Chapter 53 Coercion: “Please Brother-in-Law.”

Chapter 53: Coercion: Please Your Brother-in-Law

Tian Qin felt as if struck by lightning.

According to the laws of this dynasty, masters could not arbitrarily beat or kill servants; if a servant was injured or died, the master must also be flogged or imprisoned.

But that was merely on paper.

After Xie Tanwei crippled Emperor Shang, he had stuffed the entire central government into his own pocket, becoming the pillar of the realm, his sharp edge made the powerful and wealthy scramble to ingratiate themselves. The so-called laws were his own handiwork.

He could take whose life he wished; even high-ranking officials had to submit to execution, let alone mere household slaves.

Zhao Ning was a ruthless martial man, a former knight-errant who killed as easily as cutting grass. Upon hearing this, he bowed his hands and accepted the order without blinking.

Tian Qin screamed, trying to stop Zhao Ning to no avail. She crawled on her knees two steps, wrapped her arms around Xie Tanwei’s leg, tear tracks crisscrossed like a spider’s web, looking up at him, screaming heartrendingly: “No! Brother-in-law! I beg you! Don’t kill them, I’ll do anything you want!”

Xie Tanwei glanced at her nonchalantly, his cool, refined mien wore a veneer of compassion: “Just beat them to death. I won’t torment them.”

“No, don’t…” Tian Qin stubbornly clung to his leg, wan and despairing, never holding him so tightly before. “Brother-in-law, one last time. They are innocent. Spare them, please. I am willing to take the punishment for them. I beg you.”

Outside the window, Zhao Ning had already bound Nanny Chen, Zhaolu, and Wan Cui like trussed bundles, a spiked club poised to strike.

The air was thick with an invisible smell of blood. The club, covered in barbs and soaked in brine, combined with Zhao Ning’s unrestrained strength—one blow would turn flesh to pulp, five blows would break bones and tendons, ten blows would send a person to the afterlife.

Tian Qin stared wide-eyed in panic, helpless, desperately grasping at straws. Suddenly she lunged at Xie Tanwei, pushing him down, fumbling to untie his sash and tear open her own collar, a desperate ferocity in her movements.

Xie Tanwei lay back on the couch, calmly watching her chaotic movements and tearful eyes. He suddenly grabbed her wrist and asked: “What is my little sister doing? Trying to murder her brother-in-law?”

He was clear-headed, secure and unafraid.

Tian Qin looked at him, and the defiance drained out of her. She sobbed in a broken chirping manner, choking out: “I have long admired my brother-in-law. I am willing to serve you, even if you give me no title. Ever since we returned from the mountain villa, you haven’t spoken to me for days. Grant me this wish today.”

He gave a sympathetic smile, stroking her pale cheek: “And you think this will make me spare those three lowly maids?”

Tian Qin abandoned all shame, burning her bridges: “I will exchange myself for them. I will obey you in everything.”

Xie Tanwei sighed helplessly: “What could I possibly want you to do?”

“That day on the terrace watching fireworks, everything you taught me I have remembered. I can do it, and I will work hard to learn.”

Tian Qin sensed a crack in his tone and seized it tightly, offering her very heart as a bargain. “Brother-in-law is tired every day. Today, just relax. Let Tian’er please you.”

“Please me?” He was incredulous, a hint of warmth falling on his brows, more helpless than before. “Why must you demean yourself like this, Tian’er?”

Tian Qin’s eyes glimmered with scattered snowlight, her hands trembling so much she could barely use them. Slowly she retreated from the couch and knelt on the cold floor, between his knees.

Xie Tanwei sat calmly on the couch, watching her next move. Outside the curtains and doors, in the courtyard, Zhao Ning’s death-dealing spiked club was still raised high, awaiting its master’s order at any moment.

Tian Qin, with a fragmented, exquisite beauty, her eyes red from weeping, pushed back her glistening tears. She sat up rigidly with solemn dignity, assuming the posture of a woman serving a man, and opened her mouth.

