Chapter 18 Parting Words: “Want me to divorce your sister and marry you?”

Chapter 18: On the Verge of Leaving: "Do you want me to divorce your sister and take you as my wife?"

Time dragged on unbearably slowly. Tian Qin numbed her senses and finally made it through until Xie Tanwei let her go. He smiled and gently brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, advising her tenderly, like a proper brother-in-law, that it was dark and she should return early.

The constant tension and torment were like a bowstring pulled taut. After being toyed with and tormented by him, Tian Qin was on the brink of collapse.

But she had no one to turn to, no way to speak out or complain. Any slight movement detected by the Yu family would bring disastrous consequences, making her look like a loose woman sneaking around with her sister's husband, and being made a concubine would be a done deal.

Running into a drunk was just her bad luck.

It was just too convenient that she had no maids with her.

He had counted on her having to swallow her bitterness in silence, unable to voice her grievances.

Tian Qin fled as if pardoned, rushing back to her own courtyard, furious. She locked the doors and windows, smashed the carefully tended flowers and plants in the yard to bits, and still not satisfied, burned the clothes she'd worn that reeked of him.

Zhaolu, Wan Cui, and Nanny Chen didn't dare say a word. Tian Qin was usually gentle and had never thrown such a fit.

Yet she refused to say a word about what was wrong, keeping her mouth shut, just sobbing, making it all the more mysterious.

Tian Qin's nails were swollen from digging into her palms, her eyes swollen like walnuts. She was terrifyingly silent, burying herself under the covers all night without a word.

The next day, as Nanny Chen was worrying about how to get her to eat breakfast, a servant from the outer courtyard stumbled in, looking pale as a ghost, and cried out, "Something terrible! The Fourth Young Lady tried to kill herself!"

Tian Qin snapped back to her senses.

The Yu family had all gathered in Kuju's courtyard.

Nanny Chen accompanied Tian Qin there. Tian Qin was half-asleep, her steps unsteady. Kuju's courtyard was packed with people—maids, servants, and even a doctor.

Luckily, they found her in time. Kuju didn't die, but a huge gash was slashed across her face, blood streaming down.

To resist the fate of marrying a poor, pedantic scholar and enduring a miserable life, Kuju would rather ruin her own face. She loved her godlike, jade-like brother-in-law, not the poor, dull scholar Xu Junzheng.

Several doctors bustled about. Yu Yuan was furious, loudly scolding Kuju for being unfilial, using such a stupid method as threatening suicide.

If someone died, how would they deal with it?

The idea of two women sharing one husband was awkward to explain and unpleasant to hear. The Xie family demanded secrecy, and the concubine couldn't be brought out into the open.

Besides, the Xu mother and son were still guests in the house. The marriage had just been preliminarily settled last night, and Kuju's suicide attempt now was a blatant slap in the face to the Xu family. Where would the Yu family's face be? They were practically handing others a reason to criticize them.

"I'm telling you! In life, you're a Xu; in death, you're a Xu ghost! Even your dead body will be dragged to the Xu house!"

Yu Yuan was out of his mind with rage. It would be better if this unfilial, ungrateful daughter died. If not for Concubine Yao tearfully protecting her, Kuju would have been beaten to death by the furious Yu Yuan.

"Master! Don't push her anymore, I beg you! She's still trying to kill herself! She's still your daughter!"

"Let Tian Qin marry into the Xu family instead. She's been making eyes at that private tutor anyway. Why must you ruin my Kuju?"

Hearing Concubine Yao mention Tian Qin, Yu Yuan grew even angrier. Tian Qin was present, and everyone in the room turned their eyes to her.

Tian Qin stood with her sleeves hanging limp, silent, her eyes equally swollen, her haggardness indescribable.

Yu Yuan assumed Tian Qin was being pressured by Kuju and Concubine Yao, and said, "Tian'er, this has nothing to do with you. Go back first."

Kuju, her face covered in blood, cried even harder. Everyone knew Lord Xie was a godlike gentleman. Second Sister was sickly and childless. If she passed away one day, a concubine could be promoted to wife.

