Chapter Four

Xie Linxu uttered those three words without much emotion. Song Xingyue hadn’t expected him to still be awake and was startled by her sudden call.

She hurriedly withdrew her legs from his body, afraid to make any more noise, and followed his advice to rinse her mouth again.

The osmanthus cake was indeed a bit too sweet. She had always been fond of it since childhood, indulging in the treat and reluctant to rinse her mouth before bed. Her mother had scolded her many times before she finally corrected this habit. But her mother had long since passed away, and few remained to supervise her now.

Xie Linxu, however, was more disciplined; even while asleep, he did not forget to remind her.

Had he woken up from the noise she made? Or had he been awake all along since earlier?

After rinsing, Song Xingyue returned and dared not climb onto him again. She obediently circled back to the inner side of the bed by his feet.

After a long moment, she leaned closer to Xie Linxu.

He did not move.

But Song Xingyue knew he was not asleep.

She stopped sulking and spoke to him softly.

“Changzhou, did you put out the osmanthus cake?”

Xie Linxu neither denied nor remained silent. He said, “It was a gift from the palace, precious as molten gold. Even if we don’t eat it, it will spoil.”

He added, “The weather’s hot; it’ll spoil if not eaten.”

Song Xingyue didn’t care about the reason; she took it as a stepping stone for them both.

“I’m not unwilling to go, not ignorant of etiquette,” she said. “I’m just afraid they’ll be unhappy to see me.”

Fearing he might not believe her, she added, “Really, I’m not lying.”

“Do you plan to cower your whole life just because others don’t want to see you?” he said. “If you could use the boldness you have with me on others, it would be quite a talent.”

Song Xingyue clung to his arm and smiled, “That’s different. You’re my husband. What’s wrong if I’m bolder with you?”

The full moon hung in the night sky, shedding translucent light that mingled quietly with a strange stillness. Her sweet, cloying words fermented in the silent, dark haze, thickening the very air around them.

It was enough to disturb Xie Linxu’s sleep for the entire night.

The next morning, he unusually woke later than Song Xingyue.

She had already finished washing and dressing, sitting before the bronze mirror tidying her appearance and arranging her hair.

Hearing the rustle behind her, she noticed Xie Linxu was awake. She turned and greeted him with a smile.

“Changzhou, good morning.”

Xie Linxu pressed his lips together, said nothing, and nodded slightly in response, still without much emotion.

After they were both ready, they went together to the Hall of Glorious Prosperity.

Morning and evening salutations were customary, especially emphasized in prominent families. As the younger generation, it was their duty to observe these rites to honor their parents. Since marrying into the Xie household two years ago, Song Xingyue never missed going to the hall, rain or shine.

Yet, Jingxi still treated her the same, showing no change of heart.

The household’s inner affairs remained firmly in Jingxi’s hands, with none passing to Song Xingyue. Whenever festivals or holidays came, and new clothes were needed, Jingxi never thought to consider her.

New clothes were always chosen by others in the household first, and then a few poor-quality pieces were left for her as a pretense. The clothes she wore at the Guogong Mansion were too shabby and plain, inviting ridicule and Jingxi’s sharp remarks.

Even now, she did not yet own a single decent garment.

But she never complained to Xie Linxu about these matters.

For trivial things, a little coaxing or charm was no problem; she was willing to humble herself. But when it came to money or possessions, she could never bring herself to speak.

She had married into the Guogong Mansion amid many whispers of her marrying up for wealth and status. Xie Linxu already looked down on her; if she spoke of such issues, it would only deepen his disdain.

Thus, she guarded the thin veil of her dignity, trying to preserve some semblance of respect.

But the old tutor Li’s birthday was approaching. She had managed to attend with Xie Linxu before; surely she ought to wear something proper this time.

She felt wearing something too plain or old-fashioned wouldn’t be appropriate.

On the way to the Hall of Glorious Prosperity, after some thought, she asked Xie Linxu, “Changzhou, could you have someone make me a new set of clothes?”

The Guogong Mansion’s rules were strict; even something as simple as making clothes was not hers to decide as the nominal wife of the heir.

But Xie Linxu was different. If he made a request, it was never a problem.

He paused and asked, “Is it for going to the Li residence?”

Song Xingyue did not detect any slight displeasure in his tone and quickly replied, “Yes, I was thinking the clothes I have aren’t very presentable. It would be improper to go to the birthday feast looking like this…”

Before she could finish, Xie Linxu interrupted.

“You’re not a member of the main family. Why would you want to outshine others?”

Her words caught in her throat.

She dissected his statement carefully and soon understood the unease beneath it.

He probably thought she wanted to compete with others, to overshadow someone.

