Chapter 23 Proposal (Three-in-One): “Brother-in-Law, this is my fiancé. Please mentor him.”

Chapter 23: Synopsis (Three-in-One): Brother-in-law, this is my fiancé. Please give him a leg up.

Yu Yuan, He Shi, and the others, startled by Xie Tanwei's sudden arrival, were affected by his cold demeanor and fell silent. Xu's mother was also stunned, and the lively atmosphere froze, instantly plunging into a dead silence.

Meeting head-on, like a needle meeting a wheat awn, there was no escape, no gap to slip through—a true face-off at close range.

Tian Qin shaded her dim eyes, but only for a moment, then flashed a bright, poised smile, treating her brother-in-law like family. She linked arms with Xu Junzheng, stepped forward, and said cheerfully:

"Brother-in-law, this is my fiancé. You'll have to give him a leg up in the future."

At these words, heaven and earth went dead silent.

The cold, empty, stern atmosphere grew heavier, as if the wind weren't a hot summer breeze but a blizzard, filled with a terrifying, oppressive, predatory low pressure.

Xie Tanwei's dark eyes mirrored them, and he let out a soft laugh.

"Fiancé?"

His lips moved, but his expression was deathly still, sinking into a deep, dead pool—a deathly silence.

A faint smile, half self-mocking, half an indescribable, complex emotion, like snow gleaming in bright light.

"...Is it Mr. Xu, the tutor?"

Though the afternoon sun was full and warm, he was as cold as the moon, making one feel not a single trace of warmth.

Yu Yuan and He Shi exchanged a glance, silently agreeing, and were also frozen stiff. Xian Qiu, intimidated by Xie Tanwei's aloof demeanor, which was like the harsh autumn wind, didn't step forward to speak.

Everyone waited for Xie Tanwei's reaction, watching how Tian Qin would handle it, since the two had countless entanglements.

When Tian Qin called out "Brother-in-law," Xu Junzheng's mind buzzed loudly—the man before him was the Sage Teacher admired by scholars everywhere, as brilliant as the sun and moon, and the examiner for his current policy essay.

The revered figure appearing before him all at once, Xu Junzheng's emotions were indescribable. His eyes instantly reddened, and he clasped his hands in a deep bow, his forehead nearly touching his knees, his voice tight: "Student Xu Junzheng greets his esteemed teacher, an unparalleled honor."

Xu Junzheng's conscience gnawed at him; he knew the answers Tian Qin had given came from Xie Tanwei, yet for the sake of fame and fortune, he had still gone against his conscience, memorized them word for word and wrote them into the exam paper.

Those sharp, penetrating, incisive views on the exam paper were actually the work of another person.

He had used stolen answers to take first place, the top scholar's red-feathered cap wobbling unsteadily on his head.

Xie Tanwei glanced at Xu Junzheng, returning the courtesy coldly yet politely, his tone and demeanor vastly different from his usual.

Clearly, he had recognized the similarities and borrowed ideas at a glance while grading, but he hadn't exposed them.

He had still given Xu Junzheng the top scholar spot.

"Master Xu."

Xu Junzheng, wearing a scholar's square cap, exuded scholarly spirit, nervous yet polite, his face tight; Xie Tanwei, on the other hand, was as deep as an abyss, serene and profound, with the noble's unique scrutiny, born to lead.

This invisible confrontation bristled with countless transparent swords.

Tian Qin, unwilling to let Xu Junzheng and Xie Tanwei talk further, stepped forward: "Yes, brother-in-law, he's Xu Junzheng, the husband my father picked for me. I mentioned him to you before."

Xie Tanwei let out a light snort, the corners of his mouth twitching, his heart like a night sky lit by lightning.

Fiancé—such a strange word from her lips, a fine case of acting first and asking later.

"When did my sister mention it? Your brother-in-law has a bad memory."

His voice was still gentle, like fine wine, quiet and deep, leaving people lost in a haze.

Brother-in-law, sister-in-law; it was only natural for the former to care for the latter. He was so young, yet carried an elder's demeanor.

But within this gentleness lay a sharp, gleaming knife that could cut to the bone; he wanted to lock her up, cut her apart, and destroy her.

"Brother-in-law didn't know before, but now he knows."

Tian Qin said simply.

Xu Junzheng, unaware of the undercurrents between them, was still immersed in the joy of meeting his revered teacher, respectfully invited: "Esteemed teacher, on my wedding day, I humbly invite you for a cup of wedding wine, to repay your guidance and honor you as the guest of honor."

Having been invited, Xie Tanwei became the guest. Between her and him lay the greatest distance imaginable in the human world—such an unbelievable situation.

He withdrew his gaze and smiled, tinged with cold indifference. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he didn't lose his temper or question her on the spot, humiliating himself. He dismissed it lightly, calm to the point of being terrifying:

"Very well, I will."

"Your brother-in-law will kick the sedan chair and send you off in the bridal palanquin."

He ignored Xu Junzheng and spoke only to Tian Qin.

Not sarcastic, yet more sarcastic than sarcasm itself.

