TSLSILMH Ch 2

Chapter 2

 

What happened afterward, Xie Shu couldn’t quite recall.

He only vaguely sensed the doctor taking his pulse, prescribing medicine, then himself obediently finishing a bowl of bitter, foul-smelling decoction before lying back down.

Through the night, cold sweat covered him, but by morning, he’d finally slept soundly till dawn.

When he woke the next day, his physical discomfort had greatly lessened, and even his spirits had somewhat recovered.

It was only now that Xie Shu had the energy to observe his surroundings.

Above him was a wooden bedframe, finely carved, with blue fabric curtains that partitioned the space.

This was a classic antique canopy bed.

All around, there were objects and vases, though too far to make out clearly; but he could be sure—he had truly transmigrated.

Noticing Xie Shu awake, Xi Mo—who had kept vigil at his bedside—immediately straightened up and leaned in toward him.

At this, Xie Shu studied the youth before him: no more than fifteen or sixteen, still slight, with childlike features and quick, lively eyes. He wore a short, dark green jacket, plain at the waist, without any ornamentation.

Remembering the events of the previous day, Xie Shu recalled the boy’s name was Xi Mo—he must be his page.

Seeing Xie Shu awake but silent, Xi Mo grew worried and hastened to speak: “Master Xie, are you feeling better now? Would you like some water?”

Xie Shu nodded. Xi Mo poured some tea, then carefully helped Xie Shu sit up.

Xie Shu silently examined the teacup’s shape; then, a few suspicions took root.

He took the cup and sipped slowly, the slightly bitter warmth moistening his parched throat. After a pause, he finally spoke softly: “Xi Mo, how many days have I been unconscious?”

Seeing Xie Shu’s pallor, apparent illness, but that piercing clear gaze fixed on him, Xi Mo couldn’t help but feel nervous.

He froze, then quickly answered, “Today is the fourth day since you fell into the river, Master Xie. You wouldn’t wake up these past days and caught a chill—really gave me a fright. Luckily you’re so blessed, surely auspicious things await you.”

Fell in the river?

So the body’s previous owner died from drowning?

It sounded a bit far-fetched, but in the context of ancient times, it wasn’t anything unusual. If one didn’t receive timely help after falling into the water, heart and lung problems could easily arise; and with slow-acting herbal medicine, even a minor ailment could become serious.

Previously, Xie Shu had already noted how this new body showed no traces of exercise at all—no wonder it was in such poor shape…

Figuring this out, a lingering question remained.

How had the original owner fallen into the river?

But that was something he couldn’t ask directly.

Xie Shu lowered his gaze, eyes lingering on the teacup in his hands; after idly tracing its rim for a while, he suddenly asked, “Xi Mo, what year did you come to serve me?”

He had asked without clear reason, but Xi Mo didn’t think much of it. After such a serious illness, perhaps Master was just lost in thought.

Xi Mo searched his memory and replied, “The third year of Tai An. You were twelve then, Master Xie, and I was four years younger—your father bought me, to study with you. It’s been eight years now…”

As he spoke, Xi Mo suddenly remembered something and hurriedly stopped, hanging his head as he apologized: “I didn’t mean to mention your father… you told me before not to bring him up. How could I forget?”

The third year of Tai An?

As he expected, that was a reign title he’d never heard of. Combined with the unfamiliar furnishings and the teaware so different from anything in his own time, Xie Shu finally confirmed this was indeed an era he’d never lived through.

He wavered for a moment but quickly steadied himself, and the unease from before gradually faded.

He quickly analyzed: according to Xi Mo, he’d been a page for eight years. That meant this body was roughly twenty years old—a few years younger than in reality.

And the “Xie Father” in Xi Mo’s words seemed to be the original’s father. But why didn’t the original want him mentioned?

If he wanted to know more, Xi Mo was clearly the best source.

But for now, it would be unwise to let anyone know he wasn’t the original.

Seeing Xi Mo’s regretful look, Xie Shu tried probing for information, his tone gentle and reassuring: “It’s all right, go ahead—I do kind of… miss my father.”

In truth, Xie Shu’s own parents had already passed. He wasn’t putting on an act as he spoke—he truly felt a sense of loss.

Xi Mo stole a glance at him; seeing that Xie Shu’s expression was calm, not angry, just tinged with an almost unnoticeable sadness, Xi Mo’s eyes grew a little red.

These past few days, with Xie Shu unresponsive, Xi Mo had been genuinely terrified. After all, this was still the Yu residence…

Now that his master seemed better, and somehow… different from before (though Xi Mo couldn’t say how), it was as if a weight had been lifted from his chest.

A master like this was truly calming, and Xi Mo’s voice caught as he muttered, “Ever since the old master passed away four years ago, your father’s health has been poor. If something happened to you as well, what would I do…”

Seeing how patiently Xie Shu listened, Xi Mo mustered his courage and continued, “Master, please take my advice. Now that you’re married, there’s no need to be trapped by the past… You’d be better off living well here.”

