Volume One, Chapter 18: This Lord Presents You with a Painting

As the young lord departed, an inexplicable sourness filled the air.

Su Zhizhi, sensing the awkward atmosphere, picked up the wooden mallet and prepared to leave with Qingzhu.

“Princess Consort, wait a moment.”

A faint footprint was left on the snow-covered ground.

The Jin King stepped forward. “Come with me to a certain place.”

Snowflakes danced in the sky.

White snowflakes dotted Su Zhizhi’s crimson cloak.

“To where? I may not have the time to go,” Su Zhizhi said, standing in the cold air, a mist of breath escaping her lips.

“The king commands you to go; your consent is not required.”

The Jin King gave her no chance to refuse, leaving the words behind as he hurriedly boarded the carriage.

Watching the tall figure of the Jin King as he departed, Su Zhizhi was momentarily stunned, reluctantly following him.

“Fine, I’ll go. As if I’m afraid you’ll eat me alive,” she muttered, stomping hard on the snow.

At that moment, a young servant hurried up and whispered, “Your Highness, the lord is going to the Eternal Bright Pavilion to meet the pavilion master. The pavilion master is very important to the lord. Please do not anger him when you go.”

“My master is gentle and virtuous. How could she possibly anger anyone?” Qingzhu, trailing behind, nudged the young servant with her elbow.

The young servant was unconvinced.

The lord’s life was saved by the pavilion master’s blood sacrifice.

No matter who else, the pavilion master must never be offended.

Clutching the warm stove her mistress had given her close to her chest, Qingzhu snorted proudly at the young servant.

Her young mistress was dignified and beautiful, married to the lord—truly a blessing the lord had earned in a past life.

She joyfully helped her mistress into the carriage.

From now on, the lord and the young mistress would surely be inseparable, harmonious, blissful, and joyful.

After seeing her mistress safely aboard, Qingzhu slowly walked behind the carriage and made a face at the young servant, who was a head taller than her.

If anyone dared speak ill of her mistress, she wouldn’t show them a friendly face.

Inside the carriage, a quiet and awkward atmosphere prevailed.

Su Zhizhi sat upright opposite the Jin King, casting a glance at the lord draped in a dark brocade robe.

Wei Guxiao’s eyes were deep as a black hole, his brows furrowed like ravines.

Truly not a friendly visage.

Her crimson lips parted softly, voice gentle.

“Is the lord taking me to meet someone important?”

The Jin King remained silent.

He lifted the carriage curtain and gazed thoughtfully out the window.

The capital city was the most prosperous place under heaven, a gathering point for people from all corners—trading or seeking knowledge.

If not for the pavilion master’s blood sacrifice, how could he have witnessed such splendor?

“Lord?”

The Jin King, usually intolerant of women’s chatter, muttered.

“I didn’t bid you to speak!”

Su Zhizhi had long suspected that the lord’s previous gentleness was merely because she lent him ten thousand taels of gold.

Discarded casually when no longer useful—such was the common trick of men.

Disrespect toward one’s lifesaver drew a sneer to Su Zhizhi’s lips.

“You think I’m eager to talk to you? I was only kindly reminding you that your scented pouch fell.”

Mentioning the pouch, the Jin King’s chest tightened; the golden embroidered clouds on his sleeve swayed slightly.

He looked anxious, lowering his head to feel his waist, mind in turmoil.

Su Zhizhi bent to pick up the pouch lying by the Jin King’s cotton boots.

“This one, right?”

The pouch was faded, embroidered with five-petaled pear blossoms in silver thread, emitting a faint pear fragrance.

The shape of the pear blossom was exactly like the one that appeared on her wrist when wet.

Before Su Zhizhi could react, the Jin King snatched the pouch back.

“Who gave you permission to touch my things?”

“Your…” She swallowed the words “pavilion master,” unwilling to expose her identity as the benevolent lifesaver so soon.

If the lord knew who she truly was, he would surely suspect her motives for marrying into the mansion. Would that not hinder her power and her mission to save lives?

Perhaps she would be exploited by this devilish lord rather than the other way around.

Since she had returned to her own turf, Su Zhizhi had to devise a perfect plan to conceal her identity.

Before boarding the carriage, she had already instructed the Eternal Bright Pavilion’s disciples hidden in the mansion to prepare Fang Hui.

Now, she was only waiting to lure him into the trap.

Let this icy-faced man show more respect to the pavilion master.

No wonder she had to be so ruthless.

Su Zhizhi pursed her lips, lifting the other carriage curtain to admire the passing scenery.

The carriage moved slowly, but soon the driver pulled the reins tight.

“Lord, we have arrived at the Eternal Bright Pavilion,” the young servant reported.

Upon hearing this, Su Zhizhi jumped down first, not even glancing at the Jin King.

The Jin King clutched the scented pouch tightly, afraid it might fall again.

His brows knitted, eyes cold.

This woman defied all reason, silently jumping down alone.

He shook his head disdainfully.

This woman bore not a trace of a princess consort.

Fang Hui had waited long, knowing the pavilion master wished to keep her identity hidden for the time being.

He stepped forward, pretending not to recognize Su Zhizhi.

Instead, he greeted the Jin King with a bow.

“Your Highness, your presence honors us. Forgive our poor reception.”

The Jin King waved his hand, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

“Where is your pavilion master?”

“The pavilion master was unaware of your arrival and went to the Five Poisons Mountain to gather herbs.”

The pavilion master personally gathering herbs? And going to the Five Poisons Mountain?

The Jin King’s eyes darkened. “No matter. I will wait as long as it takes for her return.”

Fang Hui bowed slightly and handed the Jin King a scroll.

“Your Highness, the pavilion master instructs that only you may enter the pavilion. Others must wait outside. This painting is entrusted to me to deliver to you; upon viewing it, you will understand her intent.”

Su Zhizhi feigned impatience beside them. “You old man, am I not even allowed inside as a princess consort?”

Fang Hui gently shook his head.

The Jin King’s gaze was as sharp as a cold wind. “What the pavilion master says is her will. Follow it as is.”

Without even glancing at Su Zhizhi, he hurried into the pavilion.

Fang Hui led the Jin King to the Qingxin Hall where the pavilion master resided. Towering emerald bamboos stretched to the sky, like a vast green sea.

The Jin King sat on the soft couch and slowly unfurled the scroll.

The painting intrigued him further: a lone birdcage left open, with a solitary bird inside.

What could this mean?

A stick of incense burned quietly away.

At that moment, Fang Hui arrived, slightly delayed, and reported, “Your Highness, the pavilion master has returned.”

Then, a figure clad in white brocade and wearing a mask entered gracefully.

Her voice was like the clear coldness of a spring.

“Jin King, what brings you here today?”

The Jin King stared at the masked figure, feeling a faint familiarity but said nothing more, his voice low.

“I have brought my family to specially thank the pavilion master for saving my life. The ten thousand taels of gold have been sent to the Eternal Bright Pavilion.”

Su Zhizhi remained composed, speaking slowly.

“This is the blessing earned by your princess consort’s habitual kindness and charity. No thanks are necessary.”

The Jin King was taken aback.

Why did Su Zhizhi’s presence seem intertwined with everything?

The pavilion master risked her life to save him—was it all for this madwoman?