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Chapter 44
The thin layers of clouds could not corral the moonlight; the wilderness was dappled with silver.
Xiang Yi had resigned herself to spending the night amidst the reeds, but now she found herself lifted onto a horse, encircled within a firm embrace. The cloak wrapped around her carried the heavy, distinct scent of the man behind her. With one hand gripping the reins and the other secured around her waist, he held her close.
Except for the intimacy of the bedchamber behind silk curtains, they had never been in such a posture. Xiang Yi shifted uncomfortably.
Tan Ting felt her slight movement immediately. Even when they had ridden together before, she would keep her back ramrod straight, desperate to maintain distance even on a narrow saddle. To see her do so again made a heavy frustration swell within his chest.
Under normal circumstances, he would not have troubled her. But today, the thought that she had simply left, leaving behind a letter to divorce herself on his behalf, made his heart ache with a fierce bitterness. Did she not know what being a "divorced woman" meant? How could she be so reckless with her own future?
At this thought, Tan Ting did not loosen his grip. Instead, he tightened his arm around her waist, silently pulling her closer into his chest. Xiang Yi, caught in that sudden force, remained dazed for a long moment.
The two of them rode forward through the moonlight. Amidst the strange atmosphere, there was a peculiar, nameless feeling. Xiang Yi could only try to ignore her discomfort and sit still, but at that moment, she remembered something.
Tan Ting, seeing his wife finally cease her restless movements, felt somewhat eased. Then he saw her lift her head slightly and call to him.
"Master."
It was rare for her to speak of her own accord; Tan Ting almost thought she had finally remembered he was her husband. He acknowledged her, only to hear her continue.
"Master, Shopkeeper Jiang's old horse can no longer run. It is still lying in the reeds."
The wilderness was terrifyingly silent, save for the rhythmic thudding of the galloping hooves that made one’s ears ache. Tan Ting did not wish to speak. Yet, looking down, he saw the worried gaze his wife held for an old horse, and a surge of stifled irritation rose within him.
He called directly to Xiao Guan behind them.
"Return now and bring the old horse back to the city."
"Yes," Xiao Guan replied.
Xiang Yi thanked Xiao Guan, but upon lifting her head, she saw the Master’s expression grow even more displeased.
At the docks, all had grown quiet.
Gu Yansheng had also gone to find Xiang Yi, only to eventually hear the news that Tan Ting had reached her first. He breathed a sigh of relief, but then, struck by a thought, he stood dazed for a moment. He gazed toward the crossroads from afar for a long while; finally, he let out a soft, sighing laugh and turned his horse back toward the docks.
Moonlight shimmered across the ripples of the lake. The vessel of the Eastern Palace began to set sail. Gu Yansheng looked toward the direction of Qinglong County in the distance. He suddenly felt that he might have made a wrong decision. Perhaps, back then, he should never have come to Qinglong.
It was past midnight by the time Tan Ting’s party returned to the Tan estate. The County Magistrate, knowing a great matter had occurred tonight, had specifically left the city gates open for him. Tan Ting accepted the favor, instructing Zheng Ji to go to the yamen the next day to offer thanks, while he personally brought Xiang Yi directly back to the residence.
The horse came to a halt. Just as Xiang Yi was about to dismount, the man behind her flipped down first. Without a word, he lifted her straight from the horse and carried her in his arms toward the inner courtyard.
Xiang Yi was startled. "This is improper... Master, please put me down."
But the Master neither heard nor spoke. He simply strode forward with long, vigorous steps. Xiang Yi was forced to hook her arms around his neck. Only then did the man's expression seem to soften slightly as he gave an order to the servants.
"No one is permitted to spread word of tonight’s events in private."
Having spoken, he did not linger for a single step. He carried Xiang Yi back to the room and gently placed her upon the daybed by the window. He remained silent, and Xiang Yi did not know what to do. Between the two of them now, what exactly was their situation?
It was not until he brought over the medicine chest and called for Qiao Xing to bring hot water that Xiang Yi hurriedly spoke.
"There is no need for the Master to trouble himself. I can tend to it myself."
