Chapter 114: Loyalty and Friendship
Xue Sui’s scalp tingled.
“The jade steps are empty, and Qiao’er isn’t there…”
How could a perfectly fine person just disappear?
Jinshu looked uneasy. “Your maid just went to ask the nanny in the Princess Consort’s courtyard, subtly inquiring about Young Madam Gu’s courtyard. At noon, Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion came to pick someone up. Qing Zhu said she didn’t see Qiao’er and couldn’t find her after searching everywhere. I wonder if this maid is hiding. Young Madam Gu’s attendants have all left, and we can’t make a big fuss looking for her, as it would invite gossip…”
Xue Yueying had publicly accused her of instigating Qiao’er to cause trouble.
If Xue Sui were to step forward now, she would surely be suspected.
Xue Sui said, “This separate villa is so large, it’s easy to hide someone. I’m just afraid…”
Jinshu knew what she meant and her face turned pale.
“Young Lady, don’t worry too much. Qiao’er is lucky and resilient; she’ll definitely be fine. Tomorrow morning, I’ll find a way to send people to look for her.”
There was no other way at the moment.
Xue Sui nodded helplessly.
“Thank you for your trouble, Aunt. You should rest early too.”
–
It was a sleepless night.
The raindrops were as big as beans, pattering against the tiles.
Suddenly, a faint tapping sound came from outside the window—
Xue Sui was so nervous she almost jumped off the bed.
Li Huan lived in the courtyard. How dare he come?
He was truly fearless!
She tiptoed over and, through the bamboo curtain, lowered her voice.
“Who is it?”
“The Gu Seeker.”
“What is it?”
Li Zhao’s voice carried in with the wind.
“The Madam’s ‘feigning illness to refuse attendance’ act was quite spectacular. I’ve come to see.”
Xue Sui slightly lifted a corner of the bamboo curtain, revealing only a cold face.
“It’s not as impressive as Your Highness. The news from Shangjing was also very timely.”
Li Zhao chuckled softly, not responding.
Xue Sui narrowed her eyes. “Your Highness, please leave quickly. If someone discovers you, this trick won’t work anymore.”
Li Zhao said, “Are you inquiring about that maid’s whereabouts?”
Xue Sui’s heart tightened. “Do you know where she is?”
Li Zhao said, “Last night, Xue Yueying went mad and made wild accusations. Prince Duan interrogated all the people serving her, including this Qiao’er.”
“How was it?” Xue Sui asked urgently.
“I don’t know what was said during the interrogation, but Prince Duan didn’t detain the servants at the time. She came out of the room with a few other maids, and they were all tight-lipped about it, no one spoke. Later, Young Madam Gu cried and made a scene in the room, taking her anger out on her, and hit her forehead with something. Then she withdrew…”
Xue Sui took a deep breath. “And then?”
Li Zhao said, “Who cares about a maid’s life or death?”
In the eyes of others, Qiao’er was just an ordinary maid Xue Yueying had randomly dragged out to take the blame in her anger. They wouldn’t really suspect her of colluding with Xue Liu…
The person disappeared. Her master didn’t pursue it, and others wouldn’t meddle and get into trouble.
Li Zhao saw her vacant gaze, frowned slightly, and his eyes swept over the collarbone faintly visible beneath her loose nightgown. He raised an eyebrow and smiled.
“Did you use the medicine I gave you?”
Xue Sui’s face changed, and she quickly pulled her nightgown tighter.
“No.”
After speaking, she slammed the window shut.
The sudden noise startled Xiao Zhao, who was on watch.
“Young Lady, what happened?”
Xue Sui took a deep breath and calmed herself. “Nothing. Go to sleep.”
She stood by the window for a moment, then opened it again.
She saw a light rain falling, creating a misty, serene, and somewhat eerie night in the separate villa.
No one was under the eaves.
This Li Zhao was more suited to being a thief than the Crown Prince!
Xue Sui returned to bed, wanting to sleep a little more, but she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Qiao’er was a variable, and also her weakness.
Once exploited, it would be easy for her carefully laid plans to fall apart.
The next morning, the rain finally stopped. Sunlight shone on the lotus leaves, and the cicadas chirped with a “hissing” sound, ushering in the prelude to a summer morning.
Xue Sui lazily got up to dress and groom herself, looking at her tired reflection in the bronze mirror with unspeakable irritation.
Ru Yi, standing nearby, lifted the window curtain.
Outside, the green mountains were layered, and the trees provided ample shade.
“Young Lady, look, the weather is so beautiful. It makes one happy just looking at it.”
Ru Yi, unaware of anything, smiled until her eyes curved into crescent moons.
