“Miss Shen… the General ordered us to attend to ”
“Then just wait here. I don’t want to marry anyway. If the General asks, I’ll just say you’re in the way,” Shen Wan interrupted.
In all of Liangzhou, everyone knew just how deeply Yan Xiao doted on Shen Wan.
Their very lives hung on her single word.
The servants turned pale, lowering their heads in fear. “I’m sorry, Miss Shen. Once you’ve changed, call us in and we’ll help you with your makeup and dressing.”
Shen Wan glanced at the wedding dress by the bed. There wasn’t a trace of joy or excitement in her eyes that a bride usually feels.
She had thought it through all night.
Since Yan Xiao wouldn’t let her go anyway, she might as well stay and become a concubine in the General’s mansion. The Shen family was using her to curry Yan Xiao’s favor, hoping to gain a family connection that could secure protection from the General’s household in the future.
Why run?
Yan Xiao would simply become a stepping stone to reclaim her family’s property.
Everything the Shen family owed her, she would take back using Yan Xiao, one by one.
The courtyard was decorated with lanterns and banners, bustling with activity.
Many guests had already arrived.
By custom, Yan Xiao should have gone to Shen Wan’s home to fetch her and then headed to the marriage registry.
But she had already been brought over a few days ago, skipping the fetching ceremony entirely.
A bride arriving at the groom’s house before the wedding was unconventional.
But with Yan Xiao, he was the custom in Liangzhou.
Shen Wan descended the stairs in her white gown, while Yan Xiao stood below in a tailored English suit broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, posture straight and commanding.
He extended his hand toward her like a modern gentleman from a fashion magazine, radiating a gentle sophistication.
“These two are the marriage registrars.”
Yan Xiao must have been terrified she would cause trouble, as he had brought them directly into his home.
“Madam, can you read?”
“This gentleman is the attending physician at the Shen Clinic. If you couldn’t read, how could you write prescriptions?”
Shen Wan’s face remained cold. She didn’t respond.
She looked at Yan Xiao and asked, “Am I the legitimate wife?”
“You are. If not you, then who?”
Shen Wan bypassed the hand Yan Xiao extended and walked toward the two registrars.
She picked up the pen and without hesitation signed her name on the marriage certificate Shen Wan.
She had to write her name on both copies of the certificate.
When it was Yan Xiao’s turn, he lingered, admiring the characters she had just written.
“Your handwriting is delicate; you write beautifully.”
“Now that it’s registered, can we start?” Shen Wan looked at Yan Xiao, her tone icy and devoid of warmth.
Yan Xiao grabbed her hand. She tried to pull away, but he held it firmly.
His palm was warm and dry, starkly contrasting with her cold fingertips.
“Let’s go.” Yan Xiao noticed her resistance but smiled faintly, confident in his control.
Shen Wan tried to pull her hand free to strike him, irritated by his smug composure.
He led her out of the main door, where a black sedan was already waiting at the end of the red carpet.
Nearly twenty round tables, draped in red cloth, had been set up in the courtyard to host the banquet.
As people saw Shen Wan and Yan Xiao step outside, they rushed to offer congratulations.
With each congratulatory greeting, Shen Wan’s expression grew colder.
She realized some were whispering behind her back.
“My father said the General was marrying a Shen family daughter. I thought it would be Shen Miao.
The Shen family isn’t what it used to be, but Shen Miao is still recognized as a socialite among Liangzhou families, much more fashionable than Shen Wan.
Shen Wan is just a blockhead, always cooped up in the clinic, smelling bitter all the time.”
“Shh, if the General hears that, he’ll have your head.”
Yan Xiao, absorbed in the joy of marrying her today, didn’t hear their words.
Fortunately, he didn’t…
This marriage was against her will, yet she could do nothing about it.
Shen Wan noticed Yan Xiao was leading her toward the car. She stopped, her eyes wary as she asked, “Where are we going?”