Chapter 41: Inquire

Chapter 41: Interrogation

Three days later, Qiong Hua was once again brought before Xin He.

The once garrulous girl was now utterly silent.

Wei Mingjin had spared Qiong Hua’s life, but he had forced a muting drug upon her.

Xin He sat on the couch by the window, clad in a plain white blouse embroidered with fragrant grass. Her dark hair was loosely gathered into a bun, and her face was pale, her lips devoid of color.

On the adjacent table, a sweet white-glazed plum vase held a single, gaunt branch of plum blossoms.

Qiong Hua had cut and placed this branch there a few days prior. In her absence, it had gone untended, and now the blossoms showed signs of wilting.

Xin He avoided Qiong Hua’s gaze, fixing her eyes instead on the fallen plum petals scattered across the table. She spoke softly, "Since you now know the secret between the Young Master and me, even if I were to let you leave the estate, I fear you wouldn’t survive long."

Wei Mingjin always believed in eradicating future troubles.

"You used to work in the flower room. I’ll speak with Nanny Dou and have you return there. After some time, I’ll find a way to retrieve your indenture papers and then arrange for your departure from the estate."

In the past, Qiong Hua would have chattered incessantly at such a proposal. But today, she merely knelt silently on the floor.

Xin He’s gaze remained fixed on the plum blossoms, as if she could bore a hole through them.

"If you have no objections, you may return now. Later, I’ll—" Just then, Xin He felt a gentle tug on the hem of her skirt.

She turned to see Qiong Hua, who had somehow moved on her knees to her side.

Upon seeing Xin He look at her, Qiong Hua first shook her head, then pointed to herself, then to Xin He, before miming pressing her face against Xin He’s leg.

Qiong Hua knew neither sign language nor how to read, so she could only express herself through such clumsy gestures.

Xin He was momentarily stunned before tentatively asking, "You don’t want to return to the flower room? You want to stay by my side?"

Qiong Hua nodded vigorously.

Xin He was greatly surprised. She had assumed that, upon learning the truth, Qiong Hua would be eager to leave her side.

"Staying with me isn’t safe. Returning to the flower room would at least offer some stability. I’ll speak privately with Nanny Dou and ask her to look after you. Even if you go back to the flower room, no one will dare bully you."

After a pause, Xin He thought Qiong Hua might be worried that Wei Mingjin would renege on his promise.

"As for the Young Master, you needn’t worry. Since he promised not to kill you, he definitely won’t harm you as long as you remain in the estate."

But Qiong Hua continued to shake her head, her expression anxious. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but no sound emerged.

In the past, Xin He had always found Qiong Hua’s incessant chattering annoying, but now that she could no longer speak, Xin He felt a pang of sorrow.

"I’m sorry. I’m the one who caused this," Xin He said, taking Qiong Hua’s hand and apologizing through tears.

If not for her, Qiong Hua would not be in this state.

Qiong Hua shook her head repeatedly. She wanted to say it wasn’t Xin He’s fault, but she couldn’t utter a sound.

Though she was shocked to learn of the clandestine relationship between Xin He and Wei Mingjin, during the three days after being forced to drink the potion, she had pondered a great deal.

Others might assume that Xin He had seduced Wei Mingjin.

But as Xin He’s personal maid, she knew better.

Although it seemed on the surface that Xin He often initiated visits to Wei Mingjin’s quarters, Qiong Hua could sense that Xin He didn’t truly wish to go.

Moreover, many times, she could clearly see that Xin He wished Wei Mingjin would keep his distance.

How could such a person possibly be the one making advances?

Qiong Hua patted Xin He’s hand and shook her head, indicating that it wasn’t her fault.

Then, she pointed to herself and repeated the earlier gesture of pressing her face against Xin He’s leg.

"You want to stay by my side?" Xin He asked, her eyes welling up as she looked at Qiong Hua. "But if you stay with me, the Young Master will never let you leave the estate."

Besides, she had already begun planning her own escape.

That was why she wanted Qiong Hua to return to the flower room where she had worked before, so that she could later find an opportunity to retrieve Qiong Hua’s contract and persuade Wei Mingjin to release her.

Once Qiong Hua was gone, Xin He would be free to leave without any ties.

