Chapter 24: Suicide – Hidden Patterns of Pine and Bamboo

Hailing a ride? What newfangled language was this again?

Taking the words literally, Wen Zhixu genuinely feared Lin Xihe might pluck a willow branch and whip his carriage.

His carriage’s axles gleamed brightly, every part meticulously maintained, making the journey almost imperceptibly smooth. If she truly mistreated it, he would definitely demand compensation from her.

The surroundings fell into quiet stillness.

Before he could ponder further, Lin Xihe’s voice called out again: “Wait ten minutes for me! Don’t leave!”

Her lively footsteps rushed over like a reckless gust of wind, then the surroundings returned to profound silence.

Wen Zhixu frowned slightly—why had he so readily acquiesced to her absurd request?

Wen Qi and Wen Ba were nowhere to be seen. Wen Zhixu alighted from the carriage, hesitating whether to return to the residence himself to summon servants, yet his steps were held back by Lin Xihe’s mention of “ten minutes.”

How long exactly were ten minutes?

“That she’s detestable is her own affair—it’s not your place to interfere.” Lin Xihe had actually overheard Wen Zhixu reprimanding the coachman earlier.

So it hadn’t been Wen Zhixu’s instruction after all—she could reluctantly forgive him then.

Lin Xihe opened her jewelry case, where the Letter of Annulment lay quietly.

She’d heard their marriage had been arranged by both their mothers. But where was her own late mother? Whenever she brought it up, everyone around her would tacitly fall silent.

Lin Xihe concluded that Wen Hongyuan had never discussed the annulment with Lin Zhaoheng. Otherwise, given Lin Zhaoheng’s bullheaded temper, he would have long gone to the Wen residence to demand an explanation.

Thus, the annulment must have been unilaterally proposed by Wen Zhixu. Yet when she carefully examined the Letter of Annulment from all angles, she discovered it lacked Wen Zhixu’s personal seal.

She immediately became agitated, muttering: “How is this any different from a divorce certificate without the civil affairs bureau’s official stamp…”

With Wen Zhixu still waiting outside the residence, Lin Xihe used a handkerchief to wipe Bu Bu’s tail feathers, asking the bird: “How about I send you back? Your owner is right outside—perhaps he knows a veterinarian?”

Did the Ning Dynasty even have veterinarians?

Bu Bu flapped its wings with all its might, the soft feathers on its belly puffing up completely until the bird transformed into a round, fluffy ball.

“So unwilling to leave?” Lin Xihe was taken aback by its dramatic display. “Though Wen Zhixu is detestable, he’s quite caring toward small animals. You’d be fine returning home too.”

Bu Bu stretched its neck and emitted a desperate, mournful cry: “Squawk…!!!”

Mother, I can still be saved! Mother, don’t give up on me!

“Alright, alright, we won’t go back, we’re not returning.” Lin Xihe spent a long time coaxing the bird with gentle words.

Tender grass shoots emerged from the cracks between the bluestone slabs. After what felt like ages, rapid footsteps approached from the distance.

An embroidered shoe with intertwining branch patterns entered Wen Zhixu’s peripheral vision, its slanted shadow rippling faintly on the ground.

“Is this what you call ten minutes?” He looked up with a stern expression to see Lin Xihe had changed her outfit—a pure white dress under a willow-green sheer silk jacket, the eye-catching pearl hairpin replaced by a jade-colored one.

Poor quality jade, outdated style. Had the Lin family fallen into poverty? To furnish their legitimate daughter with such vulgar trinkets.

Noticing his elevated gaze, Lin Xihe touched her hairpin and chuckled sheepishly: “I was afraid the eagle might snatch my accessories again, so I specially picked a fake one.”

“…”

“Oh, I forgot—we don’t have counterfeits in our great Ning Dynasty! A thousand years from now, these would all be antiques!” Lin Xihe supported herself on Qingwu’s arm as she lifted her skirts to board the carriage.

Qingwu glanced around, noticing the absent coachman, and found it peculiar: “Where is the Wen family’s coachman?”

Lin Xihe popped her head out the carriage window: “Huh, did the coachman get off work?”

The usually arrogant young master’s lips were pressed into a tight line. He had no intention of telling Lin Xihe that he’d dismissed the carriage driver for reckless driving that nearly caused injury.

Avoiding her bright, piercing gaze, Wen Zhixu muttered “Sit properly” before taking the driver’s seat himself, the polished wheels crunching softly against the ground.

Lin Xihe found nothing unusual about the young master driving his own carriage – in modern times, even domineering CEOs occasionally drove themselves.

She patted the brocade cushion, noting how spacious and elegant the interior was, far superior to the Lin family carriage. “The Rolls-Royce of the Ning Dynasty,” she remarked admiringly.

While Lin Xihe lounged casually, her maid sat stiff as wood. Noticing the girl’s apprehension, Lin Xihe reassured her: “Afraid Wen Zhixu will look down on you? Think a maid isn’t worthy of riding in his carriage?”

