After Elder Fu returned, he met Haozhou's expectant gaze.
"How was it, Father?"
"He was taken away. Right now, Young Master Zhou is half dead and lying in bed."
Elder Wen was puzzled, wondering who had the ability to take someone from Young Master Zhou's hands. He checked the arrows at the scene. They were ordinary arrows, but every shot was ruthless and deadly.
Haozhou couldn't hold back and threw the porcelain cup on the table.
"I told you we should've acted first. But you said there was plenty of time. Look what happened now, someone took them."
"Why are you panicking? The attackers wore masks. Most likely, this was done by someone local."
Elder Wen looked at his son's recklessness and felt disappointed. If it weren't for his support from behind the scenes, Haozhou's reckless nature would've gotten him killed long ago.
Haozhou immediately wanted to take people and search outside.
"Come back."
"Where do you think you're going to look?"
"Changle Courtyard!"
Elder Wen shook his head. "No, not Changle. The attackers were young and well-trained. They're not just a disorganized mob."
"Haozhou, did you see anything strange or unusual at the auction?"
Haozhou suddenly remembered and hesitated, "At the start of the auction, I saw Indigo. But when the person was taken, he was nowhere to be seen."
"Could it be him?"
Elder Wen froze. If it was him, this could get complicated. From what he knew, Elder Yue seemed to have given up on that son, but secretly he guarded him more closely than anyone.
The Yue Residence had no shortage of visible and hidden guards.
"You stay out of this. I'll handle it," Elder Wen said, shaking his head at his impulsive son.
"You snuck into the Yue Residence a few nights ago. I haven't even dealt with that yet."
"Father, what's there to be afraid of? He's just a concubine's son from the Yue family," Haozhou said, confused. He was tired of kissing up to Indigo's cold attitude.
Hearing that made Elder Fu furious. "I told you to build a good relationship with him, and this is what you call building ties?" He nearly offended the person to death.
"I haven't been patient enough? If it were anyone else, I would've already killed him. Yet I let him jump around freely in front of me."
"Who do you think you are, calling yourself someone's 'master'?" Elder Wen slapped him again. "Useless brat."
"Father!"
"Father what!" he shouted. "You are to stay at home for the next few days. Don't go anywhere."
"Pass the order down. No one is to let the young master leave the house." Elder Wen instructed the servant as he walked out.
"Father, why are you locking me up? I need to find that person!" Haozhou shouted angrily at the person trying to lock the door. "Get lost!"
"Young master, please don't make it hard for me. These are the old master's orders."
Click. The sound of the door being locked.
...
When Aenwyn woke up in bed again, her clothes had been changed. She didn't want to think about who had changed them. It could only be that wretched man.
Her clothes had been changed. She didn't even need to check to know the precious seal and silver notes she had hidden on her were gone.
Two days of effort wasted for nothing.
Aenwyn silently stared at the canopy above her. Her mood was extremely low. She couldn't win in a fight, couldn't escape either. What should she do? Where could she go?
As she was thinking, she turned her head and saw her backpack sitting on the small table nearby.
"They actually picked it up and brought it back," Aenwyn said in surprise.
She pulled out her familiar sketchboard and, indulgently, began squeezing paint onto her palette.
"Oh, too much, too much."
This was her treasure. She had to use it sparingly. She looked at the paint on the palette and felt heartbroken. She couldn't believe she had thrown it away so easily before.
There was barely any left.
She needed to paint something to calm herself down.
She spread the white paper. Her brush strokes were steady, almost like she was divinely inspired.
The painting flowed naturally from her hands, lively and graceful, bursting with color and bold brushwork. She was a romantic-style painter. Without freedom, she'd rather die.
When freedom is taken away and a life-saving favor turns twisted, is it still worth staying kind-hearted and showing mercy to that boy?
Many had fallen for her, but none met a good end. Her lack of affection was never out of cruelty, but out of pity.
After finishing the rose in her hand, Aenwyn laughed softly. She thought to herself, how shameless she was.
A blooming rose was painted on the paper. Its petals were vivid and looked as if they were dripping with color. The drooping bud seemed to tempt others to pick it.
Beneath the bud were sharp thorns, and on the tip of one thorn hung a single dewdrop. That dewdrop sparkled black under the sunlight.
