Chapter 70: I Will Protect You

Xue Qi rubbed his hands together, stepping forward with growing excitement, his face revealing a gradually… twisted smile.

Yao Zuizui retreated step by step until her back pressed against the door latch.

At that moment, Guigui’s hand firmly gripped the latch, eyeing her warily, as if afraid she might escape.

Yao Zuizui asked, “Why are you doing this to me?”

Guigui gave a cold, sharp laugh, her beautiful face filled with hatred. “Because I hate you!”

Yao Zuizui sighed helplessly. She had done nothing wrong, yet a woman’s imagination knew no bounds.

In Guigui’s mind, Huahua had manipulated the young master into distancing himself from her, stolen her position, and crushed her dream of marrying him.

Each of these reasons was enough for Guigui to harbor deep hatred for Yao Zuizui.

Every time she saw Yao Zuizui confidently directing the maidservants, Guigui couldn’t help but think—all of this should have been hers.

In the end, Guigui chose to rely on her body once more, but this time, her only option was Xue Qi.

“Young Master Xue Qi, don’t forget what you promised me after this is done…” Guigui clutched the door latch, confirming with Xue Qi once again.

Xue Qi, impatient and lustful, waved dismissively. “I know, I know. Once it’s done, I’ll take you as my concubine. You’ll have riches and comfort for the rest of your life.”

Hearing this, Guigui’s face lit up with joy. Overwhelmed with excitement, she nodded eagerly. “Thank you, Young Master Xue Qi. I’ll go guard the door now.”

Yao Zuizui tried to slip out when Guigui opened the door, but she was unexpectedly shoved back inside.

“Huahua, enjoy yourself,” Guigui sneered before slamming the door shut.

Yao Zuizui pounded on the door, shouting, “Young Master, save me!”

To her surprise, Xue Qi burst into laughter behind her.

“Did I hear that right? You’re calling for that useless fool? Hahaha…” Xue Qi began removing his outer robe.

He had deliberately chosen Guigui’s room because it was far from the maidservants’ quarters—no one would hear the commotion.

The only one who might hear was Xue Rui.

But Xue Rui… when he slept, he automatically blocked out all sounds around him. Even shouting directly into his ear required over a dozen attempts to wake him.

So Xue Qi was completely at ease. Tonight, this little beauty had no chance of escape.

He simply thought Huahua was desperate, grasping at straws. Calling for the distant maidservants would have been more effective than pleading with Xue Rui.

Yao Zuizui, however, was gambling—testing how much she meant to Xue Rui.

As for Xue Qi, she had already hidden scissors in her sleeve, ready to stab him if necessary.

While calling for Xue Rui, she deftly dodged Xue Qi’s repeated lunges.

Light and agile, she slipped away like a slippery fish, frustrating Xue Qi until he was drenched in sweat but still unable to catch her.

Yao Zuizui deliberately knocked over the oil lamp. In the darkness, Xue Qi lost all accuracy, stumbling around like a headless fly, chasing only the sound of her cries for help.

Outside, Guigui listened to Yao Zuizui’s pleas and the commotion inside, her smile growing increasingly manic.

===

Xue Rui had been sleeping soundly in his canopy bed, lost in a peaceful dream.

In it, he saw his little maidservant.

She stood in the courtyard, her water-blue dress swaying in the breeze. A pear blossom drifted down, landing softly on her head and shoulders, complementing her gentle, serene smile—pure as if washed by water.

She even waved at him cheerfully. “Young Master, come see the flowers!”

Xue Rui’s lips curled into a faint smile. The weather was truly delightful.

But in the next moment, his heart lurched.

The beautiful, gentle maidservant before him suddenly looked terrified. “Young Master… save me!”

Xue Rui jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat.

Yet the nightmare-like voice lingered in his ears, refusing to fade.

He shook his head, straining to listen.

“Young Master… save me…” The faint plea seemed to come from the west.

Xue Rui’s expression darkened instantly. Could it be real?

For the first time in his life, Xue Rui felt the urge to get out of bed and rush over himself.

Xue Rui was lazy. He never did anything himself, always delegating tasks to maidservants and servants. He didn’t even walk—he had never taken a single step.

As a child, his parents thought he couldn’t walk and were terrified, summoning every physician they could find.

The unanimous diagnosis was that Xue Rui’s legs were perfectly fine—he was just lazy.

Relieved that it wasn’t a physical disability, the Xue family indulged him, even commissioning a wheelchair for his laziness.

But Xue Rui was never not lazy, so the wheelchair became his constant companion.

Xue Rui could walk—he just couldn’t be bothered.

Yet now, hearing that desperate cry for help, laziness was the last thing on his mind.

He threw off the covers and ran.

Only one thought filled his mind: His little maidservant was in danger! She was calling for him—he had to save her!

When Guigui saw Xue Rui emerge from his room, still in his moon-white silk sleeping robes, her jaw dropped.

Was this really the young master?

The young master was… walking? No, running?

Panicked, Guigui banged on the wooden door. “Young Master Xue Qi, the eldest young master is coming!”

Xue Qi, too distracted to hear clearly, snapped irritably, “Shut up! Don’t ruin my fun!”

He still hadn’t caught the elusive little minx and was growing increasingly frustrated, his body burning with desire.

Meanwhile, Yao Zuizui continued to evade him, giggling. “Xue Qi, you’re in trouble now.”

“How dare you address me by name?” Xue Qi slammed the table furiously.

