The drafty hallway wind at night was chilling, making one’s legs shiver.
Xin Yi hurried out of bed, threw on some clothes haphazardly, and slipped outside. Under the starry sky with a sparse moon, she hunched over sneakily behind the flower bed in front of the marquis manor gates, clutching a fake mountain rock while quietly bargaining with the system.
“It’s not that I’m complaining, but 400 points is too much. You systems can’t be this black-hearted.”
She just wanted the system to bend the rules a little, letting her slip out the manor gates while the household guards weren’t paying attention.
Besides, she was going to do the mission anyway—this was a reasonable request. Why deduct her po… no, why deduct her wages!!
“Clear prices, fair to young and old. Host, think it over again.”
The system was fearless, its tone smug and annoying. “Too bad Shen Ru Jie can’t wait any longer. He left two quarters of an hour ago. You know that playboy from the prefectural governor’s manor carousing in the flower house is just a good-for-nothing without even two attendants by his side. Taking him out won’t take much time.”
It clucked its tongue twice, issuing a naked threat: “Hesitate any longer, and Shen Ru Jie might run right into Zheng Wu. In the original plot, this was when he fell head over heels for her at first sight~”
Seeing her go silent, it fanned the flames with another line. “First sight, love at first sight—the kind where if he can’t have her, he’ll go crazy, turn dark, and seize her by force~”
Xin Yi: “…”
She really wanted to put a lock on its yapping mouth.
It was just a system—why did it have to be so detestable? : )
They said to strike a snake at its vital spot.
The system’s words hit Xin Yi right there, so she had no choice but to grit her teeth and pay the points.
Soon enough, a crack quietly opened in the marquis manor’s gates.
A slender shadow flashed through, darting into the murky night with quick little steps.
Only after turning the corner at the alley ahead, her feet hitting the rough stone road, did Xin Yi finally exhale in relief.
Thank heavens—she’d made it out smoothly.
Unfortunately, there was no carriage, and even if there had been, she wouldn’t know how to drive it.
Her only means of transport was the original host’s pair of soft, weak legs. Luckily, the marquis manor was in the bustling heart of the Capital City; she didn’t have far to go.
Past midnight, the streets of bluestone slabs were devoid of any souls—not even the vendors hawking late-night snacks had stuck around; they’d all gone home to sleep on their warm kang beds.
Xin Yi clutched her cloak tight and hurried along, growing more flustered and prone to mistakes. She nearly twisted her ankle on a roadside pebble. After trudging through four or five streets, she finally stopped.
She let out a frosty breath, lifted her dark almond eyes, and scanned her surroundings.
This should be the route Shen Ru Jie had to take while fleeing his pursuers.
In the original plot, he’d stumbled into Zheng Wu’s boudoir precisely because he was running scared and desperate.
But since she’d gone to such lengths to get out here, she had to claim this life-saving favor no matter what.
The best plan was to wait here and scout a hiding spot for Shen Ru Jie in advance, so he could successfully shake off the chase behind him.
With that in mind, Xin Yi’s eyes searched even more intently.
Then she realized…
It was hard.
Really hard.
Deep into the night, all the inns and eateries on the street were shuttered. It was deserted and cold—where was a suitable spot for him to hide?
She couldn’t just knock on some random household’s firewood door and say, “Hey, could you two stop sleeping for a bit? I have a friend coming over soon. He just accidentally killed the prefectural governor’s young master and is being chased for it.”
Wasn’t that insane?
Just imagining it made Xin Yi chuckle at her own dumb idea.
As she started to grow frantic, her gaze swept back and forth several times. It paused after passing a stable piled with hay, then swung back.
Huh…
This might work.
It smelled a bit of stinky horse manure, but in such a dire moment, what was there to be picky about?
Xin Yi thought this idea was brilliant—not bad for her; her round little head was quick on the uptake!
But then she seemed to think of something, her face twisting in reluctance. After some hesitation, she still asked the system, “Listen… only Shen Ru Jie is being pursued by the guards. Can he hide in there alone, and I just stand far away?”
She was dressed spotlessly clean from head to toe—even her coin pouch was exquisite and fragrant.
She really didn’t want to crawl into a stable.
The system: “…”
It fell silent too, asking her in the tone one uses for fools, “Do you think, when the ones chasing Shen Ru Jie realize he’s gone and suddenly see you there, they’ll believe you just got hungry at night and came out for a stroll to aid digestion?”
Xin Yi’s expression deflated. “Do I have to hide in this stable today?”
The system: “Seems like it.”
In the distance, a partridge called lowly.
Thick clouds gradually obscured the moon, dimming even the sparse stars.
Xin Yi started to feel unsteady on her feet and rubbed her slightly aching calves.
Frowning inwardly, she wondered, “We’ve waited so long—why hasn’t Shen Ru Jie shown up? Did he change routes?”
“No, Host. This is the only way. Be patient a bit longer.”
Not long after those words, heavy, staggering footsteps finally echoed from ahead.
Xin Yi excitedly looked up at once.
She saw a drunken lout in fine but greasy clothes shambling her way. The moment he spotted her, his pea-sized eyes flashed with lecherous glee. “B-Beauty…?”
Her smile froze on her face.
Xin Yi: “…”
Glitching now, huh? The classic drunk bully harassing a virtuous woman—dramatic as hell, but who was coming to play hero in the dead of night? Couldn’t they consider realism before stirring up trouble next time?
The drunk kept closing in, his mouth spewing filth about beauties this and beauties that.
Xin Yi’s face grew even uglier.
Worried Shen Ru Jie might appear any second, she couldn’t leave this nuisance here. She had to deal with him now.
