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CHAPTER 27 (26 Part 2): Silent Promises and an Unexpected Encounter
At Liuyang Village, the presence of a guarantor finally dispersed the heavy, suffocating tension that had hung over the settlement like a gathering storm.
Life was already a bitter struggle; who would truly be willing to throw their life away if there were another option?
Chu Xinggu moved through the crowd, approaching Xiang Yi to offer a deep bow, but Xiang Yi reached out to support her.
Unlike the post-skirmish excitement displayed by Tan Jian and Yang Zhen, Xiang Yi’s expression remained composed and understated. Aside from thanking Chu Xinggu, she quietly inquired about her well-being in the village.
Xiang Yi had never put on airs, yet Chu Xinggu remained meticulously polite. She spoke of her recent circumstances and asked after Xiang Yi’s health before sighing softly.
"The people of Liuyang Village are not desperate outlaws. They were simply driven to desperation by those prestigious families suppressing prices to hoard their land."
Xiang Yi nodded, falling into a brief silence as she contemplated those words.
Tan Ting, noticing her lowered head, wondered what she was thinking. Suddenly, she turned and walked directly toward him.
For some reason, Tan Ting’s eyelid gave a sharp twitch.
He watched her approach, stopping exactly one pace away. Her voice was soft, yet it made the heart that had been thumping wildly only moments ago suddenly skip a beat.
She bowed her head in a formal salute.
"This mistress acted on her own authority just now; I beg the Master not to blame me. However, since the promise has been made, we must not fail these villagers."
She finally looked up, meeting his eyes.
In an instant, Tan Ting understood her meaning. To her, everything he had done and said was likely nothing more than a temporary "expediency" to survive the snowstorm. After all, he was the scion of a great aristocratic clan, he was fundamentally different from these commoners, and even from her.
She harbored a sliver of doubt as to whether he would truly honor his word once the danger had passed.
How could Tan Ting ever go back on his word? Yet, his own wife was not entirely certain of his character.
The wind and snow seemed to lash against them with renewed intensity. Tan Ting looked at her for several long beats, while she reverted to her usual state of silent, bowed submission.
He turned away, casting his sword aside, and walked toward the villagers.
Having laid down his weapon, he approached them with a calm, open bearing. All eyes turned toward him.
"I thank you all for your trust and for choosing to turn our blades into jade and silk," Tan Ting began, his voice carrying across the crowd. "This winter is harsh. If you are willing, you may lease your land to the Tan family of Qinglong."
He looked around at the faces of the farmers.
"The lease price will follow the average rate of previous years. The Tan family will pay the lease fees in advance to see you through the winter. As for the duration, three years, two years, one, or even just six months, all are acceptable. What say you?"
A profound silence fell over Liuyang Village.
Unlike selling their land, leasing meant the fields would remain their own. They only needed to give the produce to the Tans for a few years in exchange for the life-saving silver they needed right now. In such a year, this was a solution they could only dream of.
The villagers looked at one another, uncertain, until their gazes converged on the Village Head.
The old man had lived a long life, yet he had never seen such a benevolent offer. It was rare enough for a great family not to exploit them; it was unheard of for one to reach out and save them.
He approached Tan Ting with trembling steps, bowing low. Tan Ting caught him by the arms, supporting him.
Seeing the old man’s hesitation, Tan Ting said, "Rest assured, Elder. I am a man of my word."
Tears nearly spilled from the Village Head's eyes. He tried to bow again, but Tan Ting stopped him. The old man stared at this aristocratic scion for a long moment, then turned to his people and cried out:
"It is true! Our Liuyang Village is saved!"
Saved. They wouldn't be forced to sell their land. They, men who had farmed for generations, could keep their soil.
As the old man’s voice fell, the villagers erupted in cheers.
Fearing that some might still doubt him, Tan Ting requested brush and ink. With a steady hand, he set his words down in black and white on paper and handed the document to the Village Head.
The old man’s hands shook as he held the paper, and the villagers offered their thanks over and over. Even Zhang Bingyong cast aside his weapon and stepped forward, asking hesitantly, "Can... can my family do this as well?"
Before Tan Ting could answer, Tan Jian stepped forward. "Of course!"
The suffocating air in the village vanished entirely.
