"Be at ease. Zitong only came for some small talks, nothing serious. Have a seat…" The more respectful Xiao Yuxuan act, the more uncomfortable Duan Zitong felt in her heart. She didn't know how long would she wait for Xiao Yuxuan to eventually loosen up in front of her and would call her by her given name—'Zitong.'
But for Xiao Yuxuan, this woman was someone he could never, ever forgive no matter what! How he detested her! Ever since that day Qing Lan had appeared by Duan Zitong's side, Xiao Yuxuan knew that the person who had made his almost perfect plan awry, destroying both his and Duan Muyan's happiness, was none other than Duan Zitong. If not because of her, he and Duan Muyan would have already wandering the world, living the life they had once dreamed of.
However, no matter how much he finds Duan Zitong despicable, he had to conceal it into the deepest of his heart... for now. With the current situation, if he wanted to protect Duan Jingyang and Mu Yan, he had to rein his horses and protect them in the shadows with all of his might. Thus, confronting Duan Zitong now wouldn't help, but might do her more harm.
"Why aren't you sitting down?" Duan Zitong looked back and saw Xiao Yuxuan lost in thought.
"Princess' words are too serious. How can this humble official sit with the Princess? Yuxuan will just stand here to attend on you…" Xiao Yuxuan responded indifferently. With his lips slightly parted, his voice was calm.
"What are you thinking about just now? Is Yuxuan blaming this Princess for not being able to get the Emperor's permission for you to leave the palace?" Seeing that Xiao Yuxuan was adamant, Duan Zitong did not force him. No matter if he would love her or not, she swore to keep this man by her side!
"This humble official doesn't dare. Yuxuan has nothing else to do, thus was only passing his time by taking a breather at this nice weather…" Xiao Yuxuan slightly bowed his head, his gaze falling upon the stone platform where Duan Zitong was sitting.
"But Yuxuan, don't worry. As long as there will be a chance, I will make it clear to Imperial Father of your wish to visit the Xiao Manor. But now is not yet the proper time. I hope Yuxuan would not be disappointed of Zitong in his heart…" Duan Zitong's sincere expression was as clear as water.
However, in Xiao Yuxuan's eyes, this woman was nothing but a venomous snake that couldn't be redeemed. Her schemes towards Duan Muyan were so merciless!
General Xiao Manor
*The moonlight splashed down its watery white-silver glow* onto the dark cold land, giving off a sense of tranquillity and solemnity.
Duan Muyan had been locked in the woodshed for nearly five days. In those five days, aside from theChief Steward, Old Zhou sending clear porridge through Feng Xue, she didn't see anyone else. However, this was not necessarily a bad thing. It was just that she was really worried about Yue'er and wanted to know about her condition.
Suddenly there was a movement at the woodshed's door. Duan Muyan looked vigilantly towards it. The dinner had already been served, so it wouldn't be Feng Xue. Then who could it be? Su Jinxiu? Xiao Jinfeng? No matter who it was, she didn't want to see either of them. If she had a choice, she would rather stay in this woodshed for the rest of her life. Not to be bothered by the outside world's affair.
With a 'bang', the sound of a chain being freed could be heard, the door opened and Duan Muyan couldn't help but lean towards the corner in apprehension. When she saw the person who came in, her tears flowed down smoothly!
"Yue'er?!" Duan Muyan stared in disbelief at the girl who had walked in. The white gauze covering her forehead was still soaked with blood!
"Wangfei… Please forgive Yue'er…. Forgive Yue'er…!" The moment she saw Duan Muyan, Qiu Yue's tears fell like broken beads onto the ground. From the moment Qiu Yue woke up and knew that her master had been locked inside the woodshed, her heart could not bear it.
"Enough crying…! Yue'er, you didn't let me down! None of what had happened was your fault… All of it was my fault... Don't cry now...!" Duan Muyan abruptly stood up and pulled Qiu Yue into her embrace. Her head, which had been in a state of unease for a long time, finally calmed down. "Is Yue'er well recovered now? Why are you here?!"
