The Birth of a Villainess

Lin Xiaofei had not really thought that Qu Xing Xu would act so perversely and didn't think of the place to do that. Not that it mattered to her if he acted like that to her when they're all alone.

However, if things had gone terribly and his brothers noticed their suspicious actions earlier, she didn't know if she could live with the shame of being found out.

After escaping from her husband's daring act, Lin Xiaofei, however, did not go back to their shared courtyard, contrary to what her maids have thought of her doing.

"Madam, where are we going?"

Lin Xiaofei did not stop walking and after hearing Bai Lu asking her, she vaguely answered.

"Just some place I need to take care of." Before the maids following her could ask another question, Lin Xiaofei decided to order them to leave her alone. "I will go somewhere to breathe some fresh air. You two don't need to follow me."

"But…" Su Tang, the other maid following her, was slightly worried and wanted to continue following her young madam. But upon seeing that resolute back that was in front of her was enough to tell them that their mistress' order was final.

Hence, the maids could only rely on Shen Mo and glance at them as if they were using their eyes to tell him to carefully look after their young mistress.

Shen Mo nodded his head in order to ease their concerns and watched the maids step back and return to the courtyard. 

"Young madam… The task you told me to do is done. I've separated all the gold that I could get from the black ash in that waste land." Shen Mo said.

Last time, Lin Xiaofei ordered him to gather all gold that he could gather from the waste land that was near the imperial palace. That place hadn't been inhabited by humans so far and his job was taken care of quickly and easily due to that.

Lin Xiaofei listened to his reports and sighed in relief. The thing she ordered Shen Mo to do was a hard task because he was the only one who did it. But thankfully, he was quick on his mind and feet, so he finished doing his mission faster than she expected.

"That is good. I will reward you with a bag of gold." Lin Xiaofei told him and heard a gasp leaving his lips. 

A small chunk of gold was already a great price to pay to someone. And a bag of gold was thousand times better. 

Shen Mo quickly bent his back and bowed to her, "I don't dare accept it, Young Madam! I'd rather you let me stay by your side much longer." 

"I didn't say I was relieving you from your position." Lin Xiaofei frowned at his formalities. "I thought that the mission was difficult. I think that reward is befitting of your efforts."

A tempting offer. However, Shen Mo still shook his head. "Forgive me… But I don't want to accept it."

Lin Xiaofei turned around to look at him. Shen Mo was taller by a head than her. He also has a youthful look in his face and his facial features were remarkable. His martial skills were also commendable after proving it to her a few times.

Why was he limiting his abilities to serve her? 

Not that it was not a good thing for her to keep him. It was just that Lin Xiaofei didn't think that Shen Mo would rather choose staying with her than a bag of gold that any soldier or guard would prefer and willingly accept.

"Don't regret your words. I won't offer you the same thing even if you beg for it." Lin Xiaofei no longer stay in that place and walked further ahead. 

Shen Mo silently followed her like a shadow and was relieved that his mistress gave up on giving him that gold of bar. After staying with Lin Xiaofei and observing her, Shen Mo, the man who would cower in her presence, was finally liberated and influenced by the darkness that lingered around her.

"We're meeting someone. Stay alert and make sure that no one sees us." Lin Xiaofei threw those words without explaining. 

Shen Mo quickly stayed on his guard.

They arrived to a small shack on the other side of the residence. It was quite far from the pavilion or the shared courtyard that Lin Xiaofei and Qu Xing Xu slept in.

'Creeaak'

The door made an eerie sound as Lin Xiaofei entered. The sunlight pouring in made the person inside the small room squint their eyes and frown.

"It has been awhile. I hope you're doing well now…" Lin Xiaofei's voice rang inside the room. 

The person inside glared at her as their eyes met but nevertheless, didn't make a movement and only watched her approach slowly.

"It seems that the wounds in your body have completely healed. That should be worthy of celebrating, isn't it?" Lin Xiaofei continued speaking and didn't mind that the other party was only glaring at her.

Well, considering that the person was shackled and had a leather rope tied around his head and covering his mouth, it was no surprise that the person couldn't speak.

"Madam…" Shen Mo decided to step forward and block her way. It was not to be rude to her but his position was similar to a guard protecting their master from someone or something dangerous.

"There's no need for that, Shen Mo. I would like to speak to him freely. Take the thing covering his mouth off so we could talk."

Shen Mo hesitated for a second, but he still bravely did as what he was being told to do. 

After the person's mouth was no longer covered and restrained, a deep and rough voice poured out of that person's mouth.

"Where's my gold medallion? Where did you take it and give it back!" 

A smile slowly bled into Lin Xiaofei's lips as she heard him spat at her as soon as the cover on his mouth disappeared.

"I'll gladly answer your three questions…" Lin Xiaofei met his eyes. "Only if you answer three questions of mine too."

"Your highness, Prince Zilin."