Volume 1 Chapter 4: The Fish Is Dead
"Master?" The attendant following behind him voiced his confusion.
Xie Xun: "It's nothing. You may return first."
The attendant thought nothing more of it and nodded.
Withdrawing his gaze, Xie Xun resumed walking.
In the main hall, Song Shuhua sat upright with a solemn posture. After waiting for a while, she finally caught sight of that figure, and joy flickered in her eyes, though she couldn't help but remark:
"The Marquis is truly busy. It took this concubine three or four invitations to barely manage to bring you here."
Ignoring her complaint, Xie Xun stood tall and straight, speaking directly in an indifferent tone: "What is it you need?"
The evening meal had not yet been cleared away, and the utensils Tanyin had used were still untouched. On the rim of the white jade cup, a faint imprint of lip rouge remained, resembling the color of flower petals.
Xie Xun glanced at it briefly before looking away, his narrow, aloof phoenix eyes sweeping toward Song Shuhua, his expression cool.
Her fingers hidden in her sleeves clenched tightly. Though accustomed to his attitude, Song Shuhua's heart still ached.
He was growing increasingly distant toward her.
She forced a smile: "Can I not seek the Marquis if there is no particular matter?"
Xie Xun had no patience for her idle talk and immediately turned to leave.
"Marquis!"
Song Shuhua took a deep breath and said: "This concubine does not wish to become a sinner of the Xie family, so I took it upon myself to arrange a concubine for the Marquis!"
His figure halted. In that fleeting moment, Xie Xun understood something and abruptly raised his eyes to fix her with a piercing gaze.
His eyes were sharp as swords, carrying a frosty chill, as if they could pierce through a person.
A heavy sense of oppression bore down on Song Shuhua. She couldn't help but tremble all over, gritting her teeth to hold herself upright.
Xie Xun's face darkened like water: "Do you know what you are saying? She is your sister."
Song Shuhua, of course, knew.
But she had no other choice.
…
Half a quarter-hour later, Xie Xun swept his sleeves and left.
The strength she had been forcing herself to maintain dissipated, and Song Shuhua collapsed onto the pearwood chair, her breath weak and unsteady.
Nanny Li hurried forward, and as she approached, she heard her murmur: "Nanny, he agreed."
"I thought he would at least refuse."
Song Shuhua spoke softly, her expression dazed.
As the only one aware of the true situation between her master and the Marquis, Nanny Li couldn't help but feel heartache seeing her like this: "Perhaps he considered the Song family's reputation. If he refused and word got out, people might misunderstand it as discord between the two families. Forcing a concubine-born daughter into servitude only to be sent back would become a laughingstock."
Song Shuhua gave a self-mocking smile: "When has he ever cared about others?"
"Besides, I haven't even told him that the person is my concubine-born sister."
Nanny Li was startled. "Perhaps there were discussions in the mansion that reached the Marquis's ears, allowing him to guess?"
But the Third Lady had only just arrived at the Marquis's Mansion and had merely wandered nearby. Could the news have reached the Marquis so quickly, allowing him to confirm she was a daughter of the Song family?
The next morning, Song Shuhua announced the matter of taking a concubine, causing quite a stir within the Marquis's Mansion.
When Tanyin went to pay her respects and have breakfast, she noticed that Song Shuhua seemed even more haggard, as if she had not slept well all night.
Song Shuhua showed her two small courtyards and asked her to choose one to live in. Tanyin chose the small courtyard named 'Guantang Courtyard.'
Song Shuhua handed her the concubine contract from the tray, a sincere smile on her face: "Third Sister, although the position of a serving concubine is somewhat low, once you conceive the Marquis's child, I will certainly promote you to Side Consort."
Though both serving concubines and Side Consorts are concubines, their status differs vastly. In Great Qi, as long as the master or the Madam is willing, a Side Consort is qualified to assist in managing the household's affairs.
Yet a concubine does not possess such qualifications. No matter how much the master favors her, she remains nothing more than a plaything to be disposed of at will.
A sense of mockery rose in Tanyin’s heart, though her expression remained as calm as ever. “I’ve troubled Eldest Sister with concern.”
Song Shuhua replied, “Not at all. We are still family from now on, so there’s no need for such formalities.”
“It’s just that everything happened so hastily, and coincidentally, the Marquis has been occupied with official matters these past two days. You haven’t met the Marquis yet, have you?”
She asked casually, her eyes concealing a barely detectable scrutiny.
Tanyin shook her head. “No, I haven’t.”
As if recalling something, her expression shifted slightly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. She lowered her voice and asked uneasily, “I’ve heard that Eldest Sister and the Marquis share a deep affection as husband and wife. I… will the Marquis like me?”