Tian Qin admitted she was taking a gamble, betting that Xie Tanwei would maintain his supreme moral code in public. He was a gentleman—how could a gentleman be jealous? How could a gentleman get angry? A gentleman could only take the loss.

This was her only chance to defy him.

She smiled sweetly, like a flower in bloom, "Thanks, brother-in-law. Brother-in-law loves me best."

The scene was split into two distinct factions, two colors—Tian Qin and Xu Junzheng stood together on one side, while Xian Qiu and Kuju stood with Xie Tanwei on the other. The former was joyous, drenched in bold colors; the latter was silent and dim, faded and worn.

The matter was indeed too sudden.

Yu Yuan then stepped in to smooth things over, making small talk to break the ice. Indeed, Tian Qin had once been meant to be Xie Tanwei's concubine, but things had changed, and what was done was done. What else could be done?

The frozen expressions of the crowd gradually thawed, and everyone broke into smiles, restoring the lively, joyful atmosphere to celebrate the upcoming wedding. The strange little incident from before vanished without a trace.

"In-laws, you must visit often, and chat about this and that. Junzheng is still teaching Yan Ge'er his lessons."

Yu Yuan said warmly, as Xu's mother was escorted out of the Yu residence by the crowd, surrounded like stars around the moon.

Xian Qiu glanced at Xie Tanwei with lingering fear, regretting not mentioning the concubine swap earlier. She said cautiously, "Husband, I'm sorry. You've been busy with government affairs, and I didn't dare to bother you. Tian'er and Junzheng..."

Xie Tanwei waved his hand, signaling her to drop it. A faint, polite smile hung on his face, but a cold light lurked in his eyes, hiding a surging dark current.

He turned and left, still the understanding, unconditionally considerate husband, brother-in-law, and son-in-law, without blaming anyone present with a single word.

In his retreating figure, an inescapable solemnity lingered.

...

In the evening, Tian Qin was embroidering her wedding dress in her room when Wan Cui entered with a worried look, whispering in her ear, "Miss, Lord Xie sent word that he wants to see you, alone."

Tian Qin had expected the day's events wouldn't pass so easily. Hearing this, she got up, put on her shoes, threw on a cloak, and walked toward the door. Wan Cui hurriedly stopped her, "Miss, are you really going?"

Tian Qin nodded firmly. Avoiding the problem wouldn't solve it; he would only use harsher means to force her out.

She hoped this matter could be resolved peacefully, reaching a state satisfactory to both of them, turning conflict into harmony.

For this reason, she was willing to pay a price within her boundaries.

"I'll be back soon."

Since she couldn't avoid it, she decided not to dodge it anymore.

In the western sky, a couple of streaks of persimmon-red sunset clouds lingered, the dying sun spilling gold like torn silk ribbons, a peaceful beauty hiding a destructive force.

Tian Qin pulled her cloak tight and drew up her hood, and still made her way to the quiet, secluded lake pavilion of the Yu residence.

A perfect spot for a cool, quiet think.

The day's clamor had faded, leaving only silence here—a silence like a tomb.

Xie Tanwei stood there, tall and elegant, already waiting. The moon hung faintly in the twilight, merging with the serene sky. Dewdrops on the orchid bonsai sparkled like clear gems.

Tian Qin walked over silently, stood beside him. Slanting sunlight and shadows mingled, yet neither spoke.

After all they'd been through, an extraordinary stillness settled, as if silence itself was an understanding full of unspoken words, and neither could bear to break this beautiful dusk.

For a long, long time—maybe never before—they'd watched the sunset together.

"Brother-in-law."

She cut straight to the point in the rainbow-like evening glow: "Brother-in-law called for me, so I came."

"I love Xu Junzheng and desperately want to marry him. What do I need to do for you to allow it, brother-in-law? Just say it."

Xie Tanwei would naturally seek her out. Her jumping the gun and getting engaged to Xu Junzheng had truly crossed his line.

Beneath his high moral facade was a venomous heart. His holding back in broad daylight was to save her face. Matters that couldn't be addressed openly could only be settled in private.

Xie Tanwei stood still, letting the north wind wash over him as darkness slowly engulfed them both. With wine in hand, he faced the wind, giving off a loneliness that seemed out of place for him.

What had once been hidden—a game of cat and mouse, a forbidden love kept secret for so long—now laid bare, left them with nothing to say.

He tilted his head back and downed a mouthful of wine, the clear liquid running down his prominent Adam's apple. A rare moment of losing control, steeped in alcohol, twilight gloom, and a cold, decadent air.

At this moment, he truly resembled a scholar who only knew how to study the classics, his mind rotted by archaic phrases—a useless bookworm, a powerless Confucian stickler.

"It's been a few days, and Third Sister's already engaged. Congratulations."

Xie Tanwei finally offered a faint opening remark, marking the start of a trial they both understood.

Before she left, they could still hug as lovers; after she left, they somehow went back to being distant brother-in-law and sister-in-law, no longer entitled to hugs.

Who wouldn't be upset by that?

Tian Qin said, "Thank you, brother-in-law."

