Chapter Twenty-Three: Delivery of the Wedding Attire

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Xie Yingying had lost count of the times she’d tried to escape Gu Feng Mountain. Each time she attempted to study the mountain’s terrain, Bai Shengyun’s people would intercept her, persuading her not to wander off under various pretexts. One moment, she was told to choose the bedding for the wedding chamber; the next, she was asked to select red silk for the bridal crown and robes. They even had her pick out red dates and longans for the nuptial bed with her own hands.

In truth, not long ago, Bai Shengyun had seen through her intentions with ease. Having lost interest, he decided to toy with her instead.

She could not recall how many days she had spent on Gu Feng Mountain. On one rare occasion, she managed to rise early. As she pushed open the wooden window, she saw a gray gloom stretching across the horizon, a sight that stirred a melancholy in one’s heart.

Yet, Xie Yingying almost leapt for joy at the sight. Dawn had not yet broken—surely the maids and old servants would still be asleep? What luck! It was the perfect opportunity, a harmony of time and circumstance.

She hastily dressed and slipped through the window lattice, careful to avoid the maid dozing by the door. She was just about to scale the courtyard wall to explore the back of the mountain for a possible escape route.

But as she swung a leg over the wall, a shadow in black landed before her, startling her so badly she nearly tumbled headfirst to the ground.

The figure seemed not to notice her fright. He simply bowed and asked in a low voice, “Is there anything you need, miss?”

Xie Yingying blinked at him. After days of relative peace, she had nearly forgotten that Bai Shengyun’s men were still secretly watching her. But never had she imagined that even before dawn, these shadow guards would be so vigilant—did they not even doze off for a moment?

She pressed her lips together and, after a brief cough, turned toward the gentle sunrise cresting East Mountain, forcing a laugh. “Oh, it’s nothing. I just wanted to climb up here and watch the sunrise.”

The shadow guard bowed his head slightly. “It’s dangerous atop the wall, miss. Please come down.”

She rubbed her nose in embarrassment and climbed back down. Thus, her thirty-eighth escape attempt failed, once again.

The shadow guard escorted her back to her room and whispered something to the maids. Their faces paled, cold sweat trickling down as they nodded in haste.

Moments later, the shadow guard had vanished as if he had never been there at all.

Xie Yingying’s face darkened at the situation. It felt as if someone had forcibly installed surveillance in her home, a constant violation of her privacy—but this was no ordinary surveillance; it was human surveillance.

Before long, a crane’s clarion cry echoed across the sky and the breeze rustled through the bamboo groves. More people began to appear on Gu Feng Mountain, some practicing their arts, others chatting and laughing.

As time slipped away, Xie Yingying grew more anxious. Her wedding to Bai Shengyun was imminent; for her, every moment was as precious as an oasis in the desert.

She let out a long sigh and sipped her now-cold tea, its bitterness lingering on her tongue.

Just then, the door opened. She looked up to see several of Bai Shengyun’s maids and two old servants enter. The maids carried trays of gold, silver, jeweled hairpins, and ornamental step-shakes. One old servant held a bright red bridal robe, while the other carried a splendid crown. This crown, though, was unlike the traditional ones of the mortal realm—its motif was a pair of nine-tailed foxes, entwined and indistinguishable from one another.

Noticing her curiosity, the old servant smiled kindly. “These two nine-tailed foxes on the crown represent two ancestors who achieved immortality. They were deeply in love, bound together in life and death, ascending to the heavens side by side. To honor them, this crown was created, symbolizing the wish that newlyweds may enjoy love as enduring and gentle as a steady stream.”

Xie Yingying could not help but feel somewhat speechless; she knew all too well how Bai Shengyun had ultimately caused “her” demise.

Yet, this old servant’s warmth was a welcome contrast to the others’ resentment and envy. The story behind the crown brought a subtle comfort to her heart.

After everyone withdrew, Xie Yingying stared at the wedding attire and ornaments, panic rising within her. The bridal robe and crown had arrived—surely the wedding day could not be far off. Her head throbbed; she knocked her forehead and cried out in despair, “Xie Yingying, the bridal clothes are here. The wedding is upon you… This is the end!”

A moment later, she lifted her head, determination etched on her face.

Better to endure pain now than to suffer a tragic fate later!

Just as the thought crossed her mind, a sharp pain stabbed her abdomen—far more intense than before, as if a drill were boring through her flesh and organs. Her face blanched as she sat in her chair for a long while before finally managing to stand.

At that moment, a maid arrived with her meal. Noting the girl’s similar build, Xie Yingying waited until the maid set down the dishes, then struck her hard on the head.

As the maid collapsed, Xie Yingying swiftly changed into her clothes, wrapped the unconscious girl tightly in bedding like a cocoon, and, feigning to be the maid, slipped out of the room.

With her head lowered, she made her way toward the rear of the mountain. Most of the maids were busy preparing the grand wed