Chapter 15 Drawing a Circle on the Ground to Imprison the Moonlight (Part 5) She picked up that clean set...
The carriage came to a steady stop in front of the Nie residence. The lanterns hanging under the eaves swayed gently in the night breeze, casting a warm, dim glow.
Ye Yixiang stepped down from the carriage, leaning on the shaft. She subconsciously looked around but did not see that familiar tall figure, and a trace of doubt inevitably crossed her mind.
Didn't he just come back together? Where is he?
Pei Hong, who was standing to the side, seemed to understand her doubts. He immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands, and respectfully reported: "Madam, the general has ordered that he must immediately deal with the traitors in the army and personally interrogate the assassins captured today. He has also ordered me to escort you back to Lord Nie's residence to rest first, and not to wait for him."
The word "Madam" was exceptionally clear in the quiet night. Although she knew it was an act, Ye Yixiang's heart still couldn't help but tremble slightly, as if she had been gently burned by something.
She didn't show it on her face, but nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "Thank you for your trouble, Commandant Pei." In her heart, she secretly made up her mind that she would try to reduce her contact with Chu Huaili in the days to come. Every time she heard the title of "Madam," it gave her a headache.
Just as she was about to turn and enter the mansion, a delicate figure in a pale yellow dress fluttered out from inside the door like a butterfly, her voice filled with joy: "Sister! You're finally back!"
Nie Zhaoxue lifted her skirt and ran up to Ye Yixiang, her bright eyes scanning behind her. A hint of obvious disappointment appeared on her face. "Sigh? Didn't Brother Huaili come back with us?"
Ye Yixiang's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately became wary. How could Zhaoxue know that she was with Chu Huaili?
Could it be that... this so-called "chance encounter" today was a scheme orchestrated by Chu Huaili and Zhao Xue from beginning to end?
But he went to great lengths to set up this scheme. What could he possibly want from her, a former official who had lost power and a newly widowed woman?
She was filled with doubts, but remained outwardly calm, simply saying, "He is busy with military affairs."
Nie Zhaoxue did not notice her subtle change in mood. She still approached her with great interest, took her arm, and looked up at her with her little face to ask, "Did you have fun today, sister? Brother Huai Li's personal guards came to tell me that you had a few drinks at the banquet and that I should play by myself and not wait for you."
As she spoke, her little mouth pouted slightly, with a touch of coquettish complaint, "What a pity! I had originally planned to take my sister to the West Market to see the parade! I heard that tonight's parade floats were specially crafted by artisans from Jiangnan, and they are incredibly exquisite!"
"I also planned to go to Yunmiao Peak outside the city to have my fortune told and pray for good luck, since I heard the divinations there are very accurate; then I planned to release lotus lanterns and make wishes at Yingyue Lake; and finally, I planned to try all the new products at the pastry shops in the south of the city... Now all of that is ruined!"
Listening to Nie Zhaoxue recount the series of unfulfilled travel plans as if they were her own treasures, her tone full of sincere regret, Ye Yixiang's tense heartstrings suddenly relaxed, and then a strong sense of self-blame and guilt surged up.
Zhao Xue's mind is so pure and clear, like crystal. Even if Chu Huaili's scheme was involved in today's events, Zhao Xue would definitely be kept in the dark, completely unaware, and might even be a pawn in the scheme.
Looking at Zhaoxue's disappointed face, Ye Yixiang felt a pang of pity and gently comforted her, "It's alright, there's plenty of time, there will always be opportunities in the future."
These words were spoken both to Zhaoxue and as a way of comforting herself. She probably wouldn't be able to stay in Liangzhou City for long, especially since the road ahead was shrouded in mystery.
Hearing this, the gloom on Nie Zhaoxue's face vanished instantly, replaced by a bright and cheerful smile. She nodded vigorously, "Yes! Sister is right! I will definitely take you to explore all of Liangzhou City in the future!"
