Xie Yanzhao had originally intended to resolve the matter in the simplest way.
With his methods, making her “die suddenly from an acute illness” would have been effortless. He could do it cleanly and neatly, without leaving the slightest trace.
But Madam Shen had sent someone to deliver a message to the Crown Prince, saying that she had a better plan.
How could Madam Shen possibly allow the person who had harmed her daughter to die so easily?
Death would be a form of release.
What she wanted was for Ji Yunzhan to wish she were dead to ruin her entire life.
Over the past few days, rumors about Ji Yunzhan and Li Ke had already spread throughout the capital like wildfire.
Although Li Ke held a low-ranking official position, he was considered an upright man. Apart from his fondness for alcohol, he had no other particularly serious faults.
After the incident, he personally went to the Ji family to ask for Ji Yunzhan’s hand in marriage, solemnly promising that he would take responsibility for her for the rest of his life.
Of course, Madam Shen would never allow Ji Yunzhan to marry Li Ke.
She had prepared an even “better” man for her.
Inside the Shen Residence, Shen Tinghe was nestled beside her mother, looking at the stack of portraits spread across the table. She could not help clicking her tongue.
“Mother, where did you find all these people?”
The men in the portraits were one worse-looking than the next.
Some were young dandies who already had wives and concubines in abundance and whose reputations were thoroughly ruined. Others already had children old enough to run around, yet still wanted to marry a young and beautiful second wife.
And some were even worse. Their appearances were… truly rather crude and unpleasant.
Madam Shen picked up the teacup on the table and took a light sip. Her tone was as calm as though she were talking about the weather.
“In the capital, how difficult could it be to find a few scoundrels?”
“But, Mother,” Shen Tinghe said Lady Doubtfully, “the Ji family is a respectable household. Madam Ji will certainly investigate these men thoroughly. How could Ji Yunzhan possibly agree to marry any of them?”
At this, the corners of Madam Shen’s lips curved into a cold smile, and undisguised mockery filled her eyes.
“She will agree. When the time comes, the entire Ji family will personally send her into the bridal sedan.”
Madam Shen reached out toward her daughter, her voice softening.
“Yuanyuan, come here.”
Shen Tinghe obediently placed her hand into her mother’s warm palm.
“Yuanyuan,” Madam Shen murmured as she gently stroked the back of her daughter’s delicate hand, “will you think your mother is too ruthless?”
Marrying any one of these men would be no different from pushing Ji Yunzhan into a fiery pit from which there would be no escape.
Shen Tinghe immediately shook her head.
“Of course not. She wanted to kill me. Why should I go easy on her? I wish she would have an even more miserable life.”
She naturally rested her head against Madam Shen’s shoulder, her voice soft and sweet as she acted spoiled.
“It’s so nice having Mother.”
No matter what happened to her, her mother could always quietly settle everything for her, shielding her from all harm.
Madam Shen wrapped her arms around her daughter, her eyes filled with indulgence and determination.
“My daughter naturally deserves a life of smooth sailing, free from worries.”
Yuanyuan was the apple of her eye. Whoever dared lay a finger on her would have to pay the most painful price.
Madam Shen held her daughter’s hand, her tone becoming solemn and heartfelt.
“Yuanyuan, your wedding is approaching. Once you enter the palace, you don’t need to be afraid. Remember, your father and I will always be your strongest support.”
Shen Tinghe nodded, her eyes slightly warm with emotion.
“I know. I really wish I could stay by Mother’s side for my whole life and never be separated from you.”
Family was her greatest source of confidence.
She always felt that perhaps she had suffered too much in her previous life, and that was why Heaven was making up for it twice over in this life.
She had been born into such a wealthy and privileged family, with relatives who loved and supported her unconditionally, as well as a fiancé who loved her with all his heart.
From the moment she was born, she had practically stood at the very top of this dynasty.
She was unLady Doubtedly the most distinguished young lady in the capital.
The Ji Residence.