Even if not, her brother-in-law was gentle and held high power—a rare husband to find.

Why should such good fortune be taken by Tian Qin, the daughter of a singing girl?

Tian Qin left gloomily. Yu Yuan locked Kuju's courtyard again, leaving maids and doctors to guard her closely.

Family scandals must not be aired. This matter absolutely could not be known to the Xu mother and son, or once argued, the Yu family would surely be in the wrong.

...

The matter of Kuju's suicide attempt was tightly suppressed.

Yu Yuan was at a loss, his well-laid plans disrupted.

Kuju's situation couldn't be hidden for long. A daughter-in-law would eventually meet her in-laws, but with a huge scar across Kuju's face, how could they explain to the Xu family?

Though from humble origins, Xu's mother and Xu Junzheng were not fools.

Yu Yuan was exhausted and headache-ridden. He took leave from court, resting at home for several days, drinking medicinal soup daily.

He Shi attended to him, advising, "That wretched girl ruined her own face. Master, don't let her anger harm your health. When the cart reaches the bridge, it will straighten out. There will always be a way for the marriage alliance."

Yu Yuan couldn't speak, waving her away.

Outside, Xian Qiu had specially returned from the Xie residence, asking worriedly, "How is Father's dizziness? Does your daughter need to serve you?"

He Shi sighed, "Your father is angered by that unfilial daughter. You haven't seen Kuju's appearance—ugly and hideous. Who would want to marry her?"

"Disfigured..."

Xian Qiu murmured softly, her voice filled with sorrow. "How could this happen?"

Kuju was disfigured and couldn't marry into the Xu family. This move was directly wasted.

But at the same time, another thought crossed her mind. With Kuju disfigured, she couldn't attract men anymore—very safe.

As a concubine, bearing children would be enough.

Xian Qiu's heart stirred. She brought pastries and snacks to visit Kuju. Kuju's face was truly appalling. Not just men, even women would find it repulsive, a stark contrast to Tian Qin's beauty.

She stroked Kuju, speaking softly with tears, "Fourth Sister, never hurt yourself again. If something's wrong, talk it out. Your Second Sister's heart aches seeing you like this."

Kuju, wrapped in thick bandages, lay on Xian Qiu's lap, crying endlessly. The coldness and neglect she had once felt from Second Sister seemed to be compensated for by her disfigurement.

"Second Sister, Kuju only wants to stay by you and Brother-in-law's side. I don't want to marry."

Xian Qiu understood her implication perfectly, patting her back soothingly. "Silly sister, I also want you younger sisters to stay by my side. How about this? I'll talk to Father about your matter. Don't hurt yourself anymore."

Kuju was flattered, "Second Sister, really?"

Xian Qiu nodded.

Kuju's disfigurement shook Xian Qiu's resolve. For other families, Kuju's face was a disaster, but for the Xie family, which only required a concubine to bear children, she was the ideal candidate—fertile, without stunning beauty, solving Xian Qiu's childlessness while ensuring she wouldn't steal her husband's affection.

Xian Qiu found Yu Yuan and advised him. Since Kuju resisted so fiercely, they shouldn't rush to marry her off to the Xu family. Otherwise, they were all flesh and blood, and it would be heartbreaking if someone died.

Yu Yuan was surprised and confused. Was this another change of plans?

...

Tian Qin, already frightened that night and then doused with cold water by Kuju and her mother, had been listless for days, barely leaving her bed. She suffered from night terrors and nightmares, her beautiful face covered in a layer of ash-like pallor.

Wan Cui and Zhaolu brought the meal over, but she ate little, finding everything tasted like plain water, no appetite, she felt completely drained.

She used to stop by the private school to see Yan Geer and Mr. Xu, but now she didn’t even care about Mr. Xu, like all her energy was sucked out, stuck in the shadows.

Before she knew it, late spring had arrived.

He Shi forced Tian Qin to come to the reception hall. Tian Qin dragged herself to freshen up and get dressed, covering up her dark circles.

In the front hall, except for Kuju, who had a ruined face, the whole family sat down to eat.

Xie Tanwei greeted Third Sister like always, all polite and formal, as if that night under the bamboo moonlight had never happened.

