Chapter 155: Companions

Chapter 155: Companions

Xin You recalled their first encounter: she was riding in an open carriage, dashing madly down the road, and after getting off, she approached him with a stench of death.

"If you had killed Kou Qingqing and were brought back to Shaoqing Mansion, there would be no need to bring your maid back to the mountains."

It was only after she had lived in Shaoqing Mansion for some time that they met for the first time. This was something he learned later when a fallen flower pot aroused his suspicions, and he ordered his men to investigate her background.

Seeing Xin You's pale face, He Qingxiao paused and said, "More importantly, as we interacted more, I knew you weren't that kind of person."

At that time, she had suspected him of being one of those who had killed Empress Xin, and she had repeatedly tested him, fearing she might harm an innocent. How much more so for a pitiful young girl like Kou Qingqing.

Xin You was not consoled.

Corpse smell, corpse smell, corpse smell.

"Miss Kou—" He Qingxiao was somewhat at a loss.

Still angry?

Xin You wouldn't let her emotions linger for long. For someone who had revealed half her secret, it was necessary to maintain a good relationship with Lord He.

"I did go back into the mountains again and found Kou Qingqing's body. I temporarily hid her remains with her maid Xiaolian."

After talking about Kou Qingqing, Xin You suddenly felt much lighter.

Knowing she wasn't Kou Qingqing, Xiaolian saw her every step as smooth and successful, but the pressure she endured was known only to herself.

If not out of sheer necessity, who would want to live under another's identity?

More tragically, she even had to be grateful for this identity, which allowed her to quickly establish herself in the capital and search for the killer.

But on that spring day when the winter snow had just melted, she was still carefree.

A child in her mother's eyes.

Now that He Qingxiao knew most of her secrets, at least in front of him, she could be herself for a moment.

"If Lord He has finished asking questions, I'd like to return to the Bookstore." Xin You spoke sincerely, but also as a test.

Would he ask about her purpose for coming out tonight?

She hoped for a moderate cooperation between them, rather than being under his constant surveillance.

"I'll see you back."

Xin You smiled faintly. "Thank you."

The lights were extinguished, and the room plunged into darkness. Both dressed in black, they couldn't see each other in that instant, and their breathing became clear in the sudden silence and darkness.

Their scents also became clearer.

Xin You's expression stiffened.

To play the role of her deceased mother, she had used chicken blood on her face and body. The blood on her face had been washed off, but the clothes under her cloak hadn't been changed.

The person beside her seemed to have a poor sense of smell, his tone unchanged as he said, "Be careful where you walk, Miss Kou."

"I know this place well; Lord He should be the one to be careful."

They walked out of the house, the dark clouds moving across the sky, the surroundings pitch black. When they stepped out of the courtyard gate, it was slightly brighter.

"Try to stay indoors as much as possible."

"Understood."

"Miss Kou, please go in first."

Hearing this, Xin You didn't argue further and quietly opened the door and went in.

He Qingxiao stood there for a moment, then set off in a direction.

He didn't head for Changle Marquis Mansion but for the Pacification Office.

This night was destined to be sleepless.

Back in the warm room, Xin You took off her blood-stained clothes and soaked in a steaming hot bathtub, her limbs regaining flexibility.

Xiaolian brought clean clothes and added more hot water but asked nothing.

In just a few short months, she had experienced more than in the previous ten years, and she was no longer as innocent as a blank sheet of paper. She could sense that after reclaiming her family's wealth, her lady needed to focus on her own affairs.

"Xiaolian," Xin You called softly.

"Yes, my lady?"

The girl in the bathtub had snow-white shoulders and hair like algae, her lips regaining color in the steam.

"The shops need to be managed properly. You and Aunt Fang might as well move out of the Bookstore and take good care of those shops."

Xiaolian's face changed. "My lady, are you sending Xiaolian away?"

Xin You, surprised by Xiaolian's strong reaction, picked up a soft towel and wiped her hair while saying, "Those shops belong to Miss Kou and will be your and Aunt Fang's means of support in the future. It's better if you start managing them early."

"No!" Xiaolian shook her head repeatedly. "My lady, don't send me away. Let Aunt Fang manage the shops; I only want to stay with you!"

Xin You got up, and Xiaolian hurriedly wrapped her in a large blanket.

After dressing, sitting before the mirror to comb her hair, Xin You continued, "With those shops, you and Aunt Fang will have a secure future, which is what Miss Kou would want to see."

Xiaolian knelt down resolutely: "I only wish to follow you!"

"The floor is cold, get up quickly." Xin You helplessly pulled her up and revealed her intentions, "I will be busy with my own affairs from now on, and it might be life-threatening. If you stay at the Bookstore, you might be implicated."

Unlike Hu the Shopkeeper and others, Xiaolian and Mama Fang were brought out by her from Shaoqing Mansion. If anything happened to her as Miss Kou, they would likely be implicated.

"I understand, but I feel at ease following you. Even if I am implicated, I am not afraid."

Xin You was about to say more when Xiaolian grasped her wrist.

"Xiaolian has already lost my young lady. I don't want to lose you too. Please, I beg you."

She didn't desire wealth or status; she only wanted to stay by the side of her two young ladies.

Xin You fell silent for a moment, then asked seriously, "No regrets?"

Xiaolian nodded vigorously, "No regrets!"

Xin You looked at the vibrant young woman in the mirror and smiled slightly, "Alright."

It seemed that even on the most difficult path, she had a companion.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Chang Liang suddenly sat up, gasping for breath.

He instinctively looked around, seeing familiar furniture and surroundings.

Did he see a ghost last night?

Realizing what had happened, he immediately got out of bed and thoroughly checked everything inside and out.

He still remembered the female ghost's tears of blood falling to the ground, but there was nothing, no trace of any ghost.

Chang Liang washed his face with cold water and spat on the ground.

To have been pressed by a ghost, how unlucky!