Covenant
A gentle breeze came from afar, and under the heavy cover of the artificial hills and boulders, only a very faint breath of fresh air remained.
Lan Yue stood on the stone steps, a faint fragrance wafting in the breeze with the movement of her skirt. Her emotions had calmed, and her expression was as serene as ever. She smiled gently and said:
"When I first entered the manor, I was just an ordinary cleaning maid, assigned to Concubine Qi's courtyard. Later, I was fortunate enough to be favored by the master, which is why I have this preferential treatment today. I will never forget all that happened in the past."
"Although Fu'er is young, she used to serve you in Yilan Garden. The close sisterly relationship between you two probably started then. People now only know the noble concubine Lan Yue in the mansion for her gentle and quiet nature, but they have long forgotten the maid Lan'er who was bullied by Qi Shi."
A few wisps of hair on Lin Xu's forehead were gently brushed by the wind, and the soft breeze made her eyes seem less sharp.
Lan Yue seemed to have heard something amusing, covered her lips with her handkerchief, and chuckled softly:
"Miss, do you think that the humiliations I suffered as a maid in the past are enough to make me betray my former master? As a slave, which one of us didn't suffer all kinds of humiliation and bullying from our masters? We were never treated as human beings. I, Lan Yue, was born into a humble family. I have endured countless scornful looks in the past. If I were to harbor resentment over such a small grievance, wouldn't I have long ago decided to kill all those who looked down on me?"
Lin Xu remained expressionless, but a hint of contemplation slowly surfaced in his eyes as he spoke softly.
"This is also what I can't understand. Logically speaking, you are meticulous. If you were willing to take such a risk to carefully set up a scheme, the reward would naturally be much greater than the risk, which would make you willing to risk your life. What exactly do you want?"
She stepped forward, tilting her head back. The light shone on her face. Although she was only fourteen years old, the light illuminated her fair and delicate skin, revealing baby-like downy hairs.
But those eyes were so resolute, so calm, as if they held a Zen-like understanding of life and death, a serene tranquility.
Looking into those unwavering eyes, Lan Yue felt as if something within her was being intimidated. She loathed this feeling, so she closed her eyes slightly, steeled herself, and spoke:
"Human nature has always been to seek profit and avoid harm, and to pursue only profit. I am just an ordinary person."
The person opposite remained unmoved by the words, their expression growing even more serene. Lin Xu gently shook her head, her expression indifferent as she softly parted her lips:
"wrong."
She paused, took a deep breath as if forcefully suppressing a cough, and then continued:
"With your intelligence, you naturally know that someone of Qi's status and character could never become the mistress of the house. And you were once her maid, so you would never covet that unattainable position of the principal wife. As for wealth and honor? Ever since you were promoted from a concubine to a high-ranking concubine, you have risen through the ranks. Compared to the honors you once held but could never obtain, your father has always been generous, and the rewards from each branch of the family have never been too different. Yet you have always been frugal and simple in your eating, clothing, and daily necessities, and have never had any excessive desires."
"You seek neither fame nor fortune. Then why do you employ such cunning and scheming?"
Lan Yue pressed her lips together, remaining silent for a long time. She simply watched her quietly.
Beneath the artificial hill in the distance, the calm lake water remained undisturbed, with graceful lotus flowers standing delicately atop it. Beautiful as they were, they were also extremely fragile. A single, thorough downpour would completely dissipate the lake's shimmering beauty and the lotus's color, leaving only a faded, decaying appearance.
Her expression, however, suggested that she had been waiting for that storm for a long time.
“Fu’er wasn’t always this dirty.”
The voice was extremely faint, as calm as if recounting an ordinary past event, the speaker serene and tranquil.
Lan Yue finally couldn't hold back any longer; her whole body trembled, and her breathing became rapid, punctuated by soft sobs.
"You just said that Fu'er is dead... You were just bluffing me, weren't you?"
Lin Xu said slowly:
"Although Fu'er is only ten years old, her beauty is already beginning to blossom. Did you manage to keep you at bay until you had no choice but to intervene, all to save her?"
Tears welled up in Lan Yue's eyes, silently sliding down her cheeks and wetting her delicate chin. Her eyes were filled with panic; Lin Xu's calmness filled her with uncontrollable fear. She shook her head and pleaded:
"Miss, I'm begging you, please tell me the truth, Fu'er isn't dead, is she?"
A fleeting hint of regret flashed in Lin Xu's eyes, and after a long pause, he said softly:
"She ran frantically with her bundle in her arms. Perhaps out of guilt and panic, she lost her footing and fell into the river before my men could catch up with her. She has already drowned."
Upon hearing this, Lan Yue seemed to suddenly lose all her strength. Her eyes glazed over as she leaned back against the boulder. The sharp, jagged rocks pierced her back through her thin clothing, yet she seemed oblivious, only murmuring incessantly:
"How could this be... how could this be... I specifically told her to head west and find an inn to hide in after dark..."
