Ten years ago, the Xie and Shen families had only just begun to make a name for themselves in Suzhou Prefecture. Although Xie’s cloth workshop and Shen’s dyeing workshop each held their own secret techniques, they struggled to achieve breakthroughs.
It was Xie Sanniang, Xie Xuchuan’s grandmother, who approached her father and proposed a marriage alliance between the two families.
The Xie family offered the first half of the Xie Family Farming and Weaving Manual as the betrothal gift, while the Shen family exchanged the second half of the Shen Family Dyeing Manual as the dowry.
With the Shen family’s dyeing manual, the Xie family wove the world-renowned crimson-purple Cloud Brocade.
And with the Xie family’s farming and weaving manual, the Shen family developed new looms and patterns.
Thus, in just ten years, both families rapidly rose to become unshakable great clans throughout Suzhou Prefecture.
Over the years, the weaving and dyeing businesses of the Xie and Shen families had long become inseparable. Therefore, no matter what, the marriage alliance between the two families could not be broken.
And her marriage to Xie Xuchuan’s legitimate son meant that, in the future, he would inevitably inherit the complete Xie Family Farming and Weaving Manual and Shen Family Dyeing Manual, along with all of the Xie family’s estate and part of the Shen family’s business.
What he and Jiang Wansu wanted was far more than just the title of a legitimate son.
They wanted the entire industries of both the Xie and Shen families.
Shen Yuanzhu clenched her skirt, her voice barely concealing her anger: “The Xie family motto states: unity brings prosperity, division brings decline. Any descendant who divides the family without cause will have their name removed and their branch expelled. If this child occupies the position of the legitimate eldest son, my own child will never have a chance to rise.
“Not only would I never agree, nor would the Shen family, but even the Xie family itself would never recognize a child of unknown origin as the legitimate eldest son.”
Xie Xuchuan’s voice trembled: “I will beg Grandmother to agree, Yuanzhu. I know I’ve wronged you in this matter, but believe me, I will make it up to you and our child in the future.
“Right now, I only ask you, I beg you to help me.
“Everyone in the entire weaving and dyeing guild knows that your elder brother swore before your mother’s spirit tablet to treat you well and promised that you could ask for anything from the Shen family as your dowry when you married. If you plead on my behalf, your elder brother will surely agree.
“As long as the Shen family agrees, Grandmother will eventually consent out of respect for your brother.
“Yuanzhu, I beg you, please help me this time…”
Shen Yuanzhu looked at the man before her, feeling only that Xie Xuchuan had become so unfamiliar that it chilled her heart.
Her elder brother and sister-in-law appeared generous but were actually wary and secretly obstructive at every turn.
Her sister-in-law, in particular, employed every underhanded trick imaginable, both openly and covertly.
Over the years, if she hadn’t pretended to be naive and obedient, the little property her mother left behind would have long been devoured.
Xie Xuchuan was not unaware of these things, but in his heart, none of her grievances mattered as much as the child in Jiang Wansu’s womb.
Shen Yuanzhu pursed her lips, her still-youthful face revealing determination: “What can you possibly offer to compensate me and the Shen family?”
Xie Xuchuan said: “Although the marriage alliance between the Xie and Shen families was driven by interests, we two grew up together and have genuine affection as our foundation. I also know that you married me not for the Xie family’s wealth.”
Hearing this, Shen Yuanzhu couldn’t help but frown.
Seeing her displeasure, Xie Xuchuan carefully added: “We grew up together. You know my character—I am not one to make empty promises.
“I swear that I will never mistreat our child for the sake of this one.
“Moreover, Wansu has only been pregnant for a little over two months. We don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl. If it’s a daughter, all your worries will cease to exist.”
Shen Yuanzhu remained silent, but Xie Xuchuan dared not stop speaking.
He feared that if he stopped now, he would lose the courage to speak again.
“Even if this child is a boy, rest assured, I will not let him take advantage of the Shen family in the slightest. The dowry your mother left for you and the Shen Family Dyeing Manual need not be handed over to him.
“Moreover, I will also earn other assets for our child.”
“What assets?”
Shen Yuanzhu said, “In the Xie family, aside from the dowries of women, all descendants have no private property.
“Even if a Xie son earns a single copper coin outside, it must be turned over to the family coffers. As the eldest legitimate grandson of the main branch, where would you get other assets?”
Perhaps it was because she had been too obedient for so many years that Xie Xuchuan had forgotten how her mother had taught her, bit by bit, the skills of commerce and calculation from the time she was babbling as a child.
“I…”
Xie Xuchuan did not understand why Yuanzhu was so different from her usual self today.
He had never seen Shen Yuanzhu in such an aggressive manner.
In his memory, his Yuanzhu had always been gentle and warm, greeting him with a sweet smile whenever they met. And because she was still young, her face often carried the shyness of a maiden and the innocence of budding affection.
At this thought, Xie Xuchuan’s eyes reddened: “Yuanzhu, believe me. You know I have the ability to provide you and our child with a life of comfort, wealth, and honor.”
The Xie family members were all good-looking, and Xie Xuchuan was no exception.
His eyes were bright and spirited, his eyebrows like ink paintings, and with every smile or frown, he exuded the vibrant energy of a spirited young man.
She had seen Xie Xuchuan in many forms, but never had she seen him so humble, so pitifully begging for mercy from others.
Shen Yuanzhu averted her gaze, her eyes sweeping over the rosewood chest placed in the long pavilion. Her heart twisted painfully.
Inside were the clothes and embroidered handkerchiefs she had sewn for him during his recent trip to Huizhou. Now, looking at them, she felt an inexplicable sense of disgust.
For the first time, Shen Yuanzhu lost the patience to continue speaking with him.
“Does Aunt Xie know about Jiang Wansu’s pregnancy?”
Xie Xuchuan stammered, “I came to the Shen family as soon as I entered the city. I haven’t told Mother yet.”
“Aunt Xie doesn’t know…”
A wave of disappointment washed over her heart.
No one in the Xie family knew about Jiang Wansu’s pregnancy, nor would they agree to his foolish idea.
So Xie Xuchuan had come to her, speaking of compensation, only to coax her into taking the lead.
He wanted her to persuade the Shen family to stand up for the illegitimate child in Jiang Wansu’s womb and force the Xie family to compromise.
Such a scheme—was it too foolish or too cunning?
Suppressing the bitterness in her eyes, Shen Yuanzhu said, “If I firmly refuse to accept this child as the legitimate heir, to what lengths would you go for Jiang Wansu?”