Gentle as Spring Rain - Chapter 4
Before I knew it, autumn had arrived.
The marquis’s heir had not only survived; he was recovering well. The physician said it would not be long before he could stand again.
The marchioness was so happy that she seemed ready to set off firecrackers and announce it to the world.
She put an arm around me. “My dear, you’ve worked so hard all this time—”
“Her mouth has certainly worked hard,” Xie Yu interrupted with a chuckle.
For a moment, everything went quiet.
As if suddenly realizing how that sounded, Xie Yu turned scarlet to the tips of his ears.
His mother glared at him, then turned back to me.
“There’s a chrysanthemum banquet in a couple of days. Why don’t you go and enjoy yourself? Take a little break. What do you think?”
I had been cooped up in the house for so long that I was beginning to feel stifled. Crisp autumn air, tea, flowers…
I nodded happily. “I’d love to.”
At the banquet, I saw Shen Jintang. She looked uncomfortable when she noticed me.
Someone eager to stir up trouble teased her.
“The younger sister marries the elder sister’s groom. What a charming tale! Jintang, why the long face? Has someone offended you?”
The substitute marriage had caused a great scandal. Though Father’s wife had supplied excuse after excuse for Jintang, her reputation had still suffered.
On the verge of tears, she lowered her head and left.
I paid the little incident no mind. But when the banquet ended and I was about to leave, Shen Jintang suddenly stopped me.
“Little sister, how is Shaojun? Does he blame me?”
I thought about it and answered honestly. “I imagine he does.”
She wept bitterly.
“It’s my fault. I failed him…” she sobbed. “If he hadn’t been saving me, he would never have fallen off that cliff or been hurt so badly. I truly wish it had been me!”
Lovely words.
A pity her deeds were so ugly.
With tears glistening prettily on her face, she asked, “Little sister, could I see him?”
She handed me a letter.
“Would you give this to Shaojun? Please don’t worry. I’m not trying to take him from you. I only… only want to apologize in person. Please.”
After considerable hesitation, I accepted the envelope.
All the way back to the marquis’s residence, I wondered whether I should simply keep it to myself, or…
After thinking it over, I decided I had better give it to him. What if he met Shen Jintang one day and found out? Then I would be the one in the wrong.
Yes. I would give it to him.
Whether to see her was his decision.
When I got home, Xie Yu was dozing in our room. I circled about twice before handing him the letter.
“For you.”
He opened his eyes blearily. “What is it?”
“Open it and see.”
He did as he was told. Then he went still and looked up at me.
Head lowered, I pretended to busy myself with other things, utterly unconcerned. In truth, I was watching him out of the corner of my eye.
He was silent for a long time. His expression was not pleasant.
“Do you want me to go?” he asked.
“It’s your business. Why ask me?”
He tossed the letter aside and called out, “Qingbai!”
“Yes, my lord?”
“Have the carriage brought round,” he said heavily.
He left.
My hands paused over the clothes I was folding. After a long hesitation, I slipped out after him.
They met outside the city. Dusk was approaching, and the setting sun made a beautifully romantic scene.
“Shaojun,” Shen Jintang said, her eyes red, “I never thought you would still be willing to see me.”
“Shaojun? It’s hardly appropriate for you to address me so familiarly.”
Like a startled rabbit, she quickly corrected herself.
“Yes. I no longer have the right to call you that. After all, you’ve married my sister. But you don’t understand—I had my reasons!
“After I came home, I fell ill too. My parents sent me to recuperate at a temple. I only returned a few days ago! The substitute marriage was my sister’s idea! I was in no condition to look after anyone, even myself!”
Xie Yu had remained cold throughout. At that, however, his brows rose slightly.
“Her idea?”
Jintang nodded. “She said that if we wanted her to take my place, we would have to meet three conditions.”
His brows drew together. “What conditions?”
“First, she thought her mother’s low character would hold her back, so she had Father throw her out. Second, she wanted her little brother registered as Mother’s child so he would have the status of a legitimate son.
“Third…”
“Third, when you died, she wanted money so she could leave the capital.
“How could she be so heartless?”
Xie Yu frowned without a word.
Tentatively, Shen Jintang caught his sleeve and leaned into his arms…
I watched no more. I turned and hurried away.
