Chapter 6: Leave No One Behind

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Xia Qiqi motioned for the maid serving as messenger to wait aside, then gently patted Chun Tao’s shoulder. “What’s the matter?”

“All the maids in the Orchid Garden are gone!” Chun Tao lowered her eyes, her voice choked with emotion.

“Gone? What do you mean, gone?” Xia Qiqi didn’t immediately understand and softly urged, “Don’t be afraid. Take your time and tell me.”

“All the maids who served the young lady have died! Even Dong Mei and the other senior maids are dead!”

Xia Qiqi’s heart trembled violently.

She had anticipated that once this was over, all who knew of it would be silenced.

But she never imagined that Liu Yuanqing would strike so soon.

“When did this happen?”

“The day after I arrived at the Peony Pavilion!”

Chun Tao’s face turned pale, her fear deepening until her whole body began to tremble slightly.

Three days ago, Chun Tao had secretly returned to the Orchid Garden under the pretext of collecting rouge and powder for Xia Qiqi at the market, hoping to retrieve a keepsake left by her mother.

As she neared, she saw two soldiers from the Prime Minister’s residence pushing a cart out through a side gate of the garden.

Fearing to alert Liu Mingyu, Chun Tao crouched in a concealed spot outside, waiting for the soldiers to leave so she could enter through the side gate.

Unexpectedly, the cart struck a small stone near her hiding place and suddenly overturned, spilling its contents across the ground.

When Chun Tao looked closely at the scattered items, she was horrified beyond words.

They were the bodies of the maids who had served Liu Mingyu in the Orchid Garden.

Even Dong Mei, the senior maid who had grown up alongside Liu Mingyu, was among them.

Only, they were now cold corpses.

Listening to Chun Tao’s trembling account, Xia Qiqi’s brow furrowed deeply. “Are you absolutely certain?”

“I saw them with my own eyes!” Chun Tao’s eyes brimmed with tears, her lips trembling and turning pale. “The sachet on Dong Mei’s waist—I made it myself. There’s no mistake.”

Xia Qiqi believed her.

In the original memory, there were fragments about maids in the Prime Minister’s residence frequently disappearing without cause.

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Liu Yuanqing’s ruthlessness far exceeded her imagination.

Thinking of those young girls, barely sixteen or seventeen, who had once shared the maid quarters with the original mistress, Xia Qiqi felt a sharp pang of sorrow.

Maintaining a calm expression, she ordered, “Since Steward Yan sent me, I must go this time.”

After a moment’s thought, she added, “Chun Tao, stay at the Peony Pavilion. If I haven’t returned by dinner, go to the Hundred Herbs Hall and find Hall Master Xia. He will petition the Prime Minister’s residence on our behalf.”

Hall Master Xia was known for his kindness and would surely treat Chun Tao well.

“I’ll accompany you!” Chun Tao’s heart warmed, steadying her emotions as she whispered, “Two heads are better than one. If anything happens, you’ll have someone by your side.”

Xia Qiqi smiled lightly. “Very well.”

If something were truly amiss, Chun Tao wouldn’t be able to leave the Peony Pavilion so easily.

Chun Tao selected a pale pink brocade ruqun for Xia Qiqi, over which she draped a silver-white fox fur cloak and covered her face with a pink veil.

Snow had been falling in the capital for days, blanketing the bluestone paths in thick layers. Several maids were busy clearing the snow.

Supporting Xia Qiqi’s hand, Chun Tao led her down the covered corridor toward the Orchid Garden.

The wintersweet blossoms lining the corridor were in full bloom, their delicate fragrance drifting softly into the air.

Xia Qiqi, guessing the danger she might face, soon arrived at the garden gate.

“Stop!”

Two soldiers guarding the gate immediately barred their way and shouted, “No unauthorized entry to this garden!”

“How dare you!” The maid messenger who had followed Xia Qiqi stepped forward, flashing the Prime Minister’s token. “With this order, who dares to block us?”

The soldiers inspected the token carefully. Xia Qiqi signaled to Chun Tao and, using her as a shield to distract the messenger, deftly retrieved the token from the soldier’s hand.

“The Prime Minister sent me to check on someone inside. You are to guard the gate diligently.”

Seeing the token was genuine, the soldiers ceased their obstruction. “Do your business quickly and leave.”

Xia Qiqi nodded, turning to say, “Chun Tao, come in with me. You may return and report to Steward Yan.”

Stepping into the Orchid Garden, an eerie silence immediately surrounded her.

Her uneasy premonition intensified.

She walked slowly into Liu Mingyu’s bedchamber. Though the furnishings remained unchanged, no maids or attendants moved about.

“Come in,” Liu Mingyu’s voice suddenly echoed from the innermost room. “I want to see just how much we resemble each other.”

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[Meow! Xia Qiqi! Finally, you’ve come at last!]

[Crazy woman! You’ve starved me for three whole days, not caring at all about my survival!]

The faint voice of Xiao Ai echoed in Xia Qiqi’s mind, oddly lending her a sense of security.

Pushing open the door, Xia Qiqi saw Liu Mingyu seated before her dressing chest, clutching several pages of letters tightly.

Her long hair hung loose, her cheeks plump, but her beautiful eyes were hollow and lifeless, seemingly unaware of Xia Qiqi’s entrance.

“May I ask the purpose of your visit, Miss?” Xia Qiqi bowed. Lowering her gaze, she noticed Xiao Ai puffing up in the corner.

Liu Mingyu raised a finger to her lips. “Shh... let me examine you closely.”

“Very well,” Xia Qiqi whispered.

Liu Mingyu scrutinized her from head to toe, a strange smile playing at her lips. “Your figure is quite similar, but I’m curious about the face beneath that veil...”

Before she could finish, Xia Qiqi removed the veil. “You need not be curious. I am but a tool.”

“Who exactly are you?” Liu Mingyu gasped, her voice rising. “What do you mean by ‘tool’?”

[Should I say it or not? Xia Qiqi’s disguise is so perfect she looks exactly like Liu Mingyu! Meow!]

[Though, honestly, this cat prefers Xia Qiqi’s original face.]

“I am the substitute sent by the Prime Minister to marry into Jin City on your behalf,” Xia Qiqi quickly replaced the veil. “Once you recover, I will step aside.”

Since Liu Mingyu hadn’t recognized her as the former rough maid Xia Qiqi, there was no need to expose the truth.

Liu Mingyu was momentarily stunned, then looked up and smiled sinisterly. “Your father must have gone to great lengths to find someone so alike.”

Xia Qiqi returned the smile. “Miss is the Prime Minister’s most cherished one; naturally, he would make thorough arrangements for you.”

She still couldn’t understand why Steward Yan had sent her here now—was it really just to satisfy Liu Mingyu’s curiosity?

“If he truly cherished you, why would he send you far away in marriage?” Liu Mingyu’s smile stiffened, a trace of mockery flashing in her eyes.

[Meow! Xia Qiqi, be careful! Your killer has arrived!]