Her voice, fresh as a pomegranate, was still there, but her heart and soul were gone.

Xie Tanwei, with a hint of alcohol's aloofness, let his gaze linger on her, his tone slow and syrupy: "Before, you asked me to wait for you, and now you go and marry someone else."

She didn't respond, keeping her head down.

He muttered to himself, his words like spring water turning to ice, as if talking to an invisible ghost of judgment: "...Sister, you broke your word."

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

She reminded him.

Xie Tanwei laughed bitterly, staring at the last wisp of twilight's molten gold. "Since things are like this, all I can do is wish you well."

"Mm." Tian Qin's lips curved into a polite smile, but on closer look, it was all fake. "Father's already arranged it. Kuju will serve brother-in-law in my place."

"How thoughtful of you, sister."

"I had no idea the new top scholar and Third Sister had such deep ties, or I'd have given him a higher score."

Xie Tanwei leaned in, half-truth, half-lie. In the twilight, the most striking thing about him was his piercing, snow-cold eyes that cut right through you.

"Sister simply fed Master Xu the answers. No wonder he hit every point perfectly, missing nothing."

He laughed lazily, his breath reeking of alcohol—drunk, dead drunk.

Tian Qin's right eye twitched. She retorted, "Brother-in-law has long made a name for himself as the chief examiner. Don't stoop to such pettiness."

Xie Tanwei cut her off coldly, his tone nearly threatening: "That day at the mountain temple, you begged me over and over to answer questions, which you then leaked to your beloved. Clever as you are, isn't this exam fraud? Unfair to the scholars who've studied for ten years in obscurity? Those were my answers—you can't just copy them word for word."

"Chief examiner—you know I'm the chief examiner, bound to be fair and just, hmm? You traitor."

He grabbed her chin, lifting it mercilessly, his touch colder than the moon's reflection on the lake, his gaze stripping her layer by layer.

Tian Qin froze, the two locked in a stalemate in the cramped, dark corner of the pavilion. Her sharp nails tore through her dress.

Yes, she had leaked the exam questions. Without it, Xu Junzheng couldn't pass, and she couldn't marry him.

She hadn't expected him to be so foolish as to copy everything verbatim—a true bookworm.

She was in the wrong, and she was willing to endure any of his sarcasm. After getting engaged to Xu Junzheng, she still obediently and secretly came to meet him tonight, letting him do as he pleased.

That day, he knew she was using the answers for cheating, yet he still replied. It was hard not to see it as a trap he had deliberately set.

"It's my fault, brother-in-law. Please show mercy and don't expose this. I'll agree to any condition."

Tian Qin looked up, her faint plea trembling like a reed in the night breeze. "I'm about to get what I've dreamed of. I don't want to fail at the last step. Please, brother-in-law, grant me this—consider it compensation for my past life."

She was forced to stand on tiptoe, deliberately stressing the words "past life," her voice quivering, her neck as if strung up by a rope, turning the dry air in her throat into words.

Xie Tanwei's drunken eyes showed no trace of emotion, only near-cruel indifference. She wielded her past life like a tool, skillfully pulling it out to use, and he couldn't tell if it pained her or not.

"What does your dream have to do with me, sister? You getting what you dream of means I don't get what I dream of. People are selfish."

He leaned down, forcing her onto the cold, hard goose-neck bench in the pavilion, gently gripping her neck:

"You've been planning this for a long time, sister. It must have been hard. Trying to get back at me? Congratulations—you've succeeded."

"But I regret it too, sister. I treated you coldly and heartlessly in the past life, and I regret it to the core."

Tian Qin was stunned, her senses held captive by the pressure on her neck. She thought he could snap her slender neck with just a little more force. Straining to look up at him, she said:

"Why bother, brother-in-law? Even if you get my body, you'll never have my heart. You're elegant and refined, a top official at court—there's no shortage of women you could have. I may be weak and useless, but pushed to the brink, I can still die. All you'd get is my corpse."

Her words were resolute.

Xie Tanwei remained unmoved, impervious to both soft and hard tactics. His dark eyes, indifferent to everything, still moved slowly, even as she threatened him with death. Death—what could death do? Death was a cowardly, useless act.

"How heartless you are, sister. You know the past life's matters are unresolved, yet you begrudge me a chance to make amends, sneaking around behind my back."

Whatever she wanted, he'd make up for it, but she couldn't go using such an extreme method.

He looked her up and down, quiet and scrutinizing. "Why lie to your brother-in-law like this? You think threatening me with death is gonna work? You think I can't do anything with your corpse?"

He let out a cold, flippant laugh, his eyes scraping over her snow-white skin. "Little sis might not know, but your brother-in-law has a little hobby... When you can't move at all, wouldn't that be even more... A person's soul doesn't leave the body for seven days after death, so you'd just have to watch, helpless."

Tian Qin shuddered violently, a chill racing down her spine, her hatred hitting its peak.

His eyes, full of shifting emotion, were deep and relentless, as if his obsession with her were real, and the hurts from the past life were fake, just illusions.

A devil, a real devil.