Ji Yunzhan raised her arm, and with a loud series of crashes, she swept everything on the table violently onto the floor.
She screamed, “I’m not marrying him! I’d rather die than marry him!”
“Mother, you know exactly what kind of person he is, yet you still want to push me into a fire pit! Rather than making me marry someone like that, you might as well kill me right now!”
Madam Ji covered her mouth, tears already streaming down her face. She stepped forward to pull her daughter into her arms, but Ji Yunzhan violently shook her off.
“Qier, listen to me. There’s no other way.”
Her voice was choked with sobs, filled with desperate pleading.
“If you refuse to marry him, your father will lose his position! You know what our family is like now. Not a single one of the younger members of the family has amounted to anything over the years. We’ve relied entirely on your grandfather to hold up the family’s reputation! Your father’s fourth-rank position is already our greatest hope after your grandfather! If he falls, our Ji family… our Ji family will truly collapse!”
Ji Yunzhan gave a bitter laugh, tears spilling down her cheeks as well.
“Collapse? Just for the sake of his official position, I have to sacrifice my entire life? This was all forced upon us by the Shen family! It’s that wretched Shen Tinghe!”
Her voice suddenly rose, the flames of hatred burning fiercely in her eyes.
“Mother! Look at the Shen family! Shen Tinghe’s mother is willing to risk everything for her! What about you? All you know how to do is force me! Force me to marry someone!”
“Slap!”
A crisp slap rang through the room.
Madam Ji was trembling with rage. She pointed at Ji Yunzhan, her chest heaving violently.
“You still have the nerve to say that! If you hadn’t done something so vicious to Shen Tinghe in the first place, why would the Shen family have come to threaten us? You brought this enormous disaster upon yourself. Do you still expect the entire family to suffer because of you?”
Ji Yunzhan cried out desperately, “The Crown Prince! I want to see the Crown Prince! I’ll tell him how vicious Shen Tinghe is. Grandfather taught His Highness before. He won’t refuse to help me…”
Madam Ji let out a cold laugh.
“The Crown Prince? The only person who knew about the mistake your father made back then was the Crown Prince’s trusted aide, Cheng Yu. Think about it. Who do you think told the Shen family about it?”
She took a deep breath and left her daughter with one final sentence.
“Of all the people you could have provoked, you had to provoke Shen Tinghe. Qier, you brought this upon yourself. Pack your things. You’re getting married in three days.”
With that, she turned around and walked out without looking back, leaving Ji Yunzhan alone in the wrecked room.
The slap had knocked Ji Yunzhan’s head to the side, and her cheek burned painfully.
She staggered backward for several steps before collapsing helplessly onto the cold floor. Tears mixed with humiliation and rage, streaming down her cheeks.
Why?
Why had things turned out like this?
She clenched her fists tightly, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms and causing a sharp pain that did nothing to ease the overwhelming hatred in her heart.
So close.
She had been so close…
If only… if only she had raised her hand just a little higher and struck down with more force, Shen Tinghe would definitely have died.
Endless regret and venomous hatred intertwined, almost completely consuming her.
Two months passed quickly.
On the day of the wedding, the entire capital was filled with celebration.
Before dawn had even broken, Vermilion Bird Street outside Zichen Palace had already been decorated as though it were a heavenly realm.
The red carpets laid by the palace servants throughout the night stretched from the palace gates all the way to the Ding Shan Prince’s Residence, ten li away.
The pavilions and towers along the streets were covered with colorful silk banners embroidered with the character “Lady Double happiness,” as well as palace lanterns. Whenever the breeze passed, the jade pendants hanging from them chimed softly, as though quietly singing a celebratory song of a prosperous age.
When the auspicious hour arrived, nine blasts of ceremonial cannon fire thundered through the sky.
Crown Prince Xie Yanzhao wore a ceremonial dragon robe embroidered with the Twelve Symbols, a jade belt around his waist, and a winged crown adorned with Eastern pearls.
His face was as handsome as polished jade, and his eyes shone like bright stars.