By dusk, a gentle spring rain began to fall. The wind blew through it, sending the drops swirling like drifting petals, giving the air a hazy romance.
Su Mei had chairs and a small table moved under the covered corridor. She invited Lin Yian to enjoy the rain while playing chess, occasionally glancing toward the courtyard gate.
“You are trying to do two things at once. Soon you’ll be up to some trickery again,” Lin Yian said, placing a piece on the board, his tone amused.
“Perfect, then Husband can let me win again,” she said, withdrawing her gaze and smiling at him.
The sky had grown dark, and the servants had already lit lanterns. A small candle was placed near the chessboard, and her smiling face, illuminated by the warm glow, was dazzling.
Lin Yian paused mid-motion, looking down. “We agreed this game would follow the rules. I already gave you a head start. No more concessions now, so your charms won’t work.”
She frowned at her chaotic black pieces. “Then I’m bound to lose. I was hoping to win a round against my husband so I could do whatever I wanted.” She tossed her piece aside and curiously asked, “Why did Husband think to set up a bet? Winning like this feels unfair.”
Lin Yian’s gaze flickered at her words “do whatever I want” and warmed at her remark about “unfair victory.” The combination made him feel as if she suspected him of some improper intent.
He cleared his throat, keeping his eyes on the board. “It was a spur of the moment idea. Let’s say you lose, then you must agree to one thing for me.”
“Then I’ll admit defeat.” Su Mei leaned back in her chair, resting her chin on her hand with a smile. “Whatever Husband asks, I’ll agree.”
She trusted him so completely, without reservation or reason.
Lin Yian felt a touch of shame at his own thoughts. Though setting the bet was impulsive, it was meant to provide a reason to ensure she returned to the marquis’ residence, a pretext that came from care, yet it made him feel guilty for her sincere trust.
“Right now, I haven’t decided what I want you to do, but we agreed. You must keep your promise.” His words were slow, and his tongue felt dry toward the end.
The reluctance he had long tried to ignore was rising within him.
A few days in, it was less that she depended on him and more that he had grown used to her dependence, feeling a desire not to let go.
Su Mei didn’t overthink it, responding happily. “I’m not playing chess anymore,” she said, turning her head to watch the courtyard gate. “Why is buying a storybook taking so long?”
The court physician still would not allow her to wander. He worried about the bump on the back of her head.
She grew bored and had someone run to buy a storybook to pass the time.
“It should be soon. With the rain, they might have to take cover.” Lin Yian glanced at the sky and began putting the chess pieces away.
Su Mei reached out to help, and their fingers brushed. Just as he was about to withdraw, she smiled mischievously and exclaimed, “Husband, your hand is so cold. Let me warm it for you.”
She clasped his hand tightly, her fingers fast and firm. Before he could react, his palm was enveloped in hers.
Lin Yian recalled that night when she had sneaked into his room. In front of Liu Si, she had behaved boldly under her wide sleeves.
He panicked, embarrassed, and tried to pull back. She seemed to anticipate it, leaning forward, half her body over the chessboard.
“Husband, I noticed, you always try to avoid me, not wanting to get close. You weren’t like this before.”
Every time she said “Husband,” her voice was tender and lingering. Now, her gaze, misty with emotion, carried a hint of grievance and subtle reproach.
Lin Yian was alarmed and leaned back. Before, she wasn’t like this? The sun and moon bear witness, there was no “before.”
But his legs would not move. Where could he escape? Meanwhile, her fingers had already touched his wrist, tracing small circles over the raised bone. Her tone was plaintive. “Husband, do you not like Mei Mei anymore? Did I not do well enough?”
His heart raced as she drew closer. Her touch sent shivers through him.
He forced himself to stay calm, retracting his tingling arm. “Let go first. Let’s talk properly.”
“No! Either you kiss me, and I’ll let go, or you tell me clearly whether you don’t like me!” she insisted, moving forward stubbornly.
She had noticed that if she got closer, he would pull away. Even with his leg injury preventing them from sleeping together, kisses and embraces should be possible. Today, she demanded an answer.
The chess pieces scattered, echoing the rhythm of his pounding heart.
“Mei Mei, let go.”
He ached, wanting to avoid her, yet could not resist her deliberate teasing. Her touch ignited him, heating his heart and sending tingling sensations through his body.
Ashamed, he kept his eyes closed, refusing to see her face leaning closer.
Seeing him close his eyes, Su Mei’s own eyes sparkled. She made a bold decision.
If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain.
She aimed for his pursed lips, trembling.
The rain fell softly, the dim light accentuating the intimate tension.
