Chapter 48: The Meeting

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Taizhou Passenger Ship.
At this moment, many people still remained on the deck, though most were already beginning to return.
Groups of two or three entered the cabins, and occasionally voices could be heard—some discussing the matter of the soldiers.
Yan Xi parted ways with Qinglian and Taohong, disappearing from sight. Seeing a path below not far off, she descended steadily, gradually arriving at the ship’s hold, one level below the passenger cabins.
Following the stairs down, the noise above gradually faded, as did the light.
Yan Xi steadied herself against the wall and looked around. The hold was filled with lifesaving equipment, wooden rafts, sails, and other miscellaneous items. It was clear this was a storage room.
No one was inside; the dim light from oil lamps hanging on the wooden walls cast a faint yellow glow. Yan Xi had never been alone before, let alone in such a gloomy, confined space. Fear gripped her heart, but no matter how frightening this place was, it could not compare to the danger of being searched outside or falling into Lu Zhi’s hands.
In the end, she suppressed her initial fear and quickly found a good hiding spot behind several small wooden rafts stacked and covered with cloth.
The young girl’s heart pounded, her back against the ship’s wall, eyes gently closed. In the stillness, she could hear the steady thump of her own heartbeat.
At this point, she could only leave her fate to heaven.
She listened carefully to the sounds outside, occasionally still hearing the soldiers’ shouts.
Suddenly, the ship shuddered slightly. Yan Xi clenched her hands, opened her eyes, pressed her ear to the wall, and listened intently.
The sound of waves!
The ship was moving!
Relief and anxiety surged together in her heart.
There was nothing she could do now but wait quietly for time to pass.
After about the length of an incense stick’s burning, the outside was silent for a long while, no voices audible, only the occasional sound of water waves.
Then, unexpectedly, her body shuddered as footsteps echoed near her ear.
The footsteps were soft, slow, deliberate, drawing closer—approaching the hold where she hid.
Yan Xi tensed, uncertain who it might be.
Was it someone merely passing through? A crew member fetching something? Or just her imagination?
She held her breath, motionless, focusing on the sound.
She heard clearly when the person reached the door.
The footsteps stopped there.
Her heart felt as if it might leap out of her chest. The longer she waited, the more uneasy she became.
It was no illusion—someone was at the door.
The oil lamp near the door cast a shadow. Carefully turning her head, she saw a partial silhouette.
It was not a crew member coming to retrieve anything—otherwise, why hadn’t they entered?
Then... who was it?
A dreadful thought flashed through her mind just as the footsteps resumed.
The figure moved slowly inside, seeming to pause in the center of the hold.
Suddenly, the sound of a lit match and a low laugh came almost simultaneously, followed by a voice:
“Come out.”
Calm, yet utterly familiar.
Yan Xi froze like a statue, pupils widening, body unable to move.
Who was it?
It was Lu Zhi!
“Come out.”
His voice, as if gritting his teeth, yet laced with a faint smile, spoke again casually.
Cold sweat broke out on Yan Xi’s hand and heart. Her delicate body trembled slightly; her chest heaved as she forced down her fear.
She did not come out.
But in that brief instant, her mind spun with endless thoughts.
Honestly, she had never expected to be discovered.
What she saw was undeniable truth; everything else was mere illusion.
The kettle used for boiling water at the temple had been cleaned thoroughly by her orders, and the medicine had been purchased in small amounts over many days and times.
Especially the Seven Illusions Powder, an item recorded only in ancient texts.
The summer healer had said very few in the world knew of this powder, as it was of little practical use.

