Chapter 6: The Unseen Thread

Xie Yi returned earlier than usual today, arriving at Orchid Garden by noon. He entered the house carrying the warmth of May, his handsome face flushed with a faint, flattering glow. Having spent years navigating between the manor and the yamen, he rarely responded to friends’ invitations for leisure, which kept his complexion fairer than that of other men; thus, any flush on his face was particularly noticeable.

Perhaps it was the heat outside, but his earlobes were also tinged with red, which Shen Shuyao noticed the moment he entered. His appearance reminded her of how he looked in bed when consumed by passion. Shen Shuyao stared at him with great curiosity for a while, making Xie Yi feel uncomfortable and causing his face to turn even redder.

"Does your stomach still hurt?"

Shen Shuyao snapped back to reality, smiling and shaking her head. "I thought I had eaten something bad, but it turned out my monthly cycle had arrived."

The implication was that it had nothing to do with the oil tea Xie Jun had sent. Not wanting to be too blunt, she offered this roundabout explanation, then stole a glance at Xie Yi to gauge his reaction. Although young, Xie Yi had been mature and steady since childhood; having spent several years at the Court of Judicial Review, he had long ago mastered the art of remaining impassive. He was exceptionally skilled at hiding his emotions, appearing remarkably reticent.

Shen Shuyao’s remark might as well have been left unsaid. Xie Yi remained silent for a long time, merely casting a glance at her before turning his head away. Shen Shuyao sighed—he was so dull, with not a hint of charm. Sometimes she felt the entire Orchid Garden was lifeless and stagnant. She missed her days before marriage, when she would play and laugh heartily with her young friends all day long. Now, she felt as if she were talking to a wall.

*Sigh.*

A glimmer of frustration flickered in her bright eyes. She propped her fair, delicate face in her hands, looking listless. Catching sight of Xie Yi unfastening his robe, she sighed again, then stood up and walked toward him with graceful, lotus-like steps.

"Let me."

She stood before him. Lowering her gaze, she saw his dark hair, his elegant, straight nose, and his smooth, flawless skin. She was petite, and his tall, sturdy frame could completely envelop her; though their figures were vastly different, they seemed strangely harmonious.

Xie Yi’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His nose was filled with her fragrance—light, alluring, a blend of floral notes and a hint of milky sweetness. His gaze drifted downward involuntarily, from her red lips to her jade-like neck, finally resting just below her collarbone.

The summer heat was stifling, and her thin, low-cut garment revealed a tender stretch of neck and delicate collarbones, white and dazzling, incredibly provocative. The fragrance seemed to emanate from within her bodice, further fueling his imagination.

Xie Yi stared unblinkingly for a moment, then blinked when he felt her soft fingers moving across his chest.

He was so tall that her arms grew tired after only a few buttons. When she finally finished, her back was warm and damp with a light sheen of sweat. Shen Shuyao dropped her hands and exhaled, relieved that the task was done.

Xie Yi looked down, catching sight of the gentle heaving of her chest, which dizzied his senses. He took a step back and swallowed, saying, "You never complained of stomach pain during your cycles before."

Shen Shuyao, her arms aching, didn't think much of his words, assuming it was a show of concern. She rubbed her arm and sat down to pour a cup of tea before realizing he was still arguing about the incident from the night before.

She shook her head gently, feeling even more dissatisfied with him. Not only was he unromantic and incapable of coaxing her, but he also insisted on winning every minor argument, never knowing how to yield. She could only imagine how stifling her future life would be.

Her red lips parted, but she ultimately said nothing, not wanting to argue further.

***

Feeling exhausted today, Shen Shuyao went to bed early. Xie Yi had gone to the study after dinner and had only just returned.

Only one lamp remained lit in the room, casting dim light and blurred shadows. Xie Yi instinctively looked toward the daybed, catching sight of her petite, curvaceous silhouette through the gauze curtains.

The man lowered his eyes and climbed onto the bed with light, cautious steps, fearing he might wake her. In truth, Shen Shuyao had opened her eyes the moment he entered; she had not been sleeping deeply, and the movement in the room had roused her immediately.

However, she didn't speak, intending to feign sleep to the end. She was still angry about what happened at noon and didn't want to engage with him.

Xie Yi lay down and remained still, his breathing steady. Thinking he had fallen asleep, Shen Shuyao turned over to face him. Just then, someone knocked on the door outside, and Shen Shuyao saw Xie Yi open his eyes immediately—he hadn't been asleep at all.

