Chapter 4: Staying Overnight

He was dressed in a deep blue robe, the cinched belt accentuating his waist and lending him an air of both elegance and stature. Yet, this simple attire only served to make his expression appear all the more frigid, causing Song Qiao, who was in the middle of drinking her medicine, to become instantly on high alert.

He watched her for a moment, asking with a tone that was half-teasing and half-serious, "Why not even a hint of a smile? Do you not wish for me to be here?"

"The Marquis misunderstands," Pei'er hurriedly explained. "The Young Mistress is overjoyed to see you; it is just that this medicine is too bitter..."

Looking as though someone owed her a fortune, yet daring to speak of joy—did he look like a blind man to her? Mu Yi’s lips curled into a sneer as he retorted to Pei'er, "Did I grant you permission to speak?"

The question was calm, yet it carried the undeniable weight of an approaching storm.

"Please, Marquis, calm your anger." Seeing Pei'er turn pale with fright, Song Qiao could not help but speak up. "The maid is ignorant of the rules; it is a failure of my own discipline. If the Marquis must punish someone, let it be me."

Having finally goaded her into speaking, Mu Yi shifted his gaze to the couch, where Song Qiao’s raven hair lay scattered, lending her a fragile, sickly beauty.

He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "How different things are when one’s family pays a visit; the Mistress’s words have grown quite bold."

Song Qiao was filled with trepidation. "I do not know if my parents’ abrupt visit has caused any trouble for the Marquis or the Old Madam."

The man stared at her, his emotions unreadable. "What do you think?"

Song Qiao stood on his side without hesitation. "If it has, I will certainly advise my father and mother with kind words so that the Marquis is not caught in the middle."

Hearing this, Mu Yi couldn't help but laugh, though the coldness remained in his eyes; he had clearly seen through her little schemes. Beneath such an innocent face lay a cunning, multifaceted heart. While the contrast was intriguing, he despised calculation above all else.

"It is a pity you will not have the chance to prove your loyalty to me," he said, extinguishing all her hopes. "They have already left."

Guessing this would be the outcome, Song Qiao closed her eyes, feeling a sense of despair. Even if she had miraculously survived, was she still destined to be abandoned?

"It is said that Magistrate Song treats his daughter as the apple of his eye. Now that you have finally awakened, why would they leave without even seeing you?" Mu Yi stared at her intensely, as if he meant to bore a hole through her.

He had every reason to be suspicious; the Song family’s actions were truly chilling.

Song Qiao struggled to compose herself. "The closer one is to home, the more timid one becomes. My parents must have feared that seeing me would only bring each other sorrow."

"The Mistress is truly understanding," Mu Yi remarked with a sneer. "But in my view, there is some other hidden reason, is there not?"

Every word made Song Qiao tremble with fear. She feigned ignorance. "I do not understand what the Marquis means."

Locked in each other’s gaze, Mu Yi stared at her unblinkingly. His eyes were deep like a whirlpool, as if one would be lost forever if sucked in.

They remained in a standoff for a long time. Only after Song Qiao’s palms had begun to sweat did he deign to speak.

"There is no room for others between Ruoxi and me. Since the Song family was willing to leave you behind, you would do well to be sensible. If you dare to put on the airs of a primary wife and cause her the slightest unhappiness, I will never show mercy."

The Song family was willing to leave her behind? Song Qiao caught the key point and was momentarily stunned. If she had held any shred of hope before, she was now completely disillusioned. She had originally entered into a deal with Madam Song for a mere dozen taels of silver, never imagining that she would lose so much more, effectively burying her own life.

She was truly a fool. Song Qiao wanted to laugh, but tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"What, do you feel aggrieved?" Mu Yi frowned.

"I dare not, Marquis. It is my fortune to be married into the Marquis’s estate." Song Qiao met his gaze and suddenly asked a question. "But if I were to become a cripple, would the Marquis divorce me?"

Mu Yi stated a cruel truth without a change in expression. "Our marriage was decreed by the Emperor; the estate of the Marquis of Loyalty can only have a widowed wife."

Song Qiao was struck dumb, as if paralyzed. Was death the only way to find release?

Mu Yi sat down beside her and calmly picked up the medicine bowl.

For the first time, Song Qiao was this close to him without feeling fear. "Is the Marquis not afraid of wronging Madam Shen?"

"A mere empty title—she will not concern herself with such things." In other words, the only thing he could offer her was the status of a primary wife.

Song Qiao was stunned, but Mu Yi gave her no time to react. He suddenly discarded the spoon, gripped her jaw with his hand, and poured the entire bowl of medicine into her mouth. The action was exceptionally rough, nearly causing her to choke to death.

With a single glance, he restrained Pei'er from rushing forward. After watching Song Qiao for a moment, he raised his hand to help her catch her breath.

The gesture was hardly gentle, and every touch kept Song Qiao in a state of terror. She only hoped he would leave quickly; if he stayed any longer, she might reveal some flaw that would lead him to doubt her true identity.

It was as if heaven had heard her plea. Suddenly, one of Mu Yi’s attendants, keeping watch outside, called through the door, "Marquis, Madam Shen has sent someone. She requests your presence."

Hearing this, Mu Yi withdrew his hand without hesitation and made to rise.

Unexpectedly, Pei'er stepped in front of him, saying something shocking: "The night is deep, Marquis. Why bother with the trouble? You might as well stay at Linglong Pavilion tonight."