33 Seeing Through It

Lin Yuejiao scanned the passing pedestrians outside the carriage window. Suddenly catching sight of a familiar carriage, she offered a faint smile. "Zijin, I see the Heir’s carriage. He and Young Master Li are inseparable; didn't you write a new calligraphy piece today that you wanted Young Master Li to critique? Why not go over and greet them?"

"Fourth Sister..." Lin Zijin paused, confused. She had not written any such piece for Li Moqian to critique.

Feeling uneasy about leaving Lin Yuejiao behind, Lin Zijin said, "Fourth Sister, why don't you come with me?"

"There is no need for me. It is your good fortune that Young Master Li is willing to guide you. If I were to bring Third Sister and myself along, what if we displeased him? Wouldn't you agree, Third Sister?" Lin Yuejiao said with a smile.

Lin Qingsheng, who had been on the verge of saying she would accompany Lin Zijin, was instantly silenced by this remark. "I... I wanted to go..."

"Fourth Sister is right. Young Master Li dislikes uninvited guests, so I shall pay my respects alone. Please forgive me, Sisters." Lin Zijin interrupted Lin Qingsheng and gave Lin Yuejiao a subtle, knowing nod.

Lin Qingsheng felt helpless, though she did not stop Lin Zijin from leaving.

A while later, Lin Yuejiao suddenly remarked, "Is this the road to the Goddess Temple? It seems rather desolate."

"Well, it's so crowded today; the mountain paths are packed. We are taking the back trail—there are fewer people, and it’s a shortcut to the temple," Lin Qingsheng explained, a flicker of panic in her eyes.

Lin Yuejiao pursed her lips. Compared to Lin Qingliu, Lin Qingsheng was far too inexperienced; her expression and eyes were full of flaws.

Before Lin Yuejiao could attempt to jump from the carriage, they arrived at a bamboo grove.

The carriage driver excused himself to relieve his needs. Regardless of Lin Yuejiao’s reaction, he pulled the carriage to a stop and hurried deep into the bamboo grove, acting with desperate urgency.

Observing the silent, desolate mountains, a wave of intense unease washed over Lin Yuejiao. "Third Sister, the mountain roads are rugged, and I’m feeling a bit carsick. I’m going to walk around for a moment."

"No, no, don't go," Lin Qingsheng said, grabbing Lin Yuejiao’s hand.

A cold glint flashed in Lin Yuejiao's eyes. From Lin Qingsheng’s reaction, it was clear this location was crucial. Was this where they intended to make their move?

Lin Yuejiao felt a chill, but she wore a smile. "Are you afraid of sitting here all alone, Third Sister?"

"Yes... there’s no one here. What if you get lost?" Lin Qingsheng nodded quickly, desperate to keep her restrained.

Lin Yuejiao allowed herself to be pulled closer and said with a smile, "Third Sister is right. I won't go anywhere then."

Lin Qingsheng breathed a sigh of relief, unaware that Lin Yuejiao had intentionally drawn close, her hand already moving silently toward the back of Qingsheng’s neck. Though Lin Yuejiao possessed no martial arts, she knew of a pressure point at the base of the skull. One strike would render a person unconscious.

Just as she was about to act, Lin Yuejiao froze.

Descending from the sky directly behind Lin Qingsheng was a man dressed in bewitching red. His light-footed skills were exceptional; he landed like a drifting maple leaf—silent and graceful, his robes fluttering like those of an immortal.

Lin Qingsheng, with her back to him, remained entirely oblivious to his presence. Even Lin Yuejiao, had she not seen him directly, would have sensed nothing.

His hair was a cascade of silver, white as snow. He possessed a flawless, handsome face with sword-like brows and deep, ink-black eyes that were as cold as a mountain spring.

Rong Yu.

Seeing him descend, Lin Yuejiao was momentarily stunned. His entrance was truly dreamlike. That wicked, handsome face was enough to capture hearts and unsettle the world.

"Bang!" Rong Yu flicked his hand, and a burst of internal energy struck the back of Lin Qingsheng’s neck—the very spot Lin Yuejiao had targeted. His control was perfect; Lin Qingsheng slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Lin Yuejiao looked at him in surprise. "Why is the Heir here?"

"Didn't you have your sister call for help? Why is it strange to see me?" Rong Yu walked over to her, a hint of a smile tugging at his thin lips. He hadn't expected this little woman to seek his aid. It didn't fit her style.

"I didn't..." Lin Yuejiao paused, then realized that Lin Zijin, also a sharp-witted girl, must have sensed the danger when Lin Yuejiao told her to leave. After getting out of the carriage, she must have immediately sought out Li Moqian and Rong Yu. Lin Yuejiao herself had never intended to ask for help. In this life, she had been reborn with the resolve to never pin her hopes on others, relying only on herself.

"Thank you, Heir," Lin Yuejiao said, curtsying in gratitude once she understood.

Rong Yu’s gaze sharpened. From her reaction, he realized she hadn't asked for help; it was Lin Zijin who had worried for her. Could this woman not be like other girls, who sought men's help when in trouble?

