Chapter 5
Edward Quan ·
One of the men hurried to open the door.
Someone stood outside.
In the moonlight, he wore a dark long robe and stood straight. Most of his face was hidden beneath the eaves.
The masked man bowed.
“Young master.”
Young master?
I looked up sharply.
The shadow slowly receded. Lamplight fell across his face.
Shen Zhiyan.
I froze, my thoughts tangling.
What was he doing here?
Then I reconsidered and understood.
Though his marriage with Gu Qingyi had fallen through, it had once been discussed. He must still feel something for her.
Perhaps news of the confiscation had reached him, and he had hurried to save her.
That made sense.
He raised a hand to the masked men. They bowed and withdrew, closing the door behind them.
Now we were alone in the outer room.
I felt uneasy.
It had been quite some time since that meeting at the Shen residence. I hadn’t expected to see him again, much less here, in these circumstances.
He stood watching me silently.
He was thinner still, his expression somber.
His stare made me uncomfortable. I opened my mouth, trying to think of something to say.
I ought to thank him.
Though I wasn’t the person he meant to save, he had still brought me out of the chaos.
Before I could speak, he stepped forward.
Almost instinctively, I stepped back.
He stopped and remained where he was.
After a silence, he asked, “Are you hurt?”
I shook my head.
He murmured an acknowledgment and fell silent again.
Then, after a few breaths:
“Do you still resent me?”
11
Startled, I lifted my eyes to his.
He waited quietly.
Only then did I realize he didn’t know I had returned with memories of our previous life too.
In his eyes, I probably hated him for abandoning me.
A hundred feelings stirred within me. Slowly, I shook my head.
“No.”
Something moved in his eyes.
“Your choice is yours,” I said, lowering my gaze. “I can’t resent you for it.”
He hurried forward and clasped my hands.
“I’m so glad you can think that way.”
His voice trembled slightly, as though concealing long-suppressed emotion.
“Zhenniang, I…”
A soft cough came from the inner room.
Gu Qingyi was awake.
I no longer had the attention to spare him. I turned and hurried inside.
12
She had sat up on the kang.
Pale-faced, she looked around, clearly unsure where she was.
I poured her hot tea.
She accepted it and took a sip before slowly looking up.
“Awan, where are we?”
“Young Master Shen sent men to save us,” I explained.
Her hand paused. Surprise flickered in her eyes.
“Young Master Shen?”
His warm, low voice came from outside.
“Miss Gu?”
She set the tea down and started to rise.
I helped her off the bed. She straightened her clothes and went out.
In the warm, dim lamplight, he still stood tall beside the table.
He bowed with clasped hands.
She returned the greeting, retaining the composure of the Grand Secretary’s daughter.
“Thank you for saving us.”
“There’s no need for such ceremony.”
His gaze seemed to brush past me.
I lowered my eyes and looked elsewhere, pretending not to notice.
The room fell quiet.
He spoke first.
“I established this estate in secret. It’s secluded; no one will find it. Stay here without worry for now. Someone will bring food and drink at regular times. I’ve posted guards outside.”
After a pause, Gu Qingyi asked what I wanted to know too.
“Why did you save us?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
“Do you know where the women of the Gu household would be sent after the confiscation?”
She lowered her eyes and answered softly.
“The Office of Court Entertainment.”
My heart tightened.
In my previous life, he had mentioned it. It was the state’s brothel.
Any woman sent there would have her chastity destroyed and the rest of her life dragged into degradation, with no escape.
Fortunately, we had escaped.
As I shuddered at the thought, his calm voice sounded again.