Chapter 5 Gifted Bracelet: He Truly Didn’t Love Her

Chapter 5: The Bracelet: He Truly Doesn't Love Her

After finishing the pastries, Tian Qin casually mentioned that she needed to check on Yan Ge'er's studies and wanted to return to the manor early.

Xian Qiu questioned, "Yan Ge'er is diligent and well-behaved, with a tutor guiding him. Does he really need his own big sister to supervise?"

Tian Qin seemed a little troubled and explained, "Second Sister, you might not know, but Yan Ge'er tends to get stuck on things. He'll bury himself in his studies for days and nights without sleeping. I need to go back and keep an eye on him. Besides, I feel awkward imposing on you and your husband for so long."

Xian Qiu gave a faint smile. "Silly girl, we're family."

Tian Qin ignored this and kept dancing around the topic, hinting at her desire to go back to the Yu Manor. Xian Qiu caught her meaning and fell silent for a moment. She suspected Tian Qin was eager to go back to see that tutor.

"Fine, since you're worried about your brother, I agree," Xian Qiu said considerately. "I'll talk to Mother this afternoon to take you both back soon."

Hearing this, Tian Qin finally broke into a faint smile.

Kuju, learning she too would be taken home, felt a surge of unexplained anger toward her half-sister Tian Qin.

Why should she be dragged back just because Tian Qin wanted to leave?

Before they left, her mother had said this was a chance to do well, to get close to her brother-in-law, as the Xie family would select a noble concubine from among the concubine-born daughters.

In silence, Kuju's resentment toward Tian Qin, who always overshadowed her, deepened to hatred.

The next day, He Shi brought the two concubine-born daughters back to the manor.

Xian Qiu stuffed the carriage with jewels and treasures, and wrapped plenty of crab-flavored pastries in layers of oil paper.

Seeing this, He Shi said, "The chef your husband hired for you—keep the food for yourself. Why waste it on others?"

Xian Qiu smiled understandingly. "Both younger sisters love the crab-flavored pastries, and Mother can have some to snack on in your spare time."

He Shi snorted. "I don't like them."

After a pause, she added, "That concubine-born girl wanted to leave, and you just sent your mother scurrying back. Where's the dignity of the Yu Manor's matriarch?"

"Tian'er was avoiding the Xie Manor like she was hiding from someone. I couldn't force her to stay."

Xian Qiu pulled He Shi aside and said softly, "I've thought this through, Mother. Tian'er's eagerness to return shows she has no improper thoughts toward my husband. I actually think better of Tian'er than Ku'er."

He Shi glared at her. "That same old argument. Think carefully—that girl Tian Qin is always thinking about the tutor. How can she be content as a concubine in the future?"

Xian Qiu's expression dimmed, and she evaded the topic. "Let's see what my husband wants. He's cold to everyone."

He Shi sighed, knowing she couldn't persuade her daughter, realizing Xian Qiu wanted to choose someone without ambition, unwilling to share her husband with another.

"Think it over carefully. This needs deliberation."

He Shi boarded the carriage first, and Kuju followed reluctantly.

Tian Qin was the last to leave, her quarters in the Xie residence being the farthest. Before departing, she bid farewell to Xian Qiu. In the morning breeze, her hair was disheveled as she saw the carriage full of jewels and pastries.

Xian Qiu smiled faintly, smoothing Tian Qin's temple. "Your brother-in-law prepared these for you early this morning. He's busy today and not here."

Tian Qin was surprised, then curved her lips into a crescent moon. "Thank you, Second Sister and brother-in-law."

Xian Qiu said, "Come visit often."

Tian Qin agreed, and the group departed by carriage.

Xian Qiu stood alone, silently pondering the concubine selection. Above all, she couldn't choose someone who would seduce her husband.

…

The Yu residence, newly built in the capital, was far less grand than the Xie residence, covering only a quarter of the latter's area.

The head of the Xie Clan truly understood gardens—rustic yet not overly ornate, with patterned windows and gray tiles, a place for quiet tea-drinking, clean and airy.

In contrast, Yu Yuan, the eldest master of the Yu family, was a man of sycophantic scheming, who had risen to prominence only after his eldest daughter, Suanzhi, became empress. The Yu garden was filled with vulgar peonies and large stone lions, utterly tasteless.

When the carriage stopped, Yu Yuan was puzzled. They were supposed to feast at the Xie residence for five days—why had they returned after three?

