Chapter 32

 

The next day, Li Zhi was assigned the task of delivering invitations by carriage.

This was a sign—she was gradually taking over the authority that once belonged to Xunfeng.

She delivered Lu Congruan’s invitations for a hunting expedition to several families, including the Moqi family. When Moqi She, the youngest son of the Moqi household, heard that the messenger was her, he deliberately loitered by the carriage for a whole incense stick’s time, chatting with her about everything from the southern seas to the northern mountains.

Finally breaking free from the Moqi family’s doorstep, Li Zhi finished delivering the rest of the invitations. With the silver reward Lu Congruan had given her, she bought some snacks from the street, intending to share them later that evening with Jia Sui and her younger siblings, Xiangsheng and Cien. Once she wrapped everything up, she leisurely boarded the carriage and began her ride back.

The rhythmic sound of hooves carried her closer to the Duhu Mansion.

But midway through the journey, the carriage suddenly lurched violently, then came to a halt.

Outside, the coachman’s voice rang out angrily, clearly in the middle of a heated argument with someone.

Li Zhi lifted the curtain and peered outside. “What’s going on?”

“Little sister! Little sister!”

A disheveled figure darted past the coachman’s attempts to stop him, lunging at the carriage like a starving wolf. He clung tightly to the carriage boards, refusing to let go.

“Little sister! You have to save me!” The man, looking like a homeless beggar, cried out desperately.

“Big brother?” Li Zhi called in surprise.

The man nodded frantically.

Li Zhi stared at the filthy figure before her.

His once-handsome face was now crisscrossed with bloody whip marks, and his bloodshot eyes were filled with desperation. At first glance, he looked exactly like a vagrant who had been sleeping on the streets, with none of the elegance of the refined nobleman he had once been.

“Big brother, what happened to you?” Li Zhi asked.

“Little sister, only you can save me now—” Li Jinzhi choked out, tears streaming down his face. “You’ve made it big now. You’re someone important in the Duhu Mansion. Please, help your big brother and get me into the Duhu Mansion too!”

Li Zhi’s voice remained calm. “Big brother, who told you that I’m someone important in the Duhu Mansion?”

Li Jinzhi stammered, unable to answer.

“Didn’t you take Mother’s gold hairpin to secure yourself a good position? How did you end up like this?” Li Zhi changed her question.

Li Jinzhi sighed heavily. “It’s a long story… The family I was sent to was decently well-off at first, but the master of the house became jealous of my good looks and schemed against me, sending me to a soldier responsible for building the city walls.”

But Li Zhi had heard a different story.

“Wasn’t it because you seduced the lady of the house and were caught in the act? That’s why you were thrown out, right?” Li Zhi said bluntly. “It’s what everyone’s been saying in the streets.”

“Utter nonsense!” Li Jinzhi’s face flushed red with indignation. He stiffened his neck, protesting, “Little sister, you can’t believe the gossip out there! Those rumors were spread by people who want to harm me!”

“Oh, I see.” Li Zhi nodded thoughtfully.

“…Little sister, I’m truly at my wit’s end. Please, have mercy on your big brother! Remember how well I used to treat you! Save my life!”

Li Zhi almost laughed aloud at this.

Perhaps he had only treated her well in his dreams.

Feigning difficulty, Li Zhi said, “Big brother, I don’t know where you’ve heard these rumors, but I’m just a second-class maid in the young master’s courtyard at the Duhu Mansion. I have no power to help you.”

“The young master is so fond of you—how can you say you have no power?” Li Jinzhi countered urgently. “You’re already a criminal’s daughter. If the Duhu Mansion’s young master is willing to take you as a concubine, it’d be a fine way out for you! All you have to do is whisper a word or two in his ear, and there’s nothing you couldn’t accomplish!”

“So, you’re asking me to offer myself to him?”

“The young master clearly likes you. The two of you would be a perfect match—a talented man and a beautiful woman. What’s so bad about that? Besides, with your current status, aiming to be a legal wife is out of the question. Becoming a concubine to the young master of the Duhu Mansion is already a stroke of great fortune.”

Li Jinzhi spoke with earnest conviction, as if he were giving her the sincerest and thoughtful advice.