The man only gave her a glance, his lips pressed thin in silence. He brushed aside her skirt and saw the bloody gash upon her calf. His face darkened completely. He reached out to clean it for her, but as his fingers brushed against the slender leg, she flinched uneasily.
Tan Ting froze. Fearing he was not as skilled as she in such matters, he could only retreat with frustration. He called Chunsun and Qiao Xing over, bidding them to carefully clean and dress the wound. The two maids moved with light, swift hands, and soon the bandaging was complete. Chunsun brought in a charcoal brazier, while Qiao Xing changed her mistress out of the clothes torn by branches.
Under the lamplight, Tan Ting saw that it was not only her leg that was injured; there were even two red streaks across her face. He could not help but remember his own specific warning to her : "Having just learned to ride, you must not gallop at night, in the woods, or by the river, lest the horse lose its footing. It is best to have someone accompany you."
Yet she did not want him, her husband, to accompany her. Instead, she borrowed Shopkeeper Jiang’s old horse and went racing through the night, the woods, and the riverbanks. Tan Ting was angered by her for a moment, but then he thought of how a woman like her had stood tall in such a situation. His gaze fell upon her and did not waver for a long while.
Neither spoke, until a letter fell from the folds of Xiang Yi’s collar while Qiao Xing was helping her change.
"Eh? What is this?"
Xiang Yi was stunned and hurried to grab the letter, but a large, well-defined hand was swifter. Tan Ting took the letter and immediately dismissed Qiao Xing. Once she was gone, only the husband and wife remained in the room.
Xiang Yi looked at the Tan family head and the forged divorce decree in his hand, unsure of what he intended. But Tan Ting did not look at the letter; instead, he stared at his wife for a long time.
He suddenly asked her a question.
"Yizhen... is this a letter of divorce for the wife, or for the husband?"
His voice was as heavy as if it were submerged at the bottom of a lake. Xiang Yi panicked. She lifted her head to look at him, but under the weight of his gaze, she looked down again in unease.
"It is to divorce the wife..."
"Is that so? Is it truly not to divorce the husband?"
He asked these two extra questions until Xiang Yi was at a loss for words. Things had happened too abruptly; she had not handled it thoroughly.
But in the next breath, the man brought over the charcoal brazier. Tan Ting took a deep breath, looked quietly at Xiang Yi, and spoke each word with deliberate weight:
"In this life, Tan Ting shall never divorce his wife."
Having spoken, he cast the false divorce decree directly into the fire. The flames flared up, illuminating the room as bright as day. In that sudden, brilliant light, Xiang Yi looked at the man in disbelief, his words echoing in her ears: "In this life, Tan Ting shall never divorce his wife."
The next day, Tan Ting requested a leave of absence for Xiang Yi, claiming she had caught a chill and needed rest. This left Zhao Shi with no choice but to take over the management of the household affairs.
Zhao Shi was not unaware that a great event had occurred the previous night, though she did not know Xiang Yi had been involved. She whispered privately with Nanny Wu, "Could she be pregnant?"
Nanny Wu felt it was not impossible. "Old Madam might as well send a physician to take a look. The weather is warming; the Master will return to the capital in half a month. If the Madam were to be with a child now, would that not be excellent?"
Zhao Shi could manage the complex household duties for three or five days, but if Xiang Yi were gone for long, her head would truly ache. That afternoon, she sent a physician to the main courtyard.
However, the physician returned and told her, "Reporting to Old Madam, the Madam is not with child. She has merely caught a chill and requires rest."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shi grew irritable. Just then, a servant came to report, "The Master has arrived."
Zhao Shi suddenly had an ill premonition. Tan Ting was indeed direct.
"When I return to the capital this time, Sister-in-law happens to be returning to her natal home. I also intend to take Jian-ge'er to the capital's academy to study; we shall all travel together."
Hearing that he would take Yang Zhen and Tan Jian, Zhao Shi was not overly surprised, but she felt as though Tan Ting had more to say. Sure enough, in the next breath, Tan Ting spoke again, his tone much more solemn.
"For this journey to the capital, I also intend to take Yi Zhen with me. The various affairs of the clan and the household shall have to trouble Mother."
As soon as these words left his mouth, Zhao Shi’s head throbbed with pain. Nanny Wu, knowing Zhao Shi’s heart best, hurried forward.
