Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Xu Ke asked, “Was there something wrong with them?”

Xunmei nodded. “I was young when I fled my hometown, but not to the extent that I could not remember what my parents looked like. The couple was very strange. How could they be my parents? However, they brought items that belonged to my parents…”

Xunmei realized that something was abnormal. She then pretended to recognize them. They had a “private” conversation amongst themselves.

She was told that her parents and siblings were all in their hands. If she was not willing to obey, they would all die. On the contrary, if she was obedient, her parents and siblings could live a good life. Xunmei was dubious about that. She did not care about her barbaric father’s life, but she could not abandon her mother and siblings.

“…I promised to be their informer and mole…” Speaking of that, Xunmei’s facial expression became a bit strange. “However, they just wanted me to keep an eye on the second niangzi. I had to report to them if there was anything unusual…”

Xunmei was really puzzled at such a weird command, but she obeyed their instructions. For years, she worked very hard to spy on the second niangzi. Every day, she would either read, draw, do some needlework, sunbathe, or admire the flowers and play with her servants…

Xu Ke asked, “What’s up with Taxue?”

What kind of a freak would keep an eye on the daughter born of a mistress of the Liu residence? Xu Ke was confused about that.

“At first, I didn’t know that Taxue was a mole, too. However, Taxue and I are Langjun’s personal servant girls. We usually talk and I gradually discovered her abnormality. She’s particularly thoughtful towards the second niangzi too. Some of her actions are also very suspicious…”

Xu Ke nodded, but…”Is there anything actually so strange about the second niangzi that is worth being watched by strangers?”

Xunmei shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Xu Ke did not say a word. “Perhaps the things that you both reported on were similar, so the people who approached you were growing less interested…”

That could have been true. Who had the time to listen to the daily life of a little girl? One would naturally feel bored after hearing too much of it.

“…Without them, I didn’t know how my mother and siblings were doing. Helpless, I could only find a way. Through my connections, I asked a retainer of the Liu residence who went to do business in Zhongzhao to inquire about them. However, my father didn’t survive the drought and my mother voluntarily sold herself to the brothel in the end just to help my younger siblings stay alive. However, my siblings had bitter lives… My younger brother was beaten to death by the local hooligans and my sister was murdered… They’re all dead.”

In other words, the man and woman simply lied to Xunmei!

Not long after Xunmei received the real news about her family, the liar, who had not appeared for a few years, showed up again.

“…Ha. I wanted to see what wicked ideas those people had this time. I then pretended to be polite and compliant towards them.” A murderous look flashed across Xunmei’s eyes. She said icily, “However, they weren’t interested in the second niangzi anymore. They actually ordered me to keep an eye on Langjun…”

Xu Ke asked, “When was this?”

Xunmei thought about it. “It was about three years ago, when Langjun implemented the grain-purchasing limitation and prepared to depart to Shangjing.”

The change of instructions made Xunmei feel vigilant. Thinking about the late First Lady’s grace in helping and encouraging her, she could not do anything that would hurt Liu Xi.

“Apart from asking you to keep an eye on Langjun, were there other orders?”

Xunmei replied, “There was, but I think it’s better for you not to know.”

Xu Ke’s heart was relieved after hearing so much from Xunmei. At least Xunmei had not made a huge mistake so far. There was still room for her to redeem herself.

Therefore, his words were less heavy. “What is it that I can’t know?”

Xunmei secretly rolled her eyes. “The informant gave me another order, which was to make him an obedient, aristocratic lady when Langjun had yet to develop his character fully.”

Xu Ke was utterly confused. “No matter how much heroic spirit Langjun exudes, he’s a dignified man. How can he be shaped into an aristocratic lady?”

Xunmei smiled. “That’s why I said that it’s better for you not to hear it.”

Xu Ke was speechless. He still did not understand.

“…I’m terrified of these orders. I want to desist from this before it’s too late…”

Xunmei pretended to be polite and compliant towards those people while she was thinking of a way out. Then, she met Xu Ke.

“…My original plan was to… marry you and use the money that we earned in the past few years to redeem ourselves and go somewhere far away.”

Xu Ke interrupted Xunmei before she finished speaking. “If you wanted to leave the Liu residence, you didn’t necessarily need to marry someone…”

Xunmei rolled her eyes. “It’s easy for you to say. I’m a young girl. Would I be safe if I traveled alone outside? I’m afraid that sneaky people would’ve had me as their target, and sold me to shady people before I barely made it out of the door…”

Xu Ke did not say a word.

“Furthermore, you don’t have to look down upon yourself. Among the retainers in the Liu residence, even if your face is carved and inked with characters from the punishment, your appearance is top-notch… Not to mention your knowledge and manners. From a girl’s perspective, you’re a good choice as a husband.”

Xunmei knew her identity and did not intend to claim ties of kinship with someone of a higher social position, but she had to look for someone she liked. She got close to Xu Ke because she was indeed eager to escape from the Liu residence at first, but later, she sincerely wanted to marry Xu Ke.

“You warned me to be careful of Taxue… Could it be that the mastermind changed his orders again?”

Xunmei sighed and replied, “I think I haven’t been acting properly because I wanted to marry you so badly. They were starting to get irked…”

“What about?”

“Taxue has probed me a few times. At first, it was just a warning. After that, there was more malice. Until our wedding, the way that Taxue looked at me was so murderous… It was like she was looking at a dead person. From this, you can see that those people aren’t going to let me stay alive. I dealt with her cautiously when she tried to sound me out. That made her believe that I was tight-lipped and didn’t expose them…”

Speaking of that, Xunmei smiled mockingly. Taxue thought that she had disguised herself well, but Xunmei slowly wondered about it… Langjun probably had already spotted an inkling of the matter.

At first, she had wanted to go to Langye with Langjun when he went there to study. However, Langjun spoke a bit strangely at the time. She made her stay in Hejian County, and even hinted to her that it was better to stay with the people around Xu Ke and build a favorable impression with them if she wanted to be with him.

Therefore, Xunmei stayed behind and Langjun took Taxue with her.

Thinking about it now, Xunmei could not help but suspect… Was Langjun protecting her by doing that?

After all, if she and Taxue were not separated, something would have happened sooner or later. What a pity that Taxue had never realized it.

“Taxue has a murderous intention towards me. I’m afraid that… you’ll soon become a widower…”

Xu Ke suddenly had an icy look on his face, and he hugged Xunmei tightly. He scolded her in a tone that was neither light nor heavy. “Why are you saying these unlucky things?”

Xunmei smiled joyfully and rested on his shoulder. “By then, will you still remember me?”

“I won’t become a widower. You still have to become a mother!”

After that, they got under the blanket and tossed around vigorously. Spring was very much in the air. The rain had stopped and the clouds had scattered. Xu Ke got up, cleaned his body with warm water, and put on his usual clothes.

“Go to bed. I’ll look for Langjun to discuss this. This matter can’t be delayed.”

Xunmei laid under the blanket, holding her cheeks in her hands. “It can’t be delayed? Then why did you play around just now?”

Xu Ke turned his head and glared at her, but unfortunately, he did not scare her.