Xu Zhihe sneered in her heart. Being sent off to be someone’s concubine—this kind of arrangement could be called a “good marriage”?
Madame Lü did not notice Xu Zhihe’s unusual reaction and spoke slowly, “Your father has newly taken up his post. In the county office, there is a Xianwei surnamed Wei. His family has relatives serving as high-ranking officials in the capital city of Bianjing. Currently, the position of his principal wife is vacant. If you are willing, I will have your father act as a matchmaker and speak on your behalf.”
Xu Zhihe paused at just the right moment and said with some hesitation, “This…”
“Do not worry, your father serves as an official alongside him, so that man’s appearance and character are naturally impeccable. When the Xianwei is promoted in the future, you will also rise to greatness with him.” Madame Lü stared intently at Xu Zhihe and asked with tender benevolence, “Do you have any other concerns?”
Xu Zhihe lowered her eyes and bit her lower lip.
Madame Lü assumed she was merely being shy and continued, “Zhihe, I also watched you grow up. In the bottom of my heart, I cherish you as if you were my own daughter. If you are willing to nod your head, Mother can immediately register your name under mine. Once the New Year ancestral sacrifices are completed and you are entered into the ancestral registry, you will be a proper, legitimate daughter of the Xu family.”
Madame Lü asked herself and genuinely felt these words were quite sincere.
A concubine-born daughter—if it weren’t for the Yuyan encountering this trouble first, would she even be worthy of having her name registered under Madame Lü’s own? It was an idiot’s daydream!
It was only a pity that although that Xianwei had relatives in the capital protecting him, he was already over thirty years old and brought children with him… Yuyan absolutely could not marry over there and suffer.
So, for the sake of Yuyan, asking the Third Girl to endure it—what was wrong with that?
Regardless, as long as Yuyan was well, that was all that mattered. As a mother, she only hoped for her children to be safe and successful.
Xu Zhihe pondered silently. Madame Lü was not in a hurry either; she turned her head and exchanged a glance with Magistrate Xu, who let out a cold snort.
Magistrate Xu’s thoughts were very simple. For such a matter, what need was there to coax the Third Girl like this? Just have someone lock her in her courtyard, and once an auspicious day was set, simply send her over.
As time ticked by minute by minute, the originally patient look on Madame Lü’s face gradually took on a layer of impatience.
A concubine-born daughter like her was originally only fit for a small, humble household. Now that she had the opportunity to marry a Xianwei as his principal wife, she was still acting so coy and hesitant. She truly could not be brought to the grand stage.
Madame Lü’s patience ran out. Her voice turned cold and deep as she asked, “Third Girl, will it do, or will it not do? Give me a straight answer.”
Xu Zhihe had been calculating the time she spent considering in her heart. Hearing Madame Lü’s question, she knew the time was up. When she raised her eyes, she pulled up a faint smile. “Mother has considered things for Zhihe, and Zhihe is moved in her heart. It’s just that for such a good marriage, how could I dare to ask for it extravagantly? Moreover, Zhihe is of lowly birth and does not know how to manage household affairs. I am only afraid that if I marry over, I will needlessly become a laughingstock for others.”
The Second Miss and the Fourth Miss had Madame Lü’s careful instruction, and the Sixth Miss had Concubine Yao’s guidance. Xu Zhihe had no one to teach her, so her not knowing was a common occurrence.
Madame Lü said, “This is not difficult. Once the wedding date is confirmed, I will naturally send someone to teach you.”
Xu Zhihe said, “But this daughter is foolish and clumsy. I am afraid I might say the wrong thing and displease Xianwei Wei…”
“If I tell you to go, you go!” Magistrate Xu could sit still no longer. He casually picked up a vase by the table and hurled it toward Xu Zhihe, his cold gaze mixed with disgust. “Truly a useless coward who had a mother to give birth to her but no mother to raise her! Looking ahead and looking back, cowering and shrinking—how are you anything like a daughter born to me, Xu Zhongyi?!”
The vase grazed Xu Zhihe’s left hand and smashed heavily onto the ground, shattering to pieces with a loud crash.
Several jagged porcelain shards landed extremely close to Xu Zhihe.
The fine hairs all over Xu Zhihe’s body stood on end.
Pointing at the manservant beside him, Magistrate Xu barked out, fueled by his drunken state, “Go! Go and tell Xianwei Wei that this official is willing to form a good relationship with him and will send the Third Miss to him to be a concubine.”
In her heart, Madame Lü had never wanted to acknowledge this “legitimate daughter” to begin with. Hearing Magistrate Xu’s words, and glancing at Xu Zhihe, who looked as if she were scared silly standing there, a sneer hooked the corner of her mouth.