Before she could reach him, a shout rang from the corridor, “Cousin!”
Startled, possibly from guilt or embarrassment, she instinctively released his hand. Losing his support, she stumbled to the side.
Nearby, a small red clay tea stove bubbled. Lin Yian’s eyes opened, seeing the precarious moment. His mind blank, he acted instinctively.
He caught her arms and looped one hand around her back, half-lifting her into his embrace.
The chessboard and table tipped, hitting the stove, extinguishing the fire with a soft pop.
Hot water spilled across the floor, steam rising.
Lin Yian’s hands trembled as he held her back, shaken by how close she had come to harm.
“Stop fooling around!” he shouted sharply.
Su Mei pressed against his chest, her voice vibrating from his ribs. She instinctively shrank her shoulders.
She had been frightened, but his sternness was far scarier than the hot water.
“I…” she raised her head, eyes rimmed in red, wanting to explain she was not being reckless, just anxious about his distance.
“Are you hurt anywhere? Your arm was close… wait, your leg too!” Lin Yian’s anxious voice rose over her head.
He was usually so distant, yet now frantic, holding her cold hands, trying to assess her injuries without uncovering her sleeves.
Su Mei paused, then raised her hand, exposing her snow-white arm. “Husband, it hurts. Did you burn me?”
Her fear turned into brazen courage under his concern. She cried out with feigned drama.
Lin Yian carefully inspected her arm, wishing he had eight eyes to see faster.
Wu Zisen could not watch any longer. He stepped forward and yanked the clingy little girl away. “Cousin, your clothes are dry. No water spilled.”
“Your eyesight is bad, Cousin!”
Su Mei fumed silently. He had ruined her closeness with her husband.
Lin Yian snapped back to reality, quickly withdrawing his overreaching hands, looking toward the courtyard rain. His heart pounded.
He had nearly succumbed to temptation, knowing her clinginess yet still taken in.
He closed his eyes, letting Wu Zisen take her away. Only when her voice faded did he exhale.
Frustrated at the interruption, Su Mei returned to her room, cheeks puffed in anger, glaring at Wu Zisen. “Cousin, I know what you were thinking!”
Wu Zisen panicked slightly, yet felt a strange anticipation.
“You understand my intentions?”
“Yes, but you won’t succeed!” she shot back.
Wu Zisen, thwarted, froze.
She clenched her fists, mustering courage and strength. “I will not give my husband to you!”
Wu Zisen’s mind went blank. It took him half a moment to understand she meant Lin Yian, not her.
He mentally resolved that, since the bet had ended, and once he sent someone to explain the annulment, if he married her, Lin Yian would be out of the picture.
After the drama, Su Mei’s storybook arrived.
She returned to her room to read while waiting for the physician, but after a few pages, a letter fell onto her skirt.
Curious, she picked it up. There was no signature, and the seal was broken.
Driven by curiosity, she unfolded it, read a page, then tore it to pieces without thinking.
Ridiculous!
She ground the paper with her embroidered shoes until the writing was unrecognizable, then sat stunned.
Zikui noticed Su Mei seemed unwell. After the treatment, she was listless and unresponsive.
“What is wrong, Miss?” Zikui asked, and Wu Zisen explained briefly.
Wu Zisen sighed. “She is probably still angry. Try to soothe her.”
Zikui left. During dinner, she noticed Su Mei did not run to Lin Yian as usual. She was even more puzzled.
Night fell. The rain continued. Lanterns swayed in the courtyard wind. A small figure ran quickly across the center yard, hidden by darkness and rain.
Lin Yian, still unsettled by the afternoon, had grown bored with his chess manual and set it aside to sleep early.
No sooner had he put down the book than he heard a creak from the window, followed by a soft cry of pain.
He twitched and called out, “Mei Mei?”
The window-climbing Su Mei arrived before him, limping.
Lin Yian was shocked by her disheveled state.
Her hair was wet, the thin inner garment clinging to her body. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.
“Why do you never use the door? How did you end up like this?” Lin Yian asked, moving closer, only to realize his injured leg could not move.
Su Mei stood still for a moment, then ran to him, throwing herself into his arms and crying, “You don’t want me anymore! You want to divorce me, right!”
Lin Yian’s temples throbbed. What was she suddenly saying?
He had not yet decided how to respond. Su Mei shoved him away, flung her shoes aside, climbed into bed, and hugged the quilt.
“Don’t even think about it!” she said angrily.
The messy letter had been slipped into the storybook by him.
If necessary, she would force her way. He could not escape, and if she got pregnant, he could not divorce her.