“No need for such formality. By seniority, Zhiwei is my elder brother. I should properly call you sister in law.”
The man’s voice sounded, its tone like metal striking stone, deeply arresting.
There was even a trace of laughter in his cadence.
The expressions of those around them stiffened. Tuan Yun’s elder sister in law, whose status and position far surpassed Tuan Yun’s, had just been addressed only as “Madam of the Count’s Household.”
It was hard to say whether this man was giving face or taking it away.
Yet the surrounding people still laughed and filled the silence. “This is your first time meeting, isn’t it?”
Cui Jianying replied, “Indeed.”
In truth, it was not. Cui Jianying had already seen Tuan Yun, back when Tuan Yun was first brought into the capital.
At that time, countless people wanted to crowd in and witness the spectacle of the once-noble young master Ji Zhiwei, having lost his memory, marrying a country xiaolang. Naturally, the scene lacked no onlookers, least of all someone like him, who had played a hand in it.
In his impression, from a distant glance, he had seen a thin, scrawny xiaolang, sallow and frail, even the strands of hair scattered in the light not quite jet-black. A gust of wind seemed enough to blow him over.
His eyes had been round and bright, yes but to the sons of Shengjing who were accustomed to beauty, he was the sort one looked at once and never examined closely again.
Two years later, that xiaolang of old was nowhere to be found.
The person before him was still slender but evenly built, graceful.
A head of hair glossy and smooth like black satin, skin fair with a hint of pink, clearly a pretty little beauty, like a budding flower.
And indeed, he truly was a tender flower bud.
Only seventeen or eighteen this year.
“You two really do share some fate. If Tuan Yun’s body weren’t so delicate, keeping him from going out, he really ought to host a banquet or two to properly entertain Lord Cui.”
“Isn’t that right, Tuan Yun?”
Tuan Yun could only lower his head. Being used as a conversational prop, he remained silent. When pressed further, he merely bent in a shallow bow toward Cui Jianying, offering thanks.
His posture was exceedingly docile.
Placed among a roomful of wolves and tigers, he resembled a spotless, fluffy white rabbit.
And by chance, that white rabbit had red eyes. This xiaolang’s eyes, too, were tinged with red, he did not move yet already gave the impression of wind skimming the surface of a lake.
Such timidity brought to mind the little cat Snowball once cradled in the Emperor’s palm in years past, an exotic tribute animal. Watched closely, nothing happened; glance away for a moment, let it hear a loud noise outside and it would be frightened to death.
Cui Jianying reached out to steady him. At the same time, the Countess spoke with a mocking tone, “Our second master’s wife doesn’t quite understand the rules. Cousin, please forgive the discourtesy.”
Cui Jianying smiled amiably and was about to speak, then paused.
The wrist he was holding slipped from his palm. Whether intentionally or not, the xiaolang’s fingertips brushed across his own.
Cui Jianying lowered his gaze and let his eyes fall on Tuan Yun.
In the span of one or two breaths, the xiaolang’s neck and ears flushed red, as if a drop of vermilion ink had fallen onto white paper, the color spreading across his body.
Without a sound, he retreated to the back, hiding himself away once more, making himself unobtrusive.
The midday meal was, of course, enjoyed at the Cui residence.
The scale of the affair, the number of dishes, the rank of the guests, there was no end to it all.
Yet Tuan Yun ate absentmindedly. His heart thudded heavily in his chest like a beating drum. Even when a noble lady seated nearby, one who had once admired Ji Zhiwei, mocked his outdated clothing and unremarkable headpiece, he scarcely noticed.
After returning home, Zhu’er saw that the flush on his face had not faded and brought him a cup of sobering tea.
He had not drunk any wine yet he still drank a full cup. As soon as the lamps were lit for evening, he lay down to rest.
Otherwise, he could not calm the panic in his heart.
How could he have been so bold?
He had thought he would surely be sleepless all night but after not sleeping the night before and forcing himself through an entire day, Tuan Yun actually did fall asleep.
Morning came again. Before he could rise and dress to go pay respects at the old madam’s courtyard, a matron from the old madam’s side arrived, informing him that he need not attend today. Someone would instead accompany him out of the residence, to: to the most expensive shops and gold houses in Shengjing, to be measured for clothes and to purchase jewelry.
“This…” Tuan Yun was confused. “Why all of a sudden…?”
Only after asking did he learn that not long after he had returned yesterday, a servant from the Cui residence had come bearing a gift of one hundred taels of gold for Tuan Yun.
The reason given was that during the banquet, Cui Jianying had heard Tuan Yun’s attire belittled. As the host of the feast, he found it intolerable.
As an outsider man, it would not be proper to send clothes directly to his sister in law, so he could only send silver instead and even then, he insisted it first be shown to the old madam before reaching Tuan Yun.
Thus came the scene before him now.