His half-removed snow-white robe lay piled beside him, loose and carelessly. Her clothes were also mostly undone, making it convenient.

Xie Tanwei drew a long breath, pinching her chin, her mouth filled, adjusting the angle a couple of times until he found the right fit. His dark eyes harbored a storm, his body full of frosty cold, reluctant to separate.

After a long, long time, he was thoroughly satisfied.

“Swallow it.” He tossed her a cold remark as the end of this absurdity, then dressed himself neatly.

Tian Qin clutched her throat, collapsed by the edge of the carved bed, silent as if dead, her chest barely rising and falling.

After a long while, she seemed to come to herself. She struggled to clutch the hem of his robe, hoarsely pleading: “Brother-in-law, my maids…”

Xie Tanwei closed his eyes and raised his voice, calling to Zhao Ning outside to release them.

“Remember, this is the only time.”

His voice was somewhat hoarse. He wasn’t always so merciful.

Tian Qin exhausted her last shred of strength, could not describe the feeling—or perhaps it was devoid of sensation. If she died now, if the Black and White Messengers of Death came to take her away, it would almost be merciful.

She was like a potted orchid withered in autumn.

Xie Tanwei paused for a few breaths. In the end, compassion finally moved him. He lifted her fragmented body, light in his arms. Tepid, drizzling kisses fell on her head, offering comfort, soothing her sorrow, making her feel as if she were in a warm, fragrant dream.

“Tian’er…”

“You always say you know your mistake, and then you do it again. Tell me yourself, what am I to do with you, hmm?”

Tian Qin shrank back, instinctively resisting the daylight filtering through the window. She seemed used to darkness, like a blind mole, burrowing deeper into the shadows, muttering blankly: “Tian’er won’t make mistakes again. Just let me stay by my brother-in-law’s side.”

Xie Tanwei’s heart softened with a sigh of laughter. He pulled her, still sobbing quietly, into his arms, letting her tears wet his clothes. “Your mouth is so sweet. I hope your actions match your words.”

Yes, his anger had dissipated. Faced with such a sweet and attentive her, even the greatest anger faded away.

As long as she behaved well, he would not only spare those three maids but might even reward them beyond the norm. It all depended on her.

He loved her spring-bright, flower-like smile, her red lips and fair skin, her sly wit and cleverness, her uncontainable sighs when feelings ran deep.

To keep her for a long, long time—what was Yu Yan’s private school, what were the lives of three maids? They were just nets to ensnare her.

Means were just means; the person was the goal.

Tian Qin wiped her tears. Her ankle happened to touch a hard box—the money box she had painstakingly hidden. Every day she had cherished it, even clutching it to sleep at night, buried in her bedcovers.

Both their gazes focused on it at the same time. Tian Qin fell silent for a moment, then struggled free from his embrace. Understanding yet painfully, she took the initiative to hand over the money box.

“That’s really all of it.”

She choked, swallowing hard.

Their expressions were both complicated.

“Tian Qin,” Xie Tanwei called out in the silence.

“Do you really think that by selling those things, you could run away from home? The Yu family has fallen; the Xie residence is your home now. It can at least shelter you. Where in the wide world could you go? The dangerous world outside is not as beautiful as you imagine.”

He poked at her faintly visible, tear-filled dimples, a feeling of uncontrollable dizziness in her expression.

A brother-in-law is a relative. If a relative like a brother-in-law could not treat her well, how could she expect strangers to be good to her?

“I hope my little sister won’t be so naive. If you go astray, your brother-in-law will worry, and it will take time to pull you back.”

Tian Qin stood frozen in a daze. I know this all too well. His tenderness now was like spring stars cast upon spring water—first the stick, then the carrot—first a slap, then a sweetener. It was his typical method of discipline.

If she hadn’t been deceived by him in her previous life, she might have been swayed by this hypocritical care.

Her face showed no expression. Inside, the love curse echoed distantly, a barrier that confined her, making her sink as if addicted into his embrace, unable to escape this toxic embrace.