"Heir?" Lin Yuejiao arched an eyebrow. Had she offended him again? He had looked pleasant enough when he appeared, but now he was an iceberg once more. The rumors of his volatile temper were true indeed.

Rong Yu glanced at her, his ears twitching as he caught a sound in the distance. He grabbed Lin Yuejiao’s waist, tapped his toes, and vaulted into the air.

Caught off guard, Lin Yuejiao reacted quickly. Any other noble lady would have screamed, but she was startled into clutching his waist tightly. She had no martial arts; if she fell, she would be dead or crippled. Setting aside social propriety, she held onto him as he moved with incredible speed, whisking them into the depths of the bamboo grove.

Rong Yu glanced down at the woman in his arms. The wind had tousled her hair, and she pressed her red lips together, clearly tense and unaccustomed to such aerial movement.

They landed quietly in the bamboo grove, and Lin Yuejiao let go, asking in surprise, "Why did we suddenly hide?"

"Look," Rong Yu gestured ahead.

Lin Yuejiao’s eyes flickered as she saw a man in black appear near the carriage. The man, wearing a mask, looked around. Finding the unconscious woman and no one else, he approached Lin Qingsheng, opened a water skin, and poured the liquid into her mouth. He then hoisted her into the carriage and departed.

Lin Yuejiao was stunned. "This is..."

"These are the people targeting you. I took a shortcut and arrived before you, discovering someone hiding in the grove. He is one of Chi Zixian’s men, waiting here to drug you," Rong Yu explained. He had initially intended to kill the man, but realized the assassin likely hadn't seen Lin Yuejiao, so he decided to use him instead.

Seeing the carriage vanish into the distance, Rong Yu’s lips curled into a half-smile. "I heard that today, Si Chengyu and a group of scholars and ladies are having a spring outing in the Peach Blossom Grove."

Lin Yuejiao was dumbfounded. They would definitely run into them; the grove was small, and it would be impossible to avoid each other.

"Lin Qingliu is playing a dangerous game. I doubt even Chi Zixian knows her backup plan; otherwise, he wouldn't want his scandalous behavior seen by so many," Lin Yuejiao laughed gleefully. "I’ve already thought of my cover story. When the carriage stopped, a man in black appeared, knocked Third Sister unconscious, and I ran away, getting lost in the forest. When I returned, she and the carriage were gone. I shall pretend to have been lost and not in a hurry to return. As for you, Heir, thank you for your help; I won't delay you further. Please, feel free to leave."

This matter had nothing to do with her. If she returned immediately, she would have to organize a search for Lin Qingsheng, deal with the fallout to save the family’s face, and run herself ragged. She had no interest in witnessing that sordid scene firsthand.

"It is unsafe for a weak woman to be alone. If you are 'lost,' it is better to have company," Rong Yu said expressionlessly.

Lin Yuejiao paused. Was he planning to accompany her?

*

"Why don't you say that the one who drugged her was Chi Zixian? Since he is the biggest winner in this, wouldn't it be only natural for him to be the one to drug her?" A cold voice drifted from behind the crowd.

The crowd turned to see two figures appearing like immortals amidst the falling blossoms.

The woman speaking wore a white dress, untainted by dust. She possessed an ethereal grace, a peerless face, and eyes as clear as water. It was Lin Yuejiao, the celebrated Fourth Lady of the Lin family.

Standing beside her was the bewitching man in red with hair like snow, his handsome face devoid of emotion. Unlike Lin Yuejiao’s cold exterior masking a warm heart, he seemed encased in a shell of ice, unapproachable and unfathomable.

"Lin Yuejiao..." Chi Zhuyi looked at her in surprise, then her eyes fell on Rong Yu, turning immediately to envy.

Lin Zijin walked over happily. "Fourth Sister, you’ve finally returned. I was so worried about you."

"Thank you for your concern; I am fine." Lin Yuejiao offered a small smile, her gaze sweeping over the crowd until it landed on Lin Qingsheng and Chi Zixian. A cold, icy light flashed in her eyes—one that only the involved parties could decipher.

Li Moqian laughed. "I knew that with the Heir present, Fourth Lady would be perfectly fine."

"Fourth Sister, Third Sister, she..." Lin Zijin’s face showed her distress.

Lin Yuejiao nodded to her. "I know everything. On the way here, I heard people whispering about it, so the Heir and I hurried over."

Turning to look at Lin Qingsheng, she continued, "Third Sister, we were resting in the bamboo grove when a man in black suddenly emerged and knocked you unconscious. I was terrified and ran away. The man chased me for a while, but luckily, I ran into the Heir, who scared him off. We got lost, and when we finally returned to the grove, you and the carriage were gone. I was so worried you had come to harm..."

In a few short sentences, Lin Yuejiao laid out the entire story. Lin Qingsheng’s eyes were full of hatred. How could this be? Lin Yuejiao was lying—how could a man in black have knocked her out?