Chapter 30

 

“Peaceful days flowed by like a quiet stream, passing without a sound.”

Life in Mingyue Tower felt as though time had stopped. Li Zhi feared that this tranquility would erode her determination, but she also knew that in order to weather future storms, she had to first endure this calm.

She arrived at Mingyue Tower in February, and now it was already May.

The grassy, bird-filled days of spring had transformed the previously bleak and desolate Mingyue Tower into a vibrant, lively place. Unlike the more urban and human-dominated landscape of the capital, Mingyue Tower was deeply connected to nature.

Even when standing in the heart of the bustling town center, one could look up and see the sacred, snow-capped peak of Xian Naiyue Mountain. Under the blue sky and immaculate clouds, the mountain appeared pure and untouchable, a vision of divinity.

The cobblestone streets beneath her feet were dotted with tenacious little green grasses and wildflowers growing in the gaps.

The eaves of the houses that had once hung with rows of icicles were now covered with vibrant green vines, dripping with clusters of pale yellow flowers.

As Li Zhi passed by the streets, she could smell faint and sweet floral fragrances drifting through the air.

Due to the plentiful sunlight in the region, the locals generally had darker skin and mixed Hu (nomadic steppe tribes) ancestry, giving them striking, deep-set features. At first, Li Zhi had been on guard around them, but she soon discovered that they were far more straightforward and hospitable than the people of the capital. Once, when she got lost in the town, a passing auntie insisted on escorting her all the way back to the gates of the Duhu Mansion before she was satisfied enough to leave.

If only she and her twin sister had been born and raised in this serene paradise instead of being exiled here… How wonderful would that have been?

For now, while waiting for her chance to chart new horizons, she only wished to live in peace.

But, as fate would have it, someone had to see her as a thorn in their side and was determined to pluck her out, no matter the cost.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Li Zhi stood holding a bowl of dark medicinal soup, glaring at the group blocking her path.

A few days ago, Lu Congruan had gone swimming in the river with his friends, trying to cool off. As a result, he caught a cold and had been sneezing nonstop since. The medicine, of course, was meant for him.

After being given the task, Li Zhi had retrieved the medicine from the kitchen. But before she could pass through the moon gate leading to the rear courtyard, she was intercepted by Xunfeng and her entourage.

Since their return from the market a few weeks ago, Xunfeng had harbored a grudge against Li Zhi. She had been treating Li Zhi as though she were invisible and hadn’t exchanged a single word with her in a long time.

But now, Xunfeng’s face was grim with displeasure, and the three maids at her side—her usual cohort—glared at Li Zhi, shared her hostility.

“This is what I should be asking you! What did you do to bewitch the young master? Why does he think only of you now and ignore those of us who have served him loyally for years?” Xunfeng accused angrily.

“I don’t understand what Elder Sister Xunfeng is implying,” Li Zhi replied calmly. “From the beginning, I’ve always remembered my place as a servant and have never done anything inappropriate.”

“If you’ve done nothing, would the young master favor you so much?!” Xunfeng exclaimed. “He used to entrust everything to me, but now he only has eyes for you. Don’t you dare deny that you’ve drugged him with some kind of love potion!”

“An innocent heart remains untainted,” Li Zhi replied. “I am merely a servant. I can only assure you that I harbor no ulterior motives toward the young master.”

“So you admit that the young master likes you, and it’s none of your business?” Xunfeng’s eyes narrowed, her jealousy blazing.

“Elder Sister Xunfeng has a deep bias against me. No matter what I say, it will only upset you further,” Li Zhi replied. “I am in a rush to deliver the young master’s medicine. If you have more to say, perhaps we can speak privately later.”

Li Zhi attempted to walk past and escape the confrontation, but Xunfeng stepped forward to block her.

“You’re not going anywhere until we’ve finished talking!”

Li Zhi frowned, dodging Xunfeng’s outstretched hand.

Xunfeng glared at her furiously. “You—!”

The pathway they were on was usually deserted, which emboldened Xunfeng and her group to act so brazenly.

Seeing that Li Zhi remained unfazed by their threats, the atmosphere grew even more tense.

“Banban!” Jia Sui’s voice called out from outside the moon gate.

Jia Sui abandoned the laundry basin in her hands and ran over when she saw Li Zhi being cornered.

“What do you think you’re doing to Li Zhi?” Jia Sui demanded, standing protectively in front of her like a mother hen shielding her chicks.

