A flicker of surprise flashed in Qi Jinshan’s eyes.
Noticing his sudden change in expression, Xie Mingyue quickly explained, "Ever since I fell ill, my memory has become increasingly poor. I’ve forgotten so many things. Wutong says I've been forgetting even more lately, and I worry I really ought to find an opportunity to see a doctor."
Thinking of her long-standing, deep-seated illness, emotions surged and ebbed in Qi Jinshan’s gaze. Ultimately, he restrained himself, merely gripping her hand as he said slowly, "You’ve forgotten even what happened ten years ago?"
"Mm... it has been such a long time, and I only recall bits and pieces."
Xie Mingyue answered with trepidation, unsure if she had successfully fooled him.
"That is just as well."
Qi Jinshan lowered his head and shielded his eyes, his gaze turning distant. It was no wonder she had seemed like a different person recently; if she had truly forgotten those events, she would no longer have to suffer the daily torment of them. He gripped her hand firmly, as if afraid she might run away.
"Since you have forgotten, do not ask again."
Xie Mingyue felt a surge of anxiety. What did he mean by "do not ask again"? What she was desperate to know now was why the Xie Family had hastily cast her out and why she had married him in the first place! She wanted to know who had treated her poorly and whether those matters had any connection to Xie Wanqing or Qi Xiuyu. If she could not distinguish friend from foe, how could she ever hope to survive in the Marquis Estate?
Seeing that Qi Jinshan was unwilling to speak, she masked her inner agitation and said softly, "Very well. Are you heading back to the estate? I would like to wander the streets for a while; please let me off halfway."
Xie Mingyue intended to turn back and ask that woman more questions. Qi Jinshan seemed to see right through her intentions, yet he did not point it out.
"Is the Madam so anxious to leave because she fears I will tease her for the jealousy she displayed today?"
The look in his eyes was like the first snow melting into spring. Xie Mingyue was furious and stubbornly retorted, "Jealousy? There is no such thing. Since I am in charge of the household accounts, I must naturally clarify such a large expenditure."
"Indeed, everything the Madam does is for the sake of managing the household."
Qi Jinshan did not expose her, merely smiling faintly. He stood up to leave the carriage to her, opting to walk with his attendant instead. "The Censorate is not far from here; I shall go review some case files. Madam, please take care on the road, and remember to return to the estate early tonight."
Watching his steady, receding back, an odd sensation stirred within Xie Mingyue. The more time she spent with Qi Jinshan, the more her internal resistance and fear of him began to melt away. The present-day Qi Jinshan carried himself with the grace of a refined gentleman, and toward her, he was restrained and subtle. If she did not deliberately dwell on it, she would often forget his original, sinister demeanor.
Did he... seem to be a good man now?
Xie Mingyue closed her eyes to suppress her inexplicable emotions, then turned to order the carriage to head back toward Guinan Ward.
Upon reaching Guinan Ward, just as she was about to step out to meet Bai Xin and ask what had happened when she was rescued, a carriage suddenly sped past. The wind lifted its curtain, revealing a heavily made-up, stunningly beautiful face.
Xie Mingyue froze for a moment, then instantly gripped Wutong’s arm. "Wutong, does the woman sitting in that carriage look a bit like Mujin?"
Wutong saw her as well and nodded excitedly, "It is! Madam, Mujin has a small mole beside her nose—it is definitely her!"
Xie Mingyue made an immediate decision. "Coachman, follow that carriage ahead!"
As the carriage set off, Wutong’s eyes filled with tears, unable to contain herself. "Back then, Sister Mujin was the first to lead us in serving you. She was also the first one Old Madam Xie sold off. If we could only find out her whereabouts now, that would be truly..."
She choked up, unable to finish her sentence. Xie Mingyue’s heart also tightened. Before she had woken up, the four of them had been by her side in the fullness of youth, but ten years later, her people had been scattered, leaving only Wutong by her side.
The carriage followed them until it stopped in front of the most prosperous jewelry store in the Capital. Xie Mingyue quickly hurried over to Mujin’s carriage. The coachman, wearing a fine cotton vest, looked like a servant from a wealthy household.
