Chapter 101 Theft: Punish Her.

Chapter 101: The Theft: Punish Her.

The next morning, the first ray of dawn pierced through the clouds, and Tian Qin's lost money pouch and jade pendant miraculously appeared on the table. Not only Tian Qin's, but also Zhaolu and Wan Cui's money was recovered, down to the last coin.

The officials bowed and scraped, apologizing profusely, claiming they had been blind to allow a thief to steal Miss Tian's money pouch, and that the culprit would be severely punished.

That small amount of money was insignificant to Lord Xie, but because it belonged to his sister, Lord Xie had given a strict order to recover it before dawn.

The officials had worked through the night, burning the midnight oil, and solved the case in just a few hours thanks to a man who sold steamed buns. He had happened to witness the thief's appearance and escape route. The officials followed the trail and caught the thief with the stolen goods.

When Tian Qin heard "the man who sold steamed buns," her right eyelid twitched, and she instinctively glanced at Nanny Chen.

Nanny Chen's expression was evasive, as if hiding something, and she whispered, "Miss, it was indeed Bo Ge who helped you get it back."

Tian Qin dug her nails into her palm, and a look of unease spread across her face. She lowered her voice even more, pressing, "The lantern festival was so crowded, people shoulder to shoulder. How could Bo Ge have happened to see the thief stealing from me?"

Nanny Chen was left speechless and had to confess: "Miss, you know how Bo Ge feels about you. He learned from me that you were going to the lantern festival and only wanted to catch a glimpse of you from afar. I was going to stop him, but he knelt and begged me, and I softened..."

Tian Qin's delicate hand almost crushed something from clenching. Bo Ge and Nanny Chen had no idea how dangerous this was, how they were teetering on the brink of death.

Bo Ge watching from afar was one thing, but showing his face in front of the officials was another. Every single one of those officials was Xie Tanwei's man. With Xie Tanwei's cunning, how could he not see through the trick?

A cold sweat ran down her spine. If Xie Tanwei pursued the matter, she, Bo Ge, and Nanny Chen would all die without a burial place.

"Tell..." She wanted to have Nanny Chen arrange for Bo Ge to flee, to go as far away as possible, but then she thought better of it—it would be futile. Where in the world could they go that Xie Tanwei's claws couldn't reach?

No, it wasn't certain yet that Xie Tanwei would pursue it. She couldn't alert the enemy.

A violent force spread through her body, and Tian Qin's heart felt as if a large hand was squeezing it tightly. She couldn't explain it to Nanny Chen right now and decided to first test Xie Tanwei's attitude.

After lunch, Tian Qin was painting by the window, and when she saw Xie Tanwei approaching from afar, she pretended to be calm, swallowing nervously.

Xie Tanwei came closer, bent down to look at her painting, his eyes full of friendly light: "Are you satisfied now?"

He was referring to the money pouch.

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

"You're welcome. It wasn't me who got it back for you."

He didn't take credit, speaking slowly, "It was a man who sold steamed buns."

The officials had already explained the situation to Tian Qin, and she cleared her throat, "Oh, brother-in-law, please reward him well on my behalf."

Xie Tanwei's figure seemed hazy in the mist, and his eyes, as if veiled by a cold fog, held a hidden meaning. "Why should I thank him? You clearly know him yourself, sister."

Tian Qin's scalp tingled, and she said coldly:

"I don't know him."

She almost didn't hesitate, "It seems there are kind-hearted people in the world."

Xie Tanwei glanced at her sideways, half-believing, half-doubting.

Tian Qin pretended to be calm, painting the lines of flowers and birds on the paper, her back burning under his scrutinizing gaze. If he was going to make an issue, she had to protect Nanny Chen and Bo Ge's lives first. But how to do that, she had no answer.

If she had known the Lantern Festival would cause so much trouble, she might as well have stayed home from the start. It was true what they said—she was a born jinx, bringing bad luck to anyone who got close.

Just as she was panicking, Xie Tanwei changed the subject, sitting leisurely beside her and taking her brush, talking about the painting: "Sister, your ink is too heavy; it's ruining the paper."

Tian Qin raised her hand, and the lines trembled from his proximity, a clear sign of losing control, a huge flaw.

"My painting skills are poor, brother-in-law; I must look foolish to you."

She thought it over and added tentatively, to show goodwill, "I was planning to paint a picture to thank you for getting my money pouch back."

She rarely gave him anything, and even fewer things held her true feelings. The cheap half-moon pendant she gave him for his birthday last year was already worn and cracked from being worn.

"For me?" Xie Tanwei's eyes sparkled with a clear light, seemingly delighted, without a trace of disdain. He stroked her head, "It's fine, I'll like whatever you paint."

Compared to the priceless antiques and paintings in his study, this crude work was truly an eyesore.

Tian Qin felt ashamed and quickly went along, "If brother-in-law likes it, it's an honor for this painting."

Xie Tanwei was picky: "Then I want you to add a poem, and mount it yourself, and hang it in my study. Don't block my things."

Tian Qin agreed readily, unusually obedient. Having done something wrong, she naturally had to be accommodating. To get out of trouble, she would do anything Xie Tanwei asked, just to gloss over the matter of Bo Ge. As long as Xie Tanwei was happy, she could accommodate anything.

Xie Tanwei's lips curved slightly, and the two of them looked harmonious in the sunlight.

Thus, the most thrilling part had passed. He didn't pursue the matter of Bo Ge, giving her a step to save face.

