Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Gu Yu slammed his fists hard against the door, rage and arousal boiling within him. After two knocks went unanswered, on the third he kicked it open—the door crashed inward.

“Everyone, leave!”

His voice rumbled like muffled thunder—deep, commanding, menacing—as he strode straight toward Jiang Heng.

The maids had never seen Gu Yu so furious. They scattered like startled sparrows, heads bowed, eyes averted, too terrified to utter a sound, slipping out one by one in hushed silence.

He advanced with fierce, unrelenting determination—like a wild beast enraged—forcing Jiang Heng to instinctively recoil. Just as she whispered “husband,” hoping to soothe him, her neck was seized. Then—*rip*—a chilling rush swept across her chest.

Gu Yu had grabbed her collar and torn her gown open.

Next, he shoved her to the floor and pinned her down.

The floor was paved with glazed tiles—hard, smooth, icy. A slow, penetrating cold seeped up from her back, making Jiang Heng shiver involuntarily, again and again.

Her slender waist trembled beneath his grip, swaying helplessly to his rhythm—so much so that it was impossible to tell whether her shuddering came from the cold—or something else entirely.

Consumed by fury, Gu Yu held that delicate waist tightly, focused solely on release—heedless of where she was, heedless of the door standing wide open.

“Why did you do it?” His thrusts were punishing, meant to chastise her for abandoning him.

Jiang Heng bit her lip, silent, eyes tightly shut in shame.

Gu Yu’s anger flared hotter.

She was always like this—always!

Always playing the innocent, sulking silently beside him. This time was worse—he’d called for her again and again, yet she’d hidden behind the begonia tree, watching as a woman from Nan Cheng clung to him—and in the end, she’d walked away.

Couldn’t she see he wasn’t himself? Couldn’t she tell he was drunk—and drugged? How could she just stand there, passive, ignoring his cries over and over, watching him fall apart—then abandon him?

“Why did you do it?” He gripped her waist, yanking her closer, deliberately intensifying his force—watching her tremble, inch by inch, before his eyes.

Jiang Heng kept biting her lip. Said nothing.

Gu Yu stopped demanding answers—only stared at her, deep and unblinking, pouring all his desire into her.

After all, she wasn’t Ling Lu. She wouldn’t truly care for him—not like Ling Lu did.

When he finally finished venting his rage and withdrew, it was past midnight.

His robes remained fully on—only the hem slightly rumpled, his girdle loosened. A quick adjustment restored his immaculate composure. He looked down at the woman sprawled on the floor—drenched, breathless—and nudged her foot with his own.

When she opened her eyes to meet his, he turned sharply and strode away—just as she had abandoned him earlier.

No sooner had he left than Chun Jin and Rui Zhu rushed in.

Chun Jin brought a fresh nightgown and draped it over Jiang Heng, then helped her sit up slowly. The moment she saw Jiang Heng’s back, she burst into tears.

“Miss—doesn’t it hurt?!”

Though the glazed tiles were smooth, they bore subtle patterns. Pressed and dragged repeatedly across them, the young woman’s tender skin couldn’t withstand the friction—several raw, scraped patches marred her back.

Rui Zhu, too, felt a sharp pang at the sight. Together with Chun Jin, she helped Jiang Heng onto the couch, fetched medicinal wine to treat the wounds, and asked, “Madam—what did you do to make the master so angry?”

Jiang Heng stayed silent. After a long pause, she whispered faintly, “Don’t ask. And never speak of it again.”

What had she done?

She’d simply failed to answer—failed to appear—when he called out *“Ling Lu.”*

She was never Ling Lu. *He* was the one who insisted on treating her as Ling Lu.

Hadn’t He Ji—who’d entangled herself with him—also borne some resemblance to her elder sister? Couldn’t *she*, too, be considered his “Ling Lu”?

Then why—why must *she* remain only a shadow?

Jiang Heng lowered her gaze, concealing the emotions in her eyes—and unconsciously reached for her neck, suddenly realizing her pendant was gone.

