Chapter 6

Ying Yue’s streak of good luck seemed to continue. For the next several days, her morning and evening greetings were waived entirely.

With the auspicious day looming just half a month away, Wangyue had fallen ill. The root of her illness lay in a slight chill caught during their visit to the Marquis of Longchang’s residence. At the time, it seemed minor, but after returning home, even several days of medicinal soup failed to improve her condition. Instead, the illness lingered and gradually worsened.

Naturally, Madam Xu had no time to spare for her stepdaughters now.

Though formal greetings were excused, out of sisterly courtesy, Ying Yue accompanied Xi Yue to the main courtyard to visit the sick. However, they never saw the supposedly gravely ill Wangyue. A maid stopped them at the door, explaining that the eldest young lady was too unwell to receive guests, fearing contagion.

Ying Yue could only recite her prepared words of comfort through the door before obediently turning away.

She wasn’t foolish—she sensed something odd about her elder sister’s sudden illness. But this was beyond her control. If others didn’t trouble her, she counted herself lucky. She neither could nor dared interfere.

Xi Yue, however, seemed thoughtful. “Could Eldest Sister be trying to delay the auspicious day by feigning illness? But that doesn’t make sense—she can’t stay sick forever.”

Wangyue wasn’t merely trying to back out of the engagement with the Earl of Pingjiang’s family. She still had her sights set on the Marquis of Longchang’s household. Even if she had the patience to feign illness, the marquis’s family might not wait. A second marriage lacked the elaborate formalities of a first. If the marquis’s wife took a liking to another candidate, betrothal gifts could be sent without warning, leaving little time for objections.

Ying Yue, preoccupied with the book she’d been reading, replied vaguely, “Perhaps Eldest Sister truly is very ill.”

Xi Yue snorted. “So ill she can’t even see her own sisters? That nonsense might fool you, but not me! ‘Fear of contagion’—if she were truly that sick, Madam would have us all keeping her company!”

Ying Yue hastily glanced around. “Second Sister, lower your voice.”

Fortunately, no one else was nearby. She relaxed slightly.

“You’re always so cautious, yet it never spares you from punishment,” Xi Yue retorted, though she did lower her voice. “My mother says Madam and Eldest Sister must be scheming something—we just don’t know what yet.”

“We’ll find out soon enough,” Ying Yue reassured her, counting silently. “There are still thirteen days until next month’s auspicious day. If Eldest Sister plans anything, signs will appear by then.”

“By then, it’ll be too late to matter!” Xi Yue poked her forehead. “You have to anticipate your opponent’s moves—understand?”

Ying Yue understood, but—well, she wasn’t particularly concerned. In her view, her elder sister’s marriage prospects boiled down to three outcomes: marrying into the Earl of Pingjiang’s family, marrying into the Marquis of Longchang’s household—or securing some other advantageous match from the Flower Banquet—or ending up with neither and settling for another arrangement. Ultimately, it was Wangyue’s own affair, unrelated to her, so she saw no reason to worry.

Now, the southern customs described in that travelogue she’d been reading—those were truly fascinating. Who’d have thought tofu pudding could be sweet? How could anyone eat that?—

Xi Yue could tell from her expression that they weren’t on the same page. Annoyed, she poked her again: “You little fool, keep being silly then. One day when Madam sells you off, you’ll still be counting her money for her.”

Ying Yue retorted, “I wouldn’t do that.”

Xi Yue eyed her skeptically. “Do you really have what it takes to deal with Madam?”

Ying Yue drooped her head, her voice dropping two tones lower: “…I wouldn’t count money for Madam.”

Xi Yue: “…”

She was both exasperated and amused. “Fine, go read your books then. Always obsessing over useless things. You and eldest brother were born into the wrong families—if he had your obsessive nature, he’d have brought home the Number One Scholar title by now.”

The eldest brother she referred to was Xu Shangxuan, the eldest son of the Xu family and Madam Xu’s child. At twenty-four, he was already married. His marriage, like Wangyue’s, had been arranged by Old Master Xu—he married the eldest daughter of the current Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Supervisory Office.

Unfortunately, Xu Shangxuan inherited his father’s lack of scholarly aptitude. When Old Master Xu was alive, he managed to keep an eye on him, so his studies were passable. But after Old Master Xu passed, Master Xu—accustomed to his father managing his son—never realized this son was his own responsibility. Xu Shangxuan spent years half-studying, half-playing at home until he forgot even what little he had learned. When Madam Xu discovered this, she panicked. As a woman, she could handle his daily needs perfectly, but she had no idea how to intervene in his studies. In desperation, she entrusted both her son and daughter-in-law to her father’s care.

