Zhu Changsheng said no more. As she turned to leave Zhu Yuanshu, the latter had no intention of letting her go so easily.
“Zhu Changsheng, stop right there. What do you mean by ‘look out for yourself’? Explain yourself clearly.”
Zhu Yuanshu grabbed Zhu Changsheng’s wrist.
At the same time, a matron hurried into the west wing: “Madam, someone from the Wei Family has arrived.”
Zhu Yuanshu stiffened abruptly, a flicker of panic flashing in her pupils as she blurted out, “Is it a woman who calls herself Lady Xiang?”
“Yes, miss.”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanshu stumbled backward repeatedly.
Lady Xiang was the wife of the clan leader.
Wei Yuan’s birth mother, Concubine Liu, was Lady Xiang’s own sister.
Thus, after the Wei Mansion was wiped out, Lady Xiang had openly moved into the Wei residence with her own children under the pretext of… managing the Wei Family’s estate.
She had also forced Zhu Yuanshu, who in her previous life had married into the Wei Family, to serve her as a daughter-in-law. In the end, Zhu Yuanshu was violated by Lady Xiang’s son, only to be slandered by Lady Xiang herself, who accused her of being shameless and seducing her son.
To exploit Zhu Yuanshu’s mistake, Lady Xiang spread the story everywhere, dragging down the entire Zhu Family.
Lady Xiang also seized the opportunity to strip Zhu Yuanshu of all authority, confining her to the rear courtyard and allowing the servants to torment her until she starved to death there…
Now, hearing that Lady Xiang had come to the Zhu residence, a chill swept through Zhu Yuanshu’s heart.
That Lady Xiang was a woman with a benevolent face but a heart as venomous as a scorpion.
…
“Mother,” she called out in panic, turning to Madam Zhu and grasping her sleeve, struggling to control her fear. “Please take elder sister to Azure Cloud Hall to receive the guests.”
Then, she looked toward Zhu Changsheng, adopting a humble posture and speaking softly, “Elder sister, since you have agreed to marry into the Wei Family in my place, please handle this marriage properly. If anything goes wrong again, I fear I won’t be able to go on living.”
She firmly believed that the heavens had granted her a second life so she could change her fate and avoid repeating the misery of her previous existence.
If, in this life, she still could not escape the marriage to Wei Yuan, she would perish together with Zhu Changsheng—Zhu Changsheng would never become Noble Consort either.
She had been reborn to become the Noble Consort.
“Elder sister…”
Her voice trembling with tears, she called out again.
Zhu Changsheng turned away, unwilling to listen to another hypocritical word. “Since relatives from the Wei Family have arrived, we must go out and receive them properly. Mother, please accompany me to Azure Cloud Hall to greet the guests.”
As it happened, she also wanted to go out and meet this Lady Xiang.
In her previous life, Lady Xiang had risen to prominence by capitalizing on the deaths of all the men in the Wei Mansion, and was later granted the title of First Rank Commandery Lady by Emperor Xinlong.
Outwardly, she cultivated a good reputation; inwardly, she seized control of the Wei Family’s estate. Privately, she adopted a group of orphans from outside, registered them under her name in the Wei Family genealogy, and then sent these children to the battlefield.
For every child who died in battle, Lady Xiang received another commendation and reward. Yet, the two sons she bore herself remained at home.
One was idle and unambitious, accomplishing nothing; the other could not wield a weapon and had little learning, yet spent his days showing off poetry with a group of scholars who had failed the imperial examinations. She never once considered sending her own sons to the battlefield.
As for the daughter under Lady Xiang’s care, that was even more difficult to put into words.The world praises Lady Xiang for her exemplary child-rearing, with her sons achieving great deeds and bringing honor to their ancestors, yet only Zhu Changsheng sees through the underlying truth.
If she were truly skilled in raising children, she wouldn’t have produced a brood of worthless scoundrels.
Azure Cloud Hall.
Zhu Changsheng had just entered Azure Cloud Hall with Madam Zhu.
The woman seated before the desk immediately rose and came forward to greet them.
She appeared to be in her mid-thirties, with a plump figure and fair skin.
She wore a plain-colored long skirt, a white hairpin flower tucked at her temple, and a white belt tied around her waist.
The white flower in her hair signified mourning for a family member’s passing.
This woman was none other than the wife of the Wei Family clan leader, Lady Liu, known to outsiders as “Lady Xiang”—her given name was Liu Xianglian.
Zhu Changsheng glanced at her wrists.
Though Lady Xiang dressed simply, beneath her sleeves she wore an array of jade bracelets and several large gold bangles.
As she slightly raised her hand to greet Xiao Cui, a corner of the gold bangle was revealed.
