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"Yi-zhen, do not do this... let us first speak properly, alright?"
Xiang Yi raised her eyes to look at the man. Tan Ting only felt that her gaze was a mixture of softness and frost, the softness was for others, while the frost was reserved only for him.
In the moment Tan Ting was dazed, her thin inner garment slipped further, revealing the clear lines of her collarbones beneath her slender neck. Yet she seemed indifferent, sitting there in silence. A new fragrance, hinting at a forced pleasure, swirled within the bed curtains.
Tan Ting felt no pleasure at all; a deep bitterness filled his mouth. Seeing his wife’s expressionless face, his fingertips trembled as he hurriedly pulled her clothes together, drawing the garment back to her neck to cover her shoulders and hide her collarbones from the cold air.
As he reached out to smooth the silk ties and fasten them for her, she finally moved slightly. Xiang Yi avoided his hand; seeing that he had no intention of following Old Madam Zhao Shi’s instructions for the night, she tied the garment herself.
Tan Ting paused. Seeing how thin her inner robe was, he took his own outer gown from the embroidered stool by the bed, intending to drape it over her shoulders. But just as he brought it over, she had already taken her own clothes from the side and put them on.
Tan Ting sighed inwardly and put his gown back. Only then did he hear her speak.
Her voice was, as always, devoid of emotion. "What does the Master wish to say?"
What could Tan Ting say? Naturally, it was about Yang Muhong. He turned up the small lamp by the bed and, without further circling, spoke directly.
"I said those things today not for any other reason, but because that Yang Muhong has a grievance with the Tan clan and with me. Yizhen, you do not know, my father’s death was inextricably linked to that man’s base conduct."
As Tan Ting spoke, he saw his wife look over with a flash of surprise. Her attitude was different from before; seeing that she was willing to listen, he finally steadied his mind. In the flickering candlelight, he told Xiang Yi everything about his father Tan Chaokuan’s transfer and the actions of Yang Muhong.
This matter was not exactly a secret, but few knew the inner details. After Yang Muhong resigned and disappeared, Tan Ting had not allowed the Tan family to speak of it again.
Xiang Yi had not known there was such a reason. Hearing it now, she was indeed stunned for a while. She had only known that Tan Ting’s father died of illness brought on by overwork; she hadn't expected that Yang Muhong’s spreading of malicious rumors had led to his mental exhaustion and eventual death.
Yet, if Yang Muhong was such a person, how could her elder brother, Gu Yansheng, trust him with the evidence of the Jiangxi examination fraud? And he had indeed traveled all this way. One must remember that even her brother had been heavily injured while being pursued; for an elderly former official like Yang Muhong, this journey was akin to risking his life against the powerful Chen clan.
Would a man willing to risk his life for the sake of the commoners' rise truly spread rumors to make those same commoners sacrifice their lives against the prestigious families?
Xiang Yi remained silent, lost in thought. She did not necessarily distrust Master Tan, but the contradictions were impossible to explain. However, from Tan Ting's perspective, she could understand why he had spoken as he did.
Tan Ting looked at his wife; seeing her expression soften slightly, he breathed a secret sigh of relief. "I said that Yang Muhong was not worth your saving because I know his conduct well." Thinking that she cared more about her sworn brother, he added in a low voice, "Even if this man is currently exerting himself for your brother's sake, it does not mean he is truly sincere."
These words caused Xiang Yi to fall into another moment of silent reflection. Regardless, Chen Fuyou had failed to capture Yang Muhong today. Xiang Yi was also someone who had lost a father; she could understand Tan Ting's feelings. Since the matter of Yang Muhong seemed complex, it was best to set it aside for now.
Xiang Yi said no more on the subject. Following Tan Ting's lead, she gave him a light look and nodded slightly. She finally showed a sign of affirmation, and Tan Ting at last felt a trace of warmth in the cold room.
However, remembering how she had avoided him all day without a single soft expression, even complying with everything his aunt had ordered her to do, he felt a pang of unease. He knew she was unwilling in her heart, yet she showed no resistance.
What kind of person does she take me for?
Tan Ting pursed his lips and looked at his wife. Under his somber gaze, Xiang Yi tilted her head slightly. He felt helpless, inexplicably afraid that she might pull her own garment open again under such circumstances.
He could only say, "We need not rush to have children. Let us wait until you leave Qinglong with me, alright?"
Xiang Yi did not respond, but a ripple formed in her heart. Does he truly want to take me with him so much?
Because she did not object, Tan Ting felt even more relieved. The heavy, cloying scent of the incense grew thick; in that choking air, he got out of bed and personally extinguished it, then opened the window to let the ill-timed fragrance vent out. The night wind from outside washed the stagnant air from the room.
Xiang Yi watched the man by the window until he closed it again. Then, he called for water. Her eyelids flickered as she watched his upright figure for a moment. The servants had long been prepared; after a feigned period of activity, the room finally grew quiet again.
