Chapter 2

Amidst her turmoil, a tall man blocked her path.

Jiang Yunchan failed to stop in time, nearly falling into the nearby lake.

“Cousin, where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?”

A large, scarred hand grasped her wrist, the fingertips lightly stroking the delicate back of her hand.

The man was none other than Xie Jin, the eldest son of the Marquis of Dingyang’s household, a seasoned warrior who carried the scent of battle wherever he went.

Whenever he saw Jiang Yunchan, it was like a fierce leopard eyeing its prey.

Among the three sons of the Marquis, Jiang Yunchan feared him the most, always keeping her distance.

Yet today, she had recklessly dashed into the deserted cluster of artificial rocks.

The rock formation enclosed a small lake, its waters deep and dark, with steps made of bluestone.

The two met at the heart of the lake, nowhere to escape.

“Greetings, Elder Cousin!” Jiang Yunchan hurriedly bowed, lowering her head and trembling as she tried to pull her wrist free.

But Xie Jin held on tightly, his grip like a vice, nearly breaking her slender wrist.

In the struggle, the sutra scrolls in her arms slipped onto the stone steps.

She quickly bent to retrieve them, only to find a pair of snake-skin boots stepping onto the scattered scrolls first.

“Still so fond of studying scriptures and worshipping Buddha, cousin. But I wonder, are you reading ‘The Vinegar Gourd’ or ‘Spring in the Jade Tower’?” Xie Jin picked up the scrolls, leafing through them while his eyes shamelessly roamed over Jiang Yunchan.

“I too have a great interest in this,” he said with a sly smile. “Why don’t we study together?”

Jiang Yunchan hadn’t expected him to openly voice such a man’s crude thoughts so bluntly, her cheeks flushing crimson as she reached for the scrolls.

Xie Jin immediately raised the book high above his head.

He was well over a head taller than her; she could not compete, helplessly watching as he withdrew an envelope tucked inside and sniffed the lingering scent of rouge upon it.

“So that’s why you refused to be my concubine—you’ve latched onto the newly crowned top scholar! Not even a few days apart, and already you’re longing? I didn’t know cousin was such a glutton for desire.”

Xie Jin had restrained himself before, but with Jiang Yunchan’s sullied reputation within the household, he no longer cared about propriety.

Each word he spat left her utterly humiliated.

He guessed the letter was one Jiang Yunchan had written to Gu Huaizhou, and a wicked grin curled his lips as he tore open the envelope, waving the letter before her eyes.

“Today, I’ll make sure I see just how enchanting cousin really is!”

“Elder Cousin!” Jiang Yunchan hurriedly pressed down on the letter, biting her lip until it almost bled.

She was genuinely worried about Gu Huaizhou and had written to arrange a meeting at the meditation chamber in Cixin Temple.

That chamber was intended for the heir’s self-cultivation; few dared approach out of respect.

Later, the heir gave her a key, asking her to help organize the sutras.

It was there she had accidentally encountered Gu Huaizhou, who often accompanied her to sort the scriptures and talk.

Gradually, whenever the heir was absent, the two met in secret.

After all, it was a place of Buddhist tranquility, and if word got out, who knew what vicious rumors would spread?

Not to mention what the heir himself might think.

A chill crept into Jiang Yunchan’s heart as she clenched the wrinkled envelope, though struggling against him was like a mayfly shaking a mighty tree—completely futile.

“Don’t want me to read the letter? That’s easy enough…”

Suddenly, Xie Jin tightened his grip, pulling her close and wrenching her waist fiercely. “Come with me just once, and I’ll let you go.”

His strength was immense; the pain at her waist felt like a chunk of flesh was being sliced away, tears welling in her eyes.

Seeing her fragile form brutalized, a strange excitement flickered across his face as he increased the pressure, veins bulging on his hand.

Jiang Yunchan bent almost double from the pain but dared not cry out.

To do so would only invite gossip.

Moreover, he was the master of the house—who could defy him?

Her trembling hands pushed against his powerful arms, inching backward step by step.

The moss-covered steps were slick and damp.

Her calves trembled, each step risking a misstep.

Xie Jin watched her stumble like a trapped rabbit, pitiably vulnerable—he savored the sight.

He licked his lips and took a step forward, pressing down on her slender shoulder. “Did you really think that just because you tricked my second brother into accepting your marriage proposal in public, you’d get to marry out as you wish?”

Ha!

Xie Yan was an illegitimate child, what did his words matter?

The more Xie Yan tried to stop him, the more determined Xie Jin was to tear Jiang Yunchan apart—no one could stop him!

Anger flared in Xie Jin’s eyes as he suddenly bit into Jiang Yunchan’s shoulder.

She quickly crossed her arms defensively and turned aside to dodge.

Xie Jin missed his mark, and the stone beneath his foot shifted.

He and the rock tumbled into the lake with a splash.

“Elder Cousin!” Jiang Yunchan’s pupils dilated in horror as she stared at the rippling water. “Are you—are you alright?”

Xie Jin was a poor swimmer; the sudden fall caused his limbs to cramp, and he bobbed helplessly, drowning.