Impatiently, almost rudely, she shoved his hand away and stubbornly repeated, "Enough, brother-in-law, stop with these jokes. You don't need to make up for anything, and I don't want you to. I've said it over and over—all I want is your blessing, it's that simple."

As for death, she wasn't stupid enough to use it to threaten him; it was her own way out. Having died once, she wasn't scared of it anymore—nothing could be worse than her past life.

Tian Qin had a small, sharp pair of scissors hidden in her sleeve, not big, but enough to stab a person's neck and make blood spray—his or hers.

But after his downright scumbag threats, she didn't dare take them out. Her teeth clenched painfully, gripping the scissors as she gave her final ultimatum.

Xie Tanwei let out a calm laugh.

That hot-and-cold, distant and elusive attitude, playing with people, had terrified her in her past life.

He raised his hand, and she thought he'd grab the scissors, but he just gently brushed the messy strands of hair off her forehead.

He couldn't be bothered to take the scissors.

She couldn't threaten him, because her life didn't matter to him.

And he wasn't afraid of getting hurt, because her little scissors were too small—almost cute, delicate and exquisite, fit for a boudoir collection.

"I'm not forcing you, little sis. If you insist on wasting this hard-earned chance to start fresh, your brother-in-law won't stop you."

His tone turned soft and cold, and he smiled sympathetically, giving in to her little scissors. "You came tonight willingly, right? You want to settle this peacefully, don't you?"

Tian Qin's eyes stung, tears streaming down uncontrollably, and she quietly tucked the scissors deeper into her sleeve.

"I truly want to be with Xu Junzheng, I won't marry anyone else. Please, brother-in-law, let me have this one last time."

She leaned her head against his shoulder, begging over and over, clinging to him like a dodder vine. "Brother-in-law has always loved me the most, from when I was little to now, in this life and the last—more than sister ever did."

"When Zhaolu was falsely accused of stealing in our past life, sister wanted to turn us over to the authorities. It was brother-in-law who stopped her, letting us move to the thatched hut without getting severely punished. I've always known, brother-in-law, that you're my protector, the one I respect the most."

In the twilight, her tears shimmered, soft and quiet, as she brought up old memories, snuggling against his shoulder—not to reminisce, but to move him, hoping he'd be lenient in a moment of weakness.

"Little sis is getting smarter, smarter than I thought, smarter than in your past life. Your brother-in-law admits defeat."

Xie Tanwei listened to all this coldly, calmly hearing her out, calmly ending it, without a trace of emotion, not even a hint of human life—just cold clarity and mockery.

"Little sis's cleverness has never been used for good. It's always for manipulating and deceiving people. Your tears are fake. You've fooled me plenty of times already. Save your tears this time—once or twice is too old."

Tian Qin felt like she was falling into an abyss. Knowing him from two lifetimes, she understood that his words meant he was completely unmoved.

A half-moon soaked in the lake, swaying gently. In the lonely, bleak night wind, the distant black mountains were blurry outlines, as if drowsily blending into the starry sky.

Tian Qin's face was streaked with tears, and just as she was about to argue, Xie Tanwei handed her a cup of wine.

"Don't look so glum. Your brother-in-law wants what's best for you; I'm still your family. You're engaged now, and I haven't congratulated you yet."

Xie Tanwei's words were open and honest, like a normal family member, his voice calm and leisurely as he drank and admired the moonlight.

Tian Qin didn't dare drink the wine, as if it held something extraordinary.

Xie Tanwei didn't force her, drinking it himself. The dust floating in the air was illuminated by the bright moonlight.

After one cup, he grew more intoxicated, rubbing his temples.

Tian Qin noticed his index finger—long, elegant, and beautiful, bathed in the porcelain moonlight, disrupting its cold stillness.

In her past life, half-coerced and half-guided, those beautiful fingers had often entered her mouth or touched her there.

"Brother-in-law, please agree. I'm begging you, okay?"

She averted her gaze from his fingers, pleading repeatedly, unable to hold back her urging. "From now on, we'll go our separate ways. I wish you and sister a deep, lasting love. Let Kuju serve you both well."

"When I visit home during holidays, I'll still be your most obedient little sister-in-law. Even after marrying into the Xu family, I'll be the same as before—sharing good things or secrets with you."

She laid out the benefits as best she could.

Xie Tanwei's expression was like an invisible mist. He let her wait for a long time, as if savoring the wine's aftertaste.

"Honestly, little sister, this disappoints me."

He threw her that line, and she fell silent instantly, as if drenched in icy snow water, her faint hopes shattered.

"Then what would it take for you not to be disappointed?"

Tian Qin clenched her fists.

"I'm already engaged to Xu Junzheng. It's a done deal, water under the bridge. I doubt your will can change that."

"Your brother-in-law's will can't change it, but yours can."

Xie Tanwei gently tore off the mask of pretense, revealing his ruthless side directly, speaking calmly: "Little sister just said you'd agree to any condition. Your brother-in-law happens to have a brilliant plan."

Tian Qin frowned deeply, instinctively stepping back.

