Chapter 106 Rainscape: This was his final loss of control.

Chapter 106 Rainy Tinge: This was his last loss of control.

Xie Tanwei had come suddenly last night, gripping Tian Qin's neck in a chilling, terrifying way, but afterward he was tender as water, returning to his gentle nature, leaving Tian Qin feeling utterly at ease.

The next morning, Tian Qin lay languidly on the couch, like a dew-laden hibiscus, deep and enchanting, like a water lily just awakened after rain, exuding an aura that made anyone blush and grow infatuated.

Even women like Zhaolu and Wan Cui couldn't stand the sight of her, let alone the Lord, a man in his prime. Before leaving, he lingered fondly, showering Tian Qin with tenderness.

Tian Qin was weakly helped up from the couch and sat before the dressing table. It took her a while to shake off her drowsiness. She held her chin in her hand, staring blankly for a long time, lost in thought.

Last night was the day the Lord and the First Lady were to consummate their marriage. Having stolen the First Lady's marital favor, she felt not a hint of joy.

Xie Tanwei abandoning Xian Qiu to come to her was definitely not a good thing.

First, it meant he couldn't let go of his old feelings, having nurtured dark emotions that shouldn't have been kindled, making him less decisive in letting go, even risking a reversal.

Second, Xian Qiu must hate her to the bone, even wishing her dead. Tian Qin was now the epicenter of gossip and scheming.

Third, it reminded him and her of the Love Gu between them, a karmic debt not so easily resolved.

Nanny Chen secretly bribed a menial servant in Qiutang Residence to gather information. That servant said nothing happened last night; the First Lady had prepared warm wine and lit soothing incense, bathed and changed clothes, waiting with a full heart for the Lord's arrival, and had even laid out the white cloth for drawing the first blood.

The Lord arrived as expected, and closed the door to talk with the First Lady for a while. They moved as two shadows together, the atmosphere extremely harmonious. After a while, the First-Class Maid ordered them to start heating water; the lamps were put out, and the masters could call for bathing water at any moment.

However, before the firewood was even hot, the lamps were lit again, and the Lord abruptly left without a single word. The whole process was quiet, no sign of quarrel, no warning at all.

The servants suspected the First Lady's stone had not been cracked (i.e., she was still a virgin), making the Lord come for nothing, and he left in displeasure.

They rushed inside to find the First Lady fully dressed, clutching the corner of the quilt and sobbing. The Lord hadn't even touched her and had left inexplicably—

He had gone to the Painting Garden and not come out all night.

Everyone in Qiutang Residence was united in enmity, believing that Tian Qin had used tricks to lure the Lord away.

Hearing this, Tian Qin let out a bitter laugh, feeling deeply wronged.

Who could fathom Xie Tanwei's thoughts? Xian Qiu must have struck a nerve with him, causing him to leave.

As the head of the family, he acted as he pleased; whether to consummate the marriage with Xian Qiu was entirely up to his whim. Xian Qiu had rarely been intimate with him, so she naturally didn't know his capricious ways.

However, he left without even removing Xian Qiu's clothes, which was indeed strange.

Could the Love Gu also have a restraining effect on him, making him unable to touch other women?

If that were true... though it would be satisfying for Tian Qin, rationally it was not Xie Tanwei's meticulous style. He understood medical principles better than anyone, and was colder and more selfish than anyone, always planning ahead. He only ever acted to control her, and would never shoot himself in the foot.

On the other hand, perhaps Xie Tanwei, wise all his life, was foolish for a moment, reaping what he sowed. For all his careful planning, he slipped up, using the Love Gu to harm her but ultimately harming himself. He may not have been infallible—his reckless willingness to use his heart's blood as the antidote, risking his life, was proof.

Tian Qin's thoughts were tangled, chaotic, and utterly baffling. No matter which direction she thought, it all seemed plausible.

She vaguely remembered last night, in a daze, asking him why he came to the Painting Garden. He covered her mouth, kissed her deeply, and said:

"Don't ask so many questions. Aren't you comfortable like this?"

