With an inexplicable sense of resolve, Ninth—who usually appeared lazy and utterly lacking in motivation—actually agreed to help with the search.
Upon hearing this, Song Tingxue smiled and instructed the servants to lead Ninth and Chu'he to the guest rooms to rest. He assured them that the Zhao household would spare no effort in assisting them with whatever they needed.
"Rongyue, I know you're anxious about Shuxing's disappearance, but if you don't take care of yourself, what will happen when she returns? What will I do?"
Zhao Rongyue replied softly, "I’ve been listening to the physician and taking my medicine properly. I only came to the accounts office this time because it was unavoidable. Tingxue, I’m really fine."
Ever since Master Zhao passed away, the vast Zhao household had been managed by Rongyue alone. Taking advantage of her youth, those beneath her had gradually begun to harbor ulterior motives.
Rongyue had no choice but to personally step in and reprimand them, making it clear that even if she was merely a woman in their eyes, she was not someone they could easily manipulate.
Song Tingxue pulled Zhao Rongyue into his arms. Holding her close, he could feel how much thinner she had become compared to before.
Rongyue’s heart was always burdened with countless concerns—her sister, the family, and only at the very end, herself.
A heavy weight pressed upon her shoulders, and it was only in her husband’s embrace that she allowed herself to lay down all her burdens, relax, and close her eyes, savoring a moment of peace.
Song Tingxue lowered his gaze, watching the crown of his wife’s head, swallowing back the words that rose in his heart.
—When will you finally let go of everything and simply be the carefree Rongyue who lives for her own happiness?
The Zhao household had prepared two adjacent guest rooms.
Chu'he pointed to the room on the left and said, "This one is yours."
With that, she pushed open the door to the right and stepped inside. But as she turned to close the door, the young man had already followed her into the room as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Chu'he: "...Ninth, this is my room."
Ninth nodded. "Mm, I know."
He walked straight to the bed and sat down, idly playing with his braids, his expression innocent and harmless, utterly oblivious to any impropriety.
Fine.
Chu'he retreated and chose the other room instead. Just as she was about to close the door, Ninth repeated his trick and slipped inside again.
She watched helplessly as he sat down on the bed once more, fingers twirling around one of his braids, his ruby-like eyes gleaming brightly.
He looked like an exquisite doll displayed in a shop window, tempting a discerning buyer to make the one and only right choice.
Chu'he fell silent for a moment. "What exactly do you want?"
"Without me, you can’t sleep at night."
So, naturally, out of kindness and consideration, he had to share a room with her.
Chu'he’s expression twisted through a myriad of emotions.
She planted her hands on her hips and declared sternly, "Ninth, stop fooling around."
Ninth lifted his eyelids slightly, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
Chu'he began spinning another tale. "Listen, we’re only engaged, not yet married. We’re not officially husband and wife. If others find out we’re sharing a room, there’ll be gossip. In the Central Plains, unmarried men and women aren’t supposed to sleep in the same room!"
"You said you eloped with me and didn’t fear gossip."
Chu'he choked, vaguely recalling that she had indeed said something like that. Without missing a beat, she replied, "I’m only thinking of you! If rumors spread about me, I wouldn’t care, but if anyone speaks ill of you, that’s a different matter!"
Ninth paused in twisting the end of his braid. "How so?"
"I’d feel miserable, heartbroken, unable to breathe!"
Ninth looked bewildered.
Chu'he continued without hesitation, "You’re the one I hold dearest in my heart! If you’re hurt, I’ll feel the pain. If anyone badmouths you, I’ll suffer so much I won’t be able to breathe!"
Ninth’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. "I’m the one you hold dearest?"
Chu'he nodded solemnly, as if swearing an oath.
Ninth’s eyes shifted thoughtfully. "Alright."
Suddenly, as if he had matured in an instant, he stopped wasting time arguing with Chu'he. He obediently got up and walked out of the room, even considerately closing the door behind him.
The abruptness of his change left Chu'he momentarily stunned.
To investigate the disappearance of the Zhao family’s second young lady, Shuxing, Song Tingxue gathered all the servants who had worked in her courtyard for questioning.
Yet, every single one of them gave the same account—there had been nothing unusual about Zhao Shuxing before she vanished.
