Inside the washroom of the western courtyard of the Commandery Duke of Yongning’s estate, steam swirled in the candlelight. Xiao Jueyan leaned against the edge of a massive pearwood bathtub, his broad shoulders stretching into a wide, firm line. His chest, submerged in the water, rose and fell slightly, revealing well-defined, tight musculature—the result of years of martial arts training. Droplets of water slid down his neck, tracing the hollow of his collarbone.
His features were deep and well-defined. Beneath his sword-like brows were a pair of phoenix eyes, their corners slightly upturned. They were half-closed now, as if he were lost in thought.
The door was pushed open softly. Xiao Jueyan did not turn around, his brow merely twitching upward. He already knew who it was.
Shi Yu—the maid his mother had placed in his courtyard, the woman she intended for him to take as a tongfang.
Shi Yu clutched the hem of her clothes, her cheeks flushing deep red. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she edged toward the bathtub one step at a time. She was delicately pretty. Since the mistress had selected her two years ago and sent her to Xiao Jueyan’s side as a candidate for a tongfang, she had spent every day hoping to catch his eye. However, in these two years, Xiao Jueyan had never shown the slightest interest in her.
“Shizi… your servant is here to… to serve you in your bath.”
Her voice trembled, filled with a mixture of nervousness and irrepressible excitement. Which maid in the capital city didn’t envy her? As the heir to the Commandery Duke of Yongning’s estate, his status was noble, and his looks alone made him the man of every woman’s dreams in Bianjing. Even if she were only a tongfang, as long as she gained his favor, being elevated to a concubine in the future would be a blessing from the heavens.
Shi Yu rolled up her sleeves, revealing her fair wrists. She tentatively reached out toward Xiao Jueyan’s shoulder and neck. Just as her fingertips touched that warm, firm skin, Xiao Jueyan’s hand suddenly rose, grabbing her wrist without warning.
Shi Yu’s heart gave a violent jolt.
“Shizi…” Shi Yu’s voice grew smaller and smaller, too shy to finish a sentence. “It has been two years… the mistress keeps pressuring me… blaming me…”
Xiao Jueyan’s eyes were dark and deep, with no trace of emotion in their depths. How could he not understand his mother’s intentions? She simply wanted to arrange someone close to him to maintain a firm grip on the inner household. To him, Shi Yu was no different from the many women who tried to cling to him—like a piece of clothing, she was replaceable. He was the only son of the Commandery Duke of Yongning’s estate; it was a given that he would have many wives and concubines in the future. One more woman by his side was of no consequence.
With that thought, he relaxed his grip and released her wrist.
Overjoyed, Shi Yu took this as silent permission. Her fingertips trembled as she carefully raised her hand to stroke Xiao Jueyan’s firm chest. Her finger pads brushed over the warm muscle, making her heart race. As she gently wiped him down, she secretly began to undo the ties of her outer robe, leaning her body closer to him. She wanted to secure her status today and finally become his tongfang.
She had waited two years for this day. Just as her body was about to press against his, a hurried report came from outside the courtyard. It was the voice of Chen Jing, Xiao Jueyan’s personal guard.
“Shizi, the Duke requests your presence in the study immediately.”
Shi Yu’s body froze mid-motion, and the blush on her face instantly faded halfway.
Xiao Jueyan opened his eyes. There was no trace of lust in them, only his usual calm.
“Leave.”
The word was brief and final.
Shi Yu hurriedly straightened up, pulling her outer robe together in a flustered mess. Her expression was a mix of embarrassment and disappointment. She had been so close, just a hair’s breadth away… A surge of intense resentment and bitterness rose in her heart, but she dared not show it. She could only lower her head and whisper, “Yes, Shizi.”
Xiao Jueyan stood up from the tub, water cascading down his powerful frame. Shi Yu didn’t dare look up; she merely handed him a dry cloth and the prepared robes before bowing and retreating. Before the door closed, she stole one last glance at that figure—tall, perfect, and yet so tantalizingly out of reach.
Xiao Jueyan changed into his daily attire. The dark blue brocade robe accentuated his tall and imposing stature. He walked out of the washroom, where Chen Jing, waiting under the corridor, stepped forward and whispered, “The Duke, the Madam, and the young miss are all waiting in the study.”
Inside the study of the Commandery Duke’s estate, the candles burned brightly. The Duke, Xiao Zhenyuan, sat behind a red sandalwood desk. Though nearly fifty, he remained energetic, his brow carrying the dignity of one who had long held high office. His wife, Lady Liu, sat to his right. Despite being over forty, her well-maintained features still showed glimpses of her youthful beauty. On the left stood Xiao Jueyan’s legitimate younger sister, Xiao Wanning. At nineteen, her eyes bore a resemblance to her mother’s elegance, carrying the delicate air of a pampered daughter of the house.
