Behind the Mask - Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Variable
Chu Ye hurried back to find Chu Hu and Chu Lan waiting for her.
“What did you need to discuss?”
Upon learning that Chu Ye had been living with Bai Ning all this time, Chu Hu’s face turned ashen. He looked at Chu Ye and said coldly, “There’s an urgent mission. You and I need to make a trip.”
Chu Ye asked, “What mission? Where are we going? Why didn’t you say so in your letter?”
Chu Hu replied, “Just come with me.”
“Then when do we leave? How long will we be gone?” Chu Ye fired off a series of questions.
“Ye’er, you never used to ask so many questions.” Chu Hu could see that Chu Ye’s heart had been stolen away, the very thing he had most dreaded. He answered her, “Three to five days, perhaps longer. We leave right now.”
“We’re leaving now?” Chu Ye frowned, then after a moment’s thought, said, “Then wait for me.” If she was going on a mission, she had to say goodbye to Bai Ning first, otherwise Bai Ning would surely worry.
“There’s no time, Ye’er. We have to go now,” Chu Hu urged.
It was rare for Chu Ye to see Chu Hu in such a hurry. It must be something important, so she said no more. She turned her head to Chu Lan. “Elder Sister, if Second Miss Bai comes looking for me, please tell her that I’ll go see her the moment I’m finished.”
Chu Lan smiled. “Alright, Elder Sister understands. Don’t you worry.”
Chu Hu silently clenched his fists, wanting to speak but holding back. Seeing Chu Ye like this made his heart ache. The worst-case scenario had arrived sooner than he had imagined.
They spurred their horses into a gallop, riding with great urgency.
Whipping her horse, Chu Ye chased after Chu Hu. He had barely spoken the entire way, and she assumed he was still sulking over the matter with Bai Ning.
But the farther they rode, the more something felt wrong to Chu Ye. “Big Brother, what is this about? Where are we going?”
“Not far. You’ll know when we get there.”
“Then how long will this take? When can we come back?” Chu Ye stubbornly repeated the question.
Chu Hu looked back at her. “Can you really not bear to be away from Second Miss Bai?”
Chu Ye fell silent. He had hit the mark. The thought of leaving Bai Ning for several days, especially without even getting to say goodbye today… they hadn’t even gone far, and her heart was already aching for her. She should have at least seen her one last time.
They stopped on the road for a drink of water before continuing on. They didn’t stop again until they reached a detached manor.
Chu Hu led her into one of the houses.
Chu Ye was puzzled, not understanding the situation.
Chu Hu’s voice was heavy. “Ye’er.”
“You have something to tell me…” Chu Ye said, raising a hand to her forehead as a wave of dizziness washed over her. She realized what was happening. Gripping the hilt of her sword, she said woozily, “This is bad. We’ve been set up.”
But Chu Hu said, “Ye’er, I’m sorry.”
Seeing that Chu Hu was perfectly fine and hearing his words, Chu Ye instantly understood that he had drugged her water. Chu Hu had saved her life. Growing up, he had always protected her, and she had always trusted him unconditionally.
“What did you give me?” Chu Ye asked weakly, the figure before her already splitting into multiple images.
“A Spirit Cleansing Pill.”
Chu Ye’s expression changed. This was no ordinary sleeping draught. The Spirit Cleansing Pill could seal a person’s meridians, and without the antidote, one would remain unconscious for a very long time. It was also known as the “feigned death drug.” She panicked. “Why did you give me this?”
“You must stay here for a while. Don’t go anywhere.”
“Why?”
“Just listen to me. I won’t harm you.”
“You don’t want me to see her.” Chu Ye could think of no other reason.
Chu Hu was silent for a moment before saying helplessly, “Ye’er, forget her. Stop thinking about her.”
So that was it. Chu Ye gritted her teeth and glared at Chu Hu, furious with him for the first time in her life. “What right do you have to lock me up? What right do you have to stop me from seeing her?!”
Chu Hu said nothing, turning his head away, unable to bear looking at her.
“What right do you have?!” Chu Ye roared at Chu Hu with the last of her strength, but her voice was still weak.
“I’m doing this for your own good. What good would it do for you to see her?” Chu Hu’s expression was like dead ashes. “Ye’er, even if you were with her now, it wouldn’t be for more than a few days.”
Chu Ye didn’t understand what he meant. “What are you talking about?”
“I heard that people from the Minister’s Manor will soon be going to the Bai Manor to propose marriage. In a little while, Second Miss Bai will be married to someone else.” Chu Hu decided to tell her the truth. Perhaps this was the only way to make her give up hope.
Chu Ye was struck dumb. “You’re lying…”
“Every word I’ve said is true. If you don’t believe me, then just wait and see.”
Chu Ye’s mind grew chaotic. Chu Hu’s words seemed to drift from a great distance, yet she heard them with perfect clarity. She murmured, “Impossible. Impossible. Even so, she wouldn’t agree.”
Seeing her like this felt all too familiar to Chu Hu, like looking at his past self.
