“For a few days in a row, the Yu residence was exceptionally lively with an endless stream of guests, and the Xu mother and son visited frequently.
Xie Tanwei did not publicize his presence at the Yu residence. Firstly, he had come solely to accompany his wife Xianqiu; secondly, with the Xu mother and son visiting so often, as their mentor, it was inappropriate for him to meet privately with his student before a formal introduction, lest he be criticized.
Old Master Yu was too busy to attend to him. Xie Tanwei remained like a shadowy bystander, a transparent figure quietly observing the bustling activity in the Yu residence—a transient guest merely passing through.
He had previously heard about the marriage arrangement between the Yu and Xu families: the Yu family intended to marry their fourth daughter, Ku Ju, to the newly appointed Number One Scholar, Xu Junzheng. The frequent visits now were likely laying the groundwork for the marriage.
Marriage between a man and a woman is, after all, a joyous occasion.
Xie Tanwei did not dwell on the Yu family’s neglect. Day after day, he stayed in Xianqiu’s courtyard, practicing calligraphy and handling government affairs, seldom going out. Occasionally, he could sense the undercurrents beneath the Yu residence’s calm exterior.
Yet, he never saw Tian Qin.
During a family banquet, they sat at the same table. From a distance, he caught a glimpse of her—smiling radiantly as she poured wine for Yu Yuan and chatted with him. Like a butterfly flitting by, her laughter tinkled like silver bells, her skirt swaying gracefully. She did not glance at him again, nor did she greet him, as if completely detached from his world.
It was as if she did not know him at all.
In contrast, Ku Ju repeatedly approached him, pouring wine and engaging in conversation, the fierce scar on her face still startlingly vivid.
After the banquet, walking under the moonlight amid scattered tree shadows, Xie Tanwei casually asked, “The marriage between the Yu and Xu families must be approaching soon, given how lively the residence has been these past few days.”
Xianqiu’s gaze immediately froze. After a pause, she vaguely replied, “There is an intention to form a marriage alliance, but it hasn’t been decided which sister it will be.”
Xie Tanwei’s long eyelashes lowered slightly. “Who else could it be? Among your four sisters, Ku Ju is the only candidate.”
The implication was clear: Tian Qin was to enter the Xie Manor as a concubine.
Xianqiu pressed her lips together without confirming or denying. In truth, she had not yet found the opportunity to discuss the matter of exchanging concubines with Xie Tanwei.
She had intended to bring it up, but felt a vague unease, and the words stuck in her throat, unsure how to broach the subject.
Fortunately, Xie Tanwei did not press further.
A subtle intuition already hinted at an unfavorable outcome. With Xie Tanwei’s sensitivity, it was hard for him not to notice.
During the previous emperor’s reign, the Xie family was at its most illustrious, famously ennobling five marquises in a single day—the renowned “Five Marquises of Xie.”
Xie Tanwei’s father passed away early and missed the enfeoffment, so Xie Tanwei lacked the means to indulge in pleasure and extravagance like other scions of noble families. He devoted himself to quiet study, accumulating knowledge and skills, remaining obscure until his coming of age.
Gradually, both the court and the public came to regard him as a man of unwavering Confucian principles, exceptional talent, and outstanding integrity. He was upheld as a moral exemplar, and his status in the court soared, eventually rising to the position of Grand Commandant.
At that time, the Yu family was residing away from the capital and went to great lengths to win his favor, marrying their eldest daughter, Yu Xianqiu, to him. They sought his support to speak well of the Yu family and to establish the son-in-law of their eldest daughter, Yu Suanzhi—the Prince of Huainan—as crown prince.
After the previous emperor passed away, Xie Tanwei fulfilled his promise and installed the Prince of Huainan as emperor. Amid solemn and dignified proclamations of ascension, the Prince of Huainan knelt before the late emperor’s coffin to receive the imperial seal, ascending to rule the realm. The Yu family’s eldest daughter, Yu Suanzhi, became empress.