Xiang Yi saw the man return to the bed curtains. As they sat across from each other in silence, she felt instinctively uneasy. Tan Ting sighed lightly, but at last, everything had been explained clearly. Remembering that Yang Zhen had caught a cold that day, he called to his wife softly.
"Let us sleep, shall we?"
As the unfamiliar scent faded, the room regained its usual quiet, now layered with a hint of peace. Xiang Yi nodded gently. Master Tan, who had been watching his wife carefully, finally felt at ease.
The next day, Yang Zhen was better. When Xiang Yi went to Autumn Radiance Courtyard, she saw the girl was lively again, with no trace of illness.
Perhaps having heard about the "calling for water" in the main room the night before, Old Madam Zhao Shi did not let Xiang Yi work at all today. Instead, she proactively took over several tasks, telling Xiang Yi to rest well. Xiang Yi couldn't help but think of Tan Ting's words about not being in a rush for an heir. She lowered her eyes in silence.
Thanks to Zhao Shi's help, Xiang Yi was much less busy. She sought out Xiao Guan to inquire and heard that Chen Fuyou's men had not come to the city for a search, which put her mind at ease. But thinking of the matter regarding Yang Muhong that Tan Ting had mentioned, she felt it necessary to warn her elder brother.
She asked for Xiao Guan's help. "Could Guard Xiao go to the study and speak with the Master for me?"
Xiao Guan gave a bitter smile. If this were any other family's madam, she would speak to her husband directly. But this Madam of theirs rarely ever visited the Master’s study in the outer courtyard. Xiao Guan could clearly see the polite distance the Madam kept from the Master, so he could only accept the task.
When he arrived at the study, he saw the Master was in a poor mood. But he couldn't ignore the Madam’s request, so he approached with a grimace and delivered the message. After he finished, the Master’s expression darkened even further. Tan Ting glanced at him as if he hadn't heard, then continued his work with a frown.
Xiao Guan was left standing for a full fifteen minutes before the Master, without even looking up, gave an impatient "Mhm."
As Xiao Guan was finally about to leave, he heard the Master add, "Watch over the Madam’s safety."
"Yes."
Xiao Guan hurriedly complied and accompanied Xiang Yi to the remote courtyard where Gu Yansheng was hiding. The small courtyard was as usual, but after Qiu Ying invited Xiang Yi inside, she found an extra person in the room.
The man was nearly fifty, with graying hair and an air of weariness and travel-worn dust. His face was sallow, and he appeared to be injured. Xiang Yi knew who he was the moment she saw him; the man also hurriedly bowed to her.
By rights, he didn't need to bow to her. However, Xiang Yi understood that he wasn't bowing to her, but to the Tan family of Qinglong.
Gu Yansheng was also slightly surprised by Yang Muhong's attitude. Since he had met Yang Muhong the day before and brought him to the county town, the former official had seemed somewhat distracted. Seeing him now with Xiang Yi, Gu Yansheng couldn't help but ask with a smile:
"I heard that Official Yang once worked with the previous Tan clan leader in Fengshui. Could it be you have prior dealings with the Tan clan?"
Yang Muhong gave a bitter smile. "I will not hide it from the Daoist, it can hardly be called a 'dealing.'" He spoke plainly, "It was a malicious karma of mine."
Gu Yansheng raised an eyebrow, but Xiang Yi did not shy away from looking at Yang Muhong. Reflecting on the past, Yang Muhong's wrinkled face showed deep regret. He took a step forward toward Xiang Yi.
"Since I have come to Qinglong this time, I have no intention of hiding my past mistakes. I have a letter, I must ask Madam to pass it to the Master of the Tan Clan." His expression turned solemn. "The Tan family may choose not to forgive me, but they must be careful for their own sake!"
At his words, Xiang Yi was stunned.
In the Tan family study, as soon as Xiang Yi left, Tan Ting couldn't help but look at the sun outside. He felt as though a great deal of time had passed, yet the sun in the sky seemed fixed in place by some sorcery.
The man called to Zheng Ji, "Go and bring the pocket watch with the Westerners painting on it." It was said to be more accurate than watching the sun. But after saying it, he changed his mind—the Westerners on the watch looked uncanny, better not to look at them.
He said, "It is too stuffy in the room. Let us go for a walk."
Zheng Ji didn't know what his Master was up to, so he followed him. After only a few steps from the study, they reached the gate. As luck would have it, just as they stopped, the Madam and Xiao Guan returned.
Zheng Ji looked up at his Master and saw his expression soften completely, like a warm wind in early spring. Tan Ting carefully looked over his wife; seeing that she showed no reluctance to leave that place but rather seemed hurried to return home, his gaze softened further.
To his surprise, she spoke as soon as they met. "May this consort have a word with the Master in the study?"
Talk in the study? Tan Ting was momentarily stunned.
In the outer courtyard study, Zheng Ji served tea and withdrew. Xiang Yi placed a letter on Tan Ting's desk. "This is a letter for the Master from Official Yang."
