Behind the Mask - Chapter 19
Chapter 19: Reunion
"Miss, please eat something."
"Let me out, I'm begging you." Chu Ye walked to the small window, flustered and helpless, pleading with the attendant on guard. "I have to leave this place."
The young man guarding her looked troubled and said no more.
"Go tell Chu Hu, if he doesn't let me out, I won't eat. He can just let me starve to death," Chu Ye said, her voice hoarse.
The attendant just sighed and left.
No matter what she said, whether pleading or threatening, he ignored her. Chu Ye's face was pale as she leaned against the door and slumped to the floor. The effects of the Spirit Cleansing Pill probably hadn't worn off yet, and combined with her earlier agitation, she now had no strength in her body.
Knowing full well that Bai Ning was about to marry someone else, yet she could only lie here, limp and weak. She stared at the sealed door and window, the tears welling in her eyes flowing freely.
Chu Ye didn't know when she passed out again.
Boundless darkness. She walked on and on, until a striking, brilliant red appeared before her. She ran to the Bai Manor, only to watch helplessly as Bai Ning, dressed in a wedding gown, entered a bridal sedan amidst a chorus of celebration. The clamorous red was more suffocating than the darkness.
When Chu Ye startled awake, it was already the next morning. She was still leaning against the door.
Her throat was terribly dry. She struggled to her feet and poured a cup of tea to drink. The cool, icy liquid slid down her throat, making her feel much better.
She gritted her teeth and ate something to regain her strength.
Her mind was much clearer today.
She took out the handkerchief Bai Ning had given her from her robes, clutching it tightly. She thought of what Bai Ning had promised her. Chu Hu underestimated them...
Bai Ning would definitely wait for her. She believed Bai Ning would wait for her.
So she couldn't just sit and wait for death. She had to find a way out.
Chu Ye paced around the room again, confirming once more that she couldn't break through the door or window. There was only one way for her to get out—to make the person outside open the door.
At noon, the man came to deliver her meal again.
Chu Ye struck up a conversation with him, asking, "Is he really going to keep me locked up here forever?"
"That lord said that when the time comes, he will naturally let you out. You just need to stay here quietly."
"I see." Chu Ye sneered. "I know that letting me go would get you into trouble. I won't try to leave anymore, but I must trouble you with one thing."
"What is it?" the other person asked timidly.
"When that person comes, please pass on a message for me. Just say that I... will hate him in my next life too."
The attendant was completely bewildered, finding the woman's smile chilling and creepy. He didn't dare say anything more, simply lowering his head and turning to leave.
Chu Ye remembered the time the man came to deliver food. As dusk fell, she smashed the teacup on the table, picked up a porcelain shard, and slowly pierced it into her own flesh, cutting deeper bit by bit...
Sure enough, footsteps sounded right on time.
The attendant pushed open the small window and glimpsed the scene inside. He instantly broke out in a cold sweat. In the dim room, bright red blood was dripping down from the person's wrist, and the figure slumped over the table was completely still.
"M-Miss, don't scare me." The attendant was incoherent, having never seen such a scene. "Miss, are you all right?"
The person inside didn't answer. The blood was still dripping.
The attendant remembered what Chu Ye had said during the day and suddenly understood. This was bad! He had only thought he was helping guard someone, never imagining it would lead to a death. What was he to do?
"Don't do anything rash."
Chu Ye listened to the panic outside the door, remaining perfectly still, waiting. After a while, she heard the door being pushed open and someone slowly approaching her—
"Miss, are you still alive?" The attendant sucked in a sharp breath, his trembling hand reaching out to check for breathing.
In that instant, Chu Ye grabbed his wrist with a reverse grip. Quick as lightning, she struck the back of his neck with her palm.
The attendant collapsed without a sound.
Chu Ye let out a deep sigh. Though she was weak, dealing with someone who didn't know martial arts was more than manageable. She pressed the acupoint on her arm to stop the bleeding, then simply wrapped the cut with her handkerchief.
