Chapter 20: Disdain

Chapter 20: Disdain

By the time Wei Mingjin took Xin He back, the serving women were already in a state of chaos.

That morning, when Qiong Hua went in to assist Xin He to wake up and get ready, she discovered that Xin He was not in her room.

At first, Qiong Hua assumed Xin He had gone for a walk around the temple grounds.

But after waiting for almost half an hour without any sign of Xin He’s return, she noticed that Xin He’s clothes appeared to have been rummaged through, and there was a partial footprint on the windowsill.

Qiong Hua immediately grew anxious and hurriedly reported the matter to the matron.

The matron promptly ordered some people to search for Xin He while she herself went to notify the abbot.

Just as their group rushed out of the courtyard in a panic, they saw Xin He coming back from a distance, accompanied by Wei Mingjin.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and hurried forward to greet their masters.

Wei Mingjin said to Xin He, “Yiniang, you should go back and rest first. After breakfast, when the weather is warmer, we’ll head down the mountain.”

Xin He nodded.

After Wei Mingjin left, Qiong Hua helped Xin He back to her room.

As soon as they entered, Qiong Hua anxiously said, “Yiniang, something terrible has happened—a thief broke into your room.”

“There was no thief. I left in a hurry this morning and made a mess of my clothes and jewelry while searching.” Xin He sat by the table and only began to feel warmth slowly returning to her body after sipping some hot tea.

“That’s a relief. Yiniang, you have no idea—when I came in this morning and found you missing, with signs of someone rummaging through the room, my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.” Qiong Hua handed Xin He a hand warmer and, kneeling next to her, looked up pleadingly. “Yiniang, I know you prefer quiet, and I’ll speak less from now on. But could you please take me with you the next time you go out? I’m truly worried when you go out alone.”

During their stays at the temple, every time Qiong Hua discovered Xin He was missing, she had been scared half to death.

“Alright,” Xin He replied dismissively.

Qiong Hua immediately beamed with joy. “Then let me help you get washed and dressed.”

Soon, the matron brought hot water.

While Qiong Hua was preparing the water, Xin He quietly returned the hair accessories and jewelry she had taken that morning to their original places.

After washing her face, as Qiong Hua was brushing Xin He’s hair, she asked, “Yiniang, why is only one of the earrings you wore yesterday left?”

Xin He instinctively touched her empty earlobe.

“And this one was found by me on the floor!”

A chill ran down Xin He’s spine.

Before meeting Zhou Shuisheng the previous night, she had deliberately taken out her hairpin but had forgotten to take off her earrings.

Now, one of the earrings was missing.

Had it fallen off during her scuffle with Zhou Shuisheng on the back mountain?

“Yiniang?” Qiong Hua’s voice pulled Xin He back to reality.

For a moment, Xin He considered going to the back mountain to search for the earring, but she quickly dismissed the idea.

If Zhou Shuisheng was dead, his body would eventually be discovered. If she went there often, it would only arouse suspicion.

Moreover, even if the earring had fallen on the back mountain, if someone found it and questioned her, she could always claim she had lost it that morning while looking at the frost-touched red leaves with Wei Mingjin.

Steadying her nerves, Xin He pretended not to care. “It must have fallen off somewhere. It’s just an earring—no need to worry about it.”

Qiong Hua acknowledged this and took out another pair of earrings to put on Xin He.

Noticing the clothes she had changed out of the previous night lying in a corner, Xin He turned to Qiong Hua and said, “I had a nosebleed last night and accidentally got some blood on my sleeve. I washed it with water, but clothes stained with blood are ultimately inauspicious. Later, discreetly take it out and discard it.”

Qiong Hua, trusting and naive, did as she was told right away.

Meanwhile, Feng Mo was kneeling before Wei Mingjin, urging, “Young Master, Yiniang Xin has to go. Please reconsider.”

Wei Mingjin had always avoided women, and it was rare for anyone to get near him over the years. Feng Mo had actually hoped to find that person, so that their Young Master would have someone to care for him.

