Chapter 8: Desire to Kill

Yun Buhui smiled faintly amidst the swirling plum blossoms. The young woman’s face was holy and pure, ethereal and untainted. Lou Shaoqi was crying for help, but Yun Buhui’s gaze swept toward the lake nearby, her smile tinged with the chill of deep winter.

“Save me…” Lou Shaoqi cried out, begging Yun Buhui. Her smile was soft, and just as she was about to push him into the lake, she suddenly knitted her brows. A flash of cold light flickered in her eyes, only to be hidden away as she lowered her gaze.

*Consider yourself lucky.*

Yun Buhui helped Lou Shaoqi up and said in a gentle voice, “Big Cousin, you must be careful when walking. It’s no fun to take a tumble in this freezing weather. Are you hurt?”

The young girl spoke in soft, tender tones as she held his arm. For a fleeting moment, Lou Shaoqi had the illusion that when she first walked over, she intended to push him into the icy lake. This winter was exceptionally cold, and a thin layer of ice had formed on the surface. If she had pushed him in and no one passed by within the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, he would surely have died.

Yet, to his surprise, Yun Buhui had actually helped him up, and the numbness in his arm had faded.

Just as Yun Buhui was showing concern for Lou Shaoqi, two or three figures approached from the stone bridge. Through the blinding snow, their silhouettes were blurred. Yun Buhui watched as they drew near; it was the First Madam and Lou Yanran, followed by Xiangyun and Xianglan.

“Mother…” Lou Shaoqi cried out, rushing over to embrace the First Madam, tears streaming down his face. Lou Yanran looked at Yun Buhui with surprise.

Lou Yanran’s white cloak seemed to blend with the color of the snow, making her appear peerlessly magnificent and elegant, her brilliance outshining the pride and beauty of the plum blossoms.

The First Madam, protective of her son, pointed a sharp finger at Yun Buhui. “Yun Buhui, what did you do to Shaoqi?”

This First Madam held a position of great authority in the Lou household. She was Lou Zhentian’s legal wife and the biological mother of both Lou Yanran and Lou Shaoqi. Before her marriage, she was the daughter of the Fengcheng Prefect; she possessed a bureaucratic air, was overbearing and mean-spirited, and employed ruthless methods. Many servants in the manor feared her.

There were three madams in the Lou household: the First Madam was fierce and wore her malice on her face; the Second Madam appeared the most kind-hearted but was actually cruel and vicious; and the Third Madam was one who kept her true nature well-hidden. These three formed a tripartite balance of power within the Lou household. Lou Zhentian was indecisive, and the intellect and methods of all three madams surpassed his own. To maintain the balance between them, Lou Zhentian had no choice but to delegate power, allowing the three of them to manage the affairs of the Lou family.

Yun Buhui lowered her head submissively. Facing the First Madam’s sharp accusation, she defended herself softly, “First Aunt, Big Cousin fell down. I went to help him up. It is not my fault…”

Her voice was shattered by the blizzard. Seeing the look of pain on Lou Shaoqi’s face, the First Madam was incensed. Just as she was about to order Xiangyun to seize Yun Buhui, Lou Shaoqi stopped her. “Mother, Buhui is right. I fell, and she was the one who helped me up. Please, do not blame her.”