"Eldest Young Master, the Second Young Master is here."

The Second Young Master visiting in the middle of the night—what could be so urgent?

Shen Shuyao instinctively looked at Xie Yi, meeting his inscrutable expression. She blinked her clear eyes, feeling both puzzled and innocent.

Xie Yi sat up and put on his shoes. She started to rise, but he stopped her.

"I’ll go see what it is. You sleep."

"Let’s go together."

The man remained expressionless, a hint of annoyance hidden in his dark eyes. Shen Shuyao frowned, confused by his look; he seemed unhappy.

"Stay here and put your clothes on properly."

Hearing this, Shen Shuyao quickly looked down. She was wearing her undergarments, but the collar was wide open, exposing one shoulder and a hint of skin. Flustered, she quickly rearranged her clothes, but by the time she looked up again, Xie Yi had already left.

***

Xie Jun’s midnight visit surprised Xie Yi as well. The brothers lived in harmony, but because Xie Yi was so reticent, Xie Jun rarely sought him out, let alone at such an hour. This was a first.

Xie Yi threw on an outer robe and stepped out. Instead of going to the study, the brothers stood in the corridor, their shadows stretching long.

"Why is my second brother here so late? Is there an emergency?"

Xie Jun knew it was improper to disturb him at this hour, so he looked uncomfortable, scratching his head. "I wanted to ask my sister-in-law for a favor, but since it is so late, I have to trouble you, elder brother, to pass the message."

Asking for Shen Shuyao?

The man’s cold, stern face grew even colder. He pressed his brow and glanced toward the door, catching a glimpse of a silhouette cast upon it. It was slender and graceful, the head tilted slightly—clearly, she was eavesdropping.

Xie Yi wondered to himself: did she not realize that her shadow could be seen from the outside?

After a long silence, Xie Jun grew restless. His elder brother was taciturn and unpredictable, exerting a sense of oppression that made him nervous. He feared that one wrong word might displease him and lead to a lecture.

"Brother, is it possible?"

Xie Yi snapped back to reality, his face remaining impassive. "Speak."

***

Inside the room, Shen Shuyao was disheveled, her hair loose. Since Xie Yi hadn't let her go out, she didn't bother tidying up. She pulled her collar shut and stepped off the bed. Bending over, she pressed her ear against the door, trying to hear their conversation, but the distance was too great and their voices too low for her to make out the words.

She faintly caught the word "sister-in-law." Sister-in-law—that was her, wasn't it? Were they talking about her?

What exactly were they saying?

Shen Shuyao felt a flutter of panic, her heart pounding. She feared they were discussing something to her disadvantage, but what could it be? Her curiosity peaked; she was desperate to know, so she pressed her entire body against the door. But now, there was no sound at all. Had they moved elsewhere?

Just as she was wondering, the door swung open with a loud thud, pushed forcefully from the outside. Shen Shuyao stumbled back two steps, her expression betraying her guilt. Being caught eavesdropping was mortifying.

She waved her hands helplessly, touching her head and face, taking a long time to regain her composure. Yet, her opening words betrayed her agitation.

"You're back. What did you talk to the second brother about?"

Unlike her flustered state, Xie Yi looked as he always did. He didn't chide her for eavesdropping; he simply closed the door with a steady hand and looked her in the eye.

He hung his outer robe on the rack and climbed back onto the bed, his mood unreadable.

Shen Shuyao followed him, but seeing he had no intention of speaking, she decided it would be less painful to just ask Xie Jun tomorrow. She turned her back to him, choosing to act as if nothing had happened and settle down to sleep.

Just as she closed her eyes, a low, masculine voice reached her ears.

"The second brother came to ask for your help."

"Ask for my help? What kind of help? Why didn't he ask you?"

Shen Shuyao turned around and fired off three questions. Xie Yi paused, then replied, "The daughter of Minister Chen is well-acquainted with you. The second brother wants you to act as an intermediary, to issue an invitation for her to visit the Xie manor."

Upon hearing this, Shen Shuyao remained silent for a long moment, her long eyelashes fluttering as she processed the reality: Xie Jun had taken a fancy to her close friend and wanted her to play matchmaker.

She bit her lower lip, her mind racing. "That’s not very good. Mother already has plans for the second brother's marriage. If I meddle, I fear Mother will be displeased."

Xie Yi nodded. He knew this, of course, and had already told Xie Jun as much, which was why he had a countermeasure in mind.

