Chapter 8

Chapter title is a spoiler. Click to view.

Ye Shi’an Had Returned!

At those words, everyone’s expressions changed. Only Liu Yuru remained calm, her demeanor as composed as ever.

Su Wan was both worried and afraid, unsure if Jiang Rou was friend or foe. Liu Xuan and Zhang Yue’s faces darkened completely as they felt that Jiang Rou had gone too far.

Zhang Yue had originally thought that once the betrothal gifts entered the Liu family, she could find some seemingly nice but worthless items to use as Liu Yuru’s dowry. The Gu family was extremely wealthy, and Liu Xuan was known to be generous. 

She thought that since the Gu family hadn’t initially discussed the dowry, they naturally wouldn’t bring it up later. Who would have thought that now, with the engagement settled, they would come to discuss the dowry?

Liu Xuan’s thoughts were similar to Zhang Yue’s. However, as a father and head of the household, his rationality reminded him that he couldn’t lose face, no matter how much he coveted the Gu family’s betrothal gifts. He coughed lightly and asked Jiang Rou, “What does Madam Gu consider appropriate?”

“Master Liu, you jest,” Jiang Rou chuckled, her expression gentle. “I’m merely asking. The specifics are still for your family to decide. We’re not the kind of family that covets a bride’s dowry. I ask only because the dowry represents the bride’s reputation. I fear the principal wife lacks experience, so I came specifically to inquire.”

With those words, she directly assigned the dowry matter to Su Wan. Zhang Yue quickly responded, “Sister, there’s no need to trouble yourself with this. Madam Gu can just ask me.”

Jiang Rou’s gaze fell on Liu Xuan, a faint smile on her face. “So, in this Liu family, a concubine is in charge, and not the principal wife?”

Liu Xuan remained silent as he recalled Jiang Rou’s earlier jabs and how his face had stung slightly. If he acknowledged Zhang Yue’s authority now, his face would sting even more. He subconsciously glanced at Su Wan, who remained silent. Her head was turned to the side as she tightly gripped the armrest while her eyes brimmed with tears—clearly extremely aggrieved.

A twinge of guilt surged through Liu Xuan. Just as he was about to speak, Zhang Yue said, “Madam Gu may not know, but our principal wife’s health is poor. She usually lets me assist her.”

“So the eldest legitimate daughter’s dowry is also your ‘assistance’?” Jiang Rou asked with a smile, her eyes filled with barely contained amusement.

Liu Xuan couldn’t hold back any longer and said in a low voice, “What right do you have to speak when your Madam has yet to speak?” 

Zhang Yue was stunned. She had never imagined Liu Xuan would speak to her like this. She suddenly thought of how he had been running to Su Wan’s place recently and felt an unspeakable intimacy between them.

Having enjoyed a smooth life in the Liu residence for over a decade, she had come to take Liu Xuan’s favour for granted. She gritted her teeth then turned her head away and simply stopped talking.

Seeing her silence, Liu Xuan was also happy for some peace. He coughed lightly and said, “Wife, since you’re in charge of the dowry, discuss it further with Madam Gu.”

Su Wan agreed and, after properly thanking him, began to discuss the dowry with Jiang Rou.

Su Wan wasn’t one to take a mile when given an inch. Considering the money the Gu family had given, she offered a figure that, while not large, was respectable when combined with the land and property deeds from the Gu family.

Since Jiang Rou had finally settled this matter, she left in high spirits. As soon as she was gone, Zhang Yue erupted in anger. “Isn’t this basically giving nothing? We still have to pay a dowry, so are we marrying off a daughter or giving away money?”

“Enough,” Liu Xuan said, his head aching from Zhang Yue’s clamor. Over the years, she had become increasingly overbearing, always talking about money. Zhang Yue couldn’t compare to Yunyu at all, and even the usually quiet Su Wan was better than her.

He subconsciously made a comparison, but still had some feelings for Zhang Yue. When he thought of the Gu family’s money, dissatisfaction also filled his heart. He said to Su Wan, “Wife, you should have fought for more money.”

“Husband,” Su Wan sighed, “fighting for money is just money, but what we lose is the entire Liu family’s reputation. You still have a future ahead of you. You can’t leave a lifelong stain for such a petty gain. Don’t worry about the financial matters. I’ll supplement Yuru’s dowry from my own.”

One clamored for money, while the other considered her husband’s lifelong prospects and was willing to use her own money to compensate. The difference was clear.

Liu Xuan suddenly felt that he must have been blind before. He grew somewhat irritated.

That night, Liu Xuan stayed at Su Wan’s place again. Su Wan arranged for Yunyu to serve him. After eating and drinking his fill, Liu Xuan embraced Yunyu and sighed, “How can a person be one way today and another way tomorrow?”

