Cui Shihan slowly drained her last sip of wine, hand on her crossed knees, twirling the empty cup. “Before Master Wei went to the capital for the exams, he was Yangzhou’s hottest marriage prospect. A belly full of poetry and books gives natural elegance, jade-like grace and poise, that aloof air most girls adore. You might not know, but when he took the jieyuan, the Wei Family’s threshold was nearly trampled flat by matchmakers.”
The waiter refilling tea overheard their talk of Wei Qin and chimed in with a smile. “Yangzhou still has a saying: One glance at Young Master Wei ruins a lifetime. Even the prefect’s daughter remains unmarried.”
Wei Qin had been so sought after. No wonder her father said he had expended great effort to secure this match for her.
Jiang Yinyue sipped her tea, suppressing her inner doubts. She had agreed to the marriage in a fit of pique without inquiring much. She wondered if her father had broken up Wei Qin and his true love through threats and bribes.
By the time Cui Shihan escorted her back to the alley of the residence, it was the second quarter of xu shi. Before entering, Jiang Yinyue heard Zhang Shi scolding her son Wei Xin.
Aunt Ji from next door opened her door to pour water and glanced at the memorable Wei family daughter-in-law, eyeing her up and down without restraint.
Jiang Yinyue greeted her and received a meaningful smile from Aunt Ji.
What family’s daughter-in-law wandered outside past sunset making friends? A great household’s lady?
As Jiang Yinyue knocked, Aunt Ji, who had hesitated several times, could not hold back. “Wait.”
She adopted an elder’s posture, tone quite stern. “Don’t blame Auntie for meddling. If not for our old neighborly ties, no one would stir trouble. If you see yourself as the wife master and the Wei boy as a live-in son-in-law, Auntie has nothing to say. But if you see yourself as a Wei family member, you should follow a proper wife’s rules: stay deep in the inner quarters, strict self-discipline, no trouble for the household. So many eyes watch the Wei Family.”
Ever since news of Wei Qin topping the lists reached Yangzhou, neighbors’ attitudes toward the Wei Family shifted from mockery to envy.
Jiang Yinyue halted her step, straightened her demeanor. “This junior has loved reading since childhood. My father built me a library pavilion with ten thousand scrolls, but not one like The Rules for Women. This junior does not believe women should be confined to the inner courtyard, nor that bringing glory to the family is only for men. If Auntie finds it improper, feel free to read books beyond The Rules for Women.”
“You…”
“It’s late. This junior will go ahead.”
Her tone was even, not aggressive, yet the words grated. Aunt Ji’s chest heaved with anger.
Just then, Zhang Shi yanked open the door, having heard the exchange. The usually fiery woman planted one hand on her hip and brandished the Punishment Ruler toward Aunt Ji. “Does my niece-in-law need your finger-wagging?”
Longtime neighbors, Aunt Ji knew Zhang Shi’s unreasonable streak. She muttered “shrew” under her breath and slammed the courtyard gate with a bang.
Lady Zhang stepped forward a few paces and shouted over the courtyard gate, “A shrewish woman is still better than a long-tongued gossip! Mind your own business, you outsiders! Whether one likes to show her face in public is her own affair—there’s no need to fixate on others!”
Lady Zhang let out a “tch” and turned to look at Jiang Yinyue, about to speak words of comfort, only to see the woman gazing deeply at her.
“Is there something on my face?” Lady Zhang touched her cheek, realizing that she might have been too fierce just now and frightened her daughter-in-law.
She felt rather embarrassed.
She coughed lightly and took a step forward. “Ignore those who love to stir up trouble. They can’t stand to see our family doing well. Aqin has made something of himself and even brought back such a beautiful wife—they’re jealous.”
Jiang Yinyue had never rejected straightforward people; on the contrary, she found it more comfortable to get along with them.
Upon returning to Hanlan Courtyard, she handed the packed meals to the kitchen maid Cheng Shen. Jiang Yinyue chatted idly with her mother-in-law as usual, without mentioning the unpleasantness with the neighbors. By the time she returned to the East Wing Room, Miaodie had already prepared the bathwater.
“This servant will guard the door. Just call for this servant if Young Madam needs anything.”
The little maid smiled and closed the door, standing obediently outside. Before long, she saw a figure approaching from not far away, accompanied by the moonlight.
“Second Young Master.”
The wine scent from the social obligations had been mostly blown away by the night breeze. Wei Qin glanced at the lit East Wing Room, understanding the situation in his heart. He first went to sit with his mother for a while, and once he figured his wife had finished washing up, he knocked on the door.
“Creak.”
The door panel was pulled open from inside, and a goose pear fragrance hit him head-on, rushing straight to Wei Qin’s nose.
“You’re back.”
“Mm, today’s socializing couldn’t be avoided, so I returned a bit late.”
His father, as a proper second-rank minister, often couldn’t decline such engagements, let alone Wei Qin, who had just arrived. Jiang Yinyue nodded and instructed Miaodie to prepare some sober-up soup.
She leaned in to sniff the alcohol on Wei Qin and pulled him into the room. “Do you want to bathe first? I’ll have Cheng Shen prepare fresh water…”
“No need to trouble her.” Wei Qin stirred the bathwater Jiang Yinyue had used. “I don’t like it too hot.”
Even so… Noticing Wei Qin’s slightly unsteady steps, Jiang Yinyue stepped forward to support him. There was no need to ask—she knew some people at the Salt Transport Office had deliberately gotten him drunk to pry information.
Performing the duties of an imperial envoy without the official status—Wei Qin’s situation was understandably difficult.
If only there were a confidant who knew and understood him by his side…
Yangzhou had its misty, rainy tenderness and alluring charm, not lacking elegant beauties. Linking it to Cui Shihan’s words from earlier that day, Jiang Yinyue stood with her back to the screen, lost in thought.
