The night grew deeper.
The noise in the Song Mansion finally dissipated, and the sounds of the guests’ horses and carriages gradually drifted away.
The large red lanterns under the corridors swayed gently in the night wind, casting patches of dark red light onto the gray brick floor.
An occasional beat of a watchman’s drum echoed from the distance, shattering the brief silence.
Xia Ling stood at the end of the corridor, hesitating to move.
She wore a red robe tonight. As a dowry maid, she had also changed into new clothes today.
While her attire was not as intense as the bride’s wedding dress, its pale crimson hue, like peach blossoms in March, made her look charming and lovely.
However, there was not a hint of joy on her small face. She simply frowned, staring in the direction of the wedding chamber.
‘What is the Young Master doing now?’
‘Will that arrogant woman, Qi Chuyao, bully him?’
‘What if she loses her temper? What if she hits him?’
‘The Young Master can’t see anything. He won’t even know where to hide; he can only let her bully and humiliate him.’
The more Xia Ling thought about it, the more anxious she became. Her fingers twisted her sleeves tightly.
No, she couldn’t let her bully the Young Master like that.
If she really tried to bully him, Xia Ling would step forward immediately!
Just as Xia Ling was about to take a step, she saw a figure rush out ahead of her.
It was Xia Shuang.
She was also wearing a red wedding robe, the standard attire for a dowry maid, but that red seemed to carry a sharp, chilling aura on her.
She held her ever-present long sword in her arms and headed straight for the wedding chamber with quick, steady steps.
“Wait!”
A shout came from behind, commanding her to stop.
Xia Shuang paused and turned her head.
Mrs. Qi came walking over with large strides, a look of exasperated amusement on her face.
Looking at this little maid who was holding a sword, wearing a red dress, and looking murderous, she didn’t know what to say for a moment.
“The newlyweds are in their wedding chamber. What are you going to do?”
Xia Shuang looked at her and spoke seriously, “I’m going to… protect him.”
Mrs. Qi was stunned, then laughed out of irritation.
“Your name is Xia Shuang, right? Ning’er’s personal maid.” She stood in front of Xia Shuang, her tone softening slightly. “I know your heart is in the right place.”
“But not right now. Wait until tomorrow. With my Chuyao by Song Ning’s side tonight, nothing will happen.”
Upon hearing the name “Qi Chuyao,” Xia Shuang’s expression changed even more, and she shook her head repeatedly.
“No… no.” Her voice was stiff. “She… won’t do.”
Standing not far away, Xia Ling watched the scene with her arms crossed and curled her lip.
‘Exactly.’
‘Don’t you know what kind of person your daughter is?’
‘What if she really bullies the Young Master? He has no way to fight back.’
Mrs. Qi’s expression darkened slightly.
“Who won’t do? What’s wrong with my daughter?” She assumed the authority of an elder, her tone becoming more dignified. “It’s their wedding night. Don’t speak nonsense or gossip.”
“On a young couple’s wedding night, since when does a maid crouch by the wall? And with a sword, no less. Can’t you wait until tomorrow?”
She looked the young maid up and down.
Wearing a red dress, holding a sword, with an icy face and an extraordinary aura—she didn’t look like an ordinary maid at all.
However, Mrs. Qi couldn’t detect any cultivation from her. Either she was a Martial Artist who had not yet entered the ranks, or she possessed some Breath Concealment Method.
Clearly, the latter was more likely.
Xia Shuang didn’t explain. She only gestured a few times, as if saying, ‘I must go.’
Then, with a cold snort, she gripped her sword and prepared to move forward again.
“You wait.” Mrs. Qi’s expression turned ugly as she reached out to stop her.
A sudden gust of wind rose.
The aura of a 2nd-Rank Martial Artist erupted violently, causing the surrounding lanterns to sway from the pressure.
“Sister, be careful!” Xia Ling cried out in alarm.
Mrs. Qi was a 2nd-Rank Martial Artist, after all. What if she hurt her sister?
But Xia Shuang’s reaction was faster.