“She promised me,” Chu Ye said, swaying on her feet. She braced herself against the edge of the table, her every word firm. “She said she would only be with me in this life.”
“Marriage is a major affair, decided by one’s parents. It’s not up to her. Don’t you understand?” Chu Hu said with a sorrowful laugh. “Promises, a lifetime together… in the end, none of it can stand against a single phrase: ‘There’s nothing to be done.’”
Hearing Chu Hu’s words, Chu Ye felt a sharp, twisting pain in her heart. The little bit of hope she had so painstakingly acquired was cruelly shattered. But she still shook her head stubbornly. “She’s different! She said she wouldn’t lie to me, so she won’t lie to me.”
“Ye’er, don’t be so stubborn…” Chu Hu stepped forward to support her. “It’s better to have a short, sharp pain than a long, dull one. Don’t think about anything. It will all pass.”
Chu Ye resisted, forcefully shaking off his hand. “I’m going to find her.”
“You can’t go,” Chu Hu retorted sternly. He could predict Chu Ye’s temperament. She would recklessly cause a scene, but what good would that do? They were powerless against those high officials; they would only end up battered and bruised. “You will stay here quietly. You’re not allowed to go anywhere.”
“No! I’m going to find her now. Give me the antidote. I’m going to find her now,” Chu Ye begged pitifully, her eyes turning red. “Big Brother, I’m begging you, please? I have to see her.”
In the past, hearing Chu Ye speak like this would have softened Chu Hu’s heart, but not this time. He asked in return, “And what could you do if you saw her?”
Chu Ye’s voice grew fainter and fainter. “I’ll take her away. I’ll take her back to Xizhou.”
Chu Hu stared at her woodenly. “Don’t be foolish…”
Chu Ye’s consciousness faded, and she could no longer stand. Her body slumped, only to be caught. Then, she felt completely paralyzed as the voice in her ear grew quieter:
“Ye’er, just stay here. By the time you wake up, the dust will have settled.”
Chu Ye squinted, desperately trying to grab Chu Hu’s sleeve, but her hand caught only air. She wanted to say something more but could no longer make a sound. Only tears flowed silently from beneath her mask.
She was completely swallowed by darkness.
The flame in the oil lamp flickered, dispelling the darkness.
Bai Ning sat at the table, staring blankly at the flame. The table was covered with dishes, completely untouched.
“Miss, you should eat something. Miss Chu has been gone for so long, she’s probably having dinner at home. You shouldn’t wait any longer.”
Bai Ning knew Nuan Hua was right, but she truly had no appetite.
“Miss, if you don’t eat,” Nuan Hua ventured, “Miss Chu will only worry about you when she gets back.”
Bai Ning glanced at Nuan Hua, silently picked up the bamboo chopsticks beside her, and began to eat with deliberate slowness.
Nuan Hua hid a smile. That trick still worked, after all.
After dinner, Bai Ning continued to wait, but Chu Ye still did not return. She looked out the window into the pitch-black night.
Nuan Hua prepared the medicinal bath as usual and came to call Bai Ning. Seeing her mistress’s restlessness, she knew she was still waiting for Chu Ye. “It’s so late. Miss Chu probably isn’t coming tonight, is she?”
Bai Ning was puzzled. Could something have delayed her? Otherwise, Chu Ye would have certainly returned to be with her at night.
“Miss,” Nuan Hua called to her again, “it’s time to bathe and rest.”
Bai Ning returned to her senses. “Mm.”
Seeing that Chu Ye wasn’t there today, Nuan Hua thought to help Bai Ning with her bath.
Bai Ning naturally refused, telling Nuan Hua to just wait outside. She and Chu Ye had been intimate every night these past days, leaving her body covered in marks of pleasure that she couldn’t let anyone see.
The hot water soothed her mind, but Bai Ning found she was unaccustomed to being alone. She closed her eyes, and an image of them bathing together two days prior inevitably surfaced in her mind—before they could even make it to the bed, they had grown tender and passionate in the tub, splashing hot water all over the floor.
The memory made Bai Ning’s face burn. If it hadn’t actually happened, she would find it hard to imagine herself being so passionate and fervent. She had once thought she would live out her life devoid of any joy.
The night had grown deep.
Bai Ning didn’t soak for too long. She took a towel from the clothes rack and slowly dried the water from her skin.
She figured Chu Ye was truly not coming back tonight. But to not return and not even send a word… when she saw her tomorrow, she definitely wouldn’t let her off easy.
But when the next day came, Chu Ye still hadn’t returned. There was no news, either.
Anxiety stirred in Bai Ning’s heart, and she had Nuan Hua send someone to the Chu family’s small residence to inquire about the situation.
An hour later, the person returned with news.
“Miss Chu’s sister said that Miss Chu left on a mission and was in such a hurry she didn’t have time to say goodbye. Miss Chu also asked her sister to pass on a message, saying that as soon as she’s finished, she’ll come see you immediately,” Nuan Hua relayed to Bai Ning.