A concubine-born daughter was just a concubine-born daughter. In the end, just like her birth mother, she could only marry someone else to be a concubine.
“Sun Mama, the Third Miss has likely had her head spun by this tremendous good news and is feeling a bit dizzy. See her back safely,” Madame Lü smiled faintly, restoring her dignified and magnanimous appearance as she spoke softly to Sun Mama beside her.
Sun Mama hastily agreed. Having grown accustomed to rough work, her hands possessed great strength. She grabbed Xu Zhihe’s wrist and dragged her right out.
Afraid that Xu Zhihe would make a fuss, she clamped her palm tightly over Xu Zhihe’s mouth, forbidding her from making a sound.
Xu Zhihe assessed the situation, knowing she wouldn’t gain any advantage here. After struggling briefly, she simply relaxed and went along with her force.
After escorting her to the door of the west wing, Sun Mama no longer wore the smiling face she had when she arrived. She cast a sidelong glance at Xu Zhihe, her eyes devoid of even half a fraction of respect. “Third Miss, our Da-niangzi originally pitied you and had the heart to help, but you failed to live up to expectations yourself and displeased the Master. From here on out, you should seek your own good fortune.”
Having said this, she instructed the four rough-working mamas beside her to keep a close eye on the west wing, then left without looking back.
Fang Li had been thoroughly frightened. As soon as the people left, she instantly burst into tears.
“Miss, Miss, what are we to do?”
Xu Zhihe’s mind was in turmoil, but she did not display excessive panic. She walked over to the small nightstand by the head of the bed and pulled open the second drawer.
Inside rested the pair of white jade bracelets left to her by Concubine Zhang.
Xu Zhihe picked up one of the jade bracelets. Under the warm yellow lamplight, the white jade was crystal clear, radiating a lustrous glow.
In truth, she didn’t have a very deep impression of her mother in this world. Concubine Zhang had passed away far too early. Back then, Xu Zhihe was still being held in arms, and she only vaguely remembered that she was a gentle woman.
She would hold her, humming nursery rhymes, her heart and eyes entirely filled with this baby still in swaddling clothes.
Now, even though she was gone, the belongings she left behind could still protect her once more.
Xu Zhihe picked up paper and brush. In a few words, she concisely and clearly wrote down the events that had transpired today. After folding the paper in half, she placed it back into the box along with the jade bracelet.
Having done this, she took out all the money she had saved up to buy charcoal, paper, and brushes. Looking with burning eyes at the sobbing Fang Li, she said gently, “Fang Li, don’t cry. Right now, I need you to go and do something for me.”
Fang Li was still sobbing. Hearing Xu Zhihe’s words, she hiccuped and stopped her crying. “…Miss, please give your orders.”
Xu Zhihe grasped Fang Li’s hands, her tone grave and serious. “Fang Li, listen to me. Magistrate Xu wants to send me to Xianwei Wei to be a concubine. Right now, only my Uncle Zhang can save me. I want you to take this token, find someone, and go to Shuiyang County to locate my Uncle Zhang. If he knows about this, he definitely will not sit back and do nothing.”
Concubine Zhang had been the only daughter in the Zhang family, with two older brothers above her and one younger brother below her. They cherished Concubine Zhang dearly. After Concubine Zhang passed away, they transferred this affection onto Xu Zhihe.
This was especially true for her younger uncle, Zhang Fuyong, who had practically been raised by Concubine Zhang’s own hands. He could never bear to see Xu Zhihe suffer even the slightest grievance.
Xu Zhihe covertly glanced toward the window. Outside, the backs of the four maidservants and mamas formed a thick wall, blocking the way out.
She retracted her gaze and said softly, “Now the mamas have the courtyard locked down. I can’t get out. Good Fang Li, right now I can only rely on you.”
Fang Li wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Reaching out to hold the box and the money Xu Zhihe handed over, she earnestly guaranteed, “Rest assured, Miss, I will definitely find a reliable person!”
Xu Zhihe breathed a sigh of relief. Her gaze fell on the water pitcher nearby.
The brazier in the room had not been lit. The water that had just been drawn from the bottom of the well was unboiled and as cold as ice.
Fang Li covered her mouth, trembling as she watched Xu Zhihe untie her outer garment and pour the freezing well water down over her head.
Xu Zhihe shivered from the cold, instinctively hugging her own arms.
Her plain nightclothes, soaked in the cold water, clung wetly to her body.
