BOUND IN MARRIAGE

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Chapter 37

Xiang Yi was distracted today.

When the maid asked for instructions before serving the meal, it took her a long moment to snap back to reality, and she nearly knocked her soup spoon off the table as she sat down.

Tan Ting stepped into the hall just in time to see her staring down at her lap, lost in thought.

Yang Zhen called her over to look at some new things she had found; it took two tries for Xiang Yi to respond. As she turned to head toward Yang Zhen, she failed to notice the maid behind her carrying a tray of piping hot soup.

The maid gasped, startled by the sudden movement.

In the next instant, Tan Ting’s arm reached out, pulling Xiang Yi slightly toward him to clear the path of the hot liquid.

Held briefly in his shadow, Xiang Yi stiffened in shock and immediately recoiled. It was only then she realized how far her mind had wandered.

Her distraction was entirely due to the events of the day.

She had thought her sworn brother was safely hidden, that since neither the local authorities nor Chen Fuyou’s men had found him, all was well. She never dreamed that the Master of the house had discovered him long ago.

Even more unsettling was the realization that he had known for some time and remained silent until her brother detected his presence.

Xiang Yi had assumed that in such a situation, even if he didn't formally divorce her, he would at least demand she leave the Tan family. He would find some excuse to end their marriage and preserve the clan’s reputation.

But he had said—with his own lips, that he did not blame her. He had no intention of separation or divorce.

Xiang Yi’s mind was a chaotic mess.

Now, looking up to find the man standing so close to her, she felt a buzzing in her ears. Under the weight of his gaze, she hurriedly lowered her head, murmured a word of thanks, and retreated to a safe distance.

She had been in his arms for less than a second, yet she fled as if she had been struck by lightning.

Tan Ting frowned in silence, watching his wife for a long moment before letting out a soft, internal sigh.

During dinner, Xiang Yi instinctively rose to attend to the needs of the family.

Tan Ting, fearing she might slip into another daze and cause an accident, wanted to tell her to just sit and eat. Before he could speak, however, Lady Zhao noticed her pallor and spoke first.

"You look a bit pale today. Are you exhausted? Sit down and rest; let Nanny Wu handle the service."

Ever since Xiang Yi’s recent trip to her maiden home, Lady Zhao had realized just how much she relied on her daughter-in-law. As she grew older, her energy was truly failing her. Seeing Xiang Yi looking unwell made Lady Zhao more anxious than anyone.

Xiang Yi hesitated, glancing at the Master.

He nodded, gesturing for her to return to her seat beside him.

Xiang Yi sat, though the irony was not lost on her: she had only stood up in the first place because she didn't want to be so close to him.

As dinner commenced, Tan Ting noticed that while his wife was no longer dazed, she was far from relaxed. She ate in tiny, mechanical bites, only remembering to reach for a side dish after a long interval.

Seeing this, Tan Ting simply picked up a choice morsel and placed it in her bowl.

She froze for several seconds, looking startled again. Instead of eating, she began to reciprocate, meticulously placing food into his bowl. For every piece he gave her, she kept her eyes lowered and returned the gesture with a piece of her own.

Tan Ting watched this exchange without joy. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his brow furrowed.

Nanny Wu, serving nearby, let out a small chuckle.

"The Master dishes out food for the Madam, and the Madam does the same for the Master. If you two only look after each other, how will either of you get a full meal? Let this old servant do it."

At Nanny Wu’s words, they both stopped.

Tan Jian suppressed a grin, his eyes darting mischievously between them. Yang Zhen didn't notice anything amiss; she simply took the hint and dropped a meaty bone into Tan Jian’s bowl. Tan Rong, who had been brooding lately, merely spared them a glance and said nothing.

Lady Zhao, however, beamed with delight. "This is exactly as it should be."

Despite the happy atmosphere, Tan Ting did not share the sentiment.

He recalled their previous meals. Back then, their exchanges had felt natural, and he had thought their relationship was slowly mending. Now he saw the truth: she was utterly unaccustomed to his change in attitude. To her, a life of cold distance and separate paths was the only "normal" she understood.

He looked at her downcast eyes, unable to read the subtle emotions hidden there, and sighed in his heart.

Afraid that any further attention would only increase her anxiety, he silently withdrew his chopsticks.

Sure enough, as soon as he stopped his ministrations, she seemed to loosen up, even exchanging a few quiet words with Nanny Wu.

Feeling stifled, Tan Ting followed her at a respectful distance back to the Main Courtyard after dinner, not daring to walk too close.

When Xiang Yi entered the main bedroom, she saw that all her packed trunks were gone. Everything had been restored to its original place.

She had been prepared to leave, yet here she was, staying.

She sat in the room, feeling aimless, like a deer wandering through a forest lost in the evening mist.

When Tan Ting entered and saw her like this, she immediately stood up.

Seeing the tension in her eyes, Tan Ting sighed again. After a moment of thought, he spoke softly.

"I have matters to attend to tonight. I will sleep in the study in the outer courtyard."

The moment she heard he wasn't staying, the tension vanished from her shoulders. She even nodded politely and asked with perfect etiquette, "Is there anything the outer study lacks? You need only tell Zheng ji to come and fetch it."

