Chapter 28: (Exposure)

Wanru bit her lip. Even if he pretends nothing happened, I still have to thank him? He really doesn’t take the smallest loss, doesn’t let go of the tiniest advantage!

Forget it, just count it as letting him bite her one more time.

Her slender fingers slid over the dark patterns on his robe, slowly moving upward until they climbed to his shoulder.

His throat moved slightly; lowering his gaze, he watched her every motion. Wherever her hand brushed past, a tingling numbness spread, igniting sparks under his skin.

She leaned up against his shoulder, lifted her head, and kissed the corner of his lips, murmuring softly:

“Would this be thanks enough?”

His deep, shadowy eyes locked onto her. His voice was hoarse, low:

“Not enough.”

His large palm immediately pressed against her lower back, pulling her firmly into his arms, bowing his head to kiss her with ruthless force.

Wanru whimpered in pain, trying to lean back to escape, but it was too late. He held her tight against him, leaving no space between them, pried open her teeth, and claimed her breath and tongue.

Her tongue went numb from the force of his kiss; she sobbed faintly, clutching at his official robes and crumpling the fabric, but she couldn’t push him away. Her breath was stolen away completely—she suddenly regretted provoking him.

Ever since his return from Jiangnan, Xie Xianyu had become more excessive in matters of intimacy. How did she dare to tease him at all?

But just then—

A knock came at the door.

Cui Zhu’s low voice followed:
“Master, the Eldest Lord requests that you come to the main courtyard for a discussion.”

Wanru felt like she had been granted amnesty, hurriedly pushing at him. But her wrist was seized and she was dragged back into his embrace. His voice was irritated:

“I’ll go tomorrow.”

“The Eldest Lord said it concerns a grave matter, and he must insist that you go at once.” Cui Zhu sounded troubled.

Xie Xianyu’s face darkened, annoyance radiating from him.

Wanru finally found a gap to breathe, slumping against him weakly. She whispered, “You should go, quickly. If the Eldest Lord summons you so suddenly, it must be important.”

His gaze was cold: “You lit the fire, and now you’re pushing me away?”

Wanru gave him an innocent look. He couldn’t bear looking at her pretending like that—his heart always softened against his will.

He pinched her cheek: “Wait until I return, then I’ll deal with you.”

With that, he stormed out.

Wanru let out a long breath of relief, collapsing onto the soft couch, her body limp. She lifted her hand to touch her lips and hissed from the sting. Just now, Xie Xianyu had looked like he wanted to swallow her alive.

Of course, she wasn’t going to stay here waiting for him. It was already late; if she lingered and someone discovered her, it would be disastrous. She straightened her clothes and reached the door—then thought again, and returned to his desk.

She wrote two large characters on a sheet of paper, then placed a small object from her sleeve beside it before finally leaving Songhe Garden.

---

When Xie Xianyu arrived at the main courtyard, the Eldest Lord was already waiting.

“Father.”

The elder’s expression was stern. Dressed in a dark robe, his whole bearing carried an innate authority.

“This time His Majesty summoned you again—was it still regarding the salt-tax case?”

“Yes.”

“This case has dragged on long enough. By now there must be some conclusion?”

“It will be closed within this month, Father, rest assured.”

The Eldest Lord paused before speaking slowly:
“This case involves many powerful families in the capital. In recent days, quite a few people have come pleading—Duke Zheng’s household, the Chen family, the Li family…”

“Father, the Xie family has always been upright and clean. Do you mean for me to bend the law?” Xie Xianyu’s voice was calm, tinged with cold.

The Eldest Lord slammed the table angrily:
“I’m afraid you’re making too many enemies! Do you think you’re valued by His Majesty simply because of ability? His Majesty wants a sharp blade to purge the court—but that’s no easy task! If you offend too many, it’ll only bring you harm in the future!”

Xie Xianyu’s face remained cold. Of course, he understood this truth. But power was always taken from the edge of a blade—how could one catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger’s den?

Besides, he had prepared his own safeguards.

“Is Father truly afraid I’ll make enemies, or afraid I’ll remove Prince Jin’s influence?”

The Eldest Lord’s expression changed drastically, as though struck right in the heart. He snapped in fury:
“Utter nonsense! The Xie family has always served purely, never taking sides. I’ve had no dealings with Prince Jin!”

Xie Xianyu replied evenly:
“If so, Father need not be so agitated. The details of this case His Majesty has already reviewed; there’s no chance of overturning it now.”

“You—!” The elder’s face turned iron-blue with anger.

“If there’s nothing further, I’ll take my leave.” Xie Xianyu bowed.

The Eldest Lord inhaled deeply, his tone sinking:
“Spring Examinations are near. The examinees have already arrived in the capital. Once the exams end, I’ll order the Xie clan’s academy to open for one day, allowing them to enter and hear lectures. Many admire your learning. If you spare half a day to give some guidance, you’ll win their respect.”

Because it was right before the exams, officials were expected to avoid suspicion. Though Xie Xianyu wasn’t an examiner, he was still an imperial officer.

