Su Wan’er shook her head, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.
Why should Su Leyun, a country girl, catch Prince Jin’s eye, while she had to marry into the powerless Hanlin family!
At this thought, a bright, smiling face came to mind—during the Mid-Autumn palace banquet, she had accidentally dropped her golden hairpin, and Prince Yu picked it up, returning it to her personally…
“Wan’er, what are you thinking about?”
Old Madam called to her softly.
Su Wan’er snapped back to reality, lowering her eyes and twisting her handkerchief nervously. “Grandmother, let’s put this matter aside for now. Ever since Sister Yun’er returned, I’ve cut off contact with the Li Family’s young master, and now…”
Her face flushed with embarrassment. Though she didn’t finish her sentence, Old Madam understood her meaning.
Having just broken off contact, only to have the family come to discuss marriage again—how could a young girl with thin skin not feel ashamed?
“You were betrothed since childhood. What offense has the Li Family’s boy committed against you? If you’ve been wronged, you must tell your grandmother.”
Old Madam looked at Su Wan’er with concern, instructing a maid to bring an ice-cold handkerchief and personally applying it to Su Wan’er’s swollen eyes.
Su Wan’er hesitated, biting her lower lip before finally speaking.
“Now that Sister Yun’er is the legitimate daughter, the marriage should rightfully be hers. I was afraid Sister would be unhappy, so I cut off contact with him.”
Seeing Su Wan’er’s considerate yet pitiful appearance, Old Madam’s heart nearly broke.
Ever since Su Leyun returned, her Wan’er had suffered many grievances. The more Old Madam pitied Su Wan’er, the stronger her resentment toward Su Leyun grew.
“You consider her feelings, but she’s already climbed onto Prince Jin’s coattails. Why would she care about what you give up?”
Old Madam dabbed the corner of her mouth with her handkerchief, a trace of disdain rising in her eyes. After all, she was a coarse girl raised in the countryside—lacking restraint, she had even engaged in improper relations with Prince Jin.
“Grandmother.”
Su Wan’er lowered her eyes, her face flushed, and said no more.
Old Madam looked at her with pity.
“It’s getting late. Go back and rest. Don’t worry, your grandmother will make plans for you.”
Su Wan’er nodded obediently, curtsied, and returned to her own courtyard.
The next morning, the crisp chirping of birds accompanied the first rays of dawn as they burst into the room.
Long eyelashes, like butterfly wings, fluttered slowly as Su Leyun opened her eyes. The lotus-pink bed curtains came into view, and it took her a moment to realize she had truly returned. The events of her past life had not yet occurred—her mother, brother, and maternal grandfather were all alive, and she had not yet married into the Li Family, wasting half a lifetime.
The bed curtains were drawn open from outside. Lianxin held new clothes, while Cui Lu stood by the bedside with washing utensils, both looking at her with joy.
“Congratulations, Miss.”
The two maids curtsied in unison.
Only then did Su Leyun remember that today was the day she would be entered into the family register. She raised her hand to let them rise and allowed them to dress and groom her.
Once she was ready, Su Leyun looked at her reflection in the mirror—her hair slightly askew, a jade hairpin inserted sideways—and a trace of coldness crept into the corners of her eyes.
In her past life, it took several rounds of struggle before her father and grandmother agreed to enter her into the family register. Now, with just a word from Prince Jin, her father had summoned all the clan elders in the winter month.
Why hadn’t she seen it clearly in her past life? This father of hers cared only for power and had no regard for her, her mother, or her brother.
“Miss, Madam has already sent someone to hurry us. Let’s go to the main hall quickly.”
A young maid urged from the doorway. Lianxin and Cuiliu followed behind Su Leyun as they made their way to the main hall.
In the main hall, the rosewood furniture had been freshly polished by the servants, reflecting the warm glow of the newly risen sun. A pot of winter plum blossoms on a tall stool was in full bloom, filling the room with a delicate fragrance.
