Twenty thousand and twenty.

Shen Shuyao returned home quite late. By the time she stepped through the doorway, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over her pink skirts and making her appear all the more serene and gentle.

The hem of her dress brushed against the threshold, swaying against her calves and offering a glimpse of her slender, straight legs, which looked fragile. She held a stack of items in her arms, and as she glanced down at them, her face was filled with joy and relief. She had gained quite a lot from her outing today, and Shen Shuyao felt very satisfied.

Returning to Lan Garden with her treasures, Shen Shuyao was pleasantly surprised to find that the bed in her room had been replaced with a more exquisite and ornate canopy bed. She circled it twice, feeling very pleased, and her mood brightened even further.

She asked her young maid when it had been changed. The maid replied that it was done shortly after she had left. The maid also mentioned that the Eldest Young Master had been there at the time, which shocked Shen Shuyao—Xie Yi had returned.

"Where is he?"

"In the study."

She thought as much; where else would Xie Yi be if not in his study? Shen Shuyao set down her snacks and went to the study to find him.

Liu Yi and Ma Yuan were guarding the door. Catching sight of her, they bowed and let her enter without a word. Mindful of etiquette, Shen Shuyao knocked before going in.

Incense was burning in the room, and the curling white mist obscured the man’s figure, making him look hazy and indistinct.

"Xie Yi," she called out, turning her head to see him behind the desk.

"You returned quite early today."

She hadn't changed her clothes since coming back, and her back felt sticky and damp. Her face was flushed slightly pink from the sun, and her skin, translucent and flawless under the daylight, seemed to glow. She brushed a damp strand of hair from her ear and took a deep breath; it felt cool and comfortable.

Xie Yi looked up, his gaze immediately falling upon her face as she leaned in. Her neck was slender and graceful, and a fragrant scent wafted from her collarbone. He inhaled, then frowned and said, "You didn't even wipe your face when you came back."

His tone sounded like a reprimand, but his eyes were filled with indulgence.

Shen Shuyao looked at herself and took a sniff; although she had sweated, there was no odor. He was finding fault with her.

"Fine, I'll go back and change."

As she turned to leave, her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of an old book on the desk. It had no title on the cover, and she couldn't tell what it was. It looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place it, so she cast a puzzled glance at it before looking away.

It wasn't that she was overthinking it, but Xie Yi's study never contained such cheap, dirty books. He was fastidious and had the room cleaned daily, so where had this come from?

Curling her lip, she dismissed the thought and walked out, lifting her skirt. After only two steps, Xie Yi followed close behind. Shen Shuyao turned around, looked him up and down, and asked, "Why are you following me?"

Xie Yi had been a bit clingy lately.

"Going back to the room," the man said, his eyes calmly scanning the golden light. "It is time for dinner."

She murmured an acknowledgment and ignored the person following her.

She had spent the afternoon strolling about, eating plenty of tea, pastries, and other treats. She wasn't hungry now, so Shen Shuyao sat quietly and watched him eat.

"Not hungry, or is the food not to your taste?"

"I ate my fill while I was out. You eat."

The time for her to play the virtuous wife had arrived. She didn't eat, but she could watch him. She picked up her chopsticks, serving him vegetables, pouring him soup, and then asking if he wanted wine.

Xie Yi squinted at her. He wasn't used to her sudden enthusiasm; he preferred the way she used to be—delicate and unaffected, sincere, occasionally willful, and full of spirited banter. That was the version of her he liked.

Right now, she was putting on an act again.

Xie Yi didn't want to expose her; he wanted to see how long his wife could keep it up.

"Keep me company and have a drink," he suggested.

In the past, if Xie Yi made a suggestion, she would certainly comply. But at the request to drink, Shen Shuyao shook her head without a second thought. No, she couldn't get drunk; she couldn't handle the consequences of a hangover. She wouldn't drink.

Xie Yi watched her and smiled, downing the wine in his glass in one go. He didn't flush or lose his breath; his tolerance was far better than hers.