"It is fine. You send the invitation to Miss Chen, setting the date for the birthday banquet. Let them meet, and afterwards, the second brother will explain it to Mother. The blame will not fall on you."

It sounded reasonable, yet Shen Shuyao still felt awkward. It was her first time doing such a thing, and both parties were dear to her.

When had Xie Jun taken a fancy to Chen Shuyi? Probably at some banquet.

She sighed inwardly. Before she was married, she had many close friends, and she rarely had a moment of leisure—every day someone was inviting her out. It wasn't like now, where to maintain a reputation for virtue, she never stepped outside the inner gates, and she had grown distant from her friends. When was the last time she saw Chen Shuyi? It must have been three months ago, at another family's banquet.

Shen Shuyao’s thoughts drifted. After a long silence, Xie Yi, thinking she was troubled, spoke again, "Don't worry. In the end, this is his own life, and whoever he favors is his own business. It has little to do with you. Sleep."

***

She blinked, finally returning to the present. "Why didn't he ask you to send the invitation?"

Xie Yi turned to look at her. His silhouette was blurred in the darkness, but his presence was heavy. The air between them was filled with her faint fragrance, which he found comforting.

The man reached out, his hand landing on her waist, his fingers closing around her slender frame.

"If I were to send the invitation, it would have to be to Minister Chen."

Shen Shuyao realized the truth instantly. Chen Shuyi was unmarried and her close friend; if Xie Yi were to invite her, it would be improper. She had overlooked that.

She uttered an "oh," and having no reason to refuse, she agreed.

Shen Shuyao yawned, feeling drowsy, but the fingers rubbing against her waist kept her alert. Taking advantage of the fact that she was "unwell," she decided to tease him.

"My waist isn't sore, but I’m itching terribly elsewhere."

Xie Yi swallowed, asking with forced patience, "Where? I hope it’s not an allergy."

*What a bookworm,* she thought. *The books he reads all day are too stiff; they aren't good books at all.*

Shen Shuyao rolled her eyes in the dark, snuggled into his arms, and pointed to her chest. "Right here."

In Shen Shuyao's memory, apart from their intimate moments, Xie Yi was always very proper; he would at most hold her waist, and he never touched her anywhere else. He certainly wouldn't massage her chest while she was having her monthly cycle.

So, the moment she finished speaking, Xie Yi replied without a second thought, "Your neck is itchy? Let me look."

He leaned in to inspect, but it was too dark to see anything. Xie Yi prepared to get out of bed to light the lamp, but as he turned, she pulled on his robe, her voice muffled and seemingly displeased.

"It's better now. I'm going to sleep."

Xie Yi was utterly bewildered, wondering why she had changed her mind so quickly. He opened his mouth to ask, but seeing her turn away, he remained silent. She was probably just feeling unwell and tired.

***

The next day, Shen Shuyao sent the invitation to Chen Shuyi. Chen Shuyi replied quickly the following day, her words filled with excitement and complaints about how boring life had been without her.

Exchanging letters made Shen Shuyao exceptionally happy, and she found herself looking forward to the birthday banquet.

On the fifteenth of May, the day before the banquet, Shen Shuyao spent the entire day busy with Lady Lin. There was so much to prepare and so many details to attend to that it was only after checking the guest list for the final time that she was able to return and rest.

Xie Yi was propped up on the bed reading. He lifted his eyelids when he heard the door open, then lowered them again.

She was exhausted, and since he didn't speak, she couldn't be bothered to engage him, so they remained in silence. Sometimes Shen Shuyao wondered: since she was always the one talking, if they were both equally taciturn, would they go days without speaking at all?

She thought it likely. Both of them were like sealed jars—the days would have no joy at all. *Sigh.*

Shen Shuyao bathed quickly today, mostly because she was tired and wanted to rest early. After drying off, she threw on a robe and walked out. Without asking Xie Yi, she took it upon herself to blow out the lamp.

The room fell into dimness. Unable to see the words on his book, Xie Yi set it aside and looked down as she approached.

Shen Shuyao fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, with no energy to deal with him. However, Xie Yi was a bit persistent tonight; he gripped her waist and leaned in to kiss her.

Her cycle had passed, and they hadn't been intimate for a while. Shen Shuyao wanted to, but she was too tired today, lacking any real spark. Just as a refusal was about to escape her lips, she felt his hand move to the side of her thigh, his intentions ambiguous.

She instantly regained her spirit, blinking her watery eyes at him, her hands wrapping around his broad shoulders like vines.

*Does he have a new trick up his sleeve?*