Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Grandmother sighed softly. “Yun girl, do you think I want to see you suffer? But this marriage must go through.”

She said gloomily:

“Your eldest uncle made a grave error in his official post. It was only because Marquis Jing’an stepped in to protect him that his position was saved.”

“Currently, your eldest uncle holds the highest rank in our family. If he were to be convicted, what would become of your other sisters? You have always been the most kind and sensible child since you were small. This time… just consider it a sacrifice for the sake of the family.”

Grandmother pulled me into her arms. After a moment of silence, she continued:

“I saw her today. That concubine doesn’t have three heads or six arms; she is merely young and beautiful-a passing novelty. You are so intelligent, gentle, beautiful, and sensible; the Marquis will eventually find a place for you in his heart.”

“Grandmother has lived through this. No man is truly devoted forever; affection is only temporary, lasting a long time for some and a short time for others. As long as you can stand on your own two feet, keep to your own side of the river without interfering with that concubine, and fulfill your duties, life can go on…”

I knelt there numbly, unable to say a single word.

So… I no longer had any way out.

After returning to my room, I wept bitterly.

Mother said sorrowfully, “I will go plead with your grandmother and ask her to change her mind.”

Father paced back and forth in the room, agitated. “Sigh, it’s no use. Your eldest uncle has dragged you down with him!”

Yes, it was no use.

In Grandmother’s heart, my eldest uncle’s official position was more important than I was.

And she wasn’t wrong.

If my eldest uncle lost his position, my father-who only held a post at the Imperial Academy-was nothing more than a pedantic scholar.

My third and fourth uncles had achieved nothing of note.

The Gao Family would gradually fall into decline.

It was likely that my sisters would all have to marry down, and none of them would have a good life in the future.

Furthermore, the family had already given their word to Marquis Jing’an.

If we went back on it now, we might even offend him.

And so, I remained silent for the entire night.

The next day, I said to Grandmother, “I want to meet the Marquis.”

Grandmother nodded. “Very well.”

Three days later, Grandmother arranged for me to go to a temple to offer incense.

Marquis Jing’an was waiting for me in a pavilion behind the temple.

Upon meeting him, I gave him a proper, formal salute.

With his hands behind his back, Marquis Jing’an said indifferently, “I heard you have something to say.”

I took a deep breath and said, “Since the Marquis and I are discussing marriage, I believe certain matters should be clarified in advance.”

Wu Zhiyu nodded. “Reasonable.”

I said, “I already understand. Your reason for wanting to marry me is so that I will treat Concubine Bai well.”

The Marquis sneered. “Correct.”

He didn’t even try to hide it…

Clearly, he didn’t take me seriously at all.

I caught my breath and said, “The Marquis is upright and forthright, and you have been a benefactor to the Gao Family. I, Gao Suyun, am willing to marry you.” I paused before continuing:

“However, a family always needs someone to oversee the overall situation. I have heard that the Dowager Marchioness is elderly and cannot attend to everything personally, so the various mundane affairs of the household require management. The social relations of the Marquis’ Mansion also require the primary wife to handle them. Since Concubine Bai is deeply favored by both you and the Dowager Marchioness, how should I conduct myself once I marry in? Favoring a concubine over a wife leads to a restless household. If word of this reaches the Censors or His Majesty, it would not be good.”

The corner of Marquis Jing’an’s mouth twitched as he said proudly, “Do you think this Marquis fears their impeachments?”

I replied respectfully:

“An unstable household is a great taboo. I can promise you that after entering your home, I will never mistreat Concubine Bai. However, I also ask the Marquis to clearly define the responsibilities of myself and Concubine Bai to avoid future disputes.”

“I do not wish to live in an environment of schemes and deception, where one person frames another. I believe the Marquis also does not wish to return home after a hard day’s work only to face tedious infighting between a wife and a concubine.”