"So afraid? It's just one cup."

"Mm, no."

She poured him another cup and moved her own further away. The small gesture was not lost on Xie Yi, who shook his head with a laugh—and perhaps a touch of regret.

—

The canopy bed had a woody scent that she found very comfortable. Shen Shuyao loved it; she always felt it carried the essence of nature.

She crawled around the bed, looking left and right, then up and down. Tapping the bed frame, she asked curiously, "Does this bed have any secret compartments?"

"What secret compartments? You've been reading too many storybooks."

She was just asking; in case she had valuables to hide, it would be good to have a place. After a closer look, she confirmed there were no hidden compartments and gave up, lying down obediently to sleep.

Xie Yi leaned against the bed reading. The light was dim, so he squinted at the words for a long time before suddenly asking, "Did you see a handkerchief when you got up this morning?"

"No, why?"

"I forgot where I put it after wiping you down last night."

Shen Shuyao’s face flushed, and she muttered, "Suihua must have cleaned it up this morning. They are shy; they wouldn't mention such things."

Xie Yi nodded. That was fine. When he changed the bed this afternoon, he had been terrified that the servants would find the handkerchief and make a joke of it. Fortunately, all that was under the bed was a book.

"Why haven't you been reading your storybooks lately? Did you lose them?"

"Eh? How did you know?"

She scrambled up from the bed, rambling to Xie Yi, "Zhiwei found one a few days ago, but I forgot where I put it after reading only a couple of pages. Did you see it?"

"Mm, it was under the bed. I put it away."

Shen Shuyao tapped his leg and said, "I knew it! How could it just disappear? You didn't read it, did you?"

Xie Yi shook his head; he had no interest in the books she read. "I didn't read it."

Phew, that was good.

Her tense body relaxed, and she fell back onto the bed.

The man turned his head and added, "What was the story about?"

Judging by her expression, she didn't want him to know.

"Just some romance, nothing much." Shen Shuyao kicked up one foot, swaying it back and forth; her pale, tender foot was enticing.

"You don't even like reading them."

He didn't like reading them, but he was curious.

For example: "Where did you learn… that?"

A hint of unease flashed in his dark eyes, and the way he covered his lips seemed to hide his embarrassment. Xie Yi had wanted to ask her last time but had been too busy and forgotten. Now that he remembered, he asked it in passing.

Shen Shuyao didn't understand at first, watching him blankly. "Which one? I am not talented, but I know quite a bit."

Xie Yi scoffed. Indeed, she knew quite a bit.

"Brother."

The moment the word was spoken, Shen Shuyao's expression shifted. Her previously bright smile turned cloudy, and the change was too obvious. She turned away, refusing to look at him, her rejection plain on her face.

She had told him not to mention it, but Xie Yi had gone and said it anyway. Shen Shuyao felt her face burning, rolled her eyes in secret, and remained silent.

The man leaned in, his cool, clean scent brushing against her neck as he whispered, "Which book did you learn that from?"

As a man, Xie Yi had grown up studying the Four Books and Five Classics and had never touched such trivial literature; now, his eyes had been opened. No wonder his old classmates liked reading *The Golden Lotus*.

Her neck felt itchy, and she scratched it, saying unhappily, "Stop talking, let's sleep."

Xie Yi chuckled. It didn't matter if she didn't say; he hadn't read it, but that didn't mean he didn't know. What surprised him, however, was how many of those books Shen Shuyao had read; who knew what else she might be hiding?

Xie Yi smiled and lay down, his hand naturally resting on her waist. She shrank away like a fish, leaping inward. But before she could jump far, she was caught in a giant net, unable to escape.

—

By mid-August, the heat had dissipated, and the evenings were cooler, especially after a rain.

Shen Shuyao loved to wander into the back garden during this time. Once, she ran into Xiaoxiao, who hurriedly ran away upon seeing her, leaving Shen Shuyao standing there in embarrassment. Remembering how she had once misunderstood the relationship between her and Xie Yi, she felt bad. She told Xiaoxiao to go to the front courtyard; it would be easier for her to meet A-Si.