She shot upright and searched meticulously the spot where she’d lain—but found nothing.

“Madam, what are you looking for?” Chun Jin and Rui Zhu both hurried over.

“A silver filigree pendant—I put it on this morning,” Jiang Heng said, staring at the floor. Then, remembering her ruined nightgown, she added quickly, “Go check if it’s caught in the fabric.”

Chun Jin and Rui Zhu scoured the room; several maids rifled through the discarded nightclothes; others retraced Jiang Heng’s entire path from the East Wing back to the main residence—but still, nothing.

“Madam, why not ask the three concubines in the East Wing? Perhaps one of them picked it up,” Rui Zhu suggested.

Jiang Heng paused—then shook her head. “Never mind. Don’t look for it.”

That pendant had rested safely in her jewelry box for three years. It had been her mistake today—her sudden, impulsive decision to take it out and wear it… The tabby cat had already been sent away—and now the pendant, too, was gone. Everything he’d ever given her was slowly vanishing.

Jiang Heng sat by the window, staring blankly at the eaves outside—where a swallow’s nest housed several chicks and a pair of parent swallows. By day, they chirped incessantly—but now, likely asleep, all was quiet.

Jiang Heng thought: perhaps he, like Yan Rong, was angry with her—and so he was taking back, one by one, everything he’d ever given her.

···

Gu Yu sat behind his desk, eyes fixed on the unfurled map—but his mind replayed only the cold indifference of the woman hiding behind the begonia tree, refusing to answer his repeated calls.

After sitting awhile longer, he gathered his thoughts and truly focused on the map. Absentmindedly, he reached to press the short knife at his girdle—then paused. Something caught his attention. He looked down closely and saw an impossibly fine silver thread coiled tightly around the knife’s hilt.

He removed it—and recognized it instantly: a silver filigree pendant.

The fastener had disappeared—probably broken in the earlier scuffle. The pendant was crafted from water jade—not the highest grade, veined with internal cracks—yet delicately carved into a pair of swallows in flight. One side bore the character *"久"* (*jiǔ*, signifying "endurance"); the reverse displayed no recognizable script—rather, it was etched with undulating waves, crowned by two concentric rings.

*“Jiǔ”* was easy enough—clearly signifying “long and lasting.” But what did the rippling water signify?

Could it be…

His literary name was Cheng Zhou. The character "Zhou" signified an isle—land embraced by waters. Could these undulating waves be an artistic embodiment of "Zhou"?

It had to be. She was his wife—besides him, with whom else could she be “long and lasting”?

Gu Yu’s eyebrow twitched—almost imperceptibly. He summoned Cheng Ping and ordered, “Take this pendant and have it repaired.”

Cheng Ping accepted it, recognized it immediately, and asked, “Did Madam obtain this at Guanyin Temple?”

Gu Yu, naturally unaware of such details, glanced up at Cheng Ping—expecting elaboration.

Cheng Ping continued, “There’s an old novice monk at Guanyin Temple who specializes in crafting these mandarin duck pendants. It’s said couples who receive one from him will enjoy marital harmony and grow old together. I’ve heard he’s been doing this for years—and it’s proven remarkably effective.”

Gu Yu gave a noncommittal “hmm,” feigning disinterest—though the corners of his lips lifted, just slightly. After a moment’s pause, he instructed Cheng Ping again: “Once it’s repaired—bring it to me.”

Cheng Ping understood, thinking that the master wanted to return it to the lady himself, and so he smiled and agreed.

After Cheng Ping left, Gu Yu looked up and looked toward the main courtyard.

Had she gone to Guanyin Temple specifically to get that pendant?

Did she want them to be a harmonious couple, growing old together?

Then why, tonight, did she stand by and watch as he was entangled by another woman?

Or perhaps, she had followed him to the east courtyard, saw him drinking and dancing with Xia Ji, and then getting hassled by He Ji, got mad and ran off—not deliberately ignoring him or ditching him?