Chapter 17 Trapped Embrace: Cold Confinement in His Arms

Chapter 17: Embrace: Coldly Confined in the Arms

Kuju and her mother’s crying fit last night left the whole family deeply embarrassed. Yu Yuan ordered Kuju’s courtyard locked down so she could reflect, strictly guarded, but it still got Xu Junzheng’s attention.

Xu Junzheng had never been willing to marry Kuju, and her strong resistance made him feel as if he were the one forcing the marriage. His heart grew more tormented, unwilling to endure such humiliation, and he started thinking about calling the whole thing off.

Yu Yuan invited Xu Junzheng to the study, apologizing profusely and begging for forgiveness for his daughter’s willful ignorance.

His plan to tie the knot with the Xu family was no empty talk; he wished to invite Xu Junzheng’s parents to the Yu residence to discuss the betrothal.

Xu Junzheng bowed and replied, “Thank you for your generous regard, sir. My father passed away early, and my mom raised me on her own.”

Yu Yuan sighed, “So that’s how it is. Your mother is truly admirable. She’s got to do us the honor of coming to tomorrow evening’s spring banquet.”

Xu Junzheng nervously declined, “To receive such favor from you, sir, my mother is but a humble woman—how could she deserve to set foot in your place?”

Yu Yuan said, “Mr. Xu has been with us for some time, teaching Yan Geer to be smart and polite. Everyone in the Yu family is grateful to you. Do not worry; let our two families simply sit and talk together.”

With the spring exams right around the corner, Yu Yuan was convinced that Xu Junzheng was diligent and studious, very likely to pass and get a title—this was no random guess. He had tested Xu Junzheng’s lessons, and his essays were truly splendid, way better than Yu Ye’s, by a long shot. His writing was brilliant, sharp, and totally original, especially his understanding of ancient sage-kings like Yao and Shun, revered by Confucians. Even Xie Tanwei probably couldn’t write any better.

He couldn’t figure out how Xu Junzheng had gotten so scary-good in such a short time—like Confucius himself had given him a hand.

So Yu Yuan wanted to lock Xu Junzheng in early by arranging a betrothal, before someone else snatched him up after the results came out.

He prided himself on his sharp eye, having once pegged Xie Tanwei as a kind and generous big shot, marrying his second legitimate daughter, Xian Qiu, to him—and that turned out to be a good call.

With two daughters from concubines still single at home, Tian Qin had already been sent to the Xie house to help Xian Qiu as a concubine and bear children. Kuju couldn’t just sit around either; since the family fed her, she had to pull her weight.

When He Shi heard Kuju was getting engaged, she went to Xian Qiu in private for one last talk: “Your father is preparing to meet with the Xu elders to formalize Kuju’s betrothal. If you still want to switch who’s the concubine, now is the time. Any later, and it will be too late.”

Xian Qiu was torn inside, not sure whether to pick Kuju or Tian Qin.

She looked down, dodging He Shi’s pressing stare, and could not hope for Xie Tanwei’s opinion either, as he had already stated, “You decide, madam. If you have no preference, then Tian Qin.”

She let out a hollow sigh, left to figure it out on her own.

…

That evening, Xu’s mother was invited over to the Yu house.

For this guest, who wasn’t high-class and was even a bit poor, the Yu family went all out as hosts, hanging up lanterns and decorations, setting up a feast in the lake pavilion. Yu Yuan and He Shi personally received her with warm enthusiasm.

Xu’s mother was a woman in her forties, dressed in plain, simple clothes, scrubbed spotless. Her only jewelry was a white pearl hairpin in her hair, but she carried herself with grace and warmth.

She was shocked that the Yu family, who were related to royalty, had invited her, and she showed up all serious.

At the feast, Yu Yuan, He Shi, Xu’s mother, and Xu Junzheng all sat down. Xian Qiu was supposed to sit in but had to bow out as Xie Tanwei was coming to fetch her back to the residence. The adults chatted while the maids and servants were sent away.

