TSLSILMH Ch 10

Chapter 10

Xie Shu alighted from the carriage and followed the servant briskly through the winding corridors and long covered walkways of the Yu residence. Before long, they arrived at a grand and imposing main hall. The servant stepped forward, knocked on the inner chamber door, then gently pushed it open, gesturing for Xie Shu to enter alone.

Xie Shu steadied his breathing, smoothed down his robes, and finally crossed the threshold.

Within moments, he took in the scene before him.

A man sat at the head of the room, his face pallid with lingering illness yet exuding undiminished authority. Xie Shu guessed this to be Master Yu. Beside him stood Yu Wanchun, whom Xie Shu had met once before. Kneeling on a mat with his back turned was another familiar figure—tall and slender, posture rigid—yet he did not turn his head.

In that instant, Xie Shu’s heart sank. What offense had Yu Chuxi committed to warrant being treated in this manner?

What Xie Shu did not know, however, was that Master Yu had not been so ruthless as to order this himself. When Yu Wanchun suggested summoning Xie Shu earlier, Yu Chuxi had taken the initiative to kneel down, declaring, “Since you do not believe me, then I shall plead guilty.”

Witnessing this, Yu Wanli’s heart ached for his child. He harbored quiet resentment toward Yu Wanchun’s relentless pressure, yet his pride kept him from backing down. All he could do was order a servant to fetch a soft cushion, lest his son’s knees be injured.

Yu Wanchun, of course, recognized Chuxi’s tactic of retreating in order to advance. It left him sitting on pins and needles, for he knew well that he was far less adept at this game than Chuxi.

When Xie Shu arrived, Yu Wanchun finally exhaled in relief. He was eager to see how Xie Shu would respond—could he possibly talk his way out of this?

As Xie Shu approached, his gaze involuntarily lingered on Yu Chuxi. His long black hair spilled down like satin, cascading from his shoulders in a graceful waterfall. Even without turning around, he eclipsed everything else in the hall.

In that moment, Xie Shu silently wondered: How had he been so blind before?

He stopped beside Yu Chuxi and first saluted the two elders. “Master Yu. Second Master Yu.”

Though his manners were impeccable, Yu Wanli remained displeased. The thought that this man had deceived them into marrying his beloved son off to him—and might have coldly neglected him for three years—made his temper rise anew. Yet, noticing Xie Shu’s apparent concern for Chuxi earlier, Yu Wanli felt his anger soften slightly, though doubt lingered.

Yu Wanli’s expression hardened as he barked, “Xie Shu, do you admit your wrongs?”

Xie Shu, seeing the elder’s fury, felt his mind race with countless possibilities, yet he still did not know what sins the original owner of this body had committed.

Just as Xie Shu was about to speak, Yu Chuxi suddenly raised his head and said, “Father, why do you question him so harshly? Xie Shu has done me no wrong.”

Hearing this, Yu Wanli’s face darkened. Was his child siding with an outsider—or merely too stubborn to yield?

His tone grew harsher, though inwardly he relaxed somewhat. “Silence! This is not your place to speak!”

Meanwhile, Xie Shu lowered his eyes to observe Chuxi’s profile. If there had been any doubt before, he now understood fully:

The person he had transmigrated into was the son-in-law of the Yu family, bound in marriage to none other than Yu Chuxi, the young master of the household.

Although Xie Shu could not fathom why this world included a gender called shuang’er—individuals capable of bearing children and marrying men as wives—he knew one thing clearly: Yu Chuxi was a shuang’er, and he had married the original Xie Shu.

Yet it was equally clear that the original Xie Shu had treated Chuxi poorly.

This explained why Chuxi had tested him upon their first meeting, why his words had carried such bitterness.

The realization was shocking, yet Xie Shu accepted it calmly. Perhaps the gradual clues had prepared him—or perhaps something deeper stirred within him.

At this moment, he recognized that Master Yu’s anger stemmed not from anything else, but from the original Xie Shu’s conduct. And now, Yu Chuxi was shielding him.

Xie Shu’s feelings were impossible to put into words.

He glanced at the youth kneeling beside him—grace incarnate, as radiant as polished jade and as serene as the moon after rain. How could anyone bear to cause him sorrow?

Yu Chuxi sensed Xie Shu’s gaze upon him. That look was impossible to ignore: like fresh snow draped over laurel branches, pure and tranquil, yet impossibly gentle.

But never before had Xie Shu looked at him this way.

Yu Chuxi himself did not know what to make of it. He had orchestrated every step of this confrontation—so why did a single glance from Xie Shu unravel his composure completely?

Who was this man?

Just then, Yu Wanchun, unable to stomach Xie Shu’s silence, seized the moment to attack: “Xie Shu, why don’t you explain why you’ve been living apart from Chuxi all this time? Have you also mistreated him? You, a mere son-in-law taken into our household, dare show such disrespect?”

Yu Wanli frowned. Though displeased by his brother’s sharp tone, this was indeed the question he himself wished answered. He studied Xie Shu’s face intently, unwilling to miss even the smallest shift in expression.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Xie Shu remained calm—so calm that not a single bead of sweat appeared on his brow. Only his brows furrowed slightly.