But if Qiong Hua stayed by her side, asking Wei Mingjin to release her would surely arouse his suspicion.

Qiong Hua shook her head at Xin He, indicating that she didn’t want to leave the estate but preferred to stay and serve Xin He.

Her parents had passed away, and her brothers had their own families. Leaving the Wei estate would leave her with nowhere to go, so she would rather continue serving Xin He.

This put Xin He in a difficult position.

But she didn’t outright refuse Qiong Hua. Instead, she took a handkerchief and gently wiped Qiong Hua’s tears. "Staying with me is far less secure than returning to the flower room. Let me think about it."

Qiong Hua nodded, then silently took a pair of scissors, snipped the stem of the plum blossom branch at a slant, replaced the water in the vase, and then withdrew.

Xin He sat alone by the window, pondering Qiong Hua’s situation.

Now that Qiong Hua knew about her and Wei Mingjin, sending her back to the flower room was the best choice to eventually persuade Wei Mingjin to let her leave the estate.

But Qiong Hua wanted to stay by her side.

Truth be told, having Qiong Hua stay would be more advantageous for Xin He.

If Qiong Hua went to the flower room, Wei Mingjin would undoubtedly assign another maid to Xin He, surrounding her entirely with his people and making it difficult for her to make a move without notice.

If Qiong Hua remained, she might even be able to help with Xin He’s plans to escape.

But before leaving, Xin He would have to ensure Qiong Hua’s safety. However, Wei Mingjin was astute. If she showed any intention of sending Qiong Hua away, he would likely guess her plans. Not only would she be unable to leave, but she might also endanger Qiong Hua.

After careful consideration, Xin He decided to send Qiong Hua back to the flower room. She would wait for a suitable opportunity to ask Wei Mingjin to release her.

But before Xin He could speak to Qiong Hua, Wei Mingjin took the matter out of her hands.

"Although she’s mute, given her loyalty to you, let her continue serving you from now on."

With Wei Mingjin’s declaration, Xin He feared that refusing would arouse his suspicion, so she lowered her gaze and agreed.

When Qiong Hua entered with the medicinal brew and heard this, she immediately paid her respects to Wei Mingjin, though her gesture was now filled with palpable fear.

In Qiong Hua’s eyes, Wei Mingjin had once been a master with an even temper, never scolding or striking servants. But that day, when he suddenly decided to kill her, Qiong Hua realized that appearances could be deceiving.

Wei Mingjin naturally noticed Qiong Hua’s fear, but he ignored it. He simply extended a hand in her direction.

Qiong Hua promptly offered the ebony-wood engraved tray to Wei Mingjin, who took the medicine bowl.

Xin He, fearing Qiong Hua might displease Wei Mingjin with any impropriety, shot her a meaningful glance, signaling her to withdraw.

Understanding the hint, Qiong Hua retreated.

"What, afraid I’ll devour that girl?" Wei Mingjin carelessly stirred the medicinal brew.

Xin He replied with a playfully chiding smile, "Of course not. She's just a timid girl, and I fear she might behave improperly in your presence and displease you, Young Master."

Wei Mingjin made no comment, merely handing the medicine bowl to Xin He.

As soon as the bowl drew near, Xin He caught a whiff of the bitter medicinal scent. She immediately covered her nose with a handkerchief and looked pitifully at Wei Mingjin. "Young Master, this medicine smells awful. I don’t want to drink it."

"You must drink it. It’s to nourish your body," Wei Mingjin’s tone brooked no refusal.

Not daring to defy him, Xin He took the bowl, held her breath, and downed it in one go. She then rinsed her mouth several times and ate some preserved fruit before feeling somewhat better.

Wei Mingjin reclined to the side, watching Xin He fuss busily.

After her recent miscarriage, the physician had specifically advised that, given the cold weather, she should avoid wind and cold foods to prevent illness.

Wei Mingjin, finding it troublesome, simply ordered the servants to care for Xin He’s daily needs following postpartum confinement rituals. He also arranged for a physician to visit every five days to check her pulse, and thereafter, a steady stream of tonics was sent to Xin He’s courtyard.

Naturally, Xin He did not neglect her health. No matter how bitter the physician’s prescriptions, she would hold her nose and drink them, and she never refused any tonics sent from the kitchen.

Within a fortnight, her complexion had improved significantly.