He Shi's face was grim, and she asked Yu Yuan to discuss matters in the study.

Tian Qin and Kuju each returned to their own courtyards to unpack.

Kuju noticed that Tian Qin's portion of crab-flavored pastries was larger than hers, fueling her jealousy and dark thoughts. She crushed her fingernails in anger.

Tian Qin had received more gifts—perhaps Second Sister Xian Qiu favored her as a concubine.

"Second Sister was going to keep us for a few more days, but Tian Qin insisted on coming back. In this selection for a noble concubine, if Second Sister's health fails one day, the concubine could even be promoted to wife."

Yao, the concubine's eyelids twitched, and she quickly scolded, "Silence! How dare you curse your Second Sister? If someone hears you…"

Kuju fell silent like a mute.

Seeing no one around, Yao, the concubine warned, "You're too blunt, child. Learn from that girl Tian Qin—the more you want something, the more you pretend you don't."

On Tian Qin's side, after a hasty settling-in, she bypassed the splashing small stone fountain and went straight to the Yu residence's private school.

Yan Ge'er had known early that his third sister was returning and came to greet her joyfully. The siblings embraced.

"Second Sister, did you bring me any treats?"

Tian Qin said affectionately, "Yes, quite a lot." She called Zhaolu and Wan Cui to bring the Xie residence's crab-flavored pastries for Yan Ge'er.

Yan Ge'er was tempted but shook his head. "I have to eat them after class. If I get the books greasy, the teacher will scold me."

Before Tian Qin could say anything, a scholar in a blue robe emerged from the school, wearing wooden clogs and a white silk headband, refined and clean. He bowed and said, "Second Miss, I, your humble student, greet you."

Xu Junzheng. The name flashed into her mind, nearly moistening Tian Qin's eyes. In her past life, they had been torn apart by a cup of poisoned wine—she became a concubine, he coughed up blood, and they never saw each other before death. His grave was bare, except for the peach blossoms she loved most.

Her gaze was melancholy and low, avoiding his. "Mr. Xu."

Yan Ge'er adored his teacher, and Tian Qin offered Xu Junzheng some crab-flavored pastries. He was startled and repeatedly declined.

In a pure place like the private school, eating greasy food was a disgrace to scholarship—he simply couldn't do it.

"Young Master Yan, please enjoy them alone. Wash your hands and read after you're done."

Xu Junzheng, like Xie Tanwei, specialized in Confucian classics. In this dynasty, with all other schools of thought abolished and Confucianism alone revered, entering officialdom required studying Confucianism. Those with deep knowledge could earn blue or purple sashes as easily as bending to pick up grass.

But Xu Junzheng lacked Xie Tanwei's renown across the land. He was merely a poor imperial examination candidate, accustomed to rote memorization, with a shallow grasp of the classical system, full of loopholes.

Three years ago, in the spring imperial exam, he failed. Since then, he had been a private tutor at the Yu residence, earning a living while studying, preparing to try again this spring, unwilling to let his talent go to waste.

A warm wind brushed against her heart. Tian Qin's eyes were only on him. She praised, "Mr. Xu is a genius. You will surely pass the exam this year."

Xu Junzheng humbly demurred. "Not at all. I dare not claim to be a genius. If we're speaking of true talent, your brother-in-law is the real genius, a teacher to all Confucian scholars. I have always admired and longed to learn from him."

Tian Qin's face turned pale instantly.

After being separated for two lifetimes, Xu Junzheng no longer remembered their affection, his heart and mind consumed by a craving for study.

She let out a soft laugh, setting down her cup without drinking: "Mr. Xu is intelligent; why sell yourself short and insist on getting pointers from others?"

A spark lit up Xu Junzheng's eyes: "Third Young Lady, you may not know this—let alone receiving guidance from Master Xie, even a random run-in with him would be a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck."

Xie Tanwei had a huge reputation among the common people.

Back then, Xu Junzheng could've picked a classier family to tutor, yet he came to the tacky Yu family, all because the second daughter of the Yu family was married to Xie Tanwei—the ultimate model of scholarly virtue.

If he could receive guidance from Master Xie, it'd really hit home that saying, 'Hear the truth in the morning, die happy at night.'"

A chill ran down Tian Qin's spine as she was slow to catch the weight of Xie Tanwei's words the day before: "I should have personally taught Yan Geer."

So that was it—getting his guidance even once was a lifetime brag for scholars, opening the door to a government career.

