Chapter 102: [Unbenevolent in Wealth] (Part 2)

Le Yao seemed moved by Cai Ping's words, she nodded and spoke softly: "Just now I had you borrow a ladder from Old Zhang at the flower house—did you put it away properly?"

Cai Ping said: "Mm, I've had someone put it inside the wooden house on the east wall."

Le Yao said: "It's dark, let's go back and eat."

Hu Xiaotian heard the master and servant's conversation clearly; he understood Le Yao's words were meant for him—the east wall wooden house had a ladder, hehe, this little widow was truly loyal, keeping her promise, indeed arranging a safe escape for him; when night grew deep and still, he would sneak into the wooden house, fetch the ladder, then easily climb over the wall and leave the Wan family. Hu Xiaotian grew more pleased the more he thought, but no matter how pleased he felt, he had to wait patiently, must wait until night was deep and still before acting.

Hu Xiaotian endured in the pond for nearly another two hours, finally reaching midnight; during this wait he discovered that the guards came to patrol here every half hour.

Just as the guards left the back garden, Hu Xiaotian tiptoed out of the pond; after soaking in the water for half a day, he was freezing and exhausted, feeling his body almost numb, he gritted his teeth against the fatigue and walked toward the wooden house at the east corner of the courtyard.

Arriving before the wooden house, he lightly poked the door with his finger; the door creaked, sounding very loud in the quiet night. Hu Xiaotian startled, hurriedly looked around, fearing detection; moonlight like water bathed the whole back garden as bright as day, yet he saw a black shadow walking slowly along the nine‑arched bridge. Hu Xiaotian's heart jumped—he hadn't expected anyone nearby. He dared not enter the wooden house, instead hid behind a banana plant nearby.

The black shadow drew nearer; in the moonlight his features were clear—it was the Wan family's second young master, Wan Ting Sheng. Hu Xiaotian silently wondered why this rascal wasn't sleeping in his own room at this deep hour, what he was doing here. Wan Ting Sheng stopped before the wooden house, his gaze fixed on the southeast garden gate. He curled his lips in his trademark lecherous smile, then pulled a black cloth from his bosom, wrapped it over his face, leaving only his eyes exposed.

Hu Xiaotian grew more convinced something was wrong—he had clearly seen Le Yao and her servant come and go through this gate today; if his judgment was correct, Le Yao lived there, and Wan Ting Sheng's midnight visit surely bore ill intent. Recalling today's odd behavior by Cai Ping and that servant, he sensed a deeper plot. After donning the mask, Wan Ting Sheng entered the garden gate; Hu Xiaotian glanced at the wooden house—the ladder leaned inside, and if he took it he could easily climb over the wall and escape his predicament. Yet thinking of what he'd witnessed, of Le Yao's helpless, forlorn state, he felt a pang of reluctance; but if he stayed to meddle, he feared tonight's trouble would only grow worse.

Hu Xiaotian pondered back and forth, gritting his teeth. He prepared to harden his heart and leave, but after taking a step, Le Yao's heart‑breakingly beautiful face surfaced in his mind—a woman's beauty truly is a mighty weapon; if Le Yao were merely ordinary‑looking, he doubted he'd feel so torn. In the end he still halted, picked up a wooden stick from the ground, and tiptoed toward Wan Ting Sheng.

Just as he entered the gate, he saw Wan Ting Sheng stop and hide behind the large water vat in the courtyard—clearly a guilty thief, it seemed he lacked the courage to break in by force.

As the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, Wan Ting Sheng obviously hadn't expected anyone to follow him from behind. He hid behind the large water vat and imitated two cat calls; shortly thereafter he heard the front door creak, and a figure emerged from the house.

By moonlight Hu Xiaotian saw that the person exiting the house was none other than Le Yao's personal maid, Cai Ping; after stepping out she yawned, held a bundle in her hand, glanced around, then pulled the door shut behind her and hurried toward the garden gate with small quick steps.

Hu Xiaotian quickly pressed himself against the wall, watching Cai Ping pass by his side and head straight for the pond.

After Cai Ping walked away, Wan Ting Sheng's figure reappeared from behind the large water vat; he headed straight for the house door. Cai Ping, when she left earlier, had deliberately left the door ajar.

Seeing this, Hu Xiaotian could already conclude that this maid had indeed betrayed her own mistress, leaving the door open for Wan Ting Sheng in the dead of night—it was definitely premeditated.

Wan Ting Sheng tiptoed into the room, this rascal even left the door unlatched; Hu Xiaotian followed close behind, and Wan Ting Sheng rubbed his hands while leering, saying, "Little cutie, I'm here……"

From within the room came a faint woman's moan; Hu Xiaotian's heart sank, and another possibility occurred to him—could it be that Le Yao was having an affair with this rascal, having arranged through the maid to meet secretly at night? If so, wouldn't he be meddling?

The indoor lights flared—it was Wan Ting Sheng lighting the oil lamp on the table. Hu Xiaotian, for caution, first poked a hole in the window paper and peered through; he saw Wan Ting Sheng still clad in black, his face masked, his eyes lustfully blazing as they fixed on the nearby Yao bed.

