Chapter 2

The Xie family had been a distinguished house of officials for a hundred years.

Xie Jing'an was gentle and well-mannered, and had already been named heir.

For a secondary daughter like me, marrying the heir was the best future I could hope to reach.

Most importantly, he was softhearted, easy to manipulate, and easy to win over.

My elder sister was furious that her handsome cousin—so polished he seemed carved from jade—had carried me back to the courtyard after I twisted my ankle.

She slapped me so hard I fell down the long flight of steps beneath the corridor.

I landed directly in Xie Jing'an's arms.

With my eyes red as a rabbit's, timid and full of tears, I said:

“It wasn't Sister's fault. I lost my footing.”

Shen Yuetang raised her hand again.

“You shameless little thing! First you tried to seduce my cousin, and now you throw yourself into Xie Jing'an's arms and pretend to be pitiful. Today I'll teach you the rules a young lady should follow.”

“Yuetang!”

Xie Jing'an pulled me behind him and caught Shen Yuetang by the wrist, taking the slap in my place.

My sister couldn't bear seeing the childhood sweetheart she thought she had wrapped around her finger defend me instead.

They had a terrible argument, and from then on, a rift opened between them.

I seized the opportunity to comfort the heir: bringing him food, giving him handkerchiefs, and soothing his feelings.

By chance, as I was seeing Xie Jing'an out, I took a detour and happened upon my elder sister huddled against her cousin, Bùi Vân Châu, sobbing.

Childhood sweethearts turned against each other.

The boy who had grown up beside her became her enemy.

Xie Jing'an lashed out at Shen Yuetang, as if trying to hurt her back:

“You kept wavering between me and Bùi Vân Châu, trying to have us both. Shen Yuetang, impressive.”

“I'd rather marry your younger sister, Shen Yuemian, than a fickle woman like you.”

He was lying.

He only wanted to make my sister angry.

Later, he came to apologize to me.

“I didn't mean to use you to provoke her. I was so angry I wasn't thinking clearly.”

“I've damaged your reputation. I'm sorry.”

I understood and gently comforted him.

“People may laugh and say I married above my station, but that's no great hardship.”

“As for the rumors that I stole my sister's childhood sweetheart, I don't care.”

“Even the little punishments Father and Mother gave me to set me straight are nothing. The heir needn't take them to heart.”

I was so magnanimous.

And yet it only made him feel worse.

He sent all kinds of gifts to my courtyard as if money meant nothing.

But he himself never appeared again.

**03**

Not until the side courtyard caught fire.

Xie Jing'an was trapped in the flames.

My elder sister clutched her cloak and stood crying soundlessly in the courtyard, far away from the blaze.

She and Xie Jing'an looked at each other through the flames.

She was heartbroken and afraid, but too hesitant to step forward.

I arched a delicate brow.

Then I snatched the cloak, soaked it, threw it over myself, and charged into the fire.

I deliberately led Xie Jing'an around through the flames until his legs were covered in blisters. Only then did I rescue him at just the right moment.

Afterward, I collapsed unconscious in front of him with a thud.

Xie Jing'an panicked.

He had just escaped a fire and come close to death. Naturally, the experience would be etched into his heart.

And I had risked my life to save him, never abandoning him, sharing his ordeal.

A large scar remained on the back of my hand.

He was deeply moved and wanted to marry me to repay the debt of a life saved.

I caught his sleeve with my injured hand, my eyes brimming with tears, looking helpless and fragile.

“Are you saying this in a moment of anger, my lord?”

“It's only a small injury. I'm fine.”

“It's not that Sister didn't want to save you. The fire was so fierce. She is a delicate young lady; it's only natural she was afraid.”

Xie Jing'an gently pulled me into his arms, his voice choked.

“What about you?”

“You're a delicate young lady, too. Weren't you afraid?”

I looked up at him, tears shimmering in my eyes.

“I was. But I was even more afraid something would happen to you.”

I pretended to worry that he'd misunderstand and hurried to explain.

“I only… only did it because you're so important to my sister. I don't care about you, I just…”

“I know!”

He laughed softly and cut me off.

Then he drew me back into his arms.

“Do you still not understand your own heart? You risked your life for me, and you say you don't care?”

“I understand now. I'll cherish you. I won't let you down.”

Nestled against him, I let the corner of my mouth lift.

I'd stolen one of my sister's prized fish from her pond.

The fire had stained our wedding robes and bridal veil red.

It had helped me get what I wanted: the marriage I'd been after, won by stepping over my elder sister.

As for how the fire started,

why Xie Jing'an happened to be trapped in it,

why he happened to see my sister hesitate and hold back—

Don't ask.

**04**

The Xie household had powerful connections and countless rules.

As a secondary daughter who had climbed into the position of principal wife, I naturally faced plenty of obstacles.

My mother-in-law made trouble with the household accounts. I had to kneel and serve her tea for ages before I finally brought her around.

My sister-in-law was sharp-tongued and looked down on my birth. I had to maneuver against her several times before I found leverage and completely put an end to her arrogance.

Even the servants in my courtyard each had their own agenda. I had to spend considerable effort managing them: dismissing those who needed to be dismissed, selling off those who deserved it, and buying over those who could be persuaded. Only then did I bring them all to heel.