“Third sister seems unwell.”

He picked up some food with his chopsticks and put it on her plate.

Tian Qin stiffened.

“Third sister was frightened by Fourth sister that day. It’s my fault as the older sister for not looking after them better.”

Xian Qiu said softly, “Husband, get her some new trinkets to lift her spirits. She’s always loved that shrimp-whisker bangle from before.”

Xie Tanwei responded, his calm voice mixing with the warm late spring sun, “The storeroom’s open—you girls can pick whatever you want.”

He Shi forced a smile, “Son-in-law, don’t spoil them rotten. These girls have no manners, turning the whole house upside down.”

Yu Yuan interjected, “Son-in-law, when are you leaving?”

The late spring policy exam was coming up, and Xie Tanwei, as the chief examiner, would be locked away soon.

Xie Tanwei said, “I leave tomorrow. Students from all over are slowly trickling into the capital.”

He Shi nodded, “The streets are packed.”

Xie Tanwei considerately added, “During my absence, I’ll have to trouble you, my in-laws, to look after my wife.”

Xian Qiu blushed and smiled.

Yu Yuan and He Shi both laughed, “Son-in-law, what are you saying?”

Tian Qin kept her head down, quietly spooning her porridge, listening to their exchanges, the porcelain spoon clinking against the bowl.

After the meal, he tacitly stayed behind, and she also wisely didn’t leave. The servants dispersed, leaving only the sounds of birds and nature in the silence.

That awful, unspoken understanding they had.

“That night, I mistook Third sister for Xian Qiu. It was my fault as your brother-in-law.”

Xie Tanwei spoke first, his voice echoing in the late spring east wind, “But Third sister shutting herself away and giving up because of it—I’m both hurt and disappointed.”

Tian Qin was like a rootless waterweed, left to dry on the shore, powerless to resist, “Brother-in-law… did you really mistake me for my sister?”

Xie Tanwei paused, “Actually, it wasn’t entirely a mistake.”

Tian Qin remained silent.

“Brother-in-law, just tell me plainly what you want.”

After a moment, she spoke, her delicate eyes streaked with red, light and cold, “Brother-in-law, blowing hot and cold, manipulating me as you please, makes me feel like a trapped creature, without even the chance to run away like Kuju did by trying to kill herself.”

"Third Sister should understand her brother-in-law's feelings," he said calmly.

"Then her brother-in-law should also understand hers," Tian Qin replied.

Outside the window, the spring lake had thawed, its waters shimmering. Xie Tanwei's face took on a cold, crab-shell blue. "Little sister, you're still young and don't understand love. Forget that private tutor, and let me take good care of you."

Tian Qin bit her lip. "Must it be this way? I don't want to be a concubine—you know that well."

"Then what do you want?" Xie Tanwei smiled, his tone light. "Want me to divorce your sister and take you as my wife?"

His fingers gently rested on her chin, savoring her delicate shiver like an autumn bird. "With your background, are you even worthy?"

"Stirring up discord, worming your way in—if I ruin my marriage for a concubine, would the Yu family let you off the hook?"

Tian Qin's face turned pale, her eyes glistening with tears as she stared at her lotus-root-colored, fancy skirt, beneath which she felt only rot. "I don't want to drive a wedge between you and Sister, nor make you favor a concubine over your wife..."

Xie Tanwei cut her off coldly. "I know. But you must obey."

"Behave, and I'll overlook how you used my exam questions to score points. I can even make sure your beloved passes with top marks."

"But if you don't obey..."

Tian Qin shuddered, instinctively lying that she had memorized the answers with no ulterior motive and had given them all to Yu Ye.

"I won't call you out on this," Xie Tanwei said.

Her hands clenched, and she instinctively grabbed his sleeve, her bright lips turning pale from sheer tension. "Whatever terms you want, I'll agree."

Xie Tanwei smiled without a word, as if half-believing her.

"I don't care who you gave the answers to—that's your freedom. I just want you to return favors, show gratitude, and pay the price for what you've taken."

He looked up at her.

In his eyes, she was already his.