Since the lady fainted on her wedding night, she has claimed frail health and avoided seeing the concubines, even skipping the morning and evening greetings. The main residence only entertained guests once when the concubines came to offer their respects; otherwise, it remained closed to outsiders.
The lady allowed only her two dowry maids to serve her closely. Consequently, the maids and servants of the main residence, who should have been busiest in the morning, found themselves quite idle. With the lady waking up late today, they were even more leisurely, gathered around the stove to warm themselves.
Winter was growing increasingly colder.
When Huo Xian arrived at this hour, he startled the entire room of maids. Even the stewardess, Nanny Liu, was surprised and asked, “Why has the master come at this hour?”
Huo Xian glanced towards the main hall and asked, “Has the lady eaten?”
Biwu, somewhat intimidated by Huo Xian, still had to respond, “The lady has not woken up yet. I will go and urge her.”
As Biwu spoke and prepared to enter the inner chamber, Hongshuang intercepted her halfway, quickly heading inside herself.
Huo Xian sat down in the dining room. Intending to dine there, he prompted the maids to spring into action from their previous idleness.
Nanny Liu lifted the curtain and entered, bringing some pastries to tide Huo Xian over. With no one else around, she spoke more intimately, “Why do you still come all the way back to the manor to eat? It’s such a hassle. It’s well past your usual breakfast time, and your stomach will be upset.”
Nanny Liu, whose surname was Liu, had been Huo Xian’s wet nurse since childhood. She was one of the few who agreed to follow him when he left the Xuanping Marquisate. In the entire household, she was likely the only one who dared to speak to him in this manner.
Huo Xian chuckled, “It’s not such a big deal. How has she been lately?”
Nanny Liu was momentarily taken aback, then realized he was probably referring to the lady.
Although Huo Xian didn’t specify, Nanny Liu vaguely understood that this marriage might not be what it seemed. Nonetheless, since the lady was formally married into the family with all the proper rites, Nanny Liu still regarded her as the mistress. Respectfully, she said, “The lady has a quiet temperament. She usually stays within the courtyard, served only by a few maids she brought from her family. She doesn’t like to trouble us.”
Huo Xian, eating half a pastry with his tea, replied, “How many people did she bring from the Ji family? If she lacks help, the maids here should pay more attention.”
Nanny Liu looked at him in astonishment. It was unusual for him to show concern. She then said, “She originally brought five maids. Two serve her closely—one named Hongshuang, the other Biwu. The remaining three serve outside. Recently, one of them was released from service, as she had reached marriageable age and wished to marry. The lady is truly kind-hearted.”
Huo Xian nodded silently and casually asked, “Which one?”
Nanny Liu answered just as casually, “I believe her name was Juan’er.”
At that moment, the curtain lifted, and their conversation ceased.
Ji Yuluo, who had only fallen asleep in the early hours, felt a headache when Hongshuang woke her. She was quite surprised to hear that Huo Xian had come, suspecting he was here because of yesterday’s events at the palace. To be cautious, she took some medicine before coming out.
Approaching Huo Xian, she gave him a half bow and then raised her head, “Why has my lord come?”
Huo Xian smiled and replied, “I had some free time today and decided to join you for breakfast.”
Ji Yuluo was momentarily stunned, then flustered, “Nanny, please prepare the meal quickly. We must not delay my lord’s duties.”
Nanny Liu acknowledged and promptly ordered the maids to set the table.
Huo Xian had only taken a few bites and wasn’t very hungry. He noticed Ji Yuluo drinking some porridge and asked, “Last night’s incident was sudden. I didn’t have a chance to ask—were you hurt?”
Ji Yuluo shook her head, holding a spoon. “Just some superficial wounds. A couple of days’ rest and I’ll be fine. It’s nothing serious.”
Indeed, there were a few small abrasions on the back of her hand. Huo Xian glanced at them and asked, “Even so, you must have been frightened. Did you see a physician?”
Ji Yuluo’s motion of stirring her porridge slowed down. Something seemed amiss. As expected, when she shook her head, Huo Xian said, “You are frail. If anything were to happen to you, how could I explain it to your father? Give me your hand.”
His words sounded grandiose, but he merely wanted to check her pulse.
Ji Yuluo hesitated, showing a bit of surprise on her face. “How could I trouble you, my lord…”
Under Huo Xian’s almost coercive gaze, Ji Yuluo slowly extended her hand.
Her wrist was delicate and pale, as if it would break with a slight squeeze.
Huo Xian assumed the posture of checking her pulse. Ji Yuluo watched his hand, while Huo Xian observed her.
The young girl lowered her head slightly, sitting upright and well-behaved. Whether due to his suspicious nature or something else, he tried to discern something beyond her docile exterior, making his gaze even sharper.
Yet, there was nothing to fault, whether in her usual demeanor or her weak pulse.
Staring at the veins on her wrist, Huo Xian suddenly said, “I heard that a maid in your household reached marriageable age and wanted to return home. You released her, correct?”
Ji Yuluo paused for a barely noticeable moment. She had expected him to inquire about the incident at Anhe Palace last night, but the topic took an unexpected turn. She smiled and said, “Yes, she’s of marriageable age and likely wouldn’t find a suitable husband if she stayed.”
