Volume One, Chapter 13: Asking About the Past

"Two, Jade, Bad..."

Xie Mingyue recited these words, her mood plummeting instantly.

"Mujin, by 'Two,' do you mean the Second Young Miss, Xie Wanqing? And by 'Jade,' do you mean Qi Xiuyu, am I right?"

Mujin nodded. Xie Mingyue’s gaze grew grave as she pressed further: "How are they 'bad'? When the Xie family cast me out, did they have a hand in it?"

Mujin tried to signal with frantic gestures, but Xie Mingyue could not decipher them. When asked to write, Mujin was unable to do so. Xie Mingyue sighed. Seeing the coachman emerging from the teahouse, she gave up on the line of questioning and continued: "Then why did I marry Qi Jinshan? Mujin, did he force me into it back then?"

Mujin’s eyes widened; she shook her head in denial and traced the characters for "Good" and "Nine" onto Xie Mingyue’s wrist.

Xie Mingyue gently bit her lip. So, Qi Jinshan had not forced her after all. Mujin even said he was "good"—could she have been misunderstanding him all along? Furthermore, she could not fathom what the "Nine" meant.

"Madam Qi, our Princess is waiting for the Fifth Concubine to return and serve her. Perhaps you could continue this reunion another time? If we are late, I will have a hard time answering to her."

The coachman finished his tea, patted his belly, and walked over, bowing and scraping before Xie Mingyue. He truly could not fathom what a Madam like her had to discuss with a mute concubine. The Princess of Rui was strict; if they were late, both he and the Fifth Concubine would be punished.

With the Princess of Rui standing behind the coachman, Xie Mingyue could not afford to be overly insistent.

"Very well, let us stop here," she said, lowering her sleeve and patting Mujin’s hand. "I will come to the Prince of Rui’s mansion to see you another day. If you have any trouble, just send someone to find Wutong at the Marquis of Shunqing’s estate, all right?"

Mujin gripped her hand with reluctance, turning back to look at her repeatedly as she boarded the carriage. Behind them, Wutong could not hide her sorrow. "Sister Mujin used to be so sharp-tongued; how did she become a mute?"

Xie Mingyue’s mind was in turmoil. Once back inside the carriage, she spoke in a low voice: "Do not cry. Mujin must have been sold to a brothel and then, by the grace of the Prince of Rui, became his concubine."

Though life as a concubine was difficult, it was still better than selling smiles in a brothel. Yet, once inside the Prince’s estate, there was no way out. Xie Mingyue racked her brains, but for the moment, she could find no way to rescue Mujin.

"It is getting late; let us return to the estate first."

She glanced at the sky. They were too far from Guinan Square to return and ask Bai Xin, so she had to head back for the family banquet. Wutong sat beside her as Xie Mingyue pulled back her sleeve, contemplating the characters written in bright blue pigment.

It seemed that neither Xie Wanqing nor Qi Xiuyu were good people. They must have intervened when she was expelled from the Xie family. And if Mujin’s writing was true, the one who helped her back then was likely Qi Jinshan.

Qi Xiuyu was returning to the estate tonight. Xie Mingyue rubbed her temples. Thinking of the way Qi Jinshan spoke of Qi Xiuyu the other day—as if he were barely human—gave her a headache.

"Madam, you should wipe off that pigment before we arrive." Wutong noticed how vibrant the marks were and handed her a damp handkerchief.

Xie Mingyue wiped at them a few times, but they would not come off. "This pigment is specially made; it requires oil to remove. I will tend to it when I take down my hair tonight."

Upon returning to the Marquis of Shunqing’s estate, servants were busy bustling about, delivering dishes to the front hall. Lady Luo stood under the veranda with the Marquis, the couple laughing and talking with rare tranquility.

Xie Mingyue had to pass through four gates and wind around ancient, long-standing trees to reach the main house. The estate had doubled in size over the last ten years, all thanks to the supreme favor Qi Jinshan enjoyed in the imperial court.

