As they stepped into the courtyard, they caught a fleeting glimpse of Jing Sa leaping after a tall, slender figure clad in gray, vanishing beyond the walls. A few guards followed in hot pursuit. Lou Xiyan's heart was gripped with dread—for what worried her most was the safety of Lou Xiuwu. The door to her chamber stood ajar, clear evidence that the assailant had already broken in. What had become of Xiuwu...?
Panic surged in both their chests as they rushed inside, bypassing the screen and bursting into the inner room. On the bed lay Lou Xiuwu, motionless, supine. Her outer garments had been stripped away, leaving only a pale pink dudou whose knotted ties had come undone, now askew across her chest. She still wore a pair of plain white trousers. There was no blood, nor the scent of it in the air—only a faint lingering trace of sandalwood. Seeing no visible wounds on her body, their terror subsided slightly.
Her clothes disheveled, Lou Xiyan dared not step closer, even as her brother. Standing by the bed, she turned her head away. Zhuoqing hurried to pull the silk quilt over Xiuwu's exposed form. Yet the girl remained utterly still.
"Xiuwu!" Zhuoqing gently patted her pale cheeks, fearing she had lost consciousness. But upon closer inspection, she saw her eyes slightly open, staring blankly in one direction, her expression vacant, as if hollowed by shock.
"Xiuwu, wake up!" Zhuoqing lowered herself, gently lifting her eyelids, waving a hand before her eyes. The pupils responded normally. Could it be a case of traumatic shock leading to psychological withdrawal? She patted Xiuwu's face again with slightly more force, her voice raised urgently beside her ear, "Xiuwu, it's all right now. You're safe—wake up!"
Startled by the sudden increase in Zhuoqing's volume, Lou Xiyan asked quickly, "How is she?"
Shaking her head, Zhuoqing replied gravely, "No injuries, but... something is very wrong."
With urgency outweighing decorum, Lou Xiyan turned and looked at Xiuwu. Though her eyes were open, they were utterly devoid of life.
"Xiuwu." She called softly again and again, but the girl gave no response. Her condition was clearly dire.
Zhuoqing furrowed her brows and whispered in Xiyan's ear, "She may have suffered extreme trauma and shut herself off. Try speaking to her gently. Let her feel safe—she might come back to us."
Lou Xiyan nodded and gently held her sister's shoulders, easing her upright so her gaze might meet his. He softly caressed her cheek with the pad of his thumb, and in a tender, coaxing tone, murmured over and over, "Xiuwu, it's all right now. Don't be afraid. I'm here—can you speak to me?"
Even after several tries, she remained unresponsive. His voice grew louder, more desperate. Zhuoqing placed a calming hand on his shoulder, softly urging, "It's all right. Keep talking. She will come back."
She was his only sister. Seeing a loved one like this—who could remain composed? Though Zhuoqing couldn't see his expression, facing away as he was, she saw him nod faintly. When he spoke again, his voice had steadied.
Cradling Lou Xiuwu gently in his arms, his slender hands softly patting her back, Lou Xiyan spoke in a low, soothing voice, "No one can harm you now. If you're scared, just cry—your brother is here to protect you."
"Xiuwu… Xiuwu…" He called her name again and again. After a long moment, her lashes fluttered, and a flicker of life returned to her eyes.
Both Lou Xiyan and Zhuoqing let out a breath they hadn't realized they were holding. But the look on Xiuwu's face was one of confusion.
"Brother… why are you in my room?"
Xiyan and Zhuoqing exchanged a glance, their expressions carefully composed. Zhuoqing probed gently, "Do you not remember what happened?"
Xiuwu's face was blank with bewilderment. "What happened?"
Their strange expressions unsettled her, and she instinctively hugged her arms—only to realize with a start that she was nearly undressed.
"Ah!" she screamed, clutching the quilt tightly and shrinking back into the bed, burying her head beneath the covers.
Feeling awkward, Lou Xiyan rose to his feet. Zhuoqing offered a faint smile. "You should step outside. I'll stay with her."
"All right." With a last glance at the now-conscious Xiuwu, Lou Xiyan quietly withdrew.
Gently tugging the quilt, Zhuoqing whispered, "It's all right now, Xiuwu. Your brother's gone—it's just me here."
After a long while, Xiuwu's flushed face peeked from beneath the covers. "I... why am I…"
Why am I undressed?! She couldn't even voice the words. Why had she awakened like this?
Growing anxious, she asked, "What exactly happened?"
Zhuoqing did not attempt to conceal the truth. "I believe the person who snuck into your room tonight is the same one we discussed earlier—the Heart Plucker. You were his next target. Fortunately, we arrived in time, and he didn't succeed. You truly don't remember anything?"
As the only known survivor of the attacker's assaults, any clue she could offer might be crucial.
"I…" Lou Xiuwu's face drained of color. Her hands began to tremble uncontrollably. Whether from fear or true memory loss, she clutched her head and answered in a broken, panicked voice, "I can't remember. I only recall lying down to rest, then everything became loud and chaotic, and the next thing I saw was you and Brother. The rest… I truly don't know."
Her mind was in shambles, memories seemingly severed from the moment she lay in bed. Why had the killer chosen her? Was he the same one who murdered Princess Anning? How many more innocent women did he plan to harm?
Her fists clenched unconsciously. Raising her head, her eyes shimmered faintly with unshed tears. Though her voice still trembled with fear, she fought to stay calm.
"Did you catch him?" she asked.
"Not yet. So far, it seems you were his target. We don't know if he'll strike again. You're in danger now. He's already attacked several times and shows no signs of stopping. I expect the constables will soon intervene. You're the only one who survived—your testimony may be vital."
Zhuoqing was disappointed. She had hoped for more. If Xiuwu's stupor wasn't from shock-induced trauma, had the assailant used some kind of incense or drug to manipulate her mind?
Or perhaps...
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Xiuwu asked, "Then what can I do?"
She too wished the authorities would solve this quickly, capture the villain, and prevent further tragedies.
Looking at the young girl who had just brushed death's edge—still trembling, yet pretending to be brave—Zhuoqing felt a pang in her heart. She gently embraced her shoulders, her voice soft and comforting.
"You don't have to force yourself. Relax. Let the memories come back in time. Anything you can recall may help the investigation. Don't be afraid—we'll protect you."
Xiuwu slowly leaned against Zhuoqing's shoulder. The gentle, rhythmic patting gave her warmth. Her mother had died young; she had no sisters. Though her brother loved her dearly, he would never hold her this way, or comfort her like this. She had always longed for such closeness.
This sister-in-law… she liked her.
Nodding slightly, Xiuwu said earnestly, "Thank you for saving me."
Zhuoqing was momentarily taken aback. The girl must have misunderstood, having seen only her and Lou Xiyan upon awakening.
Zhuoqing chuckled, "It wasn't us. I heard the commotion and rushed over. I saw Jing Sa fighting the assailant in the courtyard—it must've been him who saved you."
"What?!" Lou Xiuwu suddenly sat bolt upright, exclaiming in horror, "Then… then both he and the killer saw me like this?!"
How could she ever face anyone again? What dignity did she have left?