Chapter 48: Feign Death

Chapter 48: Feigned Death

On the day of Qiong Hua's wedding, Xin He went to watch the ceremony.

Wei Mingjin brought her there. However, they did not go as part of the hosting family, nor did they draw anyone's attention. Instead, they stood among the crowd, watching from a distance as Qiong Hua and You Qing bowed to heaven and earth.

Qiong Hua was wearing a bridal veil, so Xin He couldn't see the expression on her face.

But You Qing, who was usually serious and unsmiling, had his gaze fixed on Qiong Hua that day, his eyes filled with pride and joy.

Even Nanny Dou, who typically dressed in drab, outdated clothing, wore a festive magenta jacket that day. She hardly ever wore makeup, but on that day, she sat in the seat of honor, beaming with happiness.

It was clear that she was very pleased with Qiong Hua as her daughter-in-law.

Standing in the crowd, Xin He watched as Qiong Hua and You Qing, after completing the bows, were surrounded and escorted toward the bridal chamber. The heavy stone in her heart finally settled.

Qiong Hua was a good girl who had suffered much hardship alongside her over the years.

Now she had a mother-in-law, a husband, and a new home. From now on, she would no longer be alone.

Moreover, with Nanny Dou and You Qing by her side, no one would dare bully her again.

Though Xin He was reluctant to part with her, she felt genuinely happy for Qiong Hua.

Only after the newlyweds had completely disappeared from view did Xin He turn to Wei Mingjin and say, "Master, let's go."

Wei Mingjin nodded and led her against the flow of the crowd as they made their way out.

It was April, and the weather was clear and mild. Lush green grass covered the ground, and the rivers were full. A boat glided swiftly under the Sunny Rainbow Bridge, leaving long ripples shimmering in the water.

Xin He lifted her face, savoring the brief and long-lost sense of freedom.

Wei Mingjin had originally intended to return to the estate, but upon seeing Xin He like this, he changed his mind.

He called for Feng Mo to bring a horse, then bent down, wrapped an arm around Xin He’s waist, and lifted her onto the saddle.

Xin He was startled. Before she could react, a wide-brimmed hat was placed over her head.

Along with the hat came Wei Mingjin’s voice: "Hold on tight."

Xin He instinctively gripped the saddle in front of her. The next moment, the horse beneath her shot forward like an arrow from a bow.

Terrified, Xin He clung tightly to the saddle.

Wei Mingjin urged the horse onward at a gallop, deliberately choosing secluded paths.

After her initial panic subsided, Xin He gradually calmed down. Noticing that Wei Mingjin had already ridden beyond the city gates, surrounded by picturesque mountains, clear waters, and lush flora, she couldn’t help but look around curiously.

She was born and raised in the countryside, where she could have roamed freely through the wild.

But while picking mulberry leaves, she had caught the eye of Master Wei and was sent by her uncle and aunt to the Wei family, becoming a bird trapped in a cage.

After Master Wei’s death, her jailer became Wei Mingjin.

To be more precise, Wei Mingjin did not lock her up. Instead, he hung a sword above her head. To prevent that sword from falling, she had to clip her own wings, ingratiate herself with him in every way, and become a bird that could only depend on him.

Now, suddenly returned to the world she knew so well, Xin He felt refreshed and invigorated.

"Master, faster, please."

Seeing that the person in his arms was no longer afraid, Wei Mingjin urged the horse into a gallop once more.

The late spring wind carried no chill but was instead filled with the fragrance of flowers and plants. Noticing that there was no one around, Xin He lifted the curtain of her hat, greedily and wholeheartedly drinking in the long-missed mountain scenery.

They had left the city on horseback around mid-morning and did not return until nearly dusk.

As soon as they arrived back at the estate, Uncle Ming came out to greet them.

Knowing that he likely had matters to report to Wei Mingjin, Xin He returned first to Cuiwei Court.

When Qiong Hua was still around, aside from her, Xin He had been cold and distant toward everyone else.

Now that Qiong Hua was married, Ming Xia had taken her place, becoming the one who attended closely to Xin He.

Ming Xia had been sent by Wei Mingjin. Although Xin He usually treated her with indifference, Ming Xia remained respectful and deferential.