Bai Ning breathed a sigh of relief. So that was it. She must have left in a hurry for something important and didn’t have time to find her.
“Where did she go? What mission? When will she be back?”
“The specifics aren’t clear. Miss Chu’s sister said she might be back in three to five days.”
Bai Ning nodded slightly.
“Miss, it’s only been a day. Do you really have to miss her this much?” Nuan Hua couldn’t help but mutter, seeing how gloomy she had been since yesterday. As Bai Ning’s personal head maidservant, she could guess eight or nine parts out of ten about her relationship with Chu Ye. A woman with another woman was something she couldn’t quite understand, but she could feel Chu Ye’s sincere devotion to Bai Ning. Not to mention, while others called Bai Ning a sickly person who wouldn’t live long and avoided her at all costs, Miss Chu, even without knowing the truth, had remained inseparable from her.
“Nonsense again,” Bai Ning chided her.
Nuan Hua smiled playfully. She was naturally happy to see Bai Ning’s disposition growing brighter by the day, but she couldn’t help but worry. Their feelings for each other were growing stronger now; what if they had to separate in the future…
Three to five days passed, and then another three to five days.
There was still no news from Chu Ye.
Bai Ning couldn’t sit still any longer. Chu Ye wouldn’t be so busy that she couldn’t even send a single letter. When she thought about all the fighting and killing her work involved, her heart was in her throat.
“Nuan Hua.”
“Yes, Miss?”
“Prepare the carriage for me. I’m going to the Chu residence.”
Hearing that Bai Ning intended to go herself, Nuan Hua said, “Miss, if you’re worried, you can just send someone to inquire.”
“I’m not at ease. I have to go myself.” Bai Ning had a faint, bad feeling. Why would Chu Ye leave without a word, and then vanish without a trace? Even Chu Lan couldn’t give a clear explanation. It was all too abnormal. She urged Nuan Hua, “Hurry up and go.”
Seeing Bai Ning’s determination, Nuan Hua had no choice but to obey.
Chu Ye’s skills are so good, nothing could have happened to her. Nothing at all. Bai Ning paced in her room, trying her best not to let her imagination run wild, but her heart refused to calm down.
Nuan Hua was gone for a long time.
Anxious, Bai Ning started towards the door. Just as she reached it, she heard hurried footsteps outside and Nuan Hua calling as she ran, “Miss—”
Bai Ning threw the door open, her heart filled with hope. “Is she back?”
Nuan Hua was panting, out of breath from running. “The Master and Madam have ordered you to return home.”
Bai Ning’s face fell. “Just tell them my injuries haven’t healed yet and I need to stay here for a few more days.”
“Miss…” Nuan Hua looked at her, hesitating to speak.
Bai Ning could see she was holding something back. “What’s happened at the manor?”
“They said… people from the Minister’s Manor,” Nuan Hua said, her eyes filled with worry, “have come to the manor to propose marriage.”
When Chu Ye regained consciousness, the bright light in the room stung her eyes.
Her head was spinning. She looked around blankly at the sealed room, and the memories slowly flooded back—Chu Hu had drugged her with a Spirit Cleansing Pill and locked her up.
How long had she been unconscious? Chu Ye pushed her exhausted body up, rolled out of bed, and immediately fell to the floor. She struggled to her feet and stumbled towards the door.
To prevent her from escaping, Chu Hu had nailed the door and windows shut.
“Bastard,” Chu Ye cursed under her breath. She balled her fists and pounded on the door, shouting to the outside, “Let me out!”
“Let me out now!”
She pounded on the door again and again until her palms were bruised and red, but no one came.
Chu Ye now clearly remembered what Chu Hu had said before she passed out:
“Even if you were with her now, it wouldn’t be for more than a few days.”
“In a little while, Second Miss Bai will be married to someone else…”
“By the time you wake up, the dust will have settled.”
Chu Ye bit her dry lips. Impossible. She knew Bai Ning would never marry someone else. Bai Ning would only be with her; she would never marry another person.
At the thought, Chu Ye began to beat on the doorframe with even more force, screaming like a madwoman:
“Chu Hu!”
“Let me out!”
“I’m going to find her!”
She started cursing, roaring until her throat was hoarse, “You bastard surnamed Chu! You son of a bitch! Let me out!”
But it was useless. No one answered.
Had it been that long? Had A’Ning married someone else? Tears welled in Chu Ye’s eyes, and her nose stung with a sharp pain. Her fingertips dug into the doorframe, her hands trembling, and she began to ram the door with her body.
She threw herself against it again and again, as if she couldn’t feel the pain.
Just then, a small window on the wall opened. Someone had finally come.
“Miss, you should stop. This door has been nailed shut; you won’t be able to break it down. I’ve brought you some food. Just stay here quietly.”
Chu Ye rushed over and frantically asked the person outside, “How long was I unconscious?”
“Exactly ten days, no more, no less.”
Ten days…
It was shorter than she had imagined. There was still time.
If what Chu Hu said was true, then Bai Ning must be waiting for her. She had to go see Bai Ning immediately, or else…
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