Chu Ruolan hastily pulled the quilt over the person on the bed and drew all the curtains shut. Only after ensuring no one could be seen from outside did she rush to the washbasin to clean her hands, then poured the bloodied water into a potted plant.
By the time she finished, Yuetao was already knocking at the door.
She yanked out her hairpin and tousled her locks. "Stop rushing me, I'm coming!"
When she opened the door, she was met with the displeased face of Lady Jiang the Younger. "What were you so busy with inside that it took you this long to answer?"
Chu Ruolan turned away guiltily. "What else? Those needlework instructors exhausted me! I was just lying down to rest."
Lady Jiang the Younger glanced at the drawn bed curtains but said nothing, merely motioning for Yuetao to set the bird's nest soup on the table.
"Your mother knows you worked hard today, so I had the kitchen prepare your favorite bird's nest soup. Eat it while it's hot."
Chu Ruolan barely waited for it to cool before gulping it down. "There, all done!"
She hoped to hurry her mother along, but Lady Jiang mistook her haste for hunger.
"Are you still hungry? Yuetao, have the kitchen send up more of Third Miss's favorite pastries and another bowl of bird's nest porridge!"
Chu Ruolan nearly fainted. "No need, Mother! I'm truly full! You and Sister Yuetao should go rest now!"
A mother knows her child—Lady Jiang immediately sensed something amiss. She signaled Yuetao with a glance and leisurely took a seat at the table.
"Ruolan, are you hiding something from your mother?"
Chu Ruolan's heart pounded wildly, certain she'd discovered the person in the bed.
Then came a long sigh. "Ruolan, I understand your thoughts. You dislike needlework and have no interest in household accounts, yet I force you to learn these things. You resent me for it, don’t you? That’s why you’re rushing us out."
Chu Ruolan blinked. "Yes! Exactly!"
Lady Jiang was taken aback. After such a heartfelt speech, her daughter didn’t even offer a word of understanding?
A sharp glare followed. Realizing her blunder, Chu Ruolan quickly shook her head. "No, no! I mean—Mother, I do appreciate your care..."
Somewhat mollified, Lady Jiang spoke earnestly. "Ruolan, you must understand—everything I do is for your sake. Next month, you’ll meet the son of Chief Advisor Han for a marriage prospect. Their scholarly family values propriety above all. If you can’t even master basic needlework, how will they regard you?"
Chu Ruolan rolled her eyes. "That bookworm from the Han family? The one who’s memorized himself stupid with all those classical texts? I refuse to marry him!"
"Nonsense!" Lady Jiang’s face hardened. "The Han family may not rank as high as ours, but Chief Advisor Han once tutored three imperial princes and maintains ties with Lady Pei, the Empress’s family. Eldest Master Han’s future career is assured! Moreover, their status is beneath ours—they’ll tolerate much from you. With a generous dowry from me, you’ll stand firm in your marital home!"
Chu Ruolan’s head throbbed. "If it’s such a splendid match, let Second Sister marry him! She loves books—she’d get along perfectly with that Han dullard!"
Lady Jiang’s expression turned stormy. "How dare you!"
Her sharp reprimand startled even Chu Ruolan, who stared at her in stunned silence. It took Lady Jiang the Younger a moment to realize she had lost her composure, and she quickly schooled her expression. "What Mother means is... your second sister’s future is her own to forge. I can’t concern myself with that. Right now, my priority is ensuring you’re safely married off..."
The words struck Chu Ruolan as odd. Why could her mother make arrangements for her but not for her second sister?
But such complexities were beyond Chu Ruolan’s grasp, so she merely gave a sullen nod and fell silent.
Seeing this, Lady Jiang the Younger knew she had frightened her and refrained from further scolding. Rising to her feet, she said, "You should rest now. I won’t disturb you any longer..."
Chu Ruolan nearly cheered, escorting her to the door. Just as her mother was about to step out, she suddenly turned back.
"Oh, Ruolan, why is there such a strange smell in your room?"
Chu Ruolan’s heart leapt into her throat—damn it, that man reeked of blood!
Her usually sluggish mind raced. "Oh, it’s probably just sweat from today’s exhaustion mixing with the incense. I’ll open the window to air it out later."
Lady Jiang the Younger nodded, accepting the explanation. Noticing her daughter still lingering, she raised a brow. "Aren’t you tired? Hurry up and get into bed!"
Chu Ruolan’s eyelid twitched. Mechanically, she turned and trudged toward the bed.
Her mother’s gaze bore into her back, making it clear she wouldn’t leave until she saw her under the covers.
Gritting her teeth, Chu Ruolan pulled back the bed curtains and climbed in.
The metallic tang of blood hit her like a wave, nearly making her gag.
She forced herself to lift the blankets and lie down—
Thud.
The sound of the door closing echoed from outside.
Just as she sighed in relief, a soft, mocking laugh whispered in her ear: "So you’re marrying Han Zhiyuan?"
Chu Ruolan’s eyes widened as she whipped her head around.
The man had woken up at some point, his silver-masked eyes brimming with derision.
"What’s that supposed to mean? You think I’m not good enough for him?"
He arched a brow, sweeping a slow, deliberate look from her head to her toes. "Frankly? No."
Whack!
Her palm struck his mask instead of his face, sending a jolt of pain through her wrist. She yelped.
The man hadn’t expected her to strike so suddenly. With a cold snort, he said, "What a shrew! Han Zhiyuan wouldn’t spare you a glance, and even in our military camp—mmph!"
To his utter shock, the "shrew" yanked a pillow and smothered his face with it.
"Spit out more nonsense, I dare you! Go on, say it now!"
Fury flashed in his eyes as he struggled, but both his arms were badly wounded.
If he used his legs to fight back, he’d risk hurting her...
That split-second hesitation cost him. Before he could react, Chu Ruolan produced a thick rope and lashed it around his calves.
"What are you—mmph!"
A wadded-up pillowcase stuffed into his mouth cut him off.
Eyes bulging, he grunted uselessly as she flipped him onto his stomach and bound his wrists together.
When she was done, Chu Ruolan admired her handiwork—the man trussed up like a dumpling—and dusted off her hands with satisfaction. "Hmph! I’ll tolerate anything but insults. I saved your life, and this is how you repay me? Enjoy your stay!"
With that, she hopped off the bed and dashed out.
Outside, Chun He had been waiting anxiously, not daring to enter without her mistress’s orders. The moment she saw Chu Ruolan emerge, she rushed forward. "Miss, what in heaven’s name was that noise inside...?"
Chu Ruolan shot a glare at the man inside the room. "It's nothing. You keep the door guarded. I'm going to see Eldest Sister. No one is allowed in until I return!"
Chun He nervously acknowledged the order with a trembling voice.
In the Bodhi Courtyard, Chu Ruoyan was absorbed in her book.
Yulu entered to announce the arrival of the Third Young Miss, but before she could even set the book down, her younger sister burst in like a whirlwind. "Eldest Sister, that fish has walked right into the net!"