By the time Xin He finished her bath, Ming Xia had already prepared some plum soup.

"It’s quite warm today, so plum soup is just the thing. But since it’s rather late, I was afraid adding ice would make it too cold, so I only had it cooled in well water. Please taste it, ma’am. If it isn’t to your liking, I can have some ice fetched." As she spoke, Ming Xia smilingly presented a white porcelain cup to Xin He.

Xin He replied indifferently, "You’ve been very thoughtful."

"It’s my duty, ma’am."

After Xin He accepted the plum soup, Ming Xia moved behind her, picked up a dry cloth, and began to towel her hair dry.

When Xin He first entered the estate, her hair had been somewhat dry and yellowish.

But after joining the Wei family, where she had enough to eat and wear every day, her hair gradually improved.

Later, when she noticed that Wei Mingjin enjoyed playing with her hair, Xin He often washed it with a decoction made from tung leaves, hemp seeds, and rice water. After years of care, her hair had become thick, lush, and glossy black, envied by many.

Reclining on the daybed, sipping her plum soup, Xin He casually asked Ming Xia, "While the Master and I were away today, did anyone come looking for him?"

"Yes, Third Granduncle from the clan came by."

Although Ming Xia was Wei Mingjin’s person, she answered whatever Xin He asked.

Xin He understood immediately.

In another six months, Wei Mingjin’s mourning period would end.

Since the beginning of spring this year, more and more visitors had come to the Wei estate.

Without exception, they all came to propose marriages for Wei Mingjin.

Xin He’s child was gone, and the vast fortune left by Master Wei now belonged solely to Wei Mingjin. Moreover, Wei Mingjin was both talented and handsome. Having already earned the title of Provincial First Scholar two years ago, he was certain to pass the imperial examination once his mourning period ended.

Such an ideal son-in-law was naturally a coveted prize.

Not only did Wei Mingjin’s former teachers, friends, and classmates repeatedly visit, but even the elders of the Wei clan had come one after another to propose matches for him.

However, Wei Mingjin had politely declined all of them.

No doubt, Third Granduncle’s visit today was also for this matter.

Just as she finished her cup of plum soup, Xin He felt a slight pain in her lower abdomen and sensed that something was amiss.

Going inside to check, she found, as expected, that her period had arrived.

Every time after being intimate with Wei Mingjin, Xin He would always drink contraceptive brew. After drinking it frequently, her periods became irregular.

But whenever her period came, Xin He would always feel a wave of relief.

She had safely gotten through another month without pregnancy.

After changing into fresh clothes, Ming Xia brought her a bowl of brown sugar ginger water.

Outside, the sky had completely darkened, and lanterns were lit up across the courtyard. The orange-yellow lights flickered in the pitch-black night, like faint, scattered will-o'-the-wisps.

With her hair down, Xin He sat by the window on the couch, taking small, careful sips of the brown sugar ginger water.

Somehow, she suddenly thought of Liang Wanying.

People often said that the one who strikes first gains the advantage, while the one who hesitates suffers. Thinking back, Liang Wanying was the first to have her eyes on Wei Mingjin.

But she didn’t know what Wei Mingjin had said to Liang Wanying that Lantern Festival night. After that, not only did Liang Wanying never come back to the Wei residence to see Xin He again, but she was also married off not long after.

Xin He heard that Liang Wanying had even become a mother these days.

"What are you thinking about?" Wei Mingjin’s voice suddenly sounded.

Xin He jerked her head around instinctively and realized that Wei Mingjin was standing behind her, though she didn’t know for how long.

"I was thinking about when Master would come. I’m so hungry!" Xin He pouted, putting on her best pitiful look.

Wei Mingjin smiled, his hands folded behind his back: "If you’re going to lie, shouldn’t you at least put the bowl away first?"

"I was drinking brown sugar ginger water," Xin He said, as if afraid Wei Mingjin wouldn’t believe her, she pushed the bowl toward him.

Although Xin He had finished the brown sugar ginger water, the bowl still smelled of ginger.

Wei Mingjin frowned: "Is it that time of the month?"

Xin He hated the taste of ginger. Only when she was suffering from her period would she drink brown sugar ginger water.

"Yes, and I’m feeling awful right now," Xin He said, one hand pressed to her stomach, furrowing her brows and whining in a delicate voice.

