When this news spread, the entire Great Jin Kingdom was shaken as if by a powerful earthquake, causing turmoil throughout the court and unsettling the hearts of the people.
The Wei Family was a rare military family that had emerged only once in a century, ever since the first ancestor of the Wei Family appeared in Great Jin.
Under the leadership of the Wei ancestors, the perilously endangered Great Jin Kingdom was saved from collapse.
Over the past century, the descendants of the Wei Family expanded the territory, transforming Great Jin from a small state into the powerful and prosperous nation it is today.
Upon hearing the name of the Wei Family, neighboring countries trembled with fear.
Yanqing Jushi of an enemy state once boldly declared that as long as the Wei Family existed in Great Jin, it would surely unify the world, and it might not be impossible for them to dominate as emperors and usher in an era of peace and prosperity.
These words were intended to sow discord between the ruler and his subjects, yet they also served as high praise for the loyal generals of the Wei Family.
Now, the guardians of Great Jin had all perished outside Linshui Pass, marking a calamity for the kingdom.
When Emperor Xinlong received the devastating news, he fainted on the spot!
Zhu Mansion.
“Master, about the Wei Family’s matter…”
As soon as Madam Zhu learned that her husband had returned to the mansion, she hurried out to the courtyard and anxiously inquired.
Zhu Hongzhang said, “All the men of the Wei Family who were guarding Linshui Pass have died, and the women and children accompanying them have also taken their own lives by crashing into their coffins. The Wei Mansion is filled with coffins, totaling…”
“One hundred and eight coffins.” Zhu Yuanshu rushed out from the side room in a panic, finishing her father Zhu Hongzhang’s sentence.
Zhu Hongzhang was taken aback.
This matter was highly confidential, known only to a few senior ministers in the court. How did Shu’er know about it?
“Father.” Zhu Yuanshu quickly stepped forward and knelt on the ground. “Father, you must help your daughter.”
“You…” Zhu Hongzhang took a step back.
Madam Zhu also knelt on the ground. “Master, the imperial decree of marriage has been issued. If Wei Yuan had not died in battle, the Wei Mansion would have been an excellent match. Wei Yuan grew up with Shu’er as childhood friends and would surely have treated her well. But now Wei Yuan is also dead. Shu’er’s marriage to Wei Yuan…”
“Must proceed!” Upon hearing Madam Zhu’s words, Zhu Hongzhang immediately understood the intentions of the mother and daughter. “Do you think the imperial decree of marriage is a joke? The decree has been issued. Even if it means having you buried alongside Wei Yuan, it would be an honor for the Zhu Family.”
“Father, Shu’er is not asking you to beg the Emperor to withdraw the decree.”
“What do you mean?”
“Master, Chang Sheng has returned. It was Chang Sheng who brought back the news of the Wei Family’s men dying in battle outside Linshui Pass, and it was also Chang Sheng who received the imperial decree of marriage. All these years, Shu’er has been regarded as the legitimate eldest daughter of the Zhu Family, with no one knowing that there is another legitimate daughter in the family. I was thinking…”
“You want Chang Sheng to marry into the Wei Mansion.” Zhu Hongzhang was shocked and looked down at Zhu Yuanshu, whom he had always cherished as the apple of his eye. “Is this what you mean as well?”
“Father, please let your daughter be willful one more time. Help your daughter, and let Zhu Changsheng marry into the Wei Mansion in my place.” After all, she would rather jump into a lake, hang herself, or marry a beggar than marry into the Wei Family.
However, Zhu Hongzhang was deeply disappointed by Zhu Yuanshu’s words. “That is an imperial decree.”
How dare she even think of deceiving the imperial decree? This was not a matter of willfulness.
Emperor Xinlong held the Wei Mansion in high regard. He would not hesitate to have a princess buried alongside Wei Yuan, let alone the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s mansion.
Where did Zhu Yuanshu get the audacity…
“Father, I know it is an imperial decree, but it was Zhu Changsheng who received it. Whoever receives the decree should be the one to marry.”
Slap! Zhu Hongzhang struck Zhu Yuanshu across the face.Zhu Yuanshu was struck dumb, and even Madam Zhu had not expected Zhu Hongzhang, who usually doted on his daughter, to actually strike his own child.
Yet even so, Madam Zhu dared not utter a single breath of protest.
Zhu Hongzhang pointed at Zhu Yuanshu: “Changsheng is your elder sister. She grew up outside all these years. Why should she take over what you don’t want? The marriage alliance between the Zhu and Wei families…”
“I will marry!”
Zhu Changsheng’s voice rang out from behind.
Zhu Hongzhang whirled around to see a young woman in a water-blue gown standing on the path before the courtyard.
She was accompanied by two maidservants, Shui Yao and Fu Xin.
Zhu Changsheng approached and bowed to Zhu Hongzhang: “Changsheng greets Father.”
Seeing Zhu Changsheng’s resemblance to his late wife, Zhu Hongzhang felt a pang of sorrow: “Rise quickly.”
“Thank you, Father.” Zhu Changsheng stood up.
Zhu Yuanshu crawled on her knees to Zhu Changsheng: “Sister, are you truly willing to marry into the Wei family?”
Zhu Changsheng glanced down at Zhu Yuanshu. Ever since she had thrown a tantrum refusing to marry into the Wei family, Zhu Changsheng had been certain that Zhu Yuanshu, like herself, had been reborn.
