking feignedly anxious, Yan Xi remained silent for a moment before directly handing the calling card she had received that day over to Lu Zhi.

Lu Zhi halted indifferently, raised a hand to take it, shook the paper open, and glanced over it casually without much concentration before tossing the card aside.

Yan Xi signaled the maid behind her, who stepped forward to retrieve the dropped item.

She followed closely behind Lu Zhi.

"What is to be done about this? What are the intentions of the Lord Marquis?"

Lu Zhi replied coldly, "Do you take me for someone who would let them in?"

Yan Xi had already anticipated this response.

She stepped forward two paces. "My lord, you cannot simply turn them away... As the cousins of the third branch, they are visiting Yangzhou on personal business. Since they intend to lodge at the Marquis's estate, it cannot be a mere whim on their part. They would not dare to act presumptuously, and this matter is likely not their own private decision—it is most likely the will of the Grand Madam. If the Lord Marquis turns them away from the gates, both young ladies will inevitably be heartbroken. When they return, they will surely recount the incident to the third branch's mistress, who will in turn inform the Grand Madam. The Grand Madam will undoubtedly be displeased with the Lord Marquis. Furthermore, the third branch's mistress will feel that the Lord Marquis looks down upon their branch. Doing this will serve no purpose other than to breed unnecessary friction... After all, two young maidens traveling away from home merely wish to seek shelter for a few days at the residence of their cousin. Such a trivial favor is hardly unreasonable to grant... My lord..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden surge of heat struck the back of her neck. The man whirled around, his large hand clamping firmly around her slender throat, directly pressing her back against the screen wall behind them.

Yan Xi's delicate frame was instantly engulfed beneath the shadow of his towering stature.

With a dark and brooding gaze, Lu Zhi lowered his head, narrowing his eyes as he slowly curved his lips into a smile and knitted his brows.

"Hmph... It sounds as though you are quite eager for them to come..."

Before Yan Xi could recover from the sudden shock, her lips parted slightly and her chest heaved as her slender hands instinctively grasped the large hand gripping her throat.

Yet, after only a fleeting moment, Yan Xi regained her composure. Instead of speaking first, her pure and innocent eyes welled up with a clear moisture, and her voice naturally choked with emotion.

"I hurried out to inform you of this matter and waited here for the better part of an hour, only to be met with your suspicion?"

"If I truly harbored ulterior motives, why would I rush to tell you? What good would it do to conceal this calling card? When they eventually arrive, even if you refuse to let them in, could I not have timed it right, feigned sending a maid out on an errand, and deliberately crossed paths with them so they would see me?"

"The very reason I came to tell you was because I wished to resolve this matter together with you..."

"When it all comes down to it, you still do not trust me..."

"What benefit would it bring me to expose you at this stage?"

"Originally, I thought that since my father's death anniversary is only a few days away, I might as well go stay at a temple for a few days. Not only would that allow me to avoid the two of them, but it would also give me extra time to burn incense for my father. I merely wanted to solve a problem for you..."

"I never imagined... I never imagined..."

As she spoke, tears began to stream down her face, her expression a mix of pitiful grievance as she tilted her head upward, gazing at him with a trace of unyielding defiance and reproach.

A beauty in tears possessed the undeniable power to tug at a man's heartstrings.

A subtle shift occurred within Lu Zhi. He let out a low chuckle, slowly relaxed his grip, cupped her delicate face, and wiped away her tears. His voice unexpectedly carried a hint of coaxing gentleness:

"Wanwan, why are you crying?"

"Why bother caring about those two?"

"What does it matter if they find out? Hmm?"

Clearly, there was a smile on his face, and his voice was gentle, yet Yan Xi suddenly felt a chill run through her heart.

A sudden flash of realization dawned upon her, and she understood...

He was not afraid of them finding out at all...

For whoever found out would simply meet an untimely end...

Yan Xi kept her thoughts to herself, listening as he continued speaking.

"You wish to go to the temple? Hmm?"

"Go, then..."

With those words, he stroked her cheek once more...

To her surprise, he had not restricted her movements during these past days. Although she had figured he would likely permit her to go, she had not expected things to proceed quite so smoothly. For a moment, Yan Xi was momentarily lost for words. After a brief pause, she asked with a slight sob:

"Would any day be acceptable?"

Lu Zhi straightened his posture and gave a deep murmur of assent.

Yan Xi replied, her voice soft and sweet: "Then I shall leave the day before they arrive..."

Lu Zhi acknowledged her once again with a hum.

Yan Xi returned to her bedchamber.

All along the way, her mind was consumed with thoughts of this matter.

Although the process had unfolded differently than she had imagined, the outcome was favorable.

That scoundrel harbored a dagger behind his smile. One moment he was ruthless; the next, he feigned extreme tenderness; at times he was cold and indifferent, while at others he was utterly obsessed with her physical form...

He was truly deranged!

With her heart pounding wildly in her chest, Yan Xi gradually forced herself to calm down.

Now, all preparations were complete. With the right time, place, and circumstances secured, the only thing remaining was human cooperation...

If all went well, very soon, she would be completely and permanently parting ways with this thoroughly wicked man...