Of two evils, choose the lesser. If it weren’t for the fact that she had no other choice, Xu Zhihe would absolutely never do something to harm her own body. However, compared to maintaining her health only to marry that nearly forty-year-old Xianwei Wei as a concubine, it was better to suffer a little now and fight for her own future.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, an unnatural flush rose on Xu Zhihe’s face.
Her eyelashes trembling, she let Fang Li touch her forehead.
“Is it hot?” Xu Zhihe asked, her voice shaking.
Fang Li’s nose stung with sourness, but she ultimately did not resume sobbing. She reached out and placed her hand on Xu Zhihe’s head.
Her throat was terribly dry and tight. Unable to speak, she could only nod.
As long as it was hot, it was good.
Xu Zhihe reached out to undo her clothes, taking off the soaked nightclothes and changing into a fresh set before lying down on the bed.
Fang Li’s heart pounded wildly. She hid the wooden box and the money securely, wiped the tear stains from her face, and tiptoed out the door.
Hearing the noise, the maids and mamas turned around, staring at Fang Li warily.
Fang Li suppressed the unease in her heart. A perfectly timed look of panic surfaced on her face as she cried out urgently, “Mamas! The Miss must have caught a chill on the way back, and now she is running a fever. I beg you mamas to show mercy and let this servant go fetch a doctor for the Miss.”
The mama’s face was full of disbelief. “Such a short distance, how could she catch a chill? The Miss should stop pulling out these little tricks to cause trouble.”
Fang Li pulled on the mama’s hand. “If this mama does not believe it, why not go in and see for yourself?”
The rough-working mama walked in, half-believing and half-doubting. She only saw Xu Zhihe lying on the bed, cold sweat trickling down her cheeks, and her lips as pale as paper. She looked incredibly weak.
The mama’s heart leaped in alarm. She reached out to touch Xu Zhihe’s forehead; the temperature beneath her palm felt like a burning fire.
Sun Mama had meticulously instructed this mama that during these next few days, absolutely nothing could go wrong with the Third Miss.
Although the Third Miss was not favored by the principal wife and the Master, she was ultimately still a master in this household. If something truly happened to the Third Miss, they would not be able to get away with it.
“What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and go fetch a doctor!” the mama yelled out in a panicked frenzy.
This played right into Fang Li’s hands.
Fang Li gave a shout of agreement, lifted her skirts, and vanished into the night.
Her heart was beating incredibly fast. The alleys outside were brightly lit. It was her first time carrying such a large sum of money, and she was terribly anxious deep down. However, recalling Xu Zhihe’s desperate, all-or-nothing expression, she gritted her teeth fiercely and took a shortcut to the entrance of Baichuan Bookstore.
Baichuan Bookstore had already closed for the night. Fang Li’s heart gave a sudden jolt. She hastily ran forward and knocked on the door forcefully.
“Is anyone there?”
Inside the door, there was only dead silence.
Fang Li’s heart filled with sorrow. If she couldn’t find a trustworthy person to deliver the letter back, the Miss’s entire life would be ruined.
Just as Fang Li was at her wit’s end, she suddenly saw the tightly shut door of the Baichuan Bookstore open a crack.
A clerk poked his head out from behind the door, looking at her with a face full of surprise. “Miss, why is it you? In the dead of night like this, why are you here?”
He was a long-term hired hand employed by the bookstore’s boss. His food, clothing, and daily expenses were basically all taken care of at the bookstore. He had just been preparing to take off his shoes and socks and get into bed when he suddenly heard someone knocking, crying with grievous sorrow.
He thought he was just hearing things, but after a moment’s pause, the crying became more and more distinct.
The clerk threw on his outer coat and walked out. He remembered her—the maid serving beside the Xu family’s Third Miss. Her appearance also took after the Third Miss’s looks, delicate and pretty.
Only right now, this lovely girl had eyes brimming with hot tears, and looking at her truly made one’s heart ache.
Seeing him come out, Fang Li felt as if she had found her anchor. She reached out and firmly grasped the clerk’s sleeve. “I don’t know anyone else in Eqiao County; I can only come and beg you.”
Hearing her words, the clerk’s heart tightened, and he quickly asked, “What is it? Has something happened?”
Fang Li raised her eyes to look at the clerk, her voice hoarse: “My Miss needs a letter delivered to Shuiyang County… Can I trust you?”
T/n: The New chapter is up! Enjoy the ride and do join us on this adventure 😍🎉🎊. If you want to support me, do check my other novels on my Translator’s Page🫶. You can support the original author here. Please vote on NU here. If you’re interested, you can also buy me a Ko-Fi. Happy Reading 🤓 💅.