“Aunt, matters of the heart are difficult to unravel. When two hearts differ, they ultimately become an embittered couple. This foolish nephew’s affection lies with Sister Shuer, and I am unwilling to marry Sister Li. I beg Aunt to grant us your blessing!”
Qiao Jingchuan, dressed in a pale scholar’s round-collared robe, knelt with his back straight, his handsome face filled with determination.
Shi Jianli watched coldly, her expression unreadable.
In the lingering spring day, warm breezes played with shadows as pear blossoms drifted once more. This marked Shi Jianli’s fifth year at Anguo Gong Manor.
After her father’s death and her mother’s illness, with wolves circling around her, twelve-year-old Shi Jianli had traveled from Duzhou to the capital to seek refuge with her aunt who had married the Second Master of Anguo Gong Manor.
Last autumn, her aunt had arranged a marriage for Shi Jianli with her maternal clan’s nephew, named Qiao Jingchuan – whom Shi Jianli would address as cousin.
Qiao Jingchuan, twenty years old, had passed the Autumn Examination last year and attained the Juren rank. Though his family background was modest, his scholarly achievements were promising, making it a suitable match for an orphan like Shi Jianli.
After completing the Nacai, Wenming, and Naji ceremonies, they only awaited the Nazheng betrothal gifts this September.
However, her marriage arrangement had been snatched away by her aunt’s illegitimate daughter.
At this moment, the marriage-stealer Ming Yueshu knelt together with her now-fiancé before the Second Master’s wife – Shi Jianli’s aunt Qiao Ruoying – passionately pleading their case.
“This foolish nephew has failed to live up to Aunt’s great kindness. Please punish me, but I beg Aunt not to blame Sister Shu. All faults are mine alone!”
Ming Yueshu looked at Qiao Jingchuan with moved expression, tears in her eyes, her voice mournful as she bowed her head weeping: “Mother, it is daughter’s fault. Though I knew Cousin Qiao was the fiancé you chose for cousin sister, I still couldn’t help crossing boundaries. I have wronged cousin sister, but I absolutely cannot be separated from Cousin Qiao!”
“Don’t blame Cousin Qiao, blame your daughter instead. It’s all because daughter was foolishly infatuated. If I cannot fly side by side with Cousin Qiao, I will never find happiness in this lifetime.”
Hearing their mutual protection and reluctance to part, the recently recovered Qiao Ruoying was so furious her vision darkened. She staggered back two steps, nearly collapsing backward.
Shi Jianli reached out to support her, gently patting her back while softly comforting: “Aunt, calm your anger. Don’t harm your health over this – it’s not worth it.”
Qiao Ruoying looked coldly at Qiao Jingchuan and scolded: “Shameless! To seduce your fiancée’s cousin sister – what kind of scholarly books have you been reading? Have you fed all your learning to the dogs?!”
“I originally thought you understood propriety and manners. I was truly mistaken!”
“Punish you? After all, I’m merely your distant aunt – how would I dare punish you, Great Juren Qiao!”
She then pointed at Ming Yueshu and berated: “Shu’er, you are a noble daughter of high status. Even if he lacks shame, have you no regard for your reputation? Why must you steal your cousin sister’s marriage arrangement?”
“Without proper matchmaking, it is elopement! And elopement makes you a concubine!”
Lier was the only daughter her sister had left behind. She had searched carefully before finding this suitable match, never expecting this illegitimate daughter would interfere!
Come to think of it, any marriage that could be disrupted like this wasn’t worth keeping, but that didn’t lessen Qiao Ruoying’s anger.
“You were born into a ducal household – what good marriage couldn’t you find? You’ve seen many fine young men – why must you entangle yourself improperly with a man already betrothed?!”
“After all my careful upbringing of you, how shall I face your father and grandmother?”
In noble households, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children wasn’t so crucial – what mattered was the father’s patronage. The second branch had no legitimate daughters, so all the illegitimate daughters were raised as legitimate ones.
By doing this, what position does Ming Yueshu leave her, the legitimate mother? The elderly madam and her husband would surely think it was due to her incompetence as the legitimate mother in guiding and teaching.
Qiao Ruoying grew angrier the more she thought about it, raising a hand to press against her throbbing temples.
Shi Jianli helped her sit down and instructed a maid to fetch the house physician.
Seeing how furious her legitimate mother was, Ming Yueshu wept softly. Though frightened, the sight of Qiao Jingchuan’s pained expression beside her filled her with boundless courage. “Mother, I know I was wrong, but what meaning is there in life if I cannot marry the one I love?”