Tan Ting's brow furrowed immediately. That the Tan family had not sought revenge on Yang Muhong was already the height of benevolence; how did this man dare to come to Qinglong and send him a letter? Tan Ting felt a surge of impatience. He didn't open the letter at first, simply staring at it with a frown for a long time.
Seeing this, Xiang Yi knew he held a grudge, but what Yang Muhong had said was truly unexpected. She added softly, "Official Yang feels regret. He had this letter written long ago to clarify certain matters to the Master. Regardless of his past, will the Master look at the letter first?"
Her attitude was different from before; seeing her like this, Tan Ting could not bear to deny her this face. Though he felt Yang Muhong was a lowly person who could say nothing good, he opened the letter. But as he scanned it from beginning to end, he suddenly let out a cold laugh.
Xiang Yi was surprised. Tan Ting pushed the letter directly to her. "Madam, see for yourself what this person has said."
The letter was not long; Xiang Yi finished it in moments. Aside from Yang Muhong's apologies to the Tan family, he mentioned only one thing: he believed the death of Tan Ting's father, Tan Chaokuan, was no accident.
Back then, though he was indignant, he would not have instigated a conflict between the prestigious families and the commoners during a plague; more than anyone, he wanted the common people to be cured. But someone told him the medicine from the capital was flawed, and several of the first people to take it had indeed died. Seeing that Tan Chaokuan was about to distribute the medicine widely, he believed it was a murderous conspiracy. Because the local people trusted him due to his commoner origins, he could not watch them be poisoned, so he spread the word overnight.
He had no intention of claiming it was a plot by the prestigious families against the commoners, but once the word was out, it was beyond his control. Thousands of commoners rioted immediately. They were poor and helpless; how could they oppose the wealthy and powerful clans? Yet who would willingly throw their lives away?
The hatred among the people became uncontrollable. He himself had been blinded by those words at the time. It wasn't until Tan Chaokuan sent troops to restore order and personally took the medicine to prove it was non-toxic that he realized something was wrong. But the plague grew worse due to the rioting. After the plague was suppressed and he sought to clarify things with Tan Chaokuan, he found that Tan Chaokuan had also contracted the plague and soon passed away.
Only then did Yang Muhong realize that although Tan Chaokuan was from a prestigious family and a clan leader, he was a clear-headed and good official. This realization filled him with remorse, but the Tan family refused to listen; when he came to Qinglong, he was driven out. In his guilt, he resigned and went home.
Just as he was prepared to live out his life in regret, the Jiangxi examination fraud case required help, and Gu Yansheng's people found him. In the process of helping, he suddenly discovered something: among the people sent to hunt him down was the very person who had been by his side years ago, secretly telling him the medicine was poisoned. And that person, upon careful identification, turned out to be from the Chen family of Fengling!
Xiang Yi finished the letter and felt nothing amiss. Yang Muhong did not deny spreading false rumors, but he had discovered a plot behind it. In other words, the one who truly wanted to harm the Tan family was the Chen family of Fengling or other hidden forces.
But as she looked at the cold-laughing Master of the Tan family, she didn't understand his reaction. Tan Ting took the letter back.
"Yizhen, do you believe what is written here?"
Xiang Yi didn't speak immediately, looking at him. Tan Ting tapped his finger on the words "Chen family of Fengling" and shook his head with a sneer.
"How very convenient. Just as Yang Muhong is being cornered in Qinglong by the Chen family, he tells me that his past actions were actually orchestrated by them. Is it truly such a coincidence?" He paused, his expression growing more mocking. "Or is he using this story to get me to help them escape the Chen clan? The Chen family is certainly nothing good, but what kind of tactic is this from Yang Muhong?!"
He finished his outburst, and the room fell into a sudden, absolute silence. Xiang Yi looked at the letter. After a long while, she asked:
"Does the Master believe what is written in the letter is false?"
Tan Ting looked at her helplessly. "Yizhen, is it not obvious? Yang Muhong is still the same base person he always was!"
The study grew even quieter. Xiang Yi asked two final questions in a very low voice:
"Has the Master ever considered that what Yang Muhong said might be true? And that officials from commoner backgrounds are not all lowly people with poor character?"
The light words fell. For several moments, the study was so quiet a pin drop could be heard. Tan Ting wanted to say something in response to her questions, but he couldn't find the words. In his hesitation, Xiang Yi saw his answer.
She lowered her head, understanding his stance. It was difficult enough for him to remain neutral. If her brother and Official Yang were captured later, she would only sacrifice herself and separate herself from him entirely, so as not to make it difficult for him.
Xiang Yi felt there was nothing wrong with this. Truly, there was a difference between prestigious families and commoners.
At that moment, a clansman arrived to ask for the clan leader’s guidance. Zheng Ji came in to report. Xiang Yi gave Tan Ting a formal bow.
"This consort shall return to the main courtyard first."
"Yizhen…"
Tan Ting was startled and stepped forward to keep her. But as he reached out, he touched only the cool air where she had just stood. She had already turned and left.
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