Chapter 4 Brother-in-Law: “Whoever bullies you, I’ll stand up for you.”

Chapter 4: Brother-in-Law: Whoever Bullies You, I’ll Settle the Score for You

The sun shone like a soft, warm rice cake, glowing warmly. The wind on the bridge drifted by, and a dragonfly swept away a melting snowdrop.

Tian Qin had just dropped the shrimp-whisker bracelet into the water when she suddenly sensed someone watching from beneath the early spring wisteria behind her.

She spun around abruptly and saw him standing quietly in the lingering chill of early spring, sunlight filtering through the wisteria to cast mottled shadows.

It was him.

Tian Qin froze for a moment before lowering herself in a bow. “…Brother-in-law.”

Xie Tanwei replied, “Third Sister.”

Tian Qin felt somewhat at a loss, caught off guard by running into him. Her words came out stiff and awkward; there was little to say.

In her memory, it had been ages since she’d last seen him—ever since her past life, when she was forced to move to a dilapidated old house due to Zhaolu’s theft.

After her second daughter was taken away, she had no chance to see him again. All that was left were the cold, invasive nights on the bed, which didn’t let up even when she was pregnant.

Her last wish was to see him one more time, but it never happened.

Her impression of him was still frozen on that cold, indifferent face when she knelt to plead for Zhaolu’s life. Back then, she saw through the coldness behind his Confucian moral mask, and that was that.

Beneath the vast, early spring sky, it was silver-white and bright. The east wind carried the faint fragrance of wisteria, getting on her nerves.

Xie Tanwei asked, “What are you up to?”

On the water’s surface where she had thrown the shrimp-whisker bracelet, a school of fish darted in rippling circles; if you looked close, you could see the bracelet’s shadow.

Tian Qin was embarrassed, but since he’d seen it, whatever. Let him know—this way, it’d end clean and quick.

After all, all he needed was a baby-making tool. If she refused, he’d just have her sister find someone else.

“I was still cold this afternoon, so I sent my maid to grab a hand warmer. I’m waiting here.”

She hesitated, bowing her head, unwilling to meet his gaze, and apologized, “Sorry for startling you, Brother-in-law. My bad.”

Xie Tanwei looked at the sky, clouds the color of celadon paper, and said gently, “Spring chill’s biting; you really ought to keep warm.”

Most things in the courtyard hadn’t woken up yet; only this wall of wisteria, a famous kind shipped from Jiangnan, was blooming.

The tea’s fragrant steam drifted on the wind. Since she was waiting anyway, he asked her to sit and have a cup—drinking alone felt cheap.

Tian Qin’s brow softened from the tea’s warmth, and she replied with a practiced smile, “Brother-in-law, you’re too kind, I shouldn’t say no, but I still gotta go to Sister’s for dinner. If I drink tea, I’ll be stuffed, and Sister’ll definitely get mad.”

Xie Tanwei understood: “I see. Then just sit a bit. Don’t just stand on the bridge waiting for nothing—it’s a long way, and the wind’s strong.”

He was the head of the Xie family; no one knew the Xie estate’s layout better than him. If he said Zhaolu wouldn’t be back for a while, then she wouldn’t be.

Tian Qin had no choice but to walk over and sit down on a rattan chair beneath the wisteria, totally unwilling, like she was being forced.

Pigeons perched on the wisteria vines, the air cool and damp. The dampness from earthworms and snails after the snow melted created a quiet, serene atmosphere.

Xie Tanwei took a half-sip of tea, lightly adjusting his sleeve in the breeze. “Last night, Sister left the feast early ’cause she was drunk. You feeling better?”

Tian Qin nodded, forcing a natural reply: “Much better. Sister said there were a ton of tasty dishes later.”

“Yes,” he said. “There was your favorite crab roe pastry.”

Tian Qin gave a vague smile: “My bad. I can’t hold my liquor and drank too much. Too bad I missed out on the good stuff.”

Xie Tanwei said softly, “It’s fine. Your sister still has some in her room. Food’s easy to get, but a good mood isn’t. Last night, I noticed you weren’t in a good mood.”

