Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Realizing the true intention behind this marriage, my vision went dark, and I nearly fainted on the spot.

No wonder people say there’s no such thing as a free lunch. It truly is a universal truth.

If I were to marry into that house, I would have neither my husband’s affection nor the dignity a primary wife deserves. Even a wooden puppet has some spirit in it, doesn’t it? The Marquis Jing’an’s Mansion is being far too cruel!

This marriage wouldn’t even be as good as the one my eldest sister has with her poor scholar. At the very least, she can hold her head high as the mistress of her own home.

Our family returned home with grim expressions. My fourth sister, still young and impulsive, said huffily, “The Wu Family has gone too far!”

Indeed, the Dowager Marchioness of Jing’an was incredibly shrewd. By putting on such a performance today, she was forcing me to accept this arrangement.

Despondent, I said, “Grandmother, your granddaughter no longer wishes to marry…”

Grandmother looked at everyone, then stared at me for a long moment before saying wearily, “Everyone out, except for Yun girl.”

Seeing that Grandmother had kept me back alone, I dropped to my knees with a thud. “Grandmother, I won’t marry. The Marquis Jing’an’s Mansion is nothing but a pit of fire.”

“Marriage is meant to be a bond of harmony between two families, but from beginning to end, Wu Zhiyu didn’t spare me so much as a glance. His entire heart and soul are focused on that beloved concubine of his. He only wants me to marry him so I can be a decorative puppet. If I were to endure this, wouldn’t I be debasing myself?”

With behavior like his, no respectable family would ever marry their daughter to him!

Grandmother gave a cold laugh. “Yun girl, I will tell you the truth. If it weren’t for that concubine, given Marquis Jing’an’s power, status, talent, and looks, what kind of woman could he not marry? He could even marry a princess.”

“He chose you specifically because of that concubine.”

Tears fell like rain as I crawled on my knees to Grandmother’s side, clutching her hand. “Your granddaughter no longer wishes to marry into a high-ranking family. I would rather marry a poor scholar like my eldest sister than live this kind of life.”

Since Grandfather passed away, the Gao Family was only considered a second-tier noble house in the capital. Although we weren’t as wealthy or extravagant as the Marquis Jing’an’s Mansion, my grandfather had concubines, and my uncle has concubines too. I knew all too well what life was like when wives and concubines fought.

Wu Zhiyu had deliberately chosen the day I visited to behave that way because he wanted to tell me: if I wanted to marry him, I had to respect his concubine and tolerate her. If I agreed, I would be subjected to a lifetime of indignity. If I refused and clashed with his beloved, he would never take my side.

A household like the Marquis’ Mansion is no small matter; a large estate with vast assets always needs someone in charge. If I married into it, would the servants listen to me or to that Concubine? A restless household brings nothing but eternal ruin.