The moment Mrs. Qi reached out, a cold light flashed in Xia Shuang’s eyes.
Clang!
The long sword left its sheath, the blade glowing like snow with a chilling intent.
With the sword in hand, Xia Shuang’s entire temperament shifted abruptly.
Mrs. Qi’s eyes instantly turned solemn.
She didn’t have time to think. She ducked to the side, narrowly avoiding the sharp strike.
But Xia Shuang’s sword was faster than she expected. As the first strike missed, the second was already following through.
‘What a fast sword!’
Mrs. Qi was secretly shocked. Not daring to be careless, she focused her mind to respond.
Under the moonlight, two figures intertwined.
Mrs. Qi fought with her bare hands. Every palm strike she threw carried thick internal energy, the wind from her palms whistling and swirling the fallen leaves around them.
But Xia Shuang’s sword was too fast. Its trajectory was almost invisible; only streaks of cold light could be seen flashing under the moon like meteors or lightning, weaving an airtight net.
The more Mrs. Qi fought, the more alarmed she became.
How could this young girl’s swordsmanship be so exquisite?
What confused her even more was that she still couldn’t perceive her opponent’s cultivation level.
There was no internal energy attached to the sword’s edge. The power came purely from the swordsmanship itself, yet it forced her to respond with everything she had.
‘Is she really a Martial Artist who hasn’t entered the ranks? Is my dear friend that cunning? She didn’t even mention that there was such a master in the house?’
While Mrs. Qi grew more startled, Xia Shuang fought with increasing vigor.
Her expression remained cold, but the sword in her hand grew faster and faster until the blade’s light seemed ready to shatter the moonlight itself.
Right then, a loud roar came from behind them.
“Xia Shuang! What do you think you’re doing?!”
Xia Shuang’s sword came to a sudden halt.
She sheathed her weapon and took two steps back. Lowering her head and clutching her sword, she remained silent.
Mrs. Song walked over with a dark expression. Standing before her, she reprimanded, “Who gave you permission to fight? Do you know who she is? Do you have no sense of rules anymore?”
Xia Shuang kept her head down, clutching her sword, and turned her face away.
She didn’t speak.
She didn’t defend herself.
She simply lowered her head in silence, her eyelashes trembling slightly, looking somewhat aggrieved.
Song Youyi followed behind Mrs. Song.
Her complexion wasn’t very good either; her pale face carried a sickly flush, though it was unclear if it was from walking too fast or something else.
Mrs. Qi brushed her sleeves, which had been nicked by the sword wind, and rubbed her temples, waving her hand repeatedly.
“It’s fine, it’s fine…”
She was still thinking about the fight.
This young girl’s swordsmanship was so incredible that she couldn’t see the depth of her ability.
If she hadn’t been unarmed, it might have been hard to say…
If she had known, she would have brought a weapon, but who brings a weapon to their daughter’s wedding?
After Mrs. Song understood the reason for the commotion, her expression softened.
She walked up to Xia Shuang, sighed, and reached out to pat her head.
“You aren’t allowed to go tonight,” she said softly. “Stay with Xia Ling.”
“Even for Ning’er’s sake—since when are two maids allowed to stand guard at the door on a wedding night?”
“Does Qi Chuyao not need her dignity?”
Xia Shuang kept her head down and said nothing, hugging her sword tightly as her eyelashes trembled.
The farce ended just like that.
Xia Ling walked over, grabbed Xia Shuang’s hand, and pulled her away.
The two gradually grew distant, their red skirts blurring into the night.
Mrs. Qi draped an arm over Mrs. Song’s shoulder, and the two spoke as they also walked away.
The corridor fell silent.
Only Song Youyi remained standing in place.
She looked toward the wedding courtyard, staring into the darkness, and her heart suddenly began to race.
‘Tonight…’
She caught a glimpse of Mrs. Song’s departing back and then looked around.
There was no one. No one was paying attention to her.
Her feet shifted slightly, and she began to move silently toward the East Courtyard.