Volume One, Chapter 19: You Are Already Mine

Xie Jiaoyue felt a deep chill permeate her entire body. She desperately wanted to tell the man before her that that night had been nothing more than an exchange of interests—a transaction.

Yet, she currently lacked the standing to explain herself to Xu Huaiyang. They were to be betrothed soon. It seemed far too late to claim she had no affection for him.

Xu Huaiyang tightened his grip on the hairpin in his hand, looked up at Xie Jiaoyue, and asked slowly, "Do you not like it?"

Xie Jiaoyue remained silent, a gesture that seemed to confirm his suspicion.

A flicker of light dimmed in Xu Huaiyang’s eyes. He slowly withdrew the hairpin and said, "If you don't like it, no matter. I have other treasures at my estate; I shall bring them for you to see another time."

In his heart, Xu Huaiyang was already pondering what other gifts he might bring to appease her next time, while simultaneously grumbling at his servant, Ping'an, and cursing himself for not listening to his staff’s advice on what to gift her. He assumed that she merely disliked this particular hairpin, and that as long as he chose a different gift, he could surely win her favor. He remained oblivious to the fact that no matter what he offered, Xie Jiaoyue would never find joy in it.

Looking at the young woman he had held in his heart since childhood, Xu Huaiyang said, "As soon as I returned, I went to the Prime Minister’s residence to propose."

Xie Jiaoyue’s hands, hidden beneath her sleeves, clenched into fists. She could no longer suppress the panic and grief swelling within her. Like a wounded beast cornered, she looked at Xu Huaiyang, her voice trembling.

"Why? Did the Heir not promise me that night that we would go our separate ways once it was over? Why did you come to the Prime Minister's residence to propose?"

Xu Huaiyang watched the faint redness rimming her eyes and frowned. "Why should I not propose? You are already my woman. If you do not marry me, do you intend to marry someone else?"

Xu Huaiyang finally understood why Xie Jiaoyue was unhappy. She still did not like him, and worse, now that they had shared intimacy, she still refused to marry him.

Xie Jiaoyue bit her lip. Her nails dug so deeply into her palms that the pain made her heart shudder. Her chest heaved; she was so angry she felt unable to speak. After a long moment, she took a deep breath and looked up at him.

"In the Heir's eyes, I am only someone’s woman, never Xie Jiaoyue herself."

Having said this, she turned to walk toward the door. In the eyes of the world, women were meant to be wed to men. Thus, now that she had lost her purity, they sought to correct the "mistake" by forcing her to marry the man who had taken it. That way, they could pretend she had remained a virtuous and faithful woman all along.

Xie Jiaoyue did not understand: was chastity truly so important to a woman? Yet, she understood all too well that, in this world, chastity and purity were considered more important than life itself.

Xu Huaiyang grabbed her wrist. He was struck by how frail her arm felt, but he was also angered by her refusal to marry him. He raised his voice: "We have already performed the rites of husband and wife. If you are not my woman, whose woman could you possibly be?"

Xie Jiaoyue looked at him, a flush of color returning to her pale cheeks from sheer fury, her lips—stained like pomegranate juice—trembling incessantly.

"I have no need to argue with you. If the Heir is so stubborn in this belief, there is no point in me saying anything further." To listen would only be to invite more rage.

She pulled at her wrist. "I ask the Heir to let go."

Xu Huaiyang stared at her; her brows were fierce with indignation, yet her face was flushed a faint red. He was stunned for a moment, recalling that night three years ago when her hair had been disheveled, her eyes swimming with passion, and she had been too afraid to meet his gaze.

"Xie Jiaoyue." He suddenly called her name.

As she looked up, before she could respond, she was pressed against the door panel. One large hand held her waist, while the other cushioned the back of her head.

Xie Jiaoyue’s eyes widened. Without a second thought, she raised her hand and slapped Xu Huaiyang across the face. The frail girl used every ounce of her strength, turning his head to the side. As soon as she struck him, she tried to turn and open the door.

Xu Huaiyang pinned her shoulders, shoving her back against the wall. She was like a sickly bird held fast by a predator, unable and powerless to struggle.

Just as Xu Huaiyang began to speak, the voice of Zhi Qiu rang out from outside the door. "Second Young Master!"

Hardly had the voice faded when the door was kicked open. The man who strode in immediately saw the woman pressed against the door panel.

Xu Huaiyang released her and pulled her into his arms, looking at the furious Xie Chengzhu with a defiant gaze. "Is this not my second brother? What wind has blown you to the Guanghe Pavilion today?"

Xu Huaiyang recalled a day four years ago at the cuju field, when Xie Jiaoyue had stood beside this man, smiling gently, while he could only watch from afar. Now, the tables had turned; Xie Jiaoyue was in his arms. The mere thought made Xu Huaiyang feel vindicated.

Xie Chengzhu’s face turned leaden with rage. "Who is your second brother!"

"Is there anyone else in this room?" Xu Huaiyang was always arrogant and overbearing, never one to yield in a war of words. "My future Princess Consort calls you second brother, so naturally, you are my second brother as well."

Xie Chengzhu looked coldly at Xie Jiaoyue. "Come here!"

As she moved to comply, the hand Xu Huaiyang had around her waist tightened, pinning her so firmly she could not move. She looked up at him and said coldly, "Let go."

Instead of releasing her, Xu Huaiyang turned to Xie Chengzhu and said, "Why is Second Brother so angry? Jiaojiao has already agreed to join me for the lantern festival tonight; she cannot leave with you now."

Hearing this, Xie Chengzhu’s expression grew even colder. "Xie Jiaoyue, do you still remember your status? Not only are you a maiden alone in a room with a man, but you intend to parade about in public at the lantern festival with him?"

"Do you even remember how to write the word 'shame'?"

Xie Jiaoyue felt as though her entire body were freezing. Look how absurd it was. She had been forced by Xu Huaiyang, she had explicitly asked him to let go, and he had heard her—yet her own kin seemed blind to her suffering, choosing only to heap accusations upon her.

Xu Huaiyang frowned, casting a hostile glance at Xie Chengzhu. "Is Young Master Xie senile? I have just stated that I intend to take her as my wife. She is my fiancée. What is improper about a man accompanying his own fiancée to the lantern festival?"

Xie Chengzhu clenched his fists, unable to contain himself any longer, and struck out at Xu Huaiyang. "Who is your fiancée!"

Xu Huaiyang did not release Xie Jiaoyue; instead, he took the blow head-on. Far from being angered, he planted a kiss on Xie Jiaoyue’s cheek.

"Jiaojiao, go outside first. I have some 'man-to-man' business to settle with your brother."

With that, he shoved her out the door. Before she could protest, he slammed the door shut.

Xie Jiaoyue stared at the closed door, a flash of repulsion in her eyes. She raised her hand and scrubbed at her cheek with such violence that the skin turned raw and crimson, yet she did not stop. Beside her, Zhi Qiu gripped her hands, pleading in a low voice, "My lady, stop, I beg you. If you scrub any harder, you will draw blood."