Leaving the room, she searched the dilapidated courtyard and, by a stroke of luck, found a horse. As expected, Chu Hu was as conceited as ever. He must have thought she could never escape that room.
Chu Ye swung herself onto the horse. That single movement nearly exhausted all her strength.
She followed a small path through the mountain forest. She was still far from Jingzhou. Her body was weak, so she rode slowly, yet her anxiety beaded her forehead with cold sweat.
Night soon fell.
Fortunately, there was moonlight tonight.
Relying on memory, she managed to find her way back.
"Ye'er, Ye'er."
Hearing Bai Ning's cry, Nuan Hua quickly brought a lamp over. "Miss, did you have another nightmare?"
Bai Ning sat on the bed, gasping for breath and drenched in sweat. She had dreamed again that Chu Ye had collapsed in a pool of blood, her body covered in countless wounds.
She had a strong feeling. "Something must have happened to Ye'er."
"Miss, don't frighten yourself," Nuan Hua said, wiping her sweat. "Miss Chu is so skilled in martial arts. Nothing will happen to her. She's probably just busy."
Bai Ning was distraught. The news that the Minister's Manor had come to the Bai Manor to propose marriage was now known throughout Jingzhou. The fact that Chu Ye still hadn't come to see her meant something must have gone wrong.
"We'll send someone to the Chu residence to ask again tomorrow. Miss, you must take care of your health." Nuan Hua saw that Bai Ning's face was growing more and more haggard.
The next day, Bai Ning rose before dawn. She sat in her room, continuing to wait for Chu Ye, for news. More than ten days had passed. Why hadn't Chu Ye come to see her yet?
She waited for a long time.
"Ning'er."
Bai Ning looked up and saw that it was Lady Bai who had come. "Mother."
Lady Bai walked to her side, her voice full of heartache. "Why have you been looking so pale lately? Have you been taking your medicine properly?"
"I'm fine. I probably caught a chill from the wind last night."
"Mm." Lady Bai sighed and sat quietly for a while before saying softly, "Someone from the Minister's Manor came again."
Bai Ning's eyelashes trembled. "Did you not send them away?" She was referring to their usual excuses.
"They said that Minister Liu's third son greatly admires your talents and doesn't care about other things." Lady Bai took her daughter's hand. "Ning'er, you've long reached a marriageable age. He is willing to marry you even knowing of your frail health. I think he is sincere. Don't be so stubborn. Listen to your mother, all right? It will also save our family from a difficult position."
"Sincere?" Bai Ning scoffed. "They simply don't care whether I live or die. It's not me they're interested in, but Father's power and influence."
Lady Bai immediately made a hushing gesture, lowering her voice. "If others were to hear you say that, and it was reported to the court, there would be consequences."
"Can you bear to see your daughter become a tool for their struggle for fame and fortune?"
Lady Bai fell silent, then said helplessly, "This is our fate."
"I only want to marry the person I love, someone who will care about me. Please don't force me, all right?"
"Ning'er, Mother knows this is unfair to you. But since ancient times, this has been the way for women. Even if you feel utterly helpless, you must endure it. We cannot be our own masters."
"Mother..." A sharp pain seized Bai Ning's chest, and she coughed so hard she couldn't speak. She gave a bitter smile. "Look at me. Perhaps I'll be dead before I even get married."
Lady Bai was alarmed, her eyes turning red. "You silly child, don't speak such nonsense." She didn't dare say any more and let Bai Ning rest.
In the afternoon, the person sent to the Chu residence returned with news.
However—
After hearing what Nuan Hua said, Bai Ning's expression turned bleak. "You're saying they've already moved away?"
Nuan Hua nodded. "It's absolutely true. They said that Miss Chu and her siblings are all gone, and the house is empty."
Bai Ning was speechless for a long time. Gone? No, Chu Ye wouldn't abandon her.
"Miss," Nuan Hua said, terrified. "Are you all right?"
Bai Ning remained silent, just staring blankly.
"The whole city knows about the Minister's Manor's marriage proposal. Even if Miss Chu has feelings for you, she... is helpless to do anything," Nuan Hua said pessimistically. "Miss, you should try to accept it."
