Chapter 25: Oath

Chapter 25: Oath

Outside the window, a cold wind whispered through a steady rain, while inside the room, a mist-like silence filled the room.

Wei Mingjin gazed down at Xin He's astonishment, and chuckled lightly, "The way you look now is much more pleasing than the disingenuous performance you put on before me."

Before, Xin He had worn a crude mask; though she tried her best to make her feigned sincerity seem genuine, he could see through her performance at a glance.

The reason he hadn't exposed her, even pretending not to notice, was for this very moment—to let her rip away her own mask with her own hands.

"Young Master," Xin He's eyelashes trembled, and tears rolled down once more.

She willingly pressed her soft, jade-cool cheek into Wei Mingjin's palm, like a cornered young animal, lifting her fragile, slender neck in a soft, pleading posture: "From now on, I will do your every bidding and never betray you. I beg you, save me."

Aside from Wei Mingjin, Xin He had no one else to turn to.

And from Wei Mingjin's complete lack of surprise at her involvement in a murder case, it was clear he had known about it all along.

So, that night she killed Zhou Shuisheng, the feeling that someone was following her wasn’t just her imagination.

A beautiful woman's tears naturally stir pity.

But Wei Mingjin showed no trace of emotion. He smirked at Xin He, "The two things you promise—others could promise the same. What makes you think you’re unique?"

"Others might do it for your talent or your character, but mine is because of you—who you are," Xin He looked up, her tear-filled eyes fixed on Wei Mingjin.

Eyes are the most vulnerable feature.

They not only reflect one's feelings but can also betray a lie.

So when their eyes met, Xin He saw a flash of astonishment in Wei Mingjin’s gaze, and Wei Mingjin saw Xin He’s honesty.

But after a brief moment of surprise, Wei Mingjin slowly smiled.

Xin He said it was because of him as a person. In truth, she meant that while others saw him as a talented, gentle nobleman, only she had seen his contradictory nature. Yet she would still never betray him.

Wei Mingjin found it somewhat intriguing.

His gaze wandered over Xin He’s face, his tone regretful, "What you’ve said moves me. But you are now my father’s concubine, my nominal stepmother."

"Though I am the master’s concubine, I have never let him touch me."

Xin He recounted the events of her first month in the household.

Wei Mingjin couldn’t help but view her in a new light.

His father was driven by lust and obsession, determined to possess anyone he desired. That Xin He had managed to escape his clutches was beyond his expectations.

"As for my current status, if you permit it, I am ready to abandon it at any time."

Xin He knelt on the floor, her plain white robes spreading around her like layered petals, while she resembled the delicate and vulnerable pistil at the center.

Without protection, even the slightest storm could grind her into the mud.

At this moment, Xin He clutched his sleeve, looking up at him with the posture of a devout, obedient supplicant, begging for his shelter.

But Wei Mingjin’s hand, which had been caressing her dark, thick hair, slowly slid down and lingered at her neck.

He disliked disruption most of all, and now, Xin He was the greatest source of chaos in his life.

Though she acted obedient and gentle, Wei Mingjin knew she was cunning and shallow, both cowardly and glib.

Keeping such a person by his side was a liability.

He should eliminate her and be done with it.

Wei Mingjin’s lips still held a smile, and as his hand on Xin He’s slender, vulnerable neck began to tighten, she obediently pressed her warm, soft cheek against his palm, nuzzling into it. Her dense, long eyelashes lifted, and her tear-filled eyes gazed at him sorrowfully.

Wei Mingjin stilled.

Xin He’s current act of pleading ingratiation was exactly like that of the cat he had once raised.

That cat was exceptionally beautiful, snow-white all over with emerald-green eyes and a fluffy tail. But it was somewhat wild and never truly tame. Whenever he approached, it would scratch him with its paws.

But he had been fond of it.

He would feed it the finest dried fish, personally groom and bathe it, and even allow it on his bed at night.

Over time, it finally grew close to him, even affectionately curling up to him.

Back then, he truly doted on it.

A gentleman doesn't enter the kitchen, but he willingly cooked its favorite dried fish himself.

But an animal is still an animal. No matter how well he treated it, it could not be domesticated.

Since it couldn’t be tamed, it was useless to keep it. He himself killed it and buried its body under the plum tree in the courtyard.