He smiled nonchalantly, completely in control: "Go to Yu Yuan and voluntarily call off the engagement. Say you were tricked into marriage, and insist that Xu Junzheng cheated on the imperial exam. Coincidentally, you gave him the answers."

"Leave the rest to me. We'll crush the Xu family, who tried to take advantage of you. Not only will you avoid punishment for exam fraud, but you'll come out as a hero. I'll plead your case before the emperor, and you might even earn a noble title."

"Then you'll be brought into the Xie mansion in style, a true and proper noble concubine. When I married, I promised your sister I wouldn't take a wife of equal rank, but your actual status will be nearly the same as a wife's. You won't have to worry about repeating the past, and no one can bully you anymore."

"Later, if we have children, you'll raise them yourself, okay? No one can take them away, because you'll be a titled noblewoman."

"As for the steward Li Fu, he'll be torn apart, however you wish."

"Your brother-in-law will take care of you and protect you for life. I'll take no other women. We'll be together forever. How does that sound?"

Tian Qin's pupils gradually lost focus as his calm, methodical plan unfolded—a cold, meticulous murder plot, even a massacre. He was determined to destroy the entire Xu family, forcing her to become his concubine. Such venomous cruelty was beyond description.

Madman... demon...

Her head throbbed with pain, experiencing an unparalleled earthquake. Her ears seemed to explode, dizzy and faint, her vision darkening as she staggered, nearly falling.

Xie Tanwei caught her in time, his gentle strength like autumn water: "What's wrong, little sister?"

Tian Qin held back the urge to slap him, her hoarse voice barely concealing her fury: "You want Xu Junzheng's life?"

He smiled calmly and objectively, as clear and detached as ice itself, neither saying yes nor no—he'd already told her everything he thought, holding nothing back.

"Shouldn't I want it?"

He should. Absolutely should. Nobody dared to mess with him. If he weren't so soft-hearted, he would have taken not only Xu Junzheng's life but also hers—wiped her name out, thrown her into some dark hole, had his fun with her, and then picked a lucky day to finish her off.

But he was too soft-hearted. The moment he remembered her pale, bony face from when she was sick in their past life, skin and bones, he could forgive anything.

He hadn't held her secret meetings against her, had gone out of his way to scheme her a noble title, and had taken her as a concubine, letting bygones be bygones.

He was magnanimous enough. A prime minister's belly can hold a fleet of boats; his might hold a hundred boats.

"Little sister should know I don't have endless patience. When someone comes at me in my own home, it's time to hit back."

Tian Qin sucked in a sharp breath, finally realizing you don't mess with snakes. They were never meant to walk the same path.

Can a person's nature really change? She'd seen way too much of Xie Tanwei's coldness in her past life to ever hope he'd go easy on her in this one, let alone let her run off with someone else.

Hatred had tied itself into a knot that couldn't be undone. Things had come to this—he wouldn't back down, and she refused to give in. It was just a head-on collision: his power against hers plus the Yu and Xu families.

"Brother-in-law, I'm not agreeing to this. Xu Junzheng and I are one, husband and wife; I've got no reason to hurt him."

She spoke like someone facing death, her voice steady: "If you're set on this, kill Xu Junzheng first, then me. I know you can do it. Since I can't fight it, there's nothing left to say."

Xie Tanwei's displeasure showed in his icy face and few words. "Why so stubborn? Is that scholar really that great? Is it that hard to admit your family forced you into this marriage? You know I can't stand it, yet you say stuff like that on purpose to hurt me."

Tian Qin felt dizzier, a deep gloom settling in as despair closed in. His relentless pressure made her want to jump into a lake.

Until he grabbed her arm, firm but not rough, trapping her completely in his shadow, leaving no chance to jump.

She finally snapped, her composure hanging by a thread, yelling: "I don't love you, brother-in-law. I never did. I'm in love with Xu Junzheng. No matter what you say, I'm not turning back, and I'm not marrying you."

Anger, release, hysteria—she was gasping for breath, but these childish, harmless attacks couldn't shake his mountain-still composure.

Xie Tanwei simply watched her speak, rage, and struggle.

The gap in their experience was vast. He had weathered countless dirty political schemes, honing a skill for killing without a trace, cultivating an unreadable demeanor.

She, on the other hand, had been raised in seclusion in her past life, bearing children, and in this life relied on petty cleverness to manipulate fools like Yu Yuan—no match for him at all.

This confrontation was inherently unfair.

When she finally exhausted herself, Xie Tanwei grasped her cold, trembling fingers—a sudden, slightly forceful move that pulled her crumbling form into his embrace.

The chilly night wind and the cold, peeping moon made them each other's only source of warmth, their sole solace.

"Don't cry, little sister."

"It's not marriage—just let me take you as a concubine."

His tone was gentle and logical, clearly distinguishing wife from concubine. "I don't think I've played tricks on you. I've helped you in everything, given you the exam questions, even risked my life to save you. Name Xu Junzheng's virtues, and I'll do them tenfold or a hundredfold."

"Why can't you just stay with me for a while? It's not a lifelong bond—we can part when we tire of each other. Maybe just two or three months."

