Chapter 27

What did Gu Cheng Yao just say? He wanted to marry Lin Wei Xi as his Princess Consort?

There was a buzzing in Gao Ran’s head, and it took quite a while for her to return to her senses. Gu Cheng Yao was also distraught with anxiety and didn’t notice the difference in Gao Ran’s behaviour.

The heart of a lantern went off with a pop and Gao Ran snapped back to attention with a start. She suddenly realized the significance of this incident. The day before, she’d just cemented the marriage between Lin Wei Xi and the second Qian young master. Although it was just a verbal promise, Gao Ran had faith in her conviction when she made the promise to Madam Qian and hadn’t expected there to be a problem. Though parents and the matchmaker made the match, there were so many marriages decreed by the Emperor and the Empress, and not all of them were for the relatives of the Emperor. As long as one was powerful enough, they could stand above all the rules and regulations.

So when Madam Qian mentioned Lin Wei Xi’s marriage, it was exactly what Gao Ran wanted and she agreed without much resistance. Both the Qian family and Gao Ran were delighted and satisfied. As for the person involved, was it necessary to ask for her opinion?

Of course Gao Ran knew that Lin Wei Xi would be unhappy, and she even guessed that Lin Wei Xi would most likely bring this up to Prince Yan. However, just like how a lizard discards its tail, she decided to make a sacrifice in order to survive. Compared to Prince Yan’s momentary dissatisfaction, it was more dangerous for Lin Wei Xi to continue staying in the Prince Yan Residence, so she gladly abandoned temporary favour in exchange for long term peace of mind.

However, Gao Ran didn’t expect this to be the result of Lin Wei Xi complaining to Prince Yan.

Lin Wei Xi was actually marrying into the Prince Yan Residence? Even more unimaginable was that the person involved wasn’t Gu Cheng Yao, but Prince Yan?

Gao Ran was too shocked to speak. It was fine if all she felt was shock. The trouble was that Lin Wei Xi would be a generation above her in name. If Lin Wei Xi remembered their animosity and deliberately picked a quarrel in the future, Gao Ran would be in serious trouble.

Right now, the promise with Madam Qian wasn’t important anymore. Gao Ran was more concerned about Prince Yan. She was too impatient to notice that her voice was no longer as gentle as water. She was unable to wait, “why did Father want to marry Lin Wei Xi? Is she going to be the Princess Consort or a concubine?”

Although Gu Cheng Yao had also thought this to himself, he couldn’t help but lower his head and look at Gao Ran. In the past, she’d always been principled, gentle and subdued. How could she say something so vulgar and disrespectful? Gu Cheng Yao didn’t know how Gao Ran came to such a conjecture, but not only was it an insult to Lin Wei Xi, it was also an insult to Prince Yan.

He was displeased, but repressed his emotions and gently answered his wife’s question, “naturally, she’ll be the Princess Consort. The Prince Yan Consort.”

Gao Ran’s last thread of hope was shattered. She wanted to vomit out of anger. She was undoubtedly finished. Why had Lin Wei Xi created such a mess again. What a troublemaker!

Gao Ran furrowed her brows in contemplation. After a while, she suddenly realized that Gu Cheng Yao was looking at her. She became alert, quickly eased her expression, and forced out a smile, “Shizi, hearing this now has really surprised me. That’s right, you and the Prince were talking about something, so how did this topic come up?”

Gao Ran explained her gloomy expression in the first half. After clearing up the ambiguousness, she immediately changed the subject.

Speaking of which, Gu Cheng Yao wasn’t too happy, so he didn’t look into Gao Ran’s lack of manners, “Father said that Lin Wei Xi will move to the Princess Shou Kang Residence. I didn’t understand, and after asking about it, Father said he wanted to marry her as his Consort. “

If Prince Yan really wanted to marry Lin Wei Xi, then allowing her to continue living in the Prince Yan Residence wasn’t a good idea. That way, the truth couldn’t be distorted, and Lin Wei Xi would most likely marry out from the Princess Shou Kang Residence◇.

◇

Not only would Lin Wei Xi become the Prince Yan Consort without any basis, she would be marrying out of a Princess Residence due to a freak combination of events.

Gao Ran’s heart was set ablaze. A living Cinderella story was happening right before her eyes, and it was offensive to her eyes. What she loathed even more was that this Cinderella would become her mother-in-law and naturally hold the management and authority over her.

Gao Ran was used to seeing this kind of vicious mother-in-law in her previous life, be it from movies, television or novels. If Lin Wei Xi gave birth to a son in the future, she would definitely covet Shizi’s position. Gao Ran didn’t try to conceal her malice towards her future stepmother and completely forgot that she herself was also a second wife. If Gao Xi hadn’t died early, Gao Ran would’ve been someone else’s stepmother.