Wei Mingjin swung his robes aside and sat down next to her, placing his large hand on her lower abdomen. As he gently rubbed it, his tone sounded displeased: "Did you drink contraceptive brew again?"

He remembered that when Xin He first became his, her periods didn’t seem to cause her as much discomfort as they did now.

Xin He’s lower abdomen ached with a dull, heavy pain. Hearing Wei Mingjin’s words, she rolled her eyes inwardly.

If she didn’t drink contraceptive brew, would she have to end up with another child?

But she didn’t dare show such disrespect to Wei Mingjin openly. Instead, she leaned weakly against his shoulder and said pitifully: "I don’t want to drink it either, but I have no choice. I’m still nominally the old master’s concubine. It’s been over two years since he passed away—if I suddenly became pregnant, wouldn’t the clan elders have me drowned in a pig basket?"

"Are you blaming me for not giving you a formal status?" Wei Mingjin’s hand, which had been rubbing her abdomen, paused as he lifted his eyes to look at her.

"That’s not what I meant."

When Wei Mingjin had accidentally found out that Xin He had been regularly drinking contraceptive brew, he had teased her for being cowardly and said that if she became pregnant, she could have the child.

With him around, no one would dare breathe a word.

Xin He had agreed to his face, but as soon as she turned away, she immediately drank the contraceptive brew.

Wei Mingjin talked like it was easy, but if the truth ever came out, the only ones who would be punished were her and the innocent life inside her.

Men’s promises are as reliable as a ghost’s. If she actually believed him, she would be like an old fool begging for death—asking for trouble.

But now that Wei Mingjin seemed angered by this matter, Xin He had no choice but to play meek to calm him down.

"I was thinking that you and I have a long future ahead of us. There’s no need to rush for a child right now. Besides, didn’t you say that after the mourning period, you would take me with you to the capital? If I were pregnant, how could I endure the hardships of the journey? There will be plenty of opportunities to have children later, but this is your first time going to the capital for the imperial exams. I want to be by your side," Xin He cooed softly to him.

Wei Mingjin actually bought it, and his expression softened.

But Xin He knew it wasn’t enough.

Like a dodder vine, she twined herself tightly around Wei Mingjin’s arm and continued: "As for the matter of status, didn’t you already tell me before that no matter where you go, as long as I behave, there will always be a place for me by your side? Were you deceiving me?"

As she said the last sentence, Xin He made sure to show just the right amount of unease and fear on her face.

Only then did the displeasure on Wei Mingjin’s face completely vanish. He raised his hand and flicked her forehead as if punishing her: "Since I promised you, I naturally won’t go back on my word."

"But I heard that the clan elders have been trying to find you a wife recently?" Xin He leaned against Wei Mingjin’s chest, looking wronged as she fished for information.

Xin He didn’t care whom Wei Mingjin married.

But at the moment, she was playing the role of a dodder that couldn’t survive without him. If she appeared indifferent to Wei Mingjin’s marriage prospects, he would surely become suspicious.

So in front of Wei Mingjin, she had no choice but to put on an act to reassure him.

"Them arranging marriages is their business—what does it have to do with me? Or does He Niang think…" At this, Wei Mingjin lifted Xin He’s chin and looked down at her, "...that I would let those old men control me?"

"In my heart, my lord is the smartest and most clever. How could you possibly be controlled by a few clan elders!" Xin He lifted her face so Wei Mingjin could see the trust and certainty in her eyes more clearly.

Wei Mingjin was amused by Xin He’s flattery. He released her chin and pulled her into his arms: "You know best. In a little while, I’ll send you away from the Wei residence."

Hearing this, Xin He maintained an obedient expression on the surface, but her heart beat wildly.

She had been trapped in the Wei residence for nearly three years, and now she could finally leave.

Xin He began to secretly look forward to it.

But she waited and waited, until after the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the osmanthus fragrance once again filled Qingyuan County. It was then that Feng Mo brought her a bowl of dark, bitter medicinal tea.

At that moment, Xin He’s pupils contracted sharply, and fear instantly showed on her face. She instinctively looked toward Wei Mingjin.

Wei Mingjin set down his book. Seeing Xin He shaking like a leaf, he found it both amusing and exasperating.