Tian Qin sobbed harder, nauseated by his tender words—he'd toy with her and then discard her.

She couldn't forget how he'd ignored her in the past life, how when Zhaolu was framed, she knelt pregnant, begging him, yet couldn't move his iron heart. Those pains were indelible.

"I won't be a concubine."

Her tears stained his white robes, her voice faint but resolute: "...Brother-in-law, I will never be a concubine in this life."

Xie Tanwei forced her to look up, the bright moon reflected in his dark eyes. "If not a concubine, then what? A wife? That's your sister—have you no regard for sisterly bonds?"

"I promised her a lifelong union. Even after her death, I keep her memorial tablet and won't remarry. Don't be so greedy, little sister—it puts me in a bind and invites others' scorn."

His cold, ruthless words struck her ears like ice, but Tian Qin felt not a trace of sorrow.

She had long known his nature was harsh, the worst of scoundrels, yet on the surface he was a Great Confucian of the age, a standard moral guardian, a paragon of virtue whose ethics forbade abandoning his first wife.

His love and respect for Xian Qiu, his genuine care from the bone, was a tenderness no one else could ever reach.

Tian Qin wiped her tears and broke free from his embrace decisively: "You have your boundaries to uphold, brother-in-law, and I have my own dignity. Let's go our separate ways."

Xie Tanwei was silent for a moment, then said heavily, "So you're set on marrying Xu Junzheng."

Tian Qin nodded.

"I will never turn back."

"From now on, there's no need for us to meet privately, lest we ruin each other's reputations."

He was heartless; she was more so. Leaving these chilling words, she turned and walked away without a single glance back.

Leaving Xie Tanwei alone in the cold moonlight and darkness.

They had missed each other long ago—perhaps when the child was taken away, or on those cold, lonely nights in bed, or when she couldn't afford purple ginseng fungus and found no help.

She had truly escaped her fate as his concubine, flown away.

Xie Tanwei's sleeves were soaked with chill, silent and bleak, his shadow stretching long, swallowed by the eerie twilight as if he himself were no man, but a wandering ghost.

...

Both Yu daughters' marriages were settled. Lanterns and decorations hung, bustling with activity, the atmosphere unprecedentedly festive.

Kuju's marriage was to be kept secret, hidden from the light, so all the pomp was for Tian Qin—the phoenix crown and embroidered robes were hers as well.

"Husband, where were you last night? I looked everywhere for you."

Xian Qiu handed him a bowl of hangover soup with tender care, her movements soft. "You're still not sober. Let me massage you."

Xie Tanwei lay on a recliner, the morning sun scattering like raindrops, highlighting his tall, pure form, elegant and noble. He stirred, propping himself up, and said gently:

"I saw the sisters' engagements last night and drank a bit too much in a moment of excitement, passing out under the moon. Don't blame me, madam."

Xian Qiu's slender fingers pressed into his temples, self-reproachfully: "It's all my fault. I've been so busy tending to my sisters' weddings, staying long at my parents' home, leaving you unable to enjoy our grand mansion. Instead, you had to rough it in the Yu family's small courtyard with me."

Xie Tanwei accepted her kindness. "This courtyard is where you lived as a maiden. Coming here occasionally lets me reminisce and see the place where you grew up."

Xian Qiu gave a serene smile. He was always so considerate, with such high moral standards, willing to suffer himself rather than demand from others. Marrying him was the greatest blessing of her three lives.

The couple fell silent for a moment.

Xie Tanwei asked casually, "Before I left, you had settled on Tian'er. Why did you change your mind?"

Xian Qiu felt a faint embarrassment, reluctant to speak of Tian Qin's matters. He had said he didn't care who the concubine was—any would do.

"Husband, you don't know. Fourth sister Kuju disfigured her face and has been suicidal. Aside from you and me caring for her, she has no future. She's still a sister under the same roof—I couldn't bear it."

Xian Qiu wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “Besides, Father wishes to forge a marriage alliance with the newly ascendant Xu family. The Xus insist on marrying Tian Qin, so Father had no choice but to give Kuju to us and Tian Qin to them.”

Seeing that Xie Tanwei’s dark eyes remained utterly still—clearly unconvinced by these justifications—she added sincerely, “Also, I noticed Tian’er has grown infatuated with you, husband, and clings to you constantly. I feared she might stray and develop improper feelings for her brother-in-law, so I arranged her marriage into the Xu family. It benefits both her and us.”

Xie Tanwei listened and slowly nodded. “Madam has thought this through thoroughly. This arrangement appears reasonable.”

Xian Qiu had just exhaled in relief when he continued, “Yet Tian’er is clever and mischievous—I fear you’ve all been deceived by her.”

“As for Kuju, her scarred face matters little. I will find another suitable match for her—one that guarantees her lifelong wealth and security. As for the Xu family, Father-in-law has countless ways to cultivate ties with them without selling off his daughters. You yourself admitted Tian Qin is close to us. Forcing her into the Xu marriage abruptly will only bring her misery.”

