Beneath the lantern’s halo, he saw the pair of eyes suddenly open—clear and cool, like black obsidian steeped in icy water. They were bright and sharp, carrying a trace of irritation at being disturbed and an utter lack of fear or meekness one would expect from an ordinary young woman. Instead, they held a wild, untamable vitality.
Those eyes… were nothing like what he had imagined.
They were neither as deliberately coquettish as Shao Yutong’s, nor as sorrowfully gentle as the woman in his memories. They possessed a more vivid, more spirited quality, with even a hint of slyness that was uniquely her own.
Watching her puff up in annoyance at being found out while stubbornly maintaining her composure, Gu Wangchuan couldn’t help letting out a low laugh.
She was rather cute.
His laughter sounded especially clear in the darkness. Even he was momentarily stunned upon hearing it.
It seemed he had not laughed like that in a very, very long time…
Gu Wangchuan restrained his smile and rose to his feet. He brushed at the nonexistent dust on his robes, once again assuming the aloof, otherworldly bearing of the Valley Master. As though he had not just poked someone in the eyelid, he spoke in an even tone.
“I am Gu Wangchuan, Master of Heartless Valley. My people have failed in their duty. Because a treasured item of the valley was stolen, they have been searching everywhere for suspects and, in their haste, mistakenly apprehended you. I sincerely apologize.”
His words were flawless, making an abduction sound like a mere misunderstanding.
Cheng Yao sneered inwardly, but revealed nothing on her face. She merely brushed the dust from her clothes, rose to her feet, and looked at him quietly, waiting for him to continue.
Gu Wangchuan went on, “To make amends, you are welcome to stay in the valley for a few days. Allow me to play host and ensure you eat well, drink well, and enjoy yourself. Afterward, I will see you safely on your way. What do you think?”
Cheng Yao knew perfectly well that these were merely polite words.
“Accidentally apprehended,” “play host”—it was nothing more than another way of saying house arrest. He wanted to investigate the secrets she was hiding.
But that suited her perfectly.
She had already intended to use this opportunity to learn more about Heartless Valley, especially the locations of its rare medicinal herbs and treasures, as well as its protective formations and hidden mechanisms.
Once she had figured everything out, she would return someday and pay the valley a little visit of her own.
A troubled, worried look appeared on her face. After hesitating for a moment, she said, “I appreciate the Valley Master’s kindness. However, I am an exiled criminal and must continue traveling with the convoy. I cannot afford to delay here.”
By bringing up her status as an exile, she wanted to see how Gu Wangchuan would react.
Gu Wangchuan merely waved his hand, entirely unconcerned. His tone held the calm assurance peculiar to someone in a position of power.
“You need not worry about the matter of your exile. I will immediately notify the local authorities and the officials escorting you. They may proceed with the convoy first. Once you have rested sufficiently in the valley, I will send people to escort you safely and ensure that you catch up with them. You will not be punished on account of this.”
He spoke so lightly, as though detaining an exiled criminal were nothing more than a trivial matter.
Cheng Yao was secretly alarmed. This showed that Heartless Valley possessed an extraordinary status and considerable influence. Its power was even greater than she had imagined.
She put on an expression of inner struggle and finally nodded, as though she had no other choice.
“In that case… I suppose I shall have to trouble the Valley Master.”
Gu Wangchuan smiled meaningfully. “It is Heartless Valley’s honor that you are willing to stay.”
Cheng Yao pretended not to understand the implication in his words. She looked around at the utterly empty room, which did not even contain a mat, then complained half-jokingly, half-seriously, “However, Valley Master, your hospitality is rather unconventional. This room is emptier than a government prison. How do you expect me to sleep here?”
Seeing the faintly disdainful yet entirely justified look on her face, the amusement in Gu Wangchuan’s eyes deepened.
“You are right. That was my oversight. I shall have your quarters changed at once.”
He turned and instructed the two maidservants, “Take Miss Cheng to the Bamboo Listening Courtyard and attend to her properly.”
“Yes, Valley Master.”
