Chapter 2
In our last life, the Marquis of Yongning had sided with the third prince and secretly hunted down the crown prince, who had been living among the common people.
After the crown prince ascended the throne, he imprisoned the marquis’s entire household.
The men were publicly beheaded, and the women exiled to Lingnan.
As the heir’s wife, my sister naturally could not escape.
But now Xie Chenzhou resented me for opposing him in our last life.
He was deliberately pushing me into a hopeless situation.
Despite my vehement refusal, my parents readily agreed to the marriage.
“Lord Lu is handsome and comes from an illustrious family. In what way is he unworthy of you?”
My sister lowered her head, looking hurt.
“Are you refusing because Lord Lu is the man I didn’t choose?”
“If you like young General Xie, I can trade with you.”
Distracted and angry, I snapped.
“Stop playing the victim. Every time, you’re the one who lands me in trouble!”
“You’re choosing a husband. Why drag me into it? Why couldn’t you have had that wretched ball sewn together properly?”
“Having a sister like you is eight lifetimes’ worth of rotten luck!”
Shen Qingtang had not expected such harsh words. She burst into tears.
…
When Xie Chenzhou arrived, I was kneeling in punishment before the hall.
Afraid someone might snatch my sister away again, he had immediately hired a matchmaker after going home, then brought betrothal gifts to our door.
Inside, everyone was celebrating.
As he passed me, he deliberately displayed the scented pouch hanging at his waist.
“Your sister just gave me this. Pretty, isn’t it?”
“Get lost.”
He crouched halfway down and studied me with amusement.
“Shen Qingzhi, I know you’ve been reborn too.”
“Did you think you’d find someone better if you didn’t marry me? You know better than anyone what will happen to the Marquis of Yongning’s household in three years.”
“For the sake of our years as husband and wife, why don’t you kowtow a few times and say something sweet? Make me happy, and perhaps I’ll find a way to help you.”
I clenched my teeth.
He had worn that same hateful expression in our last life.
He said I was coarse in speech and manners, and that without my sister, no man would ever have wanted me.
In a rage, I smashed his favorite inkstone.
In revenge, he put a little snake in my bedding.
In the middle of the night, it wound around my ankle, and I cried in terror.
Xie Chenzhou folded his arms and doubled over laughing.
“Shen Qingzhi, aren’t you supposed to be so formidable?”
“How has one little creature frightened you into this state?”
“If you can’t manage, beg me. Say something this general wants to hear, and I’ll help.”
I was proud. Knowing he was deliberately tormenting me, I refused to yield.
The little black snake kept crawling up my calf.
I fought back my tears and reached out with a trembling hand.
Its body was slick. The instant I touched it, Xie Chenzhou snatched it away and threw it out.
His brows drew together, his face full of impatience.
“How can there be a woman like you…”
Now it was just the same.
I could not swallow that humiliation. While he wasn’t looking, I grabbed his hand and bit down hard on his wrist.
The unpleasant taste of blood instantly filled my mouth.
Xie Chenzhou cried out and shoved me hard.
“What are you doing, you madwoman!”
My sister suddenly appeared from somewhere. Looking distressed at his wrist, she scolded me.
“Qingzhi, how can you treat your future brother-in-law like this?”
“Chenzhou, does it hurt?”
“It hurts…”
She bent her head and gently blew on his wound, as though soothing a child.
Delighted and smug that she cared so much, Xie Chenzhou took the opportunity to mock me.
“Qingtang, you’re gentle and considerate, while your sister is utterly coarse.”
“Lu Zhao prizes his dignity above all. If I hadn’t provoked him, he probably wouldn’t have wanted her either.”
My sister gave his waist a reproachful pinch and whispered.
“Stop it. She already doesn’t want to marry him, and you’re making things worse.”
Xie Chenzhou smiled.
“All right, I’ll stop. Whatever my future wife says.”
My sister blushed.
But I had never been one to take an insult quietly. I demanded coldly,
“Sister, Xie Chenzhou called me utterly coarse, and you’re going to pretend you didn’t hear?”
“If you consider me your own sister, you should stand up for me.”
“Make him apologize!”
Already guilty, she was mortified when I laid it out so plainly.
She bit her lip and said with difficulty,
“Chenzhou, perhaps you should apologize. She’s not easy to deal with.”
“…”
Xie Chenzhou’s brows shot up.
“She bit me like this, and I have to apologize to her?”
I snorted.
“Don’t you love my sister more than anyone? Won’t you listen to what she says?”
Xie Chenzhou licked his lips and forced the word “Sorry” through his teeth.
Then he glared at me.
“May you and Lord Lu enjoy a long and happy marriage.”