Chapter 6, I think he should be able to return safely. ...
Chapter Six
The third day of the Lunar New Year was still deep winter.
The pine trees planted in the outer courtyard have canopies like a forest, with thick clumps of snow accumulated on their branches.
Manager Liu was worried that the snow was too thick and the icicles too sharp, and that they might hit the noble master of the mansion, so he specially ordered the maids and servants to go out and clear the ice and snow to prevent any accidents.
This kind of work was thankless and arduous, and no one wanted to do it, so Manager Liu pushed it all onto Lin Rong.
For Lin Rong, climbing trees to sweep snow was cold, but it was quiet and peaceful. No one would rush her if she took a little longer, so she could do things slowly.
Lin Rong had just finished these trivial matters when her hands were frozen red by the wind and snow, and the frostbite between her fingers was itchy, which was difficult to suppress even with ointment.
When Lin Rong returned to the kitchen, a servant from Yuchen Courtyard suddenly came to summon her, instructing the kitchen staff to prepare tea and deliver it to the inner courtyard.
Although they did not specifically request Lin Rong to serve tea, she was the only maid who had been to Yuchen Courtyard, so it was only right that she should serve the tea and water.
Although Granny Zhao didn't have connections to everyone in the Pei household, she did have a lucrative job as a purchasing agent and had some relationships with the other servants.
Since she was willing to protect Lin Rong, naturally some people would also give her face.
Before Lin Rong served the tea, Granny Zhao specifically inquired about the situation at Yuchen Courtyard for Lin Rong.
Granny Zhao said worriedly, "Rong'er, you have to be careful tonight. I heard that the young master looked unwell when he returned home. The servant who went to pay his respects was kicked into the snow and scolded by him after only showing his face once. I think there might be trouble when they serve tea tonight. Otherwise, why would anyone specifically call the servants from the outer courtyard to come in and serve tea and water?"
Lin Rong nodded gratefully: "Grandma, I understand. I will be careful... If I don't disobey the young master, I should be able to return safely."
In Lin Rong's memory, Pei Zan was cold and aloof, but not so violent as to want to kill anyone she could find. As long as she didn't get in his way, she probably wouldn't be so unlucky as to die.
Lin Rong encouraged herself.
She noted that the tea was to be delivered to a side room in Yuchen Courtyard, picked up the ebony tray, and carefully made her way to Yuchen Courtyard.
When she arrived at the door of the side room, Lin Rong saw the door was ajar and hesitated for a moment.
Lin Rong was surprised that there wasn't a single light in the room, it was pitch black, but she had to get to work soon, so she didn't linger and gritted her teeth as she stepped into the room.
Before Lin Rong could enter and light the lamp, a cold, deep male voice suddenly came from behind the screen.
"Did Old Feng call you here?"
Lin Rong recognized the voice as belonging to Pei Zan, and hurriedly put down the tea, knelt down and bowed: "This servant greets Young Master. This servant has come to deliver tea."
Lin Rong carefully recalled what had happened before, but she couldn't be sure whether the order to serve tea was given by Steward Feng.
After all, Lin Rong was just a maid who obeyed orders. Any senior maid in the inner courtyard could order her around. She was just a lowly servant with little influence, so how could she dare to ask questions or try to figure out what her superiors were saying?
Lin Rong was so anxious that sweat beaded on her nose and her shoulders trembled.
Lin Rong was tongue-tied and didn't know how to respond.
Fortunately, Pei Zan didn't make things difficult for her; he didn't ask any further questions.
Just as Lin Rong was about to take her leave, Pei Zan suddenly stood up inside the room.
Hearing the commotion, Lin Rong knelt back down in her original spot.
Pei Zan walked over slowly. With just a slight flick of his sleeve, the doors and windows closed tightly without any wind.
The last sliver of moonlight was blocked by the windows, and the room was instantly shrouded in a thin mist, so dark that one could not see their own hand in front of their face.
Lin Rong didn't know what Pei Zan wanted to do, but since her master hadn't given her permission, she didn't dare to wander around. She could only lower her head even further and wait anxiously.
A dim lamp was lit under the eaves outside, its light carried by the biting winter wind, adding a touch of softness to the dark interior.
