Quan Heng didn’t sleep well that night.
Everything in her dream was gloomy. She tried to escape from the manor before dawn, running out alone.
But no matter how she ran, it was like being trapped in a nightmare maze—every path she took led her right back to the courtyard. She couldn’t escape.
The last time she returned to the courtyard, she saw someone lying on the ground from afar. Beneath that person was a pool of blood.
A terrible premonition surged in her heart. Her steps faltered as she rushed over. Looking down, she saw that it was Ziyun.
Ziyun was drenched in blood, lying motionless on the ground—already lifeless.
Nearby, Wen Zheng stood watching her coldly. “You dared try to run again? This is your punishment!”
An endless wave of guilt, sorrow, and helplessness crashed over her. She was so grief-stricken in the dream she couldn’t even speak—only tears streamed down her face.
Suddenly, she heard a knocking—thump, thump—as if someone were tapping on the window. But when she looked around, she couldn’t find the source of the sound.
The next moment, she jolted awake, realizing it had only been a dream.
But the knocking was real—Shen Zhengyu had come.
Quan Heng lowered her eyes with a bitter smile. “Why are you here? It’s dangerous. If he catches you, you might not be able to get away either.”
Shen Zhengyu sighed, walked to her bedside, and asked softly, “How did it go yesterday? From the sound of it, you didn’t go through with it, did you?”
Suddenly, Quan Heng felt so tired. She leaned back against the headboard, and her hand touched the pillow—soaked. She hadn’t realized until now that she’d cried all night, soaking the bedding with tears.
“I was useless. After all he did to me, I still couldn’t bring myself to do it—I couldn’t kill him.”
Seeing her red, swollen eyes and disheveled hair, Shen Zhengyu understood she had endured a night of heartbreak.
At this point, pressing her to kill Wen Zheng again would be cruel.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her hair. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault. You tried your best. Don’t blame yourself, alright?”
In that moment, all the grievance in her heart surged up. Quan Heng buried her head in Shen Zhengyu’s chest and cried silently.
Shen Zhengyu held her tightly, as if cradling a long-lost treasure.
No matter what, at least for now, she was in his arms, trusting him, relying on him—that was enough to make him happy.
“Heng’er, since you can’t bring yourself to kill him, staying here will only continue to hurt you. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll take you away from here and reunite you with your parents. How about that?”
Quan Heng gave a bitter smile. “If I could, of course I’d want to escape. But Wen Zheng… he’s cruel and cunning. If I just disappear, he’ll tear the world apart to find me and drag me back.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to waste the effort.”
Shen Zhengyu held her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “If you trust me, I do have a method. It’s risky, but it might work.”
Quan Heng asked, puzzled, “What is it?”
As he spoke, Shen Zhengyu pulled out a small vial and handed it to her. “This contains a fake-death pill. Take it, and within the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, blood will seep from all seven orifices and your breath will stop. But it won’t be true death. In three days, you’ll wake up. You’ll feel weak, but there won’t be any lasting harm.”
“If you trust me, take it. I’ll come for you.”
For a moment, a spark lit up in Quan Heng’s eyes.
Staring at the tiny bottle in her hands, she realized—this might be her only chance to escape.
But she and Wen Zheng… had they really come to this point?
Must one of them truly “die” before this entanglement could be severed?
Her mind grew hazy, her heart aching faintly.
Shen Zhengyu glanced out the window—it was growing light. If he stayed any longer, the servants might notice.
“Heng’er, think it over. No matter what, I’ll come again in three days. What kind of future you want—it all depends on your choice.”
With that, he slipped out the window and vanished.
Quan Heng sat limply on the bed, staring blankly at the pill in her hand, thoughts churning.
That day, she finally found a bit of energy. She carefully did her makeup and chose a beautiful outfit.
Out of many dresses, she picked a pink one at first glance.
The style and color were almost identical to the one they had once bought together in the town near Baixue Manor.
It was a pity the original had been ruined by Chunhua and never worn.
To think Wen Zheng had found something so similar—it must have taken effort.
Only now did she realize that although she had been imprisoned these days, she hadn’t been treated poorly.
Wen Zheng had sent all kinds of things—food, clothes, jewelry, makeup—everything in abundance.
But what did it matter? No matter how much he gave, they were all external things. What she truly wanted was freedom.
After lunch, she went out to the courtyard and lay on a lounge chair to rest.
At that moment, her heart was calm.
Seeing she was resting, the maids didn’t disturb her. She slept until dusk.
“Miss, dinner is ready. Would you like to eat now?”
Quan Heng turned to look at Fendai and smiled. “Alright.”
Back in the room, seeing the colorful and fragrant dishes, she tasted every one for the first time—and even gave a few compliments.
Fendai was nearly stunned. “As long as you like it.”
This whole time, Miss Gu had always looked gloomy and barely ate anything. Fendai had worried her health wouldn’t hold.
