Chapter 24: Reveal

Chapter 24: The Truth Revealed

The bedroom was eerily silent.

It took Qiong Hua a moment to regain her voice. She asked cautiously, "My lady, perhaps I should help you get up and wash so you can apologize to the young master?"

Xin He said nothing, merely trembling as she descended from the bed.

Qiong Hua quickly had water brought in, assisting Xin He with changing and washing.

But just as they were ready to leave, Xin He suddenly changed her mind: "I'm not going."

"What?" Qiong Hua looked at Xin He, puzzled.

Xin He pursed her lips. "Now isn't the best time. Let's wait a bit longer."

Wait for what? Qiong Hua was utterly bewildered.

But Xin He offered no explanation, simply turning and re-entering the inner room.

Xin He did not step out of her room for the entire day. Meanwhile, Feng Mo, next door, waited all day for Xin He to come and apologize, and his prejudice against her only deepened.

So the next day, when Xin He arrived as usual with a book to seek advice from Wei Mingjin, Feng Mo coldly blocked her at the courtyard entrance.

"Our young master is currently occupied and has given orders not to be disturbed. Please return, Madam."

Xin He showed no displeasure at Feng Mo's obstruction. She smiled gently and said, "In that case, I'll wait here."

"Suit yourself," Feng Mo retorted, then turned and retreated.

Yesterday, their young master had heard she was unwell and condescended to visit her. Yet she had the audacity to disdain him and send him away. Did she think their young master was someone she could summon and dismiss at will?

It was already a cold day, and now it was raining. Moreover, Xin He was pregnant.

Qiong Hua held an umbrella over them and waited with Xin He for a while. Seeing that Feng Mo still showed no intention of letting them in, Qiong Hua whispered, "My lady, why don't you go back first? I'll wait here. Once the young master is free, I'll return and inform you."

Xin He shook her head, refusing.

Yesterday, she had spoken carelessly and offended Wei Mingjin. Enduring some hardship at Feng Mo's hands now would make it easier to gain Wei Mingjin's forgiveness later.

The rain grew heavier, mist rising between heaven and earth, the cold penetrating to the bone.

Although Xin He intended to use the 'bitter flesh' strategy, she didn't want to actually freeze herself.

After standing in the rain for barely a quarter of an hour, she began to shiver, her face slightly pale.

Feng Mo, though eager to avenge his master, remembered that Xin He was carrying Wei Mingjin's child.

Almost as soon as Xin He showed signs of discomfort, he said coldly, "The wind and rain are strong, Madam. As you are with child, if you insist on waiting for the young master to finish, please wait in the side hall."

"Alright, thank you, Brother Feng Mo." Xin He raised her fair, delicate face and thanked him.

She was already stunningly beautiful, and since becoming pregnant, her radiance had not dimmed but had instead become even more dazzling, like a spring bloom.

Feng Mo's obstruction had been obvious, but he hadn't expected Xin He not to be angry but instead to thank him with a raised face.

For a moment, Feng Mo felt a pang of guilt and unease. But fearing Xin He might notice, he quickly turned and led the way.

The side hall already had a charcoal brazier burning. As soon as Xin He and Qiong Hua entered, they felt a wave of warmth.

Feng Mo also had someone bring a hand warmer and ginger tea.

But Xin He touched neither. She stood by the window, gazing out at the bleak wind and cold rain, lost in thought.

"Madam, come warm yourself," Qiong Hua said.

Just as Xin He was about to speak, Chi Yan entered from outside. "The young master requests Madam's presence in the study."

When Xin He arrived at the study, Wei Mingjin was standing by the window.

Outside, the wind and rain raged, and the room was dimly lit. His tall figure stood by the half-open window, occasionally reaching out to scatter something outside.

As she drew closer, Xin He realized he was scattering pastry crumbs.

And it was taro cake.

The man by the window turned around, his lips curved in a smile. "Madam, you've come."

Even with the stormy weather outside, it did nothing to diminish his brilliance.

But Xin He faintly felt that today's Wei Mingjin was a bit different from usual.

Yet, she couldn't quite pinpoint how.

As Wei Mingjin continued to gaze at her, Xin He quickly dismissed the thought. She lowered her slender, jade-like neck and explained nervously, "I did not mean to disrespect you yesterday, young master. I thought it was Miss Liang who had come."

Since the day Xin He had given Liang Wanying a ride back to the city, Liang Wanying had been visiting Xin He at the residence from time to time.

Wei Mingjin naturally knew that Liang Wanying came for him.