"It’s just a medicine that will make you appear sickly and weak. Why are you so afraid?"

Xin He was taken aback and stammered: "Medicine to make me appear weak?"

"If we don’t find a way for you to shed your identity as my father’s concubine, how can you openly go to the capital with me?"

Hearing this, the fear on Xin He’s face lessened slightly, but she still looked at Wei Mingjin uneasily.

Wei Mingjin felt like scolding her, but seeing her pale face and the lingering fear in her eyes, the words rolled on his tongue before he swallowed them back.

He turned to Feng Mo and reached out his hand: "Give it to me."

Feng Mo immediately handed the medicinal soup to Wei Mingjin.

Wei Mingjin took a sip in front of Xin He, then handed the bowl to her: "Do you believe me now?"

Xin He hurriedly accepted the bowl with both hands.

Now the entire Wei household was under Wei Mingjin's control. If Wei Mingjin truly wanted her life, he wouldn't need to resort to such a complicated method. Moreover, he had already drunk the medicine in front of her, so it should indeed be just a concoction to make one look frail.

Thus, Xin He hesitated no longer and drank the medicine down in one go right before Wei Mingjin.

After consuming that bowl of medicine, Xin He came down with a fever that very night.

A doctor was summoned, who diagnosed it as a chill and prescribed some herbal medicine.

However, after taking the medicine, instead of improving, Xin He's condition worsened.

She began to have fevers that kept coming back and grew increasingly drowsy. Wei Mingjin called in many physicians, and medicine flowed continuously into Cuwei Yard, but Xin He's health showed no signs of recovery; instead, it declined day by day.

On this day, Xin He was clear-headed for a little while and asked Ming Xia to help her sit by the window for a while.

She had been ill since after the Mid-Autumn Festival, and now, after nearly half a month, the osmanthus outside the window had already fallen, while the hibiscus was in full bloom.

Footsteps approached, and soon someone announced outside the door: "Concubine, You Qing is here to see you."

You Qing, Qiong Hua's husband.

Since Qiong Hua's marriage, Xin He had not seen her again. But occasionally, she would hear news of Qiong Hua from the servants.

They said Qiong Hua was doing very well now. After marrying You Qing, the two opened a small restaurant, and their business was doing well!

After thinking for a while, Xin He finally shook her head: "I won't see him."

She was about to leave the Wei family soon. Not seeing anyone related to Qiong Hua was the best way to protect her.

The maid left and soon returned.

But when she came back, she was carrying a basket.

Inside the basket was full of pomegranates.

The maid said: "Concubine, You Qing asked me to tell you that you were kind enough to make it possible for her and Qiong Hua back then. Today, she came to bring you good news—Qiong Hua was found to be pregnant just two days ago."

"I see. You may leave." Xin He lay back on the couch, acting like she didn't care.

Ming Xia continued to attend to her. After a while, she heard Xin He say: "These pomegranates look good. Peel one for me to taste."

Since Xin He's health had deteriorated, she hadn't had much appetite. Today, she actually wanted to eat a pomegranate. Ming Xia quickly agreed and immediately sat on a small stool to peel a small bowl of pomegranate for her.

After eating one, Xin He instructed: "It's a bit cold. Fetch me a blanket."

After Ming Xia left to get it, Xin He could no longer hold back her tears of happiness.

It was good that she was pregnant. With a child, Qiong Hua's future would be even brighter.

That afternoon, Nanny Dou also came personally to bring Xin He the good news.

"Concubine, Qiong Hua is pregnant. Take good care of your health. When the child has its first month celebration, you must sit at the seat of honor!"

"I'm afraid I won't live to see that day." Xin He smiled at Nanny Dou, reached out her emaciated hand to grasp Nanny Dou's wrist, and said weakly, "Nanny Dou, Qiong Hua is a good girl. You and You Qing must treat her well, or else I will haunt you, even as a ghost."

Nanny Dou was so frightened that she knelt before Xin He: "Yes, this old woman will remember it well."

Xin He then lay back on the bed and closed her eyes: "I'm tired. You may leave."

That night, at the third watch (around 1:30 AM), cries suddenly erupted from Cuwei Yard.

Concubine Xin had passed away.

