Chapter 71: Beyond the Bounds

Xu You suddenly felt a pang of sympathy. Wenjun Zhan, a woman of such steadfast resolve and courage, if she showed a vulnerable side, it must mean that both her mind and body were enduring tremendous torment.

Was it to prevent Guo Mian from being detained by the Prefect’s Mansion?

Was it to stop the Zhan family from being swallowed up by the Celestial Master Sect?

Or was it due to some even more terrifying reason?

His hand twitched slightly, as if wanting to reach out and grasp the delicate jade-like hand of the lady, offering a bit of warmth and support.

But he must not!

He must not overstep boundaries!

The two sat facing each other in silence—one shared thought, two separate sorrows.

The white candle flickered with a crackling sound, melting into teardrop-shaped wax pooling onto the candleholder. Wan Qi had been waiting nearby but rarely handled such trivial tasks and had not replaced the candle in advance. Hearing the flame burn out, she hurriedly fetched a new white candle and quickly placed it in the stand.

After this brief interruption, Wenjun Zhan composed herself and resumed her usual demeanor. She said, “My lord, the matters we discussed just now were not because I am unreasonable or intentionally making things difficult for you. Bai Hua is my maidservant, having served me for many years, never leaving my side day or night. I have long regarded her as a sister. Though this sudden trouble arose, there are reasons behind it. Even when you, a stranger to her, offered righteous rescue, how could I sit idly by and do nothing?”

Xu You scratched his head. “Then, forgive my dullness, but the earlier argument...”

“That was to silence Bai Shu!”

Wenjun Zhan found Xu You’s small gesture endearing, her lips almost curling into a smile, but she restrained herself, lowering her gaze and speaking softly, “If even I cannot convince Bai Shu, who has managed the Spring Well for years with a steadfast heart that I cannot shake, how could she relent and spare Bai Hua?”

So the root of the problem lay with Bai Shu. Wenjun Zhan’s great wariness of this maid—what could be the reason?

Xu You wondered, “I have only met Bai Shu once. Her words were curt, her demeanor steady. She doesn’t strike me as someone bold enough to defy your orders.”

Wenjun Zhan smiled bitterly, helplessly explaining, “Bai Shu was brought to our household by my uncle from Jinling and has long been his trusted aide. After I came to the Guo estate, my uncle gradually handed over the mansion’s authority to me, which may have displeased Bai Shu... This is a family shame I should not reveal to you, but now that things have come this far, there is no need to conceal it.”

Xu You grew even more puzzled. In Chu, the social hierarchy was strict: once a slave, always a slave, unless the master freed you, you remained beneath others for life. Bai Shu, a servant, dared to challenge the mistress—though history knows of cruel slaves bullying their masters, it was usually because the master was weak or incompetent. Wenjun Zhan was sharp and in the prime of her youth, not someone easily bullied. Yet Bai Shu controlled the Spring Well, pressing forward step by step, allowing imprisonment and even killing at will—an unusually ambitious servant.

Could it be that Guo Mian had some unspeakable intimacy with Bai Shu, so he turned a blind eye while she bullied his daughter-in-law?

Xu You stroked his chin, but judging from Bai Shu’s appearance—utterly unlike Song Shenfei—she hardly seemed to fit Guo Mian’s taste.

This matter was truly strange!

Wenjun Zhan had spoken to this point and would not delve further, so Xu You wisely refrained from pressing and resolutely said, “Please summon Bai Shu. I have a way to make her spare Bai Hua.”

Bai Shu emerged from the bitter spring, glancing at Wan Qi just outside the door. “Madam calls for me? I am currently interrogating Bai Hua. If there is nothing urgent, please inform Madam I will come shortly.”

A faint scent of blood wafted from behind the stone door. Wan Qi’s hand clenched tightly, her cold gaze seeming to pierce Bai Shu’s body, probing all within the bitter spring.

The bitter spring was rumored to house thirteen instruments of torture; few could endure to the tenth. One wondered what Bai Hua was enduring at this moment!

“Madam urgently summoned you; there is no time to delay!”

Bai Shu looked at Wan Qi’s expression, then turned back. “Jinxiu!”

Jinxiu promptly appeared and respectfully asked, “What orders does the young lady have?”

“I’m going to see Madam. You will take over the interrogation. Remember, leave no detail unchecked, no matter how small!”

“Understood!”