"Oh dear, the Old Madam’s headache is acting up again... these household matters, how can we manage without the Madam?"
Zhao Shi also nodded hurriedly. "Xiang Yi is truly a capable hand at managing these things. In truth, even among the wives of various clans, she is one of the best!"
Tan Ting could not help but laugh upon hearing this, though his heart felt a strange ache. Before, he had never heard his aunt praise her even once, yet now she spoke thus. He sighed at himself as well, he too had failed to recognize the jade in his hands, leaving her to three years of cold indifference.
Only she had never complained, keeping his home and clan affairs in perfect order, allowing his aunt to be a hands-off matriarch for three years. With this thought, Tan Ting slowly withdrew his smile and looked at Zhao Shi.
"It will indeed be hard on Mother. However, the main branch of the Tan family still lacks heirs; is Mother not also anxious about this? How can I leave Yi Zhen behind?"
This remark completely blocked Zhao Shi’s last path of retreat, using the very excuse of "heirs" that Zhao Shi herself would have used. Even Nanny Wu was momentarily speechless.
Seeing this, Tan Ting said no more, merely adding, "Mother need not be overly burdened. Just as it was before Yizhen entered the family, let the female relatives of the clan assist you."
Though he said this, Zhao Shi would still have to manage things herself regardless of who assisted. As soon as Tan Ting left, Zhao Shi clutched her head and collapsed onto the lady’s couch.
"What is to be done now?"
The matter of heirs for the clan's main branch was a paramount concern for the entire family. Even if she wanted to keep Xiang Yi, the clan elders would be the first to reprimand her. She truly had no more excuses to avoid her duties.
Even Nanny Wu sighed repeatedly. "Old Madam can only agree..."
Xiang Yi soon learned of what had transpired in the Autumn Radiance Courtyard. She was sitting by the window tidying her needlework box when Chunsun told her of the departure; she was stunned for a long while. Before she could regain her senses, the man entered the room.
"The Master has returned."
She instinctively moved to get off the daybed, but as soon as she moved, the man raised a hand to stop her. Tan Ting stepped forward and lifted her halfway-descended body back to its original place. His arms were powerful, his palms warm. Just as he had when they returned to the estate the previous night, he held her, and Xiang Yi hurriedly turned away in surprise.
Tan Ting looked silently at his wife, knowing her habitual distance and her reluctance to be close to him. Just like the events of last night, she would rather divorce herself on his behalf and gallop off to deliver a message than trouble him to save someone.
He withdrew the hands that held her and spoke in a low voice of the journey to the capital.
"I have spoken with Mother. She has no reason to refuse. Yizhen, do not decline; come with me."
He had no intention of forcing her. Having spoken, he left her to consider it and returned to the outer study.
The weather was gradually warming. A fine breeze blew in through the window lattice, devoid of the previous bone-chilling cold. Xiang Yi was in a daze for a time.
In truth, that time she came to the door with the marriage contract was her second visit. The first time, she had asked the gatekeeper to pass a message to the Tan family, but for some reason, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, no response at all. She waited at the Tan gates for an entire day, but worrying about her younger siblings at home, she could only return.
By the second time, she was truly at the end of her rope. Her brother had no path to the examinations, and her sister lay gravely ill. Others mocked her for coming to the door herself with a marriage contract. She knew she would be looked down upon, yet she stood before the Tan family and insisted upon this marriage.
At that time, she thought she would merely borrow the Tan family’s influence to give her siblings a chance to stand again. In a few years, when the Tan family wished to marry a daughter from a family of equal status and Tan Ting wanted a divorce, she would never say a single "no."
Back then, Tan Ting indeed did not like her. He spoke nothing to her and left home shortly after the wedding. Xiang Yi thought this was fine. She would stay peacefully at the Tan house, manage the family and clan affairs, and fulfill every bit of her duty.
She had not expected her brother Yu-ge'er to be so promising, becoming a xiucai at such a young age and even having hope for the provincial examinations. Her brother had mentioned leaving several times, and she too began to think of it; leaving of her own accord was better than being cast out, at least it preserved some dignity.
