The hour of Hai (9-11 PM) has arrived, and the bright moon hangs high in the western sky.
Qin Wen carefully pushed open the door at the time agreed upon with the woman in red on the note.
The Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) was still bustling with activity. The main hall on the first floor was brightly lit, with people coming and going, and it seemed that no one noticed Qin Wen's quiet departure.
Chen Qin, meanwhile, was in her room, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes slightly closed, dozing off, occasionally letting out a lazy yawn.
Qin Wen moved with light steps and agile movements, quickly crossing the corridor and avoiding noisy areas as much as possible. As agreed, she quickened her pace and hurried to a quiet corner in the backyard.
A figure was already standing there.
Today, instead of wearing her bright and eye-catching red clothes, she changed into a low-key outfit that would easily conceal her figure.
"You've arrived." A deep voice rang out from the red-clad figure.
She seemed completely confident that Qin Wen would arrive as promised, showing no surprise whatsoever. In fact, there was nothing to worry about, because she knew that Qin Wen deeply loathed her current life but was unable to break free from its constraints.
She deeply understood that feeling.
Qin Wen nodded, a hint of nervousness flashing in her eyes. "Yes, I'm here. Miss in red, what do you need me for?"
The woman in red smiled slightly, slowly took out a sharp dagger from her sleeve, and handed it to her.
Qin Wen stared at the dagger in front of her with trepidation, her heart suddenly racing.
"Have you ever killed anyone?" The woman in red's eyes were full of laughter, as if she were chatting with Qin Wen casually, just like asking, "Have you ever killed a chicken?"
However, this seemingly simple question sent a jolt through Qin Wen, and her face instantly turned pale. Her hands unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her grasp, too nervous to reach out and take the cold dagger.
"I've heard that you poisoned your sister," the woman in red suddenly stepped forward and whispered in Qin Wen's ear. Her voice sounded low and calm, but every word struck Qin Wen's heart like a heavy hammer.
Qin Wen's body trembled slightly, a flicker of fear and despair flashing in her eyes. She wondered to herself, could the woman in red be an old acquaintance of her elder sister, Qin Sheng? Had she lured her out today to avenge her sister?
Qin Wen became increasingly alarmed as she thought about it.
She glanced around uneasily; there was no one there. Despairingly, she thought, "Am I going to die at the hands of the woman in red today? I'm not reconciled! I'm not reconciled!"
Lost in thought, she heard the slightly mocking words from the woman in red again.
"Oh, right, and the child in her belly. I thought you had a lot of nerve."
Qin Wen's lips trembled, tears blurring her vision. She lowered her head. She knew she couldn't deny what Hongyi had said, because it was all true. The crimes she had committed had become a shadow she could never escape.
"Red-clad girl, I have already been punished. Please, please spare me!" she pleaded weakly, her voice trembling.
“If you make a mistake, you should be punished.” The woman in red placed the dagger in Qin Wen’s hand.
Qin Wen's body trembled violently, her legs went weak, and she almost sat down on the ground, but then she heard the other person say in a low voice, "If you don't want to continue living this undignified life, then listen to my orders and become my knife. I will naturally have a way to save you from this hellhole."
It turns out the woman in red wasn't after her life.
Qin Wen steadied herself, took the dagger, her fingers trembling slightly. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner turmoil, and looked directly into the eyes of the woman in red.
“I understand, Miss Red.” Qin Wen’s voice was weak but firm. “I am willing to obey your orders, but you must promise me that after it is done, I will be free from all of this.”
The woman in red nodded in satisfaction, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes. "Very good, Qin Wen. Don't worry, now that I've come to you, I certainly won't let you down. However, you must obey my orders completely, no matter how difficult."
Qin Wen bit her lip and nodded. "I understand, Miss Red. I will follow your orders."
The woman in red smiled slightly and took out a portrait from her sleeve, handing it to Qin Wen.
"There will be a banquet at the Minister's residence tomorrow night. The man in the portrait is a regular at the Hidden Spring Pavilion and will be attending. He once revealed that he greatly admires you. This man possesses some secrets that are detrimental to us. Find a way to get close to him and eliminate him without causing any disturbance."
Qin Wen took the portrait, her heart tightening. The person in the portrait had visited the mansion before, and this person seemed to have a good relationship with her father.
She hesitated. But to escape her current predicament, she had no other choice. No one could stop her from pursuing freedom.
She recalled the word "admiration" that the woman in red had just said and suddenly found it funny. Her father's friend probably knew who she was and had come because of her reputation. Was he there to humiliate her father or to pity her?
Qin Wen chuckled softly: "I understand, girl in red."
The woman in red nodded in satisfaction and patted Qin Wen on the shoulder. "Very good, Qin Wen. Remember, you only have this one chance. If you succeed, you will gain your freedom; if you fail, you will be doomed."
Qin Wen gripped the dagger and the portrait tightly in her hand. Under the moonlight, her smile was exceptionally radiant, like a blooming epiphyllum. "I understand."
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