[Ma Household - weeks earlier]
"Wang ZhiYi, I fear for what is coming."
The rain beat down on them mercilessly, drowning out all other sounds, but Zhu ZongYing's words rang clearly in the night.
PingZe moved ever so slightly, and ZhiYi knew, he felt unsettled by the strain apparent in Zhu ZongYing's voice, the fear underlying it all like a gentle tug of a zither string.
Zhu ZongYing never feared. Even in death, she stood strong-willed, shielding what was rightfully hers. But now, the fear emitting from her spread like the currents of the sea, making ZhiYi's heart turn cold.
"Zhu ZongYing, you-"
"We are being watched by Su Lang and his people." Zhu ZongYing's grip over her umbrella tightened, her delicate fingers turning white. "Only the rain keeps our voices muffled enough to talk without them hearing. Soon, it too will ease, and we can no longer speak."
