Chapter 8

When Yi Ling had just woken up, Xie Hengzhi and Dr. Huang were talking by the window, far from the bed. Yi Ling couldn’t hear them clearly, but she could roughly guess what they were discussing.

With a single sentence from Xie Hengzhi, Yi Ling was even more certain—everyone, including Xie Hengzhi, believed she was feigning illness to gain attention.

Yi Ling had never experienced such humiliation in both of her lifetimes.

She stared at Xie Hengzhi and asked, “What do you mean? Do you think I want to see you pretending to be ill?”

Xie Hengzhi didn’t respond, only looking down at her with an air of indifference.

His usually emotionless eyes finally showed some emotion, but it was unmistakable impatience.

Yi Ling, already feeling short of breath, sneered and grated her teeth. “Lord Xie, you don’t need to think so highly of yourself. I am still a well-bred lady, and I would never go to such extremes over a man.”

Having said that, Yi Ling felt the atmosphere had become tense and charged.

However, Xie Hengzhi seemed as if he hadn’t heard her at all. He leisurely walked to the window and pushed it open.

A cold breeze immediately swept in, rustling the curtains before her.

When the bitter smell of medicine in the room was partly dispersed, Xie Hengzhi, with his back to her, casually said, “I’m not as idle as you think.”

He turned around and lazily glanced at Yi Ling. 

“Next time you want to see me, go to Lin Fengyuan and wait for me there.”

Stay calm. 

For the sake of survival, she had to stay calm.

Yi Ling clenched her palm repeatedly, trying to suppress her anger, but she could no longer hold back.

“Rest assured, I will never step foot in Lin Fengyuan, even if I die!”

---

That night. 

The moon was bright, the stars few, and everything was silent.

The entire Xie residence had settled into tranquility, occasionally disturbed by the sound of the night breeze rustling through the treetops.

Mama Cao gently pushed the door open to check if Yi Ling was sleeping well.

As soon as she stepped inside, however, she felt a biting cold breeze rush through the room.

The weather in the capital was much colder than in Jiangzhou, and once autumn arrived, the nights turned as cold as winter.

She muttered a few words under her breath about Jin Kui, then walked toward the window.

Just as her hand touched the window, a trembling voice came from the bed.

“Don’t close the window; leave it open.”

Mama Cao was startled and turned back. “Madam, are you still awake?”

“I can’t sleep.”

Yi Ling had been tossing and turning in bed for nearly half an hour. At first, she just felt dizzy, short of breath, and heavy in the chest, but soon she began to feel faint, as though she might lose consciousness.

She got up to walk around, but her legs grew weak, so she had to lie back down.

To avoid fainting, she opened the window, letting the cold wind, sharp as a knife, blow on her bed, helping her stay somewhat awake.

“Are you not feeling well?”

Mama Cao walked over and touched Yi Ling’s forehead. “Ah! Madam, you’re burning up! Did you catch a chill? Let me call Dr. Huang right away!”

Could she be comfortable sleeping on a wooden bed?

Could she avoid catching a cold after being exposed to the cold wind for half the night?

“No need.”

Yi Ling said weakly, “Just wet the handkerchief and wipe my forehead.”

“That’s not enough! A fever is serious, and if it gets worse, it could be life-threatening!”

Mama Cao stood up, about to leave. “I’ll go fetch the doctor right now.”

“No need. I know my body well.”

Yi Ling used all her strength to stop her. “Do as I told you!”

Mama Cao hesitated, standing still, worried and fearful but too afraid to defy her mistress’ order.

In the end, she filled a basin with cold water, carefully soaked the handkerchief, and placed it on Yi Ling’s forehead.

Having someone to stay by her side brought Yi Ling some comfort; at least she didn’t have to worry about dying here without anyone noticing.

But the physical torment didn’t lessen one bit.

At first, it was just dizziness, but soon the pain in her head spread to her whole body, making it hard for her to stay conscious. She could barely keep her eyes open.

Mama Cao felt distressed and urged, “Madam, let me go get the master. Every time he comes, you feel better.”

“No need.”

Yi Ling said stubbornly, “I don’t want to see him.”

After a long silence, Yi Ling slowly opened her eyes again. 

“Go ahead and close the window. It’s too cold.”

Mama Cao didn’t move; instead, she kindly insisted, “Madam, what difference will closing the window make? You’re sick, and this room is already colder than the others because it’s facing the wind. Why not go back to Lin Fengyuan? It’s the best place in the entire Xie residence, warm in winter and cool in summer. You don’t even need to start a charcoal fire to stay warm. Why make things hard for yourself?”

Hearing these words, Yi Ling slowly opened her eyes.

Yes…!

Xie Hengzhi was in Lin Fengyuan, sleeping on the softest Shu brocade bedding in the most comfortable folding bed, and didn’t even need to light a charcoal fire in the room.

