“Daughter, this is an imperial marriage bestowed by His Majesty. If you refuse, it is defying an imperial decree—it could mean the execution of our entire family!”
Su Zhe paced anxiously around the room, utterly helpless before his precious daughter.
Qing’er was his only child. He had been over thirty when he finally had her. Since childhood, the whole family had doted on her like a pearl in their palm. Now that she declared she would not marry—what was he to do?
His Majesty had once mentioned arranging a marriage for Qing’er, but Su Zhe had excused it, saying she was still young, and the matter had been dropped. So he never knew whom the emperor had in mind.
Unexpectedly, on a day he happened to be off duty and absent from court, the imperial decree of marriage was issued directly.
Madam Su wept softly at the side. Unable to bear her mother’s sorrow, Su Qing’er tried to comfort her. “Mother, don’t cry. His Majesty is benevolent—surely he wouldn’t force me to marry against my will?”
Turning to her father, she secretly pinched her arm until tears welled in her eyes. Looking pitiful, she said, “Father, I don’t mean to defy the decree. But that Chen Jinghan is a mere military man. What could we possibly talk about? If I truly marry him, my whole life will be ruined.”
Since childhood, she had studied literature and was not blindly obedient. She had read romance tales and long formed hopes for her future husband. She did not demand the finest man in the world, but at least he should be a refined, gentle scholar—a cultivated gentleman.
The moment she heard she was to marry a warrior, a knot formed in her heart.
In storybooks, generals were always rough and unkempt, bearded and crude, full of coarse speech. How could she, a noble young lady, accept such a match?
Su Zhe tried to reason with her. “Daughter, you have never seen Chen Jinghan, so naturally you hold prejudice. But I have seen him. He is handsome and heroic, intelligent and ambitious—truly an outstanding young man.”
Su Qing’er slammed her small fan onto the table and pouted. “If he’s so wonderful, Father, then you marry him!”
Smack!
A loud slap landed across her delicate face, leaving finger marks behind.
“Father… you’ve never hit me before.”
Covering her cheek, Su Qing’er ran out in tears.
Madam Su, heart aching, moved to follow, but Su Zhe grabbed her arm and hardened his voice. “Leave her! This is an imperial decree. Whether she wishes to or not, she must marry!”
“Oh heavens, what sin has our Su family committed?” Madam Su lamented. Torn between her beloved daughter and her husband, she could not side fully with either.
After sitting in silence for a while, she finally asked, “My lord… what kind of man is this Chen Jinghan? If Qing’er marries into his family, will she suffer?”
Su Zhe lifted his teacup and repeatedly brushed aside the leaves with the lid but did not drink. After a long pause, he said only, “Chen Jinghan’s character is excellent. It’s just… ah. In the end, it depends on Qing’er’s fate.”
That hesitation only deepened Madam Su’s worry. She sensed there was something unspoken.
Though the Su family resided in the capital, her husband had always kept a low profile, and she, influenced by him, seldom associated with other noble ladies. As a result, she knew nothing of the Chen family’s background.
Had she socialized more, she might at least have gathered reliable information by now.
Seeing her anxiety, Su Zhe pressed her hand gently. “Madam, don’t overthink it. Everyone has their destiny. With Qing’er’s intelligence, she will live well no matter where she marries.”
He set down his cup and stepped toward the door. One foot already outside, he turned back to warn her solemnly, “Do not inquire about the Chen family. This is a marriage personally bestowed by His Majesty. One careless move could bring disaster upon us.”
“I understand,” Madam Su replied, breaking into a cold sweat. Had she rashly gone asking around and the emperor learned of it, the consequences could be grave.
She sighed heavily. Her heart remained suspended in dread.
When a daughter grows up, matters become complicated. Things once easily protected—could they still be guarded in the future?
She shook her head. With no better solution, she could only take things one step at a time and pray her daughter would be safe and fortunate all her life.
After receiving the slap, Su Qing’er stormed back to her room in a huff. Just as her maid Cuier stepped out carrying a basin of water, they collided, and the entire basin spilled over Su Qing’er’s clothes.
“Oh!” she cried out, drenched from head to toe.
“Miss, it’s my fault, I…” Cuier hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe her. Thankfully, the water was clean.
Su Qing’er waved her off. “It’s nothing. Just bring me a fresh set of clothes.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Fearing she might slip, Cuier quickly wiped the floor dry before fetching clothes to help her change.
The splash of cold water gradually cooled Su Qing’er’s temper. She began to regret what she had said to her father.
She was well-read in history and understood how difficult her father’s path had been. The Su family had no powerful backing. From a mere scholar, her father had risen to become Minister of Revenue—effort and sacrifice beyond imagination.
An imperial marriage was surely more than just a reward for Chen Jinghan’s military merits. There must be deeper implications.
She had heard that the proposal was raised by Chancellor Liu and immediately approved by the emperor. Clearly, this was no sudden whim.
Yet whatever hidden meaning lay behind it, who in the world could defy an imperial decree?
Sitting by the window, listening to birdsong and breathing in the faint fragrance of flowers, tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks.
“Miss, why are you crying?” Cuier asked anxiously. In her memory, her young lady was always bright and lively, warm as the sun. Why was she now sitting alone in tears?
Su Qing’er wiped her eyes casually and turned with a faint smile. “Something got in my eye. I’m fine. You may go. I’ll call if I need you.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Cuier glanced at the still window—there wasn’t even a breeze.
She stepped out quietly, looking at her mistress’s lonely silhouette and feeling a sudden pang in her heart. The young lady must be troubled, yet she could say nothing. As a mere servant, how could she help?
Sold into the Su household as a child, Cuier had expected a life of hardship. Instead, she had been assigned to serve Su Qing’er. Only three years older than her mistress, she was clever and diligent, quickly mastering all tasks and caring for Qing’er attentively.
Madam Su appreciated her intelligence and propriety and appointed her as Qing’er’s personal maid. In food, clothing, and lodging, she lived far better than ordinary servants.