Chapter Five: He Brings Her Books

For several days in a row, Shen Zhiqing remained bedridden, her movements confined to the fragrant courtyard of her residence.

During this time, her mother and father visited a few times, each time bringing more tonic supplements. When it came to right or wrong, no one dared accuse the young Master Pei from the capital of any fault.

Shen Zhiqing herself knew that sneaking out of the mansion late at night had been her mistake, but she never should have allowed Pei Zhi to intervene in the first place.

As time passed and she remained quiet for a while, everyone assumed her resentment toward Pei Zhi had dissipated.

Only Shen Zhiqing knew the truth: in this life and the last, Pei Zhi had wronged her in countless ways, sins too numerous to recount.

This debt must be repaid.

Yun’an County was the largest within Yunzhou Prefecture. Though vast in area, its population was sparse. Nestled by mountains and rivers, it was a rare haven of tranquility.

The healing ointment Pei Zhi had sent, the Shuhen Cream, proved extraordinary. After only three days of application, most of the whip marks on her body had faded, and even the scars on Yu Zhu had completely healed.

One morning, just after Shen Zhiqing finished her breakfast, Yu Zhu hurried back carrying a basket full of flowers.

“What are you up to?” Shen Zhiqing asked, casually picking a flower from the basket.

Yu Zhu grinned mischievously. “Miss, this is the latest trend spreading from the capital. Using this balsam flower mixed with alum to dye the nails looks absolutely stunning. Many ladies and daughters in the city have been doing it lately.”

Shen Zhiqing was well aware of this nail dyeing method, but by the time such trends reached Yun’an County, they were likely already outdated back in the capital.

After entering the palace in her previous life, she had worn protective coverings on her nails every day and never used balsam flower again.

Before Shen Zhiqing could react, Yu Zhu had already crushed the petals, eager to begin.

Seeing her so enthusiastic, Shen Zhiqing felt reluctant to interrupt.

Well, since she had nothing else to do in the mansion, indulging in a little feminine pastime wouldn’t be so bad.

Yu Zhu laid out all her tools in the pavilion within the courtyard and thoughtfully brewed a cup of flower tea for her mistress before starting to work on her nails.

The breeze was gentle, the sunlight warm.

Yun’an County was a watery region where such gentle sunshine was rare. Shen Zhiqing basked in it for a while, feeling her pores open and a deep sense of satisfaction washing over her. Her eyelids grew heavier.

Just as Yu Zhu was unwrapping the leaves from the flowers on her mistress’s fingertips, she saw Shen Zhiqing resting her head on the stone table, sound asleep.

“Miss, really… what if you catch cold sleeping like this?” Yu Zhu chided with a tone full of affection.

A soft breeze brushed past, and from afar came steady footsteps—neither fast nor slow, carrying just the right measure of detachment.

Pei Zhi appeared before Shen Zhiqing, dressed in a bamboo-green robe and carrying several scrolls.

He looked down at the sleeping young lady. Shen Zhiqing’s eyelashes were long and curled, like delicate black fans when closed.

Her small crimson lips fluttered slightly with each breath. Bathed in sunlight, even the faint baby hair on her face was clearly visible. Her long hair spilled over her shoulders, and in sleep, she looked surprisingly gentle.

A far cry from the stubborn girl kneeling in the ancestral hall that day.

Pei Zhi could not help but recall her defiance and the whip marks on her tender skin.

He wondered if the Shuhen Cream delivered by Luoxue was being used properly; after all, it was a secret remedy only available in the palace...

Just as his gaze was about to drift lower, he startled himself with the boldness of his thoughts.

At that moment, Yu Zhu came out carrying a blanket and caught sight of Pei Zhi standing before the stone table, staring at Shen Zhiqing.

“Could it be the young master is thinking of punishing Miss again?” she thought anxiously.

She quickly reviewed all the recent “offenses” committed by her mistress: skipping classes last month, sneaking out with Lord Wang last week...

And the latest, sneaking out of the mansion late at night a few days ago.

But Miss had already been punished for all these, and because of her injuries these days, she hadn’t even left the house.

“Yu Zhu, don’t be afraid! You are now Miss’s strongest shield! Whatever accusations the young master lays upon her, you take the blame!” she silently encouraged herself as she cautiously approached Pei Zhi.

In a low voice, she said, “Young master, Miss hasn’t slept well these past few days because of her injuries. She only just fell asleep a short while ago. If there’s anything you need, please tell me. I will inform Miss as soon as she wakes.”

Her voice was soft but loud enough for those inside the pavilion to hear.

“Asleep?” Pei Zhi narrowed his eyes at Shen Zhiqing.

There was a sense of observation, scrutiny, even suspicion.

He felt Shen Zhiqing might actually be awake, merely pretending to sleep to avoid facing him. Could it be because of the harsh measures he had taken against her recently?

After a moment of silence, he spoke evenly, “Nothing important. The school in town has recently been on holiday. The book boy came by today with your cousin’s books. I happened to be outside the mansion and thought you might still be unwell and unable to walk, so I brought them along.”

As he spoke, Shen Zhiqing, pretending to sleep on the stone table, broke out in a cold sweat.

She felt as though Pei Zhi was subtly chastising her.

“Since the books have been delivered, I won’t stay long.”

Soon, his footsteps faded into the distance.

The moment Pei Zhi left, Shen Zhiqing eagerly opened her eyes.

Finally, that jinx was gone…

“Miss, you weren’t really asleep… I’ll put the blanket back inside first.”

“Wait!” Shen Zhiqing’s voice was cold as soon as Yu Zhu took a step.

“Throw away the books that young master brought as well.”

She didn’t want anything tainted by Pei Zhi’s presence.

Looking at the stack of books on the table, she felt a wave of nausea.

From the very first moment Pei Zhiqing stepped into the courtyard, she had sensed it—his footsteps, his scent, so familiar it was unbearable: that pine and cypress fragrance that had tormented her countless times.

She recalled the final moments before her death in the previous life—a cup of poisoned wine, her fading consciousness, and the vision of Lord Pei Zhi in official robes, his terrifying aura lingering over her entire life.

That scent was truly... revolting.

“That woman really doesn’t know what’s good for her! The young master even personally delivered the books, yet she’s so ungrateful!” Luoxue muttered silently from the eaves where Shen Zhiqing could not see her. She planned to report this to the young master later and see how long Miss could remain so arrogant.

As the memory faded, Shen Zhiqing realized her nails had grown into the flesh, her fingers pale, with only the tips dyed by the balsam flower seeping a faint trace of blood.