Volume One, Chapter Six: Wanting No One Else but Her

“Leave.”

Just as the maid’s hand was about to touch Xie Yihe’s clothing, he abruptly spoke up.

His voice was like the icy water of a cold pool, exuding bone-chilling indifference.

The maid’s hand froze midair, awkward and embarrassed. She stammered, “Young Master, if I leave just like this, I’m afraid the Young Mistress won’t be pleased…”

In truth, whether the Young Mistress was displeased was secondary; the key was that Xie Yihe’s mother would be upset.

This maid had been deliberately assigned by Madam Xie.

Madam Xie had been quite angered by Jiang Yutang’s previous actions. Thinking that since Jiang Yutang didn’t mind Xie Yihe taking concubines, she needn’t hold back and could directly use Jiang Yutang’s name to slip people into Xie Yihe’s room.

Xie Yihe’s patience was already exhausted. He cast a cold sidelong glance at the maid and said in a low voice, “Don’t make me say it twice.”

That glance was like a blade of cold light, making the maid's heart shiver. A frigid chill suddenly rose from her feet and spread throughout her body.

Immediately, she dared not linger any longer. Bowing her head, she quietly withdrew from the main room.

The candlelight flickered gently within the glass lampshade.

Xie Yihe stepped into the inner chamber. The room was empty and desolate. He sat alone on the cold bed, his handsome face dim and indistinct in the gloom.

The night passed quietly, in absolute silence.

Jiang Yutang had many daily necessities she hadn’t yet moved to her new residence. Early the next morning, after waking, she went to the main room to wash up.

She did not particularly want to meet Xie Yihe, knowing he practiced martial arts every morning. Carefully calculating the timing, she brought Chun Tao along.

Jiang Yutang ascended the steps, lifted the curtain, and entered the main room, only to unexpectedly meet a pair of cold, narrow eyes.

It was Xie Yihe.

He sat quietly at the round table, not avoiding her as she had expected.

Morning light filled the room. The servants kept their heads bowed, busy but cautious. The atmosphere was like a stagnant pool, heavy and tense.

“Good morning.”

Jiang Yutang hesitated briefly, then greeted first, softly asking, “Have you finished practicing martial arts?”

She thought that if Xie Yihe changed his practice schedule, she would come earlier next time.

Xie Yihe, as usual, ignored her.

His gaze was indifferent, as if Jiang Yutang were a complete stranger with no relation to him.

Jiang Yutang had long grown accustomed to this, feeling no ripple of hurt from his coldness. She no longer forced herself to hide her sadness behind a warm smile, nor did she intentionally seek his favor or cling to him as before.

She walked straight past Xie Yihe toward the dressing table.

Unexpectedly, just as they brushed shoulders, he suddenly spoke.

“Don’t you ever get tired of playing these tricks every day?”

Jiang Yutang stopped abruptly, puzzled, looking at him.

“I decide who I take as a concubine. It’s none of your business.”

Xie Yihe stood up, tall and imposing, looking down on her with impatience furrowing his brow. He said coldly, “You are the Young Mistress, not a madam running a brothel. Don’t push all those fragrant or foul women into my bed to test me just to satisfy your selfish desires. If you’re not tired of it, I find it filthy.”

His words were deeply humiliating, said openly in front of the servants, leaving Jiang Yutang no dignity.

The servants glanced over furtively.

Jiang Yutang clenched her fingers, suddenly understanding.

She frowned and asked, “Someone’s been pushed into your room?”

Xie Yihe, already convinced it was Jiang Yutang’s doing, refused to speak further and swept the curtain as he left the main room.

“You think the Young Mistress is something for you to scrutinize? Everyone out!”

Chun Tao, unable to bear seeing Jiang Yutang humiliated, immediately sent the curious servants away.

Once only the two of them remained, Chun Tao’s eyes filled with concern. “Young Mistress, are you alright? Please don’t be upset…”

Xie Yihe’s prejudice against Jiang Yutang ran deep. He believed she would stop at nothing for love, using other women to test his feelings. Such behavior was hardly surprising to him.

Jiang Yutang’s heart felt as if stabbed with countless knives, but she thought, it’s not any worse than this.

Her expression was calm and indifferent. “It’s not like it’s the first day I’m learning how he feels about me. What’s there to be upset about? Let’s get washed up; there’s still much to do.”

Having decided to use rescuing the emperor as a means to separate from Xie Yihe, she no longer wanted to drag things out.

She planned to quickly sort out the entire household accounts of the Duke of An's residence, handing over the household management power she had always valued and proudly wielded, to clearly separate herself from Xie Yihe.

“Yes, Young Mistress.”

Chun Tao responded.

Perhaps due to guilt over last night’s events, Madam Xie did not cause much trouble when Jiang Yutang finished washing and went to pay her respects. Jiang Yutang had a simple breakfast with the family, then returned to the Dream Garden to start bookkeeping.

In a side room of the Dream Garden, Jiang Yutang had Chun Tao bring the account books and neatly laid them on the table.

The Duke of An’s household was vast and wealthy. Initially, Xie Yihe opposed Jiang Yutang, the new bride, managing the household. But…

Jiang Yutang didn’t want to be looked down upon by Xie Yihe and wanted to get closer to him.

So, even knowing Madam Xie’s intentions were not good when she gave up control of the household, she still grit her teeth and agreed.

Madam Xie was reluctant to spend from her own private funds and wanted the Duke of An’s household to outshine other noble families in the capital. She ordered Jiang Yutang to solve this problem.

Jiang Yutang had no choice but to please them and impress Xie Yihe. She even spent from her dowry income from shops and estates each month to support the great Duke of An’s household, enabling them to live better than before.

Jiang Yutang gave without complaint, and in three years, she earned the recognition of everyone in the Duke’s household.

Everyone could see she was doing this to win Xie Yihe’s favor.

No one believed Jiang Yutang would be willing to give up the last shred of dignity she had as the Young Mistress.

The steward came to deliver the accounts. Seeing Jiang Yutang busy with the abacus, he habitually thought she was trying to perform well in managing the household to please Xie Yihe.

After all…

News of Xie Yihe and Jiang Yutang living apart had spread throughout the household. Everyone assumed some dispute had arisen between them, causing Xie Yihe to refuse to even see her.

Time flew when she was focused, and soon the sun was setting, approaching evening.

“A servant greets the Young Mistress.”

A servant quietly entered the side room.

Jiang Yutang was still busy and didn’t look up. “What is it?”

The servant replied, “Young Master said to have the tea brewed and personally delivered to his study.”

At the beginning, Jiang Yutang had gone to great lengths to learn the art of brewing tea, knowing Xie Yihe enjoyed it, hoping to win his affection this way.

After tasting her tea, Xie Yihe always requested to drink the tea she brewed whenever he was home.

Jiang Yutang was overjoyed.

But later…

She gradually realized that Xie Yihe only liked the tea she brewed. His attitude toward her remained cold and distant.

Moreover, every time she brewed tea, servants would fetch it, never giving her a chance to approach him.

This time, however, he had actively asked her to deliver it herself.

Jiang Yutang had not finished her work and refused outright, “I don’t have time.”

Why should she waste her time on Xie Yihe anymore?