“The imperial grandson might hold a prestigious title, but his position is precarious. Who knows what the future holds for him? The young master of the Duhu Mansion is far more reliable. Don’t let yourself get dazzled by illusions, only to end up with nothing!”

Seeing Li Zhi remain silent, Li Jinzhi began to play the sentiment card.

“Back in the Li household, I always doted on you, my little sister. You have such a kind heart and gentle nature. Whenever I had good fortune, I always included you. On the exile route, when others spoke ill of you, I was the one who defended you—go ask them if you don’t believe me! Now that I’ve fallen on hard times, you can’t just stand by and let me suffer!”

Puffing out his chest, he once again assumed the self-righteous posture of an elder brother, speaking condescendingly:

“You must think carefully about this! After all, we’re both Li family. If I, as the eldest son of the Li family, meet a bad end, who else can you rely on?”

The carriage was parked on a secluded path—it was obvious that Li Jinzhi had deliberately waited here to intercept her.

Looking at his utterly ridiculous demeanor, Li Zhi finally let out a laugh.

“You—what are you laughing at?” Li Jinzhi asked, flustered and indignant.

“I just think you’re absolutely right,” Li Zhi said with a faint smile. “Our Li family is a renowned aristocratic household in the capital, and as the eldest son, you absolutely must not fall into ruin.”

Li Jinzhi immediately nodded, his face lighting up with an expression of triumph, as if to say, my dear sister, you’ve finally come to your senses.

“Alright, I’ll think of something when I return. Big Brother, wait for my message. Meet me here tomorrow morning,” Li Zhi said softly.

“Good! Good!” Li Jinzhi quickly agreed, nodding eagerly. “Little sister, you must help your brother. No matter what the young master asks for, just agree to it!”

Li Zhi smiled faintly, letting the carriage curtain drop.

After the carriage returned to the Duhu Mansion, Li Zhi disembarked at the entrance. Without delay, she went straight to the Fufeng Courtyard and found Xunfeng, who was sitting idly under the shade of a tree, pretending to sweep.

Li Zhi stood silently before her, smiling.

Xunfeng sat on the stone-edged flowerbed, avoiding eye contact.

“So, you were the one who delivered the message to my elder brother?” Li Zhi asked calmly.

“What are you talking about?” Xunfeng, guilty and flustered, immediately bristled, snapping in anger. “I’m busy here. If you have nothing important to say, don’t get in my way!”

“You went to tell Li Jinzhi that I’m favored in the mansion and that I could help him find a way in.” Li Zhi’s tone was factual, like she was simply stating the weather.

Xunfeng leaped up from the stone bed, clutching her broom with trembling hands.

“So what if it was me?” she hissed, glaring daggers at Li Zhi. “Don’t think I don’t know—it was you who framed me! No one but you could’ve entered my room!”

“What is Elder Sister Xunfeng talking about?” Li Zhi feigned surprise, her voice tinged with mockery. “Wasn’t it you who admitted to buying the aphrodisiac from the pharmacy outside the mansion? Why are you now turning around and accusing me of harming you?”

“You—” Xunfeng raised her hand in fury, ready to strike. But her expression shifted several times, and she seemed to realize that things weren’t the same as before. At last, she lowered her hand reluctantly, seething.

“You’d better watch yourself,” she spat venomously.

“If you’re trying to find my weaknesses, congratulations—you’ve found them,” Li Zhi said with a smile. “Although I know it’s not my place to meddle, my elder brother came begging to me. At the very least, I’ll try to do something for him. But you…”

Her smile faded, and her gaze turned ice-cold as she stared directly at Xunfeng.

“…You’re different. You have no leverage against me. I won’t tolerate your actions again and again.”

Leaning in close, Li Zhi whispered near Xunfeng’s ear, “You, more than anyone, should know that I’m the type to hold a grudge.”

Xunfeng’s eyes widened as she glared at Li Zhi, who swiftly pulled back, resuming her innocent, harmless demeanor.

“Elder Sister Xunfeng still has sweeping to do, so I won’t disturb you any longer. The young master is waiting for my reply,” Li Zhi said sweetly, her voice dripping with mock politeness.

“You—” Xunfeng’s face twisted in rage, but before she could say anything more, Li Zhi turned and walked briskly into the main hall, leaving the furious maid behind.

In truth, with Lu Congruan’s favoritism, getting Li Jinzhi into the Duhu Mansion wasn’t impossible.

