[Translator/Editor: otwentyfirst]

[June 26, 2019]

...

Xie Qingrong's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the chests full of gifts. She was already counting the wealth. "Xiao Wan only has two husbands right now. Think of everything we can get if Chuchen can get more of her affection and care! Wealth, power, prestige! They're all within our grasp!"

Up ahead Xiao Wan was walking with slow measured steps out of consideration for Xie Chuchen's injury. She held his hand in hers and let him lean on her side for support.

He looked in wonder at their joined hands, from it he could feel their heartbeats beating in sync. Although he knew Xiao Wan was acting on his behalf, he still couldn't let go. After a while he finally gathered up the courage to whisper. "Ms. Xiao, thank you. I will try my best to pay you back the two thousand silvers."

"You think I'm really going to pay the Xu House the penalty fine? Just be patient, there'll be a good show later," Xiao Wan said with a smile on her lips.

She looked at Xie Chuchen chewing on his lower lip in silence. His eyes were red and filled with sadness.

It was easy to tell what he was thinking. The image tugged at Xiao Wan. With a sigh of confusion she asked, "You were the first-born son of the Xie's main husband, how is it that you ended up in the position you're in now? How are your other relatives able to bully you so much?"

Inheritance laws were very clear in Eastern Wei. The first-born direct descendent had rights of inheritance and rule over the family. That someone else of lower rank within the family could bully him was outlandis.h.!.+ In fact caning someone a hundred times for an offense like that was normal. Considering the punishment, bullying the direct heir was not something others in the family did lightly.

"After my mother pa.s.sed away, my father lost his vision and became seriously ill. The house fell apart because I was too young to manage it properly. During all this second aunt had been very kind, helping to take care of everything around the house. Since she was already doing so much we temporarily ceded authority so she could manage the house. Who knew she was a wolf in sheep's clothing…" Xie Chuchen smiled bitterly as he recalled the past. "Second aunt gambled everything away. It only took her a few years to destroy the legacy my mother left behind. After everything was spent she turned her attention to me. That's when she secretly sold me to the Xu House. But I-."

His face paled and he bit his lips, stopping his words midsentence.

Xiao Wan finished for him. "You ran away after you found out about it because you didn't want to marry the Xu's third young mistress, so you came to my house hoping to force me to marry you. The Xiao House's jade pendant is a mark held by the eldest daughter to be given to her chosen main husband. This position, compared to a minor husband of the Xu house, is much more appealing isn't it?"

She was simply speaking her thoughts out loud and hadn't noticed Xie Chuchen getting visibly paler and more frightened as he stood against her, his limbs trembling slightly. He didn't have the courage to say what was really in his heart.

"So that's why you were so adamant that day. It was because of this…" It was an uncomfortable realization for Xiao Wan. She kept feeling like she was missing something important. Ignoring the unease in her heart she tried to rea.s.sure Xie Chuchen. "Don't worry, with me here you won't have to worry about marrying into the Xu House. I'll help you take back the Xie House and help heal your father's eyes too."

Xie Chuchen ran to the Xiao House in the previous life in order to escape the marriage. After getting that settled, he had hoped to save his father.

It was just a pity that in her past life she hated Xie Chuchen so much she never thought to question why he had the jade pendant or a why a rich young master like him would want to marry her for money. She never thought to investigate the matter or investigate the situation at the Xie House.

But then again, even if the past her knew the reason, it was unlikely she would have cared enough to lend a helping hand. Xie Chuchen was a stranger, one she didn't even like.

...

Meanwhile Zhao-er[notes] was still stuck in the dog hole. With a troubled heart, he watched as Xie Chuchen walked away with Xiao Wan. It was a dilemma; apparently his master had forgotten about him!

He wanted to cry but had no tears. Just as he ran out of hope a slender hand reached out and pulled him out by the scruff of his clothes. He was finally free!

Zhao-er lifted his flushed face up to his savior. He had intended to utter some words of thanks but instead what came out of his mouth were, "Humph! Don't think that just because you saved me I'll be grateful to you! Both you and your mistress are bad women!"

He regretted the words the moment they came out. He didn't dare look at his savior in the face, instead he lifted the hem of his robe and ran after his master as though mad dogs were nipping at his heels.

Yun Yan[notes] was left standing there awkwardly looking at her own hand. Then she glanced in the direction Zhao-er had run off to.

With a sigh she thought: It's so hard being a good person.

...

Having reached Xie Chuchen's courtyard Xiao Wan said, "Go inside, wash up and change your clothes. Your father will be worried if he sees you like this."

She pulled her hand away and he immediately missed the warmth. He nodded and walked to his bedroom.

He took a step forward but promptly turned around to look at Xiao Wan. Her eyes were unreadable as she stood in the sun. He wanted to tell her he'd thought of her every day for the past three years. The her that appeared in front of him that day was like a dazzling hero. It was an image seared in his heart, quite different from the wolfish image she exuded now.

He knew Xiao Wan was only at his house helping him with the Xu marriage out of pity, and not because she truly recognized him as her husband.

Xiao Wan stood outside surveying Xie Chuchen's courtyard before stepping in. It was a simple, undecorated courtyard. There wasn't a single servant in sight. A glance inside showed an unimpressive room. Really underwhelming.

The rumors about him being extravagant and lacking in the arts didn't appear true. His bookshelves were full of books, more were piled on his desk as well. They were clearly well used. Spread on one side of his desk, partially open, was a picture scroll. Resting in one corner of the room was a zither. The half open scroll caught her curiosity, so she walked over to take closer look. The image of a girl's back came into view. Oh? Now she was even more curious. Just as she reached over to unfurl more of the scroll, a hoa.r.s.e voice spoke up from behind her.