She caught her breath for a second.

He spoke as if making casual conversation, but his words carried hidden meaning: “Who got to you? I’ll settle it for you.”

Tian Qin’s fingers, resting on the hundred-butterfly pattern on her knee, tightened without her meaning to. Her lips trembled slightly. His words were within a brother-in-law’s concern for his wife’s sister, but carried a vague, hard-to-pin-down ambiguity.

That shifting undertone reminded her of her past life, when he cornered her by the bed, coldly gripping her neck and ordering, “Take it all off.”

Xie Tanwei’s gaze still lingered on her, casual but heavy, a shadowy tenderness, waiting for her answer.

She lifted her eyes to meet his bright, long ones. His eyes seemed touched by clear, snowy water, as if he saw through her clumsy pretense of illness.

The pains of her past life surfaced vividly, instilling in her an instinctive fear and palpitation toward this brother-in-law.

Tian Qin forced two dimples and replied flawlessly, “No one bullies me, Brother-in-law. The maids and nannies in the mansion are all very kind and take good care of me. Thank you for your concern.”

He let out a faint, quiet laugh. “Then why were you crying? Your eyes are terribly red.”

She instinctively blinked at the corners of her eyes: “I had a nightmare last night. Drinking too much easily leads to nightmares.”

He gave a soft “Oh” and didn’t press further.

Tian Qin was deeply annoyed, feeling like she was being fried alive. Even the beautiful spring scenery held no appeal; she secretly hoped Zhaolu would return soon.

The Xie estate was winding and intricate. Even she, who had lived there for years as a concubine, still got lost easily. Zhaolu wouldn’t get lost too, would she?

As long as Zhaolu didn’t return, she would be stuck under this wisteria with her brother-in-law, trembling like walking on a cliff.

The corridor was drowned in the silence of the clear wind. The atmosphere was quiet for a while, with only the faint bubbling of the tea stove.

Xie Tanwei, admiring the spring light and scenery, suddenly brought up another topic as if casually: “How is Yan Geer’s studies coming along?”

Yan Geer was Tian Qin’s younger brother. Back then, their mother, a singing girl, had only been allowed into the Yu family because she was pregnant with a boy.

But before she could enjoy her fortune, she died in childbirth giving birth to Yan Geer, leaving Tian Qin and her brother to depend on each other.

Tian Qin didn’t know why he suddenly mentioned Yan Geer and replied, “He’s studying. He has a private tutor.”

He asked, “A private tutor? Newly hired?”

She said subtly, “He’s been hired for a few years.”

Xie Tanwei inquired, “What kind of person is he?”

Tian Qin grew more wary. In her past life, she and the private tutor, Xu Junzheng, had originally been betrothed, but she ended up becoming a concubine by mistake.

“He’s a candidate. His family background is modest, and he’s considered upright. He teaches to earn money while preparing for the spring examinations.”

He sighed, nodding with a smile: “As long as he’s upright, that’s fine. I should have taught Yan Geer myself, but I’m bogged down with worldly affairs.”

Tian Qin hummed in acknowledgment. He was a Great Confucian of the era, outwardly gentle and humble to those beneath him, caring for scholars. Now, as the chief examiner for the spring examinations, he was the dream mentor for countless scholars, all flocking to him.

As the foremost Powerful Minister in the court, he held immense leverage, deep schemes, and unfathomable human malice. She had merely been reborn, not transformed. She feared she might never be his match, even in two lifetimes.

Some things could only be handled slowly.

Elder sister and brother-in-law, you also have to be respected as tradition calls for.

She met the spring light, her eyes flickering with a smile: "Brother-in-law, you're busy with a thousand affairs a day; don't trouble yourself over such trivial matters. Yan Geer has his private tutor to guide him. It'd be enough if you find time to quiz him on his lessons."

He smiled too. "Very well."

The gray clouds cleared, and the sunlight grew brighter, as if a dusting of powder had been sprinkled over the greenish-yellow jujube blossoms, while snow pearls still glistened on the vines.