Huo Xian nodded casually, as if making small talk, “How old is she?”
Ji Yuluo replied, “Seventeen or eighteen.”
Huo Xian pondered, “That’s not too old. Most maids in common households aren’t released until they’re around twenty.”
Ji Yuluo continued smiling gently, “Her mind was no longer here with me. Keeping her for a few more years wouldn’t make sense.”
Huo Xian praised her, “That’s very kind of you. Do you know where her family is? Did she have transportation? Since she was a dowry maid from the Ji family, you should have told me earlier. I could have arranged for the Jinyiwei to escort her, preserving the bond between master and servant.”
Ji Yuluo was about to speak, “She—”
“My lady,” Huo Xian interrupted, his tone neutral, “your pulse is erratic.”
Ji Yuluo looked up sharply, and their gazes met intensely for a moment before quickly dissipating. She appeared flustered and said, “My lord always speaks with an interrogative tone. As an ordinary person, I can’t help but feel nervous.”
Huo Xian chuckled and withdrew his hand, saying, “I heard that the eldest daughter of the Ji family is naturally timid. But I find you quite eloquent.”
Ji Yuluo hurriedly stood up and bowed her head, “Whatever you say, my lord. It’s my fault for speaking out of turn. I won’t do so again.”
Huo Xian looked up at her, seeing her biting her lip with tears brimming, her head lowered in a posture of guilt, as if he had committed a grave sin.
It was the first time Huo Xian had properly sized up the eldest daughter of the Ji family. Previously, he hadn’t realized that her cold and delicate face could evoke such a pitiful demeanor.
One was standing, the other sitting, and the atmosphere grew inexplicably tense.
Behind them, Hongshuang’s heart was pounding in her throat, while Nanny Liu, clueless about the situation, wondered why a simple meal had turned out like this. The master had really gone too far, bullying a young girl for no reason…
Huo Xian’s eyes held a thoughtful smile. After a while, he got up and pressed Ji Yuluo back into her chair. Clicking his tongue, he said, “Why are you so nervous? I was just joking with you. The case in the palace still needs investigating. I’ll be going now.”
He patted Ji Yuluo’s shoulder, kindly saying, “My lady, enjoy your meal.”
With that, he indeed left.
Nanny Liu followed him out, leaving only Ji Yuluo and Hongshuang in the main hall.
Watching them leave, Hongshuang approached Ji Yuluo and asked, “Miss, what did he mean by that? Did he find out?”
Ji Yuluo, expressionless, wiped away her tears and forced a smile. “He has no evidence. It was just a test. If he was certain, he wouldn’t have come here in person.”
Hongshuang said, “But he’s already suspicious. From now on, it will be difficult and dangerous to act. This mansion is full of secret guards. If we want to leave, it might be impossible. Miss, there are many ways to handle this. Why insist on targeting Huo Xian? He’s too perceptive.”
Ji Yuluo pointed to her face. “With the face of the Ji family’s eldest daughter, I’m hindered at every turn in the capital. There may be many ways, but all of them are blocked by this face.”
She spoke with a hint of frustration.
Hongshuang fell silent, her brows furrowed in worry.
Meanwhile, Huo Xian exited the main hall, followed closely by Nanyue, who asked, “Master, how did it go?”
Huo Xian nodded slowly. “Normal. Her pulse is weak, indicative of chronic frailty. She responded fluently, without panic—perfectly.”
Nanyue, who had overheard a bit outside, recalled that the master had said her pulse was erratic… oh, Nanyue realized, it was a ruse.
Relieved, Nanyue said, “That’s good then. If there’s nothing wrong with the lady, we can rest easy.”
Huo Xian sneered, standing with his hands behind his back. Turning to Nanyue, he said, “Too perfect is suspicious. You’ve followed me for years, and when I press you, you still stammer. But she responded fluently. If it’s not her problem, then it’s yours.”
Nanyue: “…” He felt quite wronged.
After some thought, Nanyue said, “What does the master suspect? I just checked, and that maid named Juan’er used to be the personal maid of the Ji family’s second young lady. If the lady had harmed her, it could be due to past grievances. Even so, it only proves that the lady has been pretending all these years. It’s understandable in the rear court. If you suspect the palace assassination is related to the lady, it’s possible. However,”
Nanyue furrowed his brows in confusion. “Master, didn’t you suspect that the assassin in the palace and the assassin in our residence are the same person? But master, on the day of the attack in our residence, the lady had just returned from Chengyuan Temple. When the assassin escaped, her carriage had just reached the city gate. The city gate guards can testify. The timing doesn’t match.”
“So, either the palace assassin and the assassin in our residence are not the same person, or these matters have nothing to do with the lady. Besides, with such a weak pulse, how could the lady confront you?” Nanyue scratched his head, puzzled.
Huo Xian looked down, his black boots stepping on a loose pebble on the stone path, kicking it into the nearby lake. Watching the ripples, he said, “Who says seeing is believing… Whether it’s true or false, we’ll find out by testing it.”
