Chapter 721: Let Me Show You a Good Show

Xia Lin climbed through the window into the room, and wrapped his arms around Chun’er in one swift move, soothing her, "Still crying? Stop crying; the Old Master is already so debilitated, all your anger must have been vented by now."

Chun’er turned around and plunged into his arms, "I am not crying for him, I am crying for you."

Xia Lin laughed, "I haven’t provoked you; I’m here because I couldn’t bear seeing you mistreated."

Chun’er glanced up at him and slightly turned and lowered her head in a flirtatious manner, which completely captivated Xia Lin. He was about to make his move when Chun’er pushed him away, "It doesn’t matter if others hit me, but when you do, I feel wronged."

As she spoke, tears fell again: "The opera was sung well, other people wound the concubine and it’s clamorous, the husband wounds the concubine and it breaks her soul..."

Hearing her words, Captain Xia hurriedly comforted her, "Chun’er, I know you feel wronged, just endure a little longer. After the Old Master passes away, I’ll ask Second Young Master to grant you to me, and then we can be a legitimate couple."

Chun’er frowned inwardly, yet her face showed an anguish akin to Xishi, saying, "Although Second Young Master is easy-going, the Old Master doesn’t like him. You don’t know what he said about Second Young Master in the room this evening."

Chun’er recounted the curses Xia Gu threw at Xia Er, leaving Xia Lin shocked: "I really hadn’t expected the Old Master to have such a temper, to humiliate Second Young Master like that really shouldn’t have happened."

"It indeed shouldn’t have. Second Young Master has been so good to the Old Master. Hearing the Old Master was sick, he immediately came with his wife and children as the New Year approaches. But the Old Master... his expression was then ghastly, like a ghost. I was so scared I had to kneel and leave the room, and after being seen by the Old Master, I was punished and beaten," Chun’er explained, beginning to cry again, "Brother Xia Lin, the Old Master is mad. I fear one day he might order me to be executed."

She added, "Even if I’m not executed, living until his death doesn’t guarantee our survival."

Xia Lin shocked, asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Chun’er wiped her tears, "The Old Master is a conformist to ancient customs, he always muses about having human sacrifices after his death... he has mentioned my name, your name, Housekeeper Xia’s name repeatedly."

Thinking of not wanting to die, Xia Lin was no exception. His eyes widened in horror, "Are you suggesting that the Old Master will command us to be buried with him after his death?"

Chun’er didn’t speak, she just nodded and covered her face, crying bitterly.

Xia Lin believed Chun’er, especially as she had recently been serving the Old Master, who indeed valued ancient customs, applying them even to matters of burials.

After the fear, Xia Lin further reassured himself, "That won’t happen, both the lady and Second Young Master are kind-hearted; they won’t resort to sacrificing people."

Chun’er desperately wanted to stab Xia Lin, thinking him truly a servant at heart, still unwilling to betray the Xia Family even at such a time.

"I know Brother Xia Lin is grateful to the Xia Family, but the lady adheres most to the Old Master’s wishes, and human sacrifice is his last wish. The lady would consent, wouldn’t she? She might be the first to follow in his death, she sees Old Master as her everything."

Chun’er looked up at Xia Lin, her voice tearful, "Chun’er is not afraid to die; in the worst case, I’d be your wife in the underworld. I just don’t want our son to be harmed."

Xia Lin was stunned, staring at Chun’er’s belly: "Is there... something there?"

Her cheeks flushing, Chun’er nodded slightly, "My period is supposed to be on the 26th, it’s usually very punctual, but today is the third day of the Twelfth lunar month and it hasn’t started... It must have been during the days you led the team to escort the Old Master back to the residence."

It was Dongzhi day when the incident with Xia Gu occurred, and after receiving Cheng Feng’s message, Xia Lin immediately led people to escort Xia Gu. They hadn’t seen each other in a long time, and Xia Lin, being in his prime, found a secluded place to consummate their love.

Xia Lin had been married once before, but his wife was short-lived; she died in childbirth along with the baby, a tragic loss of two lives. Xia Lin remembered that deceased child. These past two years, he had desperately wanted a son. Knowing Chun’er was pregnant, he was overjoyed.

For his son, he gritted his teeth and said, "The son cannot die. What do you plan to do? Talk to me."

Chun’er was rather cunning, not immediately revealing her plan, but instead looking up at Xia Lin with the adoration of a delicate woman, making him feel incredibly flattering.

"Brother Xia Lin, you have been so good to us, mother and son," Chun’er said emotionally, although she wasn’t pregnant at all.

Chun’er was no fool. She had heard that since the fourth great-grandma was born, Xia Gu had never had any more children. After each visit to the women’s quarters, Xia Gu would gift them contraception herbal medicine. Even if Chun’er had the guts, she didn’t dare to become pregnant. The nanny would also track their menstrual cycles, making it impossible to frame Xia Gu for an unintended pregnancy.

Claiming to be pregnant was merely a ploy to get Xia Lin’s help.

"Brother Xia Lin, Chun’er was thinking, now that the Old Master’s wife is seriously ill and the house is in chaos, why not sneak into the Old Master’s study or the main courtyard where the wife resides and steal our indentures. If the Old Master wants us to follow him in death, we can escape with our indentures. I have saved quite a lot of valuables, we can still live well after leaving the Xia Family. By then, you can be the Old Master and I the wife, and we can live comfortably commanding servants," she said.

In order to persuade Xia Lin, she even took out a box for him to see, which contained not only silver notes but also many valuable jewels.

Xia Lin, seeing that she had shown him all her possessions, could tell she was truly intent on being with him, and thus said, "Chun’er, don’t worry, for you and the son, I will surely steal our indentures."

Chun’er was overjoyed, threw herself at Xia Lin, tenderly and seductively kissing him.

Xia Lin, already fired up, couldn’t resist her kisses and, after asking if it would hurt the child and learning it would not, he immediately overpowered Chun’er.

...

Xia Gu cursed Xia Er to vent his anger and then scolded the subsequently arriving Xia San before he tiredly fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, he woke up, habitually calling out, "Chun’er, get me some water."

However, after calling several times and not seeing Chun’er, he only saw Xia Er sleeping on the table.

"Ridiculous child, only thinking about his own sleep," cursed Xia Gu, wanting to call Xia Er, but suddenly everything went dark, and a figure appeared before him.

The person was dressed in black, his face hidden in the darkness, those eyes eerily glowing, looking quite terrifying.

Xia Gu was shocked, realizing a thief had entered the house, and just as he was about to shout for help, his mouth was covered by the man.

"Don’t wake everyone up in the middle of the night."

Hearing this voice, Xia Gu’s eyes widened in recognition—it was Luo Wu!

How did this pawn he played with get into the Xia Residence? The Xia Residence was guarded by numerous Protectors patrolling.

Luo Wu said, looking at him, "Recognize me? It seems you won’t be dying anytime soon, that’s good to hear."

If Xia Gu were to die instantly, it would indeed be letting him off too easily.

He laughed again, "Want to see Chun’er? Fine, I’ll take you to her."

Xia Gu shook his head. He didn’t want to see Chun’er; he only wanted to escape... Luo Wu at this moment was too terrifying. Originally a nervous presence before him, he now seemed like a hunter eyeing his prey, his eyes calculating, his face wearing a spectator’s smile.