“Yes.”

He bowed and left.

Walking out of the main courtyard, impatience flickered in his eyes.

---

Back at Songhe Garden, Wanru was already gone.

Cui Zhu said awkwardly:
“The young lady waited quite a while. When Master still hadn’t returned and it was nearly nightfall, she left.”

Could she really be that obedient?

Xie Xianyu’s face grew grim. He went to the desk, where a sheet of fine paper bore two bold characters: 谢礼 (“A Token of Thanks”).

Beside it lay a sachet.

He picked it up. Cui Zhu explained quickly:
“The young lady left that, saying she made it especially for Master. It’s a calming sachet.”

He snorted coldly. Such a worthless trinket, and she thinks that’s enough to placate me?

Yet he tucked the sachet into his palm.
“Leave me.”

Cui Zhu sighed in relief. At least Master didn’t seem angry.

---

In Wutong Pavilion—

Third Madam had been having terrible luck lately. Already neglected, her position had fallen further, everything going against her. The more she thought on it, the more she wished to tear Wanru apart.

Just then, an old servant rushed in, whispering a few words into her ear.

Her face changed:
“Truly?”

“Since returning from the temple, the Seventh Young Lady has been crying constantly. She won’t say why. But her hands and clothes were stained with ash, as though she’d been in a fire. And it just so happens—the back mountain of Zhaojue Temple really did catch fire today. The strange thing is, the fire started exactly where people had gathered after hearing rumors of an affair in the abandoned meditation room.”

Third Madam slapped the table, cursing:
“That little slut—did she sneak off with a man?”

The servant muttered:
“It’s possible, Madam. You’d better interrogate her. If she really did something disgraceful, won’t it implicate you as well?”

Furious, Third Madam stormed into Xie Xiulin’s room.

Xiulin, about to sleep, turned pale with fright. But before she could react, a heavy slap sent her sprawling to the floor.

“Ah!”

Third Madam barked:
“You wretched little tramp! Shameless thing! Did you sneak off with a man?”

Xiulin trembled violently, stammering:
“I—I did not…”

“Still lying! I know all about your filthy deeds. Keep lying and I’ll have your skin peeled!”

Her bluff worked—Xiulin truly believed she knew everything.

Terrified, Xiulin shook her head desperately:
“No, it’s not like that. I only met with the young Duke Zheng. It wasn’t an affair—but somehow people spread rumors…”

“The meditation room caught fire, you and Zheng Shizi were trapped inside, surrounded by onlookers. And no one noticed?”

Third Madam immediately spotted the flaw.

Whether it was a secret meeting or worse, how could a man and woman locked inside with so many spectators outside leave behind no rumors at all?

Xiulin quivered:
“It was Sister Wanru—she saved me. She had people disguise me in a servant’s clothes and pulled me out from the fire.”

Third Madam’s suspicion sharpened.
“Wanru’s people? Who?”

“C-Celebration An… he led the men.” Xiulin clutched her skirt desperately. “Sister Wanru said Celebration An wouldn’t talk. Please, Third Aunt, spare me this once…”

But Third Madam’s expression darkened. Celebration An?

He was Xie Xianyu’s man.

She shoved Xiulin aside and stalked into the courtyard, sneering:
“How did I not see it before—Wanru, that little whore, even Celebration An obeys her?”

The old servant muttered:
“Maybe because they’re close? That seductress always knows how to charm men.”

Third Madam shook her head:
“No. Celebration An is slippery, but he listens to no one except Xie Xianyu. Even the First Madam gets tricked by men from Songhe Garden.”

“Then…”

Suddenly, realization struck. Third Madam’s eyes lit up with malice.
“That time, when Xie Xianyu carried a woman back to Songhe Garden, the whole house was in uproar—and the woman’s identity was never discovered.”

The servant gasped:
“Madam… you mean that woman was Wanru?”

Third Madam clenched her teeth.
“Looks nine parts likely. Otherwise, why would Celebration An risk his neck in such a scandal? That little fox-spirit—she seduced Xie Xianyu!”

“No wonder! No wonder! Last time with Yun’er stealing, Xie Xianyu personally scolded the Master for poor discipline. I thought it odd. Turns out he was helping the little slut!”

The old servant spat:
“Fornicating without a matchmaker—utterly vile! Madam, why not expose her to the First Madam, have her disgraced and cast out, so you can finally vent your anger?”

Third Madam sneered:
“Fool! You’d be handing her a ladder to climb. If she’s favored by Xie Xianyu, not even the First Madam—nor even the Eldest Lord—could drive her out if he refused. She’d just end up openly becoming his concubine. And then what would become of me?”

Even the Third Master had to bow before Xie Xianyu’s words. How much more powerless was she?

Wanru must not be allowed to stay in the Xie family.

“What should we do, then?”

Third Madam’s smile was venomous.
“Don’t worry. There are others far more eager than us to get rid of that slut.”

Her eyes glinted with malice.
“You’ll go personally to the Jiang family. Deliver a message to their Third Young Lady.”