Chapter 6 Rebellion “Hold it in!”

Chapter 6: Rebellion "Stop crying!"

Zhong Yao first felt a cool sensation on her back, followed by pain. The pain brought her consciousness back to the day she was injured, and the faint, drawn-out whistle she heard before losing consciousness seemed to echo in her ears once more.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she abruptly opened her eyes, astonished to find herself lying on her side on a bed. The gauze curtains beside her were a pale gold, elegant and luxurious.

Peering through a gap where the curtains didn't quite meet, Zhong Yao saw tidy tables and chairs, a green jade cup on the table, a lit lamp of glass and gold, and a nearby ink-splashed landscape screen depicting emerald mountains. She also caught a faint whiff of incense.

She realized she was in a clean, quiet, and opulent room.

Zhong Yao tried to sit up, but the moment she moved, the pain in her back overwhelmed the cool sensation, making her groan. She grimaced and flopped back down.

Perhaps because she had made a sound, a voice immediately came from beyond the screen. A woman dressed as a maid entered, saw Zhong Yao was awake, and hurried over to ask, "Miss, you're awake? Would you like some water first?"

Zhong Yao, horrified, wanted to shrink away, but her back wound made movement impossible. Forcing herself to stay calm, she warily sized up the other woman and asked, "What's the date today?"

The maid, not expecting this sudden question, was slightly taken aback before replying, "The fifth day of the fourth month."

Zhong Yao felt a moment of disorientation. Suppressing the fear and sorrow in her heart, she said to the maid, "Those who aid evildoers come to no good end!"

The maid was even more puzzled. "What do you mean, Miss?"

Zhong Yao didn't want to explain further and said stubbornly, "Even if your master cuts me to pieces or drags me out to feed the wolves, I won't submit to him! If you have any conscience left, just kill me!"

The maid looked surprised, glanced at her again, and said, "My master is occupied. You've been asleep for a long time, Miss. Perhaps you should have some food and drink first. Once my master is free, I'll ask him to come see you."

She brought over delicacies and water.

Zhong Yao hadn't eaten for a long time. She had gone so long without food that the sharp pangs of hunger had subsided.

She refused to eat or drink, nor would she speak to the maid. Her mind filled with the vicious rumors about mountain bandits she'd heard before, thoughts of her parents at home, and her missing elder brother. Silent tears streamed down her face.

Xie Chi arrived in the afternoon. Before even entering the inner chamber, he heard the pitiful sound of weeping.

With no expression on his face, he lifted the gauze curtain and entered. "Be quiet."

The familiar voice made Zhong Yao look up. Through her shimmering tears, she saw it was him, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

"The medicine on your wound contains a secret pain-numbing powder. It's cooling and relieves the pain; it shouldn't hurt that much. No more crying." Xie Chi sat directly on a stool by the table. Seeing the untouched food and drink, he frowned. "We've escaped. I've already promised to repay you. What's with all this weeping and talk of dying?"

Zhong Yao finally understood: she hadn't been captured by bandits; she had been rescued.

But what use was that?

She wiped the tears from her cheeks with her fingertips and looked at Xie Chi again. She noticed he was wearing luxurious black brocade robes with basket-weave patterns, a dark rhinoceros-horn leather belt around his waist, and black boots that hugged his calves. This clean, tidy attire, paired with his peerlessly handsome face, made him look exactly like the heart-stealing male demons described in poetry.

But Zhong Yao wasn't the least bit enchanted.

After what he'd just said, it was impossible to be charmed.

Zhong Yao also noticed his eyes were dark and bright. She sniffled and asked in a muffled voice, "Your eyes are better?"

"They're fine." Xie Chi asked, "Where is your home?"

Zhong Yao's expression darkened. She rubbed her eyes but didn't answer. Instead, she asked softly, "How did we get out?"

Xie Chi frowned slightly. "The whistle."

Back in the cave, Zhong Yao had already noticed this man had little patience with her. Getting such a brief answer now was no surprise at all.

She thought about it and understood: that faint, elusive whistle had been searching for him... No wonder the Third-in-command hadn't dared to stay long.

But if the whistle was searching for him, why had he knocked her out?

Oh, because her crying annoyed him.

It must be that. He was always like that.

Zhong Yao shot a resentful glance at the handsome man sitting outside the gauze curtains, then turned back and buried her face in the crook of her arm.

This was clearly a refusal to converse.

