The moment the wood chips pierced her palm, she heard Li Qirui's hoarse growl, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the old figure leap like an arrow towards the recliner, using his back to shield Madam Cheng from the falling crossbeam.
"Madam!" A cry of alarm shattered the deathly silence.
Zhang Qi, holding an oil lamp, rushed to the front. As the dim yellow light swept across the mess on the ground, his hand holding the gun trembled violently.
Cheng Muyun practically pushed his way through the crowd, his face, still reeking of alcohol, filled with panic.
"What's wrong?" His hot breath sprayed onto her mud-covered forehead, and his trembling fingers brushed away her messy hair.
Xu Zhuohua looked up and saw a terrifying storm churning in Cheng Muyun's bloodshot eyes.
The sound of footsteps in the courtyard grew closer, intertwining with the maids' exclamations and Zhang Qi's reprimands.
Cheng Muyun's iron-like arms gripped her so tightly that her ribs ached, and her temples throbbed as if they were about to burst.
Xu Zhuohua looked at Madam Cheng huddled behind Li Qirui, and under the trembling pale yellow skirt, a suspicious bruise was vaguely visible on her ankle.
Li Qirui had regained his composure, his pale face bearing just the right amount of worry, but the hand supporting Madam Cheng trembled slightly in front of Xu Zhuohua.
"It's nothing." Xu Zhuohua's voice seemed to be squeezed out from deep in her throat, and she could only keep her voice steady by digging her nails deep into her palms. "There was a noise over here. I thought it was a thief and the gun went off accidentally."
The night wind swept up the fallen petals, making her skirt flutter and rustle. The fragrance of wisteria wafted into her nostrils, making her eyes sting.
Cheng Muyun's thumb rubbed against the skin on the inside of her wrist, the burning heat of his body scalding through her veins.
As he leaned down, the smell of alcohol wafted onto her face, and a deep, tender inquiry welled up in his reddened eyes: "Really?"
Xu Zhuohua turned her face away and caught a glimpse of Li Qirui's cold smile as he hid behind Madam Cheng. His gaze behind his silver-rimmed glasses was like a poisoned dagger, sending chills down her spine.
She suddenly broke free from the restraining hand, and as she turned around, her embroidered shoes shattered the moonlight scattered on the ground.
Xu Zhuohua staggered into the house, hearing Madam Cheng's weak cough behind her, and Li Qirui's hoarse reassurance: "Don't be afraid, I'm here..."
These words were like a rusty nail, driven straight into her temple. Suddenly, a blinding white light exploded before her eyes, almost dragging her into a dark abyss.
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