Jiang Yunchan held her breath, retreating step by step.

Suddenly, a hand emerged from the water, grabbing the hem of her garment.

“Save me!” Xie Jin choked on water, his face pale, bloodshot eyes like a ghost’s, pulling her down with him.

Half her body plunged beneath the surface; her fingers clawed desperately at the stone steps.

But no matter how she struggled, she could not shake the massive weight behind her; her fingertips dragged a long crimson streak across the stone.

Water rose past her neck, the pressure on her chest growing unbearable, suffocating.

Gasping, she fought to hold onto her dwindling consciousness.

She had endured so much for years, and was so close to escaping this detestable marquisate!

Just one step away—the final step…

She could not die!

Suddenly, terror vanished from her eyes as she kicked Xie Jin repeatedly on the head, tore off her outer robe, and slipped free like a cicada shedding its shell, climbing onto the shore.

Seizing the moment while no one was near, she snatched the letter from the water and tore it to shreds before choking out, “Elder Cousin! I’ll go find someone to save you!”

In the lake’s center, Xie Jin clung to her discarded robe and sank beneath the surface, silence following.

Jiang Yunchan dared not look back, straightening her clothes and hurrying away.

At that moment, a voice shouted nearby, “Someone’s drowning! Hurry, go save them!”

Xie Jin’s guards heard the commotion and quickly gathered, running toward the rocks.

Seeing them about to cross the formation and collide with her, Jiang Yunchan had nowhere to hide and hurriedly retraced her steps, lifting her skirt as she fled.

She glanced back anxiously toward the lake’s center.

Upon reaching the shore, she collided headlong into the embrace of a young man clad in blue, the faint scent of sandalwood washing over her.

“Young Master!” Jiang Yunchan stepped back hastily, flustered, bowing slightly. “Elder Cousin, my respects!”

Xie Yan gently steadied her with a raised hand; the chill dew clinging to his sleeve betrayed how long he had been standing by the lake.

Had he witnessed everything that had just transpired?

Had he seen her struggle with Xie Jin?

Her mind buzzed, fingers curled into a fist until nearly bleeding. “Young Master, why were you standing by the lake?”

The words slipped out unthinkingly; she hastily amended, “Snakes and rats roam the lake in the rainy season—please take care of yourself.”

“Just passing by,” Xie Yan bowed in return, his voice clear and steady as a temple bell, without a trace of emotion.

Jiang Yunchan stole a glance at his serene face and felt slightly reassured. She lowered her gaze. “I was on my way to copy sutras at Cixin Temple when I accidentally ran into Elder Cousin, who fell into the lake. I hurried to get help and accidentally bumped into you. Please forgive me, Young Master.”

Her voice wavered, still choking from the ordeal.

Crystal-clear droplets streamed down her temples and cheeks, settling on her smooth shoulders. Her porcelain skin seemed to glow faintly, like a compassionate jade Guanyin seated upon a lotus throne.

Xie Yan’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, then shifted past her shoulder toward the lake’s center.

The stone steps still bore their footprints.

The lady’s lotus-like steps retreated, while the man’s snake-skin boots pressed close behind—Xie Jin seemed confident of victory.

Yet with so many stones, how did Jiang Yunchan manage to lead him right onto the loose bluestone?

She professed devotion to Buddha, but did she truly harbor any faith?

A shadowy smile flickered in Xie Yan’s eyes before vanishing like a passing breeze.

Jiang Yunchan shivered inexplicably, a thousand icy threads piercing through her organs, clutching her heart.

Yet she could not tell whence the chill came.

“Who’s up ahead?” Suddenly, a sharp voice barked from behind.

The guards, seeing two figures by the lake, brandished weapons and hurried forward.

Jiang Yunchan snapped back to reality, realizing she wore only her soaked skirt and blouse, her hair loose and disheveled.

If caught, everyone would know she had fallen into the lake with Xie Jin, their clothes in disarray.

She feared this would seal her fate as Xie Jin’s concubine.

She grabbed her skirt and dashed into the bamboo grove.

Suddenly, a slender, well-shaped hand steadied her waist, pulling her into a narrow cave within the rocks.

Banana leaves drooped, barely concealing the entrance.

Moments later, the lead guard reached the lake, searching frantically while pointing toward the bamboo. “The mountain path is slippery; they can’t have gotten far! It must be them who pushed the master into the water. We must find him!”

Outside the cave, the sound of footsteps swarmed—some twenty or thirty men.

Had Jiang Yunchan fled along the muddy path, she would have stumbled and been caught.

Thanks to Xie Yan’s keen insight, she was safe.

Gratefully, she glanced up at him, suddenly realizing her face was nearly pressed against his chest.

The cave was cramped; barely enough space for two.

They stood face to face, with no room between.

She was forced to feel his warmth.

His shoulders, waist, and arms were all solid and strong, yet the hand resting against her side, pressed to the stone wall, was soft and cool.

His long, jade-like fingers rested just above the small of her back, inexplicably weakening her knees.

The nightmare finger that had slid from behind into her abdomen flashed vividly in her mind.