Gao Ran considered her countermeasures at lightning speed. She rolled her eyes and felt that Gu Cheng Yao was the key. Women were nothing but accessories, but he was Prince Yan’s only son and the Shizi of the residence. If Lin Wei Xi played any shameful tricks on him, everyone in the Prince Yan Residence definitely wouldn’t forgive her. That’s why he was Gao Ran’s crutch. So long as they were of the same mind, working together against the same adversary, she could slowly rise above Lin Wei Xi and empty out her position of Consort.

After Gao Ran thought it through, she calmed down and asked softly, “Shizi, you didn’t look too good when you came in just now. Did you say something to the Prince?”

Gu Cheng Yao sighed, “I was in the wrong and shouldn’t have contradicted Father. But I’m not worthy of Mother. Mother and Father held deep affections for each other, but where is Mother’s place if Father is remarrying after so many years?”

Gao Ran knew that this ‘Mother’ referred to her honourable Mother-in-law, Shen Shi. Princess Consort Shen was very famous within the Prince Yan Residence, and she heard these things from the Granny in charge as soon as she married into the household. It was said that Princess Consort Shen and Prince Yan’s love back then could move heaven and earth. Princess Consort Shen had chased her husband for thousands of miles, jumped up the social ladder, and remained true to her original aspirations even when her in-laws made things difficult for her after she entered the household. Her love was brave and ardent. What a shame that the Heavens were jealous of beautiful women. Princess Consort Shen had been enduring her Mother-in-law’s cold treatment for many years, and during one of Prince Yan’s war campaigns, she died of illness in the back courtyard of the Prince Yan Residence.

After he returned and learned about this, Prince Yan was silent for a long time before throwing a grand funeral for Shen Shi. In the subsequent years, he didn’t remarry. During this period, countless young and beautiful women recommended themselves to warm his bed but Prince Yan didn’t accept any of them. Later as Gu Cheng Yao grew up, he was quickly established as the Shizi. Gao Ran sighed when she heard this. What a touching love story. The heroine overcame worldly obstacles while the hero remained affectionate for years and continued guarding his wife after her death. Even the various important departments of the residence guarded the deceased wife’s dowry. Thus, Lin Wei Xi became hated for intervening.

Gu Cheng Yao’s recollection of Shen Shi was already quite fuzzy, but it didn’t hinder him from grieving for his mother or favouring the old servant left behind by his mother. Even now, most of his important subordinates were the servants that Princess Consort Shen had left behind at that time. The day after Gao Ran married in, the Granny in charge and Gu Cheng Gao’s personal servant Yun Hui visited her to lay all the cards on the table. When Gao Ran heard that they were Shen Shi’s people, she immediately treated them very politely. Gao Ran was more tactful than Gao Xi because she chose to curry favour with Yun Hui and the rest, and Gu Cheng Yao doted on Gao Ran more. After seeing this, Princess Consort Shen’s people treated her pretty well. Compared to Gao Xi, who’d come before her, Gao Ran had a joyous and harmonious relationship with what was left of Princess Consort Shen’s people.

Gao Ran completely understood Gu Cheng Yao’s emotional state. Her father in name, the Duke Ying Shizi, couldn’t be together with his true love, Han Shi, because of his worldly views, so Han Shi could only be wronged and remain as a concubine. She grasped his hand and said, “Shizi, I understand how you feel. Don’t worry, I will only recognize Princess Consort Shen as my Mother-in-law. No matter what happens in the future, my feelings for you will never change.”

Gu Cheng Yao tightly held Gao Ran’s hand in turn. Normally, he’d feel touched by her words. However, he felt very disconnected from her today for some reason. The words that he heard didn’t stun him like how they had in the past.

After Gu Ming Da left, Lin Wei Xi remained in her room for several days to recuperate. He hadn’t mentioned anything that day because topics about the engagement couldn’t be heard by the bride’s side. But based on the expressions of the servant around her these days and the false rumours floating around the residence, Lin Wei Xi could more or less guess what was going on.

After Lin Wei Xi’s fever subsided, her mind, which had been burned to confusion, finally cleared up. Could it be that water had leaked into her head because she’d been caught in the rain for too long that day? What had she done!

She was too embarrassed to face the stupid things she’d done, so she could only use her recovery as an excuse to hide in her room and not see the people who visited. Falling ill was such a good excuse. She used to think that the women in the Duke Residence who’d get sick every now and then were only exaggerating. But she now knew that recuperating from an illness was truly an all-purpose excuse. She didn’t have the face to meet people and could hide day after day.

Fortunately, two days had barely passed when people from the Princess Shou Kang Residence arrived. They were bustling with noise and excitement as they took Lin Wei Xi to the Princess Residence to recuperate. She had very simple luggage, and aside from Lin Yong’s rewards which had remained untouched, she only had two servants, Wan Xing and Wan Yue. At the back, Wan Yue helped the people from the Princess Residence to take inventory of the rosewood boxes, while Lin Wei Xi lazily lounged around as she recuperated up front. One of Gao Ran’s Grannies came to scout out the situation. She softly and quietly entered Jingdan Garden and smiled at Wan Xing, “Miss Wan Xing, is Miss Lin inside? Miss Lin will be leaving soon, so Shizi Fei sent this slave to ask if she needs to buy anything.”

