Volume One, Chapter 12: Xie Mingyue Gets Jealous

A flicker of surprise passed through Qi Jinshan’s eyes.

Seeing his expression change, Xie Mingyue hurried to explain, “Since falling ill, my memory has worsened. I forget many things. Wutong also said I’ve been forgetting more than before recently and suggested I should find a doctor to have a look.”

Thinking of her long-standing, gloomy illness, emotions flickered in Qi Jinshan’s gaze, but he restrained himself. He simply grasped her hand firmly and said slowly, “You’ve even forgotten things from ten years ago?”

“Mm... it’s been a long time. I only remember bits and pieces,” Xie Mingyue replied nervously, unsure if she had convinced him.

“That’s fine,” Qi Jinshan lowered his brows, his eyes deepening with a long gaze.

No wonder she seemed different lately. If she truly had forgotten those things, she wouldn’t have to suffer every day.

He held her hand tightly, as if afraid she would run away.

“Since you’ve forgotten, don’t ask anymore.”

Xie Mingyue felt anxious. What did he mean by not asking anymore? What she desperately wanted to know now was why the Xie family had hurriedly driven her away and why she had married him!

She wanted to know who had treated her badly, whether it involved Xie Wanqing or Qi Xiuyu, and if she couldn’t distinguish friend from foe, how could she survive in the Hou Mansion?

Seeing Qi Jinshan unwilling to speak, she concealed her inner anxiety and said gently, “Alright, are you heading back to the mansion? I want to stroll through the street; please let me off halfway.”

Xie Mingyue planned to return and question the woman again.

Qi Jinshan seemed to see through her thoughts but did not call her out.

“Madam, are you so eager to leave because you’re afraid I’ll mock you for jealousy over today’s scene?”

His eyes were like melting snow in spring. Xie Mingyue was annoyed and defensively replied, “Jealous? That’s not true. Since I’m managing the household, I have to inquire carefully about a large expense.”

“Indeed, Madam’s every action is for managing the household.”

Qi Jinshan did not expose her; he smiled faintly and rose to hand over the carriage to her, then dismounted with his attendant to walk.

“The Supervisory Office isn’t far from here. I will check the files. Madam, be careful on the road. Remember to return to the mansion early tonight.”

Watching his steady retreating figure, Xie Mingyue felt a strange sensation in her heart.

The more she spent time with Qi Jinshan, the more her resistance and fear dissolved. Now, his every gesture was refined and restrained, like a noble gentleman. If she didn’t deliberately recall, she could often forget how harsh and sinister he had once been.

He seemed to have become a good man.

Suppressing her inexplicable feelings, Xie Mingyue turned and instructed the carriage to head back to Guinan District.

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When they arrived at Guinan District, she was about to get out to visit Bai Xin and inquire about the past rescue when suddenly a carriage sped past them. The curtain was lifted by the wind, revealing a strikingly vivid face.

Xie Mingyue froze for a moment, then gripped Wutong’s arm tightly.

“Wutong, does the woman in that carriage look like Mujin?”

Wutong saw her too and nodded excitedly. “Yes! Madam, Mujin has a small mole near her nose. That’s definitely Mujin.”

Xie Mingyue made a quick decision. “Coachman, follow that carriage!”

The carriage set off. Wutong’s eyes welled with tears, unable to contain her emotion.

“Mujin was the first among us servants to attend you, Madam, and the first sold by Old Madam Xie. If we could find her now, it would truly be…”

Her voice choked with sobs. Xie Mingyue tightened her grip on her heart.

Before awakening, Mujin and the other three were still by her side, blooming like flowers. Ten years later, they were all scattered, only Wutong remained.

The carriage followed swiftly and stopped before the city’s most prosperous jewelry building.

Xie Mingyue hurried to Mujin’s carriage. The coachman wore a fine cotton vest, looking like he was from a wealthy family.

“This madam’s carriage belongs to the Prince Rui’s Mansion. Please don’t cause trouble.”

After speaking, he noticed the carriage behind bore the seal of the Shunqing Marquis’s Mansion.

Such a young madam—could she be the virtuous second madam of the Qi family?

The coachman hesitated, but Wutong immediately said, “She is our Shunqing Marquis’s first madam.”

The wife of the Qi King of Hell? The coachman shuddered.

Qi Jinshan’s reputation was formidable, even royal relatives respected him. Wasn’t his wife supposed to be seriously ill and never go out? Why did she look well today?

He quickly bowed obsequiously. “I have seen Lady Qi.”

Xie Mingyue smiled slightly. “Who in Prince Rui’s Mansion is inside? She looks familiar, like an old friend.”

The coachman relaxed a bit. “Ah, that is our prince’s fifth concubine, from a brothel. Madam, you must be mistaken.”

Brothel? Xie Mingyue’s heart trembled.

Seeing the coachman’s light demeanor, she suppressed her displeasure and said softly, “Why not let the fifth concubine meet me to avoid missing an old friend after so many years?”

The coachman was reluctant, but Xie Mingyue’s voice reached inside the carriage. The woman inside, hearing this, excitedly drew back the curtain. One side of her face met a pair of tearful eyes.

“Mujin!”

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Xie Mingyue’s eyes widened slightly. Wutong hurriedly told the coachman, “The fifth concubine is our madam’s old friend. Open the door quickly!”

The coachman looked at Xie Mingyue suspiciously, muttering while opening the door, “Our fifth concubine comes from that kind of place—how could she be Lady Qi’s old friend?”

Mujin stepped down, tightly grasping Xie Mingyue’s hand, sobbing with tears.

“Mujin, it really is you. That’s wonderful.”

As they huddled together, Xie Mingyue sensed something was wrong.

“You…” She and Wutong examined Mujin carefully. Mujin was emotional, wailing bitterly but never speaking.

Wutong was struck like thunder. “Madam, Mujin seems to have lost her voice.”

Xie Mingyue stared dumbfounded as Mujin’s hand grasped her neck, smiling bitterly. Tears suddenly fell.

Her Mujin—the once eloquent Mujin—had now become mute.

Seeing Xie Mingyue cry, Mujin quickly gestured, “Miss, don’t cry. I’m living well now, not suffering.”

Xie Mingyue’s heart ached. Judging by Mujin’s appearance, dressed in fine silks, she was indeed living comfortably. Yet how easy was it to be a concubine in a princely mansion?

She suppressed her sorrow and spoke seriously.

“Mujin, what really happened at the Xie family ten years ago? How were you sold and ended up like this?”

Mujin was stunned for a moment. Wutong hurriedly added, “Madam has been ill and forgotten some things. I don’t know the past either. Mujin, now we rely on you to tell us.”

Under their expectant gazes, Mujin stomped her foot, ran onto the carriage, and took out a box of wet pigment.

Xie Mingyue recalled Mujin could write some simple characters; this was hard to express in gestures—only writing would do.

They had no paper or brushes on them. The coachman urged, “Fifth concubine, don’t forget to get head ornaments for the princess. If you’re late, I won’t speak for you.”

“Why rush? I’ll catch up with you after I catch up with your aunt. It won’t take long. If the princess blames me, just bring me out. I’ll personally apologize at her door tomorrow.”

Xie Mingyue gave the coachman a cold glance. Wutong went over and slipped him a silver coin, sending him away to drink tea.

Mujin looked at her gratefully, took the brush, and tried to roll up her sleeve. Xie Mingyue quickly reached out, “Write on my arm. You’ll be visiting the mistress later. It won’t be easy to handle.”

After a brief hesitation, Mujin slowly wrote several characters on her pale wrist.