The entire picture was rich in color, with stark contrasts between light and dark, and the brushwork was powerful. It made people want to keep looking.
Indigo couldn't help but praise it aloud. He had never seen such a magical painting.
"Is this a rose?"
"Yes, it symbolizes love." Aenwyn turned her head, smiled faintly, "Should I give it to you?"
Sunlight from the window shone on her, casting a soft glow over her. The beautiful girl looked back with a gentle smile, holding her brush.
Everything felt unbelievably perfect.
Indigo's heart pounded fast. She wasn't angry? He had taken her identity tag and her money.
She had cried so desperately yesterday, but today she acted like nothing had happened? Indigo instinctively felt something was off.
This wicked girl, she was definitely planning to escape!
He kept his face tense and glanced longingly at the blooming rose, then quickly looked away. He didn't respond to Aenwyn's teasing words.
"Time to eat."
Aenwyn put down the brush. "Really don't want it? Then I'll keep it and give it to someone else."
She smiled sweetly, dimples showing, enough to make someone dizzy.
"Do as you like!"
"Then who should I give it to? Maybe the gentleman who bought me yesterday."
"No way!" Indigo got angry. He knew she was teasing him, but he still couldn't take it.
How could a woman be this bad?
He wanted to strangle her.
A soft, pleasant scent came closer. "Indigo." Her voice was gentle and sweet. No man could resist her when she spoke like that.
"Don't be mad. I'll only give my painting to Indigo, okay?"
Indigo hadn't wanted to respond to her, but the moment he looked up, he drowned in her bright eyes.
She was too beautiful. When she looked at him with those moist eyes, he couldn't control his heartbeat.
Indigo held back from reaching out to pull her in, grabbing her slim waist. He gritted his teeth, "You're seducing me."
They stared at each other. The air turned warm and suggestive. Aenwyn was best at creating this kind of atmosphere. She bit her lip slightly, "Stop messing around, I'm hungry."
Indigo held back his emotions, gently hugging her and made her finish the meal. Today's dish was honey-roasted meat. Too sweet.
"Is it sweet?"
"You try it." Aenwyn picked up a piece and offered it to him.
"I'll try it." He lowered his head and kissed her instead. It was fierce, like he wanted to swallow her whole. Aenwyn clung to his collar, looking weak and delicate.
Too sweet. Sweet down to his heart.
Indigo's eyes darkened. "Can I?"
"Can I?" he asked softly.
Aenwyn's eyes were very clear. "Indigo, are you asking me to repay the favor of saving my life?"
It was like a bucket of cold water. The image of her crying and pulling open her clothes yesterday flashed through Indigo's mind.
He stopped the kiss and hugged her tightly, his voice hoarse. "I'll wait for the day you truly want to."
Aenwyn stayed quietly in his arms without speaking.
After eating, Indigo carried her out to enjoy the sun. The sky was beautiful, more so than in modern times. Aenwyn lay on him, almost falling asleep.
Just then, Uncle Zhong brought over a bundle.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Something to help you disguise yourself."
People all over the city were looking for her. Though this place was hidden, it wasn't completely safe.
When she opened it, there was a set of short-collared clothes that fit her, and some strange cosmetics.
"Disguise as a man?"
"Disguise as my servant."
"What about my tag?" She didn't want to be a servant.
"I kept it for you. It doesn't suit you." Indigo explained, "The age and face on it don't match." But the truth was, he just didn't want her to run again.
Aenwyn was doubtful, but didn't ask more.
She took the bundle and changed in the room. When she came out again, Indigo saw a small and plain servant.
Dull skin, messy eyebrows, freckles on her face. She looked nothing like before. The only thing still recognizable was her big eyes.
He sighed. He had to admit, this girl had what it took to run away on her own.
"Let's go." He held her hand, ready to leave with her.
"You're letting me go?" Aenwyn was surprised.
"Yes." Indigo held her hand and walked out. He had never planned to keep her locked in.
Aenwyn thought he would imprison her. So she had misunderstood? She shook her head and laughed softly. All her planning and running was for nothing. He never meant to trap her.
For the first time, she truly looked at the tall young man.
But luck was not on their side. As soon as they stepped outside, they ran into a group of soldiers searching the area.