Huo Nanchi cast a cold, indifferent glance at Huo Dao.
Having received his master's signal yet forced to take the blame, Huo Dao rubbed his nose, stepped forward, and said, "Please forgive me, Madam. The sword slipped from my hand."
Shen Wanya stared at the sword tip right in front of her, her face draining of color in sheer terror.
Things having reached this point, who could fail to see who was really behind pushing Shen Xuejin into the lake?
Shen Wanya had originally intended to ruin Shen Xuejin's purity and reputation in front of everyone, but who could have foreseen that she would try to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used as bait? She still wanted to argue her way out of it, but meeting Madam Huo's icy gaze, she instantly fell silent.
In the end, it was Qin Ruowei who broke the silence: "It is only natural for brothers and sisters to have petty verbal disputes; even teeth sometimes bite the lips. Once misunderstandings are cleared up, all will be well."
"However, I see that the eldest Miss Shen has suffered quite a shock today. As for the conflict between her and the second Miss Shen, it might be best to wait a few days until the eldest Miss Shen returns to the Shen Residence, where the two sisters can close their doors and discuss it thoroughly."
Shen Xuejin lowered her head slightly, thinking to herself that Madam Huo hadn't even driven her away yet, but here was Qin Ruowei putting on airs and trying to chase her off.
"Ruowei makes sense. Let us disperse for today, and I am feeling tired as well."
As soon as she said this, the young ladies of the noble families hurriedly took their leave, lest they fail to win the favor of the Marquis Manor and instead find themselves soiled with trouble.
Once everyone had dispersed, Madam Huo stood up and walked slowly over to Shen Xuejin: "Miss Shen, out of pity for your pitiful background and your filial piety, I invited you and your mother to be guests at my manor. But if the Marquis Manor knows no peace because of you, then as the mistress of the manor, I am afraid I must play the villain for once."
Clearly an innocent victim herself, Shen Xuejin nonetheless had to apologize: "It was due to Xuejin's lack of foresight that trouble was brought upon Madam Huo and the Marquis Manor. From now on, Xuejin will surely abide strictly by the rules of the Marquis Manor."
Madam Huo sighed and said helplessly: "It is true that you and Dalang are betrothed, but after such an incident today, I'm afraid..."
"Madam Huo," Shen Xuejin said. "Xuejin lacks good fortune and has no affinity with the eldest Young Master Huo. For the rest of my life, I only wish to care for my mother; I have no desire to pursue other matters any further."
From the very beginning, she had stated that she did not want to marry the eldest Young Master Huo, and now it seemed Madam Huo did not believe her. Otherwise, given Madam Huo's temperament, why would she have gone to such great lengths to stage the scene that just transpired?
Was it not precisely to let everyone in the Capital know that her reputation as Shen Xuejin was tarnished, so that calling off this marriage in the future would be completely justified?
"Your mother requires absolute peace and quiet during this period, so you need not visit her."
Shen Xuejin's heart trembled. This was Madam Huo's punishment for her.
It was not because she had nearly died in the lake; it was not because her reputation had nearly been destroyed; rather, it was because she had nearly implicated Huo Nanchi and the Marquis Manor.
Swallowing these grievances, Shen Xuejin curtsied slightly and hurried away.
Only Madam Huo and Huo Nanchi remained in the pavilion.
Mother and son simply drank tea in silence.
At last, Madam Huo let out a long sigh: "Nanchi, although you are not my biological son, you were raised at my knee after your birth mother passed away when you were six months old. In my eyes, you are no different from Dalang."
"Mother exaggerates."
Madam Huo pointed to the cloak: "Do you realize that if anyone had recognized this as your cloak, today not only would Shen Xuejin's reputation have been utterly ruined, but you would have been implicated as well."
"Mother exaggerates," Huo Nanchi said. "Reputation is a worldly possession; I care nothing for it."
"I know you care nothing for such things, but I care. I do not want you to be used by others and have your reputation harmed," Madam Huo said. "That Shen Xuejin is a person of deep scheming, and I will never consent to her marriage with your eldest brother."
