Zidai swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "S-see what?"

  "He saw that the person sitting inside the carriage... was himself!"

  "Ah!"

  Zidai let out a startled scream, only to see Bai Qingqing’s eyes curved into a playful smile. "Miss, why would you scare me like that? That’s too frightening!"

  "Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. By the way, where is that beaded pendant? I’ll go straight to Yaoyao when we get back to the manor."

  "It’s in the carriage. Shall I fetch it for you?"

  "Go ahead."

  Bai Qingqing walked toward the tree to wait, standing beside the empty carriage.

  She hadn’t thought much of it earlier, but now that Zidai was gone, the only sound in her ears was the faint whisper of the wind. The eerie silence made her a bit uneasy.

  The carriage didn’t appear extravagant, and the curtain hanging over it was plain, without any embroidery or decorations. Suddenly, a gust of wind lifted a corner of the curtain, revealing a pair of feet inside the carriage!

  A chill ran down Bai Qingqing’s spine. She instinctively took a few steps back, pressing her back against the tree. The ghost story she had just told Zidai replayed vividly in her mind.

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  The wind blew stronger and stronger. Bai Qingqing could now see clearly—it was indeed a person, sitting motionless inside the carriage. The deep-colored boots had faint decorative patterns, but she had no mind to study them further. Her heart was pounding wildly in her throat.

  Was it a person or a ghost?!

  Bai Qingqing felt as though she were nailed to the tree, her face pale as she watched the curtain rise higher and higher in the wind. Until—she saw a glimpse of the person’s chin.

  She let out a whimper, grabbed her skirt, and ran straight toward Zidai, pulling her along as she bolted toward the manor.

  "Miss? Miss, what’s wrong? What happened?"

  Bai Qingqing didn’t answer. In the distance, she thought she heard a barely audible chuckle. The sound made her even more terrified.

  …

  A short while later, a man walked out of the Duke Ying’s residence and climbed into the carriage. "I’ve kept you waiting, uncle."

  The person inside the carriage cast him a light glance, and he immediately corrected himself. "I mean—I've kept you waiting, my lord. The duke’s heir kept me talking for a bit. He has a steady personality and is worth befriending. I hope I didn’t delay your matters?"

  Seeing that the man didn’t seem displeased, he sighed in relief and added with a grin, "It’s just a pity—I still haven’t caught a glimpse of the Bai family’s young lady. They say she’s stunning, but despite all my visits, I’ve never seen her. I wonder if she’s really as beautiful as the rumors say."

  "Go drive the carriage."

  The cold voice made the man drop his playful demeanor immediately. He lifted the curtain and went outside. "Got it."

  Inside the carriage, the man let the corners of his lips curve slightly. Beautiful, indeed. But delicate—so delicate that she managed to scare herself to tears. That was quite a talent.

  ---

  The looming disaster over the Bai family lingered in Bai Qingqing’s mind. After several days of deliberation, she decided to visit her eldest brother, Bai Yan, on a day when he was home, bringing with her some incense she had personally crafted.

  Bai Yan’s courtyard was peaceful and quiet. Their father, Bai Jinghuai, had high hopes for his eldest son, and Bai Yan lived up to those expectations. At a young age, he was already capable of handling matters independently. His work was outstanding, and even the emperor had once praised him in front of the court officials.

  Bai Qingqing sent word through a servant, and soon, Bai Yan’s close attendant, Xuan Shu, came out to invite her in.

  Inside the room, warmth enveloped her. Bai Qingqing sniffed lightly—her brother was burning the incense she had made for him. The fragrance of pine and bamboo suited him well.

  "Is it cold outside? Come warm yourself."

  Bai Yan poured her a cup of hot tea, pressing it into her hands. Zidai placed the incense down and left the room with Xuan Shu.

  Seeing the incense, Bai Yan smiled. "You still think of me. But why bring it yourself in this freezing weather? You could’ve just sent someone to deliver it."