The young widow Le Yao lay on the bed, her hair like clouds scattered and piled atop the white sheets; her collar was partly undone, exposing broad swaths of snowy white skin, her face flushed, eyes shut tight, she murmured in her dreams: "Hot… so hot……"

Wan Ting Sheng let out a lewd chuckle, hurriedly undoing his own clothes. Hu Xiaotian judged that Le Yao had almost certainly been drugged; recalling the small medicine bottle Cai Ping had taken today, his disgust toward the maid's actions grew. Hu Xiaotian, who always cherished fragrance and jade, could not stand by while a brutal flower‑destroying tragedy unfolded before him. He thought: if he rushed in like this he might alarm Wan Ting Sheng, so he pinched his throat to imitate a cat's meow, then gently knocked on the door.

Wan Ting Sheng had just undone his belt when he heard the commotion outside, assuming Cai Ping had returned; he frowned, turned, opened the door—before he could see who was outside, a stick as thick as a wrist came down hard on his forehead; Wan Ting Sheng made no sound, collapsing flat on his back.

Hu Xiaotian's blow had used all his strength; only after striking did he wonder if he might have killed the man, he checked Wan Ting Sheng's breath and found he still lived. He quickly went to Le Yao's side, seeing her flushed cheeks, lovely as peach and plum, his heart fluttered despite himself; though Hu Xiaotian was lustful, he was a man of principle and would not take advantage of the situation.

He reached out to touch Le Yao's forehead, finding her skin scorching hot; yet her motion woke her, her beautiful eyes half‑open, she let out a soft cry and flung herself into his embrace. Hu Xiaotian felt warm jade and fragrant perfume fill his arms, his hormone levels spiking, nearly losing control; seeing Le Yao's dazed, love‑struck gaze, he forced himself to stay calm, pushed her away, went to the table, grabbed a bottle of cold water, and drenched her face with it.

Le Yao was jolted by the cold water, instantly sobering a bit; she cried out "Ah!" and, by the lamp's light, saw the strange man before her, frightened and about to scream for help. Hu Xiaotian clapped a hand over her mouth, raised his index finger to shush her, signaling her to stay quiet. Le Yao also recognized him, her beautiful eyes widening in shock, thinking to herself: "Did I just shelter a flower‑snatcher?"

Hu Xiaotian whispered, "Don't shout—I came especially to save you." He pointed at the fallen Wan Ting Sheng on the ground.

Le Yao, terrified, breathed rapidly, her splendid chest heaving; her attire and appearance were utterly tempting. Hu Xiaotian again said, "Don't shout!" He moved his palm from her lips and stepped over to Wan Ting Sheng.

Le Yao rose from the bed, feeling a wave of dizziness, nearly collapsing; she grabbed the table to steady herself. Hu Xiaotian rose, supported her arm, and brought her to Wan Ting Sheng's side, personally pulling back the black cloth covering his face. Seeing his features, Le Yao gasped, her mouth opening wide—she never imagined that the black‑cloaked, masked intruder who had broken into her room that night was the Wan family's second young master, Wan Ting Sheng, her late husband's second brother.

Le Yao's drug had not yet worn off; Hu Xiaotian supported her as they went into the courtyard. Le Yao approached the edge of the water vat and dipped her head into the cold water. Hu Xiaotian worried someone might come, so he hurried to the courtyard gate to look around—thankfully the night was deep and still, no one noticed the commotion here. As for that maid Cai Ping, she had long since fled somewhere unknown; from what he'd just seen, she had taken a bundle and run off, very likely eloping with her lover among the servants.

Le Yao lifted her head, her black hair dripping and spilling over her finely sculpted shoulders; on her peerless visage it was impossible to tell whether the glistening was water or tears. Moonlight like frost rendered her skin as pale as snow, her beautiful eyes brimming with sorrow and resentment as she looked at Hu Xiaotian and asked, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Miss Le Yao, having received a drop of kindness, I must repay it with a spring; you helped conceal my whereabouts, so I will naturally help you escape—don't be afraid, come with me, I'll take you away from here."

Le Yao slowly shook her head, now completely calm: "Leave? Where could I go? At worst I'll die to preserve my reputation."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Look at your young age—how can you be so foolish? The Wan father and son are all wolf‑hearted ambitions, coveting your beauty, they'll resort to any vile means; staying here is nothing short of throwing yourself into a tiger's den."

Le Yao bit her cherry lip and said, "Thank you for your concern; I still believe I can protect myself."

Hu Xiaotian thought, "She's still boasting—if I hadn't happened upon this scene today, you'd already have your Bright Pearl dulled, and still talk of protecting yourself." He lowered his voice and recounted to Le Yao everything that had happened today, word for word. After hearing it, Le Yao's expression grew darker; she never imagined that the maid she had always regarded as a sister, Cai Ping, would betray her. Even more unthinkable was that the Wan father and son, each more wicked than the last—Wan Tingguang's corpse lay cold, they father and son exhausted every vile trick, bullying a helpless woman like her—why was her fate so miserable?

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