Chapter 10: Provoke

Chapter 10: Provocation

As the sweet scent of osmanthus permeated Qingyuan County for miles around, the long-awaited results of the autumn provincial examinations were finally announced.

Wei Mingjin, as expected, secured the top rank of *Jieyuan*.

The couriers, clearing the way with gongs, galloped swiftly to the Wei family residence to deliver the good news.

In an instant, the news spread throughout Qingyuan County. Old friends, relatives, and Wei Mingjin's teachers and classmates flocked to the Wei household to offer their congratulations.

Upon hearing the news, Zou Shi, who had been conversing with Xin He, immediately took her leave in a flustered hurry.

Soon, Xin He understood the reason for Zou Shi's hasty departure.

Zou Shi and Wei Jingyao had a son. Believing it foolish not to seize an advantage, the couple arrived uninvited to assist Wei Mingjin in entertaining guests, while simultaneously seizing every opportunity to introduce their own son to the visitors.

When Xin He learned of this, she was utterly dumbfounded.

On one hand, they sided with her against Wei Mingjin, yet on the other, they sought to leverage Wei Mingjin's connections to pave the way for their son. In all of Qingyuan County, it would be hard to find a more brazenly shameless couple.

However, while astonished by the Wei Jingyao couple's audacity, Xin He was also secretly delighted to see them create trouble for Wei Mingjin.

The thought of Wei Mingjin, though inwardly seething with anger at the couple, being forced to maintain his gentlemanly composure and feign indifference, brought Xin He immense satisfaction. It even improved her appetite considerably.

That day, after her meal, Xin He went out for a stroll. Just as she stepped out of her courtyard, she encountered Wei Mingjin.

Xin He greeted Wei Mingjin as usual.

Wei Mingjin nodded. Normally, after exchanging greetings, he would depart. But today, he remained standing, looking at Xin He, and asked with a faint smile, "Auntie seems to be in particularly good spirits today?"

Usually, Xin He appeared timid and reserved in his presence, but today, despite her efforts to suppress it, a subtle hint of joy radiated from her eyes and brows.

"I'm happy for you, Young Master, for achieving the *Jieyuan*!" Xin He replied, her voice rising in cheerfulness, though inwardly she was reveling in schadenfreude.

Wei Mingjin stood with his hands clasped behind his back and calmly retorted, "Is that so?"

His gaze fixed on Xin He, his eyes as deep and unfathomable as a dark pool, simultaneously unsettling and intimidating.

Xin He was accustomed to Wei Mingjin's gentle, smiling, hypocritical facade. Now that he had abruptly torn off that mask, a shiver of cold dread ran down her spine.

She shouldn't have gotten carried away and forgotten that Wei Mingjin was a two-faced hypocrite.

Xin He instinctively clutched her skirt, forcing a strained smile. Just as she was about to utter something to salvage the situation, Wei Mingjin averted his gaze.

The profound pressure from moments before vanished in an instant. He reverted to his usual gentle and refined demeanor, a smile playing on his lips. "Then I thank you, Auntie."

With that, Wei Mingjin turned and strolled away gracefully.

Still immersed in fear, Xin He failed to notice the flicker of scorn and disdain in Wei Mingjin's eyes.

*To dare provoke him with such timidity, she truly doesn't know her place.*

Feng Mo sneered inwardly. Xin He believed their young master was too concerned with saving face to be manipulated by the Second Branch couple.

Little did she know, their young master simply couldn't be bothered to deal with such people. Since the Second Branch wished to take the lead, he was naturally content to be a hands-off manager.

Looking at Xin He's slightly pale face, Feng Mo inexplicably recalled an old incident.

Years ago, Wei Mingjin had kept a cat. It was a remarkably beautiful creature, pure white with emerald green eyes and a fluffy tail. However, its nature was somewhat wild, and it wasn't particularly affectionate. Every time Wei Mingjin approached it, it would scratch him with its claws.

Yet, Wei Mingjin was very fond of it.

He fed it the finest dried fish, personally groomed and bathed it, and even held it while sleeping at night.

But one day, Wei Mingjin personally strangled that cat.

Because the cat had bitten him.

The bite had only broken the skin on Wei Mingjin's hand, not even drawing blood, yet Wei Mingjin had choked the cat to death.

To this day, Feng Mo remembered that night, near the end of spring. Wei Mingjin stood by the window, his pale face half-illuminated in the shadows, gazing down at the desperately struggling cat in his palm. He sighed, as if to himself, "What's the use of keeping something that can't be tamed?"

Feng Mo watched as the cat, initially struggling fiercely, eventually went completely limp.

And for a fleeting moment, Feng Mo, in a daze, seemed to see the shadow of that cat on Xin He's pale face.

But this illusion lasted only a moment before Feng Mo dismissed it.

He must be losing his mind. Xin He was their master's concubine, and she was a human being—how could she resemble a cat?

Feng Mo quickly shook off these wild thoughts and hurried after Wei Mingjin.

Xin He stood rooted to the spot for a long while before finally recovering from her earlier fear. Though it was a glorious sunny day, she suddenly shivered.

She shouldn't have gotten carried away and provoked Wei Mingjin.

That man was a sanctimonious demon; she should stay as far away from him as possible.