"The Second Young Lady was lively and mischievous. Though she could be a handful at times, she was kind-hearted and never mistreated the servants."
"Last year, when my mother fell ill and I was desperate for money, the Second Young Lady immediately gave me silver to help. She was a good person."
"The Second Young Lady loved excitement and often went out to play."
"I remember the night she disappeared, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Before bed, she even instructed Guard Gao to prepare a carriage for the poetry gathering the next day."
One by one, the maids and servants stepped forward, their testimonies identical to what they had told Song Tingxue after Shuxing’s disappearance.
Chu'he glanced around and asked, "Where is Guard Gao?"
The steward answered, "After the Second Young Lady disappeared, Guard Gao blamed himself for failing to protect her. He left the Zhao household to search for her."
Chu'he remarked, "He’s quite loyal."
Ninth covered a yawn, his eyes drooping with exhaustion, utterly devoid of energy.
Since the questioning yielded no new leads and night had fallen, they decided to rest and resume the investigation the next day.
Chu'he returned to her room, but fearing that Ninth might barge in again at night, she made sure to lock the doors and windows tightly before lying down.
As the night wind howled, Chu'he had a nightmare.
She dreamed she was back in the moment she had been thrown into the underground cavern. But this time, in the dream, her lie about being engaged failed to deceive the young man who had emerged victorious from the bloodshed. In the end, she was tossed into a vat of venomous insects and refined into a Gu Mother.
Chu'he woke with a start, drenched in cold sweat.
Gasping for breath, she caught a glimpse of a shadow outside her window—tall, disheveled, like a vengeful ghost escaped from the underworld.
Terrified, she clutched the blankets and curled into a corner of the bed, not daring to move.
The next moment, the ghostly figure vanished.
Perhaps it had been her imagination. Just as she began to relax, the shadow reappeared—closer this time, as if it might burst through the window at any moment.
Screaming, Chu'he leaped out of bed barefoot and ran to the next room, pounding on the door.
"Ninth! Ninth! There’s a ghost!"
"Ninth!"
"Open the door!"
Shivering in the cold wind, she finally heard the door creak open.
Ninth seemed to have just woken up, his eyes bleary, his expression dazed.
Chu'he tried to slip past him, but a hand grabbed the back of her collar, lifting her up until she was left tiptoeing like a helpless little chick.
She raised her scrunched-up face and heard the young man’s faint voice.
"In the Central Plains, a man and a woman alone in the same room will invite gossip."
Chu'he: "I’m not afraid of gossip!"
"No." Ninth’s voice drifted lazily on the night breeze. "I’m the one you hold dearest in your heart. If people gossip about me, the pain will be mine, but the suffering will be yours."
The strikingly beautiful young man lowered his head slightly, deep in thought, like spring rain hesitating to fall—would ripples even form in the pond? It was enough to drive anyone mad with impatience!
Finally, he remembered.
"You’d feel miserable, heartbroken, unable to breathe."
Ninth tilted his head, blinking slowly as he repeated her words, his lips curling into a smile and his eyes gradually crinkling with amusement.
In an instant, the listless, silver-haired boy transformed into a devilish fiend.
"I can’t let you feel miserable, heartbroken, or unable to breathe."
"Otherwise…"
"I’d feel miserable, heartbroken, unable to breathe."
Chu'he shivered, sensing he was about to toss her out. Before he could act, she leaped up, clinging to him like a koala, arms and legs wrapped tight.
"Ninth, you can’t throw me out!"
Though the girl seemed slight, the moment she pressed against him, the delicate curves of her figure became unmistakable, rubbing against his chest through their clothes. The jingling of her bells was incessant, grating and tickling all at once.
Ninth didn’t move for a long moment.
Chu'he cautiously opened her eyes, meeting his lowered gaze—dark red and unsettlingly still.
His body temperature had been cool before, but the moment she forced her way into his space, the heat between them flared.
"What kind of trick are you playing on me?"
Chu'he: "Huh?"
The tips of the boy’s ears burned red, his neck flushing with a fine, rosy hue. Yet his pale face remained utterly clueless.
"You’re rubbing against me so much I feel like I need to pee."
Chu'he: "…?"
Chu'he: "!!"
Chu'he swung a fist at him. "You pervert!"