But he never expected that woman to be Xin He.

Any other woman in the world would be acceptable—except Xin He.

Although Xin He and Wei Mingjin had been involved at the Drunken Moon Pavilion first, and Xin He had been forced into the Wei residence to become Master Wei’s concubine, the entire Qingyuan County now knew Xin He as Wei Mingjin’s stepmother, currently carrying their late master’s “posthumous child.”

If their affair were to become public, no one would care that their connection began before Xin He entered the household, nor would they care that Xin He was forced to become their master’s concubine. The world would only focus on their stepmother-stepson relationship, subjecting them to relentless slander, defamation, and character attacks.

Their Young Master would not only have his reputation ruined but likely his future prospects as well.

Seeing this, Chi Yan also knelt down. “Young Master, please reconsider.”

This was also why Wei Mingjin had wanted to kill Xin He upon discovering she was the woman from the Drunken Moon Pavilion.

Although he didn't value reputation, he couldn't deny that it brought him many advantages. So, for the sake of those advantages, he was often willing to play the role of a virtuous gentleman.

But pretending to be a gentleman and truly being one were fundamentally different.

A true gentleman would feel guilt upon learning of such a matter, would take all the blame upon himself, and would seek to compensate Xin He properly.

But Wei Mingjin was no true gentleman. He was born selfish and cold-hearted.

His only thought was: since it was her, just kill her.

Her being alive was a risk to him.

If she died, the matter would be buried with her, forever hidden. It would never become a blemish on his name or pose a threat to him.

But just before taking action, Wei Mingjin suddenly changed his mind.

“What’s the rush? I’m only letting her live for now—it doesn’t mean I won’t kill her later.” Wei Mingjin leaned lazily against the chairback, spinning a dagger absently in his hand.

The old man was already dead. If he killed Xin He as well, his life would become dull once more.

He had to spend three years in mourning for the Wei family. If his days became predictable and boring, how monotonous would that be?

“But Young Master, waiting causes problems,” Feng Mo insisted, believing that killing Xin He sooner would bring peace of mind.

Wei Mingjin scoffed lightly. “She’s just a powerless, scared orphan. What trouble could she possibly cause?”

“Young Master…” Feng Mo wanted to say more, but Chi Yan dragged him outside.

Once they reached the corridor, Feng Mo pulled away from Chi Yan’s grip and snapped, “Why didn’t you help me persuade the Young Master? What did you pull me out for?”

"Can't you see the master is already very impatient? If we keep talking, it will only be our asses that suffer."

"If my ass suffers, so be it. I can't just stand by and watch the master jump into the fire." As Feng Mo spoke, he made to go back and advise again, but Chi Yan grabbed him firmly.

Chi Yan was utterly puzzled: "The master clearly knows what he's doing. How is that jumping into the fire in your eyes?"

"What do you know! That Xin Yiniang is skilled at flattering and charming to win people over. Last night, the master clearly had killing intent toward her, but after just spending a short while with her this morning, she actually managed to talk him out of it."

Chi Yan: "..."

Feng Mo's face was full of anguish and despair: "They live under the same roof and see each other every day, and she's even carrying the master's child. With her skills, I'm afraid it won't take more than a few months for her to charm the master into submission."

"It can't be that bad." Chi Yan felt Feng Mo was exaggerating. "The master is exceptionally wise. How could he possibly fall into Xin Yiniang's trap?"

"You don't understand. Romance is the thing in this world that can most easily cloud a person's judgment. It can kill without a trace and turn the wise into fools..."

On an early winter morning, with thin mist swirling in the mountains, the chilly breeze lightly carried the two men's discussion from the corridor to Wei Mingjin's ears in the room.

Hearing this, Wei Mingjin lifted his eyelids, a flicker of amused curiosity flashing in his eyes.

Wei Mingjin had indeed never experienced anything like romance before.

Well, he would wait and see how Xin He would make him bow to her.