But since the end of last year, after Tan Ting returned, everything she had planned, to keep things clear between her and the Tan family—had become muddled. The Master was even more so...
He treated her differently than before, which filled her with a restless anxiety. She could not help but want to settle the score and return to their original state, so that when this ill-timed marriage ended, neither would owe the other. But the more she tried to settle the score, the more she owed him. No matter how much she felt anxious, fearful, or resistant, it seemed useless.
If she continued to resist him, it would instead seem as though she were doing it deliberately. With this thought, Xiang Yi lowered her eyes. She was not one to be ungrateful; if someone respected her an inch, she would return a foot. Since he had changed, she would simply accept it. As for the much she owed him, she would find another chance to repay it. The Xiang family already owed too many favors; one more would not make a difference...
If in the future he changed his mind and wished to marry a woman of equal status, she would still not delay him for a single moment. Moreover, with the escalating conflict between the commoner and noble classes, they likely would not be husband and wife for many more years...
Though it did not have a good beginning, if this marriage forged by their fathers could have a good end, that would be enough. Xiang Yi had been anxious for many days, but now she finally understood. The world was like a flood that could drown a small person at any time; to live well for one day was enough.
Xiang Yi sighed softly and pushed open the window behind her, seeing the winter jasmine in the courtyard. Without her noticing, the jasmine had quietly bloomed. The warming breeze smoothed the furrow of her brow, and at that moment, Qiao Xing brought a letter.
"Madam, Shopkeeper Jiang said a letter came from Qingzhou two days ago. Yesterday, Madam was in such a hurry she forgot to take it."
Xiang Yi took the letter and asked about the old horse. Hearing it was well and that Xiao Guan had delivered two bundles of fine fodder—at which the horse had even "huffed" in pleasure, Xiang Yi felt eased and opened the letter. She was surprised to find it was entirely in Xiang Yu’s handwriting.
Xiang Yu wrote that a teacher from the academy had been invited to the Boyun Academy in the capital, and he and several students were going along. Because they left in a hurry, he was already on his way by the time the letter was finished. He also mentioned that he could not leave Ningning home alone and had taken her with him, so his elder sister need not worry.
Xiang Yi looked at the letter and suddenly smiled. "Why is Madam smiling?" Qiao Xing asked.
Before Xiang Yi could answer, Yang Zhen arrived. She was usually full of energy, yet today she wore a face of woe.
"What is wrong, Sister-in-law?"
Yang Zhen sighed and looked up. "Can Sister-in-law help me with a favor?"
"Speak freely."
Yang Zhen said directly, "Go to the outer courtyard and persuade the Master; don't let him punish the Second Young Master anymore!"
Tan Ting had been busy lately and had not looked after Tan Jian. Today, frustrated as he was, he had not intended to mind him, only to see him dressed in gaudy colors, carrying two large pots of flowers home. He stopped him and asked how his essays were coming along; as soon as he heard "essays," Tan Jian crumbled, stammering and unable to speak clearly.
Tan Ting let out a cold snort and told him to bring every essay he had written lately to his study. There were many, but Tan Ting flipped through them at random and nearly lost his breath.
"Very good, Tan Jian. You dare give me these mere fillers?!"
Tan Jian’s legs shook at those words. He didn't use fillers every day, but sometimes seeing his wife, brother, sister-in-law, and little sister all out riding, he could not settle his mind. He thought his brother had forgotten in his busyness; who knew he would remember?
But it was too late for regrets. Tan Ting was already stifled with irritation and was too angry to reason with him. He directly called Zheng Ji to bring the ruler and picked out the filler essays, striking him several times for each one, then sending him to stand in the courtyard to reflect.
Now, the courtyard was silent, and Tan Ting sat in the study, his anger unabated. Who knew what secrets lay behind their father’s past troubles? The main branch of the Tan family only had the two of them, yet that worthless thing only cared for play. The more he thought, the angrier he became.
In the midst of his fury, there was a very light sound of footsteps outside. A soft voice sounded at the door.
"Is the Master in the study?"
Tan Ting thought he was hallucinating. But in the next breath, someone gently lifted the curtain and entered. She had changed into a pale lotus-colored long coat and held a redwood carved pastry box. Seeing him look over, she lowered her head in a bit of embarrassment and spoke softly.
