The moon climbed high, its cold light brushing the earth. Yet colder than the winter night’s solitary moon was the heart of Madam Yu.
Bathed in starlight and shadow, the House of Yu’s party trudged back to Bainiao Villa, exhausted to the bone. They had set out in grand procession; now only a handful remained. The rest Madam Yu had left stranded at the seaside, ordered not to return until they found Yuchuge. Unable to endure another moment of aching muscles after a day of relentless exertion, she had hurried back to the Yu estate alone.
Barely through the door, still unwashed and unrested, she received word of a visitor.
"Li Feng? Damn it—why now?!"
Madam Yu froze. She glanced down at her grimy clothes and disheveled hair. Hardly the image of the House of Yu’s matriarch.
She ordered servants to entertain Li Feng while she vanished into the bathhouse. As hot water sluiced over her skin, her mind raced: *Why is Li Feng here tonight? Has he sensed something? How do I spin this?*
These questions coiled tight around her thoughts until she finally faced him, composed and polished.
Li Feng, meanwhile, had entered the Yu villa with a storm in his eyes. His hurried steps betrayed a tension utterly unlike his usual poised arrogance. He paced like an expectant father outside a delivery room—utterly unmoored.
Madam Yu noted the shift. She settled opposite him, masking her confusion behind flawless courtesy.
"Mr. Li," she began, voice smooth as silk, "what urgent matter brings you here at this hour?"
Li Feng lifted his head. His hands pressed hard against his trembling knees. He drew a slow breath. "My apologies for disturbing your rest. But I heard... troubling rumors. Concerns I couldn’t ignore."
Madam Yu’s eyes sharpened. Her fingers clenched tight in her lap, yet her posture remained regal—a parent humoring a restless child. "Rumors, Mr. Li? Hardly worth panic. My son-in-law-to-be remains unshaken even when mountains crumble before him."
Li Feng’s lips twisted. He no longer cared to spar with her lofty demeanor. "I was told," he said flatly, "that the Young Miss of House Yu has eloped."
The words hung in the air. Li Feng almost sighed in relief. He’d heard this lie from a dead informant—a threat meant to control him. Baseless, yes. But useful. He could use it to test the Yus’ reaction, push the wedding date forward, and paint himself as Yuchuge’s devoted suitor—determined to marry none but her.
Before he could spin his tale further, he caught it: a flicker of panic across Madam Yu’s face. Gone in an instant, yet unmistakable.
*Who leaked the secret?!*
Madam Yu lifted her teacup, sipping slowly as her mind raced for a counter.
"Mr. Li," she chided lightly, "spreading falsehoods about the Young Miss is no jest."
Li Feng straightened his back. His gaze locked onto hers, steady now. "I agree. But when it concerns the woman I cherish, I must seek truth. Forgive my insistence."
He leaned forward, voice softening. "So... is Chuge here?"
*There it is.* Madam Yu noted the intimate nickname, the practiced warmth in his smile. *Don’t play the devoted lover with me, fox. We both know this den.*
Outwardly, she beamed. "Your devotion honors my daughter. But alas—she left today for our seaside villa. A final taste of freedom before marriage, she said." She gestured gracefully at the half-empty hall. "You see how few guards remain? Most accompany her. No one risks a bride’s safety before her wedding day, surely?"
"Perhaps such a display sparked these... rumors." She set down her cup with deliberate calm. "You worry needlessly, Mr. Li."
The last two words landed like stones. She’d exposed the estate’s vulnerability deliberately—to steer his doubts away from truth.
Li Feng steepled his fingers, silence thickening the air. Finally, he murmured, "I see. Perhaps my passion overwhelmed her." He rose, bowing slightly. "When might Chuge return? Before the engagement, we should talk. Clear any misunderstandings."
Madam Yu laughed softly, the picture of indulgent motherhood. "My daughter is shy. Who knows when her solitude will end?" Her eyes glinted. "But if she knew of your devotion? That lovestruck girl would race home without pause."
Li Feng gave a quiet "hmph," thanked her, and took his coat from a servant. He departed without looking back.
The moment the servant confirmed his exit, Madam Yu’s elegant composure shattered. The teacup flew, shattering against the wall. Servants flinched.
Her gaze swept the hall like a blade. "Summon the steward!" she roared. "Find who leaked this! And when you do—chop them to pieces. Feed them to the dogs!"
Outside, Li Feng slammed his car door. He spat, fury twisting his face. "They’re stalling!"
His secretary offered a drink. Li Feng waved it away impatiently. "Dig into House Yu’s movements. Especially large gatherings. Find what they’re hiding!"