He had once intended to arrange a marriage with the Li family’s third young lady, but she had intervened and disrupted those plans. So now, when she asked for new clothes, he assumed she wanted to outshine his childhood betrothed.

That was not the case…

She wanted to say so.

But after those words, Xie Linxu fell silent, continuing on their path. Song Xingyue glimpsed his clenched jaw and knew he was displeased with her remark.

Her desire to explain was stifled.

Even if she spoke, he would not believe her.

In his eyes, she was exactly that sort of person. He would never understand that she simply wanted decent clothes because she had none. He would only think she intended to do something improper.

The osmanthus cake from last night had made her think he might have changed, or at least not dislike her so much.

But now, it seemed she had been mistaken.

They walked the rest of the way to the Hall of Glorious Prosperity in silence. Song Xingyue no longer mentioned the clothes, and Xie Linxu did not bring it up again.

Today’s morning greeting went by without incident. The whole family was unusually calm, enjoying breakfast together.

The Guogong was always the last to arrive. Once he took his seat, the meal began.

Xie Xiu, the current Guogong, was in his forties, dressed in the crimson robe of a second-rank official. He was tall and slender, with a dignified countenance still bearing traces of youthful handsomeness. Born into a noble clan, Xie Xiu now served as Minister of Personnel, his every gesture carrying an air of authority.

At the table, he turned to Xie Linxu and asked, “I heard you recently went to the palace. Did you see His Majesty? Is His health any better?”

Xie Linxu replied, “His Majesty summoned me to the Qianqing Palace. We merely exchanged casual words. His complexion looked good; there’s no serious ailment.”

Jingxi, overhearing their conversation, laughed and said, “What ailment could the Emperor have? If he were unwell, the Imperial Medical Bureau would have surrounded Qianqing Palace by now.”

It was no wonder, being full siblings, Jingxi truly knew her brother well.

A few days ago, Xie Linxu had visited the palace to see Emperor Jingning. The emperor’s face was rosy, and he was indeed in good health, certainly not ill enough to skip court.

In recent years, Emperor Jingning had become rather capricious, acting without rules and dismissing court at will.

Xie Xiu did not pursue the topic further. Instead, he turned to Jingxi and said, “Old Madam Li’s birthday is coming soon. Take some of the younger generation to visit her. Also, ask Mother if she wishes to go to the Li residence.”

Xie’s grandfather had passed years ago. The old madam was still alive but secluded in the Hall of Reverent Virtue, disliking the outside world and seldom troubling the younger generation.

Jingxi, born a princess and now married into the Xie family, was accustomed to privilege. While she endured the younger children’s morning and evening salutations, she could never maintain such discipline herself for a decade. The old madam’s temper was mild; seeing Jingxi’s sporadic attentions as troublesome and inconsistent, she had exempted herself altogether.

Moreover, the old madam and the Li family’s matron had been close friends since youth, having arranged the betrothal between Xie Linxu and the Li third young lady. The two children had grown up together and maintained good relations, eventually leading to marriage discussions.

But when the Li matron died a few years back, and after Xie Linxu’s scandal, the old madam felt embarrassed to maintain close ties with the Li family. Over time, their friendship faded.

Now, with Old Tutor Li’s birthday approaching, no one knew if she still wished to socialize.

Everyone present understood the true reason for her reluctance.

In the end, it all traced back to the incident in the Xie family that had brought shame before the Li family.

Xie Xiu did not dwell on the matter further. At that moment, Xie’s youngest daughter, Xie Jinfei, looked at Song Xingyue and suddenly asked, “Sister-in-law, will you be going?”

Jinfei was only fifteen, delicate in appearance, blinking innocently as she spoke. Though seemingly harmless, Song Xingyue knew Jinfei did not like her. When she first married in, the thirteen-year-old Jinfei had made her life difficult.

Song Xingyue simply replied, “Yes, I will go.”

Jinfei frowned and said, “Are you sure? Then I suppose Mother need not ask Grandmother. Even if she did, Grandmother wouldn’t want to go.”

Her going would only cause discomfort, spoiling what should be a happy occasion.

Xie Xiu was the first to speak. “It’s been so long. Must you hold a grudge your entire life? For a senior’s birthday, if the younger generation doesn’t show their faces, wouldn’t that only invite gossip and suspicion? Since it’s come to this, there’s no need to dwell on the past.”

They had been married two years now; there was no point in rehashing old grievances. The fault lay with the Xie family, but they had compensated the Li family. Moreover, since there was no intention to sever ties, holding onto that matter only brought misery upon themselves. It was better not to entangle themselves further.

Jingxi commented mildly, “You’re very magnanimous and perceptive.”

Xie Xiu shot back sharply, choking on the remark and unable to continue eating. He retorted, “Not as much as you.”

Then he set down his chopsticks and left the table.