The sun hung like a warm, soft glutinous rice cake, casting a rosy glow. The breeze filtering through the bridge drifted slowly by, while dragonflies carried away melting droplets of snow.
It was only after Tian Qin threw the Xiaxuzhuo bracelet into the water that she suddenly became aware of someone watching from beneath the early spring wisteria behind her.
She turned abruptly and saw him standing quietly in the lingering chill of early spring, sunlight filtering through the wisteria to cast striped shadows.
It was him.
Tian Qin froze for a moment before curtsying slightly: “…Brother-in-law.”
Xie Tanwei said: “Third Sister.”
Tian Qin felt somewhat flustered. This unexpected reunion left her tongue-tied and even awkward, with nothing particular to say.
In her memory, it had been a very long time since she last saw him – since her previous life when she was forced to move to that old, dilapidated small house due to Zhao Lu’s theft incident.
After her second daughter was taken away, she had even fewer opportunities to see him. What remained were only the cold invasions in her bed at night, which continued even during her pregnancies.
Her final wish to see him one last time had gone unfulfilled.
Her impression of him remained frozen on his indifferent face when she knelt begging him to save Zhao Lu. That was when she saw through the cold detachment beneath his Confucian moral exemplar facade – it was just like that.
Under the vast early spring sky, everything was silver-white and clear. The east wind carried waves of wisteria’s delicate fragrance, stirring the nerves.
Xie Tanwei asked: “What were you doing just now?”
At the spot where she had thrown the Xiaxuzhuo bracelet, a school of fish was leaping through the circling ripples. Upon closer look, one could see the bracelet’s shadow beneath the surface.
Tian Qin felt embarrassed, but since he had seen it, so be it. Perhaps it was better he knew – this way it would end sooner, cutting ties cleanly.
After all, all he needed was a childbearing tool. If she was unwilling, he would naturally have her sister find someone else.
“The afternoon still feels chilly, so I asked my maid to fetch a heating pan. I’m waiting here for her.”
She carefully kept her head bowed, unwilling to meet his gaze, and apologized: “I’ve startled you, Brother-in-law. This is Tian Qin’s fault.”
Xie Tanwei glanced at the porcelain-blue clouds in the sky and said gently: “The spring chill is indeed sharp. One should keep warm.”
Most living things in the courtyard had yet to revive, with only this wall of wisteria – a prized variety transported from Jiangnan.
The delicate fragrance of tea wafted with the breeze. Since they were both waiting anyway, he invited her to sit and share a cup – drinking alone seemed stingy.
The steam from the tea warmed Tian Qin’s brow. She smiled as usual and said: “Brother-in-law is too kind. Tian Qin shouldn’t decline, but I still need to dine with my sister later. If I drink tea now, my stomach will bulge and my sister will surely be angry.”
Xie Tanwei understood: “I see. Then just sit for a while. Don’t stand waiting on the bridge – the path is long and the wind is strong.”
As the head of Xie Jia, no one knew the layout of Xie Residence better than him. If he said Zhao Lu wouldn’t return for a while, then Zhao Lu definitely wouldn’t return soon.
Tian Qin had no choice but to approach and sit in the wisteria-shaded rattan chair, feeling extremely unwilling inside, as if she were being coerced.
A few pigeons had alighted on the wisteria flowers, bringing cool touches. The dampness from earthworms and snails after the snowmelt created a tranquil, pure atmosphere.
Xie Tanwei took half a sip of tea and gently adjusted his sleeves in the breeze. “Last night, you left midway through the drinking party. Are you feeling better now?”
Tian Qin nodded, pretending naturalness as she replied: “Much better. I heard from my sister there were many more delicacies afterward.”
“Yes,” he said. “Including the crab roe pastry you like.”
Tian Qin smiled vaguely: “It was my fault – shallow capacity for alcohol yet greedy for cups. What a pity to miss such delicacies.”
Xie Tanwei said softly: “It’s alright. Your sister still has some in her quarters. Food is easy to come by, but peace of mind is not. Last night, I observed that you seemed troubled.”
Her breath caught for a moment.
He spoke as if making casual conversation, with both overt and covert meanings: “Who has upset my sister-in-law? Your brother-in-law will avenge you.”
