Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Perhaps she hadn’t expected that I still wanted to marry.

My elder sister, the legitimate daughter, frowned and spoke more clearly: “He and I lived together for fifty years, and I bore him a son and a daughter.”

“Even so, he still quarreled with me repeatedly over that woman he loved.”

“A man like that? You still want to marry him.”

Seeing me nod, she asked again, “Do you think your sister is deceiving you?”

No. In this hour, she had told me everything in detail: from the pear tree in the Shen family courtyard that was planted for that woman he loved, to how Shen Xiu chased after her in the rain and fell gravely ill.

I had long believed in the rebirth she spoke of.

Besides, as a concubine-born daughter, what reason did she have to deceive me?

Even so, I still wanted to marry.

Seeing my stubbornness, my sister lost her temper: “Could it be that you too are blinded by a wealthy and noble family?”

She looked down on wealthy and noble families; her parents would naturally find the best for her.

But what about me? I had to scrimp and save even my monthly meal money.

Even if Shen Xiu was exactly as she said, even if they had lived together for over fifty years, so what if he had someone he loved?

The legitimate son of Marquis Wu’an’s household was the highest branch a concubine-born daughter like me could reach.

I lowered my head, looking at the gold thread inlaid on the hem of her skirt, and said nothing.

I only thought distractedly that if I could take this dress of hers, it could pay for my mother’s medicine for three months.

Seeing my silence, she suddenly raised her hand and smashed a cup on the table.

I immediately knelt down, apologies rolling to my lips: “Sister, forgive me. I didn’t mean to offend.”

Seeing my cowardly appearance, she finally sighed and waved her sleeve: “Forget it, forget it. You don’t know what’s good for you.”

“Do you think marrying him is to enjoy happiness?”

“Do you think someone like Shen Xiu would ever fall for you?”

Whether I enjoy happiness doesn’t matter, and whether Shen Xiu falls for me doesn’t matter either.

I don’t care about these things; all I value is the status of Marquis Wu’an’s household.

Seeing that I couldn’t utter a word for a long while, my elder sister was so angry she waved her sleeve and left.

Before leaving, she dropped a remark: “Go ahead and marry, but after you marry, don’t call yourself my sister.”

Days flowed by like water, and in the blink of an eye, it was my wedding day.

A concubine-born daughter’s wedding originally didn’t have so many formalities.

But since the groom was the legitimate son of Marquis Wu’an’s household, even my wedding became grand.

A dowry stretching ten li in red-I wouldn’t have dared to imagine it before.

Under envious or jealous gazes, I put on my wedding dress.

My mother’s eyes were red from crying; before I left, she held my hand and repeatedly gave me instructions.

Finally, she stayed behind in the small courtyard, and the First Madam saw me out.

She tightly held my arm.

Lowering her voice, she said, “What a clever trick, even snatching your own sister’s betrothed.”

My elder sister clearly hadn’t told her why Shen Xiu had suddenly changed his mind, so the First Madam thought I had seduced him.

I wanted to speak, but looking at the endless line of dowry boxes behind me and the thick, green jade bracelet on my wrist-all provided by the mistress of the house-I simply shut my mouth.

I had truly obtained these things; let her have her verbal satisfaction.

She gripped my arm and led me through the vast Xie Manor, past the courtyard walls that had confined the first half of my life, until at last I stood at the gate.

A fair, clean hand extended beneath my wedding veil.

“Be careful.”

This was my future husband; I placed my hand in his palm.

The bridal sedan swayed, carrying me into the Marquis’s Mansion. Everything followed the rituals, and with my veil still on, I was so busy I felt dizzy.

Not until I sat on the bed did my heart settle.

A piece of pastry was handed under my veil.

A gentle voice said, “The front courtyard will take a while yet. Have a pastry to tide you over.”

I reached out and took the pastry, and only then did he leave the room.