The past was over, not worth revisiting.
Yet the Yu family’s betrayal was disheartening. Once they secured another powerful connection, they cast aside the favors he had once bestowed upon them.
…
Yu Ye had failed the imperial examinations, and the Yu family should have been disheartened. Instead, they regained vitality through the marriage alliance with the newly ascended Xu family.”
The future high-ranking official would be the Yu family’s son-in-law, bringing honor to the Yus and adding another pillar of support in the imperial court.
Yu Yuan repeatedly praised his own foresight in recognizing talent, making up for the disappointment of Yu Ye’s failure in the imperial examinations.
In contrast, Xu Junzheng was a rising star in the political arena, while Xie Tanwei was a fading former imperial relative from the previous dynasty. Anyone with discernment could weigh their relative importance.
It was time for a reshuffle in the imperial court.
Tian Qin moved to the embroidery chamber, focusing on her upcoming marriage. Every day she busied herself with trying on wedding dresses and preparing marriage documents, overwhelmed with countless tasks.
Xu Junzheng, having just passed the imperial examinations, was occupied with paying respects to his mentors, networking with colleagues, and handling numerous social engagements.
The young engaged couple could only steal moments to meet amidst their busy schedules. Each time they met briefly, exchanging tokens of affection, expressing their lovesickness, and sharing sweet, intimate whispers.
Between Xie Tanwei and Tian Qin now stood an invisible barrier, intangible yet insurmountable like a chasm. He had become completely irrelevant, as if she had never known him.
All the promises and commitments made before were like fleeting clouds in the sky, illusory and dreamlike, evaporating overnight without a trace.
Ku Ju visited him daily, attentive and obedient, while Xianqiu actively made introductions for him. The situation had completely reversed—Ku Ju would become a concubine, while Tian Qin would marry into the Xu family.
He had guessed it.
Instead of confronting Xianqiu or Yu Yuan, Xie Tanwei went directly to Tian Qin. Regardless of how things had unfolded, he wanted to hear it from her own lips.
Tian Qin was clever enough—once she decided on something, no external pressure could deter her from achieving it. If the marriage arrangements had indeed been switched, she must have secretly facilitated it.
Had she replaced him during his absence?
To marry that scholar from a humble background?
The irony was that he had just covered up Xu Junzheng’s plagiarism and examination fraud, leniently granting the man a high ranking.
Xie Tanwei paid a discreet visit to Tian Qin under the guise of being her Brother-in-law, asking for nothing more than to meet and walk with her.
But he was refused. The maids Zhao Lu and Wan Cui made excuses that Tian Qin was too busy and should not meet with unrelated men—somehow, Xie Tanwei, this “Brother-in-law,” had become an unrelated man. The same Brother-in-law who had been closest to her, saved her life, and helped her beloved reach the top.
Two days later, he casually mentioned Xu Junzheng’s examination papers, and only then did Tian Qin reluctantly agree to meet him.
When they met again, an invisible change had occurred in their relationship. Estrangement stood between them like a thick wall, making it difficult to approach each other.
Tian Qin and Xie Tanwei walked side by side to the lakeside pavilion, where cool breezes swept across, waterfowl skimmed low over the water, and pine trees rustled in waves. This was the most prideful spot built by the rather vulgar Master Yu.
In early summer, their spring garments felt slightly warm against their skin. The sky was clear as a mirror, and sunlight filtered through the overlapping fresh green leaves, casting a hazy, brilliant glow upon them.
“You’ve become so busy these days, little sister. It’s truly difficult to get a moment with you,” Xie Tanwei murmured with a sigh.
“Preoccupied with mundane matters,” she replied, her words much fewer than before. Estrangement emanated from her entire being, and the ingratiating smile was gone. “Brother-in-law is the truly busy one.”
Xie Tanwei glanced sideways at her. Her eyes were fixed on the red-beaked waterfowl hunting on the lake surface, completely detached.