Tian Qin’s fingers, resting on the butterfly-patterned embroidery over her knees, suddenly clenched. The corners of her lips trembled slightly. His words fell within the scope of a brother-in-law’s concern for his wife’s younger sister, yet carried an indescribable undertone of ambiguity.
That fluctuating implication was just like in her previous life, when he had cornered her before the bed, coldly gripping her neck and commanding her to “take everything off.”
Xie Tanwei’s gaze still lingered on her, casual yet significant, with a shadowy tenderness as he waited for her response.
She lifted her eyes to meet his bright, elongated ones. His eyes seemed dipped in clear snowmelt, as if seeing through her clumsy pretense of illness.
The pains of her past life surfaced vividly, making her instinctively fearful and palpitative toward this brother-in-law of hers.
Tian Qin revealed two dimples, replying flawlessly, “No one has bullied Tian Qin. The maids and matrons in the residence are all very kind and take good care of me. Thank you for your concern, brother-in-law.”
He gave a light, faint smile. “Then why were you crying? The corners of your sister’s eyes are terribly red.”
She instinctively blinked her eyes. “I had nightmares last night. Drinking too much wine tends to cause nightmares.”
He uttered a soft “oh” and didn’t press further.
Tian Qin was truly vexed, feeling as though roasted over fire. No matter how beautiful the spring scenery, she had no mind to appreciate it, silently hoping that Zhao Lu would return soon.
The Xie Residence was winding and complex; even after living here for several years as a concubine, she still often got lost. Had Zhao Lu also lost her way?
As long as Zhao Lu didn’t return, she would remain trapped under this wisteria by her brother-in-law, treading as cautiously as walking along a cliff.
The snowy light filling the corridor was swallowed by the quiet breeze. The atmosphere remained silent for a while, until the faint sound of boiling came from the tea stove.
Xie Tanwei, admiring the spring scenery under the sky, suddenly brought up another topic casually. “How are Yan Ge’er’s studies coming along?”
Yan Ge’er was Tian Qin’s biological younger brother. Back then, their mother, a singing courtesan, had only managed to enter the Yu family because she was carrying a male child in her womb.
Before she could enjoy any blessings, the courtesan died in difficult childbirth while giving birth to Yan Ge’er, leaving Tian Qin and Yan Ge’er to rely on each other as siblings.
Tian Qin didn’t know why he suddenly mentioned Yan Ge’er. “He’s studying. He has a private tutor teaching him.”
He asked, “The private tutor—is he newly hired?”
She replied unnoticeably, “He’s been hired for several years now.”
Xie Tanwei inquired, “What kind of person is he?”
Tian Qin grew even more wary. In her previous life, she and the private tutor, Xu Junzheng, had originally been engaged to marry, but by chance, she had ended up as a concubine.
“He’s a provincial graduate, from an ordinary family, quite upright in character. He teaches to earn money while preparing for the spring imperial examinations.”
He sighed, nodding with a smile. “As long as he’s upright, that’s good. I ought to teach Yan Ge’er myself, but I’m tied up with mundane affairs.”
Tian Qin hummed in agreement. He was a great Confucian scholar of the time, known for his gentleness and respect toward scholars outside, caring for students. Now, as the chief examiner for the spring imperial examinations, he was the mentor countless scholars dreamed of, swarming toward him.
As the top powerful minister in the court, the extent of his resources, the depth of his schemes, and the malice in his nature were beyond estimation. She had only been reborn, not fundamentally transformed; she feared she wouldn’t be a match for him even in two lifetimes.
Some matters could only be approached gradually.
As for her sister and brother-in-law, she still had to respect them as usual.
Facing the spring light, she blinked her smiling eyes. “Brother-in-law, with your myriad daily responsibilities, please don’t trouble yourself with such trivial matters. Yan Ge’er has the private tutor for his studies. If you have leisure, you can simply test him on his lessons.”
He also smiled. “Very well.”
The gray clouds dispersed, and the sunlight grew brighter, like yellow-green jujube flowers dusted with powder, while snow pearls still glistened on the wisteria vines.
Just as she was about to be consumed by torment, Zhao Lu finally arrived in haste, carrying a warming pan.
