As darkness fell outside, a cold wind carrying the scent of pear blossoms blew in through the window, making Xie Rongyue shiver.
Her eyes reddened, and an overwhelming sadness welled up inside her, but she didn't want to be laughed at, so she held back and retorted.
"Madam should just keep her husband in check."
"you---"
Yan Yuan was annoyed and angrily flung her sleeves to leave, but remembering what A Wan had entrusted to her, she gave her a disgruntled glare.
"They dare to be so arrogant even when they're about to die."
Xie Rongyue was never a good-natured person to begin with, and she was too lazy to pretend anymore, so she crossed her arms and smiled.
"You, a woman confined to your chambers, are so lonely that you dare to have an affair with your husband's cousin. If the elders of the Wang family find out, how much better will your fate be than mine?"
After Wang San brought her back from Beidu, she accidentally discovered their affair behind the artificial hill, but she never made a fuss about it.
Yan Yuan was startled by her words, but when she thought of Wang San's appearance, a bitter feeling welled up in her heart, and she spoke arrogantly.
“He married me but never touched me. Why should I remain chaste for him? Besides, it was Liu Lang who went to fetch me at our wedding. People outside would think I married Wang Liu Lang.”
“He talked back to my grandfather and brought you back to the mansion. Does he even care about me? If it weren’t for my grandfather’s concern for his reputation, I would have just remarried Liu Lang.”
She became increasingly indignant as she spoke, her eyes reddening as she complained.
"Do you think he doesn't know? He doesn't care at all. We're just doing our own thing, all talk and no action."
Xie Rongyue was stunned for a moment when she heard her words.
Yan Yuan noticed a hint of sympathy in her eyes as she looked over, and instantly felt displeased. Suppressing her emotions, she raised her chin and said arrogantly.
"You accidentally seriously injured Si Lang, and Wang San isn't in the manor either. You can just wait to die."
Xie Rongyue snapped out of her daze, biting her lower lip so hard that thin lines of blood seeped from it. She endured it and turned her face away.
Wang Silang, that lecherous scoundrel, took advantage of Wang San's trip to Jiankang and forcibly dragged her into the artificial hill when she passed by. She accidentally stabbed someone with a knife and was then locked in the woodshed.
"You're really bold, carrying a knife around like that. You're not planning to assassinate Wang San, are you?"
A suspicious voice came from ahead, but Xie Rongyue lowered her eyes and ignored her.
Seeing this, Yan Yuan snorted coldly, glanced at her pale face, and spoke.
"A-Wan has prepared money and a boat for you, and asked me to escort you out of the manor. Are you going or not?"
Xie Rongyue was taken aback and glanced at her sideways.
The eldest daughter of a noble family is naturally extremely beautiful, with a slender and graceful figure and a noble temperament. She is dressed in a gorgeous blue dress, covered with a light veil, and stands there quietly, like a beautiful painting.
When Yan Yuan saw her looking at her, she raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you."
"Why?"
Why did you save her?
Yan Yuan scoffed disdainfully, "If killing you would make him like me, you would have died long ago."
"---"
"Alright, stop dawdling. If you don't leave now, those wives from the fifth branch won't let you off the hook."
Xie Rongyue lowered her brows. "Thank you."
Yan Yuan called for someone to come in and help her change her clothes. Seeing that her body was burning up, she quietly instructed someone to quickly go to the kitchen to brew a bowl of medicine and force it down her throat.
Once she leaves Yandu, her life or death will be none of her concern.
The maids were quick and efficient; they soon changed her into men's clothing and brought her out.
Yan Yuan turned around and glanced at it, paused for a moment, and scoffed, "Vixen."
Even dressed like that couldn't hide her stunning beauty; no wonder Wang Silang was so confused.
“Make her face ugly; if she goes out looking like that, she’ll be devoured alive.”
The maids quickly applied ointments and creams to her face.
The night was deep and all was quiet, except for the sound of the night watchman beating his drum outside.
Yan Yuan led her out of the mansion quietly through the back door. Everything had been arranged, so no one stopped them.
The two boarded a carriage and headed out of the city.
Even late at night, the capital city of Yan was bustling with activity and extravagance.
Silver moonlight spilled onto the official road, casting a soft glow on the wild grass and leaves on both sides. A small boat stood on the lake shore.
The boatman saw the carriage swaying as it approached from the north, lowered his long pole, and leaped ashore.
"Miss."
Yan Yuan lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at him, "Get him out of Yandu safely, and take the official road back. Don't let anyone see you."
"yes."
The moonlight enveloped the mountain peaks on both sides of the river. Xie Rongyue alighted from the carriage and bowed slightly to her.
Yan Yuan glanced at it casually, then slammed the carriage curtain shut.
The carriage turned around and headed back the way it came.
The river was quiet and still, with birds flying low overhead, stirring up ripples.
Xie Rongyue sat at the stern of the boat, clutching her luggage tightly in her hands, her head bowed.
The boatman was a servant of the fourth branch of the Yan family's villa. He had worked for the manor's steward in his earlier years and appeared to be honest and kind.
He slowly poled the boat, looking back.
Under the cover of night, the woman, dressed in men's clothing, had her sleeves billowing in the wind, revealing her slender, jade-like breasts, which appeared fair and smooth under the moonlight.
"Where do you plan to go after leaving Yan?"
Xie Rongyue had been locked in the woodshed for several days, and her mind was extremely foggy. She didn't want to say much, but she was troublesome and didn't want to offend anyone, so she could only respond in a lukewarm manner.
"That place is far away, how can a little girl like you go there?"
The boatman walked towards her as he spoke.
“I have a property outside Yandu. Why don’t you go there and rest and recuperate?”
A rough hand suddenly reached out towards her. Xie Rongyue jumped back, her hand holding the luggage turning slightly white.
Under the moonlight, a pair of beautiful, bright eyes sparkled and captivated the boatman.
"Don't be afraid, my place is very well hidden, the master's people won't find you."
A maid who has made a mistake is sent away and will hardly have a chance to rise again. Even if he takes her back, no one will speak up for her.
Xie Rongyue was horrified when she saw the lewdness in his eyes, but she calmly said, "If Yan Yuan finds out what you're doing, she won't let you off the hook."
With a "smack", a slap landed on her face.
"Don't push your luck and try to scare me with this girl. Do you think I'm easily frightened? If you know what's good for you, lie down and behave yourself."
Xie Rongyue was already physically weak, and the slap almost made her ears ring. Her cheeks swelled up instantly from the pain, and tears welled up in her eyes.
A cold wind suddenly blew, and her ankle was grabbed. In a panic, she grabbed her luggage and threw it at the man.
The boatman, a hard-working man, was strong and quickly pinned her down, opening his mouth to kiss her.
Xie Rongyue felt nauseous and wanted to vomit, but she didn't care about feeling uncomfortable. She grabbed the long pole next to her and smashed it hard on his head, and blood gushed out instantly.
The boatman cried out in pain and was about to grab her when he saw her get up and run to the other end of the boat awning, her eyes flashing with ferocity.
"Run, oh my god, let's see where you can run to."
Xie Rongyue looked at the man who came through the boat awning in alarm, her eyes red as she waved the pole.
Suddenly, the other end of the boat pole was grabbed by a person with tremendous strength. She stumbled and almost crashed into the person. In shock and anger, she jumped to the side and into the bottom of the lake.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com