The commotion caused by Ku Ju and her mother last night had embarrassed the entire Yu family. Yu Yuan ordered Ku Ju’s courtyard to be locked down, confining her for reflection under strict surveillance. Despite these measures, the incident still reached Xu Junzheng’s ears.
Xu Junzheng had never been enthusiastic about marrying Ku Ju in the first place. Her resistance made him feel as though he were the one forcing the marriage, intensifying his inner turmoil. Unwilling to endure such humiliation, he began considering calling off the engagement.
Yu Yuan invited Xu Junzheng to his study, offering profuse apologies and begging forgiveness for his daughter’s willful ignorance.
Yu Yuan’s intention to form a marital alliance with the Xu family was genuine. He planned to invite Xu Junzheng’s parents to the Yu residence to discuss the marriage proposal.
Xu Junzheng bowed respectfully and said, “I am grateful for your kindness, sir. My father passed away early, and my mother raised me single-handedly.”
Yu Yuan sighed, “I see. Your mother is truly admirable. She must honor us with her presence at tomorrow evening’s Spring Banquet.”
Xu Junzheng declined anxiously, “You honor us too much, sir. My mother is but a humble woman—how could she possibly deserve to visit your esteemed household?”
Yu Yuan replied, “You have been teaching at our home for quite some time now, and under your guidance, Yan Ge’er has become sensible and understanding. Our entire family is deeply grateful to you. Please don’t hesitate—consider this simply as two families sitting down for a friendly conversation.”
With the Late Spring Strategy Examination approaching, Yu Yuan was convinced that Xu Junzheng’s diligence and dedication made him highly likely to achieve scholarly honors. This wasn’t mere speculation—Yu Yuan had tested Xu Junzheng on his studies and found his essays exceptionally brilliant, far surpassing Yu Ye’s work. His writing was eloquent and insightful, with particularly sharp and unique perspectives on ancient sage emperors like Yao and Shun, whom Confucianism revered. Even Xie Tanwei himself probably couldn’t have written better.
Yu Yuan couldn’t comprehend how Xu Junzheng had improved so dramatically in such a short time—it was as if Confucius had blessed him personally.
For this reason, Yu Yuan wanted to secure Xu Junzheng’s allegiance early through marriage, fearing it would be too late to catch such a promising son-in-law after the examination results were announced.
Confident in his sharp judgment of character, Yu Yuan recalled how he had previously recognized Xie Tanwei as a benevolent and noble man and married his legitimate second daughter Xianqiu to him—a decision that had proven correct.
With two illegitimate daughters still unmarried in the household—Tian Qin already sent to Xie Manor to serve as Xianqiu’s concubine and bear children—Ku Ju couldn’t remain idle either. Having received family support, she must contribute to the family’s interests.
When He Shi heard about Ku Ju’s impending engagement, she privately approached Xianqiu for one final consultation: “Your father plans to meet with Xu Junzheng’s elder to formally arrange Ku Ju’s marriage. If you still wish to change your choice of concubine, now is the time. Any later will be impossible.”
Xianqiu hesitated inwardly, uncertain whether to choose Ku Ju or Tian Qin.
She lowered her head, avoiding He Shi’s urgent gaze, and couldn’t expect any input from Xie Tanwei either—he had already stated clearly, “You decide, madam. If uncertain, choose Tian Qin.”
She sighed helplessly, realizing she alone must weigh this decision.
…
That evening, Xu Mu was invited to the Yu residence as a guest.
Despite their guest’s modest—even somewhat impoverished—background, the Yu family fulfilled their hosting duties graciously. They decorated with lanterns and streamers, setting the banquet in the lakeside pavilion. Yu Yuan and He Shi personally received Xu Mu with warm hospitality.
Xu Mu was a woman in her forties, dressed in simple but meticulously clean clothes. Her only jewelry was a white pearl hairpin adorning her bun, yet she carried herself with dignified grace and kindness.
Astonished that the imperial-related Yu family would host her, she attended with solemn respect.
As the banquet began, Yu Yuan, He Shi, Xu Mu, and Xu Junzheng took their seats. They had initially intended for Xianqiu to observe, but since Xie Tanwei would soon arrive to take her back to Xie Manor, they abandoned the idea. All maids and servants were dismissed while the masters conversed.
