Volume One, Chapter 12: Becoming Another's Wife

Inside the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Lin Sheng carried an oil lamp and pushed open the wooden door of the document room. The creak caused those inside to glance out.

“Is there something?” Zhou Xunli cast him a quick glance before returning his attention to the confessions he was reviewing. When they re-interrogated Wang Dahai tomorrow, all these previous statements had to be cross-checked meticulously.

“It’s bitterly cold tonight. I brought you some hot tea.” Lin Sheng raised the teapot slightly, then stepped to a wooden table, pouring out the cooled, old tea before replacing it with a fresh cup and setting it before Zhou Xunli.

The rich aroma filled the air. A sip revealed an unexpectedly mellow and sweet flavor.

“Such fine tea—have you taken a gift from some wealthy family again?” Zhou Xunli sampled it lightly. The Prefect of Jingzhao’s office did not provide for such luxuries. As for Lin Sheng, he was too frugal to spend on this himself.

Lin Sheng clicked his tongue and sighed, “The Prefect’s tongue is sharp indeed. This tea was a gift specially sent by Miss Xie San to Your Excellency as a token of thanks. I’m merely basking in the glow.”

A gift, then.

Zhou Xunli gently swirled the tea in his cup, inhaling the delicate fragrance. It reminded him of the kindness he had received.

That third Miss Xie of the Xie family was truly audacious and reckless. Unfortunately, she was risking everything for it.

“Regarding today’s matter, first send word to His Highness, the Second Prince. For now, I cannot have much contact with the palace.” Zhou Xunli drained his cup and instructed Lin Sheng.

From tomorrow on, she would belong to another family.

Whether good or ill, let her be.

All that mattered was that the Xie family remembered the favor he had shown.

Lin Sheng cupped his hands in response. “Yes, sir.”

In the dead of night, the streets and alleys had long since gone dark and silent, save for the night watchman making his rounds.

Yet, when the thunderous sound of drums and gongs echoed, it disturbed everyone’s sleep. People hastily threw on clothes and rushed outside, shouting, “Who’s there? At this hour?”

“Drumming at midnight—what madness is this?”

After a few curses, many gathered at the roadside.

Suddenly, an auntie wearing a floral jacket cried out, “Hey, isn’t that the carriage from the General Zhenyuan’s residence?”

At the mention of General Zhenyuan’s mansion, everyone perked up. What commotion could it be now?

Sitting inside a bright red bridal sedan chair, Xie Shu tapped thrice on the sedan’s frame. Outside, the green willow ear—the lead handmaiden—twitched her ears twice and immediately led the shouts:

“The Emperor has decreed a marriage! Our Miss Xie San will from now on be the wife of the heir!”

Several older women behind echoed the call, one after another, determined to make sure everyone heard clearly.

“A marriage decree? Seems that the heir of the Marquis of Cheng’en must truly be a philanderer!”

“Certainly! Otherwise, the palace wouldn’t issue a marriage decree at such a critical time!”

“Hey... then this Miss Xie San must have abilities after all. She’s not someone to be taken advantage of.”

The brief chatter not only entertained the common folk but also stirred the interest of the high officials and nobles living around the capital. Perhaps the Emperor still intended to give General Zhenyuan’s family a chance!

Inside the Marquis of Cheng’en’s residence, Ning Rongsheng and the elder clan members of the Ning family were all present. They had awaited news, left and right, until night had fallen completely, but no one came.

The tea grew cold and was reheated repeatedly. The young servant ran back and forth refilling cups. The elderly clan patriarch, leaning on his cane, paced in the ancestral hall. Pointing at Ning Rucheng, the Marquis of Cheng’en, who lay snoring on the side, he exclaimed:

“This is a matter of great importance, and he, as a marquis, does nothing?”

“Bang bang bang”—the iron-tipped huanghuali cane struck the tiled floor in the incense-lit hall, echoing sharply.

“Where is the sobering soup? If he won’t drink it, pour it down his throat!” The old patriarch shouted again, angered by the silence around him.

Li Shi stood by the Marquis’s side, attending him. She had sent someone to the city defense office on duty seeking him, but after searching everywhere, they found him in Dayu Alley. The Marquis kept a concubine there, something Li Shi had only discovered today. She had managed the Marquis’s household for nearly thirty years. On the surface, Ning Rucheng treated her with respect and kindness, but behind her back?

“Hmph, he’s too drunk to care about anything.” Before the sobering soup arrived, Li Shi, frustrated, shoved a bowl of strong tea to the Marquis’s lips, pouring it mostly onto his robe. Seeing this, she slammed the cup down on the table with a loud bang.

Ning Rongsheng glanced at his useless father helplessly and sighed. He bowed to the gathered elders and pleaded, “Uncles and elders, I have explained everything. Our Marquis of Cheng’en’s household must not be linked to General Zhenyuan’s residence at this moment. If the Xie family truly committed crimes warranting the destruction of their clan, we would become innocent victims!”

“We understand the situation.” In the ancestral hall, the old patriarch nodded, and several others agreed in turn. “This genealogy will never lightly bear her name.”

“However, this imperial edict...” some still hesitated.

“Though the edict has been issued, if we can delay for a few days until the Empress Dowager returns from her Buddhist rites, there will surely be other ways.” Ning Rongsheng’s intention was for his father to petition the Empress Dowager in the palace, but unexpectedly, he learned she had left the palace incognito! Alas, they could only stall for now.

With Ning Rongsheng’s words, the assembled felt somewhat reassured.

Seeing everyone agree one by one, Ning Rongsheng finally exhaled in relief.

The Great Yan dynasty always prized filial piety above all. With the elders’ support, they could surely make Xie Shu relent and return.

However, just as Ning Rongsheng was about to say more, a hurried figure burst in, shattering the brief calm.

“Young Master, Young Master, it’s bad!”

The messenger boy, sweating profusely and out of breath, stumbled in, struggling to finish his sentence: “The—The General Zhenyuan, his household—they, they’ve all come!”

“What!” Ning Rongsheng was momentarily stunned, not fully understanding.

A waiting attendant hurriedly handed him a cup of water. “Drink some water, calm down, then explain clearly!”

“Our Marquis of Cheng’en’s household is surrounded by General Zhenyuan’s people! Outside, they are beating drums and gongs, saying General Zhenyuan’s family is marrying off a daughter, and they want us to open the ancestral hall to receive them!” The boy gulped down the water in one breath, spilling some down the cloth neckband.

“How many came?” The old patriarch reacted first, hurrying forward on his cane.

The boy waved his hand, shaking his head. “Too many to count, but judging by their posture, there must be fifty or sixty.”

The old patriarch thought briefly. It seemed most of General Zhenyuan’s trained men had come.

If this turned into a standoff, they would be at a disadvantage!

Ning Rongsheng slipped and fell into his chair. He had hoped to leverage the clan’s numbers to overpower Xie Shu.

But now, not only could he not surpass Xie Shu; the entire Marquis of Cheng’en residence might be crushed beneath her!

“So what if they have numbers? If Miss Xie San wishes to enter our household, she must abide by our rules!” The old patriarch struck the huanghuali cane down heavily, the sound ringing sharply.

“Go! Open the door! Invite them in! I want to see what tricks a mere girl can have!”