Pretending to be scared, she backed away while luring him in another direction.
She groped around for a handy weapon and finally locked eyes on a half-length wooden stick by the stable.
She hid it behind her back.
Keeping a careful distance from the drunk, she said weakly, “Young Master, could you escort me home? I’m scared alone.”
His muddled brain nodded eagerly.
He was thrilled, eager to pull her into his arms and coax the little beauty with sweet talk.
Xin Yi stayed calm, leading him to the corner of another alley.
When he wasn’t looking, she hid in the shadows, raised the stick high, and brought it down hard with all her strength, barely knocking him out.
She let out a breath.
Without a second thought, she dashed back to her spot, terrified of missing Shen Ru Jie by even a second.
Luckily, she’d just caught her breath.
When she spotted a tall, slender teenage figure in the distance—it was… Shen Ru Jie!
He seemed injured, clutching his chest as he stumbled along, his aura even more gloomy and icy cold.
Xin Yi hurried forward a few steps to meet him. “Shen Ru Jie, y-you’re hurt so badly… Come with me first. I’ll hide you.”
The youth instinctively sensed danger from the sudden approach.
Without thinking, he moved to strike—his sword already at her neck—but froze when he heard that familiar timid voice.
This was…?
By the dim moonlight, he finally made out the woman’s face: delicate features, smoky brows and eyes, like a fairy from a storybook.
Dazed and surprised, he called out, “…Sister-in-law?”
The sharp chill at her neck terrified Xin Yi; her eyes reddened instantly, tears welling as she whispered, “I-it’s me.”
Shen Ru Jie sheathed his sword, his brows furrowing at once. But before he could voice his question, Wu Xin Yi stepped forward and took his hand.
Her hand was soft as boneless, carrying a seductive warmth that made him freeze on the spot.
She leaned close, her orchid-scented breath in his ear as she asked tensely, “Second Young Master, are people chasing you? I’ll hide you first.”
Logically, her presence here was odd, but Shen Ru Jie inexplicably trusted her. He suppressed all suspicion and coldness, lips pressed tight as he let her hurriedly lead him along.
Then, they arrived at… a stable.
The pristine young lady seemed to wrinkle her nose in distaste, then steeled herself with a determined look and pushed aside the hay stacked in front.
She crouched low and beckoned him softly. “Hurry, come in!”
“…”
They crawled in one after another. The stable roof was low, the space cramped, and they had to cover themselves with thick hay.
They had to huddle close—not quite touching, but the gap wasn’t large.
Considering the lady’s reputation and chastity, Shen Ru Jie strained to shift backward, finally creating a bit of distance.
His eyesight was excellent; even in the dark, he could make out Wu Xin Yi’s dainty nose, the graceful line of her profile, her rosy lips. She blinked her long lashes and turned, her dark eyes holding a quiet sheen.
Seeming to notice his discomfort and embarrassment, she suddenly curved her lips in a gentle, dimpled smile. “You…”
“Why are you hiding so far away, Second Young Master?” she mouthed.
Shen Ru Jie’s gaze flickered; he turned away, pretending ignorance.
Just then, footsteps of varying paces sounded outside. The two in the stable held their breath, afraid to make the slightest noise.
Luckily, the pursuers found nothing amiss and didn’t linger. Soon, the footsteps faded into the distance.
But out of caution, they still didn’t dare move.
What if they doubled back? They needed to wait at least half an hour.
The stable conditions were truly awful.
Xin Yi was getting dizzy from the accumulated stench of manure and urine. She pulled a square handkerchief from her sleeve and pressed it over her nose and mouth to endure it. But it only worked for the first few seconds before the pungent smell assaulted her again.
The mix of horse urine and hay was foul and suffocating.
After a while, unable to bear it, Xin Yi finally asked the system, “Can you purify the air a bit?”
Who knew if there were germs in such a filthy place? The original host’s body was weak already—don’t let her croak here.
The system replied, “Yes, but it costs money. Charged by square meter.”
Xin Yi didn’t even bother cursing it for being stingy or haggling—she agreed outright and urged it to hurry.
To save points, though, she only bought purification for the air around her within about half a meter.
With the cheat activated, the world instantly felt much better.
Xin Yi removed the handkerchief from her nose and took a deep breath: Damn, she could finally breathe normally.
Meanwhile, Shen Ru Jie’s condition wasn’t great either.
Already badly wounded, the airtight space made his mind grow foggy; cold sweat beaded on his handsome, paling face.
Xin Yi’s heart jolted; she quickly scooted over to support him and asked softly, “Second Young Master, are you alright?”
For some reason, Shen Ru Jie felt something strange.
The originally filthy, stinking stable turned into an orchid scent laced with medicine the moment Wu Xin Yi drew near.
It was as if… in this little world, she alone was the purest, most pristine existence.
He blanked out for a second, and the arms braced on either side sank.
His suddenly leaning body knocked askew the jade hairpin by her temple.
“Shen Ru Jie!”
Xin Yi nearly lost it—especially when she felt the sticky, sweet-smelling red liquid on her hand.
Heavens, how was he bleeding so much?
She’d never seen so much blood in her life.
Xin Yi’s scalp went numb; in utter panic, she asked, “If he dies, whose fault is it?”
The system coolly replied: “Yours, Host.”
In the silence, Shen Ru Jie’s mind grew even foggier.
To the extent that when Xin Yi trembled and drew back her hand to wipe the blood from her fingers, he gripped it tightly out of pure survival instinct. His phoenix eyes drooped slightly, pleading like a puppy. “Sister-in-law…”
“Don’t go.”
“Don’t abandon me.”