Water sounds came from behind her, especially clear in the not-so-spacious wing room.
The distracted woman took out her personal scented powder and casually shaped it into a incense seal to soothe her lungs and calm her mind.
“Miss.”
“Ah?”
“Hand me the nightclothes.”
Wei Qin’s low, alcohol-soaked voice came from behind the screen. It was clear he was a bit drunk, enough to forget preparing a change of clothes.
Jiang Yinyue walked to the cabinet and selected from the neatly stacked nightclothes for a moment, picking out a set she liked. She then went around to the screen and stopped three steps from the bathtub.
She coughed softly, like knocking on a door, then stepped to the edge of the tub and handed over the clothes with averted eyes.
The warmth of the steam was clearly not scalding, yet it made her restless.
A large, wet hand reached out. A prominent blue vein ran from the base of the palm up the forearm, bulging wildly from the bathwater’s stimulation, twisting freely.
Jiang Yinyue’s gaze followed that smooth yet powerful arm upward, passing over Wei Qin’s sturdy chest to land on his face, flushed lightly with intoxication.
Though it was reused bathwater, faint steam still swirled around the man, adding a touch of allure.
No wonder Bangyan Wei appreciated beauty.
Jiang Yinyue did not think of herself as someone who judged by appearances. She turned her face away and draped the nightclothes over the tub’s edge. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Miss.”
Wei Qin grabbed her. His wet fingertips soaked through Jiang Yinyue’s sleeve. He raised his eyes—his jade-like face steamed with moisture, veiled in a drunken flush. Holding her sleeve, he looked at her through the steam, where her skin was the most translucent.
“What are you doing?” Jiang Yinyue asked.
“Keep me company.”
Jiang Yinyue’s neck flushed red. It was her first time seeing the drunken Wei Qin, who turned out to be somewhat roguish, yet with drooping eyes that carried an indescribable gentleness.
How rare.
Jiang Yinyue knew there was no reasoning with a drunk. She did not forcibly pull back her sleeve, letting the man hold the cuff.
“What do you want me to do to keep you company?”
“Talk.”
“You don’t usually like to talk much.”
Wei Qin pressed his throbbing forehead with his other hand. To discern who at the Salt Transport Office was scheming, he had not refused cup after cup of wine. He knew those eager to pry secrets showed extra attentiveness and urgency compared to the innocent.
But the alcohol inevitably harmed him as much as his enemies. After drinking until others vomited, he too was left with a lingering buzz.
“Except for you, Miss.”
Jiang Yinyue smiled. “You like talking to me?”
“Mm.”
Was there honey in this wine? Jiang Yinyue raised her brow, a spark of mischief in her eyes, getting into the mood. Returning the favor, she wanted Wei Qin to open up more, not stay so gloomy all day.
Though one couldn’t reason with a drunk, she still straightened her attitude and earnestly negotiated.
“Wei Qin, I’m not a particularly understanding companion.” She did not position herself as his wife, knowing their marriage had been one of mutual benefit. “If you had someone you loved here in Yangzhou back in the day, and she hasn’t married yet, and you still have feelings for her, I can make way for you two.”
Her words fell, and the room fell utterly silent.
A drop of water fell from Wei Qin’s elbow, landing on the rippling bathwater surface with a “plop,” clear as day.
Jiang Yinyue inexplicably tensed, staring fixedly at Wei Qin’s wet face, vaguely sensing his emotional shift.
The usually taciturn man said nothing, but his silence carried more chill than usual.
“Is it you who wants to divorce, Miss?” he suddenly asked, his tone far more serious than usual.
“I just think you’re suffering too much.”
“So you want to make me suffer even more.”
Misinterpreted despite her good intentions, Jiang Yinyue furrowed her willow brows, reflecting on whether her approach had been too abrupt, without gradual guidance.
“I hope you can have someone who truly knows and loves you as a companion. You and I were bound by interests to begin with… Mm…”
A timid moan escaped her lips as Jiang Yinyue’s lashes trembled. She forgot to breathe, holding it in as Wei Qin lifted her face.
His palm supported her chin, wet fingers pressing her cheeks, firmly holding her in place.
The kiss came without warning, enveloped in steam.
Jiang Yinyue was forced to lean forward, most of her body sprawled over the tub. In her line of sight were droplets of water on Wei Qin’s fair skin.
She panicked and gripped the tub’s edge, trying to rise, but pain came from her lips.
“Mm…”
Panic turned to shock and anger. She clutched the edge tightly and pushed back hard, but Wei Qin seemed lost in drunken haze. Not only did he not release her, he pinched her earlobe between two fingers and rubbed it vigorously.
“Wei… Mm…”
The young lady, flushed from ears to collarbone, was on the verge of exploding in frustration, humming and grumbling her displeasure, but she was no match for his strength.
Wei Qin’s lower-than-normal body temperature felt cool and chilling where their lips met, carrying the mellow aroma of wine, leaving Jiang Yinyue defenseless yet acutely aware.
Wei Qin merely kissed her, lingering on her lips. Though he had the strength to pry open her clenched teeth and invade, he did not press further.
When he pulled back slightly, his deep eyes, steeped in alcohol, darkened faintly.
“This is my answer.”
Jiang Yinyue caught her breath in the gap, her lips burning and somewhat swollen, as if ignited by wine, the flush spreading along faint lip lines.
Her cherry lips were unusually red.
“What answer?”
She demanded indignantly, realizing belatedly.
Wei Qin did not want to divorce.
“You could have just said plainly if you had no one in mind. No need for this…”
She straightened up and wiped her lips forcefully, her watery almond eyes filled with resentment and grievance.
“I do have someone in mind.”
Wei Qin’s tone was calm, unhurried, yet laced with a huskiness.