Both sides had their own agendas. Xu’s mother thought marrying into the Yu family was a good deal, clinking glasses and acting all respectful.

Yu Yuan, though, played it cool. As he exchanged pleasantries with Xu’s mother, he never brought up the actual engagement—just saying the families should talk about the idea of a marriage first, with the wedding happening after Xu Junzheng passed the exams. He set no specific date and did not specify which daughter would be married.

This was clearly a play-it-by-ear move: if Xu Junzheng succeeded in the exams, the marriage would proceed; if not, it would not.

Xu’s mother thought it over for a second and agreed. She’d heard her son had a crush on a Yu family daughter, and if he were fortunate enough to marry her, the lovers would be united, and her son could then wholeheartedly pursue his official career, rather than pining away.

But she did not know that the Yu family had two unmarried daughters, and the one they intended to marry off was Kuju, not her son’s beloved Tian Qin.

As the feast grew lively, Yu Yuan suddenly summoned Tian Qin and quietly instructed her to deliver a meal to Kuju.

Kuju was confined to her courtyard, resisting the marriage, and had not eaten for two days. The servants’ pleas were in vain. Perhaps a sister of the same age could persuade Kuju to see reason.

Tian Qin nodded in agreement. Her lotus-green cloud-silk dress made her look like a leaf of lotus, demure and lovely, graceful and understanding. Moonlight shifted over her shadow, her long hair flowing like a stream. Though she only appeared briefly at the feast, it left Xu’s mother and Xu Junzheng stunned.

Xu’s mother shot a knowing glance at her son: This young lady is quite beautiful—is she your sweetheart?

Xu Junzheng flushed bright red, burying his head, not daring to breathe.

Yu Yuan secretly gloated. He knew of Tian Qin’s stunning beauty and had deliberately let her appear to showcase his daughter’s charms, intimidating the Xu mother and son.

If Xu Junzheng achieved a high rank in the exams, the Yu family offered not only the bitter but also the sweet. Whether he could marry would depend on his own skill.

“Drink, drink! Please have another cup!”

Tian Qin lowered her head slightly, not daring to meet Xu Junzheng’s or her future mother-in-law’s gaze in her parents’ presence.

Leaving the lake pavilion, she followed Yu Yuan’s orders, fetching some soft, palatable dishes from the kitchen and knocking on the door of Kuju’s confinement.

Kuju, seeing her suddenly, glared with bloodshot eyes and sobbed softly, “Third sister, have you come to mock me?”

Tian Qin looked indifferent. “I don’t have the leisure for that.”

She set down the food. “Eat. Father told me to bring it to you.”

Kuju stared at the steaming dishes, tears flowing even more. “Father wants to marry me off to that poor candidate, doesn’t he? Locking me here, not even letting me see my mother. My fate is ultimately not as good as yours. You were born sweet, while I was born bitter.”

Tian Qin was most annoyed by her self-pity and replied expressionlessly, “If I traded my fate for yours, you might not want it.”

Kuju choked, “What do you mean by that?”

Tian Qin said, “Nothing.”

She didn’t want to stay longer and left, regardless of whether Kuju ate.

The spring night sky was even and overcast, a clear, translucent moon rising, the water breeze cool and refreshing.

Twilight soaked the Yu residence’s buildings and rockeries into vague outlines, bamboo leaves rustling against each other.

Tian Qin walked with her head down along the pebble path, deliberately taking a small trail through the secluded bamboo grove. When she reached the lake at the end, its surface swallowed and murmured with blue water light, she unexpectedly encountered a figure.

Her steps suddenly halted, and she couldn’t help but frown.

Xie Tanwei stood beneath the sparse bamboo leaves, half a cold moon leaking through, the water murmuring. The ink-blue night sky rolled with scattered white clouds and remnants of mist, blocking her path.

“Brother-in-law…”

Xie Tanwei turned at the sound, equally surprised, and smiled faintly with a hint of ethereality. “What a coincidence, Third Sister.”