He had heard the malice hidden in Yu Wanchun’s words. Regardless of the original man’s guilt, Yu Wanchun was clearly striking while the iron was hot. Xie Shu could neither fully deny nor wholly confess.

After a brief pause, Xie Shu spoke evenly: “These past three years, I have indeed fallen short.”

Yu Wanli’s expression shifted; Yu Wanchun’s face lit with glee; Yu Chuxi’s turned strangely unreadable. He had imagined Xie Shu either denying everything outright to preserve himself or confessing entirely and begging for divorce.

But this… this was neither.

Sure enough, Xie Shu continued: “However, Second Uncle, your words are mistaken. The relationship between Chuxi and me is not as you imagine. Moreover, we are… husband and wife. Matters between husband and wife belong within the inner chambers; how could one inquire into them from outside? Rumors, once passed from mouth to mouth, grow distorted—falsehoods masquerade as truth, whispers turn into roars. How can any of it be trusted?”

Then, turning to Yu Wanli with quiet sincerity, he added, “The fault is mine alone and has nothing to do with my husband. I beg you, please spare him.”

After speaking, Xie Shu could not help glancing again at the youth beside him. Chuxi, too, seemed to be watching him—his long lashes fluttering delicately, impossibly beautiful.

Unseen by others, Xie Shu’s lips curved into the faintest smile as he lifted his robes.

Noticing his movement, Yu Chuxi widened his eyes in shock. He never expected Xie Shu—aloof and prideful—to kneel for him!

As Xie Shu lowered himself, Chuxi instinctively shifted the cushion beneath his knees to share half with him.

Xie Shu met his gaze briefly, then, without hesitation, knelt beside him—shoulder to shoulder.

The faint brush of their sleeves carried a trace of warmth through the fabric. Suddenly, Xie Shu, who had been calm until now, felt an unfamiliar unease.

He had known Chuxi’s body carried a subtle fragrance—but so close, its sweetness was intoxicating in ways words could not capture.

Yet in that same instant, Xie Shu noticed: Chuxi seemed even more flustered than he was. The youth’s dark lashes trembled as he turned his face away.

Yu Wanli had never imagined Xie Shu would humble himself so. After all, Xie Shu was now a man of standing—having passed the imperial exam as a xiucai (a licentiate degree holder)¹, he was no longer a commoner. Even if he had wronged Chuxi, the most Yu Wanli could do was cast him out of the household; corporal punishment was out of the question.

Indeed, it was Chuxi who suffered most in this marriage. Thus, Yu Wanli would never lightly permit a divorce unless absolutely necessary.

Now, witnessing Xie Shu’s sincere apology and willingness to kneel alongside Chuxi—coupled with the evident bond between them—Yu Wanli began doubting Yu Wanchun’s accusations. After all, even he knew nothing of the couple’s private matters; how could Wanchun presume to know?

Sensing the tide turning, Yu Wanchun panicked. He had not expected Xie Shu to be so flexible—determined to secure his place as the Yu family’s son-in-law. Even more shocking, Xie Shu now seemed genuinely fond of Chuxi.

Impossible!

Yu Wanchun recalled the rumors he had dug up. Though yet unconfirmed, they were not baseless—and combined with his recent investigations, he had been certain Xie Shu and Chuxi’s marriage was a sham!

Yet here they were, defying all expectations.

“Brother, this Xie Shu—” Wanchun began, only to be cut off sharply by Yu Wanli: “Enough. Leave us. Now.”

Grinding his teeth, Yu Wanchun had no choice but to retreat.

Xie Shu, noticing the softening in Master Yu’s expression, realized the danger had passed.

Seizing the moment, he said softly, “Please, allow my husband to rise.”

Yu Wanli regarded him with a complicated gaze. He could not say whether his original judgment had been wrong—but Xie Shu’s current conduct left him uneasy still.

He could not forget: for three years, their estrangement had been real. How much of this sudden closeness was genuine?

When Xie Shu had first proposed marriage, Yu Wanli had only considered his qualifications—never whether Chuxi would be treated kindly. Perhaps, back then, he should have asked his son’s opinion.

Now, observing Chuxi—once sharp-tongued and defiant—acting almost like a different person, Yu Wanli narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, he understood. Why worry for this child? What could possibly escape his grasp?

Yu Wanli sighed inwardly. He no longer wished to pursue the matter. Shaking his head, he said, “Enough. Both of you, rise.”

Xie Shu blinked in mild surprise; he had barely knelt, and yet Master Yu’s anger had already dissipated.

He stood, then, concerned for Chuxi’s long kneeling, reached out to help him up.

Just as he extended his hand, cool slender fingers brushed into his palm—light as moonlight.

Startled, Xie Shu did not hesitate; he closed his hand around that fragile warmth.

Author’s Note:

Xie Shu at first: Absolutely not becoming someone’s husband.

After learning the “wife” is Chuxi: …Okay, fine.

And now? He’s already kneeling in front of the elders.

¹ Xiucai (秀才): The lowest degree in the imperial civil service examination system during imperial China. Holders of this title gained certain privileges, such as exemption from corporal punishment.