“The madam has no good clothes and doesn’t know how to ask for them. You are, after all, the lawful wife of a count’s son, could the household truly be short on your expenses?”
“You’ve caused the old madam to lose face, caused the count’s household to lose face.”
As the matron spoke, people behind her followed in, carrying a wooden chest. The lid was opened to reveal it filled to the brim with gold ingots.
Tuan Yun had never seen so much money in his life. Even at his two weddings with Ji Zhiwei, one in the village, one in the household, both conducted with extreme simplicity, one had no gifts at all and the other’s gifts never reached his hands.
He stood there blankly, stunned.
Seeing his reaction, the matron grew even more displeased. “Let’s go, Madam! Wouldn’t we have to make a grand show of replenishing your wardrobe? Lord Cui truly is your own living Bodhisattva in this world.”
“…”
Accompanied by the arranged steward matron, he left the residence.
The entire day was spent moving from shop to shop, purchasing endlessly, money flowing out like water.
Many of the items Tuan Yun did not truly lack but the decision was not his to make. In the end, everything was bought in great quantities.
“This fine fabric is best when cut fresh, of course but how could it compare to ready-made garments for saving time and effort? Madam, we also sell finished clothes here, quite a number of famous, high-grade pieces. Why not add a few more sets?”
“Rest assured, Madam, they are all excellent goods. Even if noble young ladies from ducal and marquis families gathered together, these would more than hold their own.”
The steward matron nodded and Tuan Yun had no choice but to try them on.
He followed a shop attendant to the inner room. Just as his hand reached his collar to undo the fastenings, he suddenly glimpsed a tall figure dressed in black, reflected in the mirror.
His hair nearly stood on end. Tuan Yun was startled, eyes widening, his heart almost leaping out of his throat yet he held back from crying out.
The man did not approach. He leaned against the door, watching him. Tuan Yun had not heard him enter; he must have been in the room all along. That handsome, striking face, the arms folded across his chest with muscles hard as iron, who else could it be but Cui Jianying?
Tuan Yun clutched his lapel, not daring to turn around. He lowered his gaze to his feet yet could not help lifting his eyes to the mirror.
Their gazes met in the reflection.
Tuan Yun’s face flushed, pearl-like cheeks turning into translucent red agate.
Unable to bear it, he was the first to avert his eyes.
Cui Jianying’s voice sounded from several steps away. “It seems I did not misread things.”
“…” Tuan Yun turned around as if summoning courage, still timid.
The man asked him, “Why aren’t you speaking?”
“My tongue is clumsy,” Tuan Yun replied. “I don’t know what to say to please you.”
A curling fragrance drifted from a small incense burner, wrapping around Tuan Yun, then winding its way elsewhere.
Tuan Yun stared at Cui Jianying’s chest. Today, too, it was embroidered with rolling cloud patterns. He dared not look into Cui Jianying’s eyes, he could not read them anyway. This man’s gaze was not cold like Ji Zhiwei’s but held a different kind of dread and awe.
He waited for Cui Jianying to speak but no words came.
When he finally looked up, Cui Jianying spoke. “I imagine others have little good to say about me. If they don’t call me a living Yama or an evil ghost, they probably don’t think I’m a good man but, sister in law, I too was raised on the teachings of the sages.”
Tuan Yun’s face went pale. In an instant, his lashes trembled, his body swaying.
The next moment, his body grew light. Cui Jianying caught him with one arm, lifting him so that both feet left the ground.
“In the Guanzi: Xinshu, it says: ‘Meet others with good qi and they will be as close as brothers; meet others with ill qi and it will be as harmful as weapons of war.’ Since I have committed no small number of evils already, at the very least, I ought to be kind in how I treat people.”
Cui Jianying laughed, the vibration of his breath traveling from his arm to Tuan Yun’s chest.
He said, “I have the intention to turn toward goodness. Since that is the case, I cannot let sister in law come here in vain.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Fleurveil
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
⚠️ TRANSLATOR COFFEE LEVELS CRITICALLY LOW ⚠️
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · How can you, so crude and vulgar, be a match for me?Chapter 2 · Children don’t just appear out of thin air if you want themChapter 3 · I also grew up reading the classicsChapter 4 · I am willing to dress up as the Goddess of MercyChapter 5 · If Cousin Ji doesn’t like me, do you not like me either?Chapter 6 · He actually summoned such a YamaChapter 7 · Am I not worthy of your attention, Madam?Chapter 8 · I think Lord Cui likes you very muchChapter 9 · Dragon and phoenix twinsChapter 10 · I will never allow anyone to belittle or despise you againChapter 11 · If that’s true, then marry your wife to meChapter 12 · Well, it really is true that one thing can subdue anotherChapter 13 · Extra 1Chapter 14 · Extra 2Chapter 15 · Extra 3Chapter 16 · Extra 4