“Young lady…”
Upon noticing the figure behind her mistress, Zhao Lu’s smile froze. She bowed her head and said, “Zhujun.”
Tian Qin desperately wished to rise and go to Zhao Lu’s side to take the warming pan. Zhao Lu was covered in mud, as if she had taken a fall.
Tian Qin bent slightly in a hurried curtsy. “Please forgive me, Brother-in-law. I must hurry to accompany my sister for the meal. If I’m any later, I fear she will blame me.”
With that, she turned away with Zhao Lu.
Just as the mistress and servant were about to leave, the person behind them abruptly called out, his tone as calm as the gentle flow of snowmelt. “…If you like that Xiaxuzhuo, little sister, I can send someone to retrieve it for you again.”
Tian Qin froze abruptly.
In that moment, she was certain he had keenly detected some change in her, yet he did not expose it.
Unusual concern, unusual care—and even more frightening, it seemed he too carried memories from a past life.
“That won’t be necessary. It’s too much trouble for you, Brother-in-law.”
She did not turn around, her voice strained to remain calm. “It’s just a bracelet. I can ask my sister to give me another.”
Xie Tanwei said, “It’s no trouble, especially for you, little sister.”
Tian Qin wore an expression of feigned innocence tinged with coldness. She turned her head and stared intently into his eyes, her lips parting several times as if she wanted to speak but held back.
He appeared unperturbed, casually holding a lotus-petal teacup, his long lashes slightly lowered as if nothing had just transpired.
Zhao Lu, noticing Tian Qin’s hand was as cold as ice, snapped her out of her daze. The mistress and servant hurriedly stepped onto the bridge and departed.
The chirping of birds filled the air, accompanied by a spring breeze carrying snowflakes. The water-polished blue bricks were cold and rigid beneath their feet as they trod on the remnants of snow.
Zhao Lu explained that she had gotten lost on her way back and slipped on the snow, which was why she was late. She whispered, “How did you run into Zhujun, young lady? You look so pale—did he scold you? I’ve heard Zhujun is very kind.”
Tian Qin shook her head. “No.”
Zhao Lu breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
Tian Qin clutched the warming pan tightly in her hand, her small white teeth gleaming sharply as if she wanted to crush something.
In an instant, she lifted her graceful neck, took a deep breath, and composed her emotions, suppressing any inappropriate feelings.
Before reaching the room, she called out in a sweet, measured voice, “Second Sister, I’m here—”
A warm, gentle voice immediately responded from inside, “Tian’er? Come in quickly. I’ve been waiting for you.”
As she lifted the curtain, a wave of warm air, fragrant with the scent of fruits, enveloped her, making her feel as if she were in a spring flower room. The warmth flushed her cheeks, exuding an atmosphere of opulent comfort.
Ku Ju was already there. Seeing Tian Qin bloom like a fresh flower, her cheeks flushed like intoxicating sweet wine, she felt ashamed of her own plainness. She softly called out “Third Sister” and lowered her head.
True to her name, Ku Ju was unremarkable in appearance, with only a simple white flower tucked into her hair and dressed in pale yellow plain clothes, resembling a bitter chrysanthemum withering in the autumn wind amid fading grasses.
Xianqiu pulled Tian Qin and Ku Ju to sit on either side of her. The exquisite pastries and delicacies from the previous evening’s banquet were served in succession. The sisters of the Yu family sat together, chatting intimately about private matters.
Tian Qin had just entered, still carrying a faint chill of the spring breeze and a subtle scent of wisteria tea, which, upon closer sniff, was delicately sweet.
Xianqiu, with her keen sense of smell, smiled and asked, “Did you run into your brother-in-law earlier? You’re truly fortunate, Tian’er. I asked him for wisteria tea this morning and still haven’t had any.”
Hearing this, Ku Ju glanced at Tian Qin.
Tian Qin made no attempt to conceal it and admitted, “I happened to run into Brother-in-law while passing by the small stone bridge, but I didn’t stay for tea, afraid of delaying Sister’s pastries.”
Xianqiu said with a gentle smile, “Your brother-in-law’s tea is far more delightful than my pastries, silly child. You should have drunk his tea.”