"Something must have happened to her," Bai Ning murmured, clear tears instantly welling in her eyes and sliding silently down her cheeks.
With no news of Chu Ye for more than ten days, Chu Lan also began to worry. She felt that Chu Hu had been acting strangely lately, and he had even moved them suddenly.
"Where is Ye'er? Why isn't she back yet?"
Chu Hu was tidying up the house. "She's busy with something right now. After a while, I'll go and bring her over."
"What mission is she on?" Chu Lan pressed, refusing to let it go.
Chu Hu couldn't answer.
Every time she asked, Chu Hu couldn't give a clear explanation. Chu Lan's intuition told her there was something else going on. "Where did you take Ye'er?!"
"I locked her up."
"What?" Chu Lan was astonished.
"People from the Minister's Manor have already gone to the Bai Manor to propose marriage," Chu Hu said bluntly. "I had to lock her up, otherwise she would definitely lose her composure."
"You're saying Second Miss Bai..."
"That's right. The Second Miss Bai she's always thinking about is about to marry someone else."
Chu Lan tightened her grip on her bamboo staff, incredulous. "How could you lock her up?"
"Should I not lock her up and just let her go ask for trouble?"
"But what right do you have to make decisions for her?" Chu Lan's voice trembled. "Locking her up at a time like this, do you want her to hate you for the rest of her life?!"
"If she hates me, then so be it. I'm doing this for her own good. Do you know what she said?" Chu Hu argued self-righteously, growing more agitated as he spoke. "She said she wanted to take Second Miss Bai away, to Xizhou. How is that possible? She's so foolish. I'm doing this for her own good. I have to protect her. I can't let her become like me..."
He's gone mad.
Before he could finish, Chu Lan, furious, slapped him hard across the face to make him calm down. "She sees you as her brother. How could you do this to her?"
The slap silenced Chu Hu.
Chu Lan took a breath. "Ye'er isn't like you. Ye'er is braver than you."
The weather continued to warm, and the flowers in the courtyard bloomed in a riot of purple and red, but their bright colors could not conceal the oppressive, heavy atmosphere.
Bai Ning received no news of Chu Ye, only hearing of the Minister's Manor's relentless pressure.
She took out her guqin for the first time in a long while, but the moment her fingertips touched the strings, images of her time with Chu Ye flooded her mind. She couldn't leave the manor, so she could only think over and over, Ye'er, have you abandoned me, or are you unable to come find me?
Tears fell silently, dripping onto the front of her robes.
Nuan Hua's heart ached. She watched Bai Ning shed silent tears every day, yet not say a single word.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside.
Bai Ning remained unmoved, as if nothing could capture her attention anymore.
Nuan Hua ran out to see, intending to quiet the maids.
But it turned out the maid had come to make a report.
Without even knocking, Nuan Hua recklessly pushed the door open. Her eyes were red, and she said with an excited smile, "Miss, you have to go quickly! Miss Chu is here!"
Bai Ning's heart suddenly began to pound violently. She shot to her feet and ran outside without a second thought. The long corridor she had walked countless times seemed to stretch on endlessly.
When Chu Ye burst into the Bai Manor, she was covered in mud and blood, barely breathing.
"Ye'er." Seeing the familiar figure from a distance, Bai Ning's tears began to flow like a spring. She lifted the hem of her skirt and ran toward Chu Ye, the wind messing up her meticulously arranged hair.
Hearing Bai Ning call her name, Chu Ye forced herself to keep going, to walk a little further.
Bai Ning caught her just as she was about to fall, holding her in a deep embrace. She was covered in blood. Bai Ning didn't know what had happened to Chu Ye. She caressed Chu Ye's face, sobbing uncontrollably. "Ye'er."
Chu Ye couldn't stop her own tears. With the last of her strength, she hugged Bai Ning tightly. Her parched lips moved as she whispered in her ear, "A'Ning, I've come to take you away. Don't marry someone else."
If you enjoy my translations, please consider supporting me!
Comments
Post a Comment