“Changsheng!”
Madam Zhu tried to stop Zhu Changsheng, hoping to make her agree to dissolve the marriage alliance with the Wei Family.
However…
Zhu Changsheng saw through Madam Zhu’s intentions at a glance.
Whether to dissolve the engagement was her decision to make.
“Lady Xiang.” Zhu Changsheng stepped forward, straightening her posture as she said, “The Zhu Family has always upheld the traditions of poetry, literature, and propriety. My father has many disciples outside, and my late grandfather was a respected teacher at Lushan Academy, beloved and revered by his students. Our family’s reputation is upright, and we have never acted in a treacherous or faithless manner. Today, the Wei clan elders have come to dissolve the engagement out of their benevolence and generosity. Therefore, as the legitimate daughter of the Zhu Family, I am willing to honor our promise and repay the Wei Family’s virtue by marrying into the Wei Mansion with Young General Wei’s spirit tablet in hand. Lady Xiang, I ask that you withdraw your intention to dissolve the engagement. After I, a daughter of the Zhu Family, marry into the Wei Mansion, I will dutifully serve the spirit tablets of my parents-in-law and offer daily incense and prayers before my late husband’s altar.”
After speaking, Zhu Changsheng gave a slight nod.
Lady Xiang, however, stared at Zhu Changsheng as if she had seen a ghost, her eyes wide with shock. A breath caught in her chest, unable to rise or fall. She then turned her gaze to Madam Zhu.
“Madam Zhu, I had no idea that the Zhu residence is now managed by your daughter.”
“No, Lady Xiang, the marriage alliance between the Wei and Zhu families…”
“Changsheng truly lives up to being the legitimate eldest daughter of the Zhu Family.” Before Madam Zhu could finish her sentence, Zhu Hongzhang strode in briskly from outside.
Everyone in the hall saw Zhu Hongzhang enter in his court robes, followed by two matrons.
They all stepped forward to pay their respects to Zhu Hongzhang.
Madam Zhu was frantic with anxiety, thinking that Zhu Hongzhang would surely agree to dissolve the engagement. Thus, she hurriedly explained the Wei clan matriarch’s intentions to him.
Zhu Hongzhang looked at Zhu Changsheng and then said to Lady Xiang, “My wife has cried herself hoarse over Wei Yuan’s death in battle, so our eldest daughter, Changsheng, will receive our esteemed guests in her stead. As for the marriage alliance between the Wei and Zhu families, whatever our legitimate eldest daughter decides shall be done.”
At this point, he glanced at Zhu Changsheng once more. “Changsheng, you decide.”
“Father, although dissolving the engagement after Young General Wei’s death in battle is understandable, it would inevitably disappoint the hearts of many military families and noble houses. A daughter of the Zhu Family cannot retreat or dissolve the engagement, nor can she disappoint the countless soldiers. After marrying into the Wei Mansion, I can select talented children from the clan and bring them into the mansion to nurture them properly. As long as the legacy testament of the Wei ancestors continues unbroken, the Wei Mansion will not collapse.”
“Excellent!” Zhu Hongzhang’s eyes welled up with tears.
He nearly applauded and cheered for Zhu Changsheng’s words.
Because what she said was truly remarkable.
The legacy testament of the Wei Mansion’s loyal martyrs has always been carried on by their descendants.
No man born into the Wei Mansion has ever been a coward.
Yet these words left Lady Xiang flushed and embarrassed, making her own sons seem like useless failures.
Lady Xiang’s expression stiffened. “Then Lord Zhu’s meaning…”
“Lady Xiang, my eldest daughter’s words are my own. The marriage between our two families shall be set for the third day of the third month. I must trouble the clan elders to handle the arrangements.” Zhu Hongzhang raised his hands in a respectful bow.
Lady Xiang’s face had already turned quite unpleasant.
She had originally intended to dissolve the engagement with the Zhu Family outright. After the Wei Mansion’s coffins were buried, she planned to move into the Wei Mansion with her children to manage the vast family estate left behind. If a new bride were to enter the Wei Mansion now, managing the household affairs would become far less convenient.
She had thought this visit would go smoothly, never expecting the sudden appearance of the Zhu Family’s eldest daughter.What a ghostly affair.
“Since that’s the case, I will naturally make proper arrangements for the wedding venue on behalf of my ill-fated and fortune-lacking son. However, the Wei family’s situation is special—I’m afraid we’ll have to hold both the red and white ceremonies together.” Lady Xiang’s eyes were red as she looked at Madam Zhu. “Madam Zhu, you must think this through clearly. Once your daughter marries into the Wei Mansion, there will be no turning back.”
Lady Xiang still believed that the one marrying into the Wei Mansion was Zhu Yuanshu.