"But I thought you and Miss Liang were on good terms?" Wei Mingjin tilted his head, looking at Xin He.

Xin He knew that Wei Mingjin, though appearing magnanimous on the surface, was actually vindictive.

She thought that because of her disrespectful words to him yesterday, Wei Mingjin was now deliberately trying to embarrass her.

"I don't like Miss Liang."

"Why?" As he spoke, Wei Mingjin's gaze fell on Xin He's neck.

That neck was long and slender, like a tender, juicy flower stem. A light cut with a knife, and the stem would quickly wilt, bright red sap gushing out.

Such a gloomy day was best accentuated with crimson.

At that moment, Xin He, with her eyes downcast, was fully immersed in her own plans and didn't notice Wei Mingjin's gaze.

After he asked that question, she lowered her eyes even further, biting her lip before softly saying, "Because Miss Liang has feelings for you, young master. She comes for you."

Her words were like half-hidden music, stirring slight ripples in one's heart.

But Wei Mingjin felt no ripples at all. He asked, "You're angry that Miss Liang is using you, so you don't like her?"

Xin He: "..."

Her words had clearly been a feint. Did Wei Mingjin truly not understand, or was he deliberately teasing her?

Xin He leaned toward the latter.

Xin He avoided answering Wei Mingjin's question and instead took something from her sleeve, handing it to him.

It was a sachet.

A red ribbon, an embroidered sachet—a token of affection beneath the blossoms, warmly gifted to her gentleman.①

Xin He lifted her long, thick lashes, her dark eyes trembling with a mix of unspoken words and shyness.

Yet she said, "You often guide me in my studies, but I have nothing with which to repay you. I could only embroider this sachet for you myself. Please do not disdain my crude needlework."

Wei Mingjin’s gaze lingered on the sachet for a moment before he let out an ambiguous chuckle and accepted it. "You’re very considerate, Yiniang."

"As long as you don’t find my work too crude." Xin He lowered her lashes, wearing an expression of sweetly pleased delight, though a secret sense of smug satisfaction already stirred within her.

Her first step was to make Wei Mingjin accustomed to her presence, then withdraw and let him feel her absence.

Based on Feng Mo’s inquiry yesterday and Wei Mingjin’s personal visit today, this had already been achieved.

Now it was time to tease and tempt him with a shy, suggestive allure.

In matters of emotion, this kind of teasing, uncertain back-and-forth was the most captivating.

Seeing that today’s goal had been accomplished, Xin He didn’t stay longer and stood up to leave.

Wei Mingjin did not try to keep her. He simply stood smiling by the window, watching her depart.

One step, two steps, three steps...

Just as Xin He reached her tenth step, Chi Yan’s voice came from outside the door: "Young Master, officials from the local government are here. They say they wish to see Yiniang Xin."

Xin He’s light footsteps immediately froze in place.

Wei Mingjin asked leisurely, "Why do they wish to see Yiniang Xin?"

"At noon yesterday, a monk from Ciyun Temple reported to the county office that a male corpse had been discovered in the back hills of the temple…"

Xin He’s mind went blank with a roar. She didn’t catch another word of what Chi Yan said after that.

By the time she regained her senses, she had already hurried back unsteadily, gripping Wei Mingjin’s sleeve, looking up at him pleadingly. "Young Master, please save me."

She knew this day would eventually come, but she never expected it to arrive so soon.

Xin He was certain that the only one who could save her was Wei Mingjin.

In this moment, she dropped all pretense and sweet talk, begging him in utter desperation: "Young Master, I beg you, please save me."

Xin He’s slender fingers gripped Wei Mingjin’s wide sleeve tightly, like a drowning person clinging to their last piece of driftwood.

She didn’t want to pay with her life for a lowlife like Zhou Shuisheng. She didn’t want to die.

Wei Mingjin looked down.

This woman, who always wore a mask of pretense in front of him, was now kneeling before him, finally revealing her true, vulnerable self.

Terrified and in tears, she begged him to save her.

Her simple white skirt spread across the floor like a white camellia in full, almost excessive bloom.

Wei Mingjin let out a low sigh, bent down slightly, and with jade-cold fingertips, brushed against the dark hair at her temples. He gazed at her with a mix of pity and amusement. "But... why should I save you?"

"The child in my belly…" In her desperation, Xin He could only reveal her secret.

But Wei Mingjin interrupted her lightly, almost laughing, "It’s mine. I know."

Xin He shivered violently, staring in disbelief at the man who seemed almost divine before her.

He knew. He actually knew!