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Chapter 33: The Scent of Deception and the Hidden Letter
The remote alley was deathly silent, save for the wind whistling through the corners.
Zheng Ji stood by Tan Ting’s side, feeling a suffocating chill emanating from his master. Inside the courtyard, there was a slight movement. Everyone wondered: would Tan Ting burst in and confront Xiang Yi, or wait for her to emerge?
He did neither. As the sound of footsteps approached the gate, Tan Ting raised his hand. In an instant, the guards vanished into the shadows.
When Xiang Yi and Qiao Xing stepped out, the alley was empty. She bowed once more to Gu Yansheng and Qiu Ying before departing quickly. Only after her figure had completely disappeared did Tan Ting emerge from the gloom and quietly follow her back. He ordered his men to keep the incident a secret but left a few guards behind to watch the courtyard.
Back at the Tan estate, Xiang Yi resumed her duties as if nothing had happened. She sat by the window, finishing the final stitches on the new robe she was making for Tan Ting.
When Tan Ting entered the room, the sight of her quiet temperament—usually a source of warmth for him, now felt like a cold facade. As she approached to help him change, he caught a familiar scent: the medicinal ointment from his own study.
His heart tightened. So, it wasn't a mistake. She took the medicine for the man in that courtyard. The realization that her fingers had likely touched that man's wounds while dressing them filled him with a sharp, unfamiliar jealousy. He looked at her calm, porcelain face, wondering: Who exactly is he to you?
Seeing the new cut on his hand, Xiang Yi hesitated. "Is the Master injured? Did Zheng Ji apply the medicine?"
Tan Ting looked at her steadily. "A minor injury. It’s just that the ointment in the house is running low."
Xiang Yi felt a cold sweat prickle her skin. She had been careful to leave a third of the medicine behind, but she hadn't expected him to use it today. "The supply is indeed low; I will have it replenished tomorrow," she replied smoothly. "Does the Master have any other commands?"
Commands? Tan Ting looked at her for a long moment. He had thought they were past the stage of lies, yet here she was, deceiving him with every breath. He turned and left the room without another word.
That evening, the family gathered for dinner at Lady Zhao’s Autumn Radiance Pavilion. Tan Jian and Yang Zhen arrived first, having reconciled after their recent squabble.
When Tan Ting arrived, his mood was visibly dark. Even the oblivious Tan Jian noticed the change. "Sister-in-law, did something happen to Brother?" he whispered to Xiang Yi.
"It shouldn't be anything major," she replied softly, though she too felt the oppressive weight of his silence.
At the table, Tan Ting watched her serve him food with her usual grace. He wanted to tell her to stop, if her heart wasn't in it, why the performance? Yet, he found himself placing her favorite dishes into her bowl in return, a silent, brooding gesture of a man torn between resentment and lingering affection.
He retired to his outer study early, not even checking Tan Jian’s essays. He waited for her to come for him, to explain, but the lights in the main house went out one by one. She didn't come.
Late at night, Tan Ting returned to the main room. Xiang Yi was already asleep. He stood by the bed, looking at her through the translucent curtains. His gaze then fell on the desk, where the new robe she had hand-sewn for him lay neatly pressed and scented with his favorite incense.
He knew how much time and effort she had poured into this garment. The contradiction haunted him: How can you be so meticulous with my needs while harboring such secrets?
The next day, Tan Ting tried the new robe. It fit perfectly, even though she had never taken his measurements.
"The capital favors Daoist styles now," he remarked, testing her. "Even the Crown Prince is said to have a Daoist constantly by his side."
Xiang Yi froze for a fraction of a second, her mind racing. Was he testing her? She kept her voice neutral. "I see. I heard from our sister-in-law that these styles are in fashion."
She offered no further reaction, her caution so absolute that she didn't even look his way. Tan Ting realized then that if he didn't find the truth himself, she might never tell him.
He summoned his trusted guard, Xiao Guan. "Keep an eye on the Madam’s correspondence."
That afternoon, Xiao Guan brought a letter that had been redirected through the seal shop. Tan Ting hesitated, then opened it.
It was from Xiang Ning and Xiang Yu. The first page was filled with mundane family news, but the second page, written in Xiang Yu’s sharp, aggressive hand, made Tan Ting’s blood run cold.
The letter mentioned the corruption of the current local officials and praised their late father, Xiang Zhiyuan. But it was the final line that struck Tan Ting like a physical blow:
"The teacher says my essays are improving rapidly; the autumn examinations look promising. I only hope August comes quickly so that I may pass the exams, then, Eldest Sister, you will no longer have to worry about my studies, and you can finally leave that Tan family."
Tan Ting stood frozen in the study, the words blurring before his eyes. Leave the Tan family?
"Master," Xiao Guan whispered from the door, "the Madam is returning."
Tan Ting forced himself to regain his composure. He had the letter resealed and sent back. He sat alone in the dark study, his mind a whirlwind of hurt and realization. He didn't just want to know about the Daoist anymore; he wanted to know if she truly intended to walk away from him the moment her brother succeeded.
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