"You need not look out for her or show her partiality simply because she is your eldest brother's fiancée."
"This son understands," Huo Nanchi said respectfully.
That very night, Shen Xuejin fell into another absurd dream, as if she had returned to the room where she had hidden that afternoon, with all doors and windows tightly shut.
"Is Sister Xuejin still so afraid of me?" The man's cold voice rang out in the darkness. Seeing Shen Xuejin trying to retreat further, he reached out with one arm, hauled her straight into his embrace, and pulled her close until she was practically embedded in his body.
Enveloped by the aggressively oppressive and towering physique, Shen Xuejin's body trembled instinctively.
The man let out a light laugh: "Now you know how to be afraid? Weren't you the one who dragged me into this room?"
Shen Xuejin reached out to push him away, but her efforts were completely in vain. The pine scent clinging to the man, much like his cloak, wrapped tightly around her without a single gap.
"Second Young Master Huo, let go." Shen Xuejin spoke with difficulty.
This time, complying readily, the man immediately released his grip.
The moment he let go, Shen Xuejin's legs turned to jelly and she collapsed straight to the ground, instinctively trying to reach out and clutch his robes.
Outside, Nanny Wang's voice rang out, sounding just like the people searching for her during the day, as she too tried to push the door open to find Shen Xuejin.
Shen Xuejin tightened her grip on Huo Nanchi's robes, looking up at him with pleading eyes, silently begging him not to let Nanny Wang enter.
Outside, Huo Dao intercepted Nanny Wang, while the man before her suddenly hoisted Shen Xuejin up by her collar, wrapped her petite frame in his arms, lowered his head, and kissed her fiercely.
As the footsteps outside faded away, Shen Xuejin struggled, wanting to leave, but her chin was pinched between long, slender fingers.
"Crossing the river and demolishing the bridge?"
The corners of Shen Xuejin's eyes were red-rimmed.
Watching Shen Xuejin's terror-stricken face, the man unfastened his wrist-guards with nonchalant ease: "Sister Xuejin, I told you, you cannot escape."
Shen Xuejin woke up in a daze. In the room, only a distant candle was burning, emitting an occasional crackling sound.
She stared at the canopy of the bed. That dream had felt so intensely real; she touched her lips, finding her cheeks burning hot enough to frighten her.
It must have been that shameful dream that caused her face to flush, Shen Xuejin thought to herself, but why on earth had she dreamt of this again out of the blue?
Because of this dream, Shen Xuejin remained listless, her cheeks alarmingly red and her head spinning heavily, yet sleep completely evaded her.
She reached behind herself to check her own pulse, knowing she had developed a fever, and forced her weary body out of bed to search for medicinal herbs.
The next day, when Bizhu came to tend to Shen Xuejin's washing and grooming, she discovered that her whole body was burning hot and her face was deathly pale. She called out to her twice, but received no response.
Bizhu turned around and hurried toward Ranfeng Courtyard.
"High fever and delirium?" Madam Huo was somewhat surprised. "Doesn't she understand medicine herself? How could she still fall delirious?"
Nanny Wang said, "Madam, could this be another one of her ploys? Imperial Concubine Mei is about to continue using the new medicine, yet she happens to fall ill right at this moment."
"Since she is ill, find a doctor to examine her," Madam Huo said indifferently. "A neglected legitimate daughter—no matter what tricks she plays, could she possibly turn the Marquis Manor upside down?"
Guiding the doctor, Bizhu crossed paths with Huo Nanchi halfway and curtsied in greeting.
Seeing Huo Nanchi's gaze fall upon the doctor, Bizhu added, "Reporting to the Second Young Master, Miss Shen has fallen ill, and Madam specifically sent for a doctor."
Huo Nanchi nodded and walked past the doctor.
Shen Xuejin's severe illness took a full ten days of recuperation to clear up, leaving her noticeably thin.
As soon as she felt a bit better, she went to express her gratitude to Madam Huo, only to be informed that Madam Huo was not at the manor these past few days, having gone to Hualong Temple to chant scriptures and pray for blessings.