Chapter 146 Dull: “You want to resist me this way, don’t you?”

Chapter 146: Mute: "Are you trying to fight me this way?"

The husband and wife continued strolling through their own painted garden, the scenery changed with every step, amidst flower beds and pond pavilions.

At the end of the bluestone path stood a small arched bridge with white jade railings, elegant and simple. A shrimp-whisker bracelet that Tian Qin had once dropped on this bridge shortly after her rebirth still seemed to splash water droplets that dampened today's skirt hem.

Xie Tanwei glanced at the shrimp-whisker bracelet still adorning her slender wrist, smiled silently, and wrapped his arm around her waist.

Tian Qin was unaware, her head bowed, her body fully accepting him, the involuntary stiffness and trembling had disappeared.

She had actually grown accustomed to his touch.

But that did not mean she had become a worthy lover; she remained rigidly tense. Most of the time, she showed no emotional fluctuations, her gaze devoid of warmth, far from the wife he idealized.

His relentless harshness in the past had only accomplished the task of "destroying" her original perceptions, without reshaping her. Now she was a hollow person with shattered faith, and naturally, everything she did was hollow.

He would treat her better, even better, gradually erasing those fears and pains, allowing her to rebuild her faith.

Xie Tanwei led her to his garden, "All Things in Spring."

The sky was like thick ink splashed across an indigo paper, obscuring the setting sun. Dusk was falling; it was time for the evening meal.

The tender skin of Tian Qin's cheeks stung from the cold wind, and she suppressed a sneeze. Inside the chamber of the "All Things in Spring," it was as warm as midsummer. They shed their heavy cloaks and cotton caps, entering a world entirely different from the deepening, biting night.

"Stay at my place tonight," Xie Tanwei gently invited.

They were married in the painted garden; she had rarely stayed in his garden.

Xie Tanwei expected her to bicker with him, to be witty, or to make excuses—she used to do that. She disliked staying in his garden.

But Tian Qin merely nodded.

Sometimes, it was hard to distinguish between docility and numbness.

Xie Tanwei's hopes came to nothing. That day, he had already tasted the flavor of monologuing multiple times. It was like a game of polo that requires two players; he had struck the ball to her, but she could no longer hit it back.

The evening meal was already prepared and brought in one after another. Tian Qin picked up her chopsticks, silently taking dishes from in front of her, chewing her rice bite by bite, unable to distinguish the taste of the food. Whether good or bad, it felt like dry, chewed firewood in her throat.

Her gaze did not meet Xie Tanwei's, nor did she lift her head. She ate slowly, about sixty or seventy percent of her usual amount.

The maid Pan Chun said the lady could eat no more than this; otherwise, she would vomit. She had vomited several times before, each time with an agonizing physical nausea, as if the food were poison.

"Tian'er," Xie Tanwei pressed her hand to stop her, saying, "Try something else."

There were so many delicacies; she had been picking at the bland wolfberry cabbage in front of her for five or six mouthfuls. There was meat, vegetables, sweets, and spiciness—that's the true taste of food.

"Mm." Tian Qin complied and took a piece.

Xie Tanwei knew she had something on her mind, hoping she would speak, scold, sneer, or make a scene—anything to vent her bad emotions.

Though he accompanied her day and night, he felt an intense loneliness, like playing a one-man show with a ghost. A pebble thrown into a deep abyss couldn't stir a single ripple.

He felt like a clown. What he forced through violence and power fell far short of what he truly wanted.

Violence and power might bring fleeting pleasure, but ultimately, they faced deeper loneliness. He longed for love, for her, yet he had pushed her away with his own hands.

Xie Tanwei waited patiently for a long time, but Tian Qin never responded.

He too felt disappointed and drank by himself.

The silent wine turned sour in his throat, his heart filled with regret.

A terrifying silence filled the air.

Whenever this silence came, it always accompanied bad omens, let alone the more dangerous smell of alcohol in the air.

Alcohol numbs the senses and breaks down the barriers of reason.

Tian Qin watched him down one cup after another and said, "You've drunk a lot."

Xie Tanwei tilted his head back and finished the drink, the clear liquor tracing down his lean throat and collarbone, not deigning to respond. When he was cold, he was truly cold, shutting people out.

Tian Qin was silent for a few breaths, her gaze dim and lost. She was spoiling the mood, disturbing the Lord. This evening's small dinner was over; she should take the hint and leave.

She chewed her lip, hesitated, and quietly stood up.

They should minimize their encounters; it caused pain for both.

But just as she was about to leave, Xie Tanwei caught the silk ribbon at her waist.

Imperceptibly, he stopped her from leaving.

Though he wasn't looking her way, his heart was always set on her.

"Don't go." Xie Tanwei's voice was rough and hoarse from drinking.

Tian Qin was momentarily at a loss.

She stood there bewildered, like a wooden stake.

Then, with a violent yank, she spun and stumbled into his arms.

Xie Tanwei's dark, cold eyes glinted, now restored to calm. His hand slipped under her skirt, blatantly hinting at something more brutal.

Failing to win her love, he would put ten times the effort into that act.

Tian Qin soon felt the pressure, caught in a whirlpool of tearing, suffocating as in a blizzard, quickly losing herself.

...

The next day, when Pan Chun and Pan Xia came to find Tian Qin, she was half-dead, wilted into the bedding, like a withered flower, her body covered with shocking bruises.

Pan Chun and Pan Xia exchanged a glance, secretly shocked.

The Lord had always been gentle and considerate, usually moderate in intimacy, maintaining the demeanor of a gentleman, mindful of the lady's feelings, not causing her physical or emotional harm.