Her father was more attentive than the boy’s actual father. Last year, when he was assigned to inspect the southern regions—a trip that would take about a year—he took his son-in-law along to broaden his horizons. So now, Xu Shangxuan wasn’t home.

Ying Yue said somewhat sheepishly, “I just read for fun, how can I compare to eldest brother—”

Xi Yue rolled her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself, I wasn’t complimenting you!”

“Oh, I know.”

Ying Yue grinned foolishly, bid her farewell, and turned to leave with Shinan. Her retreating figure looked quite cheerful, as if she hadn’t a care in the world.

Even Ju Ying couldn’t help laughing. “Third Young Miss really knows how to let things go.”

“Let things go? She’s just simple-minded!” Xi Yue said bluntly. But after taking a few steps toward her own courtyard, she couldn’t resist adding, “But you can’t blame her. What else can she do but let things go? Worry herself to death?”

Ju Ying smiled. “Young Miss still looks out for Third Young Miss.”

Xi Yue was silent for a moment before letting out a wry laugh. “What ability do I have to protect anyone? I can’t even protect myself.”

Ju Ying knew she was thinking of her marriage prospects and tried to console her. “Once Eldest Young Miss’s matter is settled, things will be easier for you.”

Xi Yue wasn’t so optimistic. She snorted. “Who knows? With Father and Madam being the way they are… we’ll see.”

**

The sun rose in the east and set in the west, time marched forward steadily, and before they knew it, another seven or eight days had passed. The auspicious date set for the wedding ceremony was now imminent.

Unfortunately, Wangyue was still ill and still refusing visitors. Perhaps her condition had truly worsened—that evening, even Master Xu hurried home.

Master Xu was not away on business, but he was an elusive figure. After he took over as head of the household, it was as if he barely existed there anymore. It was common for him to be absent for three to five days, and not unusual for him to disappear for ten days or even half a month. No one could say exactly what kept him so busy outside.  

Fortunately, he still held an official position and had to report to the yamen daily. If anything urgent arose at home, there was at least a definite place to send word.  

This time, he had been summoned back by Madam Xu. That night, their lamp burned late into the night, and no one knew what the couple discussed. The next morning, Master Xu vanished like a fairy’s trace, disappearing once again.  

This situation was clearly unusual. Wangyue’s wedding was imminent. Even if Master Xu usually shunned worldly affairs, he should at least stay home these days to maintain appearances, shouldn’t he?  

Yet aside from this, everything else seemed perfectly normal. Wangyue had taken ill, and Madam Xu was both tending to her and busily preparing the dowry. Many of the dowry items had been prepared years in advance. Madam Xu had servants bring them out from the storeroom, filling the courtyard with a dazzling display—a grand and festive sight befitting a daughter about to be married.  

At a glance, it all seemed perfectly fine.  

But many things that appear ordinary to outsiders feel different to those within the household.  

Yun Yiniang’s eyelids twitched incessantly. Having lived under Madam Xu’s rule for years, she knew her temperament well. The current situation definitely concealed something.  

Yun Yiniang feared nothing except any mishap that might harm her Xi Yue. At seventeen, Xi Yue was already late in securing a marriage proposal. If her reputation were further tarnished, what future would she have?  

As the mistress of the household, Madam Xu’s main courtyard was the most heavily staffed—maids, matrons, and stewards, numbering over twenty in total. With so many people, it was inevitable that some ears would overhear things, and discipline would sometimes slip.  

For her daughter’s sake, Yun Yiniang spared no expense, pouring her savings into bribes until she finally pried open a crack.  

“…It’s true. If you don’t want this, you must act quickly—there’s still a little time left.”  

The young maid who had come under cover of night to deliver the secret message fled. Yun Yiniang sat frozen, her vision spinning, stars bursting before her eyes.  

“Yiniang, Yiniang, what’s wrong? That silly maid might not know what she’s talking about. Maybe she misheard—” her senior maid fretted, trying to console her.  

Yun Yiniang seemed not to hear. The maid’s words echoed in her mind like a poisoned needle, piercing her skull, driving her to the brink of grabbing a knife and slashing Madam Xu on the spot!  

“If it’s not true, I’ll eat my hat! This is exactly the kind of thing she’d do! No wonder she’s been so calm—”  

Yun Yiniang swallowed the rest of her fury. She wanted to scream, but she had no time to waste venting.  

Dawn would break soon, leaving only three days until the Auspicious day.  

She had thought the blade was pressed against the unwilling Wangyue’s neck. Never had she imagined Madam Xu would pull such a masterstroke—diverting disaster eastward, shifting it silently onto her Xi Yue.  