As for the child she had lost, Xin He never asked about it again, Wei Mingjin never brought it up, and naturally, no one below dared mention it.

Sometimes, sitting alone by the window watching the snow outside, Xin He’s thoughts would drift.

Had that child truly existed? Or had it all been her illusion?

"Ding ling, ding ling…"

A clear, crisp bell sound rang out.

Xin He snapped back to attention and saw Qiong Hua entering with a pot of narcissus.

Since losing her voice, Qiong Hua had sewn a bell onto her shoe. The bell always rang before she arrived.

Qiong Hua placed the narcissus pot on Xin He’s side table and brought out a bundle of red strings.

She began tying red strings around each narcissus stem.

Having worked in the flower room before, Qiong Hua was skilled at tending plants. Since coming to Xin He’s side, flowers had never been absent from Xin He’s room.

Looking at the narcissus, Xin He couldn’t help but sigh. "It's so fast. In the blink of an eye, it's almost the New Year again."

This time last year, she was still at Xin Youzhi’s home, helping with sweeping and dusting, washing, and mending clothes and bedding for everyone.

In the blink of an eye, another year was coming to an end.

Xin He lowered her gaze, staring at her hands holding the hand stove.

Ever since she arrived at Xin Youzhi’s home, once winter began, all the dishwashing and laundry fell to her. Every winter, her hands would get chilblains.

Her hands would turn blue and purple, all ten fingers swollen, sometimes even cracking and bleeding. And once warmed, they would become maddeningly itchy.

So, in the past, Xin He had hated winter the most.

This winter, she no longer had to wash clothes in cold water. Her room was warm as spring with a charcoal brazier, and she carried a hand stove when going out, yet her hands still developed chilblains.

Though this year’s chilblains were not as severe as before.

After tying the red strings around the narcissus, Qiong Hua brought over an ointment, sat on a low stool, and carefully applied it to Xin He’s chilblains.

In the past, it was always Qiong Hua who was the chatterbox. Now that she could no longer speak, Xin He became the one talking during their time alone.

"Today is the third day of the twelfth month. The manor must have started preparing New Year goods, right?"

Qiong Hua nodded, then gestured a series of motions.

Xin He understood. "You mean it’s not as abundant as previous years?"

Qiong Hua nodded again.

"The Master (of the house) has recently passed away, and the Young Master is still in mourning. This year’s New Year naturally can’t compare to previous ones." At this, Xin He couldn’t help but think of the second branch of the family. "How is the Second Madam now?"

Qiong Hua gestured again.

Xin He nodded, murmuring to herself, "Perhaps it's for the best that she remains as she is."

Between her dead husband and her living son, Zou Shi had chosen her son.

Now that she had gone completely mad, Wei Mingxuan was safe.

But Xin He dared not imagine how much Wei Mingxuan would hate them if he ever learned the truth.

He once had a happy and whole family, but they had destroyed it all.

Wei Jingyao was killed by Wei Mingjin, and Zou Shi was driven to madness by Wei Mingjin. Though Xin He had done nothing, she was not blameless in these matters.

Abruptly, her sleeve was tugged. Xin He snapped back to attention and looked at Qiong Hua. "What is it?"

Qiong Hua glanced outside to ensure no one was there, then signed rapidly to Xin He.

Since Qiong Hua lost her voice, Xin He had been with her day and night and could now understand most of her gestures. But this time, Qiong Hua’s gestures were a bit too fast, and she wasn’t entirely sure.

"Slow down and tell me again."

Qiong Hua slowed her signs and repeated the gestures.

This time, Xin He understood. She leaned forward immediately. "You mean my second uncle’s family has come again? And they’ve found out about my miscarriage?"

Qiong Hua nodded.

After Xin He’s miscarriage, she had been unconscious for a long time, with many physicians and masters of methods coming in and out of the Wei household. Naturally, the news couldn’t be kept secret.

Somehow, Xin Youzhi and his wife had also heard. But news traveled slowly to Shili Village, and they had only just learned the news, rushing over immediately.

Since the news of Xin He’s pregnancy had spread, Xin Youzhi and his wife had visited several times.

Xin He had only met them the first time. On subsequent visits, she had them ushered into the side hall and then just let them wait.

