Chapter 14 Foot Massage: “Let me rub them for you.”

Chapter 14: Rubbing Feet: "Brother-in-law will rub it for you."

Xie Tanwei felt her forehead; it seemed normal. Tian Qin's heart tightened. The bedding in the side room carried a faint, elusive scent of pine branches, just like the scent on him—he had used this bedding.

This side room was originally his. On the desk lay ink marks and rice paper, messy but organized, piled high—dozens of practice exam questions he'd drafted for the late spring policy examination over the past few days.

The room was as clean as a snow cave, yet not cold; the charcoal fire was so subtle you could barely feel it.

Tian Qin tried hard to feign sleep, her breathing uneven, making her long dark lashes flutter, her brows and eyes tense.

She was mortified, body and soul. In this second life, she still had to rely on him, instinctively depending on him when cornered—it made her sick.

After a long, silent pause, Tian Qin slowly opened her eyes and was shocked to see Xie Tanwei was still there.

He said calmly: "Since you're awake, drink the medicine. Why pretend to sleep?"

Tian Qin's heart raced. She had to face him, propping herself up to sit, in a muffled voice: "Brother-in-law."

Xie Tanwei grunted in acknowledgment, picking up the medicine to feed her. Tian Qin declined: "I'm almost better, I don't need to drink it anymore."

He looked at her pale face. "Be good."

Those two words hit hard.

Tian Qin opened her mouth obediently. The spoonful of thick, bitter medicine touched her mouth, hinting at his strength—just like in her past life when he'd smiled coldly and lazily, slipped his clean fingers in and joked, "Just try once, to test the size of your mouth."

She suddenly grabbed his hand, haunted by the memory of that nightmare, stopping him: "I'll drink it myself."

Xie Tanwei let go.

Spring sunlight after the snow poured through the window in a thousand golden rays.

"Drink it all," he reminded.

Tian Qin choked down the bitter medicine, but her heart felt even more uncomfortable. Xie Tanwei took the bowl and slipped a candied lotus seed into her mouth, his movements gentle, overwhelming her senses.

His fingertips brushed her lips—a warm touch that made her heart race, yet he acted so naturally, without a hint of hesitation, as if this was how it was supposed to be between them.

The candied lotus seed melted in her mouth, thawing a frozen surface into a spring pond. Tian Qin lowered her lashes and chewed for a while.

Outside, the snow was still fierce. Her fear still lingered, a sour lump hung in her throat, wetter than the snow. She had nearly died under the snow, yet no one in the Yu family cared.

She pulled her knees up, hugged her arms, and buried herself in the blanket, as if that could keep out the freezing wind and snow.

Xie Tanwei sighed softly and patted her shoulder, his voice low and soothing: "Don't worry, brother-in-law's here."

Tian Qin was stunned, inexplicably choked up. She wished he'd said this in her past life, but now it was too late.

Her pitiful expression was almost broken as she sobbed into his arms: "Brother-in-law—"

His eyes were calm as a mirror, and he let out a long, gentle sigh: "Third sister."

"My ankle's hurting," she choked back her tears. "I need to see a doctor."

"The doctor's right here, but he can't do anything for your ankle." Xie Tanwei lifted the blanket and gently took her jade-like foot in its white silk sock, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "Let brother-in-law rub it for you."

Tian Qin tried to pull away, but he held her tight.

"I don't want to..." She looked at him pleadingly, tears streaming down her face.

Xie Tanwei pressed gently, his voice warm and soft: "Be good. You need it."

In this isolated mountain snow temple, he was her only support, the tree she, a parasitic vine about to freeze in the storm, had to cling to.

...

Tian Qin spent another day in the warm bed of the side room, finally overcoming her fear of the snow and attempting to walk.

The wind and snow had long ceased. Bright sunlight shone on the white snow, and scattered clouds in the blue sky were sparse, as if combed. Fine, powdery snowflakes still lingered in the reviving east wind.

Monks were orderly clearing the snow. The mountain path buried under snow was being cleared, so those on the mountain couldn't descend, and those below couldn't ascend.

Fortunately, spring was bright and warm, the season had arrived, and the ground was gradually warming. This once-in-a-century heavy snow would soon melt.

Xie Tanwei wrapped her in an extra cloak and supported her as she stepped onto the snow. Her ankle had a mild sprain, preventing her from walking much; her pace was as slow as a snail's.

Tian Qin felt his close warmth, uncomfortable: "Brother-in-law, I'm fine. I can walk on my own."

Xie Tanwei ignored her, saying softly: "Correct your walking posture, so you don't develop a limp."

Tian Qin slowly lowered her gaze, adjusting her steps. He guided her with cool, gentle words, his sleeves lightly moving, maintaining a proper distance.

Zhao Lu and Wan Cui followed not far behind but couldn't get close. When Lord Xie was by the young lady's side, it was as if he drew an invisible boundary, under which she could only be with him.

The young lady and Lord Xie had done things far more excessive than this. Even a young lady's jade-like foot had been touched by Lord Xie.

Last night, the young lady had leaned in Lord Xie's arms, crying, pleading with him to let her go, but was coldly refused.

He had pinched her chin and asked softly and coldly: "When the avalanche came on the horse, why didn't you ask me to put you down? Now, you remember?" He had left the young lady speechless.

Lord Xie didn't seem as gentle and benevolent as he appeared on the surface.

