Volume 1 Chapter 3: Waiting for Someone
“Has a guest arrived at the mansion?”
A cold, deep voice sounded, its tone so faint it was impossible to discern any emotion within.
The man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a black robe outlining his robust figure. Strands of light filtered through the tree shadows, half of his face cast in darkness, only the sharp, profound line of his jaw faintly visible.
Chang Feng, the sword-bearing guard, nodded. “Madam is unwell, so Madam Song has come to visit.”
Lifting his gaze to follow his master’s line of sight, he caught sight of the mistress and her maid. After a pause, he continued:
“The young lady in green is the third daughter of the Song family. It’s said she has been in poor health and was recuperating outside the city at Puhua Mountain until just a few days ago when she was brought back to the mansion. Today, she likely came to visit Madam.”
As he finished speaking, the mistress and maid who had been in the waterside pavilion were already walking farther away. Chang Feng asked, “Master, shall we have someone investigate?”
“No need.”
With those two brief words, the man had already turned and walked away, as if this were merely an insignificant matter.
Returning to the main courtyard, the entire yard was quiet. Servants led Tanyin and her companion to the side chamber.
In the main room, upon hearing that Tanyin had returned, Madam Song instinctively lowered her voice. “Hua’er, are you sure it’s the third girl?”
Song Shuhua, reclining on the bed with half-closed eyes, had not been sleeping. She hummed in acknowledgment.
Madam Song patted her chest. “But I still feel uneasy.”
Lifting her eyelids, a flicker of impatience flashed in her eyes. Song Shuhua retorted, “Otherwise, do you have a better choice?”
Recalling Madam Song’s original plan, Song Shuhua said bluntly, “If you’re concerned about Cousin Cheng’s marriage, I can pick a suitable young lady from a fallen family for him another day.”
Why must she insist on Song Tan Yin?
Madam Song: “What if we buy a few maids from outside with excellent looks and figures? At least…”
“Mother!”
Song Shuhua’s face suddenly flushed with anger. “You want me to raise a child born from a lowly servant? And have it call me mother? Are they worthy?”
“Although Song Tan Yin is a concubine-born daughter, she is still a member of our Song family, and she’s not bad-looking. Any child she bears likely won’t be some ugly thing—it won’t be an eyesore!”
Song Shuhua very much wanted a child, but not just any child born from some random person would be worthy of being registered under her name and raised by her.
Seeing her daughter angry, Madam Song quickly explained, “…That’s not what I meant, don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health over.”
After all, it was her own mother. Song Shuhua softened her attitude and asked about something else. “Mother, how is her health?”
She, of course, referred to Tanyin.
Madam Song: “The physician examined her yesterday. She’s a bit thin, but it won’t hinder childbearing.”
“Perfect for my purpose.”
A glint flickered in Song Shuhua’s eyes.
“What about your husband…” Madam Song hesitated.
She hadn’t visited the Marquis’s Mansion often, only becoming more frequent in the past two months, coming three or four times. But each time, she hadn’t seen that noble son-in-law come to visit her daughter, which worried Madam Song.
Song Shuhua said succinctly, “I’ll handle it.”
After chatting a bit more, when her personal maid, Nanny Li, entered, Song Shuhua feigned exhaustion. “Mother, I’m tired. You should go out for now.”
Unsuspecting, Madam Song stood up and left.
“Nanny, has the Marquis come?”
Once no one else remained, Song Shuhua looked at Nanny Li, her gaze filled with hopeful anticipation.
Under such a gaze, Nanny Li still answered truthfully, “Madam, the Marquis has already left the mansion.”
"Did you mention I was unwell when you went to the front courtyard?"
Nanny Li nodded slowly. "I did."
The implication was clear.
Even after being told, he still hadn't come.
Her hand resting on the quilt tightened. Song Shuhua sneered coldly, "He truly is heartless."
"Go to the front courtyard again later. Tell him I have something important to discuss with the Marquis."
"Yes, Madam."
Having visited her daughter and accomplished her main purpose, Madam Song left and returned home after the midday meal in the main courtyard.
Naturally, she did not take Tanyin with her.
Song Shuhua settled her in a side room. For the entire afternoon, undisturbed, Tanyin finally found a moment of peace from the moment she was brought back from Puhua Mountain until now.
After dozing for half an hour in the side room, Tanyin did not leave upon waking.
It wasn't until evening, when the main room called for dinner, that Song Shuhua sent someone to summon her.
As soon as she entered, Tanyin keenly noticed that the medicinal scent in the room was even stronger than it had been that morning. Even the rich spread on the table couldn't mask it.
"Third Sister, you're here! Please, sit down!"
Song Shuhua greeted her with a smile. She had changed into a slightly plainer goose-yellow brocade dress, with only two or three hairpins remaining in her hair. The opulence had faded, replaced by an air of refined elegance.
Perhaps she had rested well in the afternoon, or perhaps it was the effect of the bright fabric, but though her face still looked weary, the gloom had lessened.
"Eldest Sister," Tanyin called softly, then sat down properly, every movement graceful and poised.
Dinner began, and servants served the dishes.
Throughout the meal, Tanyin maintained her quiet, reticent nature, responding to Song Shuhua's occasional questions with bland, noncommittal answers.
She had expected Song Shuhua to show displeasure, but surprisingly, Song Shuhua seemed not to notice.
Tanyin realized she seemed distracted.
She kept glancing toward the door, and her personal nanny came in twice, whispering something in Song Shuhua's ear that caused her expression to shift repeatedly.
Turning her thoughts over, Tanyin understood.
She was waiting for someone.
As for whom, it went without saying.
Yet the meal passed quietly. By the time Tanyin was full, no one had appeared at the door.
Gently setting down the ivory chopsticks and dabbing the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, Tanyin lifted her chin slightly and said, "Eldest Sister, I've finished eating. I'll take my leave now."
"Wait!" The words were met with Song Shuhua's refusal.
She stood up abruptly, her voice urgent.
Tanyin was startled, staring at her in confusion, her expression puzzled.
Realizing her reaction had been too intense, Song Shuhua paused and slowly sat back down.
Her gaze fell on Tanyin's face. Under the dim candlelight, it was fair and luminous, with a delicate rosy glow—even the finest pearl in her jewelry box couldn't compare.
Her expression grew somewhat complicated. After a long moment, she finally said, "Never mind. You may go back now."
With her permission, Tanyin rose and glided away on light steps, disappearing through the doorway.
As she crossed the corner gate, she heard the sound of a cup shattering.
As soon as Tanyin left, Song Shuhua smashed the teacup on the table before her, her expression turning from clear to stormy. "Nanny, didn't you say the Marquis returned to the estate long ago? Did you not send someone to invite him?"
Nanny Li was anxious. "Madam, you wrong me…"
Just as she was about to explain, a maid hurried in to report, "Madam, the Marquis is heading toward our courtyard!"
Song Shuhua brightened. "Truly?"
The maid nodded vigorously. "This servant wouldn't dare deceive you."
Hearing this, Nanny Li relaxed inwardly, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
The moon hung in the sky, the night like frost. In the main courtyard, the lights still burned brightly. Xie Xun strode across the threshold of Qihua Yuan, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his steps steady and firm.
Under the moonlight, his tall and slender figure was clad in a flowing black robe that swayed with the wind. His deep, handsome features grew clearer, and an aura of authority surrounded him, with every gesture exuding an overwhelming nobility.
Suddenly, he paused, catching a glimpse of green in the corner of his eye. His steps slowed and came to a halt.