This was unusual; the lady must have angered the Lord in some way.

Come to think of it, the lady's recent heart like ashes, her boredom and lack of interest, was bound to displease the Lord.

The maids were anxious for her. If this continued, once the Lord's pity ran out, a new woman would surely appear by his side; the lady, trapped in the inner chambers, without a child, her beauty fading, would end up lonely and desolate.

Tian Qin was trapped in an abnormally weary dream, her limbs feeling detached, as if by sleep paralysis. She finally forced her heavy eyelids open, unsure of where she was or what day it was.

After a long while, her senses slowly returned. Her limbs were sore and limp as if crushed. Seeing her own bruised appearance, a wave of unfamiliar sadness washed over her, and she let out a deep sigh.

"Zhaolu, Wan Cui..." She vaguely saw two figures beyond the curtain and called out instinctively, only to realize after a moment that Zhaolu and Wan Cui were no longer by her side.

"Madam, you're awake."

Pan Chun and Pan Xia were sent directly by Xie Tanwei and were more experienced than Zhaolu and Wan Cui. They carefully helped Tian Qin sit up, wiped her body, applied ointment, and dressed her.

"The Lord said to let you sleep longer, so we didn't disturb you."

Tian Qin prepared to leave the Unity with Nature Pavilion and return to the Painting Garden. Last night she had already incurred his displeasure; if she lingered on half-dead, he might directly expel her.

But Pan Xia blocked her way: "Madam, guests from the Duke of Zhenguo's residence are coming today. The Lord will receive guests alongside you. Please don't rush back."

Tian Qin was taken aback, words stuck in her throat.

As the Clan Matriarch of the Xie family, socializing and receiving guests were inevitable. The nobility were accustomed to sticking together for mutual benefit; banquets and interactions were not merely personal friendships but also carried political purposes.

Tian Qin was not entirely unfamiliar with such matters. When she was the wife’s younger sister, she was often required to accompany Xian Qiu in receiving guests, but she mostly avoided such duties. Now that she was the principal wife, this crucial first appearance after marriage could no longer be dodged.

The Duke of Zhenguo's family had been a family of warriors for generations, producing several top-ranking officials. The current emperor was young, and Xie Tanwei's governance focused mainly on civil administration; for expanding territory and securing borders, they had to rely on the Duke of Zhenguo's family.

In addition, several other officials of the second rank and above were also invited. The banquet was grand and lavishly arranged. The mansion had started purchasing fresh fruits, meats, and other items half a month in advance to ensure a perfect experience.

To the observant, it was clear that Master Xie's grand display was to pave the way for his new wife, Xiao Yushi.

Xiao Yushi had a notorious reputation, with countless rumors and slanders thrown at her. There were even absurd tales of her visiting brothels, too ridiculous to describe.

Master Xie, out of love for her, had married Xiao Yushi and took responsibility for her future. He spent heavily on a banquet to cleanse her reputation, showcasing the harmonious union of the newlyweds and earning her more respect.

Outwardly, the banquet was said to be entirely organized by Xiao Yushi, bringing credit to her name.

This amazed the noble ladies, who remembered their own hardships as new brides. Not only could she host such a flawless grand banquet, but she also seemed to handle the household accounts and even the tea preferences of her in-laws with ease.

Xiao Yushi had previously been a concubine-born daughter of the Yu family. After the Yu family's downfall, the two Yu sisters had lived under the Xie family's care. A lowly concubine's daughter, suddenly elevated to Principal Wife—how could she possibly handle it? How could she have such foresight to host a grand feast?

Unbelievable.

Everyone eagerly awaited Xiao Yushi's appearance, their anticipation at its peak.

In the boudoir, Tian Qin was oblivious to everyone's thoughts, her heart like a pool of stagnant ink.

Pan Qiu, skilled in hairdressing, made Tian Qin radiant and properly dressed. Tian Qin said nothing. The bright and beautiful woman in the bronze mirror did not look like her.

Xie Tanwei lifted the curtain and entered. Seeing her dignified and beautiful appearance, he was stunned for a long time.

"Once you're ready, come out. We'll receive the guests together."

As he spoke, his instinctive expectation was her retort—"Is this your grand performance?" She always mocked him like this, curling the corner of her lips with a hint of sarcasm and disdain, reluctant to comply.

But Tian Qin's enigmatic eyes looked up and she easily obeyed his command. She treated all his words as orders to follow, like a passive blank slate.

Xie Tanwei felt an indescribable sense of loss. After a moment, with heavy steps, he approached.

With a punitive intent, he squeezed her porcelain-like cheek and kissed her hard. The freshly applied rouge was smeared, staining his lips with a color more vivid than blood.

The kiss also felt different. She no longer bit him with her sharp teeth, stubbornly resisting, but became like a yielding cotton, enduring his invasion.

Her compliance did not bring him a better experience; instead, it sparked a desire to destroy her, making him hurt her even more.

With the banquet imminent, Xie Tanwei had to consider the grand occasion. After punishing her briefly, he stopped.

A peculiar feeling... the love gu was also weeping.

Tian Qin collapsed, panting heavily, her eyes bloodshot. Now she was truly a broken woman, enduring such unfair treatment without uttering a single word of reproach.

Xie Tanwei suddenly found it all pointless.

"Do you intend to oppose me like this?"

Sometimes excessive compliance is also a mistake.

Tian Qin smiled bitterly. He was already weary of this lifeless version of her.

"No."

She had no intention of opposing him.

She had been obeying him all this time.

"I've already done as you said. What more do you want?"

Xie Tanwei gave a cold laugh. What he wanted was the vibrant her.