Chapter 5

Chapter 5

After returning to the manor, the young miss came to ask me, “How is it? Is your leg truly injured?”

I nodded.

She sighed. “Well, it seems you two were simply fated to be apart. I shall find someone better for you in the future.”

“Honestly, of all times to fall, why did it have to be then…” she grumbled, patting the back of my hand to comfort me.

I hesitated for a moment but chose not to tell her the reason.

In her eyes, Qi Yu’s heart and soul belonged solely to her. How could he possibly do something so malicious as to ruin a maid’s marriage? And how could he possibly want to take a maid he had always loathed as a concubine?

In our past life, Qi Yu only had eyes for me-the fake young miss. He never took a concubine. Even later, when the real young miss returned and he devoted himself to her, he never gave any other woman a place in his household.

While my marriage was shelved, the young miss’s wedding preparations continued.

Soon, the day arrived for the young miss and Qi Yu to wed.

Her bridal gown was as red as fire, and she was as radiant as a peach blossom. The red silk veil could not hide her tenderness and joy.

Qi Yu gazed at her with deep affection, though occasionally his gaze would fall on me, flickering with a complex, profound meaning.

I knew he must be remembering the scene of our wedding in our past life.

Though we never spoke of it openly, we both knew that we had been reborn.

I turned away, avoiding his gaze.

I hoped he would treat the young miss well and not let the tragedy of our past life repeat itself.

Perhaps because he was in the honeymoon phase, Qi Yu was in a good mood and treated me much better. He no longer questioned or mocked me at every turn as he used to.

For instance, today, he specifically brought back lotus seed cakes from the east side of the city for the young miss, but he also brought an extra plum blossom pastry.

When the young miss looked surprised, he glanced at me nonchalantly. “Just give that one to the maid to eat.”

I lowered my head. In our past life, he had often gone out of his way to buy plum blossom pastries for me.

I didn’t feel happy; instead, I felt a sense of trepidation.

I wondered why the person from the palace had not come looking for me yet.

Just as I was considering seeking out Young Master Zhang to investigate, the Nine-Thousand-Year Lord came to the manor as a guest.

By the time the young miss and I arrived, he was conversing with Qi Yu under the plum trees.

As the cold winter began to fade, he wore a silver-fox fur cloak over his heavy official robes. The black fur framed a face as pale as frost and snow.

I wasn’t sure what they were discussing, but his eyes were narrowed slightly, a faint, inscrutable smile on his lips, exuding an air of natural authority that commanded respect without anger.

Qi Yu, on the other hand, looked furious, his expression one of suppressed frustration.

“That is the Empress Dowager’s favorite, the man who holds the reins of power in the court, Lord Shen. People call him the Nine-Thousand-Year Lord.”

I heard Qi Yu whisper to the young miss, his voice laced with displeasure.

I had known for a long time that Qi Yu and he were political rivals who had been at odds for years.

Shen Wu tilted his chin slightly, his gaze sweeping over me before coming to rest on the young miss. He spoke in a slow, soft voice:

“So this is the legitimate daughter of Lord Pei’s household. The Heir is truly blessed.”

After admiring the blossoms for a while, he seemed to grow weary and rose to take his leave.

Qi Yu breathed a sigh of relief and was about to see him out, but the Nine-Thousand-Year Lord smiled. “There is no need for such formality, Heir. Sending a maid will suffice.”

I stepped forward to lead the way. Once we had left the courtyard, he suddenly turned to look at me, a mysterious smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“I wonder why you went to such lengths to see me, young lady? What is your purpose?”

I stopped in my tracks and finally looked at him openly.

I had heard many rumors about him.

The Empress Dowager’s lapdog, a lowly eunuch, a man of unpredictable temperament and brutal methods. Yet, he held such immense power that no one dared provoke him.

But this was the man who had died for me in our past life.

I gazed at his pale, delicate features-a face both strange and familiar. I could no longer hold it back; my eyes welled with tears as I choked out a single word:

“Brother…”

The figure across from me stiffened abruptly, his pupils shrinking in shock.