The night was as black as ink. Scattered sparks merged into a continuous expanse, making the village seem as bright as day. Beneath the firelight were the noisy footsteps and the roars of men.
"The general has given the order. We must catch that thief tonight!"
"Keep your eyes peeled, all of you! Search every nook and cranny!"
Based on her years of experience from reading novels and listening to stories, Lu Yinxi was certain that the people outside were searching for the man behind her.
She had only been in this world for a day. The revenge of the original owner was yet to be taken, and the idyllic life she yearned for was still out of reach. She didn't want to get involved in unnecessary trouble.
Lowering her eyes, the young girl pondered whether to use her speech - charm to make the man leave on his own.
The man seemed to sense her intention. The sharp blade in his hand inched closer to her throat. His breath fanned against her ear, his voice low and menacing.
"I mean no harm to the young lady. Please don't have any unwise thoughts."
Damn it!
With her life in the man's hands, Lu Yinxi didn't dare to take the risk. She had no idea whether her voice or his knife would be faster.
Clenching her fists and gritting her teeth, she forced herself to swallow her anger and abandon her previous plan. But the voices outside were getting closer.
There were only a few households in the vicinity. If they searched house by house, those people would surely reach their village sooner or later.
Finally, not long after, Lu Yinxi heard someone knocking on her door.
"Fourth Miss, are you awake?
There are some constables in the village. They claim to be on a mission to arrest a thief and want to search your room."
The blade tightened suddenly. The young girl could feel the sharp pain as her skin was cut, but she had to endure it. She also had to pretend that nothing had happened and act like a noble young lady.
"Humph, on a mission? Whose mission?"
"Of course, it's from General Mingwei."
The one who replied was the leading constable.
Tsk, a fourth - rank official!
Lu Yinxi raised her eyebrows, her tone becoming even more haughty. "A mere fourth - rank military general dares to search my room?
Don't you even bother to find out whose village this is?"
Without giving the constable outside a chance to respond, she continued, "Aunt Liu, you've lost your wits, not just your teeth. Don't let any riff - raff into the village in the future."
Her nonchalant tone made the middle - aged woman outside recall the scene during the day when she was trampled underfoot.
Fear welled up uncontrollably again. The thought of deliberately letting the constables in to ruin the Fourth Miss's reputation was silently suppressed.
On the other hand, the constable, feeling humiliated, roared "How dare you!" and crossed his long sword in front of his chest, ready to barge in.
The young girl inside seemed to hear his movement. Her voice rang out calmly once again.
"Sir, have you thought this through?
If you really break into my room tonight, who knows how the Prime Minister's Mansion will deal with you and your general tomorrow."
The Prime Minister's Mansion?
The constable's footsteps came to a halt at these words.
In the current court, there were two prime ministers. Those who could claim to be from the Prime Minister's Mansion must be one of them, and he couldn't afford to offend either.
While hesitating, a soldier trotted over and stood beside him, then whispered in a low voice.
"Sir, we've found out. This is the village of Prime Minister Lu."
Hearing this, the constable finally made up his mind.
"Let's go!"
Inside the room
Hearing the gradually fading footsteps, the man loosened his hold on the dagger a bit. Lu Yinxi felt a chill run down her spine. She quickly broke free from his restraint and put a relatively safe distance between them.
With the faint moonlight, she finally got a rough look at the man.
Dressed in black night - clothes, he almost blended in with the darkness. A black cloth covered his face, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes and straight sword - shaped eyebrows.
But those eyebrows were now knitted together, as if he was enduring something.
Lu Yinxi didn't have the time to care about this. All she wanted now was for this man to leave quickly lest he drag her into trouble.
"Sir... friend, those people have left. Shouldn't you leave too?"
Hearing this, the black - clothed man didn't rush to leave. Instead, he gave her a meaningful look and then slowly sat down beside the table.
"The young lady is quite different from others."
Being held hostage by a strange man in the middle of the night, she wasn't flustered at all. Instead, she was extremely calm, not at all like a sixteen - year - old girl.
Moreover, she had mentioned the Prime Minister's Mansion just now.
This caught the man's attention.
He didn't remember that any young lady from the mansions of Prime Minister Lu or Prime Minister Zhang had come to live in the village recently.
In response, the young girl only said four words.
"Please leave!"
......
The room suddenly fell silent. No one spoke, and no one moved. There was only the faint sound of breathing. But Lu Yinxi's heart was in turmoil.
No reaction?
Why didn't this man react?
A conjecture gradually took shape in her mind. She forced herself to calm down and spoke coldly again.
"I said, please leave my room!"
There was no stabbing pain in her chest, and the black - clothed man still didn't move.
Her speech - charm had failed?!