“As for her infatuation with me—” He gave a dismissive hum. “What ill intent could a young girl possibly harbor? I merely rescued her at the mountain temple last time; she remains grateful. Later, you—as mistress—may guide her gently, and all will be well.”

“So, madam, bring Tian’er back.”

Xie Tanwei’s cold gaze lifted imperceptibly, veiled in mist—not a plea, but a demand.

He resolved the matter in a few words, leaving no room for obstruction. So long as Tian Qin returned, every obstacle could be overcome.

Xian Qiu blinked involuntarily, caught off guard. He insisted on Tian Qin—*insisted*, even.

She deliberately relaxed her taut expression, forced a stiff smile, and sat beside him. “Hmm, your suggestion is sound. Yet the betrothal gifts between the Yu and Xu families have already been exchanged, and the Xu family has delivered the bride price. What’s done is done—reneging now would cause embarrassment. Husband, why not consider Ku’er instead? If that truly proves unworkable, we can devise another solution.”

Xie Tanwei’s smile faded into indifference. He leaned lazily against the cushion, his long, pale fingers tapping idly.

He had made himself clear enough. Her refusal stemmed not from misunderstanding—but from unwillingness to act—a chilling realization.

“I ask this of you only once.”

He repeated.

Xian Qiu’s heart skipped a beat; deeper unease settled in. His persistence regarding Tian Qin seemed far beyond the ordinary.

She lowered her head, a hint of grievance coloring her tone:

“Husband never used to involve himself in such matters. Could it be… you’ve truly developed feelings for Tian’er? She is, after all, our sister.”

Xie Tanwei shook his head decisively. “Nonsense.”

“Good.”

With cautious softness, Xian Qiu leaned gently against his shoulder—her gesture unspoken yet tender, intimate.

“Husband’s heart must belong solely to me.”

Her quiet, firm rejection allowed no negotiation.

…

Xu Junzheng, a scholar of humble origins, topped the imperial examinations—causing a sensation throughout the capital. For days, from court and temple to common teahouses and dining tables, people spoke of little else.

The Yu–Xu marriage alliance—a union of rising power—only heightened public fascination.

All praised Yu Yuan, patriarch of the Yu family, as a man of extraordinary foresight: his eldest daughter married the then-prince who later became emperor; his second daughter wed the newly ennobled Marquis of Duxin, Xie Tanwei; and now his concubine-born daughter secured a brilliant match with a newly appointed high-ranking official. His calculations were flawless—each daughter strategically married for maximum advantage.

Yu Yuan, once a minor official stationed in a remote region, had steadily ascended the ranks by marrying off his daughters—until he stood at the pinnacle of court influence.

Times had changed. With the Yu family now preoccupied, even Xie Tanwei himself required several attempts to secure an audience with Master Yu.

Given Xie Tanwei’s past support for the Yu family—and his status as son-in-law—Yu Yuan could not indefinitely avoid him. Thus, in a quiet hall of the mansion, he hosted a modest summer banquet, serving rare wines and delicacies.

“Lately, I’ve been overwhelmed with preparations for Tian’er’s wedding—neglecting you, my esteemed son-in-law. Please forgive me.”

Xie Tanwei’s expression was anything but cheerful as he offered a slight nod.

Yu Yuan first summoned his eldest son, Yu Ye, to kowtow before Xie Tanwei, feigning exasperation. “This useless son failed the examinations—his official career is hopeless. He’ll have to rely entirely on your guidance, esteemed son-in-law.”

Yu Ye brushed dust from his knees, eagerly poured wine, and flattered Xie Tanwei profusely—receiving only a restrained reply: “I am unworthy of such praise.”

Yu Yuan smirked inwardly. In truth, whether Xie Tanwei aided Yu Ye mattered little—the Yu family was now powerful enough to rise without outside assistance.

Once, the Yues had groveled before Xie Tanwei. Now the balance had shifted: their eldest daughter was empress; their dealings with Xie Tanwei were mere courtesy.

After three rounds of wine, they broached the subject directly.

Xie Tanwei set down his porcelain white feathered cup. “Tian Qin’s marriage seems rather sudden.”

Yu Yuan feigned surprise, then laughed heartily. “You’ve been occupied overseeing the policy examination—naturally, you’d be unaware of such trivial domestic affairs. In fact, Tian’er and our private tutor have fallen deeply in love. That young man is ambitious, writes outstanding essays—and ranked first in the policy examination. Betrothing these two thus brings double joy. I imagine you graded his essay yourself—surely you recall it?”

Yu Yuan kept extolling his new son-in-law’s essay. To others, such boasting might pass—but before Xie Tanwei—“the finest essayist under heaven, the ultimate model for sagehood”—the implication was subtle yet pointed: Xu Junzheng’s writing surpassed Xie Tanwei’s, rendering the latter’s reputation undeserved.

That day, Yu Yuan had personally read Xu Junzheng’s essay. He dared not claim it surpassed Xie Tanwei’s—but it was certainly equal. Xu Junzheng’s incisive arguments and biting style struck with startling force, as if one were reading Xie Tanwei himself.

