Volume 1 Chapter 7: Staying
A sigh seemed to escape as Xie Xun lowered his gaze. "Rise."
"Do not speak such words again in the future."
Tanyin abruptly looked up, her face etched with astonishment, as if unable to believe he would let the matter go so lightly.
Xie Xun glanced at her.
Realizing she had been judging a gentleman with the heart of a petty person, Tanyin twisted her handkerchief and whispered, "Thank you, Marquis."
Though her expression remained composed, inwardly she breathed a deep sigh of relief.
She had gambled correctly.
"Rest well."
At his words, Tanyin’s heart, which had just settled, tightened again. "Where are you going?"
Xie Xun stood up, his gaze shifting past her to the half-burned red candles before moving away. He said calmly, "This Marquis never forces anyone. Since it is not voluntary, I will not compel you."
This time, Tanyin was truly bewildered, staring at him in disbelief.
In a blur before her eyes, Xie Xun passed by her, his steps steady as he headed toward the door.
After a moment of stunned silence, seeing him about to leave, Tanyin instinctively reached out and grasped a piece of his clothing.
Feeling the tug, Xie Xun halted and frowned, rebuking, "Let go."
Tanyin did not move, making it clear she would not release him.
What a joke—she had performed all evening, expending words to clear up the misunderstanding, not to drive him away.
Not only did Tanyin not let go, she tightened her grip even more, her expression growing increasingly aggrieved. "This concubine never intended to become a concubine, but you also understand that this matter was not something I could decide. If you despise me for this, I…"
"I feel wronged…"
Xie Xun did not turn around, nor did he speak; no one knew what he was thinking.
Sensing the grip on her hand loosen slightly, Tanyin’s eyes flickered, her voice tinged with tears:
"I know the Marquis cherishes my elder sister, that your heart belongs only to her and cannot accommodate another. But the matter is already settled. If you leave now, how will I ever face living in the Marquis’s Mansion again…"
As she finished, she could not help but call out, "Brother-in-law…"
The rigid, unmoving back stiffened. Xie Xun suddenly turned, his gaze heavy. "What did you call me?"
Tanyin replied obediently, "Marquis…"
That single "brother-in-law" seemed like an illusion.
His throat moved, and Xie Xun’s eyes grew profound.
He felt this woman was truly changeable, yet he could not bring himself to dislike her in the slightest.
Seeing him remain silent, seemingly unmoved by her words, Tanyin inwardly scoffed, her face showing disappointment:
"If you insist on leaving, then go."
She turned her head, speaking coolly and indifferently, yet the redness around her eyes gradually deepened. Her dewy peach-blossom eyes were pure and untainted, the small mole beneath her brow burning brightly.
Xie Xun glanced down at her tightly gripping hand, then lifted his eyes to give her a cool look, as if asking:
If so, why are you still holding onto me?
After a moment of silence, he said, "This Marquis will stay, but I will not touch you."
Hearing this, Tanyin’s eyes brightened for an instant, and she finally released Xie Xun’s sleeve.
However, the sleeve she had tightly gripped for a while was no longer smooth; it was crumpled and wrinkled, looking as if it had been roughed up.
Tanyin said guiltily, "This concubine knows she was wrong."
Xie Xun curled his lip and sneered.
Not wishing to entangle with her further, he strode quickly and entered the bathing room.
When the master of a wealthy household bathed, there were always servants in attendance, or his wife or concubines would help undress him.
Tanyin sat in the outer room for quite some time without hearing Xie Xun call for anyone to assist him. After a moment of silence, she did not offer to step forward.
She understood the principle of knowing when to stop.
Moreover, she had no desire to attend to a man’s bath, even if he was a man of high status and her future pillar of support.
A quarter of an hour later, Tanyin sat before her dressing case, carefully applying something to her face. By then, the powder and rouge had been washed away, revealing a bare, unadorned face—delicate, fair, and smooth as moonlight.
“What are you doing?”
At some point, Xie Xun had finished bathing and appeared behind Tanyin.
He had changed into a clean black cross-collared robe, his dark hair tied high, the ends damp with moisture. His deep-set brows carried an air of cold indifference and languor.
As the man approached, Tanyin turned her head to look up at him, holding up a white-shelled egg in her hand. “Is the Marquis referring to this?”
The man glanced at it, his meaning clear.