In her past life, she was just his concubine, stuck in the back rooms, unaware of his formidable reputation outside.

Xu Junzheng, of course, didn't have the nerve to ask Tian Qin to introduce him to that brother-in-law, since even Yan Geer, a close relative, hadn't gotten his personal teaching; he was just an outsider.

Tian Qin didn't want to dwell on that guy and was about to change the subject when Yan Geer tugged at her skirt, in a baby voice: "Yan'er wants brother-in-law to teach too, wants brother-in-law to teach!"

She couldn't help but smile, wiping the crab roe pastry crumbs off his mouth: "Little kids shouldn't eavesdrop on grown-ups talking."

Xu Junzheng stood by with a gentle smile, but didn't dare suggest that having Master Xie teach would benefit Yan Geer's studies.

After all, the Xie and Yu families were just putting on a front.

Yan Geer was all greasy from eating, and was taken by the nanny to wash up. In the shadowy courtyard, with early spring insects chirping and flower shadows flickering on the walls, only Tian Qin and Xu Junzheng were left, a man and a woman alone together.

Even in the sacred space of the private school, an unmarried man and woman alone together had this weird, awkward vibe; Confucius said, 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.'

Xu Junzheng got up to leave, but Tian Qin purposely kept him there, asking about Yan Geer's recent lessons.

He replied: "Everything's fine. The young master is hardworking and quick on the uptake, and he occasionally works through tough spots on his own."

Tian Qin listened half-heartedly, throwing in a few words of agreement, then she busied herself with checking Yan Geer's essays herself.

Spring light filtered through the trees, casting complex shadows. An early spring peach blossom had fallen, with a petal landing on her shoulder.

She lowered her dark lashes, looking focused, occasionally turning a page.

Xu Junzheng couldn't help staring at her for a moment, then, like snapping out of a dream, quickly looked away.

Deep down, he didn't seem so eager to leave anymore.

...

At the Xie residence.

Winter was over, spring had come, with pine trees rustling.

The old, run-down thatched hut in the back courtyard was shabby and beat-up, its damp wood giving off the rotting smell of spring snow, the timber aged, a stark contrast to the bright, clean look of the rest of the Xie estate.

"Creak—"

Xie Tanwei pushed open the door alone. The room was empty and hollow, filled with a desolate, cold draft.

The small couch was still there, the charcoal brazier still there, remnants of ink stains—every scene was as it had been in the past life.

A jasmine branch stood in a vase, but it had withered.

In the deep winter, it must have been very cold here.

He sat on the small couch, his fingertips gently stroking the bedding, as if her scent still lingered in the air, as if someone still lay here, sick and coughing up blood, pitifully tearful, saying, "Brother-in-law, I'm so cold, I miss you so much, you must stay with me tonight."

The room was dim. Xie Tanwei pressed his forehead. Many things had happened in the past life, but this was the present life now.

He had thought she would be the same as before, but she had changed—even throwing away the shrimp-whisker bangle, even hiding her thoughts when drinking tea.

When they met yesterday, there was something fresh and bright in her eyes, clearly different from the past life, even puzzling him.

Seeing her like that, did she still carry memories of the past life, holding a grudge, still... blaming him?

Back then, Yu Xianqiu had no son, and he had paid a generous bride price. For her to bear a son as a concubine was only natural. Later, she offended the principal wife, caused repeated trouble in the household, and allowed her maids to steal—he hadn't held it against her.

He owed her nothing. He simply didn't love her. Was not loving her a debt? Was not loving her a crime?

He truly didn't love her.

She died of a hemorrhage, her fortune thin and her life short. Afterward, he gave her a thick coffin and a proper burial—he had done his utmost.

Who was she putting on this act for now?

Since she was eager to return to the Yu residence, going to great lengths to avoid him, then let it be—no one cared, it didn't matter.

"My Lord, the item you requested has been retrieved—"

Beyond the thin door, the guard Zhao Ning respectfully presented the shrimp-whisker bangle, which had been thrown into the water, on a velvet cloth.

Xie Tanwei casually picked up the bangle and glanced at it. The pearls and jade glimmered with a cold light, still faintly retaining the warmth of her slender wrist.

"Wrap it up. Send it back to the Yu residence for the Third Young Lady."

He smiled faintly, already imagining the terrified expression on Yu Tianqin's face when she saw this shrimp-whisker bangle.