Chapter 19: Murderous Intent

Chapter 19: Killing Intent

Xin He’s face instantly went pale.

Wei Mingjin—how could he be here?!

As if sensing Xin He’s confusion, Wei Mingjin slowly approached her, explaining, “Your aunt is pregnant and staying at the mountain temple. I was worried, so I came to check on her. But I only arrived near nightfall yesterday. After meeting with the abbot, I heard she had already retired, so I didn’t want to disturb her.”

Wei Mingjin still wore his usual gentle, smiling demeanor, yet for some reason, Xin He felt he was different.

But exactly how he was different, Xin He couldn’t quite articulate.

Wei Mingjin stopped three paces away, smiling as he looked at Xin He. “It’s still early. I noticed you walking quickly—may I ask where you were planning to go?”

Now that Wei Mingjin was here, she couldn’t leave today.

Suppressing her unease, Xin He focused on dealing with Wei Mingjin first. “I heard that Ciyun Temple has a viewing platform where one can admire the beauty of frost-tipped red leaves in the morning. I thought I’d go take a look.”

“It seems we had the same idea. But that viewing platform is built high up, and climbing might be difficult for you in your condition. I know of another excellent spot for enjoying the scenery within the temple. Follow me.” After saying this, Wei Mingjin took the lead.

Xin He glanced at the temple gate, so close yet so far, bit her lip, and had no choice but to follow Wei Mingjin.

At this hour, dawn was breaking, and the mountain temple was serene.

Whether the monks were all busy, or because Wei Mingjin had led her along a less-traveled path, they didn’t encounter a single monk along the way.

But Xin He was too preoccupied to notice this detail.

It wasn’t until the surroundings became increasingly familiar that her unease intensified.

Finally, she couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask where this place you mentioned is?”

“The back mountain.”

Xin He’s face instantly went pale again.

Wei Mingjin took in Xin He’s fear, but feigned complete unawareness.

As he slowly led the way, he thoughtfully pushed aside the branches in front of Xin He, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze. “You probably don’t know about this place. I heard from the monks that it’s actually the best spot for enjoying the scenery. It’s just that it’s quite remote and next to the temple’s stone tablet grove, so it’s usually rarely visited.”

At this point, Wei Mingjin paused, then looked at Xin He with concern. “You look a little pale—are you feeling unwell?”

“N-no, I’m all right.”

“If you’re not feeling well, perhaps I should have someone escort you back?” Wei Mingjin asked considerately.

Chi Yan and Feng Mo followed at a distance behind them.

“I’m not unwell,” Xin He shook her head.

Last night, she had fled in a panic, without thinking of anything else.

Now, a night had passed, and she still didn’t know whether Zhou Shuisheng was dead or alive.

If he was alive, he would certainly not let her go. If he was dead, she didn’t know if the authorities would trace it back to her as the murderer.

Xin He’s mind was in turmoil.

She had originally only wanted to flee far away, but now she was being led back to the back mountain.

She could have claimed she was unwell; Wei Mingjin wouldn’t force her to go.

But since they had already come this far, if she didn’t go see for herself, she would feel too uneasy.

Besides, Wei Mingjin’s presence meant she couldn’t escape today.

Even if she couldn’t escape, she would never simply wait to be slaughtered. She needed to see whether Zhou Shuisheng was dead or alive, and then plan her next move.

They passed through a path lined with ancient trees, went around the dense forest of steles, and arrived at the back mountain.

On this early winter morning, a light mist hung over the mountain, and the grass and leaves were covered in a thick layer of night frost.

The wine jug Zhou Shuisheng had been drinking from last night was still on the ground; the other had rolled down the slope with him.

Xin He instinctively walked to the edge of the slope where Zhou Shuisheng had fallen the night before.

The slope was steep and high, with thick thorny bushes below. A trail of crushed vegetation extended through the thorns, but its end was not visible.

“I’ve always been curious about what the man you love looks like,” Wei Mingjin’s voice suddenly came from behind her.

Xin He, who had been peering down the slope, froze at his words.

She didn’t understand why Wei Mingjin would bring this up out of the blue.