Cheng Yao followed the two maidservants out of the empty Pavilion of Quiet Reflection and into a small, elegant courtyard.
Verdant bamboo screened the courtyard from view, while the fragrance of orchids drifted through it. The room was comfortably and warmly furnished, complete with a bed, tables, chairs, and a dressing table with a mirror. Even a faintly calming incense had been lit.
“Miss, allow us to attend to your bath and change your clothes,” the two maidservants said respectfully. Their manner was beyond reproach.
They called it attending to her, but in truth, they were there to watch her.
Cheng Yao did not refuse. She accepted their assistance calmly.
Soaking in a tub filled with flower petals and pleasantly warm water, she felt the heat ease the tension in her nerves.
Cheng Yao closed her eyes, appearing to enjoy the bath, while her mind raced as she recalled the events of the original novel.
In the original story, Gu Wangchuan and Shao Yutong were indeed deeply entangled.
Shao Yutong had revealed the locations of several rare medicinal herbs to the plump owner of an apothecary. The shopkeeper sent people to look for them, but they failed to find the most precious one—the seven-leaf flower. Instead, they alerted the valley to their presence and were caught red-handed by Gu Wangchuan’s subordinates.
After enduring a brutal interrogation, the shopkeeper’s assistant confessed that Shao Yutong had been behind it.
When Gu Wangchuan’s people found Shao Yutong, they discovered that her appearance closely resembled Shen Xiyue, who had disappeared. They abducted her on the spot.
Relying on her resemblance to Shen Xiyue, his white moonlight, Shao Yutong successfully became the apple of Gu Wangchuan’s eye. She then used his power and affection to stir up trouble throughout the chaotic era, helping Gu Li amass considerable wealth and recruit many talented people.
But Gu Wangchuan knew perfectly well that his possessiveness and indulgence toward Shao Yutong were founded on Shen Xiyue. She was a substitute, and so he had never been able to truly love her.
On the contrary, Shao Yutong’s gentleness and thoughtfulness gave warmth to his lonely, twisted heart, making him both comforted and addicted. Later, the two developed a relationship in which they depended on each other like brother and sister while each took what they needed from the other.
He was perfectly willing to let Shao Yutong use him.
Cheng Yao’s eyes flew open.
Even though the appearance of this “variable” had altered part of the plot, Shao Yutong had still come to Heartless Valley in the end and won Gu Wangchuan’s favor.
Fortunately, she was here now.
Cheng Yao gently stirred the water in the tub, the corners of her lips curving into a barely perceptible smile.
In that case, she would make good use of this opportunity and try something new.
However, Shao Yutong was the chosen heroine, blessed with tremendous destiny. She would not be so easily eliminated. Cheng Yao would have to proceed with caution…
Just then, Cheng Yao suddenly caught the sound of breathing outside the window—so faint that it was almost imperceptible.
Someone was outside.
With a hint of panic in her voice, she said to the two maidservants stationed beyond the screen, “Is there a stray cat outside? I think I heard something scratching at the door! I—I’m a little afraid of cats. Could you two please take a look and chase it away?”
The two maidservants exchanged a glance. One of them answered, “Yes,” then hurried to the door and yanked it open.
“Oh!”
A soft cry of surprise came from outside.
Shao Yutong had been pressed against the side of the door. When it opened without warning, she nearly stumbled straight inside.
She hurriedly steadied herself, her face revealing a trace of embarrassment and panic at being caught spying.
Through the mist rising from the bath and the gap in the screen, Cheng Yao clearly saw the little face outside.
She sneered inwardly.
As expected, it was her.
Shao Yutong steadied herself. Before the maid could ask anything, she immediately put on a shrill, hurried voice utterly unlike her usual soft and delicate manner. “I…I’m here to find the Valley Master! He isn’t here? Then I’ll look for him somewhere else!”
As soon as she finished speaking, she didn’t dare glance in the direction of the bathing tub. She fled almost in panic, her figure quickly disappearing along the bamboo-lined path outside the courtyard.
Watching her hurried retreat, Cheng Yao’s eyes flashed with understanding—and a hint of mockery.