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It could neither save nor harm, only deceive.
It required very specific conditions, making it extremely difficult to use. Legend said it was concocted long ago by a mischievous and clever little immortal boy to play tricks on his elder brothers.
She had believed she could get away with it.
At worst, she had prepared to escape if exposed.
But she hadn’t expected Lu Zhi to see through it so quickly.
At this point, she was completely exposed before him, including the deception spanning more than a month—essentially a showdown between them.
She certainly did not want to be taken back by him.
Thinking this through, the young girl glanced at the shadow on the ground, then at the hold’s door.
He likely hadn’t brought soldiers with him. Even if he did, no one seemed outside the door now.
With no time to ponder further, she roughly judged his position from the faint shadow he cast. Using the hold’s wall for leverage, her delicate body pushed hard against the two wooden rafts covered with cloth in front of her.
The rafts shifted suddenly, striking directly toward the man.
In the flash of a moment, she seized the opportunity and dashed out, running as fast as she could.
She clearly heard the sound of the man extinguishing the lit match, then the noise of him catching the falling raft, and most distinctively, the harsh shout of her name.
“Shen Yanxi!”
“Help!”
Yan Xi shouted desperately.
Taking advantage of the moment to catch her breath, she ran out of the hold.
In the silent night, she cried out as she emerged.
Lu Zhi held the fallen raft with one hand, his face cold. He threw the object back with a flick and turned—there was no one behind him.
He gritted his teeth, anger rising clearly, and immediately gave chase.
“Shen Yanxi!”
She ran desperately upward.
The stairway between the lowest and first cabin decks was long; she didn’t know how long she’d managed to buy, but she knew she must not fall into his hands.
He probably hadn’t brought anyone. Even if he had, it wouldn’t be many; otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken so long to find her hold.
There were many people on the ship—surely some with a sense of justice.
Even if not, if she was in trouble, he would get none of it!
He was the illustrious Military Governor of Huainan, the scion of the most prestigious family in Chang’an—the Lu family heir—yet he had forcibly taken a common woman!
She would make everyone on this ship know!
“Help!!”
With thoughts of survival and revenge fueling her, Yan Xi shouted louder.
Almost at the top now, she could already see the starry sky outside.
The night was brilliant with stars, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of the river water.
Voices sounded nearby; she even saw some people emerging from the cabins.
Just then, a strong arm grabbed her waist from behind.
The girl was instantly pulled into his embrace.
“Ah!”
Yan Xi gave a soft cry; the thin veil before her fluttered lightly. Her back pressed against his firm chest, and the scent of dragon’s salivary incense rose from him. Above her head was his threatening voice:
“Shen Yanxi, are you looking for death?”
His voice was low, angry but deliberately suppressed.
Did he care?
Yes, he certainly did!
Considering the grand spectacle he had made earlier, who on the ship hadn’t glanced at him or asked who he was?
Some must have guessed already.
Even if no one guessed, she would introduce him: this was the famed Military Governor of Huainan, former Chang’an Prefect, and heir to the noble Duke Ningguo—Lu Zhi!
“Let me go!”
Yan Xi struggled, speaking whatever came to mind.

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“Tonight, I will ruin your reputation and let the whole world see your true character—show everyone who you really are!”
“Heh...”
The young girl struggled fiercely, hearing him laugh softly.
Yan Xi continued: “If I’m no good, you won’t have it easy either! Tonight, it’s all or nothing between us!”
Lu Zhi smiled wryly and replied with two words: “Is that so?”
At this moment, several people appeared outside, some coming out, others opening the hold door—but he still held her tightly.
“Help!”
Yan Xi cried again.
Then, a man emerged from the foremost private cabin.
Dressed in a dark green brocade robe, with black hair and a beard, appearing in his forties, it was clear he was a man of wealth and status—not only from his attire and bearing but also from the cabin he occupied.
The cabin was large—four or five times the size of ordinary ones—and composed of two rooms.
It was the most luxurious private cabin on this passenger ship.
The man raised his hand politely and asked, “May I ask, what is going on here?”
“He...”
Yan Xi opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted calmly by Lu Zhi.
“Ah, Marquis Xie...”
Hearing his surname and knowing his status, the Marquis clearly recognized him and looked at him with curious, intent eyes.
“And you are...”
“I am Lu Zhi, son of Duke Ningguo.”
Yan Xi never expected him to reveal his name so boldly and without embarrassment.
Marquis Xie’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on Lu Zhi’s face. He seemed momentarily stunned but quickly regained composure and replied, “So you are the heir to Duke Ningguo.”
Lu Zhi smiled.
Then Marquis Xie looked toward Yan Xi beside him and raised his hand to inquire, “And this is...”
Yan Xi said, “Marquis, please help me—he...”
Before she could finish, Lu Zhi smiled gently and answered Marquis Xie on her behalf.
“My wife and I had a little quarrel. She’s angry at me...”
Lowering his gaze, he looked at her warmly, his voice soft and tender:
“Don’t be upset. I was wrong.”
His beautiful peach blossom eyes showed deep affection.
Yan Xi was speechless.
After he spoke, the surrounding people murmured and chuckled, dismissing it as just a spat between a young couple.
Marquis Xie nodded in understanding, “Oh, I see.”
Yan Xi shook her head, “No, Marquis...”
But Lu Zhi was already holding her shoulder, saying, “Alright... whatever you say... just don’t run away again, okay?”
With that, he embraced her and turned to leave.
As the two walked away, a strikingly beautiful woman emerged from the first cabin.
A maid followed, draping another garment over her.
The woman called out to Marquis Xie’s retreating back, “Marquis, what happened?”
His gaze fixed on Lu Zhi’s silhouette, not reacting to the woman’s call until she called again. He then turned and answered her.
“He’s the son of Lu Boling.”
The woman’s eyes flickered with emotion as she repeated, “Lu... his son...”
Marquis Xie nodded.
The woman glanced at Lu Zhi’s back, then at the delicate figure beside him.
“Why did that young girl seem to cry for help?”
Marquis Xie replied, “Just a quarrel between a young couple.”
After answering, he turned back and noticed her scant clothing, saying, “It’s chilly at night. You should go back.”
The woman responded softly and glanced once more at the fragile figure...