“Earlier, you said you wanted to abort the child and reunite with the man you love. So I’ve been wondering what kind of man could make you willing to abandon your own flesh and blood.” Wei Mingjin stood with his hands behind his back, the mountain wind rustling the hem of his frost-white robe.

The man who always wore a smile, even before speaking, still had a smile on his face now, but it carried a cold, lethal intent.

That story had merely been an excuse Xin He used to brush off Wei Mingjin.

She never expected that one day he would bring it up again.

But now she had no choice but to stick to her story. “Actually, I lied to you.”

Wei Mingjin remained silent, clearly waiting for her to continue.

“There is no man I love. I used that excuse back then because I was afraid you wouldn’t allow me to keep the child.”

Xin He didn’t know whether Zhou Shuisheng was alive or dead, and now she had nothing left except the child in her womb.

This child could either be her death warrant or her protective charm—it all depended on Wei Mingjin’s decision.

Xin He wasn’t sure if she could escape before her deception was exposed, but she always preferred to have a backup plan.

Since Wei Mingjin had brought it up today, she would take the opportunity to lay the groundwork for when the truth eventually came out.

A conflicted expression flashed across Xin He’s face. After a moment, she seemed to finally make up her mind. “That was only half the reason. The other half was that the child came too suddenly, and I wasn’t prepared to be a mother. And also…”

Xin He stole a glance at Wei Mingjin, as if afraid he would blame her for what she was about to say.

“Please, speak freely.”

“And also, I was forced to enter the mansion and become the master’s concubine. Without this child, I could have left like the other concubines.”

Wei Mingjin didn’t seem angered by her words. Instead, he nodded with a faint smile. “That’s understandable.”

“But later, I gradually came to accept its existence and realized I had misjudged you. So I decided I wanted to keep it.”

As she spoke, Xin He gently placed a hand on her abdomen, her fair, delicate face softening with tenderness. “Like you, both my parents have passed away, and I have no siblings. I’ve been alone in this world. But with this child, I’ll have family again. Neither of us will be alone anymore.”

Wei Mingjin's expression was momentarily dazed, the smile on his face fading as he stared at Xin He for a good while without speaking.

Xin He’s heart sank. Had Wei Mingjin changed his mind again?

But she had already spoken so earnestly earlier—she absolutely could not take it back now.

Steeling herself, Xin He decided to commit fully to her path. She lifted her skirt and knelt, pleading, “Young master, I don’t care about status or the inheritance the master left behind. I only want a child of my own flesh and blood. I beg you, please let me keep this child.”

“What are you doing, Concubine?” Wei Mingjin snapped out of his thoughts and bent to help her up. “When did I say I wouldn’t let you keep the child?”

Xin He rose cautiously and asked, “Then… does the young master mean he will allow me to keep the child?”

“Didn’t you say that with this child, neither of us would be alone anymore?” A gentle smile reappeared on Wei Mingjin’s face, his voice soft and moving. “All my closest relatives have passed away. I too long for family.”

Xin He quietly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.

It was good that Wei Mingjin valued family ties. If he cherished kinship, she could use that to her advantage when the truth came out someday, carving a path to survival for herself.

But what Xin He didn’t know was that this very place had been chosen by Wei Mingjin as her burial ground.

A Wei family concubine, visiting the temple to offer incense, would be found dead in the back mountains alongside a man dressed in monastic robes.

If word got out, people would assume Xin He had used the incense offering as a pretext for a secret rendezvous. They would speculate that some dispute had led the two to turn on each other, resulting in their deaths at the foot of the slope.

And everything between him and Xin He would be buried along with her, forever a secret.

There would be no stain on his reputation. He would remain, in the eyes of the world, the noble and virtuous gentleman.

Wei Mingjin had planned everything.

But just before he could act, he suddenly had a change of heart.

He hid the dagger in his sleeve and warned Xin He, “That slope is precipitous and bottomless. If one were to fall, the outcome would be grim. You should stay farther away, Concubine.”

Xin He mumbled in response and, before leaving, glanced once more down the slope.

Just as Wei Mingjin had said, it was deep and treacherous—a fall would likely be fatal. And Zhou Shuisheng had been stabbed before tumbling down. After a full night had passed, he was probably already dead.

Xin He suddenly clenched her fingers.

She had never wanted to take his life—it was his insatiable greed that had forced her hand.