Out of her delusion of an ancient husband, Xinyi thought of hiding, but nowhere to run. She hurriedly pulled her veil and covered her head. The door opened, and she heard heavy steps walking toward her. Xinyi flinched but sat in silence as she held the cloth's edges with a firm grip.
Unknown to her, Lei Ming saw her actions and heightened his irritation. His temples trembled in annoyance. This confirmed his assumptions she was ugly. Why would she cover her face, unless if she was a shy type? But that couldn't be true since she could be his father's spy here or to control him with his decision as governor.
However, to act this way in front of the helpers was insulting and demeaning him. He clenched a fist.
Indeed, the maids and guards outside thought that she didn't deserve their master. As their first lady, she lacked the good manners of high-ranking officials' wives should have. She didn't even know how to conduct herself in front of her husband, who was the governor of this city.
For them, the wife should present herself beautiful, to yield to the wishes of her husband, and with wholehearted devotion. They considered docility and timidity as great virtues in women, mostly for ladies from good backgrounds. But here she was, covering herself like she was afraid of their Lord Lei Ming.
"Fine, I think you know you are nothing but a piece of your father's games," said Lei Ming.
Xinyi gasped a bit but covered her mouth fast. 'He doesn't sound like an old man. Was I overthinking? But he seems angry.' She kept her opinion to herself.
Lei Ming paced back and forth in the room and stopped at the window. He stared at the moon shining above the dark sky.
"In fairness, I'll be honest with you. I don't like you and it's your father's fault. Don't take it as something personal. I also prefer to marry someone I like," said Lei Ming with no reservations.
'Take nothing personal? Who does he think he is?' She was aggrieved to be disregarded and treated this way. Yet kept her silence, for now.
"Yes, and you are not worthy to be entitled as this clan's first lady and for someone to stand by my side. From this day forth, you are to live in Anjing Pavilion," he said in a heavy voice. After speaking, he strode straight outside the room. "Foo, send her there tonight." Lei Ming said to an elder lady waiting outside.
"Wait!" shouted Xinyi and stood up, but still hiding her face.
Lei Ming halted but didn't look back. "What now?"
"Is that place could be isolated with many trees?" asked Xian Xinyi, with a plan in mind after knowing his stand about this marriage.
"Yes, you will see later. Why?!?" he said ferociously.
"Whew!" Her sigh was so loud enough for the husband to hear, pestering him more.
'What? She's relieved to be sent to that horrid place? I thought she will cry and beg.'
"I'm grateful for sending me there, Lord husband, but please don't miss sending my allowance and I promise I will not show myself to you and bother you," said Xinyi and bowed in a pious manner. The veil fell, but Lei Ming hadn't noticed. Even if he did, he also had no interest to see her face at all... Rather, he left as soon as he could.
"The heck, this woman is totally shameless. Not miss sending her allowance? Let's see if you still have pride after this."
Xinyi watched Lei Ming's back as he walked away. As he was out of earshot, she gave a careless smile and rested her palms on her waist.
"This is totally unexpected. What a farce of a marriage. So what? I don't care too... Well, I could say, good riddance... I'm free again," she said as she suddenly jumped and swirled around in glee, frightening Gu Dai and Hanying. They bit their fingers, afraid the governor would hear her, and chase them out of the mansion in the middle of the night.
"Hahaha, Yippee! Thank you, husband, of mine. Send me here. Send me there. I don't care. Send me anywhere or send me to another country. Since you don't care, I don't care as well. Haha, as long as I'm freed from the Xian Clan's clutches and from you," sang bouncy Xinyi. She danced, ate, and drank in merry.
"My lady, please stop this," said Gu Dai and Hanying with their worried faces, following her as she pranced around.
The elder servant Foo came in. Although irritated with her unacceptable behavior, she didn't say a word against Xinyi. Anyway, she wouldn't be serving her from now on.
"Lady Lei, please follow me," said Foo, mockingly bowed at Xinyi.
Xinyi stopped laughing and carelessly said, "Okay."
Foo faced the two servants. "Both of you are to report to the head housekeeper right now."
"Eh?" "Ah?" "What?" The three cried out.
"We will go with Lady Lei," said Hanying.
"No, Lord Lei gave his instructions. From now on, both of you are no longer Lady Lei's servants. You will be assigned to your new task," said Foo firmly.
Xinyi also wondered, but didn't want to refute or dare to face Lei Ming to complain after his speech earlier. However, 'I must do something about this. What's with this husband of mine?'
"Why? Why are they separated from me? My family gave them to me," said Xinyi.
"Forgive me, My Lady, but I don't know."
"Helper? You didn't state your name when you came in?" Xinyi asked. Trying to follow Lei Ming's air of authority and the way she heard masters spoke to their servants.
"My Lady, my name is Foo. Forgive this fool for not introducing myself earlier." Foo bowed, acting as if she respected Xinyi.
"Foo, who will be their new masters?"
"I really don't know, My Lady."
Xinyi sighed, feeling low. 'Why is this happening now? Am I really that unlucky as a person?'
"Gu Dai, Hanying, obey for now. I will try to talk to Lord Lei later," said Xinyi and felt helpless and alone, again. She lost Yan Ma, now these two, and figuratively, her husband too.
They walked out downcast, but Gu Dai looked back, crying this time. "My lady, you need help. Who will do the cleaning and the other things for you?" Gu Dai's sobbing face squeezed Xin Yi's heart. She gripped her skirt and wished to storm out to that nasty husband, but controlled from losing her temper. They could punish the two for her stubbornness.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. You know where I came from. I'm a fighter." Xinyi tried to smile and console Gu Dai as she held back tears from falling. She found a new friend and lost again. The two left with a long face and sagging shoulders. However, though sad, Xinyi thought this would be the fat chance to escape.
"May both of you have a good life with your new masters."