Although Lin Rong still couldn't see the furniture and furnishings in the room, she could see the approaching hem of a green robe.
The unique scent of sandalwood, distinctly masculine, wafted gently, its rich, lingering aroma captivating the mind. The hem of his soft robe trailed on the ground, lightly brushing against Lin Rong's fingers pressed against the earth; Pei Zan had silently approached her.
Lin Rong's head was buzzing, and her cherry lips moved slightly.
After a long while, she whispered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Young Master... would you like me to light the lamp?"
“No need.” After saying this, Pei Zan looked down at her for a moment.
In the dim light, Pei Zan saw Lin Rong's neck.
She was so thin that when she lowered her head, the pearls on her neck bulged beneath her thin, almost transparent skin, and her spine, stretched by her fair skin, gave off an indescribable sense of fragility.
This also aroused Pei Zan's bloodthirsty evil heart.
He suddenly felt that the girl in front of him looked familiar. He felt like he had seen her somewhere before, with her head down and eyes lowered.
But Pei Zan disdained to look at her face; she was merely an object to relieve his irritability, so why should she go out of her way to please him?
Pei Zan suddenly bowed and extended his large hand towards her.
Lin Rong was caught off guard and was lifted up by one arm. She felt dizzy and was suddenly pressed against the edge of the table by Pei Zan.
Startled, Lin Rong dared not look back. She could only anxiously prostrate herself on the brocade round table in a rather unseemly posture, allowing herself to be looked at and manipulated by others.
Lin Rong's hip hit the wooden table, and she was hurt by the hard table and chair.
Before Lin Rong could get up, her slender shoulders and back were subjected to pressure again as Pei Zan forcefully pressed her down onto the table.
Lin Rong stood stiffly, her two thin, frail arms pinned behind her back by Pei Zan.
Lin Rong was like a drowning person. Every time she tried to get ashore to breathe, a cruel and terrifying hand would press against the top of her head, forcing her to sink and drown.
Lin Rong held back her tears and had no choice but to give up her desperate struggle.
She was like a piece of livestock, waiting to be slaughtered, helplessly enduring Pei Zan's actions.
Until Lin Rong called out in fear, "Young Master?"
Lin Rong turned away in humiliation until her legs felt cold.
Pei Zan had torn those underpants apart with his bare hands, leaving only a few strips of cloth at his ankles.
Lin Rong was speechless, her almond-shaped eyes filled with tears of fear.
Fortunately, after playing for a while, Pei Zan finally spoke.
He gave a threatening look and said in a deep voice, "Don't move. I don't like to coax people. Don't anger me."
Lin Rong stopped twisting her waist and struggling.
Just then, Pei Zan leaned over and covered her, his hot breath falling on her bare nape.
The man's long, cold black hair, flowing like water, cascaded down Lin Rong's thin shoulder blades, creating a thick layer of black ink.
Lin Rong knew that tonight's intimacy was too strange, but she had no experience in serving people closely and couldn't understand why Pei Zan suddenly wanted to confine her here.
But she could feel Pei Zan's sinister gaze, lingering inch by inch along the back of her slender, lotus-stem-like neck.
She could also feel Pei Zan's grip on her palms tightening, threatening to crush her to dust with the slightest carelessness.
Lin Rong had always thought Pei Zan was a cold and aloof Buddha, but today he seemed to be burning with heat, as if a great fire was burning on his body.
That scattered spark, along with her, was burned to ashes, completely consumed by Pei Zan.
Lin Rong dared not make a move, and called out softly again, "Young Master..."
She's such a foolish girl; when faced with trouble, all she can do is beg for mercy in a hoarse, unpretentious voice.
Pei Zan was already at his limit, tormented by her plaintive, tearful voice.
Now that the arrow is on the bowstring, it must be released.
Fortunately, Pei Zan heard Lin Rong's slightly tearful cries, which he found a bit noisy, but he didn't mind.
On the contrary, Pei Zan thought the young girl was quite sensible. He disliked women who approached him with coquettish manners; their affected and pretentious behavior disgusted him.
As Pei Zan stepped forward, he unusually showed kindness and explained to her, "I've been drugged and need your help to relieve it..."
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