"Wangfei… If it wasn't for Yue'er's lack of health, you wouldn't have gone to the kitchen to fetch the meal yourself, and you wouldn't have taken the late Wangfei's plate by mistake, and the following horrible violence to the Wangfei would not happen..." Qiu Yue sobbed gravely when she remembered what other servants recounted of the scene before they pull out Wangfei was pulled out from her room to the woodshed.
"The Dragon Staff was in your hand Wangfei, but why did Wangfei held back...? Now no one was putting Wangfei in their eyes..." Qiu Yue looked at Duan Muyan, tears overflowing her eyes. In just five days' time, her Mistress had lost considerable amount of weight. Her hair was a mess, her clothes were covered with straws, and her face was too pale! How was this even the Third Princess of the Mo Dynasty? How was she even the Xiao Manor's Mistress?! Even though she was a maidservant, she still wanted to seek justice for the Princess!
"Forget it… As long as Yue'er's injury wasn't too serious, I don't care about anything else. In fact, there's nothing bad about staying here, at least her no one will come and find fault, at that I can live in peace." Duan Muyan gave Qiu Yue a small smile when suddenly she realised something. "Yue'er, you must have secretly run over here, right? Hurry up and go back, if others will see you, it'll be bad…" She hurriedly released Qiu Yue's hand and urged her to leave.
"Uh… I almost forgot…" Qiu Yue didn't reply. She only went to the door and brought back in a basket.
"What is that?" In the next second, Qiu Yue had already opened the basket. Inside were a few tasty side dishes and rice.
"Wangfei, I heard from Feu Xue that these days, Wangfei was only given clear porridge. So, Yue'er sneaked into the kitchen to get some food. It is still warm… Esteemed Wangfei, hurry up and eat…" Qiu Yue held back her tears and brought out the dishes as she sobbed.
"No…! Yue'er, quickly take them back! If anyone sees it, it will be terrible for you. Besides, I'm not hungry. Quickly send it back…!" Duan Muyan's hazy eyes flickered with anxiety, but at the same time a bright and sparkling light could be seen as she gratefully looked at Yue'er. If there was any true love within the Xiao Manor, it would be the relationship between her and Qiu Yue, the genuine love between a master and a servant.
Just as Duan Muyan ushering Qiu Yue towards the door, someone suddenly kicked it open. Hearing the voice, Duan Muyan was startled. When she raised her eyes, she saw Su Jinxiu standing at the door with an arrogant expression on her face.
"What an affection between a master and a servant! Qiu Yue, you don't want to work at the Xiao Family anymore?! Don't your sick mother still waiting for you to take the silver home?!" A cold tone overflowed from Su Jinxiu's mouth.
"This has nothing to do with Yue'er! I asked her to bring these food! She's just following my orders! Yue'er, you go out first…" Duan Muyan knew very well that Su Jinxiu was not someone easy to deal with, so she stood up and spoke solemnly! He signalled for Yue'er to leave the place.
"Oh? Princess Concubine, haven't you forgotten what the Prince ordered? That you are not allowed to eat anything other than clear porridge…" Without waiting for Duan Muyan to react, she had already knocked over the dishes that were prepared by Qiu Yue. The dishes that were still warm to the eye spilled onto the ground!
"Su Jinxiu! You're going too far!" At the side, Qin Yue suddenly stepped in front of Su Jinxiu and fiercely pushed her away, glaring at her.
"Yue'er…!" She had already experienced Su Jinxiu's underhanded ruse more than once before. When she pulled Qiu Yue back, her eyes couldn't help but sweep towards the door; she was afraid that Xiao Jinfeng would suddenly appear, and she was afraid that Qiu Yue would once again be harmed.
Seeing the nervous expression on Duan Myan's face, Su Jinxiu's eyes narrowed slightly as her vermillion lips slowly opened.
"Oh? This Master and servant are bullying a weak maid like me… Ah… Why is my hand bleeding?" The moment Su Jinxiu was pushed away by Qiu Yue, Su Jinxiu intentionally pinched her injured left hand viciously, causing blood to ooze out of her wound that was about to heal. She wanted to strike the iron while it was still hot, she wanted to let the Prince thoroughly despised Duan Muyan!