Feudal society truly devours people, Lin Xihe thought before adding aloud: “I’m paying him for the ride!”

Qingwu: “…” Second Master Wen would probably be even angrier.

The sight of the nobly dressed young man in the driver’s seat drew sideways glances from passersby. The majestic carriage came to a gradual stop.

From a riverside window of Xianqing House, an arm dangled casually. This belonged to Xie Qi, grandson of Wen Zhixu’s mentor Xie Yan.

Just as Lin Xihe hopped down from the carriage and turned back curiously, Wen Zhixu stepped forward, neatly blocking her view.

A large shadow fell over her as the young man who usually kept his distance now stood before her like a human wall.

Lin Xihe blinked in surprise, her gaze settling on the pine-and-bamboo pattern embroidered on his chest.

“Here, your payment.”

“Unnecessary.”

This guy must be in a hurry to meet his drinking buddies if he’s refusing money.

“I don’t ride for free.” Lin Xihe pulled out her purse.

“Wen Er!” came a rakish voice.

Somehow, Xie Qi had spotted Wen Zhixu from the second floor. With one shout, he descended like the wind, appearing before the carriage in a flash.

“Get going.” Wen Zhixu tried to shoo Lin Xihe away.

Determined to oppose him, Lin Xihe grabbed his hand and forced the payment into it.

The moment their fingers touched, a tingling sensation shot through them. A strange heat traveled up Wen Zhixu’s fingers until the cool silver ingot in his palm dispelled the warmth.

Such extravagant payment! A farmer waiting by his oxcart nearby stared wide-eyed.

The payer pretended to be generous, declaring boldly: “Keep the change! Consider it a tip!”

“Wen Er, who’s that girl?” Xie Qi, being rather short, was blocked by Wen Zhixu on the other side of the carriage. Even standing on tiptoes, he could only glimpse the hem of her dress.

Wen Zhixu shot him a sidelong glance: “None of your business.”

“Impressive, taking money from a girl!” Xie Qi’s eyes sparkled. “You’re treating today! Let’s go drink!”

“Don’t even think about it.” Wen Zhixu tucked the silver into his sleeve and ignored him.

“Swallow gunpowder or something?” The incorrigible Xie Qi slung an arm over his shoulder. “Come on, Xianqing House just got new health-preserving suopai drinks. Perfect for cooling your temper.”

.

Having seen his beloved daughter faint at the sight of blood, Lin Zhaoheng feared she might contract illness. Though it wasn’t the sixteenth day of the first month, he couldn’t wait – immediately sending her to cross three bridges to dispel misfortune and illness.

But just as the Lin family steward prepared their carriage, they watched their young mistress board the Wen family carriage and disappear in a cloud of dust.

There was no catching up now.

In a few quick steps, Lin Xihe reached Fubo Bridge. Leaning slightly over the low railing, she watched the rippling waves distort both her reflection and memories of her past life.

The weather was splendid today, with young nobles throughout Shengjing gathering at tea gardens to sample new teas.

The teahouse stood several stories high, offering a panoramic view of the Floating Wave River from its balconies by day, while its rooftop provided an ideal vantage point for moon-gazing and stargazing at night.

In a riverside private room on the second floor, the teahouse attendant knocked for the third time.

Holding a carved lacquer tray, the attendant spoke with cautious deference: “Young Master Xie, you see… this is from Miss Zhao, the legitimate daughter of Lord Zhao’s household, specially sent for Second Young Master Wen.”

On the tray sat a pair of celadon teacups accompanied by four plates of seasonal fruits.

Xie Qi glanced toward Wen Zhixu by the window and remarked with a laugh: “Wen Er, we haven’t even ordered yet, yet gifts have arrived three times. My stomach truly can’t handle any more of this hospitality.”

“Return it.” Wen Zhixu didn’t even shift his gaze, keeping his eyes fixed on Floating Wave Bridge. “If you won’t return it? Then you go entertain that inexplicable Miss Wang.”

“It’s Miss Zhao!” Xie Qi choked on his breath, “I’m not some drinking companion for hire!”

Wen Zhixu glanced back at him: “Setting gender aside, with just your appearance, if you sought employment at a brothel, you probably wouldn’t even qualify as a waiter.”

Xie Qi assumed a posture suggesting he was ready to fight Wen Zhixu to the death.

Ignoring Xie Qi, Wen Zhixu resumed staring toward the bridge. That girl had been standing there for a long time.

Following his gaze, Xie Qi suddenly remarked without context: “I heard that Taoist priest jumped from that very bridge.”

The Taoist’s suicide by jumping from the bridge was known throughout the city.

“They say a vicious ghost hides beneath the bridge,” Xie Qi continued, “Even the Taoist priest couldn’t overcome it. How fierce must that thing be? Nobody dares to cross there anymore. Why would someone still venture up there? Don’t tell me she’s contemplating the same desperate act.”

Wen Zhixu frowned. That fool had been motionless on the bridge for so long—what exactly was she planning to do?