Chapter 9: She’s Just That Easy to Please

Pearl’s eyes brimmed with tears, utterly unwilling.

But time waited for no one — every moment wasted meant more danger. She could only wipe her tears, help another old servant support Old Madam Xiao, and, flanked by two guards, quickly head toward the desolate, ruined temple.

Old Madam Xiao’s eyes were red, on the verge of fainting. “You foolish girl!”

Jiang Chuyue lowered the carriage curtain and, with the coachman and remaining guards, galloped down the right fork in the road.

The bandits quickly caught up, clashing fiercely with the guards.

The carriage overturned. Jiang Chuyue staggered to her feet and ran into the forest, the sound of pursuing footsteps like death itself breathing down her neck. She ran fast, clutching tightly the dagger Xiao Ji had given her.

If caught, she would rather take her own life than be defiled.

She ran in a daze, vision swimming, a strange clarity surfacing in her mind — maybe dying here wouldn’t be so bad.

At least she wouldn’t have to watch concubine after concubine being brought into the Xiao household, nor witness Xiao Ji marrying a proper wife one day. She wouldn’t have to marry anyone at all — she’d die in the bloom of her youth.

She ran for a long time.

The bandits were nowhere to be heard. Jiang Chuyue ducked into a small cave in the wilderness. It was cramped, and she curled up inside.

Green vines hung down, covering the little entrance. Clutching her dagger tightly, she drifted into a frightened, uneasy sleep.

She awoke from the cold.

Outside, night had fallen. Wolves howled mournfully, and night owls cried with eerie desolation. She dared not go out, unsure whether the bandits had left. Eyes wide open, she waited for dawn.

Cold, hunger, and fear wrapped around her like a shroud.

Half-conscious, she felt as if she were five years old again — trapped in a small space, with no way out.

---

Outside the woods, black-armored cavalry spread out in all directions.

Xie Linyuan rode his horse, cold, dark eyes fixed on the dense forest, absently rubbing the black jade thumb ring on his finger.

After searching for a day and a night, finally, a soldier rode up to report, “My lord! We’ve found her!”

Xie Linyuan spurred his horse forward.

Through brambles and tall weeds, green vines concealed a small cave. Pushing them aside, he saw Jiang Chuyue curled up inside.

She was unconscious, still clutching a dagger, her hair disheveled and her face pale.

He checked her breathing — she was alive.

A pitifully lucky girl.

He reached out, intending to lift her out. But just as his fingers touched her collar, she murmured in her sleep, “Xiao Ji…”

Xie Linyuan’s eyes chilled.

He stepped back two paces, his face cold, letting the vines fall back over the cave mouth. A breeze stirred, and a small rock the size of a bun fell from the cliffside.

Expressionless, he crushed it in his hand.

He ordered, “Go tell that fool Xiao Ji — the girl’s been found.”

---

Jiang Chuyue seemed to hear something breaking, startling her awake.

A day without food, chilled to the bone, her mind was hazy. She blinked, dazed, seeing sunlight filtering through the deep green vines — morning had come.

Hoofbeats sounded outside.

Alarm bells rang in her mind — she thought the bandits were back. She gripped her dagger tightly, listening intently.

The vines were lifted away from the entrance.

Jiang Chuyue lunged with all her strength, stabbing — the blade struck heavy armor with a sharp clang.

“Xiaoyue, it’s me,” Xiao Ji said.

Her fingers went slack, the dagger falling into the soft earth.

Xiao Ji blocked the harsh sunlight, just as he had years ago, and reached out to her gently.

Her nose stung.

After holding back for so long, her tears finally broke free, falling like beads from a broken string. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing, “I thought I was going to die…”

He stroked her back. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

The carriage was already prepared. Xiao Ji took the still-shaken Jiang Chuyue back to the Xiao estate. Along the official road, the carriage rolled farther and farther away.

From a distance, Xie Linyuan watched, his handsome face dark.

The steward of the princely residence came running, panting, wiping sweat from his brow. “My lord! His Majesty is furious in the palace and summons you at once!”

These past two days, Xie Linyuan should have been in court discussing state affairs. Instead, he’d been scouring the wilderness day and night.

Xie Linyuan glanced down at the black jade ring on his finger. “Let the emperor keep fuming. I’m tired. We’re going back to the residence.”

---

Jiang Chuyue returned to the Xiao estate.

Old Madam Xiao had been waiting at the gate. Seeing her granddaughter covered in dirt, she pulled her into a tight embrace. “Buddha bless! Thank heavens you’re safe!”

The imperial physician was summoned.

Hot water was prepared.

Medicine and food soon arrived.

After drinking her medicine and bathing, Jiang Chuyue was once again the delicate, beautiful Second Miss. Starving, she was told by the physician she could only start with some porridge. She downed three bowls of millet porridge in one go.

Holding up her bowl, she looked at her grandmother with wide eyes. “Grandmother, may I have one more?”

Old Madam Xiao’s eyes brimmed with tears as she handed it to her. “Eat slowly, don’t choke.”

Warmth gradually returned to Jiang Chuyue’s frozen limbs.

She finally felt alive again.

Xiao Ji stayed to have lunch with her. Seeing a grain of rice at the corner of her lips, he smiled. “Don’t move.”

She obediently froze in place.

He reached out, the calloused pad of his finger brushing gently against her lips.

Her soul nearly flew out of her body — her heart pounded, heat crept up her cheeks, and she could still feel the touch lingering on her skin.

“You’re not a child, yet you still get rice on your mouth,” he teased, wiping his fingers with a handkerchief, his smile gentle.

She ducked her head quickly, muttering, “I hadn’t eaten in a day, so I was a bit quick — that’s why… Don’t laugh at me.”

They say misfortune and blessing go hand in hand — after her ordeal, she received a small sweetness from Xiao Ji.

It was truly sweet.

Xiao Ji rose. “Grandmother, I have duties at the Ministry of War. The bandits who attacked you were from the Liu household. Rest assured, in three months the Lius will be no more.”

The Liu family, with Liu Qingshu as their only son, had already suffered heavy blows. He had bullied Jiang Chuyue, been thrown into the moat nearly drowned, had one leg broken by Xiao Ji, the other smashed by bandits in the night, and was even castrated.

Liu Qingshu was utterly ruined.

Unwilling to accept defeat, the Liu family had disguised their servants as bandits to kill Old Madam Xiao and Jiang Chuyue for revenge.

But their plot had been exposed — they were finished. Xiao Ji was infamous for his iron heart; anyone who harmed the Xiao family would never be spared.

Old Madam Xiao’s voice was cold. “Go, and don’t spare a single one.”

Xiao Ji strode out.

Having eaten her fill and taken her medicine, Jiang Chuyue felt drowsy. She returned to her boudoir for a nap.

Though shaken by the ordeal, she also felt a subtle joy.

Lying in bed, she lightly touched her lips — the warmth of Xiao Ji’s fingers seemed to linger there still.

She was just that easy to please.

A word, a touch from Xiao Ji could keep her happy for days.

Smiling, she rolled twice on the bed and soon drifted into a blissful dream.

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In the Great Qing Imperial Palace.

Seeing no way out, the Minister of Revenue rushed before the emperor, kneeling and kowtowing for protection.

He cried loudly, “Your Majesty! The Regent is outrageous! He slandered my family’s servants as bandits, cut off their heads, and displayed them at my gate!”