Chapter 22

Wang Tingyang suddenly grew tongue-tied. He dared not meet her gaze; a man of twenty-seven or eight, his ear tips turned bright red, as if he had never encountered such a forthright approach to matchmaking.

Seeing this, Lady Xiao knew that the matter was more than half-settled.

He Yanzhou, meanwhile, gripped his still-empty wine cup tightly. His clear eyes turned pitch-black, harboring a surge of emotion that no one could fathom. Just as the string in his mind was about to snap, he leaned back, lounging in his chair with both hands resting on the armrests, watching her from a distance that felt all too far.

She still had her back to him.

She began to converse with Wang Tingyang in a formal, gentle, and reserved manner, chatting about daily life, food, travel, and personal interests. Both were making a sincere effort to connect. Although Wang Tingyang remained somewhat shy, he overcame it, striving to speak with genuine intent.

"Speaking of tea, I usually enjoy drinking Da Hong Pao after tending to my flowers in the morning. In the afternoon, I prefer the lighter Longjing, and if it is a rainy day, I must brew a pot of jasmine tea to match."

"And what about on a snowy day?" Wang Tingyang asked with care, truly eager to understand her.

"On a snowy day, of course, it is best to drink the mellow and rich Da Hong Pao."

As she spoke these words, a smile blossomed on Qin Xiangyi’s lips, so captivating that it made one immediately imagine the scene of brewing Da Hong Pao with her under the eaves on a snowy day.

He Yanzhou’s gaze deepened. She had not directed a single word at him, yet he had carved every one into his mind. She had not even glanced at him once; she was earnestly and wholeheartedly attempting to get to know another man.

He Yanzhou finally poured himself a cup of wine and drank it alone. If he hadn't followed Brother Tingyang here today, he would never have known that this evening between Wang Tingyang and her had been a pre-arranged scheme, one that had been intentional from the very start.

He was, after all, superfluous. Not only was he superfluous, but he had also been pushed down a generation for no reason.

As He Yanzhou poured the warm wine down his throat, a flash of resentment welled up in his heart. So this was how she smiled with her eyes curved like crescent moons; so she had worldly desires, too; so this was how she looked when she was truly willing to please someone.

He reached out and tugged at the hem of her robe, waiting for her to turn back and acknowledge him.

She turned to face him, her expression gentle and warm. "Yanzhou, what is it?"

She seemed to realize only then that she had neglected him today; when she turned, her eyes were filled with inquiry and care. In that moment, He Yanzhou felt his heart stop beating. Her concern for him was still the same kind of concern one offered a younger relative.

Her voice was very soft—she was not this gentle with everyone. He Yanzhou had always believed she lived beyond the reach of the world, and he had never dared to easily intrude or offend. He had always been careful and respectful, trying to walk into her world, feeling smug about the unique smiles and care she showed him.

But today he knew: her worldly desires and her smiles were not reserved for him alone. What he longed for but could not obtain, someone else was accepting with peace of mind.

Qin Xiangyi was very patient with him, even though he stared at her without saying a word. She brought over a pot of tea from the side. "Why are you just sitting there drinking wine for nothing? Drink some tea."

Lady Xiao remarked, "Xiangyi, you spoil him so much. We are all drinking wine, yet you make him drink tea alone."

Qin Xiangyi avoided his gaze and said, "He is different."

That "he is different" sounded very much like a woman looking after her own junior. Wang Tingyang had no complaints about Qin Xiangyi, and he was fully capable of accepting her status as a divorced woman. The only thing was... wouldn't that mean Magistrate He would have to call him "Uncle-in-law" in the future? When he thought of it this way, there was truly nothing he couldn't accept.

However, when He Yanzhou received Wang Tingyang's look, he could feel a trace of elder-to-junior affection mixed in his eyes.

He Yanzhou obediently swapped his wine for tea. While everyone else was tipsy and intoxicated, his eyes alone remained clear, glowing in the dark, and the destination of that light was Qin Xiangyi.

When the feast concluded, the gathering, which had been organized for Qin Xiangyi's matchmaking, came to an end. Xiao Yunyi had a responsibility to ensure all guests arrived home safely. The two men needed no worry, but Qin Xiangyi did.

Xiao Yunyi’s eyes swept between He Yanzhou and Wang Tingyang, and she decided to see the day's business through to the end, practically pushing Qin Xiangyi toward Wang Tingyang.

"Master Tingyang, you know the Old General's Mansion, don't you? It's at the end of East Street. I must trouble you to see Xiangyi home; consider it a chance to familiarize yourself with the way."

As she said this, Xiao Yunyi even gave a wink. Wang Tingyang was quite embarrassed; although the day had gone well, it was far too early to talk about such things.

Wang Tingyang’s carriage was one that He Yanzhou had personally arranged for him when he first arrived in the capital; now, Qin Xiangyi was sitting inside it. She had drunk without restraint today—she did not know what had come over her, as she usually exercised more caution.

Now, her head throbbed, and she felt as if she could close her eyes and sleep the moment she leaned against the carriage wall. She looked at He Yanzhou with hazy eyes; he was standing outside her carriage, lost in thought, looking rather adorable.

