Chapter 4

My marriage gave Mother a considerable headache.

Through arrangements both open and discreet, she had me meet several sons of distinguished families.

One invited me to a teahouse. At first, he seemed pleased with my appearance.

But when he asked me questions, sometimes I answered and sometimes I did not.

Even when I did, it was only a few brief words.

When he reached for my hand, I slipped it unobtrusively away.

He took it as a deliberate slight.

“Do you consider me unworthy of you, miss?”

I looked up blankly. “No.”

“I simply don’t like close physical contact.”

Young Master Chen left that day with a livid face.

The other young gentlemen heard about it and politely declined to meet me.

Mother was furious. “I have never mistreated you. How did I raise a daughter with such a disposition?”

I lowered my eyes without a word.

Resigned, she said, “Very well. Prince Su would be a good enough match.”

“They say he is cold and reserved, and especially fond of quiet. So many girls avoid him. It would hardly be a happy home. Are you still willing?”

Willingness had nothing to do with it.

As long as I did not marry into the Xie family,

anything was fine.

Besides, I would hold the honorable position of a prince’s consort. It was a marriage above my station.

“I am,” I said.

Mother soon made the arrangements. I heard Prince Su himself had expressed neither approval nor disapproval.

His household, however, felt the match did the Meng family a disservice.

They added precious silks and the deeds to various shops to the betrothal gifts.

They did us every honor.

The wedding was set for three months later.

Preparations were in full swing, while the two people concerned remained untroubled.

Rong Ling and I had not even met once.

Even our letters were answered by servants on our behalf.

Xiaocui sighed. “Miss, His Highness doesn’t seem to care much about the wedding.”

“What will you do when you’re married and can hardly exchange a few words?”

“It would be better to marry into the marquis’s family with the eldest young lady. I hear the third Xie son is so amusing, and utterly devoted to you. I simply don’t understand…”

I folded the letter.

Then I said slowly,

“To treat each other with courtesy and have no other entanglements would be very good indeed.”

“Come. The weather is fine today. Let’s look at bridal ornaments.”

But our timing was unfortunate.

We had barely walked down Changping Street when we ran into two people.

Meng Ruyue and the marquis’s heir.

“Why, little sister.”

I gave her a glance, then turned back to search the stall for a hairpin I liked.

Seeing the hurt on her face, the heir said coolly,

“Is this the upbringing the Meng family gives its daughters?”

“Have you so little courtesy when you meet your own elder sister?”

I raised my head and looked into his eyes.

For an instant, I found it rather funny.

This same man had once stood up for me, buying clay figures and wooden carvings to make me happy.

Once he fell for my sister, he could rebuke me without the slightest mercy.

Under my steady gaze, Xie Guanchao seemed almost guilty.

Fortunately, I had never cared.

“What business is it of yours?” I asked coldly.

“I don’t believe we’re particularly close.”

Then I walked away.

His face darkened. He was about to catch hold of me when someone else stopped him.

Xie Fuyu stood in front of me, the corners of his eyes red.

“Meng Shiying, are you really so heartless? You rejected the marriage and threw away my letters.”

“You’ve avoided me for days. Do you truly not want to see me at all?”