Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Xie Congjin was genuinely happy for his brother’s wedding and had a few extra drinks at the banquet.
On the way back to his courtyard, the night breeze blew, and the alcohol began to go to his head.
That faint sense of melancholy rose in his heart once more.
He dismissed his servant and pushed open his bedroom door alone.
The candles were unlit, and moonlight filtered through the window frames.
It faintly illuminated a slender figure among the bed curtains.
His heart skipped a beat.
Xie Congjin approached and pulled aside the silk canopy.
The person in the bed had her silk robe half-slipped, revealing a fragrant shoulder. With a gaze that shifted between the demonic and the divine, she looked at him with a smile-
It was the very face he had been dreaming of day and night.
He froze on the spot, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him in his drunken state.
“Fairy…”
Xie Congjin gazed at her infatuatedly, not daring to draw closer.
He murmured, “I… I’m dreaming again…”
The Fairy reached out a slender, jade-like hand.
As if pulled by an invisible thread, he stumbled forward.
With a gentle tug from her, they both fell into the soft brocade quilt.
The mandarin duck quilt was warm, and waves of red billowed.
The young man’s passion was uncontrollable.
Xie Congjin did not know her name.
He could only hold the warm, fragrant beauty in his arms tightly, whispering into her ear over and over again:
“Qingqing… Qingqing…”
At the height of their passion.
He swore a low oath: “In this life, you are the only one… If I break this vow, may Heaven and Earth forsake me…”
The person in his arms smiled, her eyes curving like crescents.
Her jade arms climbed around his neck.
Yet, she never said a single word.
The next morning, Xie Congjin woke up to a room full of morning light.
The space beside him was empty; the lingering warmth had already dissipated.
As expected… was it just another grand dream?
He rose with a bitter smile.
As he was changing, a glimpse in the bronze mirror made him suddenly freeze-
A stark red mark was on his neck.
Like a red plum blossom in the snow.
Ambiguous and eye-catching.
-It hadn’t been a dream.
***
When I woke up in the morning, my body still felt a bit sore and weak.
Lianxin served me as I dressed. When she saw the mark on my shoulder, her hand trembled.
“What are you afraid of?” I lazily raised my hand. “You’ve followed me for all these years; is this the first time you’ve learned your mistress’s true nature?”
Lianxin shook her head, then nodded vigorously. Tears quickly welled up in her eyes, but she said firmly:
“Whatever Miss does, she has her reasons. I… I will always protect Miss.”
I smiled and said nothing more.
When Xie Yijue arrived, I was already fully dressed.
I stood gracefully under the veranda.
A flash of admiration crossed his eyes, followed by a look of guilt.
“Last night, Zhi’er’s heart was aching terribly, and she wouldn’t let me go… I’ve wronged you.”
“It’s no matter,” I said submissively. “My sister’s health is more important.”
He took my hand and squeezed it. “I will spend more time with you in the coming days.”
The Old Madam was elderly and had practiced Buddhism for many years.
Her health wasn’t great either.
After a few brief words, she handed the household tally and keys to me.
“Since Yijue has married you, the management of this household will be entrusted to you from now on.”
I accepted respectfully.
As we left the Old Madam’s courtyard, Xie Yijue brushed a stray hair from my cheek and smiled.
“You haven’t met Congjin yet, have you?”
“He is usually the most well-mannered, but for some reason, he’s late today. I’ve already sent someone to call for him.”
As he spoke, apricot blossoms fell like rain along the veranda.
A man dressed in a green robe came hurrying toward us.
“Greetings, Brother. Sister-in-law.”
He bowed his head in greeting, his voice slightly hoarse.
I smiled. “I have long heard that the Second Young Master is exceptionally elegant. Seeing you today, it is indeed true.”
He slowly raised his head.
The moment our eyes met, the color drained from his face.
“Congjin?” Xie Yijue frowned. “Are you feeling unwell?”
“…Yes.”
He lowered his eyes, not daring to look again. “Perhaps I haven’t quite sobered up from last night’s wine.”
Xie Yijue laughed.
“He’s been absent-minded lately. I suspect he’s lovesick, yet he doesn’t even know the lady’s name.”
“Now that you’re here, help me keep an eye out for him.”
I nodded. “Of course.”