Unfortunately, Xie Chi had no desire to understand. He asked directly, "Where do you live? I'll have someone escort you back."

Zhong Yao ignored him.

Through their time together, Xie Chi had discerned that this girl, who appeared fragile and prone to tears, actually had a stubborn, sharp core and a somewhat willful streak.

It wasn't as if he had a good temper himself.

Xie Chi knocked on the table. "Either obediently state your identity. Whether it's trouble at home or wanting revenge on the man who broke off your engagement, I can help. Or, continue with this talk of dying. Regardless, since you took a knife for me, even if I have to pry your mouth open and force-feed you, I won't let you die."

Hearing this, Zhong Yao was shocked. After a moment's hesitation, she finally looked at him again.

There was no choice. Given this man's ruthless nature, he was definitely capable of doing the things he said.

Being force-fed with one's mouth pried open... how humiliating...

But Zhong Yao still didn't reveal her background. Instead, in a weak, slow voice, she said, "I know you're a good person and have some wealth, but how could my family's troubles be solved with just money? I don't need your repayment, and you can't help me anyway..."

She was speaking to the person outside the curtain, but also telling herself, "It's useless. No one can help me. If you really want to thank me, why not slap yourself a couple of times to make me happy..."

Xie Chi closed his eyes, replaying the memory of her taking the knife for him several times in his mind, just barely managing to suppress the impulse to throw her out of the manor to fend for herself.

Only after that annoyingly sticky, whiny voice finished its rambling did he speak again.

This time, Xie Chi made himself even clearer. "As long as it's not rebellion or treason, I can help you resolve any matter."

His words hung in the air. There was no response for a long time.

Not even a whimper.

This was a situation Xie Chi had never encountered in the two days since meeting Zhong Yao.

A bad premonition instantly arose in Xie Chi's heart. He opened his eyes, stood up, strode forward, and with a *swish*, pulled aside the gauze curtain. He saw Zhong Yao lying face-down on the bed, her head turned to the side, her hands resting by the pillow, worriedly plucking at the bedding.

Seeing him draw back the curtain and approach, her face changed color. She shrank back, looking guilty and unable to meet his eyes, as if her secret had been exposed.

Xie Chi almost laughed in exasperation.

It really *was* rebellion and treason?!

The current emperor has been on the throne for fifteen years. He may not compare to the legendary wise rulers in history, but on major matters concerning the state and its people, he has never made any grave mistakes. He is diligent in governance and cares for the people. If one had to find fault, it might be that he cares too much about face...

More importantly, these are peaceful, prosperous times. The state is stable. The crown prince has been designated for nearly four years. Both the court and the common people are stable and harmonious. Attempting rebellion now—even if it were the Crown Prince himself—has little chance of success, let alone anyone else?

She knows this, which is why she said her family has a disaster?

She actually knows this is a disaster?

But that also cleared up the suspicions about her.

Xie Chi said, "So a sheltered and pampered young lady like you would stay in an inn on the outskirts of the capital with only two servants... It must be that the uprising is imminent. Your parents likely know the chances of success are slim, and as a precaution, they wanted to quietly send you out of the capital."

Spot on!

Zhong Yao was shocked and whipped her head to look at Xie Chi in astonishment.

Meeting her gaze, Xie Chi snorted coldly and asked, "Are your parents remnants of the previous dynasty, or was someone in your family falsely accused and executed? What's forcing you to rebel?"

Neither.

Zhong Yao felt cornered and didn’t want to answer. Using her prone position, she tried to bury her face.

She did exactly that, but because of the injury on her back, she was only wearing a thin nightgown, and the quilt only covered her below the waist. By burying her face, she ended up exposing her shoulders, back, and waist completely to the man standing beside the bed.

This was an immodest position, and at such a close distance, it was far too dangerous.

Even the cool feeling on her back now felt charged.

Zhong Yao quickly turned her face away, clutching the bedding weakly and saying, "It's not proper for a man to be here... You should leave..."

As soon as she finished speaking, the bed sank heavily. The man beside her hitched his robes and sat down, like a massive stone falling from the sky, pinning Zhong Yao firmly against the inner side of the bed.

Zhong Yao jumped and hurriedly turned her head, finding herself staring into his gloomy eyes.

This distance was too close. If another man sat by a girl's bed, you'd think he meant to care for her, but with this man, it was clearly so he could strangle her anytime he liked.