Meanwhile, she was here, suffering in the cold wind.

What had she gained from confronting Xie Hengzhi like this?

And Xie Hengzhi, a man like him, wouldn’t feel guilty in the slightest because of her pain.

Why was she torturing herself here?

Yi Ling’s gaze gradually cleared, and she even regained some strength in her hands and feet.

Slowly, she sat up.

The more she thought, the angrier she got, and she began to feel that she had fallen into Xie Hengzhi’s trap.

He probably wished for some peace and quiet around him.

After taking a deep breath, Yi Ling raised her head and firmly said, “I want to go back to Lin Fengyuan!”

Because of the vastness of the estate and the sparsity of people, the Xie family residence was always quieter than other estates.

At night, without the sounds of silk and bamboo or the music of flutes and singing, it was even quieter, resembling a deserted house.

Yi Ling’s courtyard was located at the far west, while Lin Fengyuan was in the northeast corner, separated by nearly a mile, with endless winding paths and long corridors in between.

If it weren’t for Mama Cao guiding her, Yi Ling surely wouldn’t have been able to find her way.

She didn’t know what kind of person Xie Hengzhi was.

There were only a few people in the family, yet they lived on such a large estate. Was it an attempt to make their wealth and power too obvious?

They lived here, but he wouldn’t even spend extra money to renovate it.

Yi Ling was already frail and weak, and after walking such a long way, she had no idea how much mud she had stepped in or how many times she had tripped.

Finally, Mama Cao, holding the lantern, managed to help Yi Ling stand outside Lin Fengyuan.

Two guards stood at the door. When they saw Yi Ling approach, they didn’t ask any questions, bowing respectfully before stepping aside.

Yi Ling didn’t rush inside, first glancing inside. The bedroom was unlit, and the Eastern Warm Pavilion was dark as well, suggesting there was no one there.

“Where is Xie Hengzhi?” she asked.

The two guards exchanged a glance and truthfully answered, “The sir had something to do earlier and went out.”

Out so late?

Yi Ling thought for a moment and then asked, “When will he be back?”

“We don’t know, ma’am.”

They were only guards, so it seemed they wouldn’t have that information.

Yi Ling didn’t ask further and walked straight inside.

Mama Cao led her into the bedroom and had someone light the lamps.

Turning back, Mama Cao looked at Yi Ling under the light, as if wanting to say something but was blocked.

“Mama Cao, you’ve worked hard; please go rest.”

Mama Cao had no choice but to obey.

However, as she reached the door, she couldn’t help but look back at Yi Ling, utterly confused.

Could it be that Dr. Huang’s words were true? That everything the madam did was to curry favor?

After Mama Cao left, Yi Ling lay half-reclined on the Luohan couch.

Her body, already sick, had been pushed to the limit after such a long day without seeing Xie Hengzhi.

Now that she had some quiet, the signs of fainting returned.

With no other options, Yi Ling had to get up and walk around again.

This bedroom was small and simply decorated.

Yi Ling wandered aimlessly for several rounds, growing more and more short of breath, her steps increasingly unsteady.

The room had little in it: a comfortable plump bed, a Luohan couch by the window, and a low table with books.

There was nothing to pass the time.

Outside, the silence deepened; even the wind had stopped.

But Yi Ling could hear a buzzing sound in her ears, as if thousands of bees were swirling around her.

If Xie Hengzhi didn’t return soon, she feared she might collapse again.

Without realizing it, Yi Ling quickened her pace, walking around the room again and muttering under her breath.

“Out at midnight, definitely up to no good.”

“Probably off to harm loyal officials again.”

As she passed the wall-mounted clothes rack, she suddenly stopped.

Just then… There was a fleeting feeling of comfort.

She turned her head and carefully examined the clothes rack.

There didn’t seem to be anything special about it, only a robe hanging there.

But if Yi Ling wasn’t mistaken, this outer robe was exactly the one Xie Hengzhi had worn today.

He must have just changed out of it, and the servants hadn’t had time to take it away for cleaning.

Could it be that the robe Xie Hengzhi wore had the same effect?

Thinking this, Yi Ling carefully took down the robe, holding it in her hands.

She stared at the intricate embroidery on the robe, swallowed, and then leaned in, taking a deep breath.

There was no strong scent, only a faint, sweet pine fragrance.

It was refreshing but not potent.

Perhaps she hadn’t inhaled enough?

Yi Ling furrowed her brows and took another deep breath.

Indeed, as soon as she inhaled, she felt an immediate sense of ease and clarity, like a long drought finally receiving fresh rain.

Yi Ling couldn’t help but tilt her head back, close her eyes, and let out a satisfied sigh.

Just as she was about to take another breath, something suddenly felt off.

Before she could think it through, her instincts guided her to turn around.

Xie Hengzhi was standing just three feet behind her.

His gaze was indescribable.