They would be left waiting for the better part of the day. When they had waited long enough, she would send someone to tell them she wasn't feeling well and that they should return another time.

Even without meeting them, Xin He knew these two were thinking that since she was pregnant, they could use their supposed familial bonds to coax money out of her.

The absurdity! When she had stayed in their household, they had constantly bossed her around, treating her like a servant. Had they ever once remembered she was their niece?

Now that they see profit to be gained from her, they immediately changed their tune and started claiming they were family.

They can dream on!

She would rather throw her money into the water just to hear the splash than give it to them.

Afterward, Xin Youzhi and his wife came several more times. Each time, Xin He used the same ploy, and naturally, the couple soon realized that Xin He was messing with them on purpose.

After cursing Xin He as an ungrateful wretch in the Wei family's sitting room, the couple left in anger and never visited again.

Now, upon hearing the news of her miscarriage, they suddenly came knocking again. Surely they weren’t here just to mock her, were they?

Xin He asked, "Did Master Wei meet them? Do you know what they said?"

Qiong Hua first nodded, then shook her head, and then gestured a question to Xin He.

Xin He shook her head. "No need to inquire."

Someone would naturally tell her at night.

Sure enough, after nightfall, just as Xin He had lain down on the bed, she heard the ankle bell on Qiong Hua’s suddenly pause at the doorway.

Xin He turned her head and saw a long, slender shadow cast on the floor.

It was Wei Mingjin.

Lately, Wei Mingjin occasionally spent the night in her quarters.

But most of the time, he came in the middle of the night. Tonight, however, he had arrived early.

Just as Xin He was thinking this, she heard Qiong Hua’s bell ring again, this time moving toward the door, sounding faintly hesitant.

Soon, Wei Mingjin stepped out from behind the screen.

Only one lamp was lit in the room, and the bed curtains hung low.

Wei Mingjin walked over, parted the bed curtains with one hand, and saw Xin He lying on her side, facing inward.

Wei Mingjin took off his outer robe, lifted the quilt, got into bed, and pulled the person who had her back to him into his arms.

"Young master, you’re here," Xin He mumbled, pretending to be very sleepy.

Wei Mingjin didn’t expose her feigned sleep. Instead, he held Xin He from behind, toying with her fingers as he asked casually, "Don’t you want to know why your uncle and aunt came today?"

"After I entered the Wei family and refused to help them, they’ve been calling me an ungrateful wretch. They probably heard about my miscarriage and came to mock me."

"Not exactly."

Xin He was stunned. Not to mock her?

Having lived under the same roof with them for so many years, no one understood the true colors of Xin Youzhi and his wife better than Xin He.

Even if hell froze over, those two would never come out of genuine concern for her.

"They said that since you’ve miscarried, they want to ask for my mercy and grant you a Concubine Release Letter so they can take you back."

Hearing this, Xin He’s body went rigid.

The next moment, Wei Mingjin rested his head on the curve of her neck and asked softly, as if seeking her opinion, "He Niang, do you wish to leave me?"

Did she want to leave him? Of course, she did.

But after spending so much time together, Xin He understood Wei Mingjin all too well.

If she dared to answer truthfully tonight, the same day next year would be the anniversary of her death.

After a moment’s thought, Xin He turned around and curled into Wei Mingjin’s arms, looking at him pitifully. "My life depends on your favor, young master. If you are willing to keep me by your side, I would be forever in your debt. But if you grow tired of me, though I would be heartbroken to leave you, I would not defy your wishes."

Xin He used reverse psychology to test Wei Mingjin’s attitude.

Wei Mingjin noticed it. He looked down at the pitiful Xin He and gently stroked her cheek with his fingertips.

His voice was soft and amused, like a lover’s whisper. "Since He Niang holds such deep affection for me, how could I ever abandon you? You have my word, no matter where I go in the future, there will always be a place for you by my side."

"I thank the young master for your mercy." With these words, Xin He nestled her face against Wei Mingjin’s chest, pretending to be touched, but her eyes were icy and distant.

It seemed Wei Mingjin wasn't going to let her go. Then she would have to escape.

But before escaping, she needed to obtain the Concubine Release Letter that Wei Mingjin had written with his father’s authority.

Otherwise, even if she managed to flee, Wei Mingjin could report her as a runaway, and she would be dragged back.