Looking at the veranda from afar, she noted that while the Marquis had possessed the air of a typical nobleman ten years ago, he now looked more austere, wearing a long beard and possessing a slender, willow-like frame that gave him an ethereal, detached quality. As for what lay beneath that veneer, she could not say.

Xie Mingyue lowered her gaze and approached, bowing respectfully: "I greet you, Father. Did you find peace and comfort during your retreat in the mountains?"

The Marquis was startled. His eldest daughter-in-law had long been a recluse, rumored to be sickly and bedridden, though his son had always protected her, so he had never interfered. Now, seeing her, she appeared healthy and radiant; aside from being a bit thin, she was the very image of a flawless noblewoman.

"This is Jinshan’s wife. Marquis, have you not seen her for so long that you no longer recognize her?" Lady Luo reminded her husband in a soft voice.

The Marquis laughed heartily: "How could I not recognize her? I am merely surprised to see Mingyue so healthy. Has your constitution improved?"

Xie Mingyue offered a faint, graceful smile: "Thank you for your concern, Father. I am quite well now."

The Marquis stroked his beard and nodded. Lady Luo added, "It is good that you are well. Jinshan is already thirty; you must make haste to provide an heir for the main branch and ensure the prosperity of the Marquis’s estate."

In front of the Marquis, Lady Luo maintained the stature of the primary wife, taking the opportunity to jab at the eldest branch's sore spot. Xie Mingyue’s lips chilled, and just as she was about to retort, she caught sight of Qi Jinshan striding toward them.

He always walked with a swift, unrestrained grace, accompanied by the chill of early spring; he reached them in the blink of an eye.

"Father, Lady Luo, it is cold outside. Why have you not taken your seats?"

"We were just about to," the Marquis said, his presence quietly fading in the face of his imposing eldest son.

He walked inside, and Qi Jinshan followed with Xie Mingyue in tow. He leaned in close and asked, "Did you find out what you wanted to know today?"

His sharp, well-defined jaw was right before her, highlighting the restrained, deep appeal of a mature man. Recalling their kiss from the previous night, Xie Mingyue could not help but feel a surge of shyness.

"No, I just wandered the streets for a while."

She thought of the "Good" character Mujin had written, and a sour feeling rose in her heart. In what way was he "good"? Could her marriage to him be entirely due to his "goodness"? Had he married her only out of pity?

She hid her changing emotions carefully, but Qi Jinshan was no ordinary man; his sharp, discerning eyes instantly detected the anomaly. His gaze fell upon the empty seat reserved for Qi Xiuyu at the table, and he paused, beginning to rhythmically stroke the lion-headed ring on his finger.

"Where did you wander?" he asked, seemingly casual.

Xie Mingyue was somewhat distracted. "Just looking around. I went to Chang'an Street."

The Marquis and Lady Luo were already seated. Facing the empty seats, Xie Mingyue suddenly realized she did not know the proper seating arrangement, and there were no servants to guide her. She hesitated for a moment, and just as she was about to rely on convention and sit beside Lady Luo, Qi Jinshan grabbed her.

"You sit here," he said, his brows furrowing coldly as he saw her mistake. "What is the matter? Has the person not yet returned, yet your heart has already flown to him?"

Xie Mingyue looked up in surprise, seeing a cold sneer on his lips. He looked dark and intimidating, which made her frown: "What are you talking about?"

Her dazed, wandering expression only fueled Qi Jinshan’s fury.

"Nothing."

He sat down and fell silent. Xie Mingyue was baffled and about to press him further when a gatekeeper ran to the front of the hall and knelt down, full of joy.

"Marquis, Lady Luo, the Second Master has returned."

A string in Xie Mingyue’s mind snapped.

Qi Xiuyu was back.

Across the chasm of ten years, Xie Mingyue gripped the back of her chair tightly. The hatred of betrayal surged into her heart, causing her to tremble uncontrollably. Her pale fingers were squeezed until they lost all color. Seeing this, Qi Jinshan did not know whether to mock himself or fly into a rage.

As everyone turned their heads in unison, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.