There was actually so much Xi Mo wanted to say. These three years at the Yu residence, even if life hadn’t been perfect, it certainly wasn’t worse than in the Xie household. The Yu family, though merchants, were among the most prominent in Jinling, while the Xies, whatever their reputation, had long since fallen.

Now the master’s fame wasn’t good and he’d married into the Yu family as a son-in-law—but if he hadn’t approached Yu Laoye himself back then, none of this would have happened.

Xi Mo truly didn’t understand: why, after all that, did the master refuse to live harmoniously with the young lord Yu, and still pine for Wei Qingtong…

If not for the master secretly hiring a boat for a rendezvous with Wei Qingtong on the Qianqiu Festival, he wouldn’t have fallen in by accident.

And after, Wei Qingtong himself was nowhere to be found!

Thinking of this, Xi Mo grew only angrier with Wei Qingtong. The two were childhood neighbors, practically raised together.

Master Xie’s father had favored Wei Qingtong, once helping his family a great deal; otherwise, with the Wei family’s gambling habits, they’d long since have sold Wei Qingtong off for cash. At the time, Wei Qingtong was just a child—who could know what would become of him when he grew up?

But now, Wei Qingtong had grown up pretty, with a red mark between his brows, even more beautiful than most women. The Wei family, unwilling to let him go, hoped to auction him off for a fortune.

But is it ever that easy? No respectable family would want to be related to the Weis; and the Weis weren’t about to let Wei Qingtong become some man’s concubine, so that avenue was closed.

Still, they wouldn’t let any chance go. Even after the master was married, they wanted to use old affections to get his help.

Admittedly, the Wei family disgusted Xi Mo—but he didn’t think highly of Wei Qingtong, either.

After all, what decent household’s dual-gendered child would be seducing a married man?

Everyone said Wei Qingtong was good looking—too bad he was born into the wrong family.

Because of the “shuang’er” mark of a red mole between his brows, he’d long been pitied and called “Little Guanyin,” but Xi Mo saw through it—he was nothing special!

He wasn’t nearly as attractive as Lord Yu… Only, Lord Yu was the Yu family’s heir, with a powerful temper—no one dared mention him openly.

With that, Xi Mo felt his master was being foolish—his eyes were fixed far away, missing what was right before him…

But Xi Mo dared not say more, afraid to anger Xie Shu. After speaking, he furtively watched Xie Shu’s face, who only seemed lost in thought, not knowing what to say.

Truthfully, Xie Shu was deeply shocked by what Xi Mo had just revealed.

When he’d first heard about the “laoye (old master)” and “father,” the separate references struck him as odd—as if they were two people.

He was about to ask, but Xi Mo’s next words had already stunned him.

He’d figured he’d come to the past, occupying another’s body, and that family ties would all be different now.

But he hadn’t anticipated there’d be a form of intimacy he couldn’t avoid.

So, the original was married already?

That was truly awkward.

Xie Shu had never been in a romantic relationship in his own era. He’d imagined someday marrying someone of like mind, but understood that was a luxury, so he hadn’t dwelled on it.

Still, it didn’t mean he was indifferent—after all, a gentleman might be lied to by what’s reasonable, but not deceived by what is not.* Even if he was hardly a sage, he couldn’t bring himself to fool some girl by pretending to be her husband.

The thought gave him a headache.

For now, the only thing he could do was reassure the other party and fulfill his responsibilities; as for how to explain later, he’d have to work it out gradually.

He suppressed his emotions and continued thinking things through. On reflection, Xi Mo’s words had other implications—as he’d said, both his parents seemed to have passed, hence he avoided the subject.

But why, after being married, would they want him to settle down here?

Moreover, Xie Shu noticed that in the past two days, aside from the doctor’s visits and occasional noises from the outer servants’ quarters, there’d been no other visitors—not even his “wife.”

No, someone had come.

When he recalled the fleeting silhouette from the day before—though he hadn’t clearly seen the person’s face—the impression was strong; he couldn’t guess what connection this person had to “him.”

Yet he dared not ask Xi Mo outright. With a sigh, he sorted through these doubts, then fixed his gaze on Xi Mo and said, “You tell me to stay and live well, but I still feel somewhat resentful.”

Xi Mo, relieved to see his master so calm, heard this and, heart aching, quickly tried to comfort him: “Master, why such thoughts…”

Seeing Xie Shu’s steady gaze, so unlike before, Xi Mo steeled his heart and spoke directly: “Master, you may be married into the Yu family, but as long as you focus on your studies, pass your civil exams in a few years, you’re sure to have a brilliant future!”

Author’s Note:

Right now Xie Shu is but a minor son-in-law… but later, well, cough cough…

* Footnote:

The phrase “A gentleman can be fooled by what is proper, but cannot be deceived by the improper” comes from Mencius. It means that an upright person can be tricked by logical, reasonable arguments, but not easily ensnared by unreasonable or deceitful ones.