Tan Ting looked at his wife.

Is she so eager to see the last of my bedding sent away?

He didn't ask, and she didn't say, but he already knew the answer. He muttered that he had everything he needed and left.

The night in the Tan ancestral house was as quiet as usual. But in the heart of the Clan Leader, waves were crashing.

He realized now that his past coldness and neglect had caused this reaction. But the New Year had passed. The days until his return to the capital were numbered.

Tan Ting took a deep breath.

If he left her behind again as he had before, there would never be a day when they truly became a couple.

He wondered... would she be willing to follow him to the capital?

Qiuzhao Courtyard

As soon as the family dispersed, Nanny Wu brought tea to Lady Zhao.

"Old Madam, I suspect there will be joyous news soon."

Lady Zhao understood the implication immediately and smiled. "Ah, I used to worry for them, seeing them act like strangers. It seems things are finally right."

"The Madam's expression is different than usual," Nanny Wu insisted. "I believe a happy event is on the horizon. If so, when the Master leaves in the spring, the Madam will surely stay behind as she always does."

These words struck a chord with Lady Zhao. Since Xiang Yi's temporary absence, the burden of the household accounts had fallen back on her, and she had realized she couldn't manage without her.

"I underestimated her before," Lady Zhao admitted. "I only hope she conceives soon so she is tied to this home."

"The Old Madam will surely get her wish," Nanny Wu replied.

However, Lady Zhao knew that prayers alone weren't enough. She turned to the nanny with an instruction.

"Find a recipe for medicinal cuisine, something to aid fertility."

She didn't want to use direct fertility drugs and pressure the couple, but medicinal food was different. It could bring about a "joyous event" quietly and naturally.

Then, Xiang Yi would be anchored here.

In the Main Courtyard, Xiang Yi tossed and turned all night.

She couldn't understand why the Master had reacted the way he did. To her, this question was vital.

The next day, after finishing the morning’s administrative duties in the floral hall, she called for Qiao Xing.

"Let's go to the outer courtyard."

Qiao Xing was stunned. "What is Madam going to do there?"

The outer courtyard was usually deserted; ever since the Second Master married, he had moved back to the inner quarters. Surely the Madam wasn't going to look for the Master? She had never set foot in his study.

"To the Master’s study," Xiang Yi confirmed.

She couldn't decipher his thoughts. Rather than living in anxiety, she would simply ask him and get a clear answer.

Outer Courtyard Study

Tan Ting was flipping through the latest Gazette.

The post-New Year official appointments had begun. The records showed that officials from prestigious families were mostly being promoted, while commoner officials remained stagnant or were demoted. Even among those who passed the exams, the number of commoners was lower than in previous decades.

It was unsettling. He pulled out older records to compare, but his focus was broken when Zheng ji entered.

"Master, the village head of Liuyang Village has brought some villagers to see you."

Tan Ting was surprised. After he had agreed to the land-rental terms for the villagers, the Tan family had kept their word. Even Zhang Bingyong, who had faced him with a spear, had mortgaged his land to the Tans. Though some in the clan grumbled, no one dared challenge the Master's decision.

Why were they here now? He told Zheng ji to bring them in.

The old village head, Zhang Bingyong, and a few unfamiliar villagers entered. They had never set foot in the Tan ancestral home. When they had come to mortgage the land previously, they had been intimidated by the sheer scale of the estate. Now, seeing the Master himself invite them into the yard, they were even more shocked.

The old village head led the group to perform a formal kowtow. Tan Ting quickly reached out to support the old man.

"What is this for, Elder?"

The village head spoke plainly. "Master Tan was willing to rent our land and advance us silver. Not only that, you stopped those villains from hoarding land at low prices. Not just Liuyang Village, but all the surrounding villages—even across Ningnan and Weiping, are grateful to you."

He explained that during the recent cold snap, some farmers couldn't endure and sold their land. But because of Tan Ting's intervention, the prices were fair, not the predatory rates of before.

"The villagers knew it was your doing," the village head continued, his voice thick with emotion. "They begged me to come and thank you. If not for Master Tan, how could we commoners have a path to survival?"

The villagers behind him stepped forward to bow. Tan Ting had Zheng ji help them up, realizing they had come purely to express their gratitude.

Xiang Yi reached the gates of the study courtyard and hesitated.

She was troubled by the Master's recent attitude. As she prepared to have someone announce her, the wind carried voices from inside.

It was the people from Liuyang Village.

A young servant at the gate noticed Xiang Yi and was startled. "Madam? Why are you here? The Master is seeing guests. Shall I go in and announce you?"

"There is no rush," Xiang Yi said quietly. "Do not disturb him. I will wait."

The servant ushered her into the gatehouse to stay out of the wind, serving her tea. Inside the courtyard, the voices grew clearer. She heard the old village head’s heartfelt thanks, and then she heard the Master’s voice.

"There is no need for this. Looking after one's neighbors is the duty of the Tan clan. Furthermore, there are laws in the court against predatory land hoarding. I merely reminded the authorities to follow the law."

He spoke with great humility.

