Chapter 2: Rebirth — No More Seeking a Perfect Husband

The carriage rolled over the cobblestone, emitting a dull rumbling sound.

On the official road leading to the capital, a plain-looking, unremarkable green-draped carriage was making its way. At that moment, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a round face full of worry.

Seeing the desolate landscape outside, far from the bustling and prosperous capital described in the rumors, Yan Yue, irritated, let the curtain fall and turned her troubled gaze back to Yu Mingyao.

To her, this young lady’s beauty, fair as snow, with brows like distant mountains and a figure that could rival noble ladies, was worthy of any prince or aristocrat! Her skin was as white as snow, her eyebrows like distant green hills, and she was full of charm, with a beautiful figure to match. Yet, she was confined to a secluded inner chamber, where no one knew of her true elegance.

Resting her chin in her hand, Yan Yue thought about what kind of person her future son-in-law would be.

Yu Mingyao, who had been sick and unconscious for most of the recent days, suddenly appeared to be in great pain, her face pale and her expression twisted as if trapped in a nightmare.

“Mother, Father! Grandmother, take me away, don’t leave me alone…” she mumbled, her forehead covered in cold sweat, and her hand, previously tucked under the blanket, reached out as if grasping for something.

Yan Yue’s heart tightened. She immediately took her hand, comforting her, “Don’t worry, young lady. Your parents are watching over you from heaven, and they’ll bless you to find a good husband. When you marry and have children, I’ll help you watch over them as they grow.”

“Once you marry, you’ll no longer be alone. Don’t be afraid.”

In her daze, Yu Mingyao felt the warmth of a pair of hands. A soft and determined female voice whispered in her ears, and she thought to herself, “Is it my mother visiting me in my dreams?”

Since she got married, she hadn’t dreamed of her parents.

Her heart fluttered, and she opened her eyes to find Yan Yue’s youthful face before her.

“Ah, it’s you…” she muttered.

Tears began to fall from her eyes.

Seeing this, Yan Yue quickly grabbed a handkerchief and wiped her tears, embracing her in comfort.

Yu Mingyao wept for a while, but slowly began to realize something was wrong. She turned her head and looked around.

The green-draped carriage was simple, plain, and had no decoration at all. This kind of carriage was only used when she first traveled to the capital.

Over twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye. Was it a dream of Zhuang Zhou becoming a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming of Zhuang Zhou?

She closed her eyes, holding back the tears, but they still flowed uncontrollably.

Outside, Shi Luo, hearing the commotion, immediately called for the carriage to stop. When the curtain opened, Yu Mingyao’s tear-streaked, red face appeared, and it broke Shi Luo’s heart.

“My dear! Your mother left me, and now you’re trying to tear my heart apart too? You’re my only daughter, what would I do if something happens to you?”

She held Yu Mingyao tightly, and they both cried bitterly. Yan Yue, standing by, quickly turned her face away, discreetly wiping her tears.

After a long while, Yu Mingyao finally regained her composure.

Her parents were gone, but her grandmother and brother were still with her. She should be happy. She quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile.

“Grandmother, don’t be sad, I’m not crying anymore. Let’s not go to the capital, let’s return to Suzhou and live a peaceful life. I don’t need a perfect husband anymore.”

She recalled how, in the past, she had lost her innocence because of a scheme. Though there were no rumors from the Xie family, it had all happened at the Pei family residence, which prided itself on its strict family ethics. As a distant relative living with them, she had nearly brought shame to the Pei family.

Her grandmother had suffered for it, and the Shi family’s relationship with the Pei family had since been severed.

Until the rebellion in the second year of Yongxi, when the Pei family made a wrong political move and almost faced annihilation, it was Xie Zhuoguang who stepped in and saved them. Only then did the Pei family resume their connection with the Shi family.

In this life, if she avoided the Pei family and didn’t marry Xie Zhuoguang, these bitter experiences should never happen again.

Thinking this, she gently released Shi Luo and, while wiping her grandmother’s tears, spoke softly, “Grandmother, shall we return home now? What I said was heartfelt, more precious than gold. Please, take pity on me, and don’t make me marry into the capital, so far from Suzhou. I want to stay with you.”

Upon hearing this, Shi Luo rolled her eyes at Yu Mingyao and grabbed the handkerchief from her, wiping her own tears before gently tapping Yu Mingyao’s forehead.

“You always say this! Back in Suzhou, we agreed that I would give you my precious heirloom jade jewelry to make sure you agreed to this. Don’t say such things.”