He considered himself not a bloodthirsty person, one who valued reason and principles, a morally flawless sage, a father to the people.

The fundamental reason was that Tian Qin had no improper dealings with Bo Ge and did not truly know him, so he could let it slide.

After he left, Tian Qin collapsed weakly in place, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead. So close, so close. She had almost been doomed again.

He knew full well about the little trick; the only difference was whether he chose to punish her.

At least he wouldn't touch Bo Ge for now.

Tian Qin couldn't help but wonder: given his possessive, objectifying attitude, the fact that he didn't dig deeper—did it mean he allowed her to cultivate a few suitors within his sight, so that when he got tired of her, he could smoothly kick her out?

If so, it wouldn't be long before he grew weary.

...

Tian Qin managed to deceive Xie Tanwei and told Nanny Chen to go back and warn Bo Ge never to take such risks again. If one day Xie Tanwei really let her go, she would naturally go to Bo Ge.

Nanny Chen heard Tian Qin's implication that she was willing to be with Bo Ge, but was suffering under the Lord's tyranny.

Nanny Chen was overjoyed and agreed repeatedly, urgently asking for half a day off to go home and comfort her lovesick son.

Bo Ge was also stubborn, saying he would wait for Tian Qin as long as it took, willing to remain unmarried for life.

Tian Qin felt pity and also hoped that the Lord and Lady of the Xie family would let her go soon, and not cruelly waste her future.

In this world, she was powerless and alone, relying only on her looks. But even a face that could outshine the moon could only last so many years under the ravages of time.

By the time Xie Tanwei had drained all her value and finally kicked her out, there would be nothing left of her life.

Night. Clouds obscured the moon.

Xie Tanwei held a hemp rope in his hand, soft and brownish-yellow, tapping it idly against the edge of the bed.

He sat in the middle of the bed, his long legs casually stretched out, wavering in the dim candlelight and twilight.

Tian Qin's scalp went numb.

There was a time when she naively thought she had escaped a disaster.

"Come here." He gestured to her with the hand that held the hemp rope.

No punishment, no violence, no embrace that came with a reckoning—his voice was as light as an unseen mist.

Tian Qin stood frozen in place, her instincts warning her not to approach, despite his repeated reassurances. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she stared at him motionlessly, the feigned obedience dissolving into raw, clumsy defiance.

Xie Tanwei had patience to spare. "Do I need to invite you myself?"

He hadn't done anything to her—why should she panic?

It was just an ordinary night.

Between light and shadow, stars filled the sky, flickering endlessly. The cold wind leaked in through the window, and the moonlight, veiled by drifting clouds, flickered in intensity.

He wanted to take her into his arms—but in a binding way.

Tian Qin remained obstinately still. Xie Tanwei rose and approached her slender figure, wrapping the hemp rope around her in layers and pulling her back.

In the past, he had blindfolded her with silk. But the binding power of the hemp rope far surpassed that of silk—hard, rough, cold, and unyielding. It was his absolute cage for her body and soul, leaving no room for her to change the subject or evade.

Tian Qin felt like a prisoner, drained of all emotion. Her gem-like black eyes shed tears—reluctant tears.

She knew he had many tricks. He was never satisfied with merely possessing her; he would weave punishment, encouragement, and suppression into their encounters, giving her experiences that were always a mix of surprise or shock, each time unique and branded into her heart.

The hemp rope hung loosely around her, like a venomous snake turned to stone.

Xie Tanwei's expression was serene. He curled a finger and brushed it across her icy cheek, his face void of any emotion, leaving no trace of his punishment. Since he had taken the trouble to raise the bird, it was only natural to toy with it.

So, she couldn't say he was breaking his promise—punishing her over the matter of Bo Ge.

He wasn't punishing her.

He was just giving her a hard time.

Did he need a reason or a specific time to give her a hard time?

This hard time could be violent or gentle.

Tian Qin felt the venomous snake of the hemp rope slowly tightening, parts of it already digging into her skin. The love gu inside her also stirred, as if gathering at the places where the rope touched her skin, making it ten times more unbearable.

"I gave you the painting—what more do you want?"

Her words were sharp as a blade, each syllable a sharp question.

What she really wanted to ask was: You already promised to let Bo Ge's matter slide—what more do you want?

Xie Tanwei's features shifted with the flickering moonlight. His tone was slightly heavy, his expression cool and clear, and then he suddenly smiled.

She spent the night with him, nestled together.

The night was joyful, tender, morbid, and painful.

Tian Qin's wrists were bound behind her back, completely restrained by the hemp rope. She didn't know where she found the courage to fight him, to resist all this—undoubtedly futile and foolish. Xie Tanwei effortlessly neutralized her strength; the fists she threw at him were turned against her, becoming weapons he used to further subdue her.

He didn't even give her the opportunity to draw blood.

Tian Qin's wrists soon went numb, as if pricked by needles but without the pain.

Now, she was completely powerless, entirely his.

He was smiling at her—the smile of a true manipulator.

Tian Qin felt like she was facing a formidable enemy. She wanted to cry out, but that would alert the entire household. And given the situation, he could easily cover her mouth, muffling her cries with his palm, turning them into a spice for his disgusting acts.

"Why aren't you crying?"

He asked.

She had been crying mere moments ago, but now her tears had dried.

Tian Qin gasped weakly, like a fish beached on the shore. Ride it out, ride it out—she could only tell herself. The more she resisted, the more it piqued his interest. Only by enduring, boring him, and getting him to let her go willingly, would she have a chance to escape permanently.