Madam Zhu stood to the side, hesitating to speak, her expression no better than Lady Xiang’s. “This matter…”
She looked up at Zhu Hongzhang, who happened to be staring back at her.
Madam Zhu swallowed her resentment and said, “After Lady Xiang returns, please choose an auspicious day to deliver the betrothal gifts to the Zhu residence.”
“Fine.” Lady Xiang nearly gritted her teeth to dust.
She took a deep breath to calm her agitated emotions and said, “We will prepare the betrothal gifts in the next two days and have them delivered.”
With these words, Lady Xiang led the Wei clan matriarch out of the hall.
As soon as the Wei clan matriarch stepped out of the courtyard gate, Zhu Changsheng’s voice came from behind: “Ladies, please wait.”
Hearing Zhu Changsheng’s voice, Lady Xiang felt a chill run down her spine.
She turned to see Zhu Changsheng holding a black umbrella, walking toward them from the opposite corridor. Politely addressing the Wei clan matriarchs, she said, “Allow me to escort you ladies out of the residence.”
Snap.
Zhu Changsheng opened the black umbrella.
In a place invisible to others, a heroic soul now stood beneath the umbrella.
Under the sun, Wei Yuan’s soul body appeared faint and transparent, his face paler than before. A talisman inside the umbrella faintly enveloped his soul body, protecting him from the scorching sunlight.
However, daytime was not like nighttime. Under such intense sunlight, Wei Yuan’s soul was still greatly affected.
Zhu Changsheng glanced at Wei Yuan’s expression.
Wei Yuan indicated that he was fine.
He sensed that Lady Xiang carried something from the Wei Mansion’s ancestral residence. He could attach himself to the jade bracelet on Lady Xiang’s wrist and return home first.
The moment Zhu Changsheng opened the black umbrella, Lady Xiang felt a sudden chill down her spine. Soon after, a cold, icy sensation spread from her jade bracelet.
Instinctively, Lady Xiang looked up at the umbrella Zhu Changsheng held open, her lips stiffening as she said, “Miss Zhu, there’s no need to escort us.”
This umbrella… it’s strangely eerie.
“This is the Zhu family’s way of treating guests. From now on, the Zhu and Wei families will be one. I imagine I will frequently interact with Lady Xiang in the future. Please.” Zhu Changsheng gestured politely, reminding Lady Xiang to watch her step on the stairs.
As she turned, Lady Xiang secretly rolled her eyes.
Who would frequently interact with you!
Lady Xiang curled her lips, too lazy to engage in a war of words with Zhu Changsheng. She quickened her pace all the way out of the Zhu family’s inner residence, not wanting to linger for even a moment.
Once outside the Zhu residence, Lady Xiang hurriedly climbed into her carriage and ordered the coachman to drive away from the Zhu estate.
Zhu Changsheng stood at the main gate, her gaze fixed intently on the departing carriage.
Inside the carriage, someone also leaned out to look back at Zhu Changsheng. After the carriage had moved some distance away, the Wei clan matriarch, Lady Yao, withdrew into the carriage and grumbled, “Sister-in-law, what kind of person is the Zhu family’s eldest daughter? How dare she take it upon herself to prevent the Wei family from annulling the marriage contract?”
“No, something is off about this.” Lady Xiang frowned deeply, feeling that something about the situation wasn’t right.
Everyone in the Zhu family seemed a bit peculiar.”I remember now! The eldest legitimate daughter of the Zhu family is the baleful star who, seventeen years ago, first brought death upon her own mother, then later her grandmother and uncle. The one who read her birth characters back then was Master Guangji. Because the Zhu household had lost so many people one after another, Prime Minister Zhu could no longer withstand the pressure from his clan, so he sent that girl to be raised at a country estate. Now this suddenly appearing eldest legitimate daughter of the Zhu family—could she be the Celestial Lone Baleful Star who once shook half of Shengjing seventeen years ago!” Lady Yao exclaimed in shock.
Lady Xiang shuddered violently several times: “No wonder I felt unwell the moment she approached me just now, my whole body turning cold. Fortunately, Wei Yuan is engaged to Zhu Yuanshu. If that baleful star were to marry into Wei Mansion, who knows how many people she would bring death upon.”
Thinking of Wei Yuan, who had already died in battle, and the men and women of Wei Mansion who had all perished, Lady Xiang couldn’t help but let out a soft “hehe” laugh. After a few chuckles, she quickly covered her mouth to suppress the sound, yet the smile on her face did not diminish in the slightest.
How wonderful—the Wei family estate would all be hers from now on.
Let the Zhu daughter marry if she must. When the time came, she would make Xiao Cui regret today’s choice!
“Tell the coachman to take us straight back to Wei Mansion!”