“I understand the principles clearly. If I take Li elder sister’s place in the marriage arrangement, it wouldn’t count as eloping without a matchmaker.”
“What did you say?” Qiao Ruoying glared at her, the authority of the household mistress fully displayed.
Ming Yueshu shrank back in fear, crying even harder. “What else can I do, Mother? I cannot let go of Cousin Qiao…”
“Daughter has heard that back then, Father also pleaded desperately with Grandmother to consent to marrying you. You understand that matters of the heart are never within one’s control. Could you not put yourself in my shoes and show me some compassion?”
Qiao Ruoying had not expected her to use her and her husband’s past as an excuse. For a moment, she was too enraged to speak.
Qiao Jingchuan rose to his feet, heart aching, and moved to embrace Ming Yueshu’s shoulders to comfort her, but Qiao Ruoying shouted, “Stop!”
“How dare you, an unrelated man, lay hands on her in my presence?!”
Had she been blind before? How had she never seen how shameless he was!
Ming Yueshu glanced tearfully at Qiao Jingchuan and avoided his hand. Seeing that she could not persuade her legitimate mother, she crawled on her knees to Shi Jianli. “Cousin Li, please grant me and Cousin your blessing. Shu’er will be grateful to you for life.”
“You are also a woman. Can you truly bear to see me suffer?”
“I dare not accept your kneeling.” Shi Jianli stepped aside, her clear, cool eyes showing little emotion. “As Aunt said, you are a young lady of the Duke’s household. Why demean yourself like this?”
“This is not demeaning. I love Cousin. Does a young lady of the Duke’s household have no right to pursue love? I do not wish for Mother to marry me off to some ducal or marquis house I do not like, just as a favor to Third Brother.”
Qiao Ruoying slapped her across the face. “Is this how you see me? So narrow-minded and petty!”
She knew it was difficult to be the legitimate mother of a noble household, but she had never imagined it would be this hard! Arranging marriages for the illegitimate sons and daughters, only to be accused of selling them off for favors!
The crisp sound of the slap echoed, causing Ming Yueshu’s head to jerk to the side, her fair cheek rapidly swelling.
“Cousin Shu, are you in pain?” Qiao Jingchuan reached out, heartbroken, to touch her red, swollen cheek.
Ming Yueshu threw herself into his arms, sobbing until her vision blurred, looking as if she might cry herself to death, a truly pitiable sight. “Cousin, my fate is so bitter. Why can lovers not be united?”
“Pull them apart!” Qiao Ruoying was truly on the verge of dying from anger.
The servants separated them, restraining them to prevent them from embracing.
“Your fate bitter? You were born into wealth and comfort—where is the bitterness? I’ve never seen such a fool!” Qiao Ruoying pointed at Qiao Jingchuan. “Throw this shameless man out of the estate!”
Talking about a bitter fate—wasn’t that implying she, the legitimate mother, was tormenting her and denying her a good life? Ingrate!
Qiao Jingchuan, red-eyed, was dragged out by the servants.
“Aunt, please do not make things difficult for Cousin Shu. It is all your nephew’s fault. Direct your anger at me, but do not trouble Cousin Shu!”
“What mistake? All this talk of his mistakes, yet it’s a woman who has to plead so desperately for him! I’m not the one who should be apologizing!” Qiao Ruoying slammed the table heavily, causing the teacups to rattle. Her hand stung with pain, and she angrily withdrew it.
Su Yiniang hurried over. Seeing her, Qiao Ruoying raised her eyebrows and shouted, “Kneel down!”
Su Yiniang had always been afraid of her mistress. Without hesitation, she dropped to her knees with a thud. Her eyes, so similar to Ming Yueshu’s, welled up with tears as she lovingly embraced her daughter. “Shu’er, how could you be so foolish!”
“Stop your crying! Sniveling all day, acting timid and fearful, yet your actions are enough to shake the heavens!” Qiao Ruoying scolded. “Kneel properly and reflect! Look at the fine daughter you’ve raised—daring to steal another’s marriage arrangement!”
She was the one who should be crying!
Qiao Ruoying stood up and hurried toward the eastern courtyard.
Shi Jianli glanced at the mother and daughter who saw themselves as victims, then followed Qiao Ruoying with the newly arrived physician and several maids.
“Madam, where are you going?”
“To beg Mother to uphold justice for me. I dare not criticize her anymore, lest I be accused of tormenting her!” Qiao Ruoying fumed.
But halfway there, her legs gave way and she fainted.