Xiang Yi listened, recalling how he had promised not to retaliate against the desperate villagers and had even offered them an advance to survive the winter. At the time, his behavior had surprised her.

The old village head's voice rose again. "Master Tan, do not be modest! While there are ancestral precepts and laws, who truly follows them these days? We know the faces of other prestigious families all too well. You are truly different from them. You treat us commoners like actual neighbors."

The old man’s words were sincere. Xiang Yi felt a stir of emotion in her heart. She found herself wanting to hear how the Master would respond.

Then, his voice drifted out, carrying a faint, calm smile.

"Even a century-old prestigious clan began as commoners. A clan exists to protect its kin in a world of uncertainty, to unite them so they are not bullied. But to protect one's own does not mean one should bully others. The world is currently unkind to the common people; the Tan clan cannot turn a blind eye."

He continued, "The Tan clan hopes for both our groups to live as neighbors, each with a future, rather than having the prestigious families dominate until the commoners have no way out."

This was the first time Xiang Yi had heard Tan Ting speak at such length.

The words felt as though they were meant for her. The things she hadn't understood suddenly became clear.

The Master had released her brother because he understood the plight of the common people. He was capable of viewing the world through a lens of fairness rather than just class.

And his treatment of her was likely the same. It wasn't because of her personally, or for any complex reason, it was simply because he understood her background and the difficulties she faced.

Xiang Yi felt a sudden, immense wave of relief.

As long as it isn't because of me.

She didn't want their relationship to change. This distance was safe.

Inside the study, the villagers gave their final thanks and left. Xiang Yi stayed hidden to avoid a formal encounter. Now that she had her answer, she didn't need to ask her question.

She was about to leave when the gatehouse servant, eager for favor, sprinted to find Zheng ji.

Inside the study, Zheng ji rushed in, nearly tripping over the threshold.

Tan Ting was sipping tea to soothe his throat. "Steady yourself. Why the panic?"

"Master! The Madam has been here for a long time!"

Tan Ting, usually so composed, bolted upright. His mind flashed to the image of her packed trunks from the day before. His heart sank. Fearing she had come to bid him a final farewell, he rushed out of the study.

Xiang Yi had no choice but to step into the courtyard.

Tan Ting saw her wearing her everyday clothes and standing in his courtyard. His heart felt as though it were dropping into an abyss.

"Why has the Madam come?" he asked, his voice tight.

Xiang Yi realized her actual reason was now inappropriate to mention. But she had come only to ask a question and was empty-handed, she didn't even have a gift to use as an excuse.

Under his intense gaze, she lowered her head and stammered, "The wind was... quite sharp last night. I wondered if the Master found the outer courtyard too cold..."

She had never asked him such a question before. As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt the excuse was painfully awkward.

Tan Ting froze. His eyes widened in disbelief.

She hadn't come to tell him she was leaving? She had come... to show concern?

He was momentarily dazed. Zheng ji, standing nearby, was internally screaming with anxiety. This is the Madam's first time at the study!

Tan Ting finally recovered his senses. His first instinct was to say he wasn't cold. But just as the word "No" was at his lips, he saw Zheng ji’s frantic signaling and suddenly understood.

He paused. "It is... indeed not very warm in the study."

He peeked at his wife.

Xiang Yi was at a loss. She couldn't very well suggest he return to the main bedroom, that sounded far too suggestive. She was about to suggest sending more charcoal braziers when the Master spoke again, his tone uncharacteristically tentative.

"Perhaps... I should return to the main room today?"

He looked at her again, seeking approval.

Xiang Yi lowered her head and whispered two words. "That's fine."

That's fine.

In an instant, the Master’s eyes lit up like lanterns.

Xiang Yi didn't see it. She was merely thinking about his recent actions. She was grateful he cared for the common people today. If he changed his mind tomorrow, she wouldn't force him. After all, they weren't truly of the same world. How far could a man like him truly go to help people like her?

Qinglong County Office

Chen Fuyou had returned empty-handed again.

The man was gone. He had searched the county eight times and found nothing. The "Taoist" had vanished into thin air.

But he couldn't have left. The Crown Prince's men were heading this way despite all obstacles. The Taoist was waiting for an accomplice to meet him here.

"Who could hide a man so perfectly that not even the Tan clan noticed?" Chen Fuyou muttered.

One of his lieutenants stepped forward. "Sir... could it be the Tans themselves who are hiding him?"

Chen Fuyou paused. If the Tans were helping the fugitive, he could search a thousand times and never find him. But the Tan Master had promised his aid after receiving the letter from the Lin family.

Chen Fuyou couldn't openly question Tan Ting, but he sneered.

"Even if someone in the Tan house is hiding him, it doesn't matter. He is waiting for his accomplice. And that accomplice..."

Chen Fuyou let out a cold laugh.

"If Tan Ting knew who the accomplice was, he wouldn't protect them for a single second. He hates that person more than anyone for what happened to his father. He couldn't possibly shield them."

He exhaled slowly. "When they meet, we will catch them all."

In his mind, Tan Ting was a man of the prestigious clans through and through. With an old blood feud in play, there was no way he would ever protect a commoner.

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