Chapter 5

My heart hammered.

I had never so much as crushed an insect with my own hands, yet I had struck a man until his head bled.

It took me some time to steady myself. Then I bent down, took off Xie Qingwei’s sash, and bound his hands and feet tightly. With all my strength, I pushed him into the thick grass and covered him with branches and leaves.

This spot was secluded and seldom visited. Unless someone searched carefully, they would never find him.

I straightened my slightly disordered hair, kicked the food box deeper into the grass, and hurried away.

I had to find the Ninth Princess quickly.

Alone, I could never conceal what had happened.

But when I reached the flower garden, she was nowhere to be seen. I found a maid and asked; the Ninth Princess had left only a short while earlier.

Now I was truly at a loss. Xie Qingwei might wake at any moment. Then the Ninth Princess, Xue Shao, and I would all be doomed.

If I went back and killed him…I could not dispose of his body without help.

Once it came to light, the princess would hold the entire Jiang clan responsible.

“Pingting, isn’t that your cousin? Why is she alone? She looks dreadful.”

A familiar female voice came from the covered walkway. My cousin was there with a close friend.

“Who knows? Perhaps she saw that half-servant she’s engaged to and couldn’t bear the shame!”

I immediately walked toward Jiang Pingting.

She started. “What? Am I wrong?”

“Xue Shao is here?” I had no time to trade insults. Seizing her hand, I demanded, “Where?”

Cowed by my gaze, she instinctively pointed. “Over there. I saw him over there.”

I turned and left.

Jiang Pingting’s angry voice followed me. “Jiang Zhiyu, have you no shame?”

I found Xue Shao just outside the garden.

Or rather, he found me.

“What happened?”

He looked at my pale face with concern.

But I hesitated.

…Had he entered the Ninth Princess’s service yet?

How much did he know about her?

There was no time to probe cautiously.

I looked at him without disguising my fear. “Xie Qingwei tried to take liberties with me. During the struggle, I knocked him unconscious. Xue Shao, what am I to do? Once he wakes, I’m finished. The princess won’t spare me. Father, Mother, and my brother will suffer because of me…”

A cold anger flashed in his eyes. His gaze swept swiftly over my sleeves and skirt. Seeing nothing amiss, he said urgently, “Don’t be afraid. Leave this to me. Tell me where he is, then go and take your leave of the princess. Say you feel unwell, and go home.”

I asked without thinking, “Will you be in danger?”

“No.” The coldness in his eyes eased a little. “Go home and rest. When everything here is settled, I’ll come to see you.”

He paused, then gave me a reassuring smile.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

I looked into his eyes. “All right. That’s a promise. I’ll wait for you.”