Ignoring her maid’s attempts to soothe her, Yun Yiniang remained motionless, sleepless the entire night.  

Only when the maids’ yawns grew incessant with the coming of dawn did she finally stir.  

“Go fetch Second Miss,” she ordered.  

Rubbing her eyes, the maid hurried off to obey.

The sky had just brightened when Xi Yue woke up. By the time she finished dressing and arrived, still slightly drowsy, Yun Yiniang was already bustling about with dark circles under her eyes, incessantly directing servants to pack their belongings.

Xi Yue stared in bewilderment. “Auntie, what’s all this about so early in the morning?”

Yun Yiniang turned and saw her daughter standing gracefully, blossoming like a fresh flower. Her eyes immediately welled up with tears, and her heart hardened with resolve—to think they wanted her child to fill this pit? Never!

“Xi Yue,” she called her daughter close, embracing her as she whispered, “Come with me. We can’t stay in this house any longer.”

Xi Yue looked confused. “Where to? Auntie, what’s happened?”

“Madam Xu wants you to replace the eldest young lady in marrying that mute.” As Yun Yiniang spoke these words, her voice carried a steely edge, as though grinding metal between her teeth.

Xi Yue stood frozen for several long moments. “—Has Madam Xu gone mad?!”

“Whether she’s mad or not, I won’t let you be sacrificed,” Yun Yiniang said firmly. “You’re coming with me.”

Still reeling from the shock, Xi Yue hadn’t even processed her anger yet. In her dazed panic, she asked, “But where can we go, Auntie? Where would we even stay?”

“We’ll go to the yamen to find Master Xu,” Yun Yiniang replied, having spent the night devising this plan. “We’ll have him arrange a house for us to stay in until this mess is over. Then we’ll return.”

Hearing that they were going to Master Xu and not simply running away aimlessly, Xi Yue calmed slightly. “Auntie, do you think he’ll agree? He came back just the day before yesterday—Madam must have discussed this with him. He must have given his consent!”

Finally, anger surged within her. Her stepmother might not be blood, but her father was—yet he was still willing to sell her off!

Yun Yiniang scoffed coldly. “You know Master Xu better than that. As long as no one bothers him, he’ll agree to anything. If Madam can make him consent, I can make him change his mind. If he dares refuse us shelter, I’ll make a scene at the Court of State Ceremonial. Let’s see if he backs down then.”

Xi Yue hesitated at Yun Yiniang’s boldness, but she quickly realized they had no other choice. Though Master Xu was utterly unreliable as a father, he did have one redeeming quality—his temper was remarkably mild. Even Ying Yue, the family’s usual scapegoat, had never suffered harsh words from him. If Yun Yiniang truly confronted him, he likely wouldn’t retaliate.

“Wait!” Xi Yue suddenly remembered, jolting. “We have to tell Third Sister. If I leave, this might fall on that fool’s head instead.”

“Don’t.” Yun Yiniang gripped her tightly, staring into her eyes. “If you warn her, do you think we’ll still be able to leave?”

Xi Yue tried to explain, “Third Sister wouldn’t betray me—” But her voice trailed off into silence.

Because she suddenly understood Yun Yiniang’s meaning. Madam Xu’s scheme required someone to fill the role. If Xi Yue escaped, it would be Ying Yue. And if Ying Yue escaped, it would circle back to her.

“Everyone has their own fate,” Yun Yiniang said quietly. “I know you care for her, but right now, you can’t afford to play the hero. Whatever awaits her—she’ll have to face it alone.”

Xi Yue was lost in thought. Were she and Ying Yue really that close? She used to think so. Their eldest sister, Wangyue, had her nose in the air, and their youngest sister, Jiao Yue, was too clever for her own good—already at a young age, she knew how to set traps with her words. Only Ying Yue, simple-minded and naive, shared a bond with her from growing up together for two years. With her, Xi Yue could still feel at ease sharing a few words.  

But now she suddenly realized it wasn’t true. She and Ying Yue weren’t that close after all. Because the moment Yun Yiniang pointed it out, the thought of warning her instantly weakened in Xi Yue’s heart, replaced by a rising sense of urgency to protect herself.  

She didn’t want to be forced by the legal wife to marry a mute whose status and future were ruined—every word of it cruelly foretold the darkness of her future!  

“Listen to me,” Yun Yiniang pressed, her tone firm. “It’s still early, and the madam won’t expect us to dare run. The old woman at the back gate can be bribed—we leave now. If anything goes wrong and alerts the madam, we’ll lose our chance.”  

Xi Yue stayed silent for a long moment, but after a while, she finally gave a slight nod.