The next day at dawn, Wei Mingjin sent someone to Shili Village to deliver the news of her death to Xin Youzhi and his wife.

Back then, Xin Youzhi and his wife had sold Xin He into the Wei family as a concubine and received a large sum of silver. They immediately built a house with blue-gray tiles and married off their eldest son.

But within two years, the Xin family had fallen into ruin.

Xin Youzhi's youngest son gambled and owed money to a gambling house. The debt collectors came to Shili Village every day to demand payment, making life miserable for the Xin family.

Xin Youzhi had no way to seek help from Xin He. To save his youngest son's life, he had to sell the newly built house with blue-gray tiles to pay off the gambling debt, and the family moved back to their crumbling old house to live.

Because of this, the eldest son's wife said she'd leave unless the family separated.

Xin Youzhi knew he had wronged his eldest son's family, so he agreed to the separation.

After the separation, the eldest son's family immediately built a wall on the boundary of the old house, as if to completely have nothing to do with them.

Just as Xin Youzhi had emptied the family's savings to pay off his youngest son's gambling debt, Hu the Butcher came to demand money.

Xin Youzhi had once accepted twenty taels of bridal payment from Hu the Butcher, promising to marry Xin He to him after bringing her home. But Wei Mingjin did not release her, and the twenty taels of silver had already been used to pay off the youngest son's gambling debt.

When Hu the Butcher came to ask for the silver, Xin Youzhi naturally had none.

Hu the Butcher didn't waste words with him. He directly raised his knife and cut off the use of both of Xin Youzhi's legs as repayment.

When the Wei family's servants arrived at Xin Youzhi's house at the end of the morning hours (around 9 AM), all the Xin family members were out working in the fields. Only Xin Youzhi was sitting on the ground, his pant legs hanging empty.

After the Wei family's servants explained their purpose, Xin Youzhi was not sad but instead clapped his hands and laughed: "She died well! That ungrateful wretch should have died long ago!"

If she wouldn't lift a finger to help, their family wouldn't have fallen into such ruin.

Seeing this, the Wei family's servants said nothing more and returned to report Xin Youzhi's reaction to Wei Mingjin.

Wei Mingjin sighed and said: "Since Concubine Xin's relatives do not acknowledge her, find a good plot of land outside the city and bury her properly."

Because Xin He was the old Master Wei's concubine, her "funeral" was kept very quiet. Only the two concubines from Qingwu Court and Wei Mingxuan came to pay their last respects.

After two years of tempering, Wei Mingjin had shed his former youthful immaturity and now carried himself with maturity and steadiness.

As he stood before Xin He's grave, his eyes were so red they seemed about to bleed.

She was so young—how could she have suddenly died of illness!

Wei Mingxuan felt that heaven was blind.

Wei Mingjin patted him heavily on the shoulder and comforted him: "Concubine has passed. Second Brother, please hold back your grief."

Wei Mingxuan had to suppress his sorrow and forced a smile at Wei Mingjin: "Brother, I'm fine."

But when he turned around and saw the new grave, Wei Mingxuan couldn't hold back his tears.

However, what Wei Mingxuan didn't know was that after they returned to the manor that night, Xin He's grave was dug up once more. Someone took her body out of the coffin, restored the grave to its original appearance, and then carried her body down the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, a carriage was waiting.

There were no stars or moon that night; the sky was as dark as spilled ink. Yet in the silent mountain forest, a single pinpoint of light moved forward.

As it drew closer, the person guarding the carriage squinted to make out who it was and called through the carriage wall: "Young Master, Feng Mo and the others are here."

After about a quarter of an hour, that pinprick of light moved closer to the carriage.

Wei Mingjin lifted the curtain, glanced at the person in Feng Mo's arms, and reached out to take her.

Chi Yan sat on the driver's seat, flicked the reins, and the horse began to clip-clop forward.

Wei Mingjin held the person in his arms, and only when he felt her warmth, proof she was alive, did he quietly let out a sigh of relief in his heart.

Although Xin He had stopped breathing in front of everyone due to taking a feign-death potion, and air holes had been left in the coffin to prevent any mishaps, it wasn't until this moment that Wei Mingjin felt truly at ease.

By now, the city gates were closed. Wei Mingjin and his group did not return to the city but instead stopped at an estate outside the walls.

