DTBCF Chapter 16

The woman whom the male lead had spared, Lin Qianzi, was now desperately hiding from the pursuers despite having already scouted a way out of the Li Wang’s residence. She had managed to escape through the waterways, change into clothes in a prepared cabin, and regain her identity as a woman.

Once she had regained her identity, they lost track of her.

Everything was going smoothly, but she still felt gloomy. Her fiancé was too ruthless, having beaten a maid to death.

Although he looked impressive, he was genuinely terrifying. Also, the woman who spoke to her was probably his concubine, and she was unexpectedly beautiful.

Would he still look at her after marrying such a beautiful woman? She thought not. After changing into the prepared maid’s clothes, she returned to her own home.

As soon as she entered her courtyard, she saw a figure dressed in white. She was startled and turned to leave, but the figure called out, “Cousin, are you still trying to escape?”

“Uh, cousin, how did you know it was me?” Lin Qianzi turned back with a grin.

“How could I mistake you? Everyone says the Li Wang is not to be trifled with, and you indeed went there. How do you feel about your fiancé? As for looks, he’s quite outstanding,” Ji Zhangshu said with a cold smile. He had admired his cousin for years and had not expected her to be matched with such a murderous man by his aunt.

Lin Qianzi showed a hint of sorrow and threw herself into her cousin’s embrace, crying, “Cousin, that man… he’s so terrifying. He kills without blinking, and he even beats a maid to death. Moreover… the women in the back courtyard are both beautiful and kind. He doesn’t even glance at me. What should I do? I don’t want to marry him, I don’t want to marry him.”

Ji Zhangshu, deeply pained, stroked her head affectionately and said, “Cousin, I know. I will help you.”

“Cousin, can you help me escape from the marriage? I want to hide for a while so I don’t have to marry him.”

She had already soaked her cousin’s clothes with tears, which made him even more heartbroken. He said, “Alright, cousin, I promise you.”

Lin Qianzi nodded gratefully and continued to cry in Ji Zhangshu’s arms. The thought of Li Wang’s sharp gaze made her feel completely dispirited.

Meanwhile, Bai Xiangxiu was outside the room tending to her flowers and plants. Lately, whenever she had free time, she planted things in the small garden of her courtyard.

However, the weather was getting colder, and there weren’t many plants she could tend to.

Feeling tired from her work, she went back to talk to the little cactus named Xiao Huo. She was surprised to find a small new bud growing on it—was it about to branch out?

“It’s so itchy… so itchy…” Xiao Huo wasn’t used to the newly grown bud and kept complaining about the itch.

“Hang in there. When it grows up, you’ll have another companion,” Bai Xiangxiu said. She felt that Xiao Huo’s voice had matured a bit, but it was still childlike.

“Hang in there. Xiao Huo wants to feel the wind and the sunshine,” Xiao Huo whined, and Bai Xiangxiu had no choice but to move it to the window.

This way, it could bask in the sunlight and feel the breeze, but the weather was cold, and the open window brought a chill. Xiao Shi, standing by, said, “Ah, Madam Xiu, be careful not to catch a cold.”

“I’m not afraid. I’ll close the window later,” she instructed and went to wash her hands.

Feeling tired from a few days of work, she decided to rest early and lay down on the bed before it got dark.

She hadn’t undressed but was resting while pondering that the story hadn’t mentioned the heroine secretly testing Li Wang Longheng. Was she starting the escape plan now?

Today was the day the marriage date between the male and female leads was to be set for next March! And in May, it would be her death date. She must leave before May.

As she thought about it, she grew tired and fell asleep until Li Wang Longheng arrived with his men.

Hearing that this woman was defending him made him somewhat pleased, and he decided to visit her after being provoked by his fiancée.

Of course, it wasn’t just a simple visit; he had brought gifts and wanted to stay the night as well.

The idea of bringing gifts came from his servant. Although he felt awkward, he thought it was appropriate to put in some effort for his first woman.

However, upon entering carelessly, he was stunned to find Xiao Shi, the maid, asleep at the table and Bai Xiangxiu sleeping fully dressed on the bed. The floor was clean, but the window was open.

He frowned. Although she was a concubine, she was still a mistress, and this was quite disrespectful.

Annoyed, he said, “Close the window.”

The servant outside hurried to close it but accidentally got pricked by the cactus’s spines and yelped in pain.

“Ah!” The servant, unaware of how sharp the thorns were, was startled and cried out.

In the commotion, he swiped his hand and accidentally knocked the poor cactus off the ground, breaking its pot. It cried out in pain, “Master, help…”

“What’s wrong? What happened? Help what?” Bai Xiangxiu, startled, rushed out and saw the cactus on the ground. Her heart ached, and she hurried over to grab it.

“Stop, that thing has thorns.”

Seeing her run out with her bare feet, rushing toward the strange plant.

He tried to stop her, but she remained frozen, slowly turning to look at him with a dazed expression, and then she suddenly knelt, “Greetings, My Lord.”

The male lead was here. Couldn’t the plot twist a little more?

“Get up!” Longheng seemed somewhat speechless with this woman. Seeing that she didn’t get up and was instead trying to pick up the broken pot, he felt somewhat hurt. Was a weird plant more important than him?

He said, “Throw away that dangerous thing.”

“No, it’s a life too. It can’t be killed.” This time, Bai Xiangxiu became agitated and almost hugged the cactus protectively, glaring at him as if she were the mother hen guarding her chicks.

Longheng’s special thoughts were dissipated by her reaction, and he waved his sleeve and said, “Then you can stay and guard it.”

Hadn’t she just spoken up for him? Now she was daring to glare at him for the plant. This woman had quite a nerve.

He left in frustration, leaving Bai Xiangxiu and Xiao Shi confused. Even after he had gone for a while, they still thought they might be dreaming.

“Madam Xiu, did the Lord just come by? Did I see things?”

“Probably not?” What was wrong with the male lead, or did the book not explain these things?

Because Longheng’s visit was so sudden, Bai Xiangxiu didn’t think of other things and assumed that he had come to cause trouble because he didn’t like her.

Longheng was frustrated. His fiancée had boldly sneaked into the palace to listen to servants’ gossip and even dared to jump into the water among many men. This severely embarrassed him.

He had finally heard a woman speak up for him, but it was clear that the plant she raised seemed to be more important than him.