Chapter 25
An Huaijin had left.
The ever-burning lamp flickered in the room. Only Lady Zheng, my Aunt, and I remained, kneeling before Zhang Yunhuai.
Aunt’s face was deathly pale, her body trembling, her hands shaking as she struck me again and again, shoving me while sobbing:
“Xiao Chun, you wretched girl, hurry and kowtow to the Second Young Master. If not for his protection, you would surely have lost your life.”
Only then did I realize: the first to discover that I had killed Heir Jiang and disposed of the body was my Aunt.
Perhaps she had uncovered other things as well. After all, she was now my only remaining blood relative in this world.
These four years, we had depended on each other. She truly cared for me.
After Jiang Ting’s death, rumors spread throughout the Capital. From the day Wei Donghe was arrested, she had been anxious, knowing I would be in trouble sooner or later.
She believed the corpse beneath Pond Slope was far from secure.
She wanted to retrieve and dispose of it properly, but lacked the means.
Before An Huaijin led his troops to surround the Censor’s Mansion, she finally made a bold and dangerous decision.
She went to seek help from the Second Young Master.
It was a risky and daring move.
Previously, Lady Zhu had mentioned taking me as a bedchamber maid for the Second Young Master, to serve him.
Everyone in the mansion knew that the Second Young Master was noble and pure, never allowing any woman to serve him closely.
Lady Zhu had suggested giving him a bedchamber maid before, but he had refused.
Yet this time, when Lady Zhu brought it up again, he did not refuse.
Aunt was certain the Second Young Master liked me.
I did not believe it.
Perhaps he felt some interest or goodwill, but as for liking me-certainly not.
His willingness to help this time was likely because he knew Jiang Ting had died in their home, and he feared trouble.
The Second Young Master stared at me, unmoving, his gaze deep and expressionless.
I knelt and bowed my head. “Thank you for saving me, Young Master. Xiao Chun will leave, and do her best not to bring trouble to the mansion.”
“Where will you go? Where can you go if you leave? The Second Young Master said you are his person. Stay with him obediently, and he will protect you.”
Lady Zheng wailed, hitting me desperately, shoving me with all her strength, and finally pulling me into a tight embrace.
“Xiao Chun, my poor child, Aunt begs you, please stop! Your mother died young, and now you are her only blood left in this world. I beg you, let me have some hope!”
“You cannot win, Xiao Chun! The Imperial Authority is like the heavens-how can you fight it? I only want you to live, for us to live, is that not enough? To live peacefully, Aunt begs you, I’ll kowtow to you, just accept your fate, child!”
Aunt’s face was streaked with tears, her expression one of utter despair.
“Aunt Zheng, let me speak with her alone.”
After a long silence, the Second Young Master finally spoke.