When A-Si returned with Xie Yi and suddenly saw Xiaoxiao, he was so happy he didn't know what to do. It was only when he turned his head and saw her leaning against the door frame, suppressing a smile, that he realized what had happened. He trotted over, scratching his head in embarrassment to thank her.

Shen Shuyao teased them, telling them not to forget her when they got married—she wanted to drink at their wedding feast.

A-Si nodded happily and whispered that she should bring the Master along too.

Bring him, bring him—she would certainly bring him.

Over there, Xie Yi watched the two whispering and was displeased. He hung his head and glared at A-Si. A-Si shrank his neck, nodded, and hurried off.

Shen Shuyao leaned against the door frame, smiling, radiant and brilliant.

That night, as they sat drinking tea, Shen Shuyao glanced at him and asked, "When are you going to bring my book over?"

She had asked him to bring it over a few days ago. Xie Yi had agreed, but he hadn't taken any actual action. A few days had passed, and he had likely forgotten.

Xie Yi replied lazily, "It's only a step away to the study."

He meant for her to go get it herself.

Shen Shuyao scoffed, "You're the one who took it, so you have to bring it back."

Xie Yi looked at her and sighed helplessly, "Fine."

It was just a book—what was so good about it that she couldn't stop thinking about it?

The book had been in the study for days, and Xie Yi hadn't flipped through it once; it was certainly taking up space.

After finishing his tea, Xie Yi walked toward the bed, only to be stopped by her. Shen Shuyao looked up at him.

"Go now."

"Tomorrow."

"Do today's work today." Those were words Xie Yi had once said to her; now she was returning them.

"You said it."

Xie Yi opened his mouth and then closed it, defeated by his own words. He gave Shen Shuyao a long look, then turned and went to the study.

The book was right there on the desk, easy to find. Xie Yi picked it up, took a look, and as he was about to leave, he set it back down.

What kind of storybook was this, that it was worth Shen Shuyao obsessing over it daily? He had to see.

Xie Yi sat down and flipped to a random page. The next moment, his gaze froze, and his expression changed drastically.

—

The wind picked up, and the leaves rustled. The lanterns under the eaves swayed violently, their yellow light casting overlapping, hazy shadows.

Shen Shuyao looked outside once more. An incense stick of time had passed; why hadn't Xie Yi returned? Was he busy with something else?

She didn't send anyone to ask—partly because she feared disturbing him, and partly because she didn't want to seem impatient. But what was he doing for so long?

Her eyes grew dry, and she felt drowsy. Just as she was thinking of resting first, voices sounded outside the door.

"Suihua, what are you holding?"

"The book the Young Mistress was looking for."

Suihua pushed the door open, held the book up to her, and said, "I saw a cat by the kitchen gate, and when I went over to look, it had a book in its mouth. Young Mistress, is this the one you lost a few days ago?"

Shen Shuyao was puzzled. Wasn't her book with Xie Yi? How could a cat have stolen it?

Just as she was about to say it wasn't the one, Suihua placed it in front of her. She took a peek and swallowed the words she was about to speak.

Shen Shuyao’s eyes widened. She grabbed the book and checked it thoroughly, confirming it was indeed the one she had lost. If a cat had stolen this, then what had Xie Yi found under the bed?

She tilted her head, and suddenly, a scene flashed in her mind. Shen Shuyao remembered—that book on the study desk...

Shen Shuyao was terrified, her panic making her clumsy. She wanted to run to the study in her inner garments, but Suihua reminded her to put on an outer robe.

Xie Yi hadn't read it before, but what about now? She hoped heaven would favor her and that her luck would hold.

There was no one at the door of the study, and it was left slightly ajar, letting out a faint candlelight. She stood at the door, peering inside, and hearing no movement, her heart filled with even more anxiety and panic.