Not long ago, at least back in Fa Hui Temple, they had been the closest of companions, leaning on each other. Now, they were as distant as strangers.
“It’s only been a few days, but Third Sister seems changed.”
Tian Qin lowered her chin. “Little sister hasn’t changed.”
“Truly unchanged?”
Xie Tanwei gazed at her who felt both near and impossibly distant, his well-defined lips quietly drawing closer as his index finger gently traced circles around her earlobe, their figures perfectly entwined.
Tian Qin closed her eyes in acceptance, following his rhythm. Knowing escape was futile and unnecessary, she understood that no matter how distant they appeared on the surface, their connection was mutually acknowledged in private.
She slowly opened her clear, translucent eyes with firm clarity.
“Brother-in-law wished to see me, yet I failed to accompany you immediately. That was my oversight. With numerous matters lately, things will settle after this busy period.”
She lied without changing expression.
Xie Tanwei seemed not entirely convinced but didn’t expose her on the spot. The chill blowing from the lake froze his heart through. Unbeknownst to her, during his days at the examination compound, he had been constantly thinking of her.
“Very well, I’ll wait.”
After a silence, he meaningfully brought up:
“In your previous life after you passed, I visited you once. Your face was ashen and pallid, never to smile again.”
“Later, I buried you in a coffin at a scenic spot in the Xie Clan ancestral graves where I could see it. Every spring, the peach blossoms you loved most would bloom there.”
“Tell me, has your brother-in-law treated you well?”
Tian Qin felt as if struck by lightning, her face drained of color as she stumbled back two steps, breathing as erratically as someone trapped in a nightmare.
She stared at him in disbelief, eyes bloodshot, struggling to maintain composure. “What nonsense is brother-in-law speaking? I must take my leave.”
Her retreating figure vanished hurriedly, avoiding him like poison.
“Before you died, you wanted to see me one last time.”
Xie Tanwei calmly watched her flustered retreat, his words disappearing completely into the lake breeze.
He chuckled softly, remaining alone to gaze at the serene lake view, as if all emotions had vanished entirely.
Muttering to himself, “Now that we’ve met, you choose to flee.”
…
With his meteoric rise in the imperial examinations, Xu Junzheng became highly sought-after, needing to network with colleagues and pay respects to his mentor—matters numerous as cow hairs.
Xu Mu urged Xu Junzheng to hold the wedding first, settling one matter at a time. The marriage discussion had lasted long enough, and his daily visits to the Yu residence showed his constant concern for the Third Young Miss.
Xu Junzheng naturally agreed, acknowledging that his success was largely thanks to Tian Qin—both his beloved and benefactor. When he conveyed this intention to Yu Yuan, the latter was pleased to proceed with the wedding first.
Both families began bustling preparations.
The Xu family’s betrothal procession arrived magnificently, with red decorations covering the ground, transforming their previously humble circumstances into evident wealth and status.
Xu Junzheng, riding tall on horseback at the height of his glory, offered exceptionally generous betrothal gifts to formally wed the Yu family’s Third Young Miss Yu Tianqin as his principal wife.
Firecrackers exploded thunderously before the Yu residence as the wedding contract was loudly recited by the master of ceremonies. The name “Yu Tianqin” echoed through every corner of the Yu compound, with the host family responding “Accepted.”
Tian Qin’s face flushed peach-blossom pink as she bowed to Xu Mu, who beamed with smiles while slipping a gold-inlaid jade bracelet onto Tian Qin’s wrist. The hall erupted in joyful laughter.
Standing side by side, Xu Junzheng and Tian Qin watched their elders draft the marriage contract, exchange birth date cards, sign and fingerprint the documents, and present the betrothal gifts.
A perfect match, union made in heaven.
Present were Yu Yuan, He Shi, Yu Ye, Ku Ju, Yao Yiniang, Xu Mu, Xu family servants, and Tian Qin’s trusted aides Zhao Lu, Wan Cui, and Chen Momo—the place overflowing with people.