Through layers of rain and mist, Wei Mingjin looked up.

The old plum tree in the courtyard was still bare. Just as he was about to look away, he caught a glimpse of a spot of vivid red in the endless rain.

"What is that?" Wei Mingjin asked.

Xin He followed his gaze and saw a cluster of vibrant red flowers in full bloom.

"It seems to be hibiscus."

That striking red stood out starkly in the rain. With most flowers withered, that bold red seemed to be striving with its meager strength to pierce the gloom and mist between heaven and earth.

Wei Mingjin stared at the hibiscus for a long while before suddenly asking out of the blue, "An animal could not be tamed. Can you?"

"I’ve said I will never betray you. If you don’t believe me, I will swear it."

Wei Mingjin stared intently at Xin He.

Xin He had told many lies, but this time she wasn’t lying.

She didn’t want to die. As long as Wei Mingjin could save her, even if he was a two-faced hypocrite, she was willing never to betray him.

Her slender fingers tightly clutched Wei Mingjin’s sleeve, as if grasping her last hope for survival.

And as Wei Mingjin watched her tearful eyes, he recalled the moment the cat turned cold in his arms.

Before it died, the cat had looked at him just like that.

It shed its former wildness, its eyes filled with tears, full of unwillingness and regret.

Not far away, the red hibiscus stood resolute in the wind and rain, a dazzling sight.

Let it be.

Wei Mingjin sighed inwardly, closing his eyes to suppress the rising malice within him.

After a moment, he opened his eyes and withdrew his hand, speaking magnanimously: "The floor is cold. Get up."

Xin He felt as if she had been granted a reprieve from heaven, instantly weeping with joy.

She shakily got to her feet, her legs weak, taking a while to barely find her footing. Still, she gazed uneasily at Wei Mingjin, whose attitude remained unclear.

It wasn’t until Wei Mingjin ordered, "Someone, escort her back," that Xin He staggered away as if granted a reprieve.

Since Wei Mingjin had allowed her to leave, it meant he would handle the constables who had come to the door.

Qiong Hua was waiting under the corridor and was startled to see Xin He emerge with reddened eyes. She hurried forward: "Concubine, are you all right?"

Xin He shook her head and allowed Qiong Hua to half-support, half-escort her back to Cuiwei Courtyard.

Earlier, Xin He had caught a chill in the rain, and now her face was as pale as paper. Qiong Hua wanted to send for a doctor, but Xin He refused.

"I’m fine, no need for a doctor. I heard constables came to the door. Go to the front courtyard and see what’s happening."

Although Wei Mingjin had allowed her to return, Xin He’s heart was still uneasy.

Qiong Hua obeyed and left. Xin He stayed alone in her room, too distracted to even change out of her damp, cold dress. She stood by the window, staring anxiously toward the main hall, her brows furrowed with anxiety.

That night, she had stabbed Zhou Shuisheng by accident.

After Zhou Shuisheng fell down the slope, she fled in a panic, not caring about anything else, for fear of being discovered.

Now that constables had come to the Wei residence looking for her, did it mean they had found some evidence?

Was it the lost gold-filigree white-jade gourd earring? Or the dagger?

If they had truly found evidence, could Wei Mingjin still save her?

Xin He’s heart felt as if it were being roasted over flames. Anxious and restless, she kept peering out.

The cold wind carrying fine drizzle sprayed against her face, dampening her dark hair. But Xin He seemed oblivious to the cold. Maids and older servant women tried to persuade her several times, but she remained by the window, unwilling to move even half a step.

After what seemed like ages, someone approached through the continuous rain, carrying an umbrella.

Xin He’s eyes lit up, and she hurried outside.

"Young Master." Though it was only a short distance, Xin He was a little out of breath.

If there hadn’t been servants in the courtyard, she would have hiked up her skirts and rushed into the rain to meet Wei Mingjin.

But in the end, she held herself back, standing under the corridor, her gaze fixed eagerly on the slowly approaching figure.

In the rain, Wei Mingjin’s figure came closer.

He lifted the hem of his robe and ascended the steps, handing the umbrella to a maid standing nearby.

Though anxious, Xin He controlled herself and led Wei Mingjin into the hall to sit down.

After servants brought hot tea and withdrew, Xin He blurted out: "Young Master, what did the constables say?"