Collecting her thoughts, she said to Zhu Hongzhang: “What Yuanshu says is true. I was the one who received the imperial decree. Though I grew up outside these years, I am indeed the legitimate eldest daughter of the Zhu family.”
Her birth mother, Lady Cui, was the elder sister of the current Madam Zhu.
She died in childbirth while giving birth to Zhu Changsheng. Old Lady Zhu believed Zhu Changsheng’s Fate Pattern was ill-fated and sent someone to invite Master Guangji of Tanhua Temple to analyze her Birth Eight Characters.
It was divined that Zhu Changsheng brought misfortune to her kin.
If she were raised in the Zhu Mansion, it would inevitably lead to the family’s ruin, with wives separated from husbands and children from parents.
Zhu Hongzhang refused to believe such superstitions and kept Zhu Changsheng by his side. Half a year later, Old Lady Zhu slipped, fell into a lake, and drowned. His younger brother, on his way to assume the post of county magistrate in Qi County, was assassinated by bandits.
Only then did Zhu Hongzhang reluctantly believe Master Guangji’s words and sent Zhu Changsheng to a manor in Yuanzhang Village, not daring even to record her name as the eldest daughter in the Zhu family genealogy.
Her identity within the Zhu Mansion was a blank sheet, but in terms of status, Zhu Changsheng was the true legitimate eldest daughter of the Zhu family. All these years, however, it had been publicly claimed that Zhu Yuanshu was the legitimate eldest daughter.
Facing Zhu Changsheng, Zhu Hongzhang was overwhelmed with guilt: “But the eldest son of the Wei Mansion has already died in battle. If you marry in her stead, it will be for a lifetime. Changsheng, this is unfair to you.”
He had already failed his eldest daughter.
Yet…
This path was Zhu Changsheng’s own choice. She could not explain too much to Zhu Hongzhang and spoke succinctly: “I know. Father, please follow my wishes. The Wei family’s Coffin will arrive in Shengjing in ten days. That day happens to be the third day of the third month, the Qingming Festival. Let my wedding with Young General Wei be set for that day.”
Zhu Hongzhang’s expression stiffened. By convention, a wedding was an auspicious occasion and should be held at a fortunate hour. But now, with the Wei family’s son fallen in battle, the funeral naturally overshadowed the celebration.
“This… would be too unfair to you.” Suddenly remembering something, Zhu Hongzhang turned to look at Madam Zhu, Xiao Cui: “When Wange died, she left behind a considerable dowry. Since Changsheng is willing to marry into the Wei Mansion in Yuanshu’s place, let Wange’s dowry be returned to Changsheng to manage…”
What?! Madam Zhu looked up at Zhu Hongzhang in disbelief.
The dowry of the first wife was prepared by the Cui family with the full strength of their clan.
Thus, it was exceedingly lavish.The dowry of the second wife, Xiao Cui, was merely a small portion scraped together by the Lady of the Cui family, and compared to Lady Cui’s, it was simply insignificant—pitifully meager.
Since she married into the Zhu family, Lady Cui’s dowry had been entrusted to her management.
She had also planned to take most of Lady Cui’s dowry to provide for her daughter, Yuan Shu, as her own dowry.
But now, she was being forced to give it all back!
What would become of Yuan Shu then?
However, Zhu Hongzhang’s words were not yet finished: “Additionally, prepare an extra portion of dowry from the family estate to be taken away by Chang Sheng.”
“Master…” Madam Zhu exclaimed in shock.
Zhu Hongzhang turned sharply toward Xiao Cui, seeing right through her intentions: “It was you and your daughter who urged me to enter the palace and seek the Emperor’s decree for the marriage. Now that Wei Yuan has died in battle, you want Chang Sheng to take Yuan Shu’s place and marry into the Wei family. Chang Sheng is merely rightfully inheriting her birth mother’s dowry. What objections could you possibly have? This marriage should have been Yuan Shu’s from the start.”
“Mother,” Zhu Yuanshu’s face paled, and she quickly tried to dissuade Xiao Cui, “Let us follow Father’s arrangements. The dowry of the first wife should rightfully be returned to Elder Sister for management.”
“Yuan Shu, you…” You must be out of your mind.
Madam Zhu’s eyes reddened with anger.
Did Yuan Shu not understand how important a woman’s dowry was? The dowry left by the first wife was filled with priceless treasures. If it were all given away, when it came time for her own marriage, she would have nothing of such value.
Zhu Yuanshu tightly grasped Xiao Cui’s hand, fearing that any further words might provoke Zhu Hongzhang. After quietly soothing her, Xiao Cui finally fell silent.
With the matter settled, Zhu Yuanshu felt both excitement and exhilaration.
She glanced at Zhu Changsheng, envying her beauty while secretly sighing for her.
In the future, such stunning beauty and the dowry she would bring would all be destroyed by the Wei family’s collateral branches.
As for herself, she would replace Zhu Changsheng and marry into Prince Jing’s Mansion. Once Prince Jing ascended the throne, she would be enfeoffed as a Noble Consort.
She would live a life of glory and favor, no longer trapped in the inner chambers of the Wei Mansion. Little did she know what Prince Jing’s Mansion truly held…