Chapter 7 — Song of the Venom Pearl

Remembering what had happened the other day, I took the initiative and said to him, "Little Yi ruined your painting last time, Young Master. Please allow me to treat you to this meal today as an apology." Ever since I moved into the residence, the Prime Minister had instructed the housekeeper to grant me a monthly allowance equal to that of the daughters of the house, so I could well afford a meal like this.

Cao Jun smiled softly. "In that case, allow me to invite you to an opera performance afterward as a return gesture."

I did not refuse, merely answering with a gentle nod, "Very well."

"Which play do you enjoy, Young Master?"

"And what about you, my lady?"

"My favorite is *The Ancient Hairpin*."

"Isn't that the story of a husband and wife separated during a time of turmoil?" he asked. "The husband later becomes a high official, refuses to remarry, and eventually finds his wife using a keepsake from their past. From then on, they stay together for life, and he never takes a concubine."

"Precisely."

"I did not expect Master Cao to also long for a love that lasts a lifetime, devoted to a single soul."

"Of course," he replied. "In my family, husbands and wives live in deep harmony, and none take concubines. Having seen and heard this since childhood, it is only natural that my heart longs for the same."

We conversed in perfect harmony. Only Little Yi’s small face grew longer and longer with discontent. After sitting for only a short while, he made an excuse to use the washroom and slipped away. When he returned, a tall, imposing figure followed close behind him.

Xie Zhou’s face was as cold as frost as he commanded in a deep, stern voice, "Yangyang, propriety dictates distance between men and women. Come back to the residence with me at once."

I was briefly taken aback—he was actually calling me by such an intimate name? Until now, he had never once addressed me directly by my given name.

Cao Jun stood up immediately, blurting out, "Elder Brother."

Xie Zhou furrowed his brows, his voice laced with intense displeasure. "Who is your elder brother?"

Cao Jun flushed slightly. "It was my breach of etiquette. I ought to have visited the residence sooner to formally propose marriage."

Xie Zhou’s expression turned darkly ominous. "Propose marriage?"

Cao Jun looked at me with soft, tender eyes. "Just now, Yangyang and I discussed it, and she agreed... to let me come to the residence to seek her hand."

Xie Zhou turned to look at me. When he saw my slight, tacit nod of confirmation, his eyes darkened heavily, and he spat out each word with icy finality: "Marriage is decided by parents and elder brothers. You have no right to decide this on your own."

With those words, ignoring Cao Jun’s attempts to stop him, he dragged me straight into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, he demanded to know why I had so recklessly agreed to an engagement with someone else. I kept my head bowed and said not a word.

During my conversation with Cao Jun, I had sensed he was a man worthy of entrusting my entire life to. Moreover, he seemed to harbor genuine feelings for me. Ever since the quarrel with my mother, I felt increasingly out of place in the Prime Minister's residence. Aside from Little Yi, no one truly cared whether I stayed or left. The borderlands were in turmoil, and I did not wish to distract my father. So when Cao Jun tentatively broached the subject, I had nodded in agreement.

Thinking of this, I lifted my head and forced a lighthearted smile. "I will soon be leaving your home. Are you not pleased, Elder Brother?"

"I..." Xie Zhou choked on his words, his eyes blazing with fury.

I could not fathom where his anger stemmed from.

At that moment, Little Yi burst into tears. "I don't want Sister to leave! I don't want you to go!"

"Silly Little Yi, I have to get married eventually."

"No! When I grow up, I will marry Sister!"

"Yi!" Xie Zhou barked coldly, cutting him off. "I do not consent to this marriage."

"Why?"

He did not answer, merely keeping his face cold and remaining silent.

Suddenly, a realization struck me. Of course—last time, he had been jealous over the Princess and Cao Jun, so he surely harbored an aversion toward the man. How could I have forgotten about that? Yet, having given Cao Jun my word, I could not go back on my promise.

The next morning, the Cao family arrived at our doorstep to formally ask for my hand. The Prime Minister originally considered Cao Jun to be a decent young man, but Xie Zhou recited a whole list of his supposed transgressions. He claimed Cao Jun was talented yet overly boastful, pointing out how he had taken first place at the flower-viewing banquet without sparing any face for the prince, who was notoriously fond of painting. He further accused Cao Jun of pretending to be upright while actually being hypocritically dissolute, using the pretext of seeking inspiration to frequent gathering after gathering of noble ladies.

After listening to Xie Zhou's tirade, the Prime Minister grew hesitant and could not make an immediate decision, telling the matchmaker to wait while the family conferred further. However, I spoke up and informed the Prime Minister that I had already given Cao Jun my word; whatever his flaws might be, I was willing to marry him.

Xie Zhou’s frame shuddered imperceptibly, but he merely let out a cold laugh and asked me, "You certainly are loyal. But what about him? Will he keep his word to you like that?"

"Of course he will."

"If that is the case... why don't we make a wager?"

I did not understand what scheme he was devising now, but in my heart, I still believed Cao Jun was a trustworthy man.

"Very well. If I win, Elder Brother shall no longer interfere."

"And if you lose... from now on, you must obey my every command."

Xie Zhou leaned down slightly, the corners of his lips curving into an enigmatic smile. Mother stood nearby watching us, her eyes filled with a complex, unutterable emotion.

A few days later, word came that a great uproar had broken out in the Cao household. At a banquet, a commandery princess had taken a liking to Cao Jun. Lady Cao wished to change her mind; seeing that the Prime Minister had not yet formally accepted the marriage proposal with me, she deemed the previous proposal void and even sent betrothal gifts as an apology. Cao Jun refused to comply, going so far as to launch a hunger strike in protest.

I was deeply moved, but reflecting on how our feelings for each other were not yet profound, I could not bear to see him torment himself on my account. Just as I was about to write a letter to clarify matters and set him free, news arrived that he had accepted the marriage with the commandery princess.

He sent a messenger with a painting and a few words, stating that he was too ashamed to face me again, that his mother had forced him under threat of her own life, leaving him with no choice. He could only gift me this painting, wishing me an early encounter with a good match so that my future life might be as poetic and picturesque as a masterpiece.

Holding the painting, I sighed softly. Unexpectedly, Mother came to comfort me. "Yangyang, last time was my fault. I caused you to hastily entrust yourself to the wrong person. I will ask the Prime Minister to pay close attention and surely find you the finest match under heaven."

My heart was still weighed down by lingering knots, so I merely nodded faintly, intending to return to my room to rest. To my surprise, I ran straight into Xie Zhou, who seemed to have been waiting for me on purpose.

"Has Elder Brother come to mock me?"

"If I wanted to mock you, why would I go through so much trouble?"

I let out a cold laugh. "Indeed. You must have known all along that the commandery princess admired talented scholars, which is why you deliberately got the Princess to ask Cao Jun to paint at the banquet. How meticulously calculated."

His expression remained entirely unbothered. "It was merely to let you see reality clearly. Who doesn't wish to climb higher? Do you think Cao Jun is a fool? He was merely using his mother as an excuse."

I offered a bitter, sarcastic retort. "That makes sense... After all, an elevated and noble person like Elder Brother has also climbed onto the high branch that is the Princess, haven't you?"

A flash of anger crossed Xie Zhou’s face, but it vanished almost instantly. He suddenly let out a soft laugh and whispered, "Do not forget, you lost. From now on, you must obey my every word."

His voice carried an ambiguous, lingering intimacy as he leaned down and whispered into my ear. My ears burned red instantly. Xie Zhou smiled triumphantly, the corners of his lips curving upward. Before I could even react, he turned on his heel and sauntered away.