After crossing the path, Yang paused.

She thought she would see a heavily guarded courtyard with many guards, but she did not expect that the moonlit Banyuepan with its clear stream, fence and earthen wall looked like a peaceful and quiet farmhouse.

"Aunt Yang, please come this way!" The person leading the way was a servant of about eighteen or nineteen years old, tall and thin. In the night, his eyes were bright and shrewd.

Yang quickly calmed down and followed the servant quietly.

The wind blew, the leaves danced, and it seemed that countless human figures were floating in the woods.

She hurriedly looked at her nose with her eyes, and her heart with her nose, and followed the servant into the main room of the farmhouse.

The main room was silent. The long desk, curtains and flower tables stood quietly in the darkness. Only a melon-shaped sheep-horn palace lantern was lit on the square table. It was as bright as the moon and emitted a soft light.

Xu Lingyi sat on the armchair next to the sheep-horn palace lantern. The bright light shone on his face, making his handsome features even softer.

Yang felt relieved and knelt gently on the ground.

"I am Yang, your concubine, and I pay my respects to the Marquis!"

There was a slight chill on my knees, but it wasn't painful.

The floor should be paved with terrazzo blue tiles!

She suddenly thought of the first time she met the Marquis of Jianning, also on such a night, kneeling on the terrazzo bricks. At that time, her family was poor, and she only had a pair of pants under her skirt. She was shivering, but she didn't feel cold, only excited and uneasy when she saw the Dragon Gate. Unlike now, although she wore knee-length pants embroidered with plum, orchid and bamboo outside her pants, she felt empty and unsettled in her heart...

"Stand up and talk!" Xu Lingyi's voice was calm but gentle.

Yang felt a little relieved.

She did not stand up obediently, but continued to kneel there, with her head lowered even more.

"My lord, I dare not." She held her breath and tried her best to make her voice sound clear and crisp. "I am so shameless to ask for a meeting, but I am really... really frightened and helpless..." There was a hint of tears in her tone.

* * * * * *

Fangxi walked in front on tiptoe with a lantern in hand, glancing at Shiyi Niang behind her from time to time.

Eleventh Lady has a light figure and a leisurely temperament, and the way she walks is as graceful as the spring breeze blowing through the willows.

Fangxi started out as a maid and was very skilled at carrying lanterns.

Every time I showed the way for my lady, as long as she slowed down her pace a little, she could lead the way with her head held high.

But this time...

She couldn't slow down, nor could she walk faster. Either she was too close, or too far away, and it just felt awkward.

Fangxi became anxious, and when she turned around, her eyes turned towards Zhuxiang.

When Zhu Xiang saw her looking at her, she shook her head gently.

After leaving the house, the lady's steps were as smooth as flowing water, but when she reached Fangxi Pavilion, her steps paused and gradually slowed down. When she entered the corridor, she was as calm as usual... Now she could see Chunyan Pavilion when she raised her eyes, and the lady's steps slowed down again.

Zhu Xiang thought for a moment and said softly, "Madam, if you are tired, why don't we go to Chunyan Pavilion to rest!"

I didn't come here to visit the garden, so I didn't bring any brocade mats or Buddhist whisks. Moreover, Chunyan Pavilion was built on a small hill. Although it was not high, the way to the pavilion was long. Since I was tired, why not take a rest on the stone bench beside the corridor? Why go to Chunyan Pavilion instead of climbing to it?

Fangxi could not help but stop and turn around, a smile on her face, and she was about to make a suggestion when she heard Shiyi Niang's hesitant voice: "Okay! Let's go to Chunyan Pavilion and sit down!"

In the darkness, Zhu Xiang's expression relaxed.

Aunt Yang is the Marquis's concubine. If she needs to see the Marquis for something, the Marquis will decide whether to see her or not. Madam, following him so hastily, does not have the grace and tolerance of a lady. Even if Yang succeeded, it was just "inappropriate". If she really needs to see the Marquis for something urgent, wouldn't she become the laughing stock of the whole mansion? Weren't all her virtues in the past fake!

But she couldn't say this.

If it doesn't concern you, you will get confused. My wife is a sensible person, she was just in a hurry.

She bought time for her lady to think it over.

If you think it through, you will naturally know what to do!

Zhu Xiang smiled and called out "Fang Xi", motioning her to lead the way, and helped Shiyi Niang to Chunyan Pavilion.

* * * * * *

"...Once you enter the Xu Mansion, you will belong to the Xu Mansion for life and death." Yang looked up, and under the light, the tears in the corners of her eyes were like dewdrops. "At this time, I should have turned a blind eye. But as a child, how can I sit back and watch my parents suffer? My Lord..." She knelt and moved forward a few steps until her knees were one step away from Xu Lingyi's feet. "I am unvirtuous and incompetent, and I dare not ask for your favor. Please think of me as someone who pities me for being alone and helpless, like a beggar you met on the road and then threw two copper coins to save his life. Please say a word to me and help me overcome the difficulties of the destruction of my family..." As she spoke, she lowered her head, and tears fell on Xu Lingyi's knees. "My Lord, My Lord... I am terrified. There is no one else I can ask for help except you..."

