Volume 1, Chapter 5: Changes in the Marriage Arrangements

"Yu Siwen, what nonsense are you spouting! Siyao is merely venting her frustration!"

The Marchioness of Wen'an walked in, weeping, and struck Yu Siwen hard on the arm. She chided him indignantly, "I told you to bring your sister back, yet you abandoned her there and returned alone. Now you heap such vicious words upon her—can you not spare a thought for your mother?"

"Mother, why do you still take Yu Siyao’s side? Ever since Xuanyao returned, Siyao has become volatile. I believe the words she speaks now are exactly what she truly thinks."

As Yu Siwen recalled the events of the past, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed to make sense. He could not understand why Yu Siyao had changed so much, and he felt both furious and heartbroken. "Siyao, I treated you like my own flesh and blood, but do you take me for a fool?"

Looking at the older brother who had carried her in his arms since she was a child, Shi Zhao felt a surge of grievance, yet she said nothing. All explanations were in vain. Two years ago, he had believed that Shi Zhao, driven by jealousy, had pushed Yu Xuanyao to the ground. There was no evidence, only the assumption that Yu Siyao had a motive. Yu Siwen had stood firmly by Yu Xuanyao’s side, refusing to trust the sister he had lived with for years. In his eyes, Yu Xuanyao was the vulnerable one in need of protection; therefore, no matter how Shi Zhao defended herself, to him, it was merely sophistry.

"Siwen, your sister is not that kind of person!" The Marchioness of Wen'an firmly denied his claim, then said to Shi Zhao, "Mother knows you have grievances in your heart, and I know you do not covet the wealth of the Marquis's estate. It is well to let it out; the estate has done wrong, and this is what we deserve."

The Marchioness’s attitude was humble, causing the Old Master to frown deeply. "What kind of Marchioness are you? A noblewoman of your standing, yet you offer an apology to a commoner without rank? She has offended the Imperial family and brought great disaster upon this house. The Marquis's estate cannot keep her."

"Old Master, this matter is not... why must you press the point?" The Marchioness hesitated, her words trailing off. She was confused, unable to understand why the Old Master would seize this opportunity to drive Shi Zhao from the house. Shi Zhao had taken the blame for them; she was a benefactor to the estate. Should they not be treating her better?

The Old Master ignored her, staring intently at her instead. "In the eyes of the Imperial family, there has already been a verdict. Is there anything else you have failed to disclose to them?"

The Marchioness started, struck by terror, and stammered, unable to speak.

The Old Master sighed inwardly. If they revealed the truth now, it would be a capital crime of deceiving the Emperor. Only if Yu Siyao disappeared could this matter truly be put to rest. The Marchioness seemed to understand his implication, yet she wept, hiding her eyes. "I have raised Siyao as my own daughter since she was a child. How could I bear to let her leave me?"

"I embroidered tiger-head shoes for her, fed her, dressed her, and held her in my arms every single day. She grew from a tiny child into the graceful young woman she is today. How can I bear to let her leave the estate and suffer out there?"

The Marchioness grieved in secret, looking at Shi Zhao through tear-blurred eyes. "Mother knows I have failed you this time. Mother truly knows she was wrong."

Her eyes were filled with remorse. Shi Zhao suddenly felt a dryness in her throat and a stinging in her nose as memories of acting spoiled in the Marchioness's arms flooded back. This was her mother... She opened her mouth and whispered softly, "Mother..."

Before the syllable had fully escaped her throat, the Old Master’s cold voice rang out again. "The Zhang family has a marriage contract with the second daughter of our house. Now that Yu Xuanyao is nearly sixteen, I wonder what kind of match you intend to find for her?"

The entire room was stunned. The Marchioness looked up abruptly.

The Old Master’s eyes were filled with deeper meaning. "The Zhang clan of the capital is a prominent family. Do you truly think they would allow their eldest son, the pride of their house and a top-ranking scholar, to marry a foster daughter who has no connection to the Marquis's estate?"

The Marchioness’s heart skipped a beat, and she reflexively retorted, "But the day after Xuanyao returned, Zhang Huaijin came to pay his respects and stated that the marriage contract would not be changed." At that time, Zhang Huaijin had arrived disheveled, with bloodstains from lashes on his back, claiming he had made it clear to his elders that the one he intended to marry was still Yu Siyao. The Marchioness could still remember the determination and fearlessness in his eyes—the stubbornness unique to a young man.

The Old Master scoffed at this. "At that time, he was at a critical juncture in his career; how could his family not indulge him? Now that he has achieved success, he cannot be allowed to act recklessly in matters of marriage."

Shi Zhao watched coldly, the warmth of family affection within her slowly cooling. She realized that the Old Master had likely been waiting a long time for this legitimate opportunity to drive her from the house. The Marchioness’s gaze grew increasingly unfocused.

"Do you wish for your own biological daughter to eventually hold the title of a noble lady, or would you rather favor this foster daughter?"

The Old Master’s words were like a sharp blade, laying bare the scheming and conflicting motives behind this marriage before everyone. Shi Zhao tilted her head, watching the Marchioness’s struggle and pain—the pitiful, overwhelmed appearance that she found so familiar.

Whenever a choice had to be made between Yu Xuanyao and herself, the Marchioness would always display this expression. And after a painful decision, the Marchioness would hold her, speaking of her reluctance and guilt, promising to make it up to her in the future, and then choose Yu Xuanyao.

Shi Zhao let out a low laugh, suppressing the tears that had welled up in her eyes. Her heart throbbed with a dull, aching pain, yet she continued to stare at the Marchioness’s face, almost as if punishing herself. How foolish she had been to waver just now. How truly foolish.

The Marchioness was drawn by the laughter and shifted her gaze to Shi Zhao, her entire frame trembling. "Siyao, the Zhang family will not allow you to marry into it."

With that single sentence, her stance was clear.

Yu Siwen, shocked by the Old Master’s sharp words, protested, "But Huaijin loves Siyao, and besides, Siyao is a daughter of our house. Mother, you cannot do this."

The mockery in Shi Zhao’s eyes deepened. The Marchioness looked away in embarrassment and said, "I treat Siyao as my own daughter, but in the eyes of the world, her status can never compare to Xuanyao’s. Huaijin cannot defy the will of his family."

The more she spoke, the more righteous the Marchioness felt. Yes, this marriage could not happen. She was not favoring Xuanyao; it was simply unavoidable. As long as she arranged everything else for Siyao, it would be fine. With this thought, the Marchioness felt a weight lift from her heart. Her tone lightened.

"Old Master, I understand that you are thinking of the relationship between the Marquis's estate and the Zhang family, but Siyao is my daughter after all. Even if this marriage does not succeed, I will find her a good home. Surely there is no need for her to leave the house?"

The Old Master shook his head. "No. As long as Yu Siyao remains in this house, Yu Xuanyao’s status as the second daughter cannot be firmly established. After all, you gave your word that Yu Siyao was the second daughter and Yu Xuanyao the third."

"Then..." the Marchioness suggested tentatively, "I have a courtyard on the outskirts of the city. Perhaps Siyao could live there."

Receiving the Old Master's tacit approval, the Marchioness walked happily toward Shi Zhao, took her right hand, and said with delight, "Siyao, you need not worry. In the future, you will live in the courtyard on the outskirts, and Mother will visit you often. I will certainly find you a prosperous match so that you will never suffer in this life."