Just as she was about to be ground down to ash, Zhaolu finally hurried over with a hot water bottle.

"Miss..."

Seeing the person behind her mistress, Zhaolu's smile froze, and she lowered her head, saying, "Lord."

Tian Qin couldn't wait to rise and go to Zhaolu's side, taking the hot water bottle. Zhaolu's clothes were muddy, as if she'd fallen.

Tian Qin gave a quick bow: "Brother-in-law, forgive me. I have to hurry to eat with my sister; any later, she'll blame me."

With that, she turned and left, Zhaolu following.

Just as the two of them were about to leave, the man behind them suddenly called out, his tone as calm as snowmelt flowing, "...If you like that shrimp-whisker bangle, little sister, your brother-in-law will have someone fish it back up for you."

Tian Qin stopped short.

In that moment, she was sure he'd keenly sensed a change in her, but he didn't call her out.

Unusual concern, unusual care—and more terrifying, he seemed to have memories of a past life too.

"No need, it's too much trouble, brother-in-law."

She didn't turn back, her voice straining to stay calm: "It's just a bangle. I'll have my sister give me another."

Xie Tanwei said, "No trouble, after all, it's for you, little sister."

Tian Qin put on a cold, obedient look, turned, and stared hard into his eyes. Her lips parted and closed several times, as if she wanted to say something but stopped.

He acted as if nothing had happened, casually holding a lotus-petal cup, his long lashes lowered, as if nothing had just occurred.

Zhaolu felt Tian Qin's hand, cold as ice, and snapped her out of her daze. The two hurried across the bridge and left.

Birds chirped, and gusts of spring wind carrying snowflakes rushed at them. The polished blue bricks were cold and hard underfoot as they stepped on the leftover snow.

Zhaolu explained she'd gotten lost on the way back and slipped on the snow, which delayed her. She whispered, "How'd you run into the Lord, miss? You look so pale—did he scold you? I heard the Lord is really kind."

Tian Qin shook her head: "No."

Zhaolu breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."

Tian Qin clutched the hot water bottle in her palm, her small white teeth flashing sharply, as if she wanted to bite something apart.

But in an instant, she lifted her slender neck, took a deep breath, composed herself, and hid any untoward joy or anger.

Before reaching the room, she said in a sweet, even voice: "Second sister, I'm here—"

A warm, gentle voice immediately came from inside: "Tian'er? Come in quick, I've been waiting for you."

As she lifted the curtain, a warm breeze filled with the fragrance of melons and fruits enveloped her, making her feel as if she were in a late-spring flower room. It warmed her cheeks, carrying the intoxicating air of a wealthy household.

Kuju was there. Seeing Tian Qin like a blooming flower, her cheeks flushed like intoxicating sweet wine, Kuju felt inferior and lowered her head, softly calling, "Third sister."

Kuju lived up to her name—plain in appearance, with only a small white flower pinned in her hair and dressed in a simple pale yellow outfit, truly like a bitter chrysanthemum withering in the autumn wind.

Xian Qiu pulled Tian Qin and Kuju to sit on either side of her. The exquisite pastries and snacks from last night's banquet were brought in one after another. The Yu family sisters sat together, chatting intimately about private matters of the boudoir.

Tian Qin had just entered, still carrying a faint chill of spring wind and an elusive scent of wisteria tea, which smelled very sweet upon closer inspection.

Xian Qiu, with her keen nose, smiled and asked, "Did you run into your brother-in-law just now? As expected, Tian'er is lucky. I asked him for wisteria tea this morning and still haven't had any."

Upon hearing this, Kuju looked at Tian Qin.

Tian Qin did not hide it and admitted, "I happened to meet brother-in-law by the small stone bridge, but I didn't drink tea. I was afraid of delaying sister's pastries."

Xian Qiu smiled warmly and said, "Your brother-in-law's tea is far better than my pastries, silly child. You should have had his tea."

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A face-off scene for Qixi Festival [Rose][Rose]

See you tomorrow at six~