For the first time, Wan Qi greatly desired to slap someone but restrained herself, turning to leave first.

Jinxiu chuckled softly. “Look at her expression, as if her heart might explode with rage. Haha, does she still hope to break the prison? She must have three lives’ worth of guts!”

Bai Shu said coldly, “Do your duty.”

Jinxiu’s smile faded; she knelt, forehead touching the ground, trembling with fear. “Yes, madam!”

Two maidservants carefully helped Bai Shu down from the cushioned chair. Although Wenjun Zhan had repeatedly told her not to perform formalities, Bai Shu insisted, brushing aside the two women, folding her hands and kneeling deeply. “Madam summons me at this late hour. May I ask the reason?”

Wenjun Zhan’s expression was calm. “Sit and speak. This is Lord Xu, whom you have met before.”

Bai Shu rose and faced Xu You, showing no surprise at his late-night presence in Wenjun Zhan’s chamber. She nodded slightly. “Lord Xu.”

Xu You smiled. “No need for formalities.”

Once she was seated, Wenjun Zhan got straight to the point. “Lord Xu and I have discussed Bai Hua’s case and agree it needs further consideration. Hence, I invited you here to hear your thoughts.”

Bai Shu was silent for a moment before replying, “Madam, whether Bai Hua is truly coerced as she claims requires further investigation. But regardless of the truth, her betrayal of the family is settled, and the Spring Well has its own laws to enforce!”

The implication was clear: once handed to the Spring Well, Bai Hua was no longer Wenjun Zhan’s concern. Wenjun Zhan’s eyes sharpened. “Are you saying I’m meddling?”

Bai Shu bowed her head. “Far from it! Madam now bears the heavy burden of the Guo family’s fate—saving the young master from disaster and preventing the Zhan family from falling into the Celestial Master Sect’s hands. You are already exhausted in body and mind. I am but a humble servant, unable to ease your toil. If even a minor matter like Bai Hua requires your repeated involvement, I am utterly to blame.”

This girl had quite the way with words!

Xu You silently admired her eloquence and interjected, “Our last meeting was too brief for proper discussion. Today, I shamelessly begged Madam to summon you—not to interfere with the Spring Well’s laws, but...”

He paused, seeing Bai Shu’s gaze fully on him. He feigned contemplation. “But you have acted too hastily in this matter, and your handling is somewhat improper.”

Anyone who considered themselves intelligent detested having their competence questioned. Bai Shu let out a slight scoff. “May I ask Lord Xu, in what way was my handling improper?”

“Bai Hua’s betrayal is indeed detestable, but the priority now is to use her to uncover who is truly behind this! Have you read the Zuo Tradition? Gongsunzi slew the invincible Ying Shukaoshe with a hidden arrow. Open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to defend against. The Prefect’s Mansion and the Celestial Master Sect are overt enemies; when they attack, you can defend or hide. But the one secretly coercing Bai Hua to spy on the mansion—unknown origin and intent—is the real danger!”

“Open attacks are easy to dodge, hidden arrows hard to defend... defend against attacks, hide from floods,” Bai Shu repeated twice. “Lord Xu’s words are concise and profound. I am but ignorant; please continue your guidance.”

“You captured Bai Hua and perhaps tortured her until she was bruised and battered. So what? Even if you killed her, what then? It’s just a life. Death brings no benefit to the Guo family.”

Xu You’s voice was steady and calm, neither rushed nor heavy, soft yet magnetic, his words carrying undeniable conviction.

This was a skill of speech: why do some speakers bore you to sleep, while others fascinate you utterly? The essence of persuasion and even brainwashing lies in mastering this hypnotic art.

“But if you spare her life and use her as bait, you can turn the tables. At best, pass false information through Bai Hua to stabilize the situation until the storm passes. At worst, lay a trap, catch the culprit when they reveal themselves, and then trace the enemy from the shadows into the light.”

“Whichever plan you choose, it is a hundred times better than simply executing Bai Hua. If you truly care for the Guo family’s welfare, please consider this carefully and not act rashly!”

The phrase “act rashly” was severe, but Xu You was indirectly defending Wenjun Zhan’s position. Bai Shu glanced at Wenjun Zhan, then at Xu You. “Your words have merit, Lord Xu, but who can guarantee Bai Hua would sincerely help us set such a trap? As long as her kin are held captive, she cannot be trusted!”

“Then the first task is to save them.”