“If one’s heart is set on the gentleman, naturally one will consider the gentleman in all matters,” Yunyu replied gently.

Her words were brief, but Liu Xuan understood. If one’s heart wasn’t with him, wouldn’t they put their own interests first?

He suddenly realized that Zhang Yue wasn’t fighting for this money for the Liu family at all, but clearly for herself and her sons!

A surge of indignation rose within Liu Xuan. When he woke up the next day and saw Su Wan’s sickly appearance, guilt overwhelmed him. He sighed and said to Su Wan, “Wan’er, there’s no need for you to compensate for Yuru’s dowry. The Liu family doesn’t lack this bit of silver. I had already prepared a dowry for Yuru. Just send it over.”

Su Wan hurriedly declined repeatedly. The more she declined, the guiltier Liu Xuan felt. In the end, Su Wan finally agreed. Although Liu Xuan’s heart ached, upon seeing Su Wan’s grateful gaze, he thought, ‘It’s fine. After all, the betrothal money from the Gu family wasn’t a small sum.’ No matter how he calculated it, the Liu family had profited.

So after some tossing and turning, Liu Yuru’s dowry was finally settled, and by then, the wedding date was also approaching.

Gu Jiusi had been locked in his room for several days. He felt he had gone crazy, sitting by the door every day, weakly tapping on it. “Let me out… Let me out…”

Liu Yuru had also locked herself in her room. She feared that if she wandered outside, she wouldn’t be able to resist running away from the marriage. 

Of course, this was just a thought. She definitely didn’t dare to actually do it.

The Gu family had received the betrothal gifts, the wedding date was set, and she had embroidered the mandarin duck bedding set. At this point, there was no backing out.

But just thinking about marrying Gu Jiusi and that dream made Liu Yuru feel suffocated.

The night before the wedding, Liu Yuru slept fitfully. She dreamed about the Gu family’s properties being confiscated again. This time, she was no longer a bystander but dragged out from the vermilion gates. She heard Wang Rong’s disgustingly smug voice, “In the past, when I wanted you, you acted all high and mighty. But now, you’re destined to be sold to a brothel.”  

Liu Yuru woke up from the dream with a scream, soaked in cold sweat. She looked at the bedding in the dim light as endless fear gripped her heart with marrying Gu Jiusi.

At this time, servants outside had already begun to light lanterns and were hurriedly pasting up wedding decorations.

Yin Hong walked in from outside and said with a smile, “Miss, you’re already up without me even calling for you.” Yin Hong walked up to her mistress’ side and was somewhat surprised. “What’s wrong with you, Miss? Your forehead is covered in cold sweat.”

Liu Yuru blinked as she slowly regained her senses. It was a dream—just a dream, she reassured herself. But she was still afraid. She had never believed in superstitions, but the dream was too real, making it hard not to feel uneasy.

Yin Hong noticed Liu Yuru’s daze and couldn’t help but laugh. “Miss, are you simply overly nervous?”

“It’s nothing.” Liu Yuru shook her head and took a deep breath to calm herself. Marrying Gu Jiusi was inevitable now; she couldn’t ruin this settled engagement over a dream. She wasn’t that impulsive.

So she sat up straight and, with the help of her maids, changed into her wedding dress.

Her wedding dress had been prepared long ago, and she had embroidered every stitch herself. While embroidering these patterns, she had thought that if she could marry Ye Shi’an, perhaps he would praise her for being deft and clever.

Ye Shi’an…

Looking at herself in the mirror, she didn’t know why, but thinking of this name suddenly made her feel a few traces of sadness and grievance. 

She felt that it wasn’t just a name, but her seven years.

From the age of eight, when she first realized she had to marry someone, the person in her heart had been Ye Shi’an.  

Perhaps it was due to circumstance, or perhaps a young girl’s crush, but even after their brief childhood interactions, he remained a constant fixture in her thoughts. His departure for Bailu Academy at thirteen further solidified his place in her heart.

She couldn’t tell if she loved Ye Shi’an himself or the persistent hope he represented. Regardless, he had been the object of her most earnest and enduring desires.

And now, she had to give him up.

The realization struck her like a blow. Tears welled up, blurring her reflection. The indescribable emotions surged through her, and she wept silently.

Su Wan woke early to style Liu Yuru’s hair. Seeing her daughter sitting before the mirror, silently weeping, Su Wan’s heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.

She hugged her daughter tightly, her voice thick with emotion. “I understand your suffering… I understand it all…”

Years of single-minded devotion to Ye Shi’an, all that effort…only to end in nothing. And now, she must marry a man she deeply despised.