Tan Ting left the remaining details to Tan Jian and turned to walk back. Amidst the cheers, his wife stood quietly, her gaze following his footsteps.
He stopped beside her. Away from the noise of the crowd, a pocket of silence formed between them.
"What I did today was not merely an expediency," Tan Ting said in a low voice, casting a glance at her. "No matter the circumstances, a promise I grant is not one I ever break."
Xiang Yi lifted her eyes to look at him.
He simply pursed his lips and, without further word, walked away.
--
The party remained in the village for a while longer. During the second confrontation, some had sustained new injuries or reopened old ones.
Tan Jian was fine, but thinking of his brother, he took some herbs and trotted toward the main room. He found Xiang Yi at the door, giving Qiao Xing instructions for the night.
"Sister-in-law," Tan Jian said, "I saw the wound on Eldest Brother’s hand opened up again; it was bleeding quite a bit. Could I trouble you to apply some more medicine for him?"
Xiang Yi hadn't noticed. She agreed, took the herbs, and had Qiao Xing bring some hot water before entering the room.
Once the water was set, Qiao Xing withdrew, leaving Xiang Yi and Tan Ting alone once more.
Tan Ting was sitting by the window, using an abacus to calculate the expected harvests for the Qingzhou and Qinglong areas. His right sleeve was indeed stained dark where his previous wound had torn open.
He did not mention the injury; he simply sat in the cold, sparse room, focused on his work.
The moment Xiang Yi’s gaze fell upon him, Tan Ting sensed it. He noted down a figure and caught her eye with his peripheral vision before looking away.
He was not like Tan Jian, who wailed over every scratch, demanding everyone fuss over him. If she did not wish to tend to him, he certainly wouldn't ask.
Tan Ting cleared the abacus, preparing to continue his calculations. But just as he moved a bead, a soft voice spoke.
"Does the Master’s wound need to be tended to again?" she asked.
Tan Ting felt that if he said no, she would simply stay away. But if he said yes, what was the point of his earlier silence? He pressed his lips together, feeling a sudden, inexplicable streak of stubbornness.
He didn't speak, and as expected, she didn't press him. After a few beats of silence, Tan Ting finally couldn't help but let out a short, "Mhm."
Only then did she approach.
Her skill at treating wounds was so deft that he didn't feel a moment of concern. She kept her head lowered, a few stray locks of hair brushing against her pale ears. She seemed even more careful than before; every touch to the edge of his wound was feather-light.
As Tan Ting watched her, the irritation in his heart slowly dissolved, replaced by a soft, mellow warmth.
However, when her cool fingertips brushed against his skin, his heart gave a sudden, sharp thud. The image of her stepping forward to face the villagers earlier that afternoon flashed before his eyes.
This heartbeat felt like a direct continuation of that moment. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her fingers were still resting on his arm, their coolness contrasting with his warmth. Tan Ting’s gaze fixed on her face, unable to move away.
A long time passed before she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, "That should do it."
Tan Ting snapped back to his senses. She was already leaving with the leftover herbs. He realized with a start that he had been dazing off, just like his "useless" younger brother.
He lowered his eyes and rubbed his forehead. What was happening to him?
That night, as they prepared for bed, Xiang Yi moved to sleep on the outer edge as usual. Tan Ting spoke up.
"The villagers' rooms are cold. You sleep on the inside."
She blinked in surprise, looked at him for a moment, and then moved to the inner side.
The bed was narrow. Unlike at the Tan estate, where they could always leave a gap between them, here their arms were forced to touch.
As soon as Tan Ting lay down, she instinctively pulled back toward the wall. But no matter how far she moved, her arm remained pressed against his. Eventually, she gave up, staying still and closing her eyes.
Tan Ting watched her through his lashes for a few moments before closing his own eyes.
Beneath the quilt, her initially cool arm pressed against his warmth. Gradually, her chill faded as his heat transferred to her.
Tan Ting felt the exchange of temperatures, noticing the change in her.
Perhaps, he thought: our relationship will slowly warm up just like this.
At that thought, his heart fluttered again, and the corners of his mouth tilted up ever so slightly. He didn't notice it himself as he fell into a quiet sleep beside her.
--
The next day, the party bid farewell to Liuyang Village and finally returned to the Tan estate.