Both parties harbored their own schemes. Xu Mu felt that marrying into the Yu family was a favorable match, and with cups clinking, she maintained a respectful demeanor.
Yu Yuan, however, remained cautious. While exchanging pleasantries with Xu Mu, he deliberately avoided the core topic of marriage—suggesting instead that the two families first discuss their willingness to form an alliance, with the wedding to take place only after Xu Junzheng passed the imperial examinations. He set no specific date and did not specify which daughter would be married.
This was clearly a wait-and-see approach: if Xu Junzheng succeeded, the marriage would proceed; if not, it would be called off.
After a moment’s consideration, Xu Mu agreed. She had heard her son admired a daughter of the Yu family. If he were fortunate enough to marry her, the lovers would be united, and her son could then wholeheartedly focus on his official career, free from constant longing.
But she did not know the Yu family had two unmarried daughters. The one they intended to marry off was Ku Ju, not her son’s beloved, Tian Qin.
As the banquet conversation grew lively, Yu Yuan suddenly called Tian Qin over and quietly instructed her to bring a meal to Ku Ju.
Ku Ju had been confined to her own courtyard, resisting the arranged marriage, and had refused to eat for two days. The servants’ pleas had fallen on deaf ears. Perhaps a persuasion from a sister of similar age might help Ku Ju see reason.
Tian Qin nodded in agreement. Dressed in a tender lotus-colored gauze dress, she resembled a lotus leaf—gentle, lovely, and gracefully obedient. Her long hair flowed like water, and though she had only made a brief appearance at the banquet, she left Xu Mu and Xu Junzheng utterly captivated.
Xu Mu exchanged a knowing glance with her son: “This young lady is quite beautiful—she must be your beloved, right?”
Xu Junzheng flushed crimson, burying his head and holding his breath.
Yu Yuan secretly gloated. He was well aware of Tian Qin’s peerless beauty and had intentionally let her appear to showcase his daughter’s charm, aiming to awe the Xu mother and son.
If Xu Junzheng achieved a high rank in the exams, the Yu family had both bitterness and sweetness to offer—whether he could marry Tian Qin would depend entirely on his own capabilities.
“Drink, drink, please have another cup!”
Tian Qin slightly bowed her head, not daring to look directly at Xu Junzheng or her future mother-in-law in her parents’ presence.
Leaving the lakeside pavilion, she followed Yu Yuan’s instructions, fetched some soft, easy-to-chew food from the kitchen, and knocked on the door of Ku Ju’s confinement.
Upon seeing her, Ku Ju’s eyes turned bloodshot, and she whispered tearfully, “Third Sister, have you come to mock me?”
Tian Qin remained indifferent. “I don’t have time for that.”
She set down the meal. “Eat. Father asked me to bring this to you.”
Ku Ju stared at the steaming food, her tears flowing even more freely. “Father plans to marry me off to that impoverished scholar, doesn’t he? He’s locked me in here, not even allowing me to see Yiniang. My fate will never be as good as yours. You were born sweet, while I was born bitter.”
Tian Qin grew weary of her self-pity and replied expressionlessly, “If we swapped fates, you might not want mine.”
Ku Ju sobbed, “What do you mean by that?”
Tian Qin said, “Nothing much.”
Unwilling to stay longer, she turned and left, regardless of whether Ku Ju ate or not.
The spring night sky was uniformly overcast, with a clear, translucent moon rising and a cool breeze blowing over the water.
Dusk soaked the Yu residence, leaving only vague outlines of buildings and rocks, accompanied by the faint rustling of bamboo leaves.
Tian Qin walked with her head down along the gravel path, deliberately taking the secluded bamboo grove trail. When she reached the lakeside at the end, the lake swallowed the azure shimmer of the water, and she unexpectedly encountered a figure.
Her steps halted abruptly, and she couldn’t help but frown.
Xie Tanwei stood beneath the sparse bamboo leaves, the cold moonlight filtering through. The sound of water murmured, and scraps of white clouds drifted across the ink-blue night sky, blocking her only path.
“Brother-in-law…”
Xie Tanwei turned at the sound, equally surprised, his light laugh tinged with an ethereal quality. “What a coincidence, Third Sister.”