“Yun’er.”
As soon as Sun Jiarou saw Su Leyun, she beckoned her to sit beside her, looking tenderly at the faint shadows under her daughter’s eyes.
“Once the ceremony is over, go back to your room and rest a little longer.”
Su Leyun smiled and linked arms with Sun Jiarou, acting coquettishly.
“Your daughter isn’t that fragile. It’s you, Mother, who has been busy all morning for my sake.”
Sun Jiarou affectionately tapped her little nose, her eyes filled with relief.
“For you, no matter how tired I am, I’m willing.”
When she first heard from Prince Jin that the midwife had died, she nearly fainted, fearing that without proof, her daughter would not be entered into the family register. Who could have imagined that after the darkest hour comes the dawn, and the heavy burden weighing on her heart was resolved just like that.
Su Leyun knew Sun Jiarou was overjoyed, so she played along, showing a happy expression.
The maids arranged tea, snacks, and fruit platters on each table. In no time, the clan elders gradually arrived. Finally, the clan head was escorted to his seat by Marquis Su.
“This is Leyun, who just returned a couple of days ago.”
Su Changqing, dressed in a dark-colored robe, leaned slightly forward as he introduced Su Leyun to the clan head.
Su Leyun walked gracefully to stand before the crowd, placing her hands one over the other at her waist as she curtsied to the elders.
“Hmm, indeed a daughter of the Su Family, with the grace and bearing of a noble house.”
The clan head stroked his beard and nodded in satisfaction, while the others also nodded in agreement.
Old Madam observed everyone’s reactions and comfortingly patted Su Wan’er, who stood waiting at her side.
Su Wan’er lowered her head, forcing a faint smile to indicate she was fine.
What did it matter if she was entered into the family register? Her name would still only come after mine. At the end of the day, Su Leyun was merely the second young lady.
After scanning the crowd to confirm everyone was present, the clan head spoke.
“Let us proceed to the ancestral hall.”
Supported by a servant, the clan head rose, and the group made their way in a grand procession to the ancestral hall.
The doors of the ancestral hall opened, revealing the ancestral tablets neatly arranged behind a gilded incense burner carved with floral patterns. The heavy scent of incense in the room was almost suffocating.
Everyone received incense sticks and knelt on cushions according to their rank in the clan.
The clan head took a broad, heavy rosewood box from a servant, carefully placed it in the center of the table, and solemnly opened it.
Inside lay a deep blue-covered, yellowed-paper booklet.
With both hands, the clan head lifted the register, turned to the last page in front of everyone, picked up a wolf-hair brush dipped in ink, and added Su Leyun’s name to it.
“Leyun, a daughter of virtue and wisdom, is now entered into the family register. May the ancestors watch over her.”
Su Leyun kowtowed deeply, then inserted her incense stick into the burner. After bowing three times, she retreated back behind Sun Jiarou.
Then, everyone took turns offering incense. Once the ceremony concluded, Old Madam, leaning on Su Wan’er’s arm, was about to leave when the clan head called out to stop her.
“Now that the legitimate daughter has returned and been entered into the family register, should the name of someone not of the Su lineage be removed? What are your thoughts on this?”
As his words fell, everyone’s gaze turned to Su Wan’er.
Su Wan’er’s face flushed red. She stood rooted to the spot, unable to advance or retreat, looking helplessly at Old Madam.
Though not a member of the Su Family, she had been raised in the Marquis Manor for over a decade, holding the title of legitimate daughter. If her name were removed now, she would no longer be under the protection of the Su Family, leaving her in an awkward position…
By then, forget about Prince Yu, she would not even be worthy of the Li Hanlin Family’s threshold.
Old Madam stood in front of Su Wan’er and bowed to the clan leader.
“Wan’er has been raised in the Su Family since childhood and bears the Su surname. Since her name has already been entered into the clan register, there is no reason to remove it.”