Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress
Chapter 1253 - 1259: Suspicion (5)

Chapter 1253: Chapter 1259: Suspicion (5)

On the road, she encountered Master Situ again, but this time he was not on the second floor; instead, he was at the entrance of the pawnshop, speaking with a guest. Seeing Liu Xi, Master Situ asked in surprise, "Eunuch, why are you out again? Where are you off to?"

Liu Xi replied, "Madam is worried that Madam Mo Shao is leading a hard life in the manor, so she sent me to deliver some things to her!"

Earlier, when the two men were drinking, Liu Xi had already told Master Situ about Xiang Yun’s situation. Master Situ felt great sympathy for Xiang Yun, believing she was kind and forthright. A woman who could be moved to tears by a few drops shed from a swindler, daring to argue her case without regard for her reputation—such a woman surely could not have killed the fetus inside her. It was inconceivable. It must be the wife in the mansion, the one with the deep schemes, who used such poisonous means to frame her. It’s a pity that her husband lacked insight and failed to give such a good woman the love and respect she deserved. Instead, she suffered such great indignities!

Hearing Liu Xi speak the words ’hard life,’ Master Situ frowned and asked, "Is she having a hard time there?"

After asking, he realized his question was rather abrupt. She was the young madam of Duke Li Guo’s mansion; he shouldn’t be probing. If he wanted to know if she was faring well, he could have just visited under the cover of nightfall to see for himself rather than raise suspicions by asking, especially since it might also tarnish her reputation.

So, without waiting for Liu Xi’s answer, he bowed his hands and said, "Please go ahead. I have some matters to attend to here and can’t keep you company in conversation any longer!" With that, he resumed talking to the guest.

Liu Xi, indifferent, shrugged his shoulders and mounted the carriage, heading straight for the manor...

After dinner, the previously excellent weather took a turn as the wind started blowing, and daylight began to darken. Fearing rain, Cui Wen ordered Cui Lu and Cui Ping to collect the drying clothes and other items. They shut the windows, moved the flowers—there was a bustle of activity.

Xiang Yun went out to the courtyard and moved the two basins of tranquilizing flowers that Cai Wei had sent through Liu Xi indoors. Just as she entered the room, the downpour began, pattering loudly against everything as the day turned even darker. Xiang Yun instructed Cui Ping to hold up the lamp while she fetched her basket of needle and thread, deciding to pass the time by making a purse.

Her embroidery skills were not great, and the things she made were rather ugly. The unfinished pomegranate-shaped purse she was working on had to be scrutinized carefully to be recognized as a pomegranate. Otherwise, at first glance, it would surely be mistaken for a spoiled bun.

The heavy rain lasted for half a Shi Chen. When it stopped, the night had darkened completely. Xiang Yun put down her needlework, stretched, and had the maids bring water for her to wash up. She lay down early.

But she couldn’t sleep, restless for some unknown reason. Perhaps it was because she had gone to bed too early, or perhaps the day’s disturbance with Mo Zili had unsettled her mind. Though her body felt weary, she just couldn’t fall asleep. It was past her usual resting time, and despite feeling tired, she couldn’t drift off.

Tonight was Cui Ping’s turn to stay up, but Xiang Yun didn’t want to trouble her, so she tossed and turned, enduring the sleeplessness. Eventually, she did begin to doze off.

As she was falling into a hazy sleep, suddenly a short, sharp scream came from the outer room, startling Xiang Yun into sitting up abruptly from the kang. She was about to go down and see what was happening when the door curtain was flung open, and several men with covered faces barged in.

Xiang Yun broke out in cold sweat, her heart pounding violently. Good heavens, bandits had broken in!

Terrified, she quickly scrambled up on the kang and pulled out scissors from her basket of needle and thread, facing down the dozen or so intruding men.

"Stop, don’t come any closer!"

The leading bandit laughed, "Oh, the madam has quite the courage. Not only did you not cry upon seeing us brothers, but you dare challenge us. However, I advise you not to waste your strength. Resisting will only make your death more miserable. You might as well comply with us brothers. Serve us well, and you just may not lose your life."

These men not only wanted to kill her but also insult her, leaving her dead with a tarnished reputation.

Xiang Yun was angry, resentful, and afraid as she bravely asked, "Who sent you?"

The leader of the criminals took two steps closer, now right at the edge of the bed, climbing up and saying, "Even if you knew, what could you do? You won’t live through the night anyway!"

As the villain pressed closer, cornering the crouching Xiang Yun, the other dozen men also began to climb onto the kang. In desperation, she blurted out, "I’ll give you money, twice as much as your employer paid you—just as long as you let me live!"