Chapter 3

Qiuchan and Chunjiao glanced at each other but still didn’t move.

Shen Qingtan calmly gave them a sidelong look, raising a hand to touch the jeweled gold hairpin in her hair, her thin willow brows slightly raised.

“Before I left home, my mother told me that since I’m married now, my dowry maids are part of my dowry. Their contracts naturally belong to me. Tomorrow, I’ll go to my second sister and get your contracts back.”

Qiuchan and Chunjiao’s faces changed.

“What’s your name again?” Shen Qingtan’s eyes fell on Qiuchan, her tone casual and gentle, as if making small talk: “You look like you’re not that young anymore. I’ll talk to Second Master later—see whether you should be married off to one of the gate servants or the stable boys.”

A chill ran through Qiuchan and Chunjiao’s hearts. They had forgotten—no matter if Shen Qingtan was abandoned, she was still their mistress.

She could sell them at will, or marry them off to anyone she pleased.

As dowry maids with some beauty, they might have had the chance—if the mistress became pregnant—to be taken in by the master as concubines and live in comfort.

But if married to a servant or stable boy, they and their children would be slaves forever.

Qiuchan quickly weighed the risks in her mind, then spoke more respectfully: “Young Miss, the master asked me to remove your phoenix crown.”

Shen Qingtan gave her hand to Qiuchan and let her help her up, walking to sit in front of the dressing table.

Qiuchan knew Shen Qingtan’s gentle appearance didn’t mean she was soft-natured. She lowered her eyes, not daring to look into the bronze mirror that reflected the beauty before her, carefully removing the phoenix crown for fear of hurting her and being punished.

Once the crown was off, Shen Qingtan’s neck felt much lighter.

“I am fair with rewards and punishments. You don’t need to be overly cautious—just do your duties well.”

Massaging her sore neck, Shen Qingtan looked at the delicate Qiuchan in the dim bronze mirror: “You two were carefully chosen by my mother. You’re beautiful, meant to serve the master. It would be a shame to pair you with a servant or stable boy.”

Qiuchan’s hands trembled, and she didn’t dare breathe loudly.

Chunjiao had gone out for a while, then returned carrying a carved sandalwood box inlaid with gems. She took out the food and placed it neatly on the table:

Shredded chicken congee, stir-fried pickled cauliflower with water bamboo shoots, marinated green bamboo shoots with pork slices, lucky rolls, and white honey cakes.

Though the portions were small, the dishes were varied, delicate, and appetizing.

Warmth filled Shen Qingtan’s heart. She hadn’t eaten all day, so she couldn’t have anything too greasy.

Plain porridge alone wouldn’t be filling enough, but adding some shredded chicken made it just right.

With that warm bowl of congee, her taut nerves finally eased a little.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yi went to the study in the front courtyard and had a servant invite the Old Madam, the Eldest Master and Second Master, as well as Zhao Jue.

A quarter-hour later, they arrived.

The Old Madam’s face was serious: “Yi’er, did you call us here because something happened?”

Zhao Yi hadn’t invited the Old Lord over—only her—likely meaning this was a household matter.

The Eldest Master frowned deeply. He knew his son—if he called them during a banquet, it must be serious.

The Second Master already knew why Zhao Yi had called them, but since the matter was done, he wasn’t afraid of further complications.

Zhao Jue also knew. He guessed Zhao Yi had found out the bride had been switched.

Since their grandfather was still alive, none of their fathers had been granted the title of heir, but grandfather intended to make one of them the heir-apparent grandson.

Traditionally, that role went to the eldest legitimate grandson. Zhao Yi had an elder half-brother, but as the legitimate-line eldest grandson, he was the rightful heir.

Zhao Jue, recalling that he had already bowed at the wedding with Shen Mingzhu, felt there would be no changes and relaxed slightly.

He frowned: “Second Brother, today is our wedding day. The guests are still waiting for us to toast them. Whatever it is, must it be dealt with now?”

His tone suggested Zhao Yi didn’t understand priorities.

“Grandmother, something happened in my courtyard,” Zhao Yi replied first to the Old Madam, then turned to Zhao Jue: “Third Brother, did your bride say anything to you?”

“Second Brother, I brought the bride to the bridal chamber and returned to the banquet. I haven’t even lifted her veil—what could she have said?” Zhao Jue looked puzzled: “Qingtan is proper and dignified. She wouldn’t start gossiping with me right after entering the bridal chamber. Did something happen to her?”

“Is that so? I thought Second Miss Shen would at least tell you if she found she’d married the wrong man.” Zhao Yi coughed lightly, his pale face looking weaker. “When I brought the bride into the bridal chamber, she told me I had the wrong person. I broke tradition, lifted the veil, and saw that it was Eldest Miss Shen.”

The Old Madam was shocked: “That… how is that possible?”

The Eldest Master was equally stunned.

The Second Master feigned surprise: “What should we do then?”

Zhao Jue was dumbfounded, looking at Zhao Yi in disbelief.

“Eldest Miss Shen recognized me by my hand as she stepped down from the bridal sedan. After all, I’m frail, and Third Brother is strong—we differ in build and even skin tone. She didn’t say anything right away to protect the Guogong Mansion’s reputation.”

Before, Zhao Yi had always ignored whatever the Second Branch did.

But now that they’d targeted him, he would not let it pass.

“Since Third Brother hasn’t lifted the veil yet, only the people here know the truth,” Zhao Yi deliberately suggested: “You and Eldest Miss Shen grew up together, feelings deep. We can switch them back now.”

This put Zhao Jue on the spot.

If they’d revealed the switch before the ceremony, he could have quietly gotten rid of Shen Qingtan and taken back his bride’s position.

But now that the ceremony was over, if they switched, even if Shen Mingzhu divorced later, she could never marry him again.

If he refused to switch, the sharp Old Madam would suspect something.

Zhao Yi was clearly doing this on purpose—exposing him in front of the Old Madam.

The Second Master sighed: “They’ve already gone through the ceremony and entered the bridal chamber—how can we switch them? That would be like marrying twice. A virtuous woman wouldn’t be able to live with that shame.”

He said righteously: “Anyway, they’re twins, and both are marrying into our mansion. Eldest Miss Shen is talented and trained to be the head wife since childhood. Yi’er is the legitimate eldest grandson, future head of the Guogong Mansion—she suits him better.”

The Old Madam’s gaze turned icy as she looked from the Second Master to the silent Zhao Jue, disappointment in her eyes.

Given the Marquis of Cheng’en’s strict household, how could such a “wrong sedan” mistake happen?

Everyone in the capital knew Zhao Yi was a frail scholar and Zhao Jue was a strong warrior. Even a fool could tell them apart.

Shen Qingtan had told Zhao Yi immediately after entering the room.

But Shen Mingzhu hadn’t acted surprised—meaning she’d pretended ignorance, hoping to marry Zhao Jue.

Looking back, the Old Madam realized setting the same wedding date for both sisters, dressing them in identical bright-red robes, was all preparation for the swap.

Especially now, seeing the Second Branch’s reaction, she knew they’d colluded with the Marquis’s family.

For selfish reasons, they had thrown away the Guogong Mansion’s honor.

The Old Madam’s expression was grim. “Jue’er, what do you plan to do?” she asked sternly.

Zhao Jue lowered his eyes. “I will follow Tan’er’s decision.”