But she didn’t want to.

After all, it was the men of the Li family—Li Qiaonian and Li Jinzhi—who had personally pushed her twin sister into hell.

She would never forget that.

That night, she didn’t ask Lu Congruan for a favor. Nor did she the next day.

At the agreed time, Li Jinzhi showed up on the secluded path again.

As soon as he saw Li Zhi approaching on foot, he rushed over eagerly.

“How is it? Did you succeed?” he asked breathlessly.

Li Zhi lowered her eyes, looking apologetic. “I’ve thought it over and over again, and I realized that with my status, it’s not appropriate for me to make such a request to the young master. He’s been very kind to me, and I don’t want to put him in a difficult position.”

“What’s so difficult about it?” Li Jinzhi said, his tone growing desperate. “If you became his concubine, I’d be his brother-in-law. It’s just a small favor between family members! What could possibly be so hard about it?”

“But I don’t have romantic feelings for the young master…”

“This is about saving me! About saving the eldest son of the Li family! If you turn your back on your brother in his time of need, even in death, the ancestors of the Li family will curse you to your face!”

“…I’m sorry,” Li Zhi said firmly. “I’ve already made up my mind. Big Brother, you should find another way.”

“Stop right there!”

Li Jinzhi’s voice was sharp, stopping Li Zhi in her tracks as she turned to leave.

Gone was the facade of a doting elder brother. His face darkened, and a menacing, vengeful glint appeared in his eyes, perfectly matching his filthy, foul-smelling exterior.

“I’ll tell you this; whether you want to help or not, you will help me. If you don’t…” He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “…Don’t blame me if I let everyone know your guilty little secret.”

Li Zhi froze momentarily, then turned to face him again. Her expression was calm.

“I don’t know what Big Brother is talking about,” she said evenly.

“I misspoke earlier. Whether you help me or not, you’ll have no face left to meet our ancestors in the afterlife,” Li Jinzhi sneered, stepping closer, his eyes gleaming with malice.

“Everything that’s happened to the Li family—every bit of it—is your fault.”

Li Zhi’s gaze flickered ever so slightly.

“Crows feed their parents in return, and lambs kneel to their mothers’ milk. Even animals know how to repay kindness. Yet you—you reported your own father!”

The bustling crowd outside the alley seemed distant, the sound swallowed by the oppressive silence in the narrow space.

Finally, after a long pause, Li Zhi asked quietly, “How do you know?”

Li Jinzhi smirked as if his bait had been taken.

“…You talk in your sleep,” he taunted. “If it weren’t for the exile, I probably never would’ve known.”

“How much do you know?” Li Zhi took a step toward him, her right hand reaching behind her back.

Li Jinzhi tried to meet her gaze but found his forehead sweating. Though the girl standing before him was his own blood-related sister, something in her eyes chilled him to the bone.

“If I tell him—the imperial grandson—that his fall was all because of a letter you sent—do you think you’ll live to see another day?” he blustered, his voice trembling ever so slightly.

Suddenly, Li Zhi felt a presence. Her gaze darted to the alley’s entrance, where she saw only a fortune-teller’s banner swaying in the breeze.

Turning back to Li Jinzhi, she withdrew her hand from the knife hidden at her waist.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked coldly.

“If you can’t get me into the Duhu Mansion, then fine.” Li Jinzhi’s tone softened, his eyes flashing with greed. “The Duhu Mansion is overflowing with wealth. Lu Congruan is the Commander’s only son—there must be countless treasures there. Just bring me one, and it’ll be enough to keep me well-fed and clothed for the rest of my life.”

“You want me to steal from the Duhu Mansion?”

“That’s my minimum requirement,” Li Jinzhi said firmly. “As long as you do this for me, I swear on our father’s name that we’ll be even. I won’t bother you again!”

“Are you sure you won’t regret it?” Li Zhi asked, her words laced with hidden meaning.

Of course, Li Jinzhi had no intention of keeping his promise. Holding such a massive secret over Li Zhi’s head, why would he let her off so easily?

But out loud, he said, “I won’t regret it! I swear on my honor as your elder brother—just bring me something valuable, and I’ll leave for good. We’ll never see each other again!”

“…Alright.”

Li Zhi stared at him deeply.

“I hope you keep your word.”