When Wei Mingjin carried Xin He to the estate, someone was already waiting there, holding a lantern.

That person was none other than Ming Xia, who had previously served Xin He.

Seeing Wei Mingjin bring Xin He, Ming Xia hurried into the room, removed the burial garments from Xin He's body, washed her, and changed her into a fresh set of clothes.

Just as Ming Xia finished, Xin He slowly woke up.

"Madam, you're awake!" Ming Xia said with joy, immediately adding, "The young master is outside. I will go fetch him."

With that, Ming Xia ran out.

Xin He lay on the bed, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, feeling as though she had just woken from a long dream that had brought her here.

Where was this?!

Just as Xin He was feeling lost, Wei Mingjin lifted the hem of his robe and sat down by her bedside, looking at her with concern. "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

"Thirsty," Xin He rasped.

Wei Mingjin poured tea, let Xin He lean against him, and slowly fed her the tea.

Only after finishing two cups of tea did Xin He feel the real sensation of returning to the world of the living.

She hugged Wei Mingjin, buried her head in his chest, and trembled uncontrollably. "Young master, your concubine is so afraid."

"Afraid of what?" Wei Mingjin's large hand stroked Xin He's back, his voice warm and gentle. "My father's Yiniang Xin had died of illness. From now on, you are only He Niang."

Xin He responded softly, holding tightly onto Wei Mingjin and not letting go.

Later, Ming Xia prepared some food. Xin He hadn't eaten for three days, but she had no appetite and only managed half a bowl of porridge before saying she was full.

After Ming Xia came in to clear the meal away, Xin He nestled close to Wei Mingjin and asked uneasily, "Will the young master stay here tonight?"

Wei Mingjin nodded.

When it was time to sleep, just as Wei Mingjin was about to put out the lamp, Xin He suddenly said, "Young master, leave one lamp lit."

Wei Mingjin raised an eyebrow, met Xin He's hopeful gaze, and left that one lamp burning.

The night deepened, and occasionally the sound of wind could be heard outside.

Wei Mingjin had already fallen asleep. Xin He curled up beside him, wide-eyed, biting her nails.

Although she had taken the feign-death potion earlier, while lying in the coffin, Xin He had briefly regained consciousness.

It was pitch black inside the coffin, and she was alone. She heard the sound of soil hitting the coffin.

In that moment, boundless fear surged in Xin He's heart. She was afraid she would really die like this. She had tried desperately to push open the coffin lid, but her body was too weak to muster any strength.

She tried to speak but could make no sound.

She lay in the coffin, unable to move, only able to listen in terror as the soil hit the coffin, slowly burying her underground.

Although she soon lost consciousness again, the fear from that brief moment of awareness seemed branded into her heart.

Now, even with the lamp lit, she didn't dare sleep. She could only hold tightly onto Wei Mingjin's arm, staying awake until dawn.

It wasn't until the first rooster crowed that she finally fell asleep.

Xin He slept for a long time. When she woke again, Wei Mingjin was no longer by her side.

Sunlight filtered through the paper window, casting dappled light on the tables and chairs in the room.

Ming Xia heard the movement and came in from outside. Seeing Xin He sitting on the bed wrapped in a quilt, she hurried over. "Madam, you're awake! Perfect timing—the physician the young master arranged for you has arrived. Shall I help you freshen up and have some food, then have the physician examine you?"

Xin He nodded.

Ming Xia brought in hot water. After Xin He washed her face, she sat in front of the bronze mirror, skillfully doing her hair while asking Ming Xia, "Where is the young master?"

"The young master had matters to attend to and returned to the city. He said he would come to see you another day."

Hearing this, Xin He said nothing more.

After breakfast, the physician was invited in to examine Xin He's pulse.

Xin He had taken medicine to weaken her body and the feign-death potion. All medicine carries some toxicity.

After checking her pulse, the physician said her body was fine and she only needed to take a few doses of medicinal tonic to recuperate.

After the physician wrote the prescription and left, Ming Xia went to prepare the medicine, while Xin He wandered around the estate.

Soon, she had familiarized herself with the layout.

Apart from a steward's family responsible for all the tenant farmers, only she and Ming Xia lived on the estate.