Page 1 of The Scholar's Improper Wife

Chapter 1

Gu Ting-zhi wasn’t drunk enough for this to be working. Three flasks of wine, two hours of listening to the courtesans’ cacophony of zithers and pipas paired with cloying perfumes and too much of his friends’ bawdy jokes had culminated in a headache that refused to go away and a dinner that was intent on being transmuting into something less dignified.

He slipped outside, desperate for air and a moment’s peace, letting his mind drift. The corridor was quieter, offering a view of the stage on the first floor where dancers in celadon blue were performing to lively music. Gauzy curtains in pale colors fell from the ceiling beams and doorways, softening the lamplight and making things just slightly harder to see clearly, so that everything and everyone looked more beautiful in the dream-like haze.

Behind him, he could hear the laughter of the scholars who were supposed to be studying for the upcoming Imperial Examinations in spring but were instead quoting poetry with the flirting courtesans.

Relationships, he reminded himself,are as important as literary prowess in the world of politics.Especially, when you are neither a noble nor from a prestigious lineage of esteemed officials.

Normally, he could navigate this effortlessly. But tonight, his thoughts were filled with a girl in pale pink, the one who had nearly stumbled into a pond that afternoon, lost in her ownworld as always. This was the first time he’d seen her since returning from his two-year scholar’s journey in the southern provinces. Heavens knew how many detours he’d taken over the past two weeks, meandering through the Shen Residence’s gardens every time he visited Yun-shan at Clear Mountain Lodge.

How many times a week,he asked himself,can I reasonably go to Yun-shan’s place before he finds me a nuisance? Why does adulthood make everything so complicated?

He was still thinking of Yun-si when he saw a furtive young scholar moved toward the stairs where a courtesan was leading a patron. The scholar accepted a cup of wine from a passing courtesan stiffly and slowly climbed the stairs, eyes darting around, clearly trying to observe.

That posture. That nervous way of holding the cup. The familiar tilt of the head even under the scholar’s cap.

No. She wouldn’t. I must be drunk and thinking about her—

Thenheraised his head and Ting-zhi stared straight into the face of the girl in his thoughts.

He moved without thinking, dashing down the stairs in a few quick steps, gripping her wrist and pulling her up and into a corner of the corridor. She gasped, and he pressed her against the wall, one hand beside her head, the other still gripping her wrist.

“Shen Yun-si,” he hissed. “Do you still want your reputation?”

Her eyes went wide, recognition and fear warring in their depths. “Ting-zhi, I—”

“Are you mad?” He was shaking. When had he started shaking? “If anyone saw—”

“Ting-zhi!” His friend Xu Cheng-yi’s voice, too close. “Where did you go?”

Yun-si made a small sound of panic. He shifted, pressing closer, shielding her completely with his body. To anyone looking, they’d see only him, standing oddly close to the wall.

“Ah, there you are!” Cheng-yi appeared around the corner, grinning. “What are you—oh. OH.” Ting-zhi could literally feel him trying to crane his neck around so that he could see who he had against the wall. The grin widened. “I see. Didn’t know you had someone waiting.”

“An old friend.” The lie came with an easy smile that he directed at his friend smoothly despite his thundering heart. “I hadn’t realized he would be here. I’m going to leave early.”

“Of course, of course.” His friend was already backing away, winking and swaying slightly on his feet. “Don’t let us keep you.”

The moment he was gone, Yun-si tried to pull away. Ting-zhi held her still.

“Don’t.” The word was low with a hint of warning. Nothing like the charming scholar who’d been smiling moments ago. “Don’t run. Don’t make a scene. Just come with me.”

“Ting-zhi—”

“Not here.” His fingers tightened fractionally. “Smile. Like we’re old friends meeting unexpectedly. Can you do that?”

She managed something that probably looked more like a grimace.

“Good enough.” He turned, keeping his hand on her elbow, steering her toward the entrance with smooth confidence. To anyone watching, it looked natural. Friendly.

His grip was iron.

They were almost at the door when another man moved into their path. Tall, bulky build, slightly drunk.

“Gu Ting-zhi! Already leaving? You just got here!”

“Old friend,” Ting-zhi said smoothly. “This is my—cousin. From the provinces. Just arrived tonight.”