Volume 1 Chapter 9: The Injury
After the morning greetings concluded, Second Madam and Third Madam excused themselves first, citing matters to attend to in their courtyards. Yuan Shi naturally followed her own mother-in-law.
Tanyin, however, was asked to stay behind.
Seeing that the two mistresses had something to discuss, Nanny Li led the other servants out, and Yin Huan also found it inappropriate to remain.
Song Shuhua sat in the master’s armchair, the hairpins and tassels on her head feeling unbearably heavy. She couldn’t help but lift a hand to adjust them.
Tanyin stood below, head bowed, saying nothing.
“Third Sister, the people in your courtyard say that you and the Marquis did not consummate the marriage last night. Do you have anything to say about this?”
Having somewhat relieved the weight on her head, Song Shuhua’s expression remained impassive as she began her questioning.
“You should know how important children are to me and to our Song family, don’t you?”
Tanyin lowered her gaze to conceal her true emotions, her face showing a look of remorse. “This concubine is incompetent and has disappointed you, Elder Sister.”
Seeing her indifferent, reticent response, Song Shuhua felt a wave of irritation. “Forget it. Since things have come to this, it’s not entirely your fault. In such matters, if the man is unwilling, there’s nothing a woman can do.”
After a pause, she looked at Tanyin, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Here’s what we’ll do. Today is the Marquis’s day off. He’ll likely be handling official business in his study in the afternoon. I’ll have the kitchen prepare some soup later, and you must deliver it to him personally.”
Tanyin’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if in resignation, and she could only reply, “Yes.”
After leaving Qihua Hall, Yin Huan, who had been anxiously waiting, hurried forward. Tanyin asked, “What time is it?”
Glancing at the sky, Yin Huan estimated, “It’s probably nearing the end of the Si hour. Would you like to take a stroll?”
The estate’s gardens were vast and beautifully landscaped, and they had only explored one area in the past two days.
Tanyin shook her head. “The sun is rather strong. Let’s head back first.”
Yin Huan nodded and suggested, “If you’re worried about the sun, I’ve learned of a shorter path with plenty of shade from the trees. It’s less likely to burn you.”
Tanyin nodded in agreement, deciding to take the shortcut.
After walking for about a quarter of an hour, the two heard sounds of laughter and play, seemingly coming from the other side of a wall.
Tanyin paused, curious about why there was a wall here.
Yin Huan found a nearby maid to inquire. The maid explained, “Judging by the noise, it’s probably coming from the West Courtyard. I’ve heard that the young masters and misses have taken a liking to Cuju lately. They’ve been playing in the courtyard ever since returning from school.”
Today being a day off, it went without saying. The young masters and misses of the West Courtyard had been playing Cuju since after breakfast.
Compared to the quiet and sparsely populated East Courtyard, the West Courtyard was much livelier.
The Xie family’s residence had a history of over a hundred years. With each renovation and expansion, the estate had grown larger and larger.
Since the old master Xie retired from office and the eldest son inherited the title, although the various branches of the family had not formally separated, the vast estate had been divided into the East and West Courtyards.
The East Courtyard was where the eldest branch, now headed by the Marquis, resided. The West Courtyard housed the second and third branches, separated by a wall that served as the boundary.
The master of the East Courtyard had been assigned to an outpost for several years, and his wife had taken up vegetarianism and Buddhist worship many years ago. She usually stayed in her own courtyard or the family shrine, detached from worldly affairs and rarely venturing out.
Moreover, the Marquis had no children, and his wives and concubines were pitifully few, so the East Courtyard was usually very quiet.
In contrast, the two masters of the West Courtyard had many wives and concubines and numerous children. With more people, it naturally became much livelier.
Tanyin was not very familiar with the affairs of the Zhenbei Marquisate, but after piecing together the information Yin Huan had gathered over the past two days and the maid's words, she now had a general understanding.
"I see, thank you."
The maid replied, "You're too kind, Concubine."
"Watch out, mistress!" Yin Huan suddenly exclaimed, immediately shielding Tanyin.
In an instant, a brightly colored bamboo-woven Cuju ball flew over the wall, heading straight for Tanyin.
Thud—
Despite Yin Huan's quick reflexes, the ball still struck the back of Tanyin's hand before falling to the ground.
A sharp pain shot through her, and Tanyin gasped in discomfort. Yin Huan anxiously asked, "Are you all right, mistress?"
Tanyin looked down at her hand, her face slightly pale. "I'm fine, just my hand got hit."
After the pain subsided, a red mark immediately appeared on her fair, soft skin, mixed with faint traces of blood. The bruise on the back of Tanyin's hand looked somewhat alarming, making Yin Huan's heart ache with concern.
She said guiltily, "I'm sorry, it's my fault for not protecting you well enough and letting you get hurt…"
If she hadn't suggested taking the shortcut, her mistress wouldn't have been hit.
Tanyin shook her head at her. "It's not your fault, don't blame yourself."
Suppressing her emotions, Yin Huan picked up the Cuju ball from the ground and angrily shouted toward the wall, "Who kicked this ball so recklessly? How outrageous! Don't you know you hit someone?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a figure in blue appeared at the moon gate ahead—a handsome young man with delicate features and rosy lips.
Realizing he had caused trouble, he stood not far away, scratching his head sheepishly, and pointed at the brightly colored Cuju ball in Yin Huan's hand.
"S-sorry—"
"That Cuju ball is mine."
Tanyin asked calmly, "Who are you?"
Her clear, cool voice reached his ears, and as he met her gaze, the young man's neck flushed bright red in an instant.
His heart raced wildly, but he forced himself to remain composed despite his discomfort. "M-my name is Xie Jin. I kicked the ball, but I didn't mean to. I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"
By the end, his expression was filled with guilt. Earlier, while still in the West Courtyard and before coming over, he had heard someone being hit from behind the wall and hurried over immediately.
Xie Jin?
She had heard that the third branch of the Xie family had a pair of twins. Was this young man one of them?
Tanyin said, "It's nothing serious. Just be more careful when playing Cuju in the future, and don't hurt anyone again."
After speaking, she instructed Yin Huan to return the Cuju ball to him and then left.
When Xie Yu arrived, she saw her brother, who was only born a quarter of an hour before her, standing there holding the Cuju ball in a daze. She called out to him several times, but he didn't respond, so she couldn't help but give him a hard punch.
"Hey!"
"What are you looking at? Why are you taking so long just to pick up a ball?"
"Ouch—"
Xie Jin winced in pain, rubbing his shoulder as he glared at her. "Are you an ox? Why are you so strong?"
What girl had endless brute strength like her?
Xie Yu rolled her eyes at him, her expression lively and charming.
Then she let out a surprised sound, as if she had noticed something, and leaned in curiously. "Xie Jin, why is your face so red?"
Xie Jin pushed her away without answering and casually asked, "Do you know if there's been anyone new in the mansion lately that we haven't met before?"
"Someone new?"
Xie Yu shook her head.
"Oh, right!"
Suddenly remembering something, she said, "I heard that our eldest brother took a concubine, a daughter from the Song family. They say she's incredibly beautiful, like a fairy. I wonder if it's true?"
She had seen many beauties, but she had never seen one called a fairy, so she believed it was just the servants exaggerating.
A concubine taken by her elder brother?
Thinking of this, and realizing that this was precisely the East Courtyard—her elder brother’s domain—Xie Jin immediately wilted.
“I’m not playing anymore. Go have fun yourselves.”
She shoved the ball into Xie Yu’s hands and turned to leave.
Xie Yu: ?