As he took from her, she also received ultimate pleasure – that much couldn't be denied.

A moment's comfort was enough.

...

Study.

Unlike the anxiousness of the two women, Tian Qin and Xian Qiu, Xie Tanwei stood calmly before his desk, his narrow eyes dark as deep water, like a shuttered window. Though he was the root cause, the strife within the manor seemed unrelated to him.

The ink on the brush was still wet, and on the rice paper, the two characters "Tian Qin" were rendered with flowing strokes.

He gazed at them alone for a long time, lost in deep thought.

In the solemn, secluded study, a rare sliver of sunlight slipped in. Xie Tanwei stood in the irreversible daylight, the strong light from behind obscured his features, sinking him into a gloomy gray abyss.

After a moment, he crumpled the paper bearing the name "Tian Qin" and tossed it away. The ball of paper landed precisely in the charcoal brazier, its edges catching fire from the sparks, slowly burning and spreading until it turned to ash.

This was not an emotional outburst, but a calculated decision, the most reasonable choice after careful deliberation.

Yu Tianqin had been constantly asking him when he would tire of her, and he himself had been waiting. Now the opportunity had arrived—the moment was now. Over the years, he had possessed her body. He had indulged in it, explored it endlessly. All the intimate acts between lovers had been exhausted. He had no regrets. She no longer held any attraction for him.

Letting go of Sweet Qin was a decision he had made from the start, and one he was certain to carry out.

Not only because Xian Qiu was his legitimate wife, capable of maintaining appearances and steady in temperament, but also because Sweet Qin herself had flaws.

Xian Qiu was always within his control, never stirring any emotional waves in him. His mind could remain constantly sharp and clear, allowing him to maneuver freely in the political arena. She was a qualified wife.

In contrast, Sweet Qin had caused him to lose control more frequently recently. Her every smile and frown seemed to cast a pebble into the lake of his heart, creating ripples and making him lose his prized rationality—a dangerous weakness for a minister walking a tightrope.

A disastrous fate, indeed.

He knew he cared for Sweet Qin, and that was precisely why he should abandon her and choose Xian Qiu, the more rational option.

If he had not been emotionally moved, if he had only coveted the pleasure of Sweet Qin's body, the abandonment would not have been so resolute. But the problem was that he had developed feelings—this was utterly unacceptable, and he must pull back from the brink and cut his losses before it was too late.

After all, they had known each other's bodies thoroughly, and he had grown tired. Better not to meet at all; she, too, longed for a separation. His stubborn pursuit would only appear as begging her, and it was useless. Let her have her wish.

Fortunately, his infatuation was not deep. Their relationship was mostly physical. Pulling back now would not hurt. If they never saw each other again for the rest of their lives, they would gradually forget each other.

Thinking back to last night, when he had tried to touch Xian Qiu, he had felt a physical aversion. She looked at him with tearful longing, but he had no desire at all, as cold and still as a frozen lake, below the surface yearning for another woman.

Sweet Qin.

And this craving spread like wildfire, growing out of control.

That was why he had gone to the Painting Garden in the middle of that night to find her.

He promised himself this would be his last loss of control.

His official career had come this far through great effort, and he could not allow anyone to destroy it—not even Sweet Qin. Sweet Qin was good, but she was not suitable for him. To regain his former calm, he was willing to tear her out of his heart, even if she had taken root there, he would cut her out, even if it meant drawing blood.

...

In the peaceful little world of the Painting Garden, Sweet Qin was holding Morning Dew's hand, concentrating on applying nail polish for her.

Morning Dew was on pins and needles, embarrassed: "I am a maid, how can I let Miss apply nail polish for me? Besides, it's inconvenient for cooking rice and working."

Sweet Qin smiled: "What's the matter? Let Evening Green help with the rice washing, or I'll do it myself if that's not enough."