“You’re quite pleased with yourself, aren’t you, brother-in-law?”

She smiled bitterly, without any provocative tone, only a desolate self-mockery. "You discovered early on that I was secretly saving money but didn't expose me. You deliberately had my sister give me red envelopes, made me look utterly pathetic, then calmly announced my failure, using the people I care about to trap me. How cruel you are, brother-in-law."

Xie Tanwei laughed upon hearing this. He could hardly agree; if anything, his addiction to her ran far deeper than hers to him.

With him around, she was the cherished little miss of the Xie household, not a cluster of grass plucked at will in the autumn wind. Wasn't a life of silk and jewels joyful?

In truth, they should understand that their souls were cut from the same cloth—he was the black face, she the white; she was pure and flawless, he dark and filthy. Both were extremes in their own ways.

Everything he had done was merely to force her to walk toward him.

Xie Tanwei pushed the pitifully meager money box back toward her.

Since she treasured it so much, she should keep it.

He didn't lack this bit of money, nor did he wish to take what she loved; let it be a keepsake for her.

"Take it."

His pity was almost a joke.

Consider it a reward for his relief, for his good mood afterward. A reward for her curiosity and eagerness to learn, for her rapid progress, for finally taking the initiative.

Tian Qin was choked with discomfort. The money box she had painstakingly saved now seemed like a joke—and she was an even bigger one.

Once filled with hope, it was now filled with shame, despondent, piercing her heart with pain.

...

In the following days, the Painted Garden was shrouded in gloom and sorrow, losing its former vitality. Even the most cheerful Wan Cui fell silent, the fear of nearly being beaten to death lingered for a long time.

Ordinarily, one could be righteous and fearless, but when death truly approached, the instinct for survival brought an overwhelming terror. It was better to drag out an ignoble existence than to die a swift death.

Tian Qin was disheartened. This matter had started because of her, and she had implicated those closest to her. Wan Cui wept in her arms for a long time, Zhaolu gathered close to her, and Nanny Chen sighed as she swept the floor. The four of them huddled together for warmth in the chill of early spring.

The money box was saved, but it was useless now.

For a moment, she couldn't struggle anymore, so she simply sank into the mire, drifting with the tide. After all, she had good food and drink, silk and satin, warmth in winter and coolness in summer—on the surface, she lived a life above others.

Xian Qiu, as the mistress of the household, often had social engagements and would bring Tian Qin along.

Since her engagement was broken off by the Xu family, Tian Qin's reputation had been ruined. Everyone thought she was a jinx, who had caused the Xu family to lose their mansion and positions, and had caused the Yu family to be ruined.

But since Xie Tanwei was willing to take her in, no one dared to say much. Even the most notorious jinx could be redeemed by the sacred light of the Purple Star.

Tian Qin was lazy and didn't like to go out, wallowing in self-pity. Xian Qiu had to persuade her many times before she would go.

Xian Qiu coaxed Tian Qin, while Xie Tanwei coaxed Xian Qiu, apologizing with a smile: "She's young and willful. Please be more tolerant. In a few years, when she gets married, things will improve."

Xian Qiu was stunned. Could she really wait until the day Tian Qin got married?

He toyed with Tian Qin day after day but refused to take her as a concubine, as if he had no thought for offspring and didn't truly love her—when he grew tired, he would kick her away.

As his wife, she was utterly baffled by his thoughts.

Tian Qin accompanied Xian Qiu to banquets and gradually got to know some noble ladies. They exchanged embroidered handkerchiefs and became friends. The reputation of being a jinx faded, and she cleared her name.

The most frequent thing she heard was, "Your sister and brother-in-law are so good to you, I envy you." Tian Qin was irritated and impatient. Whoever thought it was good could take it; she was too lazy to put on a fake smile with those aristocratic ladies.

Now she could often go out. In the past, she would have been very happy and would have secretly planned to run away. But now, it didn't matter anymore.

What was more terrifying than a cage was a heart completely killed.

She seemed to have lost her spirit.