“What I do is none of your business,” Xunfeng shot back. “Who do you think you are? You’re just another lowly servant. This is no place for you to speak!”

“I may be a servant, but don’t forget—you’re no different from me!” Jia Sui retorted.

“How dare you look down on me!”

In a flash of anger, Xunfeng slapped Jia Sui hard across the face.

The sound of the slap echoed in the air.

Jia Sui clutched her cheek, staring at Xunfeng in shock.

Li Zhi hadn’t expected Xunfeng to resort to violence. Originally, she had planned to resolve things peacefully, but now her anger flared.

“You’ve gone too far!” Li Zhi stepped forward, shielding Jia Sui behind her, and glared fiercely at Xunfeng.

She had always tried to empathize with Xunfeng, understanding that they were both women in a society that dictated their fates. Li Zhi knew how difficult life could be for women in their world. That was why she had endured Xunfeng’s actions for so long, choosing to turn the other cheek wherever possible.

But there were limits.

Li Zhi’s family was her bottom line.

“You’re delaying the young master’s medicine. Aren’t you afraid of being blamed?”

“Using the young master’s name to threaten me? How shameless!” Xunfeng raised her right hand high, the same hand she had just used to strike Jia Sui.

Li Zhi tilted her head and stared fearlessly at the group in front of her.

A more level-headed maid standing beside Xunfeng quickly intervened, pulling her back.

“Don’t… the young master… might blame us,” the maid whispered urgently into Xunfeng’s ear.

Only then did Xunfeng reluctantly lower her hand, though her eyes still burned with hatred as they glared at Li Zhi.

“You’re lucky today,” Xunfeng spat. “But this is my last warning—stay away from the young master! If I catch you seducing him again, you’ll regret it!”

With a cold snort, Xunfeng spun around and stormed off, her entourage trailing after her.

Once they left, Li Zhi immediately turned to Jia Sui, holding her arm and carefully inspecting the bright red swelling on her cheek.

“Come with me,” Li Zhi said. “I’ll go to the kitchen and ask for some ice to reduce the swelling.”

“No need to trouble yourself, it’s just a little swollen…” Jia Sui touched her cheek as if to reassure Li Zhi, but the moment her fingers brushed the mark, she winced in pain.

“See, it hurts,” Li Zhi said, frowning.

“Really, Banban, don’t worry about it,” Jia Sui said, forcing a smile despite the pain. “You still have to deliver the young master’s medicine. Go quickly, or you’ll get blamed for the delay.”

Li Zhi wanted to stay and tend to Jia Sui’s injury, but Jia Sui had laundry to finish. Unlike Li Zhi, Jia Sui didn’t enjoy the young master’s favor. If she didn’t complete her daily tasks, the stewardess would punish her harshly.

In the end, Li Zhi could only watch as Jia Sui carried her laundry basin and left.

But the red slap mark on Jia Sui’s cheek remained etched deeply in Li Zhi’s heart.

She couldn’t simply brush this incident aside as easily as she might dismiss her own suffering.

That evening, while Li Zhi accompanied Xie Lanxu in the Bamboo Courtyard, her thoughts kept drifting back to the events of the afternoon.

Xie Lanxu sat at his desk, copying an excerpt from a rare book. Li Zhi, seated beside him, was grinding the inkstone. But her distracted movements betrayed her preoccupied state of mind.

“Stop grinding,” Xie Lanxu said suddenly. “At this rate, you’re going to ruin a perfectly good stick of ink.”

Li Zhi froze, startled and stopped her hands mid-motion.

Xie Lanxu put down his brush and gently blew on the freshly written characters to dry the ink.

“Xunfeng isn’t difficult to deal with. What are you so troubled about?” he asked, his tone casual.

Li Zhi wasn’t surprised by how quickly he had learned about the incident.

The deposed crown prince had once been only a step away from the throne. No matter where he went, there would always be people eager to curry favor and provide him with information.

His status guaranteed that he could build his network of influence faster than anyone else.

“I don’t understand,” Li Zhi admitted. “Why won’t she believe me when I say I don’t want what’s hers?”

“People only believe what they want to believe,” Xie Lanxu said nonchalantly. “Besides, you did take something that originally belonged to her.”

“…What I want is not Lu Congruan’s favor.”

This statement, layered with deeper meaning, made Xie Lanxu pause in the middle of his writing.