For all Xie Tanwei’s decades dominating the literary world—his legendary reputation, his unmatched mastery—a novice from obscurity had effortlessly caught up—proving him a fraud.

Xie Tanwei’s smile dissolved into indifference. He could hardly concur.

“Master Xu’s essay is indeed impressive—but an essay is merely an essay. He and Sister Tian are unsuitable matches.”

Yu Yuan raised his voice in mock astonishment. “What insight does my esteemed son-in-law possess?”

“A family’s legacy requires at least three generations to build. The Xu family’s humble origins render them mismatched with the Yu family in status. In the future, they may drag the Yu family down in court more than they lift it.”

Xie Tanwei offered this casual rationale.

But the true reason was plain to both: Tian Qin had been promised to him—and he wanted her. There was no justification for swapping her without his knowledge.

He was weary of fait accompli. No need to fabricate further lies—he spoke plainly.

Yu Yuan remained unmoved, his expression unchanged. “We all serve the emperor in court. What is there to ‘drag down’? It is rare to encounter such a talented young man—I am delighted to welcome him as kin.”

Xie Tanwei paused—then stated outright: “I respectfully request my father-in-law rescind the marriage. Let Kuju marry into the Xu family, and let Tian Qin enter the Xie household. I shall handle the Xu family myself.”

Yu Yuan hesitated. There was no sufficient benefit to justify retracting his decision. Reneging on the betrothal would be troublesome—amounting to a complete rupture with the Xu family.

To be fair, compared to Xie Tanwei, Xu Junzheng held greater promise.

Xie Tanwei, though highly esteemed, was a former imperial relative whose influence was waning—making way for emerging powers.

The emperor was aggressively consolidating authority. Once successful, a single edict would banish the “Five Marquises” faction—including Xie Tanwei—from the capital. Aligning with him would prove futile.

Xie Tanwei had indeed aided the Yu family—but that was in the past. It would be unreasonable to hold that over them indefinitely.

Back then, the Yu family had faced only a temporary setback—and Xie Tanwei had volunteered assistance without expectation of repayment.

Not to mention marrying another important daughter into the Xie household as a concubine—even Xian Qiu: Yu Yuan hoped she would divorce Xie Tanwei in time, severing ties before the coming storm.

Xu Junzheng’s essay was genuinely exceptional—and he was easily controlled. Once installed in office, he would become the Yu family’s loyal servant.

The emperor had grown weary of overbearing aristocratic clans. With the imperial examination system fully implemented in the future, he would inevitably favor scholars from humble backgrounds.

Xu Junzheng as a son-in-law was far more ideal than Xie Tanwei, who was hard to control despite being at the pinnacle of power; Xie Tanwei was now a discarded pawn.

Yu Yuan chuckled, downed a large cup of wine with a forced smile: "My dear son-in-law, you're way off. The marriage contract is signed, the birth charts exchanged, the betrothal gifts delivered—Tian'er is as good as married into the Xu family. Calling off the engagement now would just make us a laughingstock among the capital's nobles. Enough talk, let's drink, drink."

With that, he shifted to other topics.

Xie Tanwei smiled calmly, finishing his wine in one go, and joined in the merry drinking, as if the matter of Tian Qin had turned into a faint wisp of cloud, vanishing without a trace.

The wind was chilly, whipping his robes into a flutter.

Indeed. With the late emperor gone, he was no longer the Grand Marshal at his peak, nor did he hold military power. It was only fitting that he'd fallen so far that everyone was piling on, each taking a shot.

Yu Yuan was a petty man by nature, not the type to offer help in a crisis.

Yu Tianqin was truly going to marry Xu Junzheng. It was fate, and he could not change it.

As cup after cup of clear wine went down, Xie Tanwei tasted the bitterness of disappointment. The obedient concubine from his past life was like sand slipping through his fingers—the harder he gripped, the faster it ran out.

He had underestimated her, truly underestimated her.

Since his rebirth, things had spiraled further and further out of his control, and Yu Tianqin was no longer his.

Xie Tanwei tactfully refrained from bringing up the marriage swap again. The kindness in his heart seemed to have crystallized and burned out, leaving his soul to fester in darkness.

This was a setup, a complete upheaval overnight.

In truth, whether it was Tian Qin or Kuju, they were just concubines for entertainment. Their pretty faces would turn to bones in a hundred years, leaving no trace in this world.

He sipped his wine idly, Yu Yuan's boasting drifting faintly in his ears, lost in his own world.

Letting go of Tian Qin was doable, it'd save him trouble. Though he had once wanted to taste her, he had already done so in his past life, and this time, the desire wasn't as strong. Xian Qiu would be happy, the Yu family would be happy, the Xu family would be happy, she would be happy—everyone would be happy.

But why should that be?

She'd taken so much from him without restraint, passed off his essays as her own, and challenged him in public.

Xie Tanwei curled his lips slightly, finishing his wine. The thought of letting go was gradually consumed by darkness, his gaze fixed and terrifying.

He had said he would take care of her for a lifetime, and so he would—even if she was unwilling, he would keep his promise.

————————!!————————

Here it comes, [Rainbow Farts] [Rainbow Farts]