Qian’er came out of the garden with the helpers and said, “It’s alright. This was all my fault. I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t say that, miss. You really risked yourself to save us. I thought I was dead for sure,” said the maid who had escorted Gu Bailu when she toured the main courtyard; she still held some lingering fear.
“That’s right. Nobody whom the crown prince punishes has ever survived. You really saved our lives, miss.” The butler was carried away from the long bench. “I thought I was doomed.”
“Okay, hurry and get the butler’s wounds treated. Since the crown prince let you off, hurry and go about your business.”
The servants didn’t dare continue talking any longer, fearing that the crown prince would regret his decision. They instantly dispersed.
After they all left, Qian’er finally fell into Gu Bailu’s arms helplessly. “Master, I may have exposed myself.”
“Don’t be scared. He has no proof even if he suspects us. We won’t acknowledge anything.” Gu Bailu helped Qian’er walk into the west courtyard and praised her. “You did a great job today. See? You dissuaded Lu Fenying.”
“I still find that hard to believe. I never dreamt that I would be able to stand up to him like that.”
Qian’er was both happy and regretful.
If she had been more courageous earlier, she might’ve been able to save those whom Lu Fenying killed.
“You were bold enough to escape from here before, which means that you’re unwilling to bend before your fate. So, you have to believe in yourself.”
Qian’er frowned. Though she had succeeded, some issues remained.
She was the only person who knew the significance of those plum blossoms. She had planted them out of boredom after being imprisoned by Lu Fenying in the main courtyard.
She had planted them in the shape of a heart because someone had presented a glittering heart-shaped crystal to Lu Fenying before.
She caught sight of the crystal when Lu Fenying put it in the bedroom.
She had been deeply fascinated by the crystal. She had never seen anything so beautiful before. It had countless facets which glowed, and was transparent but could reflect colorful light.
She heard Red Wolf tell Lu Fenying that even the sharpest thing couldn’t cut this crystal.
Who would’ve thought that something that looked more fragile than porcelain could be so hard.
People said that beautiful things tended to be vulnerable, but not this. It was so brilliant and eye-catching, and she liked it very much.
However, she also knew that she wasn’t qualified to like it.
How could she like a gift that Lu Fenying was going to give to Su Muwei?
But she did remember the beauty of the crystal in her heart, so she subconsciously planted the plum blossoms in that shape.
She thought that she was the only person who knew about it, but when Lu Fenying once brought her to the nearby building to set off lanterns, he saw the plum blossoms in the shape of a heart below him.
She almost wanted to kill herself back then. Interrogated by Lu Fenying, she confessed everything, not daring to hide anything.
Naturally, she was punished. That was when Lu Fenying said that she shouldn’t long for something she couldn’t have, and had Red Wolf throw her into a frigid lake in the cold winter.