His demeanor was extraordinary, reflecting the deep green pond water and a few stars, his sleeves fluttering, carrying a hint of drunkenness.

Tian Qin curtsied and hurried past, but Xie Tanwei casually stopped her, his drunken eyes languid and seductive.

“Why do you pretend not to see your brother-in-law?”

Tian Qin bit her lip, staring intently at the faint moonlit patterns on the bluestone beneath her feet. “I didn’t pretend not to see you, brother-in-law. I just greeted you.”

“Oh?” Xie Tanwei drew closer, the wind thin and clouds soft, mingling with the sweet scent of clear wine that brushed against the delicate skin of her neck. “With a relationship as close as ours, is a mere greeting enough?”

Tian Qin’s hair stood on end.

"Brother-in-law, you're drunk."

She suppressed the tingling unease, remaining on guard.

"I just had a few drinks with your sister."

His eyes glistened in the moonlight, like a window with its shutters drawn. "But I'm not drunk. I saved your life, and in return, I get cold indifference. Sister, you're so ungrateful."

The night was heavy and cold, bamboo leaves rustling.

Tian Qin clenched her fists, forcing herself to keep up a show of respect: "What reward do you want, brother-in-law? I asked you that day, and you said you didn't want any repayment."

"I don't want any other repayment, but having you acknowledge me and give me a smile—that's not too much to ask, is it?"

Xie Tanwei poked her lightly with his finger, a faint spring chill, like cold water seeping into her skin. "After all, I gave you a new lease on life."

Tian Qin's face went pale. His face showed obvious drunkenness as he blocked her path. She had no choice but to force a faint smile in the dark, then urged, "Brother-in-law, can you let me go now? I have things to attend to back home."

He lingered, savoring that brief hint of her smile, yet remained unmoved. "What's more important than your brother-in-law? The private tutor and Kuju are engaged—aren't you happy?"

Tian Qin countered, "Does brother-in-law think I should be happy?"

Xie Tanwei paused. "I think this match is quite good—a perfect match, good for both families."

Tian Qin held her tongue: "That's because brother-in-law and Father both view it from a political standpoint."

In his drunkenness, there was a cold, detached truth. "You know I'm not talking about politics."

In the dead silence, remnants of spring snow rustled down from the bamboo branches.

Xie Tanwei abruptly grabbed a handful of snow, rolled it into a ball, and pressed it into Tian Qin's neck. She instinctively dodged, but fell into his trap. He discarded the snow and coldly trapped her in his embrace from behind.

"Sister, you're more beautiful than the moon in the sky. Stay with me tonight, and I'll give you anything you want."

Tian Qin clamped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with fear, afraid that even a passing maid might see and ruin her reputation, leaving her with no choice but to enter the Xie household as a concubine.

"Brother-in-law, what exactly do you want? I've been very obedient. Please don't scare me anymore. I'll do whatever you say."

She was nearly forced to tears, not daring to confront him head-on, acting weak and submissive, sobbing and pleading in his arms.

Xie Tanwei said nothing, nor did he go further, but remained frozen in this stalemate—clear water on the surface, but a deep abyss underneath.

Xu Junzheng had read the answers he dictated; she had taken his favor, and by reason and sentiment, she should tolerate it.

Tian Qin's tears fell silently. The most terrifying thing was that her body, which he had trained to perfection in her previous life, quickly responded, as if caught by a black hole.

"Brother-in-law... don't do this. It wrongs me, and it wrongs sister too..."

"Don't you like it?" Xie Tanwei interrupted, closing his eyes with a soft sigh, his gentle smile like a lake reflecting the moon. "Or are you afraid?"

Seeing how she had been scheming and calculating these days, he couldn't resist uprooting this delicate stem, cutting open her heart to see clearly—how many chambers her heart truly had.

Tian Qin shook her head, maintaining her difficult posture, sobbing and calling out "brother-in-law" again and again. He wasn't drunk; she was certain he was sober. Trapped in this predicament, she couldn't call for help, and could only wait for him to let her go.