“There are plenty of young, handsome, successful men in the capital, far more than in Suzhou! If it weren’t for your uncles’ children, none of whom I find suitable, I would’ve kept you here with me.”

She looked carefully at her precious granddaughter, only fourteen but already a beauty, her charm radiant and captivating. Such beauty could not be easily protected by an ordinary family.

Seeing Yu Mingyao’s stubborn look, Shi Luo relented, pulling her into an embrace and wrapping her up warmly.

“We’ve already traveled most of the way. We can’t just turn back now. A promise is a promise. We’ll visit some relatives, and if you really can’t find anyone you like, I won’t pressure you. We can return to Suzhou!”

Upon hearing the words “return to Suzhou,” Yu Mingyao’s eyes lit up, and her body felt light with renewed strength.

Anyway, she had already made up her mind. No matter whether it was Pei Shang or the flamboyant Xie Zhuoguang, she wouldn’t get close to either. She wouldn’t let slip any of her thoughts. She didn’t believe she couldn’t return to Suzhou.

“Then it’s a deal, Grandmother! A hundred years, no changing of the terms!”

“Haha, you little trickster.”

…

Yu Jin Nian stood beside the carriage, his brow furrowed. It wasn’t until the laughter of the old and young reached his ears that he relaxed.

The Yu family was small—just him and his twin sister, who had grown up together. The sudden loss of their parents was a heavy blow, not just for his sister, but for him as well.

However, as a man, he knew his responsibility. His sister was going to get married, and if he didn’t step up as an older brother, what would happen if her husband bullied her or took advantage of the family’s absence?

He thought that it would be best to find a local son-in-law in Suzhou. No matter how many children his sister had, the Yu family’s wealth could support them all. They could all live together happily. It would be much better than living in a cold, luxurious mansion in the capital and rarely seeing each other.

He overheard the conversation between his sister and Shi Luo earlier and agreed with his sister’s reasoning.

The cool wind blew, and Yu Jin Nian waved his hand, signaling for the carriage to resume its journey.

Even as he sat back in his own carriage, he continued to ponder how to dismiss his grandmother’s concerns or perhaps make sure his sister didn’t find anyone she liked.

---

The familiar scenery flashed by, and the Pei family residence was close.

Yu Mingyao lowered the curtain, her heart in turmoil. It was just a repeat of the same events. She had already made up her mind to treat her visit to the Pei family as just a formality.

“Miss, which one should you wear? The green jade hairpin, or the phoenix gold hairpin?”

Yan Yue held up two hairpins, one jade and one gold, and was comparing them to Yu Mingyao’s hair. Yu Mingyao glanced at the three-tiered makeup box, full of hairpins, earrings, and jewels.

She thought for a moment and said, “Didn’t my brother give me a box of gauze flowers the other day? I remember there was a pale yellow one, let’s use that.”

Yan Yue hesitated, “But that was something young master picked up to amuse you, bought from a street vendor. Isn’t it a bit shabby?”

Yu Mingyao waved her hand, “That one is fine.”

In her past life, when she was desperate, she had focused on looking her best, wanting to impress people and avoid being looked down upon. She wore fine silks and jewels, only to be secretly ridiculed. Pei Shang, with his sharp tongue, made her feel embarrassed with just one comment.

This time, it wouldn’t happen.

Yu Mingyao looked at her reflection in the mirror. The girl in the mirror, though still young, was already stunning. Even in simple clothes, her beauty shone through. She gently touched the pale yellow gauze flower in her hair, and the reflection in the mirror mimicked her movements.

At that moment, in the Pei family academy, Pei Shang sat in the back row, idly watching his circle of friends, who were all gathered around a central figure—Xie Zhuoguang.

Pei Shang couldn’t understand why everyone seemed so fixated on Xie Zhuoguang’s face. He was handsome, sure, but so was Pei Shang. He was charming and generous, yet people still flocked around Xie Zhuoguang, leaving him puzzled.

Suddenly, Pei Shang remembered that today, his distant relative, Yu Mingyao, was coming to visit. He called for his servant.

“Li Qing, go check if the visitor has arrived.”

He had been preparing for this meeting for a long time, even bringing it up several times with Xie Zhuoguang. But, as usual, Xie Zhuoguang refused to offer any advice, claiming that discussing women was not the way of a gentleman.

Pei Shang was not looking forward to this meeting, though. What if she really tried to latch onto him?

He had no interest in relatives getting together for a match, not when they could be left for someone else.