“Father, Mother,” Xiao Jueyan said, standing still after offering his greetings.
“Jueyan is here.” Xiao Zhenyuan nodded, gesturing for him to sit. “Tomorrow morning, you are to set out for Huaihua Village in Huashui County.”
Xiao Jueyan raised an eyebrow slightly. “Huaihua Village?”
It was a remote place he had never even heard of.
“To bring back your illegitimate sister, Wanyan,” Lady Liu took over the conversation, her voice calm but tinged with a faint trace of loathing.
Xiao Jueyan searched his memory for a moment before barely recalling the name, mostly from his mother’s fragmented complaints. Eighteen years ago, after a bout of drinking, his father had favored a lowly maid. That maid later gave birth to a daughter named Wanyan. The maid was plain-looking and never won his father’s heart, and consequently, the illegitimate daughter was also neglected. Ten years ago, shortly after the maid died of illness, the girl had been sent to the countryside under the pretext of “recovering from an illness.”
“Why the sudden move to bring her back?” Xiao Jueyan asked, already suspecting the reason.
Xiao Zhenyuan and Lady Liu exchanged a look before the Duke spoke slowly. “The current situation at court is delicate. Both Prince Jing and Prince Rui have their strengths, and both are top candidates for the position of Crown Prince. Prince Jing’s son, Zhao Jin, has reached marriageable age and intends to form an alliance with our Commandery Duke estate.”
Xiao Wanning’s face turned slightly pale. Zhao Jin’s reputation for lechery was known throughout Bianjing; he was a regular at the washe goulan. What noble daughter would be willing to marry such a man?
Lady Liu took her daughter’s hand and continued, “Our Wanning has been childhood friends with Prince Rui. Prince Rui is refined and talented, and he is a close friend of yours. He is the true match for her.”
Xiao Jueyan understood. His father wanted to hedge his bets—to avoid offending Prince Jing while also securing a connection with Prince Rui. Prince Jing was the legitimate son of the late Empress, over forty and deeply calculating; his request for a marriage for his son, Zhao Jin, was purely a move to win over the Commandery Duke of Yongning’s estate. Meanwhile, Prince Rui, Zhao Heng, was the son of the current Imperial Noble Consort. At twenty-three, he had grown up with Xiao Jueyan and they shared a deep bond. Wanning had been infatuated with him since childhood. His father’s plan was to marry his legitimate sister, Wanning, to Zhao Heng, while using the illegitimate sister raised in the countryside, Wanyan, as a pawn to satisfy Prince Jing’s proposal. This way, they could maintain a facade of neutrality without offending either side.
“So, bringing Wanyan back is for the purpose of marrying her to Zhao Jin?” Xiao Jueyan’s voice was devoid of emotion.
“Exactly,” Xiao Zhenyuan nodded. “She is an illegitimate daughter, but she is still of the Xiao bloodline. Pairing her with Zhao Jin is no insult to her. Furthermore, if she is truly blessed and Prince Jing’s lineage eventually gains power, it will be a good thing for the estate.”
Xiao Jueyan looked at his sister. Xiao Wanning’s eyes were filled with plea. He knew his sister had loved Zhao Heng for years, and the two were indeed a well-matched pair. As an older brother, he naturally hoped his sister would marry a good man.
“How far is Huaihua Village from Bianjing?”
“Three days by fast horse,” Chen Jing answered from outside the door.
“I understand.” Xiao Jueyan stood up. “I will depart tomorrow morning.”
When he left the study, the night was already deep. As Xiao Jueyan walked along the corridor, he felt no great stir of emotion. An illegitimate sister he hadn’t seen in years, brought back to be married off—it was a common occurrence in these grand estates. Just like Shi Yu today, or the many women who would follow, they were merely ornaments in this vast Duke’s estate.
The Xiao family held the noble rank of a second-grade Commandery Duke of the Northern Song, and due to their illustrious military merits, the patriarch was honored by the court as “the Duke.” With both noble rank and military prestige, they stood at the forefront of the capital’s aristocracy. Furthermore, because the eldest son, Xiao Jueyan, oversaw the operations of the Jingying and held the power over the training of the Jingji Jinjun, military merit assessments, and weapon supplies, they had become a core faction that both Prince Jing and Prince Rui sought to win over in their struggle for the throne. Facing the undercurrents of the court, Xiao Jueyan and his father, the Duke, had always acted with extreme caution, not daring to make a reckless move.