* * * * * *

Looking north from Chunyan Pavilion, you can see the sparkling water of Banyuepan Lake, the model-like small houses, and the small lights in the main hall.

The night wind in February is still a little chilly.

I knew clearly that Xu Lingyi would not do anything ridiculous at this time, and I knew clearly that I should just laugh it off like I did before, but why couldn't I bear the irritation in my heart and ran to Chunyan Pavilion without thinking about anything!

Eleventh Lady folded her arms across her chest, stood there quietly, and looked at Banyue Pan in silence.

Some problems can no longer be ignored.

Persist or compromise...you must make a choice!

Thinking of this, she felt a slight pain in her heart.

If Xu Lingyi had met someone other than me, life might have been simpler!

* * * * * *

Amid the low sobbing, the wick burst slightly.

Xu Lingyi sat there without moving at all.

He said softly, "I heard that your Yang family is a wealthy family in the village. How come your father was humiliated and there is no one in your family who can stand up for himself!"

Yang was shocked.

Xu Lingyi's words clearly accused his father of having bad character, which was why he was not tolerated by the clan.

She did not dare to hesitate and whispered, "Children should not speak of their parents' faults. I am also very uneasy in my heart." But her eyes quickly glanced at Xu Lingyi.

There was no avoidance, no denial, just expressing one's helplessness.

Very clever indeed!

The corners of Xu Lingyi's mouth curled up slightly, as if he had a faint smile.

After several attempts, I finally found a way.

Yang's eyes lit up, and she began to understand why Xu Lingyi liked Eleventh Lady.

"My Lord!" She imitated Eleventh Lady, trying to sound calm and composed, "I know this is not right. I can only ask you to help me through this difficult time. From now on, I will control my family and neighbors, help the weak and lonely..." Her hand gently fell on Xu Lingyi's knees - the dampness on the brocade robe made Yang feel relieved. She looked at Xu Lingyi boldly, and the expectation in her heart was like a burning fire, making her eyes a little bright, "...I will never use the name of Yongping Marquis's Mansion to do bullying..." Before she finished her sentence, Yang's voice had gradually lowered.

The faint smile on Xu Lingyi's lips had turned into deep sarcasm and disdain.

What went wrong?

All the blood in her body rushed to her head and beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose.

My mind was racing, but I didn't dare to change the subject, fearing that if I continued to remain silent, I would have no room for maneuver.

"I will definitely explain it clearly to father. After what happened, father must have realized the fickleness of the world and will be more thoughtful before doing anything..."

Xu Lingyi had crawled out of a pile of dead bodies, and he valued all those who were struggling to survive. Seeing her pretending to be nice to him again and again, although it was funny, she was still true to her nature.

I originally thought that I would just let her go.

But unexpectedly, when her father was imprisoned, she was not thinking about how to save her family, but how to use this disadvantage to seek benefits for herself.

He looked at the hands resting on his knees.

Yang felt as if her hand was burned by falling fire.

She understood immediately.

If you really care about your family, why would you use such flirtatious tactics at this moment?

I subconsciously pulled my hands back, feeling extremely regretful.

“My Lord…” Her eyes became somewhat flustered, and her tone was no longer as fluent as before, “You are kind-hearted, generous and magnanimous… If my father knew about this, he would definitely be grateful for your kindness…”

Someone walked in quietly.

She didn't dare to look back, but when she glanced over from the corner of her eye, she saw a pair of black shoes with the word "Fu" on them resting at her knees.

The visitor didn't care that she was talking. He respectfully called her "Marquis", then leaned over and whispered in Xu Lingyi's ear.

Yang heaved a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, someone came, otherwise, she really didn't know what to say.

The thought flashed through his mind, and he quickly took a look at the person who came.

It was the servant who brought her in.

Although we were close, I couldn't hear clearly what they were saying, but I vaguely felt that the three words "Chun Yan Ting" were mentioned.

She saw Xu Lingyi's eyes immediately become gentle like the sheep-horn lantern beside the table.

"Got it!" he whispered, "Just keep an eye on it. It's dark here, so don't stumble. If someone comes in, there's no need to stop them!" His tone was flat, but it revealed a hint of joy.

* * * * * *

Fangxi and Zhuxiang stood with Shiyi Niang in silence. After a long time, they felt their hands and feet were a little cold, and they could not help but move their feet gently.

As if she had sensed the two's movements, Eleventh Lady took a deep breath and suddenly turned around: "Let's go back!"

"Go back!" Fangxi looked at Shiyi Niang in surprise.

Are we just going to let Yang stay in Banyuepan like this?

What if other concubines find out and follow suit?

But there is also Zhu Xiang here, so even if she wants to persuade, it is not her turn to do so.

She quickly winked at Zhu Xiang.

Who would have thought that Zhu Xiang smiled and helped Shiyi Niang up: "Madam, the night dew is heavy, be careful not to slip." She didn't say anything else.

Fangxi had no choice but to pout and walk a few steps forward to help them walk down the bluestone steps.

* * * * * *

The servant left and the room returned to its previous tranquility.

Yang knelt in front of Xu Lingyi with her hands on her knees, her back straight and her eyelids drooping, looking dignified and generous.