"No… Yue'er did not do anything!" Qiu Yue looked at the blood stains on Su Jinxiu's hand and explained in a flustered manner.
"Yue'er, don't be afraid. It wasn't you, I know! It was me…." Duan Muyan embraced Qiu Yue as she turned her gaze onto Su Jinxiu.
"Xiu'er, no matter if it's for your Mistress's sake or some other ulterior motives, please do not harm Yue'er. Your target is me!" Her cold voice had a trace of warning within it. Duan Muyan looked at Su Jinxiu as though she was a deep calm lake, with her eyes flickering with a resolute light. Her inherent regality almost caused Su Jinxiu to be intimidated.
"The Princess Concubine is too serious… Xiu'er would definitely report to the Prince about this matter. As for who was the real at fault, the Prince would decide as it was not something that Xiu'er could dictate! As a maid, Xiu'er is only loyal to the Prince!" Su Jinxiu's hand was still bleeding, but she didn't care at all. As long as Xiao Jinfeng could become even more disgusted with Duan Muyan, this little bit of blood was nothing.
Just as Su Jinxiu was about to walk out of the woodshed, Old Zhou came in from the outside and closed the door behind him.
"Chief Steward Zhou?!" Su Jinxiu looked at the sudden appearance of the steward in surprise and couldn't help but take two steps back.
"Xiu'er, are you going to complain to the Prince?! I had Qiu Yue bring this dishes! If she had violated the rules, it had nothing to do with Qiu Yue and the Wangfei! As your hand…. It's only a small wound, so it should be fine to bandage it again!" Old Zhou solemnly looked at Su Jinxiu, his face expressionless.
Su Jinxiu was slightly startled when she heard this. She naturally understood that Old Zhou was trying to shield Duan Muyan. Moreover, she didn't dare to directly offend this old man of the Xiao Estate.
Ever since she had entered the Xiao Estate, Old Zhou had been the chief steward of the Xiao family for many years. He had heard some old servants that this old Zhou had once been an assistant to General Duke Xiao Yin, and had lost his martial arts in an expedition to protect the old Duke. Xiao Yin was so grateful, that he let him stayed by his side this entire time.
"Steward Zhou, what are you talking about?! Xiu'er was naturally not the kind of person to cause trouble. Originally, she had wanted to report the truth to Steward Zhou, but since this was Steward Zhou's arrangement, then Xiu'er has nothing much to say anymore... Then, Xiu'er will be leaving first..." Although she was unwilling, Steward Zhou was not someone she could afford to offend. At least for now...
After Su Jinxiu left, Old Zhou couldn't help but sigh as he respectfully walked to Duan Muyan's side.
"This old servant greets Wangfei…"
"Steward Zhou hurry up and rise. Its Mu Yan's fault. I've implicated Steward Zhou…" Duan Muyan looked gratefully at Old Zhou who was said to be a hundred years old. If he hadn't claimed that this was his arrangement, she couldn't imagine what would be the repercussions it will cause. She didn't care about the consequences, but Qiu Yue... this girl couldn't stand it if something like this happened again..
"Esteemed Wangfei, this old servant can't accept these words! Before the old Duke left, he told me countless of times to take good care of the Wangfei, but it's only been few days and this…" Old Zhou frowned, feeling guilty!
"Steward Zhou, please don't do this. I, Mu Yan, will remember your good intentions. I'm just worried that Qiu Yue can be sometimes impulsive, so I will have to trouble Steward Zhou from now on." As Duan Muyan spoke, she pushed Qiu Yue to the old Steward's side, begging for mercy.
"Esteemed Wangfei, don't worry. Its getting late… This old servant will bring Qiu Yue away now. There are too many people, if I stay any longer, I'm afraid that this news will reach the ears of His Highness. It would be troublesome then!" Steward Zhou believed that Xiu'er was unlikely to risk offending the Prince of Qi. But if he stayed long enough, it would inevitably attract some unwanted gossips!
"Thank you, Steward Zhou! Yue'er, take care of yourself. Listen well to Steward Zhou… Do you hear…?" Duan Muyan stared at Qiu Yue, who was standing beside her, with unwillingness in her eyes.