A long time passed, and she couldn't find a trace of hesitation or concealment in Lin Xu's eyes. Finally realizing there was no turning back, she felt her heart go numb, and everything seemed meaningless. Finally, she slowly spoke:
"Fu'er and I are as close as sisters. She is innocent and kind, while I was sold into the manor and had no relatives. It was Fu'er... her pure and kind nature that gave me some comfort. I have long regarded her as my own sister... I have never dared to ask for rank or favor. It was Qi Shi! After she fell out of favor, she forced me to get close to the master. Although I had no choice, I was still thinking that once I gained some favor, I would transfer Fu'er to my side, so that she would no longer be bullied."
Who would have thought that Madam Qi had already exploited my weakness? She saw that I doted on Fu'er and bullied her every day. If I didn't obey her, she would bully Fu'er tenfold or even a hundredfold... Fu'er is so young, how could she endure all this? I thought that with my submissive demeanor by the master's side, I would be able to redeem Fu'er sooner or later. I never expected that Madam Qi, seeing Fu'er growing more and more beautiful, would actually have the idea of giving Fu'er to the master one day to continue to secure his favor. She's only ten years old!
I had no choice in my own life, and I was already at the mercy of others, but how could she be so cruel as to not even spare a child!
Lin Xu slowly closed her eyes amidst her sorrowful cries, and when she opened them again, they were completely silent.
She reached out her hand to Lan Yue, who was standing on high and weeping incessantly, her expression resolute and without the slightest hesitation.
"Nine months from now, I will give you a great gift. In return, will you lend me a hand?"
.
Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and the weather has become even hotter.
Lin Xu lay on the bed. After having a medicinal meal in the morning, he strolled around the backyard to digest his food. He then practiced two calligraphy exercises. After feeding the parrot, he began to feel sleepy, so he casually embroidered some patterns to pass the time.
The results of the Zhiqiong Hall's entrance examination have been posted, with Song Jiaoling topping the list. Naturally, she should have secured the position of Princess Kunrou's study companion. However, what's strange is that more than half a month has passed, yet no news has been released, as if there are other clues hidden behind the scenes.
After she fainted while being punished at school that day, Lin Fu felt sorry for her health. He contacted his old acquaintance, Sun Yaoren, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and told him that his daughter was recuperating at home and would come to visit her after she had recovered.
On the day of the selection examination, Fu Sheng had said that the matter would be announced after it was investigated, but half a month has passed and there has been no movement. The calm is as if nothing has happened. It merely masks the dead silence beneath the surface.
Leaning against the embroidered brocade pillow, bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window, she lazily threaded a needle. Her needlework was never considered respectable, far removed from that of ordinary women from noble families; it was merely a way for her to pass the time.
As time went by, it gradually began to look quite presentable. The stitches were neat and even, without any crookedness, and from a distance, the double-petaled peony appeared lifelike.
Watching from the side, Granny Qin smiled and praised, "Nowadays, Miss's temperament is becoming more and more serene. She is willing to calm down and patiently do embroidery. She has really improved a lot compared to before."
Zhu Ling brought over freshly brewed Huoshan Huangya tea; as soon as the lid was lifted, a delicate fragrance wafted out.
The tea soup is clear and bright, with a fresh and mellow taste upon first sip, and a lingering sweet aftertaste. Paired with sweet and sour preserved plums, the flavor is even more unforgettable.
Seeing that Lin Xu seemed quite pleased, Zhu Ling also smiled and said:
"Miss used to love sweets and would always eat two pieces of dessert to relieve the bitterness when taking medicine, but now she has gradually come to like sour foods. These green plums are quite sour, and you seem to like them very much."
Since she fell ill and began recuperating, aside from going out fishing and learning archery, she has spent most of her time resting in her room. Half of the plums that Gao had brewed were soaked in wine, and the other half were made into candied fruit, which he gave to her to cheer her up.
The first ingredient used was freshly picked green plums, which were astringent at first, but after being made into candied fruit, they became soft, chewy, and appetizing. She ate a little each day, and before she knew it, her appetite had improved a lot.
Lin Xu reached out and touched her chin. When she was still frail, her chin was always frighteningly sharp, but now, with proper care every day, her face had become slightly rounder. She hurriedly put down the green plum in her hand, a trace of worry appearing on her face.
Granny Qin smiled and said, "Miss is still young, it's normal for her to have a craving for food occasionally, why be so harsh on herself?"
She shook her head, her mind preoccupied as she looked at the pattern in her hand. Since falling into the Weilong River that day, she had never seen Dou Yanxun in or near the river again. It was as if he had suddenly vanished into thin air.
The man who used to love fishing disappeared without a trace after exchanging a few words with her that day. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed like he was... hiding from her.
She also secretly inquired about all the women who had ever been involved with Dou Yanxun. Whether they were mistresses in Yuehuan Lane or girls in Bihua Tower, they were all exceptionally beautiful, delicate, and charming.
Not to mention Sun Biying, who was once extremely popular and was closest to him.
Rumors circulated in Mujing that the young lady Sun had a slender waist and a supple figure. Her dance, "A Thousand Pieces of Gold," captivated all the onlookers, and from then on, she embarked on the path of becoming a famous courtesan for whom Dou Yanxun would spend a fortune just to buy her smiles.
But then, for some unknown reason, Miss Sun suddenly disappeared without a trace. Her sudden vanishing was very strange.
However, no matter how fragrant and gentle all the top courtesans after her were, none could replace the legendary beauty and stunning charm of Sun Biying.
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