Jinshu brought warm water and handed it to Xue Sui, whispering, “Madam, the Princess Consort sent many gifts, saying they are rewards for Madam’s meritorious service in attending to His Highness last night…”
Xue Sui heard this and put down her teacup with a muffled sound.
“The Princess Consort is unhappy, but she still cares about appearances.”
As the words were still on her lips, a sharp scream pierced the tranquility of the separate villa.
“In the lotus pond… a female corpse… quickly…”
“A female corpse was found in the lotus pond!”
“Someone drowned.”
“Help!”
Immediately after, hurried footsteps echoed densely along the outer corridor, like a rapid drumbeat that made one’s heart race.
The smile on Xue Sui’s face vanished instantly. An ominous premonition seeped into her heart, as if an invisible hand had fiercely gripped it, pounding as if it wanted to break free from her chest…
She looked at Jinshu, her expression anxious.
“Jinshu, go and see quickly.”
Jinshu quickly agreed and hurried out.
How could Xue Sui still have the mind to dress and groom herself?
She paced back and forth in the room, her steps hurried and flustered.
Her eyes looked towards the eaves—
Rainwater trickled down the roof gutters, drop by drop.
On the corner of the bamboo building’s eaves, the wind chimes tinkled incessantly, their sounds chaotic. To Xue Sui, they sounded like a death knell, disturbing her peace.
–
A moment later, Jinshu returned, handing over a plain handkerchief.
On the blood-stained handkerchief, a crooked crane was embroidered, as if about to take flight.
It was hastily embroidered by Qiao’er before her death, with rough stitches but a deep sentiment.
Jinshu’s voice was choked with tears. “The crane returns to the Old Mausoleum Swamp, unstained by worldly mud. Qiao’er willingly walked into this fatal situation—”
With a sob, she continued, “To help Madam escape suspicion and completely nail Xue Yueying to the pillar of shame, Qiao’er made this choice willingly…”
Only the dead could keep secrets forever.
If Li Huan interrogated her once, there would be a second and a third.
Her living would be a hidden danger for the Young Lady.
This was Qiao’er’s way of showing loyalty.
Jinshu understood Qiao’er.
If, one day, the same thing happened to her, she might not be able to endure torture, so rather than endure it, she would choose death, sacrificing herself for the Young Lady.
“Young Lady, don’t be sad. I understand Qiao’er’s intentions perfectly. She was happy to do this, and it was worth dying to help you…”
Jinshu comforted Xue Sui, her voice soft and gentle.
Xue Sui sat quietly on the couch, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably.
The tremor reached her heart.
Years ago, Qiao’er had entrusted her blind, gravely ill sister to her, and also placed the infant brother in swaddling clothes into her arms, her face full of determination, as if it were yesterday.
“Please, Young Lady, with your great kindness, save my sister and brother’s lives. From now on, Qiao’er will repay your kindness by being your ox or horse, even if it costs her life, she will not hesitate…”
Jinshu said, “Back then, Qiao’er’s sister was tortured to such a state by Fourth Miss Xue. Her heart ached so much, and she was so grateful to you. For years, she always spoke of repaying your kindness. Now that she has fulfilled her wish, she likely has no regrets.”
Xue Sui slowly closed her eyes, her lips devoid of color, her face as pale as paper.
It was hard for her not to feel distressed.
When she first returned to the Xue Mansion, she had asked Jinshu to find Qiao’er. Upon hearing her entrustment, Qiao’er’s face was full of smiles, her eyes as firm as solid ice.
“Young Lady, Qiao’er is willing to be the sharpest blade in your hand.”
Seeing Xue Sui so sad, Jinshu advised, “Young Lady, everything in this world has its destiny. Please don’t be too sad, or she won’t be able to rest in peace.”
Xue Sui nodded forcefully, suppressing the surging grief in her heart, her voice hoarse.
“Actually, this was not a fatal situation. If she had endured a little longer, she wouldn’t have had to take this step…”
Jinshu said, “She didn’t want to make Young Lady uneasy.”
Xue Sui’s throat tightened, as if something were stuck, and after a long while, she closed her eyes.
“You send a message to Senior Brother Yaoguang, telling him to make sure Qiao’er’s family is well taken care of. Please do not mistreat them.”
Jinshu agreed, turned her head, and tears began to fall uncontrollably.
The Old Mausoleum Swamp had too many people like Qiao’er.
They were ordinary yet tenacious. They had all been pitiable people, struggling desperately to survive. By chance, they became bound to the Old Mausoleum Swamp, and then they honed themselves into sharp blades, sharpening them to an extreme degree, and then offering them without reservation when the Old Mausoleum Swamp needed them, all to protect the affection in their hearts.
Xue Sui: See you tomorrow, my readers! May your days be like New Year’s and your nights filled with joy.
Li Zhao: What about me?
Xue Sui: Begone—Gu Seeker!