Lady Xiang casually tugged her sleeve to cover the exposed jewelry, her voice low and hoarse as she bowed: “Madam Zhu.”
“Lady Xiang, please rise.”
Madam Zhu reached out to assist her.
Lady Xiang stood up, took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, and said in a choked voice: “My son Wei Yuan was not blessed with good fortune. My elder sister originally intended to arrange a marriage for A Yuan and Shu’er after his triumphant return, but who could have imagined… Just as the imperial decree of betrothal was issued, the two ill-fated lovers were forever separated. I have only just learned that all the Wei men died in battle outside Linshui Pass. Upon receiving the Emperor’s betrothal decree, I rushed to the Zhu family at once, hoping to discuss the marriage between A Yuan and Yuan Shu with Madam Zhu. Since the two children have not yet married, there is still time. I hereby take it upon myself to issue Yuan Shu a letter of divorce. From now on, her engagement with Yuan’er is dissolved. In the future, your esteemed daughter is free to marry, and must not waste time on a deceased person, delaying her own prospects.”
Lady Xiang spoke through tears and sobs.
She appeared so grief-stricken that she seemed on the verge of fainting.
If not for Zhu Changsheng’s knowledge of Lady Xiang’s true character from Prince Jing in her past life, she might have been deceived by Lady Xiang’s benevolent facade.
In contrast, Madam Zhu seemed somewhat embarrassed.
If she had known the engagement could be annulled, why bother retrieving Zhu Changsheng and letting her claim so much dowry for nothing?
As Madam Zhu secretly regretted her decision, Zhu Changsheng’s voice came from beside her: “Madam, annulling an engagement is not as simple as declaring it void with a word. This is an imperial decree—the Emperor’s betrothal carries the weight of a solemn promise. Even if it is to be annulled, both families must appear before the Emperor together, explain the reasons for the annulment in detail, and await the Emperor’s decision to approve or deny it. Only when the Emperor nods in agreement, recalls the betrothal decree from both families, and announces it to the world, can the engagement be considered dissolved. Only then will the Zhu family’s daughter be free to choose another husband without inviting gossip or disputes.”
Zhu Changsheng’s voice felt out of place in this sorrowful scene.
Lady Xiang paused in wiping her tears, slightly raised her eyes to look at Madam Zhu, and only then noticed Zhu Changsheng.
She frowned slightly, the muscles on her face trembling faintly, and asked Madam Zhu: “And this is…”
“Oh, I forgot to introduce her to Lady Xiang. She is my elder sister’s daughter, the Zhu family’s legitimate eldest daughter.”
Madam Zhu stepped aside.
Zhu Changsheng then stepped forward gracefully and bowed to Lady Xiang with poise: “Your junior, Zhu Changsheng, greets Lady Xiang!”Lady Xiang looked Zhu Changsheng up and down, secretly marveling at her stunning beauty, yet feeling extremely displeased with her earlier remarks.
“What a lovely and clever young lady! How is it that I’ve never seen her in the mansion before, nor heard Madam Zhu mention her?”
After finishing her curtsy, Zhu Changsheng retreated behind Madam Zhu.
Madam Zhu forced a smile at the corner of her lips. “She is the first child of my husband and my elder sister. Due to health reasons, she was raised in the countryside estate and was only recently brought back to Shengjing.”
“I see.” Lady Xiang withdrew her gaze, not paying Zhu Changsheng any mind. “As for what Miss Zhu said earlier, our Wei Family has no objections. Why not call the clan elders here today, so we can all enter the palace together to request the Emperor to revoke the marriage decree and annul—”
“Lady Xiang.” A clear, gentle voice interrupted Lady Xiang’s words.
Lady Xiang’s eyelids twitched.
Then she heard Zhu Changsheng say, “To annul a marriage, both families must agree before calling the clan elders to discuss it. Only then can we enter the palace together to present a unified stance. As of now, my Zhu family has no intention of annulling the marriage!”
What?! Lady Xiang and the Wei clan matriarch present were both shocked.
The Wei Family wanted to annul the marriage—what did it have to do with this motherless jinx?
“Madam Zhu.” Lady Xiang grew anxious. “What is the matter with your legitimate daughter? I am discussing Yuan Shu’s marriage with you—what does it have to do with her?”
Madam Zhu frowned deeply, looking at Zhu Changsheng with confusion. She also thought annulling the marriage was a good idea—that way, Zhu Changsheng wouldn’t have to marry into the Wei Mansion, nor would she take away so much dowry. Once she was sent back to the countryside estate, Yuan Shu could marry into Prince Jing’s Mansion with a generous dowry.
Now that Zhu Changsheng was stubbornly clinging to the marriage, was she truly planning to marry a dead man?