He raised his eyes to look at her, but Li Zhi’s expression remained as though her words held no hidden implications.

“And besides,” she continued, “I’m worried that even if Xunfeng were gone, another ‘Nan Feng’ or ‘Chun Feng’ might take her place.”

(Xunfeng’s name literally translates to “Fragrant Breeze,” while “Nan Feng” means “Southern Breeze” and “Chun Feng” means “Spring Breeze,” suggesting she’s referring to other possible rivals or antagonists.)

“Xunfeng’s hostility toward you stems from a vested interest being threatened by a newcomer. As long as you stand in her position but don’t block others from advancing, no new ‘Nan Fengs’ or ‘Chun Fengs’ will appear,” Xie Lanxu explained slowly.

Li Zhi mulled over his words thoughtfully.

“But,” he added, “that depends on whether you have the ability to hold that position.”

He continued, “Xunfeng isn’t fighting alone. She’s been favored in Fufeng Courtyard for many years, partly because the madam of the house has been supporting her from behind.”

“Does Your Highness think I have that ability?” Li Zhi asked.

“It’s possible,” Xie Lanxu replied.

The candlelight flickered faintly on the table, mirroring the enigmatic expression on his face.

“Your Highness must be bored, stuck in the Bamboo Courtyard all day,” Li Zhi said. “Would Your Highness care to make a bet with me?”

“A bet?”

“I’ll bet that I can become the head maid of Fufeng Courtyard,” Li Zhi declared.

“Without compromising yourself to Lu Congruan,” Xie Lanxu added. “In that case, I will accept.”

“Why does Your Highness care about that?” Li Zhi fixed him with a steady gaze. “Could it be… you are jealous?”

“Not at all,” Xie Lanxu said with a laugh, his honesty disarming. “I would simply find it distasteful.”

Language is a strange thing.

Or perhaps, the human heart is even stranger.

The same sentence could pierce one person’s heart like a dagger, while another might dismiss it as nothing more than birds chirping.

“And now?” Li Zhi extended her right hand, pressing her palm lightly against the icy coldness of his cheek. “Does Your Highness still feel it’s distasteful?”

She smiled sweetly, unbothered by his words.

Xie Lanxu rarely spoke the truth because every time he did, someone ended up hurt. And the pain they endured would inevitably return to him in some form.

So he had learned to disguise himself, to mimic, to present an alternate version of himself to the world.

Yet Li Zhi seemed immune to being hurt by his truths.

“…No,” he said finally.

“I understand now,” Li Zhi said, smiling. “If this is what Your Highness desires, Banban will not let you down. But if I win this bet, what will Your Highness reward me with?”

“What reward do you want?”

Li Zhi thought for a moment and replied, “I can’t think of anything just yet.”

“If you can become the head maid of Fufeng Courtyard within three days,” Xie Lanxu said, “I’ll grant you one request—so long as it doesn’t harm me.”

“Deal,” Li Zhi said with a grin.

She extended her hand, forming a fist with her pinky finger raised.

“A pinky promise, sealed for a hundred years, unchanging,” she said playfully.

Xie Lanxu gazed at her outstretched pinky for a moment before finally lifting his own hand.

Their pinky fingers hooked together, their thumbs pressing lightly on top of one another. Li Zhi tilted her head and smiled mischievously at him.

“Now Your Highness can’t go back on your word,” she teased.

“…That is, if you manage to win,” Xie Lanxu said with feigned indifference. “Don’t make me step in to save you.”

“Would Your Highness come to my rescue?”

Xie Lanxu said nothing, simply staring at her.

“I’m only joking,” Li Zhi replied, borrowing his own words. Her bright, sparkling eyes shone with mischief. “How could I ever let someone as noble as Your Highness take such risks for me?”

Jia Sui had served in the Li household for years and had never suffered the humiliation of getting slapped before.

Li Zhi knew she couldn’t let this matter slide.

Even if Xie Lanxu hadn’t agreed to the bet, she wouldn’t have let it go.

“Three days from now,” Li Zhi declared, “I’ll know exactly what I want Your Highness to promise me.”

Fate is an unpredictable variable. It changes with each choice she makes. In the end, only she can determine her final destiny.

Peace has lasted long enough.

Let Xunfeng be the wave beneath her feet, carrying her closer to her ultimate goal.

——–

Translator’s Note: So far the novel is really great. What do you think of it?