Chapter 5: The Encounter by the Woodshed

This was the reckoning coming after autumn.

Being beaten was the lesser matter; what she did not know was what other punishments awaited her.

Xiao Ru approached fiercely. Though fear gripped Xiao Yi’s heart, she still tried to relax her body as much as possible.

After enduring many beatings, she had learned that only by loosening up could she lessen the pain.

Yet, the expected sting of pain did not come for a long while. Puzzled, Xiao Yi timidly opened her eyes and saw Xiao Ru’s cold gaze fixed on her right arm, silent for a long time.

“If you want to kill or maim me, just say it. Why make me wait so long?” Xiao Yi’s voice trembled; she had first fallen into the water, then endured Xiao Ru’s claw—painful and cold—like rain falling on a leaky roof in the dead of night.

Seeing a flicker of hesitation in Xiao Ru’s eyes, just as she thought her brother had a sudden pang of conscience, he said, “If it weren’t for our parents protecting you, do you think I would have kept you around until now after you pushed Qiang Mei into the water a second time?”

“Yes, it’s true. I pushed her. I did it on purpose. So what are you going to do about it?” Xiao Yi was all too familiar with Xiao Ru’s favoritism. She lifted her chin high and looked at him defiantly.

Xiao Ru had thought her right arm’s wounds were ghastly, her face pale, lips colorless, and felt some guilt. But her words only reignited his rage.

He grabbed her right arm and glared fiercely. “Only two years, and I didn’t expect you to become so cunning and vicious.”

“Yes, I am exactly as malicious and ruthless as you think. If that’s the case, why did you bring me back into the family? Don’t you find me an eyesore?” Xiao Yi pointed to the iron ball chained to her foot. “Why not just unlock this iron ball and let us part ways? Each to our own path, take care of yourself.”

Though her words were sharp and her voice hoarse and intense, her nose was slightly red, and tears shimmered in her eyes.

It was as if one more word would break her down into tears.

Seeing her like this, a sudden sharp pain prickled at the back of Xiao Ru’s head, and his vision blurred.

Why did this scene seem so familiar?

As if someone once cried like this before him.

But the more he thought about it, the worse his headache grew.

He pinched the space between his brows to cast away the distracting thoughts, then furrowed them and said, “Today the wolf tribe’s envoy visits. Our parents are busy receiving them and haven’t had time to deal with you. You’d better pray Qiang Mei is unharmed.”

Pray for Xiao Qiang?

Both times she fell into the water, it was her own doing.

Unable to help herself, Xiao Yi muttered softly, “She jumped in on her own. Who else is to blame?”

The fox clan’s hearing was excellent. Hearing her muttering, Xiao Ru thought Xiao Yi was incorrigible and hopeless.

He grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the Western Garden. “If that’s the case, the room Qiang Mei prepared for you, you don’t deserve to live in it. Tonight, you’ll stay in the Western Garden’s wood shed and reflect properly.”

Xiao Ru’s grip was like a clamp. Xiao Yi struggled in vain and had to let him pull her along.

…

The Western Garden had been where Xiao Yi lived in her childhood, but after two years of absence, much of it had fallen into disrepair.

Trees were withered, weeds overgrew, and it had become a storage space for miscellaneous items.

The wood shed in a corner had long been abandoned.

When Xiao Ru unlocked the door and pushed it open, dust billowed out.

He waved his hand to disperse it and, unwilling to go in further, shoved Xiao Yi inside the shed and said, “When you’ve figured things out and know how to apologize to your elder sister, then come out.”

Xiao Yi was pushed down onto the ground. As he turned away, he closed the wooden door and locked it.

“Xiao Ru! Let me out!” Xiao Yi pounded on the door, but no one answered.

Peering through the crack, she saw only footprints left in the snow outside and realized Xiao Ru had already gone.

Again, just turning and leaving.

Resigned, Xiao Yi slid down slowly and sat on the ground, hugging her knees, curling into a ball.

In the vast White Fox Clan, she was utterly alone, with no one to rely on.

Tears silently fell, soaking the earth.

After a long while, she regained composure, wiped her tears, and looked around.

The wood shed in the Western Garden had long seen no visitors; cobwebs hung thick between beams, and dust covered the floor.

Others might disdain the filth, but Xiao Yi thought that having a roof to live under was already a blessing.

For two years on the border, with guards conspiring against her, she had to live in isolation, barely surviving in a mountain cave.

Though the shed was dilapidated, it at least shielded her from wind and rain. A corner held some firewood and straw, enough to keep warm.

By some stroke of luck, she even found a sickle inside the shed.

But its blade was rusty. After trying to use it to sharpen the iron chains on her foot, it broke.

Looks like she would have to find another way.

She searched the whole shed without other gains, then, before nightfall, tidied a clean spot, laid down some straw, and lay down.

Perhaps because it had been so long since she’d slept peacefully without fear, the moment her body touched the dry straw, she was exhausted and closed her eyes.

When the moon rose above the treetops, Xiao Yi was deep in sleep.

Suddenly, there was scratching at the door outside.

“Is anyone there?”

Startled awake, Xiao Yi did not respond but slowly approached the shed’s door, alert.

“I’m Xiao Qi.”

Xiao Qi?

Listening closer, Xiao Yi realized it was the white fox from before!

This white fox named Xiao Qi was somewhat friendly toward her, so Xiao Yi’s guard eased considerably.

She pressed her ear to the door crack and whispered, “What is it?”

Outside, Xiao Qi’s glossy black eyes looked kind. Hearing her reply and glimpsing her face, Xiao Qi quickly picked up a medicine bottle at his feet and pressed its mouth to the door crack.

Xiao Yi cautiously took the bottle. “What is this?”

Xiao Qi hesitated a moment before saying, “It’s wound medicine. During the day at the pavilion in the lake’s center, I saw from afar you had a quarrel with the young master and smelled blood. I guessed you were hurt.”

Sniffing the bottle, Xiao Yi confirmed it was indeed wound medicine.

Though grateful, she still harbored doubts. “Everyone else avoids me. Why are you so kind?”

Even on the way home before, if not for Xiao Qi, she likely would not have survived that ordeal.

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Qi’s eyes suddenly darkened, his fox ears drooping.

Though Xiao Yi herself had endured hardship, seeing the white fox lose his vitality saddened her.

Could there have been some past connection between her and this Xiao Qi before she was exiled as a slave?

Why did she have no memory of it?

Seeing the fox’s low spirits, she tentatively reached through the door to stroke him.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Qi responded immediately.

His mouth curved into a smile, ears perked up, and he lowered his body, inviting her to pet his head.

Understanding, Xiao Yi began gently rubbing him.

Their interaction was growing warm when a voice suddenly came from the shadows: “Only now do I realize that among the troops I personally led, someone has long been secretly colluding with the criminal slave.”

Both Xiao Yi and Xiao Qi were startled, turning toward the source of the voice.

A figure emerged slowly from the darkness. In the moonlight, Xiao Yi recognized him.

His face was dark and eyes filled with anger.

It was none other than Xiao Ru!