Volume One, Chapter 14: He Has Seen Me
The dagger pressed against the assassin’s throat was just an inch away from piercing him, and he recoiled backward.
In the next instant, the long sword thrust toward Song Xianwan again—each strike deadly, aimed to take her life.
She tumbled off the bed, reaching out to knock over a nearby vase.
The shattering sound startled the maid on night watch outside.
Immediately, Song Xianwan’s loud cries for help rang out, and the entire Begonia Garden was illuminated.
She threw the dagger to the floor and moved toward the door, grabbing a cloak to wrap around herself as she went.
The guards at the door, alerted by her cries, rushed in. Song Xianwan leaned against Fu Ling, sobbing uncontrollably.
Seeing this, the assassin inside knew he couldn’t kill her tonight and had no choice but to leap out the window.
“Miss, what happened?”
Madam Song hurried over, wrapping her own clothes around Song Xianwan as she wept.
“There’s an assassin in the mansion. Madam Song, please inform the steward immediately.”
With that, Song Xianwan subtly glanced at Madam Song.
Madam Song paused, then nodded in understanding.
About fifteen minutes later, Madam Kang, attendant to the Old Madam Qin, arrived in haste.
“Miss, are you hurt?”
In the side chamber, Song Xianwan sat quietly, still shaken.
Tears streaming down, she said, “If I hadn’t been restless and gotten up to see the sword, I might not have survived.”
Her voice choked with emotion, she clutched Madam Kang’s hand and wept softly.
Feeling her pain, Madam Kang patted her reassuringly. “Don’t be afraid, the Old Madam already knows.”
“Greetings, cousin. The madam sent me to check on you,” came Madam Li’s voice from outside.
Song Xianwan looked up and nodded politely. “Thank you for your concern, Fifth Aunt.”
After some polite conversation, Song Xianwan asked Fu Ling to escort her out.
The Old Madam Qin was still waiting at the Tranquil Harmony Garden, and Madam Kang had to return.
“If you’re afraid, Miss, why not stay at the Tranquil Harmony Garden with me tonight?”
Hearing this, Song Xianwan shook her head gently. “If I go, Grandmother surely won’t be able to sleep. I’d better not.”
“Your heart is with the Old Madam, and she will be comforted to know you’re safe. But you needn’t worry too much,” Madam Kang said, lightly patting Song Xianwan’s hand. “Don’t forget what the Eldest Young Master does.”
Qin Songting oversees the Court of Justice and maintains a good relationship with Wei Qian, Commander of the Capital Guard.
For an assassin to dare strike at the Marquis of Yongning’s residence, they had truly met their match.
“If Grandmother asks, please tell her I took medicine and have already gone to sleep.”
Song Xianwan wiped her tears and stood, her mature words stirring Madam Kang’s heart once more.
After seeing the ladies off, Song Xianwan’s face was composed, showing not a trace of fear.
“Fu Ling, go inside and put away my dagger.”
After giving the order, she looked down at the imprint left on her palm.
She was still too weak; otherwise, the assassin would have been injured or killed.
“Miss, do you know who sent the assassin?”
Madam Song approached with a clean handkerchief to wipe the marks from her hand.
Song Xianwan shook her head. “I don’t know, but it wasn’t someone from Gu Shuya’s faction.”
If killing her were so easy, Gu Shuya would have acted long before she entered the Marquis’s mansion.
“Miss, I found this in the room.”
Fu Ling lifted the curtain and hurried over, placing an ornamental accessory into Song Xianwan’s palm.
“It was by the bedside, I noticed it when I picked up the dagger.”
Her brow furrowed, and Song Xianwan immediately recognized the origin of the item.
“It’s from the same group who tried to assassinate us in Liuzhou.”
A sudden thought hit her, and she clenched the accessory tightly. “He has seen me.”
Those four words stunned the three present.
“So, he—”
“The night was too dark; probably he didn’t see clearly.”
Song Xianwan took a deep breath and handed the accessory back to Fu Ling.
“Keep it safe.”
Turning, she sat down, and Fu Ling tucked the accessory into her waist before pouring her a glass of water.
“Whoever wants to kill you must be quite determined to follow you from Liuzhou all the way to the capital.”
“If only I knew,” Song Xianwan said, resting her hands on the table, exhaustion faintly coloring her face.
“Rest well tonight, Miss. The Old Madam will surely want to see you tomorrow.”
“Perhaps with the Eldest Young Master’s help, they’ll find the assassin.”
Madam Song’s reminder made Song Xianwan nod lightly. There was no use overthinking.
Early the next morning, Madam Kang came to escort Song Xianwan to the Tranquil Harmony Garden.
The Old Madam Qin had been worried all night, worried about Song Xianwan’s frail health and whether the assassin’s attack had frightened her to unrest.
News of the attack had spread through the households, so many had arrived early at the Tranquil Harmony Garden, even Madam Mingru, the usually reclusive Second Madam.
As Song Xianwan followed Madam Kang inside, she heard voices in conversation.
“Old Madam, Cousin has arrived.”
Hearing this, the Old Madam Qin called out for her to enter.
Pale-faced, Song Xianwan stepped in and approached the Old Madam. “Grandmother.”
Upon hearing this, the Old Madam’s heart ached. “The assassin didn’t hurt you, did he?”
Song Xianwan shook her head gently. “No, and it was thanks to my restless night that I managed to avoid danger.”
“Ah Wan, surviving such a calamity must bring blessings. But having an assassin in the Marquis’s residence has unsettled everyone; many are frightened,” Second Madam said, covering a cough.
The Old Madam pulled Song Xianwan to sit beside her. Song Xianwan glanced toward Second Madam, who was seated nearby.
Second Master was often away on official duty and rarely came home once a year. Second Madam’s health was poor, so she seldom left the estate.
They had two children: Fourth Young Master Qin Yuanming, serving in the border army, and Third Miss Qin Sining, who was already betrothed and would marry within the year.
Noticing Song Xianwan’s gaze, Mingru smiled gently—clearly a kind and approachable woman.
“Our Eldest Young Master has a good relationship with Wei Qian, the Capital Guard Commander. Finding the assassin won’t be a problem; Second Sister-in-Law, you need not worry so much,” Fourth Madam Liu Jing said after sipping her tea.
Her husband was the Old Madam Qin’s second legitimate son, Fourth Master Qin Yunxuan, who disliked court intrigues and chose commerce instead.
They were straightforward people who avoided trouble, and their son was only seven or eight years old.
Song Xianwan rarely appeared in public and had only seen them once upon entering the mansion.
This time, she had met all of them.
Lowering her eyes, she softly thanked them for their comfort.
“The assassin from last night has been caught, but they want Cousin and me to go to the Capital Guard Command.”
As the group talked, Qin Songting’s casual voice drifted in from outside.
The curtain swayed as he entered, hands behind his back, his piercing gaze fixed on Song Xianwan.
It was as if he was not looking at the assassin he had caught, but at her.