Zhong Yao knew he was annoyed by the trouble her family’s disaster had caused. She knew that, but it wasn't as if she'd asked for this!

Her eyes reddened, welling up with tears.

"Don't you dare!" Xie Chi snapped.

Zhong Yao nearly choked on her tears, startled. She whispered, "I can cry if I want to. It's none of your business! If you find me annoying, just stay away..."

"I don't have time for this," Xie Chi said. "Plotting rebellion is serious business. If you confess honestly, I might still be able to maneuver things and do my best to protect your family. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to hand you over to the Dali Temple for trial. It's your call."

If she were handed over to the Dali Temple, they'd inevitably report it to the emperor. Even if Zhong Yao sealed her lips shut, the truth couldn't be hidden, and her entire family would be executed.

Given the choice between peace and death, anyone would choose peace.

But...

Zhong Yao said sorrowfully, "You say that like it's simple. Do you think you’re a prince or some kind of royalty? Even if you were, you couldn’t stop it..."

Besides, he wasn't being straight with her at all. He hadn’t even told her his name or identity yet, and he already wanted to pry out the secret that could decide the fate of her entire family.

"What about the Yong’an Marquis Estate? Could they handle this?"

The sudden statement startled Zhong Yao. She turned to him in surprise and asked, "You're connected to the Yong’an Marquis Estate?"

Xie Chi keenly noticed that besides shock, there was a flash of fear in Zhong Yao’s eyes. He narrowed his eyes and said, "Let's just say I have connections there."

After a pause, he added without changing his expression under Zhong Yao’s hesitant gaze, "My father once saved the old marquis’s life."

Zhong Yao’s eyes instantly lit up, the tears in her eyes now shining with hope.

She turned her head to look to the side and asked hopefully, "Are you really willing to call in a favor from the Yong'an Marquis Estate to help me resolve my family’s disaster? Will the Marquis Estate really agree?"

Xie Chi replied, "Yes."

"If the Marquis Estate is willing to help, it might actually work..." Zhong Yao was tempted but also somewhat uneasy. She thought aloud, "The Yong’an Marquis Heir has just won a battle and is about to return to the capital. The emperor thinks highly of him. If he’s willing to help..."

Zhong Yao drifted into a daze, murmuring to herself, "They say he's a gentleman, always kind to ladies. If you speak up, and I go cry a few times, he’ll surely agree to help. But the old madam might not. It would be a blessing if she didn't kick us while we're down..."

Xie Chi’s thick eyebrows furrowed.

So there *was* more to it.

He asked in a deep voice, "Does your family have a grudge with the Yong’an Marquis’s old madam?"

Zhong Yao showed hesitation but quickly grew resolute.

She had rarely glimpsed a lifeline and was determined to fight for her family, making this man repay her kindness.

After all, the situation couldn’t get any worse than it already was.

And since she was about to ask for help, it was no good to keep hiding things.

She hummed in agreement and truthfully said, "My mother comes from a humble background. Many years ago, during a banquet, the old madam publicly mocked her. Since we’re about to rebel anyway, she decided to get her revenge..."

"How did your mother get her revenge?"

Zhong Yao didn’t notice the sharp gaze of the man beside her. She sighed and said, "A few days ago, at Madam Zhao’s birthday banquet, my mother took advantage of others being distracted and quietly..."

"Quietly did what?"

Zhong Yao lowered her voice, feeling guilty. "...quietly poured wine on Madam Xie’s shoes."

"..."

"The old marquise is sharp-tongued and difficult to get along with. She’s sure to hold a grudge," Zhong Yao said worriedly, offering a suggestion. "Why don’t you quietly go find Heir Xie when the time comes? Once the matter is resolved, you can let Madam Xie know. When she finds out her grandson helped her enemy, she’ll be so angry she’ll faint..."

Zhong Yao had heard plenty from her mother about how the Yong’an Marquis’s old madam had bullied her, so her impression of the old madam was extremely poor. Imagining Madam Xie fainting from anger, she couldn’t help but find it amusing.

She turned back with a suppressed smile, only to unexpectedly see Xie Chi’s gloomy expression, looking even more unpleasant than when she had teased him before.

Zhong Yao was startled and asked, "What’s wrong with you?"

Xie Chi struggled to restrain the urge to strangle her, grinding his back teeth as he said, "From now on, honestly explain your family’s disaster. If you dare utter one more unnecessary word, I’ll skin you alive!"