When the Old Madam, Zhao Shi, saw them return a day late, she was full of questions. Tan Jian and Yang Zhen eagerly recounted the dangers they had faced.
Zhao Shi turned pale with fright.
Tan Ting quickly cut them off. "Why frighten Mother further? There is no need for worry; those villagers never intended to kill. We have returned safely."
But Zhao Shi clutched her chest. "That may be so, but to think commoners would risk everything like that if they hadn't met our Tan family... It is truly terrifying!"
Tan Ting thought of the figures he had calculated the night before. This winter was harsh for half the empire, not just this region. If the aristocratic families continued to push the common people to the brink, Liuyang Village would not be an isolated incident.
He felt he should warn the other clans and perhaps memorialize the throne to oversee the matter. For now, however, he only offered his mother a few comforting words.
Zhao Shi had been suffering from a headache for days. Seeing Xiang Yi back, she immediately handed the household management back to her and retired to her inner chambers.
Just as Xiang Yi took over the accounts, someone urgently requested an audience. It was a servant from Tan Rong’s side, and only then did Xiang Yi learn that Tan Rong had gone to the farm.
As the servant spoke, Xiang Yi’s brow furrowed.
"The man is no crude brawler; he has the air of a scholar. He wished to stay for a few days but feared for the young lady’s reputation, so he specifically asked to inform the Madam in charge of the household. The young lady sent me at once."
Xiang Yi’s mind raced. "Do we know his name?"
The servant opened her mouth to answer, then paused, looking flustered. "Oh dear, my memory is failing me! I’ve forgotten the given name! I only remember the surname."
"What is the surname?"
"Madam, the man’s surname is Sheng."
The name "Sheng" made Xiang Yi’s eyelid jump. She kept her composure, thinking for a moment.
"The roads are unsafe so close to the New Year. He may stay, of course, but I shall go with you to fetch the young lady back to the estate."
The servant thought nothing of it. The Xiang mistress was known for her decisiveness, and even the Old Madam rarely interfered.
Tan Ting had gone to the magistrate’s office to discuss the land hoarding issue. Xiang Yi quickly settled a few urgent matters, changed her clothes, and set off with the servant.
The Tan family owned many farms; the one where Tan Rong was staying was one of their finest, more like a villa.
When Xiang Yi arrived, Tan Rong was sneezing repeatedly, huddled by a charcoal brazier and drinking hot tea. She was shocked to see her sister-in-law.
"Sister-in-law! Why are you here for such a small matter?"
Xiang Yi smiled and mentioned the dangers at Liuyang Village. Tan Rong was horrified, secretly relieved she hadn't gone along. She no longer questioned Xiang Yi’s arrival.
They eventually spoke of the "tiger-slaying hero," Master Sheng.
Xiang Yi said, "Since I am here, I should meet this Master Sheng to show our hospitality."
Tan Rong agreed and moved to join her. Xiang Yi watched as the girl stood up and immediately let out two more sneezes.
"Has little sister caught a chill? If so, there is no need to go. Stay here by the fire; I shall return shortly."
"I..." Tan Rong wanted to go, but another sneeze cut her off. She covered her face with a handkerchief. If she kept sneezing like this in front of Master Sheng, she would die of embarrassment. Pouting, she stayed behind.
Xiang Yi let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Master Sheng had been settled in a spacious courtyard nearby. When Xiang Yi arrived, she saw only the servant, Qiu Ying. She didn't recognize him and said nothing. Qiu Ying blinked rapidly upon seeing her and led her into the hall.
Xiang Yi motioned for her attendants to stay back and entered the hall alone. It was silent inside. She frowned slightly.
But in the next breath, footsteps sounded from the inner room. The air in the room seemed to stir. From behind a half-rolled silk curtain, a familiar voice drifted out:
"Yizhen, it is I."
Xiang Yi looked up. As the curtain was lifted, a man stepped out.
He wore a brocade robe of autumn-scent yellow embroidered with lotus patterns. He was tall and handsome, his face bearing a habitual smile. Having called Xiang Yi by her childhood name, his peach-blossom eyes fixed directly upon her.
Xiang Yi’s eyes widened. She instinctively took two steps forward.
"Big Brother!"
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