Xin He and Qiong Hua wandered aimlessly, unexpectedly finding themselves by the lotus pond.

At this time of year, the lotus flowers had already withered and fallen, leaving only yellowed, decaying leaves on the water's surface. With guests frequently visiting to offer congratulations in recent days, the servants likely hadn't had time to clear it.

Feeling somewhat tired from walking, Xin He sat down in the waterside pavilion to rest.

"I'm a little thirsty. Could you fetch a pot of tea?" Xin He instructed.

Qiong Hua seemed a little hesitant: "Auntie, will you be alright here alone?"

"It's fine. Just go quickly and come back soon." Xin He, being pregnant, needed her desires fulfilled immediately, otherwise, she would feel utterly uncomfortable.

Qiong Hua assented and hurried off.

Xin He sat alone in the waterside pavilion, leaning on the railing and watching the fish swim in the pond.

A soft "plop" sounded as a pebble landed on the lotus pond, sending ripples across the calm water and startling the fish into scattering.

Xin He instinctively straightened up and saw a young man in a blue robe standing on the other side of the pond, throwing pebbles into the water with a displeased expression.

Another soft "plop" sounded as a pebble landed in the water directly in front of Xin He, splashing her with water.

Xin He gasped in surprise. The pebble-throwing youth then noticed someone in the waterside pavilion and was immediately startled. He quickly hurried around. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry, I didn't notice anyone here."

The young man had a vibrant, youthful face, with his hair tied in a high ponytail. He stood about five paces away, looking at her with an apologetic expression.

Although Xin He had never met him, she had already vaguely guessed his identity from his attire and appearance.

"It's alright," Xin He said, wiping the water from her face with a gentle smile. "Shouldn't the Second Young Master be in the front hall with Second Master Wei, entertaining guests? What brings you here?"

Just as Wei Mingxuan was about to answer, he spotted his attendant searching for him in the distance. He quickly ducked behind a rockery, lowering his voice as he spoke to Xin He, "Don't tell him you saw me."

Xin He turned her head to see the servant boy already standing on the opposite side of the lotus pond.

"Greetings, Auntie. Have you seen my young master?"

"I did see someone just now, but I don't know if it was your young master."

Wei Mingxuan, hiding behind the rockery, tensed up, only to see Xin He raise her hand and point in another direction: "That person was wearing a blue robe, had a high ponytail, and went that way."

The servant thanked her and hurried off in the direction she had indicated.

Once the footsteps faded away, Wei Mingxuan emerged from behind the rockery. He first thanked Xin He, then asked curiously, "How did you know I was Wei Mingxuan? Have we met before?"

"Never, but I noticed your features bear some resemblance to the Second Madame's."

Earlier, Wei Mingxuan hadn't known who Xin He was, but upon hearing her words, he said, "Though we haven't met, I also know who you are. You are Aunt Xin, right?"

Since his elder uncle passed away, his mother often visited the pregnant Aunt Xin.

As he finished speaking, Wei Mingxuan lifted his chin with a look that clearly said, "Aren't I clever?"

Xin He was amused by his expression and replied with a smile, "Indeed, Second Young Master, you are very clever."

The autumn sun was warm, and withered lotus leaves and stems covered the pond. Xin He, dressed in a jade-green dress, sat by the railing, looking up at him. Her cheeks were dimpled with a deep smile, and her eyes were bright and captivating—she seemed more dazzling than the sunlight itself.

Wei Mingxuan was momentarily mesmerized.

"Auntie." Qiong Hua's voice suddenly broke the silence.

Wei Mingxuan jolted back to attention, awkwardly lowering his head, no longer daring to look at Xin He.

Qiong Hua had brought not only tea but also two plates of pastries.

Just as Wei Mingxuan was about to leave, Xin He poured him a cup of tea. Wei Mingxuan then decided to finish the tea before departing.

But before he could finish the tea, he found himself complaining to Xin He about how his parents insisted on dragging him along to greet the guests.

"Elder Brother ranking *Jieyuan* is a joyous occasion, but since he is still in mourning, it's inappropriate to celebrate lavishly. That's why his teachers and classmates came to offer congratulations. Yet my parents are so muddled, they insist on dragging me along to socialize with those well-wishers. How must Elder Brother feel about this? What will others think of me?" Wei Mingxuan's vibrant face was filled with displeasure and disapproval.

Wei Mingxuan was the same age as Xin He, and boys of that age were particularly concerned with their reputation.

Xin He smiled and offered him a pastry: "Alright, don't be upset. Have a pastry."

Wei Mingxuan didn't like sweets, but at that moment, he inexplicably took one.

A quarter of an hour later, Wei Mingxuan departed.

The person who had been so displeased earlier now left with light, brisk steps.

Qiong Hua couldn't help but praise, "Auntie, you are truly amazing."

When she had arrived earlier, Wei Mingxuan had still looked unhappy. Yet after just a few words of comfort from Xin He, Wei Mingxuan instantly brightened up.

Xin He merely smiled without responding, sighing inwardly.

Wei Jingyao and his wife were full of more schemes than a pond has lotus roots, yet they had raised their son to be so naive. She wondered whether it was a blessing or a curse.

Time flowed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, the day to send the sacred offering to Ciyun Temple had arrived.