Tanyin gently squeezed the egg and explained, “This is an egg, used to soothe the eyes. It helps promote blood circulation and reduce swelling. This concubine fears that if I wake up tomorrow looking unsightly, I won’t be fit to be seen.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Xun lifted his eyelids to scrutinize her briefly before looking away, his narrow, indifferent eyes revealing no discernible emotion.
With her dark hair, red lips, snow-white skin, and bright eyes, there was not the slightest hint of unsightliness.
By the time Tanyin finished applying the egg to her eyes and stood up, Xie Xun was reclining on the bed, sipping tea and idly toying with a jade pendant he had removed from his waist.
“Marquis, this concubine is ready.”
With light, graceful steps, Tanyin approached the bed and softly asked, “Would the Marquis prefer to sleep on the inner side or the outer side?”
“As you wish.”
“Then this concubine will take the inner side. The outer side is more spacious and shall be left for the Marquis.”
According to custom, wives and concubines typically slept on the outer side to make it easier to attend to their husbands during the night or early morning.
Tanyin made no mention of such duties, instead presenting her choice as considerate of Xie Xun’s comfort. Her expression and tone were so sincere that it was impossible to find fault.
Xie Xun let out a soft, derisive snort.
The April night was chilly, and there was only one brocade quilt on the bed. After climbing into the inner side, Tanyin spread the quilt flat and covered herself with it.
The bed was not particularly wide, just enough for two people to lie side by side.
Tanyin closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again. She turned her head to look at Xie Xun, who lay beside her with his eyes tightly shut, his profile sharp and cold, his nose bridge high and straight.
She ventured softly, “Marquis, could the bed curtains be drawn? It’s too bright for this concubine to sleep.”
Without opening his eyes, Xie Xun waved his hand, and the watery gauze curtains fell, extinguishing the red candles outside as well.
Darkness enveloped them, with only the moonlight outside the latticed window pouring in through the paper panes.
Tanyin gazed at it for a while before closing her eyes.
In the darkness, every movement seemed amplified, and Tanyin still found herself unable to sleep.
The brocade quilt barely covered her arms, and drafts seeped through the gaps on the side. Not daring to make any sudden movements, she gently tugged at it.
Glancing sideways at the man who appeared to be deep in sleep, Tanyin shifted her body slightly. After lying still for a while and still finding sleep elusive, she turned back.
For a time, she tossed and turned restlessly.
After several such movements, she failed to notice the man beside her furrowing his brows.
“What are you fussing about?”
The sudden voice made Tanyin instinctively close her eyes.
A moment later, she opened them again, propping herself up on the brocade quilt and calling out through the dim light:
“Marquis.”
Xie Xun remained silent, his eyes closed. Tanyin whispered, “This concubine heard this morning that a koi you cherished has passed away? The servants said the fish died from overfeeding…”
In the darkness, the man opened his eyes and stared directly at her. “What are you trying to say?”
Tanyin lowered her gaze, her dark hair cascading loosely over her shoulders. “This concubine dares not deceive you. Your fish… may perhaps have died… because of me.”
"Yesterday, while feeding the fish by the pondside pavilion, this concubine accidentally poured too much bait."
"This is this concubine's fault, and this concubine is willing to bear full responsibility."
A faint scoff seemed to sound. "Do you know the worth of those fish?"
Tanyin shook her head.
Xie Xun: "A thousand gold."
A thousand gold!
Fish worth a thousand gold!
Tanyin stared wide-eyed.
All her possessions combined were not worth a thousand gold!
Clutching the quilt tightly, Tanyin mumbled, "This concubine truly cannot afford to compensate…"
"But aside from compensation, however you wish to deal with this concubine, I will accept it without complaint!"
Her reckless, nothing-left-to-lose attitude made Xie Xun glance at her. After a moment, he asked, "Can you write?"
Tanyin nodded.
Xie Xun: "Then within ten days, copy the Avatamsaka Sutra from your bookshelf once, to offer prayers for my fish."
After a moment of stunned silence, Tanyin blinked. "…This concubine will remember. Thank you, Marquis, for your leniency."
Lying back down, her mind no longer troubled by the matter, a wave of drowsiness washed over her. Tanyin closed her heavy eyelids.
Just before drifting into sleep, she moved her lips and murmured, "Marquis."
"This concubine did not intentionally pressure you earlier."
She was referring to her earlier words urging him to stay.
"One should not speak while eating or sleeping."
"Oh…"