Now, she was eating well and even smiling—it almost seemed like things were finally getting better.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.
Fendai went to the door to check. Delighted, she called out, “Miss, Young Master has returned.”
Seizing the moment when Fendai had her back turned, Quan Heng made up her mind. She pulled out the fake-death pill and, without hesitation, shoved it into her mouth and swallowed it.
“Oh? Is that so? I’m eating too—have him come join me.”
Fendai smiled happily and, after a quick reply, rushed out to bring Wen Zheng in.
Quan Heng looked up and saw that he had changed clothes; the bloodstains from before were gone, but his face was still pale.
Of course. He was so badly injured yesterday and had even been stabbed in the chest by her with a shard of porcelain. If it were anyone else, they’d be bedridden by now. Wen Zheng, however, had trained in martial arts for years and had a solid foundation—only that could explain how he could still move freely. He certainly hadn’t recovered.
“Ah Zheng, you’re back. Sit and eat, then.”
Wen Zheng looked at her in surprise. “Didn’t you say yesterday that from now on, we were to be complete strangers? Why are you suddenly inviting me to eat with you today?”
Quan Heng smiled gently. “I’ve thought it through. In truth, the moment I saved you at the bottom of that cliff, fate already bound us together in ways that can’t be severed. I truly did love you. And since I couldn’t bring myself to kill you… then let’s make peace. If we can live out our lives peacefully, I’d be content.”
Wen Zheng gripped her hand, visibly moved. “You mean it?”
Quan Heng nodded. “Of course I do.”
At that moment, Wen Zheng realized she seemed to have put effort into her appearance today—makeup, new clothes. Under the candlelight, her already-beautiful face looked even more delicate and tender.
Yet, a sense of unease suddenly rose in Wen Zheng’s heart.
Ah Heng was never one to yield easily. Just yesterday, in her desperate attempt to escape, she had hidden porcelain shards to try and kill him. And now today…
How could she forgive him so easily?
She should hate him. She should be beating him, scolding him, forcing him to let her go.
“Ah Heng, are you hiding something from me? If you are, please don’t keep it to yourself—tell me.”
He frowned and gently touched her cheek. “These past days, I was wrong… Once that young master of the Xie family marries someone else, and your cousin finally gives up, I promise—I’ll let you go. I swear I won’t go back on it.”
Bitterness rose in Quan Heng’s heart. At this point, no matter what he said, she no longer believed him.
And besides, it was too late for anything now.
“Alright, I’ll wait for that day. When it comes, you must also bring my parents back and restore their status. Don’t let them suffer anymore. Only then will I agree to marry you.”
Wen Zheng nodded with a smile. “Of course. This lifetime, I will treat your parents as my own.”
Seeing Quan Heng smile shyly, Wen Zheng’s unease only grew. “Ah Heng… you’re really not hiding anything from me?”
Quan Heng picked up a piece of meat and placed it in his bowl. “No, nothing.”
Seeing he didn’t touch his food and only looked at her worriedly, Quan Heng gave a helpless expression. “It’s just… today I suddenly remembered a lot from our past. We came all the way here from Baixue Manor—it’s only been a few months, but when I think about digging for Dendrobium on the mountain back then, it feels like a lifetime ago.”
Wen Zheng held her hand. “If you want to go back, once we’re married, I’ll take you to stay at Baixue Manor for a while. However long you want to stay, I’ll stay with you.”
At those words, Quan Heng’s nose stung with emotion.
At the same time, she felt a surge of blood rising in her throat. She knew—the pill was starting to take effect. Her time was running out.
She stood, walked over to Wen Zheng, stroked his pale lips, and kissed him.
“Really? If that day truly comes, I’ll be very happy.”
Wen Zheng was stunned by the kiss and flustered for a moment. Then, overjoyed, he tightly embraced her.
“It’s true, Ah Heng.”
Quan Heng gave a bitter smile. “Alright. If there’s a next life, then let’s live like that.”
At these words, Wen Zheng’s eyes widened, alarm bells ringing in his heart.
“Ah Heng, what do you mean by that? What do you mean ‘next life’? We still have this life—why wait?”
Quan Heng took a deep breath, forcing down the taste of blood in her throat. “Wen Zheng, when I said I forgive you, I meant it. In this life, we truly did love each other. There’s no need to part in hatred.”
“I don’t hate you anymore.”
As the words left her lips, she could no longer suppress the pain. A mouthful of blood sprayed from her mouth, splattering all over Wen Zheng’s clothes.
Her strength completely drained, she collapsed.
In that instant, Wen Zheng’s eyes widened in horror.
He dropped to his knees and crawled to her, pulling her tightly into his arms.
“Ah Heng! What’s wrong? Is there poison in the food? Did those maids and old women poison you? Hold on, I’ll find a doctor!”