Tian Qin and Xie Tanwei were in close contact, her heart churning like boiling water, trapped by social obligations and unable to refuse. She secretly worried that this heavy snow had turned the temple into an isolated place, trapping her and him together—truly a trial from heaven.

How many days until the snow melted?

They came to a large bluestone, high and commanding, with snowflakes brushing their faces. Overlooking the entire Fahui Temple, it was the best vantage point.

Xie Tanwei made her sit down, then stood alone, gazing at the layers of thawing streams winding around the mountain's belly. The high, sharp wind blew through his white clothes.

"Bored?" he asked, pulling out a jade flute he carried with him. The ethereal, desolate sound of the flute scattered among the mountain snow.

Tian Qin's eyelids twitched. She had never heard him play the flute before. In her past life, opportunities for such solitude with him were rare.

Monks swept the snow in the distance. If not for knowing they were brother-in-law and sister-in-law, one might think they were a perfect couple.

"Beautiful," she praised after the piece ended.

Xie Tanwei said: "The flute can clear the mind. When I'm troubled, I play a tune for myself, turning worries into enlightenment."

"Only your flute can do that," she lowered her eyes, melancholic and mournful. "I also have a flute, but my playing is harsh and unpleasant."

Xie Tanwei smiled faintly, like the early spring chill: "I'll teach you. It's not hard to learn."

Tian Qin shook her head: "No need. What's not meant for me by nature can't be learned even if I try."

He put the flute away at his waist, sat down beside her on the large bluestone, his expression casual and resigned: "Alright, as you wish."

The two of them soaked up the spring sun together after the snow, under the ancient trees and white plum blossoms, with a few scattered blooms, their fragrance coming and going, elusive and hard to trace.

With no way to contact their families for now, they were each other’s only company. In a calm and peaceful atmosphere, they sat side by side, no tension, no scheming, just enjoying the moment.

After a while, Tian Qin said flatly: “Does Brother-in-law play the flute for Sister a lot?”

Xie Tanwei replied, “Your sister’s not into that stuff.”

She frowned: “Brother-in-law is lying. Second Sister at home was totally into music and instruments.”

He just smiled, not answering.

The blue sky stretched endlessly, the spring waters vast; today’s flute playing wasn’t for anyone in particular—it just fit the season and the moment, that’s all.

Tian Qin knew he was a real man of refinement, a master of the six gentlemanly arts, but she also knew he was cold and terrifying.

She hung her head: “I still haven’t thanked Brother-in-law for saving my life.”

Xie Tanwei’s eyes reflected the quiet spring sky: “Little Sister doesn’t need to be so polite.”

Tian Qin said, “A favor’s a favor, a grudge’s a grudge; naturally, I must repay it.”

She’d taken over his room, and hearing that with him around, the monks didn’t bother her, she felt a complicated sense of owing him.

That day, the blizzard was freakishly fierce, the mist so thick you could barely see a foot ahead. He was the one who braved the avalanche to rescue her, nearly frozen to death.

“Brother-in-law, name your price, or let me do whatever I can—Tian Qin will be happy to help.”

She hesitated, wanting to add the words “except becoming a concubine.”

“No need for repayment. I just hope that when Little Sister thinks back on it, she remembers that Brother-in-law had at least a little bit of goodness in him.”

Xie Tanwei sighed, as if he truly had no intention of using his favor to demand anything, his tone holding only a faint regret, lighter than the snowflakes in the air.

Tian Qin had already prepared her comeback about not becoming his concubine, but found it suddenly useless.

She couldn’t fathom his thoughts. What was he really thinking? Since in her past life he had been so weary and ruthless toward her, why in this life did he repeatedly entangle her, press her to be his concubine, and even risk the snowstorm to save her?

She evaded his ambiguous words, a hint of grievance in her voice: “Is that so? Brother-in-law says no repayment is needed, but Tian Qin dares not believe it. I’ve already tasted your power—last time you sent me back, it led to the mistress suspecting and cold-shouldering me.”

Xie Tanwei curved his lips: “That time, Brother-in-law was being kind, helping Little Sister escape a calamity. How can you turn around and blame me?”

Her secret meeting with Xu Junzheng without permission, if discovered by He Shi, would have led to far more than mere suspicion and cold treatment.

“Brother-in-law escorting you was clearly covering for you.”

Tian Qin said nothing, pretending to rise casually from the blue stone, nearly stumbling. Xie Tanwei smiled and reached out to steady her, their palms touching again, the warmth unsettlingly hot.

Tian Qin quickly pulled away. Xie Tanwei also stood, bending a finger to brush her cheek, chilled by the west wind: “Cold?”

She nodded blankly, stiff and distant.

He took her hand again, leading her back indoors to warm up, lest her unhealed ankle slip on the snow.

Tian Qin’s mind was clear: she could repay his life-saving favor through other means, but she absolutely could not agree to becoming his concubine.

Once the ice and snow melted, and she left this isolated Fayuan Temple, she would still be the Third Young Lady of the Yu family, and he the Head of the Xie Family. Each would return to their proper place, and they would have no further dealings.

Back in her quarters, Tian Qin’s face flushed from the warm air. She was about to find an excuse to send Xie Tanwei away when she suddenly noticed the neatly arranged books, ink marks, and discarded drafts on the desk.

In a flash, she recalled Xu Junzheng’s perplexing questions. If she could find the answers, Xu Junzheng might pass the exams.

The true teacher was right before her eyes. If not now, when?