His demeanor was extraordinary, reflecting the deep emerald pond and scattered starlight, his sleeves fluttering gently as he carried a hint of intoxication.
Tian Qin curtseyed briefly and hurried over, but Xie Tanwei casually blocked her path, his drunken gaze languid and suggestive.
“Why are you ignoring your brother-in-law?”
Tian Qin pressed her lips together, staring fixedly at the faint patterns of the bluestone beneath her feet in the moonlight. “I haven’t been ignoring you. I just greeted you.”
“Oh?” Xie Tanwei drew closer, the gentle breeze and soft clouds mingling with the sweet fragrance of clear wine that brushed against the delicate skin of her neck. “With our close relationship, is a simple greeting enough?”
Tian Qin shuddered involuntarily.
“Brother-in-law, you’re drunk.”
She suppressed the tingling sensation, remaining guarded.
“I just had a few drinks with your sister.”
His eyes sparkled in the moonlight like quietly shuttered windows. “But I’m not drunk. I saved your life, and in return, you ignore me. Little sister, you truly have no conscience.”
The night was heavy and cold, bamboo leaves rustling softly.
Tian Qin clenched her fists, struggling to maintain a facade of respect. “What reward does brother-in-law want? I asked you that day, and you said you sought no repayment.”
“I seek no other repayment. I only ask that you acknowledge me, spare me a smile—surely that’s not too much?”
Xie Tanwei poked her lightly, the slight spring chill seeping into her skin like cold water. “After all, I’ve given you a second chance at life.”
Tian Qin’s face turned ashen. His obvious drunkenness felt like a highway robbery, leaving her no choice but to force a faint smile under the cover of darkness before urging, “May I go now, brother-in-law? I have matters to attend to back home.”
He savored her fleeting smile with lingering appreciation but remained unmoved. “What matters could be more important than your brother-in-law? The private tutor and Ku Ju are engaged—aren’t you happy?”
Tian Qin retorted, “Does brother-in-law think I should be happy?”
Xie Tanwei paused. “I actually think it’s a good match. A talented man and a beautiful woman, mutually beneficial for both families.”
Tian Qin restrained herself. “That’s because brother-in-law, like Father, views it from a political standpoint.”
His drunkenness held a thread of truth, cool and detached. “You know I’m not talking about politics.”
In the profound silence, remnants of spring snow rustled down from bamboo branches.
Suddenly, Xie Tanwei grabbed a handful of snow, shaped it into a ball, and pressed it against Tian Qin’s neck. She instinctively dodged, only to fall right into his trap as he discarded the remaining snow and coldly trapped her from behind.
“Little sister, you’re more beautiful than the moon in the sky. Stay with me tonight, and I’ll grant any wish of yours.”
Tian Qin clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with fury, terrified that even a passing maid might see and ruin her reputation, leaving her no choice but to become a concubine in Xie Manor.
“Brother-in-law, what do you want? I’ll be obedient—please don’t frighten me anymore. I’ll do whatever you say.”
Tears nearly spilled as she dared not confront him directly, adopting a meek and vulnerable posture, pleading softly in his embrace.
Xie Tanwei remained silent, making no further moves, yet the standoff persisted—superficially calm like still water, but beneath it lay a deep abyss.
Xu Junzheng had seen his dictated answer; she had accepted his favor, and by reason or emotion, she ought to endure this.
Tears streamed down Tian Qin’s cheeks. Most terrifying of all, her body, once meticulously conditioned by him in her past life, quickly responded as if drawn into a black hole.
“Brother-in-law… don’t do this, it would be wrong to me, and to sister…”
“Don’t you like it?” Xie Tanwei interrupted, closing his eyes with a soft sigh, his gentle smile resembling moonlight on a lake. “Or are you afraid?”
Seeing how she had deliberately schemed and manipulated these past days, he couldn’t resist uprooting this little flower stem entirely, laying bare her heart to see clearly how many chambers it truly contained.
Tian Qin shook her head, maintaining her difficult position, sobbing as she repeatedly called him brother-in-law. He wasn’t drunk – she was certain he was sober. Trapped in this predicament, she couldn’t call for help, and could only wait for him to let her go.
Author’s note: