A Midnight Intrusion

Upon returning to the Bai Manor, hardly anyone knew of Bai Muya and her companions’ arrival, save for the night-watch maids.

Bai Lingyi carefully brushed the rainwater from Bai Muya’s clothes and hair that had accumulated during their high-altitude journey. A maid swiftly brought a dry towel, which Bai Lingyi accepted, intending to meticulously dry Bai Muya.

However, she watched as Bai Muya, seemingly driven by a specific purpose, began to walk in a particular direction.

“Second Miss, I haven’t helped you yet…”

“There’s no need,” Bai Muya replied, pausing her steps to turn around. “It’s just a little rain; it won’t make much difference.”

She then inquired of the maid behind her, “Has Yu Lian already gone to sleep?”

“Replying to Second Miss, Miss Yu retired an hour ago,” the maid answered.

“Asleep… That’s perfect.”

Bai Muya licked her lips, her eyes shimmering with a knowing glint. Bai Lingyi observed her, instantly understanding her intentions, and a sudden, unpleasant feeling welled up within her, leaving her heart heavy and stifled.

Choosing not to follow, Bai Lingyi remained rooted to her spot, watching her Second Miss disappear down the corridor. She silently bit her lower lip.

The maid beside her noticed, feeling that the steward seemed somewhat amiss, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint what was different.

“You should attend to your duties.”

As if it were merely a trick of the light, the maid could no longer discern that strange look in the steward’s eyes. Only her usual warmth remained, drawing people closer and dispelling any sense of distance.

“Yes, yes. Good night, Steward.”

Once the maid had departed, Bai Lingyi’s gaze shifted from gentle back to its former somber intensity. She bit her lip, deliberating, before resolutely setting off. Yet, she didn’t head back to her own room; instead, she pursued the direction Bai Muya had taken.

****

Outside the bedroom door, the maid on night duty rubbed her eyes and exhaled. Perhaps due to the rain, the scorching summer day had turned surprisingly cool, leaving her feeling a little chilly.

Just then, a woman approached along the long corridor. The maid quickly snapped to attention, highly vigilant, but her eyes widened in astonishment when she recognized the newcomer. How could it be the Second Miss?

“Second Mi—”

Before she could cry out in surprise, she saw the Second Miss make a shushing gesture. She quickly clamped her mouth shut and nodded obediently.

Though she didn’t know why the Second Miss had suddenly returned, whether she knew the reason or not was utterly irrelevant.

Bai Muya pushed the door ajar, peering inside with a focused gaze, observing the precise situation within.

The tranquil room was bathed in soft, dim, warm light. On the plush bed, large enough for more than two people, a graceful figure lay fast asleep with her back to the door, her long, even breaths faintly audible.

‘Truly asleep?’

A gleam flashed in Bai Muya’s eyes. Although the journey had taken a considerable amount of time, it was still quite early; the hour remained deep in the night, not yet reaching dawn.

She had initially hoped to share a relaxing bath with her concubine upon their return, but that wish had been dashed. Still, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“You won’t be on night duty tonight. Go and rest.”

The maid was utterly bewildered by the Second Miss’s words. What was happening? Had she suddenly been granted leave? Was this a good thing or a bad thing? Had she perhaps done something wrong to displease the Second Miss?

The maid nervously twiddled her fingers, torn between apologizing and asking for clarification. Then, she heard the Second Miss whisper, “Oh, and if any maids pass this way, remember to tell them to take a detour, understand?”

‘So, I haven’t made a mistake after all.’

The maid breathed a sigh of relief. A sudden flash of insight struck her. Connecting the sleeping Miss Yu inside the room with the Second Miss’s current surreptitious behavior, she finally understood.

‘Not letting me stand guard, and telling the other sisters to go around… Could it be… could it be that kind of thing? Is the Second Miss going to engage in marital intimacy with Miss Yu late at night?’

‘But Miss Yu is already asleep; she won’t be able to cooperate, right? Or does the Second Miss simply prefer it this way—unwilling to do it unless she’s asleep?’

Watching the Second Miss’s furtive manner, the maid’s thoughts suddenly cleared. Yes, her guesses and analysis must be correct.

Her cheeks flushed as she considered such intimate matters. Bidding Bai Muya good night, she immediately fled, covering her face as if escaping.

Bai Muya had no mind to pay attention to a maid’s complex and shifting thoughts. She pushed the door open with confidence and gently closed it behind her.

“S-Steward, good evening! You’ve returned…”

The departing maid bumped into Bai Lingyi, who was heading towards the bedroom. She immediately stopped and bowed in greeting.

“Mm.”

Bai Lingyi nodded subtly, about to continue to the bedroom, but the maid blocked her path, standing in front of her.

“Th-That… The Second Miss just instructed me that if any maids pass by Miss Yu’s bedroom, I should inform them to avoid walking past here.”

“So, Steward, please take a detour.”

The maid’s heart pounded in her chest; she was incredibly nervous. The person she was blocking was the steward of the Bai Manor, the most powerful figure after the Madam, the Second Miss, and the previous generation’s Old Steward Bai.

If not for the Second Miss’s explicit command, ten times her courage wouldn’t have dared her to speak to the steward like this, let alone block her.

A gentle smile adorned Bai Lingyi’s face. She patted the maid’s shoulder, then stepped past her. “You yourself said the Second Miss asked maids to take a detour. I am not a maid; I am the steward. This instruction from the Second Miss does not apply to me. I have something to discuss with the Second Miss. If you delay me, it would be unfortunate if she were to lay the primary blame on you.”

Cold sweat trickled down the maid’s back. She could only watch as the steward, moving with surprising speed, disappeared behind her. What good was her attempt to block? Besides, the steward was right; the Second Miss had merely asked the maids to take a detour.

Upon seeing the bedroom ahead, Bai Lingyi slowed her steps, approaching silently. She reached the door, neither knocking nor pushing it open. Instead, she leaned against the wall, concentrating her hearing to discern any sounds from within.

Amidst the profound stillness, she faintly heard a smacking sound, followed by Bai Muya’s faint complaint.

“How strange. I was only gone for three days, yet you’ve already started feeling things on your own. Through the mark, I should be able to perceive and comprehend every change in your upper and lower body, but…”

Bai Muya carefully repositioned Yu Lian, who had been sleeping on her side, to lie flat on her back. She untied the laces on her dress, then placed the discarded garment on the side of the bed. With a thought, the two small undergarments on Yu Lian’s body transformed into red silk and dissipated.

She silently scrutinized Yu Lian’s chest, finding no lingering marks. ‘Could they have been washed off during a bath?’ She then shifted her gaze to Yu Lian’s thighs, though she didn’t linger too long. After a glance, she pulled the nearby duvet over Yu Lian, covering her from the abdomen downwards.

‘Still pure…’

‘No signs of being touched.’

‘With those two small items protecting her, presumably no one could have breached those areas.’

But Bai Muya had indeed felt Yu Lian’s changes these past few days, and not just once. There were changes the day before yesterday, yesterday, and even at noon today.

‘Who exactly caused Yu Lian to feel such passion?’