She rested her cheek in her hand and let her gaze linger on him, her eyes sweeping over him languidly. "Yanzhou, Auntie is leaving now. See you tomorrow."

Her voice was sweet and tender, trailing off with a long, melodic lilt. Perhaps it was because she no longer had the energy to maintain her composure today, but the collar that usually tightly outlined her neck had quietly slipped open. There was nothing more to it—just those two fair, glowing collarbones and the faint, alluring lines of her neck—which made him open his mouth, though no words could escape.

He watched them depart, took a deep breath, and let it out in a long sigh. When all the air had left his chest, his shoulders seemed to slump; all that high-spiritedness now felt like a joke.

Qin Xiangyi returned to the mansion and walked all the way to Chunji Courtyard. Under the moonlight, though her steps were slow and heavy from the wine, she felt light at heart. Back in the courtyard, she collapsed onto a rocking chair and couldn't help but exhale in relief.

It seemed she was about to have a home of her own.

She reached up to pull the hairpin from her hair. It wasn't that she hadn't dressed with intent today; for someone like Wang Tingyang, she knew exactly what appearance would capture his interest.

She suddenly let out a soft, giggling laugh. If it were He Yanzhou, she would have had to wear a vibrant, colorful dress to see him; he was the type who needed one to lay their intentions out right before his eyes. It was a pity, though, that even if she had feelings for him, she would never show them.

Qiansong had prepared the hot water and came out to call her: "Miss, you may bathe now."

Chunji Courtyard was built in a secluded spot, her own private little garden. She stood under the open moonlight, surrounded by three walls made of bamboo. When the wind blew, the leaves rustled.

Qiansong helped her remove her complex robes one by one. Her attire was always strictly in accordance with etiquette: the cross-collared, wide-sleeved straight robe, the triple-layered chemise, the wide crane-patterned sash at her waist, and the jade pendants that constrained her movements.

By the time the last piece of the chemise was removed, her body, which had been bound beneath layers of fabric, was slowly revealed from the neck down.

Qiansong frowned as she looked at the back beneath her neck. "The scars on your body have been healing for nearly a year. Although the marks have faded somewhat, they still don't look good. If you are preparing to marry the new master, you must find a way to treat them before then."

Qin Xiangyi stepped into the wooden tub and submerged her entire body in the warm water. She hugged her arms and lowered her eyes. "Too much time has passed. It is fine if many of the scars do not fade."

Her expression was indifferent, but Qiansong was worried for her. "Even if you don't care, Miss, who knows what the new master might think when he sees them in the future."

Qin Xiangyi said, "You mentioning this reminds me—I must observe this Wang Tingyang for a while longer."

She lifted one hand to rest on the edge of the tub, tilting her head to look at the sky. In the night, mellowed by a touch of intoxication, her voice was incredibly gentle. "Qiansong, do you think I am like someone who, having been bitten by a snake once, is afraid of a rope for ten years?"

Qiansong took down her hair, letting it drape over her back, and took out a wooden comb to smooth it out strand by strand. "It is never too cautious to be careful when choosing a marriage partner, Miss. Don't blame yourself too much; you were young then, and it was normal not to see a person's true colors. Besides, even the Master was incredibly satisfied with that Pei fellow back then."

One could hardly blame the teenage Qin Xiangyi for misjudging someone.

Qin Xiangyi tilted her head. She had never been particularly clever, or she wouldn't have been deceived by that hypocritical scoundrel Pei Qingji. When she married him, she had been so incredibly happy and content, believing she had married her true love.

"And now, at my age... I shouldn't be able to misjudge someone again, should I?" She remained skeptical of this.

Qiansong said, "You didn't take me to the banquet today, and I haven't seen Master Tingyang, so it's hard to say. However, I think that at the very least, Master He is certainly a good man."

Qiansong nodded as she spoke, and Qin Xiangyi nodded in affirmation. "I think so too. Although I have no confidence in my ability to judge people, I just know that Yanzhou is surely a good man."

After she said this, she hung her head. "Even if I know he is a good man, what of it? I will not be marrying him."

Mentioning this, she couldn't help but feel sorry for Qin Yuling. However, He Yanzhou had told her not to concern herself with that matter. With the situation between the two families as it was, whatever he did next would be wrong.

As she thought of this, footsteps were heard outside. Qin Xiangyi and Qiansong exchanged a look, knowing it was Qin Yuling sneaking toward the back gate again.

Why was it that Qin Yuling’s movements could never escape her? Because the Chunji Courtyard where Qin Xiangyi lived happened to be right next to the mansion's back gate. There were no servants guarding this area at night, making it easy for anyone to come and go as they pleased. If it weren't for the fact that East Street was generally very safe, the Qin mansion would surely have been robbed.

"The water has cooled quite a bit; you should come out now, Miss."

Qiansong lifted a large cotton towel and wrapped Qin Xiangyi in it as she stepped out of the tub, drying the water droplets from her skin. Beside them lay a basket filled with various salves and lotions.

"I have no energy to deal with Ling'er now. Let her be."

After drying herself, Qin Xiangyi stood under the tree while Qiansong applied the salve to the places on her body where the scars remained.

"Miss, it won't do for the back gate of the mansion to remain so lax. Anyone could come and go; they don't even need to climb over the wall."