Evening Green immediately pouted, dissatisfied: "Miss only dotes on Morning Dew and bullies me. Clearly, my fingers are also slender and long, I love the nail polish color, but Miss won't apply it for me."

Morning Dew grew even more uneasy. Sweet Qin held her hand steady, changed the color, and turned to Evening Green with a bright smile: "I know, I'm sorry. I'll apply it for you later, okay?"

Nanny Chen, busy with her needlework, chimed in with a laugh: "You girls are getting all fussy now. Don't wear Miss out. What's the point of painting nails? There are so many beautiful spring flowers outside—pick a few and wear them in your hair, that's a lot prettier."

Wan Cui found the bright red spring flowers vulgar: "If you want to wear them, Nanny Chen, go ahead yourself. I insist on having Miss paint my nails."

The image of Nanny Chen with flowers in her hair popped into everyone's mind, looking just like a matchmaker, and burst into laughter. Nanny Chen, exasperated, half angry, half amused, grabbed Wan Cui and raised a feather duster to strike.

As the mistress and servants were in the midst of their commotion, Tian Qin suddenly coughed, put down the dyed balsam flowers in her hand, and put on a solemn expression. The others caught on late and quickly stopped their unruly antics, bowing their heads and standing still—it was the Lord who had arrived.

"Brother-in-law."

Tian Qin rose and greeted him in a low voice.

Xie Tanwei glanced at the scattered nail polish on the table—her household had no sense of propriety. But he couldn't be bothered to care; she could discipline her servants as she wished. The contracts for those maids weren't even held by the Xie family—they belonged to the Yu family.

Outside, a fine spring rain wove like a spider's web. He had just left the morning court, the spring rain on Green Mountain drizzling onto the treetops, and had come to her place to take shelter. Tian Qin stood on tiptoe to remove his wet cloak, hung it on the rack to dry, and offered him a bowl of hot tea. Xie Tanwei took a sip, and most of the chill left his body.

"Thank you for the trouble, dear sister."

Tian Qin's lips curved into a smile: "It is only right to wait on my brother-in-law."

Xie Tanwei hummed in response and gently wrapped an arm around Tian Qin's shoulder.

Nanny Chen, Zhaolu, and Wan Cui had all been disciplined by the Lord before; they were like mice before a cat, each holding their breath and behaving with utmost decorum in his presence. Seeing the Lord being intimate with their mistress, they lowered their heads and quietly slipped out.

Xie Tanwei remarked, "You treat your servants quite well."

Tian Qin's heart jumped with alarm at his words and instinctively evaded: "It's nothing special. I just give them small favors so they remember the mistress's kindness and serve more diligently."

Xie Tanwei said, "That makes sense."

The rain rustled, incense curled upward, and the atmosphere was still. The shadows of rain and candlelight interwove. Xie Tanwei's features were as clear as an ink drawing; he quietly leaned in, lifted her chin with his fingers, and kissed her, closing his eyes, fully aware yet surrendering to the moment.

In the hazy pale-green rain light, Tian Qin had no reason to refuse, nor could she refuse. Her hands, braced against his chest, gradually softened, yielding to his force and rhythm, stepping together into the enchanted snare.

He came to her for nothing else.

Standing outside the door, Zhaolu and the other two trembled in fear, whispering to each other: "...Should we boil water?"

Wan Cui glanced at the overcast sky, though it wasn't night yet. "In broad daylight."

Nanny Chen said mournfully, "Our young mistress is soft-hearted. If the Lord treats her well, she feels she must treat him well in return."

The raindrops fell in countless strands like broken threads, as if the sky itself were weeping. Things shouldn't be this way. Clearly, the young mistress wanted to leave this place, yet time and again she yielded to the Lord. The young mistress was still young; she deserved a husband who would truly treat her well.

Nanny Chen promptly stopped the two young maids from their melancholy, pushing them toward the woodshed to boil water. Servants gossiping about their masters was too improper; if the Lord heard, he'd have their tongues cut out.

Before Tian Qin completely left the Xie household, they should stick to their duties and not cause any more trouble.