Mornings in the Xie Manor were quiet—so quiet that even the rustle of magpies settling on branches seemed jarring.
Xi Yao woke early and sat before the bronze mirror, letting her maidservant comb her hair.
"Young Miss, which outfit would you like to wear today?" Xiao Tao asked cautiously.
Xi Yao blinked. "Which one looks the most like Shen Ruxue?"
"...That would be this moon-white ruqun." Xiao Tao hurriedly fetched the garment—simple and elegant, its sleeves embroidered with faint lotus patterns.
Xi Yao stared at the dress, then sighed.
"For the sake of the main quest, this immortal is sacrificing her dignity."
---
After breakfast, Xi Yao perched in the corridor outside the flower hall, pretending to read a poetry book.
Pretending was the key.
She turned the pages gracefully while straining her ears for movement.
"The Marquis passes by here every day. If he doesn't show up today… I'll just throw myself on the ground and fake an injury."
Mirror Spirit: "Is this the famed dignity of an immortal?"
Xi Yao: "I'm also famed for beating people up. Want a demonstration?"
Just as she muttered under her breath, a faint breeze stirred, carrying a trace of cold fragrance.
She looked up—and there he was. Xie Heng.
Today, he wore a dark blue martial robe, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, his steps steady, his brow furrowed with frost.
Xi Yao immediately rose, offering a delicate smile. "My Lord, what a fine morning."
Xie Heng paused, glanced at her, and gave a cold "Mn," before continuing on his way.
Xi Yao: "..."
At least wait for your fake white moonlight stand-in!
She lifted her skirts delicately, taking a few quick steps to catch up, her smile unwavering. "Yesterday, I read some of Sister Shen's old poetry and came across a line—'Spring waters bluer than the sky, listening to rain in a painted boat.' I thought… she must have loved spring scenery dearly."
Xie Heng stopped.
Slowly, he turned, his gaze inscrutable. "How did you know she favored that line?"
Xi Yao inwardly cheered. Got you!
Outwardly, she feigned innocence. "Just a guess. My Lord wears such a cold expression every day—you must miss her terribly."
Xie Heng's frown deepened.
She lowered her eyes, affecting shyness. "I know I can't compare to Sister Shen, but… if My Lord doesn't despise me, I could accompany you in her stead."
The air hung silent for several breaths.
Then Xie Heng asked, "You would replace her?"
"Mn." Her voice was soft as dew. "She's gone. I just… can't bear to see you alone."
Xie Heng sneered. "You act well."
Xi Yao mentally rolled her eyes but kept her tone gentle. "I'm not her, but… I'd like to fulfill the kindness she left unfinished."
Xie Heng studied her eyes.
And in that moment, he saw something that didn't belong to "Xi Yao."
A spark. Defiance. Even a hint of… mischief?
"Unlike her," he murmured. "Her eyes never held fire."
Xi Yao smiled faintly. "Perhaps My Lord never truly looked."
---
By dusk, Xi Yao sat by the pond, feeding the koi.
The water shimmered as she flicked a pellet from her fingers, sending the fish into a frenzy.
"So even Sister Shen's fish get VIP treatment," she mused aloud. "My Lord really keeps everything of hers."
Mirror Spirit: "Keep talking, and you'll fully transition into the villainess."
Xi Yao: "This Young Miss isn't evil—she's heart-protecting."
Her gaze flickered to the bamboo grove in the distance, where a shadow shifted.
He was watching her.
He was starting to notice.
And this was only the beginning.
---
Late that night, Xie Heng sat at his desk, staring blankly at the poetry collection.
His fingers traced the pages before stopping at one verse:
"I remember a youth in white robes,
holding an umbrella as we faced the east wind's chill."
He had read this line countless times without thought.
But tonight, unbidden, his mind conjured the image of her standing in the spring light, smiling as she said, "I'll accompany you."
Unlike Shen Ruxue.
And yet… had he seen that expression somewhere before?
Xie Heng closed the book slowly, turmoil churning in his eyes.
He didn't know.
He couldn't remember.
But the obsession in his heart no longer beat solely for "Shen Ruxue."
He was beginning… to notice the warmth of that "shadow."
---
The next morning, just as Xi Yao prepared to resume her act, a summons came—she was to visit the ancestral hall at the back hill.
Before she could react, the Xie steward bowed apologetically.
"The Marquis requests you pay respects to Miss Shen."
Xi Yao: "..."
How thoughtful.
Not only was she playing stand-in, now she had to worship the original? This script was getting brutal.
But until the mission was complete, she had to endure.
Dressed in plain white mourning robes, she entered the hall with an incense box.
Amid the curling smoke, the characters "Shen Ruxue" glared from the memorial tablet.
Xi Yao knelt, pressing her forehead to the ground.
"Sister Shen… I've come."
Her whisper was barely audible. "If your spirit lingers, don't blame me for stealing your fiancé. You just weren't as stubborn as I am."
Mirror Spirit: "...Your madness is impressively balanced."
Then—footsteps sounded at the door.
Xie Heng stood framed in the entrance, his gaze razor-sharp.
"What did you say?"
Xi Yao froze, then lifted her head with a smile. "I was just… greeting Sister Shen."
Xie Heng's eyes darkened as they bored into hers.
"Who are you, really?"
Her pulse stuttered.
He was starting to doubt.
Starting to see her… not just as "her."