Song Shuhua sneered inwardly. Indeed, no matter how aloof a woman may seem, she would still harbor longing for the man she is about to serve.
She reassured her, “Although the Marquis has a cold demeanor, he is considerate by nature. With your captivating beauty, he is sure to like you.”
Tanyin’s face flushed even deeper with shyness, stirring a sour feeling in Song Shuhua’s heart.
Releasing Tanyin’s hand, Song Shuhua returned to her armchair and instructed, “It’s getting late. Third Sister, why don’t you first go and see your quarters? If you’re dissatisfied, just send someone to let me know.”
Tanyin nodded. Song Shuhua called over a slightly plump middle-aged woman. “Mama Wang, please escort Third Sister.”
Mama Wang had slanted eyes and slightly high cheekbones. After acknowledging Song Shuhua, she turned to Tanyin and said, “Concubine, please follow this old servant.”
Tanyin bid farewell to Song Shuhua, turned around, and all traces of shyness vanished from her face.
Meanwhile, in the front courtyard at Zhaohui Hall.
In the solemn and serene study, the occasional rustle of turning pages could be heard. An ancient bronze incense burner emitted a delicate fragrance, with wisps of smoke curling around its lid.
Behind the sandalwood desk, Xie Xun sat in an official’s chair, dressed in a dark blue casual robe. His back was as straight as a pine tree, and the wide cuffs of his sleeves were embroidered with golden cloud patterns. His jet-black hair was tied up and secured with a dark jade crown. In his hand, he held a wolf-hair brush, his noble bearing unmistakable.
The tranquil atmosphere was gradually broken by hurried footsteps outside the door. Changfeng rushed all the way to the study.
At the entrance, he casually tossed his long sword to his younger brother Changyun, who was on duty, and entered with a porcelain basin in hand, his expression anxious.
Hearing the commotion, Xie Xun did not look up, asking casually, “What has you so flustered?”
Changfeng replied, “Master, your fish has died.”
“Which one?”
“The one you favored the most…”
This koi had been obtained by the master last year during a chance encounter in Jiangnan. Its body was a mix of red and white, with a single red spot on its head. Its fins stretched out like bird wings, resembling the mythical Wenyao fish described in ancient texts.
Finding it peculiar and interesting, the master had spent a considerable sum to purchase it and later brought it back to the capital.
Initially kept in a porcelain vat, it was eventually released by the master into the Lotus Pond. Once in the pond, the fish seemed to vanish into the vastness, rarely seen again.
Changfeng never expected that the next time he would see it, it would be a case of man and fish separated by life and death.
Hearing this, the tip of the brush paused. Xie Xun set down the brush and looked up, revealing a stern yet handsome face.
“How did it die?” he asked calmly, glancing at the celadon porcelain basin in Changfeng’s hands.
Changfeng looked down at the koi in the basin—its eyes rolled back, its belly swollen like a ball—and answered truthfully:
“…It seems it ate too much fish food and died from overeating.”
Overeating.
A flicker passed through Xie Xun’s eyes. He glanced at the fish, whose death had left it looking foolish and ugly, and said, “In that case, take it to the palace.”
“Once His Majesty has seen it, bury it.”
Changfeng’s lips twitched slightly.
Last year, when His Majesty heard that the master had obtained a fish resembling a Wenyao, he dismissed his guards and sneaked out alone, causing everyone great alarm.
Before he could even see the fish, His Majesty was escorted back to the palace by the master, who had just returned home and was also his maternal uncle.
Amidst the commotion, His Majesty forgot about seeing the fish, and the master never considered sending it to the palace for His Majesty to admire. Over time, everyone forgot about the matter.
Yet, unexpectedly, the master still remembered.
But… the fish is already dead. Would His Majesty still want to see it?
Moreover, the master seemed to have no intention of punishing the "culprit" who overfed the fish—Third Miss Song, or rather, Concubine Song.
Though puzzled, Chang Feng dared not ask further: "Understood. I will deliver it immediately."
Once outside, faced with his younger brother's curious inquiries, Chang Feng gave a brief explanation.
After hearing it, Changyun burst into thunderous laughter: "Hahahaha—"
"How foolish could this fish be? It actually died from overeating?"
Chang Feng’s heart skipped a beat, finding the remark oddly familiar.
Looking at his carefree, loud-mouthed, and simple-minded younger brother, Chang Feng rolled his eyes in exasperation.
With a creak, the study door opened, and the laughter abruptly ceased.
Changyun’s face stiffened. Turning to meet the master’s expressionless gaze, he immediately said obediently:
"Master, I will go and accept my punishment."