Chapter 21: Plan

Chapter 21 Plans

The morning sun rose, and incense smoke curled up from the mountain temple.

By late morning, the sunlight was brilliant, and the frost on the mountain path had completely melted. Xin He descended the mountain with Wei Mingjin.

After walking the last stretch of the mountain path, Xin He couldn’t help but look back.

The forest stood quietly in the daylight, like a giant beast that lurked by day and emerged by night. It had lost the terrifying aura that seemed capable of devouring everything in the darkness and now lay peacefully asleep.

"Aunt, the carriage is here," Qiong Hua’s voice pulled Xin He from her thoughts.

Xin He withdrew her gaze and turned to board the Wei family’s carriage.

With a crack of the driver’s whip, the carriage moved forward steadily.

Xin He rested her hand on her forehead, feigning sleep with closed eyes, but her mind was busy planning for the future.

Zhou Shuisheng’s fate was now uncertain. Though she had stabbed him, and he had fallen down a thorn-covered slope, his chances were slim.

But nothing in this world was absolute.

If he lived, he would surely go to Wei Mingjin. By then, Wei Mingjin would figure out that it was she who had been with him that night at Drunken Moon Pavilion.

If Zhou Shuisheng died, she would become a murderer.

She wasn’t sure if the authorities would trace it back to her, but she had to plan ahead.

At this point, running away was the worst option.

In her panic this morning, she wasn't thinking straight and thought only of fleeing far away.

Now, having come to her senses, Xin He remembered something very important.

She was Master Wei’s concubine. Without a *Concubine Release Letter*, even if she fled to the ends of the earth, Wei Mingjin could report her to the authorities and have her captured. Her fate would only be worse then.

The only course now was to rely on and win over Wei Mingjin.

As long as she could win Wei Mingjin over, even if Zhou Shuisheng survived and told him about the incident at Drunken Moon Pavilion, Wei Mingjin wouldn’t kill her.

If Zhou Shuisheng died, she would need Wei Mingjin’s support even more, to help her avoid punishment.

And the best way to win over a man was to make him fall in love with her.

Only if he loved her would he be willing to do anything for her.

But Wei Mingjin was different from any other man she had encountered.

He was clever, suspicious, and good at hiding his true intentions.

Dealing with someone like him required caution; one wrong move could backfire.

If she had a choice, Xin He truly did not want to attach herself to someone like Wei Mingjin.

But now, this was the only path left before her.

"Whoa!"

The driver suddenly reined in the horse.

Xin He snapped out of her thoughts and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Qiong Hua immediately pulled back the curtain and looked out, only to see that Wei Mingjin’s carriage ahead had also stopped.

After going out to inquire, Qiong Hua returned and said, "Aunt, there’s a carriage ahead that has broken down and is blocking the road."

As they spoke, Feng Mo’s voice sounded from outside.

Qiong Hua pulled back the curtain to see Feng Mo standing outside their carriage. Feng Mo said, "Aunt, Miss Liang from the Liang Family Silk Shop’s carriage has broken down. She has come to ask the young master for help, inquiring if we can give her a ride back to the city. The young master sent me to see what you think."

Xin He had grown up in Shili Village and, after entering the Wei household, had stayed in the inner quarters, so she didn’t know this Miss Liang.

But since Wei Mingjin could identify her as the young lady from the Liang Family Silk Shop and had sent Feng Mo over, it was clear he knew her.

Xin He nodded. "Since we’ve met, it's fate. Please invite Miss Liang over."

Feng Mo left to deliver the message, and Xin He suddenly turned to Qiong Hua. "Was Miss Liang this year’s Prayer Leader for the Buddha Prayer Festival?"

During the Buddha Prayer Festival, Xin He had been ill and hadn’t left the estate. Knowing Qiong Hua loved excitement, she had allowed her to go out and watch the annual spectacle.

After returning, Qiong Hua had shared what she had seen and heard at the festival.

"I only heard that she’s surnamed Liang, a young lady from a wealthy family in the city. But whether it’s this Miss Liang, I…" As Qiong Hua spoke, she saw a mistress and her maid approaching from a distance.

When she saw the face of the young woman leading the way, Qiong Hua immediately confirmed, "It is this Miss Liang."

Miss Liang, named Liang Wanying, had features as delicate as a painting and fair, smooth skin. Dressed in a green silk embroidered with butterflies, she stood out like a vibrant lotus in the bleak early winter.

As soon as she arrived, Liang Wanying politely thanked Xin He. "Wanying greets the aunt. Thank you for being willing to give me a ride."

"You’re too kind, Miss Liang. Please, come in."

The carriage, originally meant for two, now was quite cramped with two additional people.

This was Xin He’s first time meeting Liang Wanying, but they were around the same age, and Liang Wanying was gentle, amiable, and quite talkative. The two got along well throughout the journey.

Since Liang Wanying had boarded Xin He’s carriage, she couldn't just leave her halfway. Xin He instructed the driver to take Liang Wanying directly back to the Liang residence.

As she disembarked, Liang Wanying said to Xin He, "Thank you for bringing me back, aunt. Another day, I will come to your residence to thank you properly."

"It was a small matter, Miss Liang. Don't trouble yourself."