"This Madam, this is the carriage of the Prince Rui's Mansion. Please do not cause any trouble."
Only after he finished speaking did he notice the carriage of the Shunqing Marquis Estate behind her. *Could such a young lady be the virtuous and dignified Second Madam of the Qi Family?*
The coachman’s gaze wavered, and Wutong immediately declared, "This is the First Madam of our Shunqing Marquis Estate."
*The wife of the 'Qi King of Hell'?* The coachman instantly gave a start. Qi Jinshan’s reputation was deafening; he did not even show deference to royalty. Wasn't it said that his wife was deathly ill and never left the house? How was it that she showed no signs of frailty today?
He hurriedly bowed flatteringly. "This lowly one greets the First Madam of the Qi Family."
Xie Mingyue smiled slightly. "Which young lady from the Prince Rui's Mansion is inside? She looks somewhat familiar to me—like an old friend of mine."
Hearing this, the coachman’s expression relaxed. "Oh, that is the Fifth Concubine of our Prince. She came from a flower house; you must have mistaken her for someone else, Madam."
*A flower house?* Xie Mingyue’s heart trembled. Seeing the coachman’s dismissive attitude, she suppressed her internal displeasure and said calmly, "It would be better to let the Fifth Concubine see me, to avoid missing a friend of many years."
The coachman was reluctant, but Xie Mingyue’s voice carried into the carriage. When the woman inside heard it, she pulled back the curtain with agitation. As she turned her face, her eyes met a pair of tear-filled ones.
"Mujin!"
Xie Mingyue widened her eyes slightly. Wutong quickly urged the coachman, "The Fifth Concubine is our Madam’s old friend. Open the carriage door, quickly!"
The coachman looked at Xie Mingyue with shock and suspicion, muttering as he opened the door, "Our Fifth Concubine is from such a place—how could she be an old friend of the Qi family’s First Madam?"
Mujin climbed down from the carriage and gripped Xie Mingyue’s hand tightly, weeping silently.
"Mujin, it really is you. This is wonderful."
As Xie Mingyue and Mujin huddled together, she suddenly felt something was wrong. "You..." Both she and Wutong watched closely. Mujin was clearly agitated, sobbing and wailing, yet she never spoke a word.
Wutong felt as if she had been struck by lightning. "Madam, Sister Mujin... she seems to have been struck dumb."
Xie Mingyue stared blankly as Mujin pointed to her own throat with a bitter smile, tears streaming down her face. Her Mujin—the eloquent, silver-tongued Mujin of the past—had become a mute.
Seeing her cry, Mujin hurriedly gestured with her hands, *Madam, do not weep. This servant is doing quite well now and has not suffered.*
Xie Mingyue’s heart ached. Looking at Mujin—wrapped in fine silks and satins—she was indeed living well, but was the life of a concubine in a Prince's mansion ever easy?
Suppressing her sorrow, she spoke sternly, "Mujin, what truly happened to the Xie Family ten years ago? How were you sold off, and how did you end up like this?"
Mujin froze for a moment. Wutong quickly added, "Ever since the Madam fell ill, she has forgotten many things. I do not know about what happened back then either. Sister Mujin, everything now depends on you telling us."
Faced with their gazes, Mujin stamped her foot and ran back to the carriage to retrieve a box of wet pigments. Xie Mingyue then remembered that Mujin knew how to write simple characters; it was difficult to communicate via gestures, so she could only write.
However, they carried no paper or brush, and the coachman was still urging, "Fifth Concubine, do not forget you are to retrieve the headwear for the Princess Consort. If you are late, this lowly one cannot promise to speak for you!"
"What is the hurry? I am merely catching up with your concubine; it will not take long. If your Princess Consort blames anyone, just cite me. I shall pay a personal visit to offer my apologies another day."
Xie Mingyue glanced at him coldly, signaling Wutong to toss a piece of silver to the coachman and send him off to the side to drink tea.
Mujin looked at her with gratitude and reached out to roll up her sleeve to use the brush. Xie Mingyue hurriedly extended her own hand: "Write on my wrist. You have to see your mistress later, and it would be difficult to clean up."
Mujin hesitated for a moment, then slowly wrote several characters upon her fair, pale wrist.