“You’ll regret this,” Yao Zuizui said, her bright eyes sending a chill down Xue Qi’s spine. An icy wind seemed to blow through the room, extinguishing the sweat on his forehead and leaving him frozen.

He turned his head—the door had opened.

Xue Rui stood in the doorway, bathed in the glow of the bright moon. The soft light cast an ethereal radiance on him, making his every feature seem untouchably pure.

Guigui knelt nearby, clutching her chest where Xue Rui had kicked her, leaving a footprint.

Xue Qi’s entire body went cold. He shivered under Xue Rui’s gaze, which seemed capable of piercing him with a thousand arrows. He had never found Xue Rui so terrifying before.

Xue Rui stared coldly at Xue Qi, his raised brow conveying unspoken authority.

Yao Zuizui stood to the side, sniffling pitifully, the picture of a victim.

Xue Rui walked over and gently took her hand, ignoring the other two.

Under the bright moon, their shadows stretched across the frost-covered ground, hand in hand.

===

Back in his room, Yao Zuizui’s tear-streaked face remained unchanged.

Xue Rui squeezed her hand. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

“Wuwuwu… Thank you, Young Master. If not for you, I would have… been defiled by that beast…” She couldn’t continue, covering her face with a handkerchief as tears streamed down.

Xue Rui’s heart ached, but he didn’t know what to say.

He simply held her hand, silent for a long time.

After a while, Yao Zuizui stopped crying. Pretending was exhausting, and she didn’t want Xue Rui to find her annoying.

With red, swollen eyes, she turned to make Xue Rui’s bed.

Xue Rui sat nearby, his gaze fixed on her tear-stained face and reddened eyes—unusually pitiful. For once, he didn’t close his eyes to rest.

“Young Master, the bed is ready. I’ve disturbed your rest tonight. Please sleep now…” Yao Zuizui said softly, her voice still thick with tears.

Xue Rui had never encountered such a situation before. He had no idea how to comfort someone.

His hands felt awkward, his entire body restless.

Too embarrassed to ask Yao Zuizui to help him into bed, he clumsily climbed in himself, tucking the corners under his body as she usually did.

“Young Master, I’ll take my leave now.” Yao Zuizui sniffled, adjusting his blankets.

“…” Xue Rui didn’t close his eyes immediately. Instead, he watched her, his head turning toward the door as she walked away.

Just as she was about to step out, Xue Rui blurted out:

“I’ll always protect you.”

No matter the effort.

Willing to move.

“Thank you, Young Master.” Yao Zuizui smiled brightly at him before closing the door.

In the darkness, she wondered—what truly lay in his heart?

===

The next morning, Yao Zuizui awoke to two pieces of news.

For some reason, Young Master Xue Qi had fallen violently ill overnight, vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, keeping the entire Xue household in chaos.

She guessed it was due to his sweat from the night before, the sudden chill, and Xue Rui’s scare.

Regardless, the Xue residence was in an uproar, summoning physicians to treat him.

But Xue Qi’s illness was no ordinary cold—he was bedridden, unable to eat, burning with fever, and delirious.

Yao Zuizui secretly rejoiced at the news, though she hid it in Xue Rui’s presence.

With Xue Qi’s severe illness dominating attention, the second piece of news barely caused a ripple in the vast lake of the Xue household.

Guigui was getting married.

Not to the bedridden Xue Qi, but to an outhouse cleaner from the outer courtyard.

Madame Xue herself had decreed it.

Guigui resisted fiercely, clinging to the pear tree in the courtyard, refusing to let go.

Cornered, she lashed out, wailing in front of the gathered maidservants.

“Madame Xue has made a mistake! I’m supposed to be Young Master Xue Qi’s concubine! Once he recovers, he’ll take me in!” She shook her head wildly, refusing to leave.

The maidservants watched with amusement, pointing and whispering.

Even servants from other courtyards came to gawk.

Yao Zuizui pushed Xue Rui over, and the crowd parted for them.

Xue Rui remained silent, so Yao Zuizui spoke for him.

“What’s going on here?” Her authoritative tone only provoked Guigui further.

Clutching the pear tree, Guigui laughed hysterically, her tone mocking.

“Huahua, don’t think you’re so high and mighty now! Once I’m Young Master Xue Qi’s concubine, I’ll be half your mistress! You’ll have to kneel before me!” Her eyes gleamed with triumph.

“You’re mistaken. You’re to marry the outer courtyard cleaner. Madame Xue has already sent word.” Yao Zuizui replied calmly.

“Impossible!” Guigui paled, shaking her head in denial. “Young Master Xue Qi said he’d spoken to Madame Xue! She agreed!”

Otherwise… why would she have given him her virtue?

Xue Qi had sworn he’d secured Madame Xue’s approval—all that remained was choosing an auspicious day.

And the day after trapping Huahua in Xue Qi’s bed—today—was that very day!

Guigui refused to believe it. “I demand to see Madame Xue! I won’t leave until I see Young Master Xue Qi!”

Yao Zuizui watched Guigui’s delusions with pity.

Pretty but scheming, and so foolish—she had no chance of changing her fate.

Guigui’s stubborn strength made it impossible to drag her away without damaging the prized pear tree.

So the crowd simply watched her “madness,” listening to her nonsensical ravings.

Then, a dignified voice rang out from the courtyard entrance.

“What’s all this commotion? Such disgraceful behavior!” Madame Xue’s stern words sent the onlookers scattering.

She approached, looking down at Guigui with disdain.

Guigui saw her as a savior. “Madame Xue, there must be a mistake! Young Master Xue Qi promised to make me his concubine!”