"I have brought some pastries for the Master."
Tan Ting was stunned for a long while, truly believing his worthless brother had angered him into a hallucination. But she walked slowly forward. Tan Ting suddenly reacted and stepped toward her.
"Yizhen? Why have you come? Does your leg not hurt?"
Xiang Yi said it was no great matter and placed the pastries on the tea table. Tan Ting still felt as though he were in a dream, his eyes constantly scanning his wife. Was she... willing to reconcile with him?
But Xiang Yi glanced at the miserable-looking Tan Jian standing outside. His hands were beaten red, and he looked ready to cry. Xiang Yi had to speak.
"As I came over just now, I seemed to see two pots of flowers outside the courtyard. I do not know who brought them, but they bloom so beautifully; it is quite a pleasant sight."
She spoke subtly, giving Tan Ting a light glance. Who else could have brought them but Tan Jian? Tan Ting had thought his wife came to see him, only to find she had come with an injured leg just to speak for Tan Jian. He suddenly felt those strikes had been too light; he should have given that fellow several heavy blows!
Yet his wife then said, "Those flowers are truly pleasant to the eye. It can be seen that the one who brought them also has a bright and harmonious heart."
Tan Ting was momentarily speechless. Looking at his wife, he remembered his father’s past attitude toward his own teaching of Tan Jian. A breeze seemed to carry a faint floral scent, and Tan Ting suddenly laughed. He rose and called out toward the courtyard:
"For your sister-in-law's sake, why haven't you left yet?"
Tan Jian felt as though he had been released from prison; his eyes lit up as he bowed repeatedly to Xiang Yi. "Many thanks, Sister-in-law! Many thanks!" Having spoken, he slipped away like a puff of smoke, nearly tripping over the threshold.
Xiang Yi could not help but press her lips together in a smile. Tan Ting was both annoyed and amused. "Truly a useless thing..."
With Tan Jian gone, only the two were left. Tan Ting looked at the pastries, knowing she had only come to see him as an afterthought; her real intent was to save Tan Jian. He sighed inwardly and reached for the pastries.
At that moment, she spoke.
"When does the Master intend to depart for the capital? I also have many things that must be packed in advance."
The pastry almost fell from Tan Ting’s hand as he looked at his wife in astonishment. He saw her eyes half-lowered, her face wearing a smile gentler than any other. Tan Ting froze on the spot.
"Yizhen... you agree?"
With a slight curve of her lips, Xiang Yi nodded gently.
The departure date was set for the second day of the second lunar month. They would travel by water; though slow, the scenery going north was endless. Yang Zhen and Tan Jian had been so excited they couldn't sleep for several days, almost running onto the boat.
Tan Ting and Xiang Yi bid farewell to Zhao Shi and the others. Zhao Shi’s head throbbed intermittently as she looked longingly at Xiang Yi, but before the clan elders, she could not say a word of refusal. Tan Rong also hoped to go, but Zhao Shi was still arranging her marriage; it was not convenient for her to travel far before it was settled.
Xiang Yi’s leg was mostly healed. After saying their farewells, Tan Ting protected her as they boarded the ship. The wind whistled as it filled the sails, and their robes fluttered in the breeze. Xiang Yi had not been on a boat in a long time and stood at the bow, unwilling to return to the cabin.
Tan Ting came over and asked, "Yizhen, will you truly not speak to Yu-ge'er again and have him come with us?"
Xiang Yu had left long ago and would likely arrive soon. Xiang Yi smiled and thanked him for his kindness. "The teacher at Yu-ge'er's academy has other arrangements for him; the Master need not worry."
She did not elaborate on those arrangements, and Tan Ting did not know, so he could only nod. Just then, Qin Jiao, who was traveling with them, walked over. He looked at the Master, then at the Madam by his side, his expression momentarily strange.
"Master, the eldest Madam Lin sent word earlier. Two relatives are also heading to the capital, and she asks that the Master pick them up along the way. What does the Master think?"
Tan Ting did not know who these relatives were, but for such a small matter, he naturally nodded in agreement. Standing by, Xiang Yi silently noticed that Qin Jiao seemed to cast a swift glance her way.
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