As a mother, Su Wan understood the depths of her daughter’s despair.

But what could she do? 

If Yuru was a son, they could cancel the engagement. But for all her strength, her daughter was still a woman bound by societal constraints.

Su Wan hugged Yuru, her own tears flowing even more freely than her daughter’s.

Liu Yuru quickly sniffed and patted her mother’s hand. “Mother, it’s all right. Don’t be sad. They say a little crying before the wedding brings good luck. I’m just having my moment.”

Liu Yuru wiped her tears and forced a smile. “Come, let’s apply my makeup. It’s fine.”

Su Wan’s heart ached further at her daughter’s words. She held her hand and repeated, “I understand…”

She understood.

Her daughter, so obedient and sensible, shouldered everything herself to avoid causing worry.

Where other young women might wail in their mothers’ arms, Yuru had learned to hide and cry in secret, lest Su Wan find out and fret.

Now, as an adult, she must swallow a lifetime of hurt, force a smile, all to spare Su Wan from worry.

But she was Su Wan’s own flesh and blood. How could she not understand? Holding her daughter’s hand tightly, her voice trembled, “Mother cannot help you with much. Do not worry about me, and I will not worry about you. If you need to cry, cry your heart out. Mother will not be troubled.”

Liu Yuru simply smiled. “Mother, there’s little to cry about when marrying. I’m just having a little cry for good luck.”

As they spoke, Liu Yuru applied her makeup. She donned her wedding dress, her phoenix crown, and finally the veil. Now, she waited for Gu Jiusi to arrive and escort her to the wedding.

After a long wait, they heard from outside, “They’re here, they’re here!”

Liu Yuru twisted her handkerchief as a touch of nerves fluttered within her. In a flash, she heard the main door burst open with a “bang,” followed by Gu Jiusi’s angry voice, “Hurry up and get moving!”

Liu Yuru hesitated, thinking his words were meant to rush her along.

Just as Gu Jiusi was about to grow even angrier, he heard Gu Langhua’s icy voice, “Jiusi.”

That single word was enough to remind Gu Jiusi of his morning beating and the servant still hanging as punishment in their home.

He closed his eyes in pain, walked up to Liu Yuru, and stiffly handed her one end of a red silk ribbon. “Hold on and follow me,” he said.

Liu Yuru said nothing. She knew Gu Langhua and Jiang Rou were likely present. She was willing to give Jiang Rou this face, so she held the red silk and stood up to follow Gu Jiusi out the door.

Gu Jiusi walked in front. Although reluctant, he glanced back and saw that Liu Yuru, with her veil on, was struggling to walk. He thought about how a girl falling on her wedding day would likely become the joke of the entire city.

No matter what, this person was becoming his wife. Even if he refused to acknowledge it, that didn’t prevent others from seeing her as such.

With a dissatisfied snort, Gu Jiusi said in a low voice, “There’s a threshold ahead.”

Liu Yuru was momentarily stunned. After a while, she pursed her lips and smiled. Her anger suddenly dissipated.

She sat in the sedan chair, and Gu Jiusi put down the curtain before mounting his horse. As the chair was lifted and music began, Liu Yuru sat amidst the surrounding clamor.

Never had she been more sharply aware that her life as Miss Liu was ending, and another phase was about to begin.

But at that time, she believed she was only starting her life as Madam Gu. She never imagined that she was starting a legend.

At fifteen, Liu Yuru sat in the sedan chair, a mix of worry for her future and nostalgia for her past. Then, amidst the clamor, she heard, “Eldest Young Master, slow down a bit!”

There were many in Yangzhou City who could be called “Eldest Young Master.” But for some reason, her heart raced wildly at that moment.

With trembling hands, she felt a sudden urge to lift her veil. A desperate desire to see if this Eldest Young Master was the one she had been thinking about day and night.

She had begun to blossom into a young lady at thirteen and came of age at fifteen. When Ye Shi’an left, she had just turned twelve and hadn’t even lost all her baby teeth. She had never seen Ye Shi’an as a young lady, yet he had been her everything during her adolescence. 

She had always been proper, never deviating from the norm. But at that moment, a wave of defiant strength surged within her. She lifted her veil in a sea of red and quietly opened a crack in the sedan curtain.

It was at this moment that someone galloped by on a horse. The young master wore a jade crown and white robes. A delicate fragrance of plum blossoms wafted from his wide sleeves, brushing her nose. In a flash, she clearly saw his face. Even after five years, his chiseled features and starry eyes were unmistakably those of—

Ye Shi’an.

On the day of her wedding, Ye Shi’an had returned!