Shen Shuyao took a deep breath and pushed the door open, trying to appear as normal as possible.

Behind the desk, the man was resting his forehead on his hands, his back hunched, his head lowered, his expression hidden. But Shen Shuyao could feel the gloomy atmosphere enveloping him—it was more frightening than a bottomless abyss.

She swallowed nervously and called out, her voice tight, "Xie Yi."

Her small hands twisted together, moving back and forth in distress. She curled her lips into a smile that looked worse than crying.

"Why haven't you returned to the room for so long? Are you tired? Let's go back and sleep."

Her peripheral vision caught sight of the book. It was already open, with many pages turned. She clearly saw the familiar handwriting and words. She had written them herself, one stroke at a time, and she could even remember what she had written and how she had felt at the time.

She had brought this upon herself.

After a long while, the man looked up, his eyelids lifted, his dark gaze fixed on her. The hostility in his eyes was visible, yet he was struggling to contain it.

"What do you want?" he asked, his voice chillingly heavy.

Shen Shuyao looked at him, her fingers trembling where he couldn't see, forcing herself to look composed.

"I saw you hadn't returned for a long time, so I came to check."

The man sneered, straightened his back, and leaned back, his eyes flashing with a coldness that made her shiver.

"You've been obsessing over this book all day, so I got curious and flipped through a few pages."

Xie Yi threw the book forward and continued, "Guess what I saw?"

—

There was no need to guess. He had definitely seen it all.

Shen Shuyao had never felt such despair. When she had mistakenly married Xie Yi, she could still accept it, but now, she felt genuine panic.

She didn't know how to explain, or if denying it now would even be of any use.

"My book was found; this, this isn't mine."

Xie Yi closed his eyes, his anger almost beyond control.

"Shen Shuyao, you are still lying."

The journal recording her innermost thoughts flew to her feet. The page that was open showed the words clearly, and the name "Xie Yi" caught her eye.

"Xie Yi..."

She took two steps forward, slowly approaching him, looking at his arm, wanting to grab it but afraid to, for fear he would loathe her even more.

"Listen to me explain, I..."

She wanted to explain, but not a single word would come out; she didn't know where to start.

"I..."

"What do you want to explain?"

The man stood up, walked around the desk, and stopped in front of her. His black eyes stared at her unblinkingly, filled with sharp, piercing light.

Shen Shuyao shrank back and averted her gaze, explaining, "I, this, I just wrote it down randomly at the time, it's not true."

"Then what is true?"

Xie Yi pressed her step by step. She wouldn't admit it, trying to muddle through—that was right, she had always been like this, rarely saying a word of truth. If the evidence hadn't been right in front of him, she surely wouldn't have admitted these were her belongings.

Xie Yi suddenly remembered the Qionghua Banquet. He and several other young gentlemen were chatting in the corridor, while she stood by the lake nearby, admiring the lanterns, her eyes fixed on him across the water. They had joked that Shen Shuyao was bold and infatuated with him, daring to stare at him in front of everyone, suggesting she must be deeply in love.

At that time, his heart was like still water, and he felt nothing, only thinking the young girl was indeed bold. After they were married, she never looked at him with those eyes again. It turned out there was a reason for everything.

She hadn't been looking at him, and the person she wanted to marry wasn't him—it was his second younger brother, Xie Jun.

The man’s hand, hanging at his side, suddenly clenched, his veins bulging and the back of his hand turning white.

Xie Yi took a deep breath, trying to remain rational. "I ask you, if Mother hadn't misunderstood and begged the Emperor to bestow the marriage, would you have wanted to marry Xie Jun?"

She couldn't say yes, so she could only remain silent, but her silence was, to Xie Yi, equivalent to an admission.

He was right. In the past, the person Shen Shuyao had wanted to marry was indeed Xie Jun.

His heart was torn into pieces, the wound bleeding, raw and red, difficult to heal.

The man’s thin lips were pressed into a line, his jaw tight, and the look he gave her became increasingly terrifying.