"After the coroner examined the body, it’s estimated that Zhou Shuisheng was killed on the night of the Winter Clothing Festival. That night, you were staying at Ciyun Temple."

"So they were only making routine inquiries, not…" Even though only the two of them were in the hall, Xin He cautiously left the rest unsaid.

Wei Mingjin nodded in agreement, sipping his tea leisurely.

Only then did Xin He sigh in relief.

Just routine inquiries were fine.

Once she relaxed, Xin He began to regret her earlier actions.

She shouldn’t have lost her composure like that.

Hearing that the authorities had found Zhou Shuisheng’s body, she had panicked and given herself away without even asking for details. Now…

Xin He stood awkwardly to the side, looking at Wei Mingjin with unease.

Although Wei Mingjin had intervened to handle the officials, it didn’t mean she was safe.

Perhaps he was afraid that her imprisonment would sully the Wei family’s name, or perhaps he feared that if she fell into the hands of the authorities, she might reveal all that had passed between them. That was why he had intervened.

Now that the constables were gone, now it was her turn.

How would he deal with her? How would he deal with the child she carried?

As Xin He was worrying, Chi Yan’s voice came from the doorway: "Young Master, the concubine’s medicine is ready."

Medicine? What medicine?! Xin He’s face instantly turned pale. She instinctively looked at Wei Mingjin.

But Wei Mingjin didn’t look at her. He simply ordered, "Bring it in."

Chi Yan entered carrying a bowl of dark, murky, bitter brew and handed it directly to Xin He.

Xin He didn’t take it, instead looking at Wei Mingjin in fear and pleading, "Young Master."

Wei Mingjin remained unmoved, merely smiling at her: "The medicine becomes half as effective if it cools. Concubine should drink it quickly."

As soon as Wei Mingjin finished speaking, Chi Yan thrust the bowl closer to Xin He.

"Concubine, please." Dressed in black, Chi Yan stared expressionlessly at Xin He, like an underworld summoner come to claim her soul.

Xin He didn’t want to take it, but she didn’t dare refuse.

Her hands trembling, she accepted the bowl and looked at Wei Mingjin almost imploringly.

She didn’t want to die.

Whether it was answering with her life for Zhou Shuisheng or dying silently within the inner household.

But Wei Mingjin didn’t even glance her way.

He rested one broad hand on his knee, gently massaging it, his gaze fixed on the continuous rain outside the window. His face, pale as jade, showed a hint of irritation.

Xin He watched for a long while, but seeing that Wei Mingjin remained unmoved, she could only raise the bowl with tears in her eyes.

She couldn’t resign herself to dying like this, but her life and death were beyond her control.

After drinking the medicine through her tears, Xin He collapsed into the rosewood chair, her face ashen, waiting for the medicine to take effect.

She had no idea how much time had passed, but instead of the effects of the medicine, what reached her ears was a man’s voice, soft as a sigh: "You're still so impatient."

Xin He jolted back to attention and saw Wei Mingjin standing before her, though she didn't know when he had arrived.

Certain she was facing certain death, Xin He immediately stood up, ready to let out all her pent-up frustration in one last act of recklessness.

But before she could speak, Wei Mingjin's long, elegant fingers grazed her earlobe.

Xin He froze, only then noticing the earring held delicately between his fingertips.

It was a gold filigree and white jade gourd design—the very one she had lost earlier. So, had Wei Mingjin found it?

She stared at him blankly, utterly confused.

Wei Mingjin said nothing, simply lowering his gaze as he carefully fastened the earring for her.

After inspecting it carefully for a moment, he leaned down to look her in the eye: "Success comes from secrecy, failure from loose lips; victory is born of patience and strategy. No matter the situation, only by staying calm can you win. Do you understand?"

His words went right over Xin He’s head at that moment.

But sensing no murderous intent from him, she suddenly realized she had been wrong about the poisoned drink.

Xin He nodded in frantic agreement.

As long as Wei Mingjin wasn’t going to kill her, she would listen to whatever he said. Even if she didn’t understand, she would do her best to learn.

Little did Wei Mingjin know then that one day in the future, Xin He would turn every lesson he taught her back on him.

She would act like a helpless vine that needed him to survive, all while quietly planning her escape.

By the time he realized it, she would have already vanished without a trace, like a fish in water or a bird in the forest.