After bidding farewell to Liang Wanying, Xin He lowered the carriage curtain, and the carriage began moving again, rumbling.

As Qiong Hua collected the teacup Liang Wanying had used, she remarked, "It seems to me that Miss Liang and you really hit it off, aunt!"

Hit it off? Xin He smiled without answering.

Most likely, this congeniality was more about ulterior motives than a real connection.

But she pretended not to notice, as she too had her own plans.

Earlier, at Ciyun Temple, she happened to notice Feng Mo and Chi Yan guarding outside the courtyard where the Prayer Leader was being selected and guessed it had something to do with Wei Mingjin.

But in the end, the Prayer Leader turned out to be Liang Wanying.

Xin He didn’t know whether Liang Wanying was a fake trying to gain something or if she truly had a red mole on the left side of her back, near the shoulder blade.

She only wanted to know how Wei Mingjin would react now that his plan to lure someone in had ended with Liang Wanying being the one who walked into the trap instead.

But of course, she couldn't just go straight to Wei Mingjin to ask about such matters.

So during her casual conversation with Liang Wanying, Xin He subtly probed and managed to fish out from her that after Ciyun Temple made it public that she was the Prayer Leader, Wei Mingjin had personally dropped by to congratulate her.

When the old Master Wei was still around, the Liang and Wei families had business dealings, and when Master Wei passed, Master Liang had personally come to the Wei residence to offer condolences. It was perfectly normal for Wei Mingjin to congratulate Liang Wanying after she became the Prayer Leader.

However, the abnormal part was that Wei Mingjin was still in mourning; for such a minor matter, he could've just sent someone to deliver the congratulatory gifts, yet he went in person.

If she had to guess, Wei Mingjin likely went to confirm whether Liang Wanying was the person he was looking for.

"Actually, come to think of it, Miss Liang is a bit like you, Madam!" Qiong Hua whispered.

Xin He looked at Qiong Hua. "How so?"

"You two don't look alike, but your builds are kinda similar." Besides that, even the detail of having a red mole on the left scapula was surprisingly identical.

But Qiong Hua only dared to say the last part in her mind.

"Is that so?" Xin He got lost in thought.

If it weren't for Zhou Shuisheng, Liang Wanying's existence would've been good news for Xin He.

But now, if Wei Mingjin mistakenly believed Liang Wanying was the woman from that night, it would be real trouble for her.

"Madam, we've arrived," the coachman's voice came from outside.

Xin He snapped out of it and, supported by Qiong Hua, stepped out of the carriage.

Everything in Cuiwei Courtyard was as usual. Even in Xin He's absence, the servants in the courtyard were still doing their jobs diligently, with no one slacking off.

Xin He hadn't slept all night and had walked down the mountain today, so she was completely worn out.

Qiong Hua helped Xin He lie down, and Xin He instructed, "If the young master returns, let me know right away."

When their group had just returned to the city, someone from the shop had come looking for Wei Mingjin. When Xin He returned to the residence, Wei Mingjin hadn't made it back yet.

"Yes," Qiong Hua replied, lowering the bed curtains before stepping out.

Xin He was extremely tired, and lying in her familiar bed, she was out like a light quickly.

In the midst of a dead sleep, Xin He heard someone calling her name.

Xin He opened her eyes to find thick fog everywhere. In the distance, there was a faint glow, and the voice calling her name seemed to come from that direction.

Following the sound, Xin He saw Zhou Shuisheng still wearing the blood-soaked monk's robe. He was clutching the bloody wound on his waist with one hand, giving her this creepy smile. "Xin He, I'm dead, but you won't live either. Wei Mingjin will soon send you down to join me. I'll be waiting for you."

Those last words echoed in Xin He's ears like a curse, over and over, making her head pound.

"Bang—"

The sound of something heavy crashing suddenly rang out.

Xin He bolted upright. Seeing the familiar gauze canopy above her, she sat up abruptly, her forehead beaded with sweat.

Hearing the noise, Qiong Hua hurried in.

Seeing Xin He's frightened expression, she immediately apologized, "I forgot to latch the window when I left earlier. I frightened you, Madam. It's all my fault."

Xin He glanced at the half-open carved window blown open by the wind and shook her head wearily. If it weren't for the sound of the window being blown open, she would still be trapped in that nightmare.

Qiong Hua brought warm water and helped Xin He drink some. Seeing Xin He's complexion improve, she said, "Madam, the young master has returned."

"I know," Xin He replied listlessly.

Originally, she had thought of going to Wei Mingjin to feel him out once he returned.

But now, Zhou Shuisheng's almost-curses were still ringing in her mind.

If she forced herself to see Wei Mingjin now, not only might she gain nothing, but she might also give herself away in front of him.

Wei Mingjin was sharp and suspicious by nature. Without sufficient certainty, she couldn't risk tipping her hand.

Soon, it was time for Xin He to take her daily dose of pregnancy tonic.

Now that Xin He was relying on the child in her womb to turn the tables, she drank it without complaint this time.

Qiong Hua took the empty medicine bowl and left. Shortly after, she returned to report, "Madam, the young master is here."

Xin He immediately tensed up.

Wei Mingjin—what was he here for?