"When we shared the same bed, did you think of him? Did you ever mistake me for him?"

If she said she had, Xie Yi wanted to strangle her.

"No."

Shen Shuyao was terrified. Xie Yi had never lost his temper with her like this; he was so angry that she couldn't soothe him.

Her trembling hand reached for his arm, her tone sincere, laced with tremors. "No, I never thought of him. I only thought of you, believe me."

The anger in the man's eyes faded slightly, and he asked, "And now? Is he still in your heart?"

Shen Shuyao shook her head firmly, her tone more sincere than before. "No, no. Xie Yi, believe me, listen to my explanation. Don't be angry anymore."

How could he not be angry?

There was too much; she had deceived him too many times. Xie Yi couldn't accept it all at once; he needed a few days to calm down and think clearly.

The man stared at her for a long time. She panicked, her eyes reddening, her damp eyelashes glistening. Tears welled up but didn't fall, and the sight of her was even more pitiful.

Xie Yi lowered his gaze, fearing that if he looked any longer, his heart would soften. He ruthlessly shook off her hand and walked out.

Shen Shuyao grabbed him, pleading, "Don't go."

"Do you have even half a shred of sincerity toward me?"

Yes, she had sincerity.

She was about to nod, but then she heard him say in a suppressed voice, "You performed your morning and evening greetings, you were filial to your parents-in-law, and you acted tolerant and generous to the outside world—all just for a good reputation. Washing your hands to make soup and clothes for me, appearing gentle and virtuous—that was also for my respect. But in the end, it was all fake. What was it that you actually did?"

Nothing. Even the account books were managed with the help of others.

"Shen Shuyao, tell me, did you ever put your heart into it?"

Her small face was pale, her red lips parted, but she couldn't say a word.

So, he knew everything.

Xie Yi took one last look at her. "We should think about whether a marriage without any sincerity can last."

With those words, the man brushed his sleeves and left.

She stood there in a daze, tears swirling in her eyes. By the time she regained her senses and chased after him, she saw only the pitch-black night; he was already gone.

The night wind was biting, and as it brushed past her, she felt a chill and shivered.

—

Shen Shuyao picked up her journal, tears streaming down her face, and read a few pages. The beginning was written before she was married, and the end was written after. After marrying into the Xie household, she hadn't mentioned Xie Jun's name again, but she had written a passage at the beginning, and as luck would have it...

She flipped through the records after her marriage and was shocked to realize how many of her true thoughts she had written down. No wonder Xie Yi was so angry.

...

The first day in the Xie household: I cried. Xie Yi thought I was crying because of pain, but that wasn't it. I just felt that I could never go back to how things were. Besides, he isn't gentle at all. Disappointed.

The second day: Xie Yi talks so little. I wonder if he's like that in the imperial court? What if he argues with his colleagues and can't win? But that's fine; in the future, if we argue, he'll definitely be the one to lose.

The fifth day: Lady Lin took me to a banquet. A group of ladies surrounded me and looked me over. Fortunately, I am clever; I had them dancing to my tune. The ladies were overjoyed and kept praising me for being sensible. My Shen family's reputation is about to be reversed.

The tenth day: Lady Lin tentatively asked if I would be willing to let Xie Yi take a concubine. Of course, I said yes; I couldn't say no. But if he takes a concubine, she must be easy to handle; I can't let her climb over my head.

...

The twentieth day: This man, Xie Yi, is completely unromantic, like a block of wood. In bed, he always uses the same position. I'm bored. I know so many tricks, but alas, a hero with no place to show his prowess.

The thirtieth day: When Xie Yi returned, there was blood on his clothes. He must have gotten the worst of a fight. I kindly comforted him, and he actually gave me a sour face. Hmph, why didn't the other person hit him harder and teach him a lesson?

The fiftieth day: I had Suihua make a set of pajamas, and I offered them to Xie Yi as if they were my own work. Xie Yi actually believed me; he's so easy to fool. I'll do this next time...