Xu Junzheng softly whispered near her ear: “Tian Qin, my dear.”
Tian Qin, radiant beyond compare, responded: “Mr. Xu.”
Boundless sweetness overflowed endlessly.
Only the laughter of the new couple is heard, while the weeping of the former lover goes unnoticed.
Xianqiu could no longer conceal the truth from Xie Tanwei and hurried over, finding him leaning motionless behind a pillar, observing the ceremony with an unyielding gaze.
“Husband…” Xianqiu attempted to speak.
Xie Tanwei cast her a cool glance without uttering a word.
His eyes shimmered with fragmented snowlight.
Soon, Yu Yuan, He Shi, and the entire household escorted Xu Junzheng and his mother out. Tian Qin, holding Xu Junzheng’s arm, happened to cross paths with Xie Tanwei, whose demeanor was as cold and detached as winter snow.
With the facade shattered and no retreat left, Tian Qin mustered a brilliantly beautiful smile. Stepping forward with Xu Junzheng, she faced Xie Tanwei directly and bravely introduced:
“Brother-in-law, this is—”
Author’s Note:
The next chapter will be the VIP release—a triple-length 10,000-word update featuring the plot described in the synopsis. The update will be at midnight (in a few hours). I hope you’ll all show your support!
[Please, I beg you~]
Completed works with similar vibes: The Deceiving Husband, The Golden Cage Sigh, The Perfect Son and Daughter-in-Law
Upcoming works with similar vibes: The Maiden’s Spine, Slender Waist in Spring Waters, Half-Paper Spring Cut
If interested, feel free to check out my column~ Seeking followers!
Here’s a preview of my next story, The Maiden’s Spine—Emperor vs. Maid, “Chasing His Wife to the Crematorium,” forced possession:
Xian Si was a palace maid with modest beauty.
She had clawed her way up over seven years in the harem, rising from a lowly little maid in the Department of Punishments to a first-rank imperial maid serving before the Emperor.
In those seven years, she learned to read her masters’ moods, knew precisely how hot to brew their tea, and became the Auntie whom younger maids regarded with awe.
But Xian Si understood clearly: no matter how glorious she appeared on the surface, she remained a servant whom her masters looked down upon.
Thus, she painstakingly pleaded for the Empress Dowager’s favor and finally secured permission to leave the palace and marry.
Yet, on that very day, the Emperor glanced at her once more.
That night, her garments torn, she knelt before the Emperor’s boots.
Afterward, the Emperor leisurely fastened his collar, his icy fingertips grazing her skin as if pitying and scorning an ant:
“I won’t take you for nothing. I shall grant you a destiny.”
The Emperor, burdened with state affairs, had never paid attention to the servants around him.
For years, the imperial maid knew how strong to brew his tea, how thick to grind his ink, and how much pressure to apply during massages—that was all.
That day, he noticed she bore some resemblance to his deceased empress, the white moonlight of his youth.
She was merely a maid—taking her meant nothing.
But with his wedding approaching, he couldn’t be bothered to grant her a consort’s title and complicate matters.
After enjoying her, noticing the Chief Eunuch seemed acquainted with her, he waved his hand and bestowed upon them a eunuch-maid pairing.
Liu Lun was the most favored servant before the Emperor. With him, she would have a worthy destiny and a fitting marriage.
Later, the Emperor never expected that the maid’s unyielding spine, like a pine on the ridge, could never be broken.
“The Maiden’s Spine” was not just about servility—it was about her noble, unbreakable spirit.
And he himself, having tasted her essence, found himself unsatisfied.
The sight of the eunuch and her standing together grated on him inexplicably.
He went back on his word without hesitation, imprisoning her by his side and becoming a tyrant.
Reading Guide:
Double virgins / High intelligence forced possession / “Chasing His Wife to the Crematorium” / Harem intrigue
[The Emperor vs. The Great Beauty Maid]