Suddenly remembering something, she looked curiously at the girl who was silently following behind Ye Yixiang, her presence as insignificant as a shadow, and who was covered in dirt. "Sister, who is this...?"
Ye Yixiang followed her gaze and saw that the child was still looking down, nervously twisting the hem of his tattered clothes with his hands, his body slightly shrunken, filled with unease about everything around him.
Her heart softened, and she said softly, "She... is the maid I just bought. She will stay by my side from now on."
Nie Zhaoxue blinked, somewhat puzzled as to why such a... special maid was chosen, but out of good upbringing and trust in Ye Yixiang, she didn't ask further. She simply smiled sweetly and said, "Since it was chosen by you, sister, it must be good! Come on in, it's windy outside. I've asked the kitchen to prepare some hot almond tea and a few snacks. You must be hungry!"
Nie Zhaoxue frowned and pointed to the dirty little girl: "Sister, the smell on her is really pungent. I'll have the servants boil more hot water and find some clean clothes for her to change into."
The girl, however, clung tightly to Ye Yixiang's back like a frightened little animal, her bright eyes warily scanning everyone who tried to approach, a low, threatening whimper escaping her throat, revealing her small, sharp teeth.
Seeing this, Ye Yixiang said gently to Nie Zhaoxue, "Thank you for your trouble, sister."
With the wary girl by his side, he first returned to a secluded courtyard in the inner part of the mansion.
After closing the door to block out the outside world, Ye Yixiang turned around and looked gently at the child in front of her, who was like a frightened bird.
She softened her voice, trying to make her tone sound warm and believable: "You don't need to be afraid. From now on, if you are willing to follow me, I will do everything in my power to protect you."
"If you still have family members alive, once I find the antidote and completely remove the poison from your body, I will set you free and let you reunite with your family."
The little girl simply pursed her lips tightly, staring intently at her with her overly bright eyes, without uttering a word.
Ye Yixiang sighed inwardly, wondering if he couldn't understand Mandarin.
She patiently tried asking in simpler terms, "Where are you from? Do you have any parents or relatives at home?"
Her response was still silence and those wary eyes.
Helpless, Ye Yixiang could only mutter to herself, "Perhaps she really doesn't understand... It's alright, we can teach her slowly in the future."
The stress and fright of the past few days, coupled with the tension at Qiankun Workshop, left her thirsty. She turned and walked to the table to pour herself a glass of water.
Just as she turned around, a muffled "thump" sound came from behind her!
Ye Yixiang turned around abruptly and saw that the stubborn and silent little girl was kneeling upright on the cold ground, her head tilted back. Her eyes, which had been full of wariness, were now filled with bright tears, which rolled down like broken pearls, washing over her dirty little face and leaving two clear streaks.
"Please...please," she began, her voice hoarse and stiff from not speaking for so long, but she clearly uttered Mandarin, "Save...my brother."
Ye Yixiang was shocked! She could actually speak Mandarin! Was she pretending the whole time? Or was she just afraid to trust anyone?
Seeing the tears welling up in the little girl's eyes, Ye Yixiang quickly said, "Get up, let's talk this out. Where is your brother now?"
The little girl stubbornly refused to get up, only shaking her head forcefully, her tears falling even faster, her voice choked and broken: "My younger brother... was young, and after being sold, he was locked up in Qiankunfang... for education... the day after tomorrow, the day after tomorrow he will be dragged onto the stage... and sold."
“My little brother is so good! He… he can do everything! Feeding the horses, chopping wood, herding sheep… he can do it all! Please save him! I won’t run away, none of us will run away! Our father and mother… they’re both dead…”
She raised her tear-blurred face, her expression one of solemnity beyond her years and desperate plea: "If you save us, sister, we will follow you faithfully from now on! The Eternal Heaven is our witness! Urozhu swears here that if my brother and I betray you, may our souls be scattered after death and never be reincarnated!"
"Stop talking!" Ye Yixiang felt a pang of sadness and hurriedly interrupted her overly heavy vow. "How...how were you captured and brought to Qiankun Workshop?"
Her doubts deepened. What kind of den of thieves was Qiankun Fang? How could they so openly buy and sell people in Liangzhou, under Nie Huaizhang's rule? The new dynasty had clearly promulgated laws strictly prohibiting gambling and human trafficking in public places!
Uluzhu wiped away her tears with her dirty sleeve, sobbing and saying intermittently, "My mother... was from Liangzhou, and my father... was from the Northern Di. Last year... the two countries were at war, and my father... died in battle... When my mother heard the news, she was about to give birth to my third sister... she was so shocked... she suffered a postpartum hemorrhage... and she... died too..."
“My brother and I… wanted to escape to Liangzhou to find our uncle… but our aunt disliked that our mother had married a Northern Di man and called us… bastards… and then turned around and… sold us to Qiankunfang…” Wuluozhu’s voice grew softer and softer.
Ye Yixiang lowered her eyes, her heart churning with turmoil. Even if she saved her brother, it would only be a temporary solution. The key was how to dismantle Qiankun Workshop, this den of iniquity that traded innocent lives! What forces were involved behind this? Even Nie Huaizhang seemed to be turning a blind eye?
Seeing her silence, Uroju thought she wouldn't agree, and hurriedly tried to kneel down again, pleading through tears, "Sister, please! Otherwise, if my brother is...if he's bought by other women, I don't know what kind of humiliation he'll suffer...he...he's still so young..."
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.
A maid's voice came: "Madam, the hot water is ready."
Ye Yixiang helped Wuluozhu, who was about to kneel down again. Looking at her tearful face, full of expectation and fear, her heart softened, and she solemnly said, "Okay, I promise you, I will do my best to save your brother." Then she called out, "Come in."
Several maids filed in, carrying in a steaming bathtub and water. The head maid said respectfully, "Madam, the room prepared for this young lady is in the west wing, and hot water has been prepared inside."
"This was specially prepared for you by the Second Miss. She said that you have been working hard these days and a bath will help you relax. We servants were sent by the Second Miss to help you bathe and change."
Ye Yixiang nodded slightly: "Please thank Sister Zhaoxue for her kindness. I can handle things myself, so there's no need to trouble you all."
Seeing her resolute attitude, the maids said nothing more, placed a clean linen handkerchief and a set of simple and clean clothes aside, and led Urozhu, whose eyes still showed unease, away.
The door closed gently, and the room returned to silence.
Ye Yixiang walked to the bathtub and looked at the flower petals floating in the water, which emitted a delicate fragrance. Her tense mind finally relaxed a little.
Such a pleasant and peaceful moment felt like something from a past life. She couldn't help but think of the days when Qingyuan was still alive.
He would always carefully instruct the servants to prepare hot water for her bath in advance, and sometimes he would playfully sprinkle some plum blossom petals that she liked. Then he would lean against the door, smiling as he watched her shy appearance, and gently say, "My wife, you've worked hard."
Those tender moments between husband and wife, now that I think about them, are like sand slipping through my fingers, impossible to grasp even a fraction of.
She took off her clothes, which were covered in dust and weariness, and immersed her body in the warm water.
The warmth instantly enveloped my limbs and body, dispelling the chill and fear of the past few days.
She closed her eyes, letting the water ripple gently.
Qingyuan is gone, but she must live on even more, for his sake too.
During his lifetime, he cared deeply about the stability of the border and pitied the suffering of the people. If he has a spirit in heaven, he will surely support her in saving Wuluozhu and her brother, and even... uncover the dark secrets of Qiankunfang.
After an unknown amount of time, until the water cooled down, Ye Yixiang got out of the bathtub and carefully dried her body and wet hair with a soft linen towel.
She picked up the clean dress, about to change, when suddenly, a deep male voice, one that should never have been heard here, abruptly rang out from behind the screen, shattering the silence of the room:
“There’s a deal that the princess would definitely be interested in.”
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