Wan Xing had a sour expression, “she doesn’t need anything. Even if she did, you don’t need to buy it. It’s not like our Miss has no money. Besides, the Princess Residence has so many female officials. Who would need you?”

Several days ago, Wan Xing absolutely wouldn’t have said such a thing to Shizi Fei’s people. But her Miss was going to be the Princess Consort. Wan Xing was a commoner and a foul-mouthed lower-class girl through and through. She planned meticulously and was calculative; favour and hatred were clearly defined. When she could step on someone, no doubt she’d run them over twice.

Wan Xing thought to herself that her Miss would soon become Shizi Fei’s mother-in-law. Normal mother-in-laws would use their status to oppress their daughter-in-law, who’d have to endure beatings and scoldings. Even if the practices of the aristocratic families were different from those of the ordinary people, based on Wan Xing’s observations and inquiries over the past few days, she discovered that the practices in these noble families were sometimes stricter than that of the common folk. What was there to be afraid of if that was the case. One could almost see Wan Xing’s tail wagging happily. Wan Yue had secretly told her about what had happened that day and she guessed that Shizi Fei had most likely insulted Miss Lin, who fell ill out of anger once she returned. Now, the tables had turned, and Wan Xing could breathe freely. Why should she give them any face?

The Granny was scolded until her face turned red. She tried to look virtuous and said, “This slave knows that Miss Lin is rich, but this slave still came here to represent Shizi Fei. Miss Lin doesn’t have to give me face, but can’t you give Shizi Fei face? If this slave can’t even see Miss Lin, what do I report to Shizi Fei when I return?”

Wan Xing felt confused by the polite words used in these kinds of great and noble families. She didn’t know how to respond, so she pouted and replied angrily, “Wait here, I’ll go ask Miss.”

After a while, Wan Xing lifted the curtain as she walked out of the room, her expression arrogant as a peacock, “Miss said she isn’t going to see you.”

The Granny couldn’t believe it, “Shizi Fei ordered me to, Miss Lin, she… “

“Our Miss said that she won’t see Shizi Fei even if she comes. Hurry and leave. Stop waving a chicken feather around as a symbol of power◇. Our Miss isn’t accepting what you want to give.”

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Wan Xing brought out her attitude of buying vegetables at the market, pushing the Granny out by scolding her. What about drawing a line when doing things so that the future is well met◇? Wan Xing was very pleased and satisfied with herself, so there was no need! Her Miss was the future Princess Consort and mother-in-law. Who would want to draw the line with her own daughter-in-law?

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Lin Wei Xi could hear everything happening outside her room clearly. Wan Yue put down the booklet for the gift list and poured Lin Wei Xi a cup of tea, “Miss, Wan Xing is accustomed to walking around town and shooting her mouth off. Please forgive her.”

Lin Wei Xi covered her mouth and coughed slightly. After washing down the itch in her throat with water, she carelessly said, “it’s not a problem.”

It was good that Wan Xing was outspoken and happy to avenge her out of gratitude. In any case, Wan Xing and Wan Yue’s slave contracts were with her. In the event that she couldn’t protect herself in the future, she’d let them both go and definitely wouldn’t leave them for Gao Ran to take out her anger on. With things as they were now, did she have anything to worry about?

After the Granny returned to Gao Ran, she angrily scolded Wan Xing for being frivolous and daring to speak rudely. Lin Wei Xi naturally claimed all the credit as her master. Gao Ran’s people felt aggrieved, but this would have to be saved for later. As of that moment, Lin Wei Xi had already boarded the Princess Residence’s carriage, bringing her generous inheritance to the Princess Shou Kang Residence with her. If everything went as planned, she’d settle there until she got married.

Princess Royal Shou Kang was happy beyond words to see Lin Wei Xi. Early one morning, after Lin Wei Xi had taken breakfast in her room, she went to pay her respects to Shou Kang and was pulled close as soon as she walked through the door. Princess Royal Shou Kang looked at her up and down as she held her hand. After a moment, she shook her head and said to the surrounding female officials with sorrow, “why do I feel like Xi’er grew thinner again?”

Cold sweat dripped down Lin Wei Xi’s back and she promptly said, “what are you saying, I ate and slept so well these past few days that I grew fat.”

Princess Royal Shou Kang looked at her suspiciously and could tell that she hadn’t gotten fat. An elder always felt that the younger generation were better-looking if they were a little fat, so she told Lin Wei Xi to eat and sleep more. Lin Wei Xi felt helpless, but she still agreed.

Seeing her lovable response, Shou Kang felt satisfied, and proceeded to animatedly talk about the dowry with her, “Prince Yan has already sent the betrothal gift booklet, and it’s an inch thick! He also said that the rest is up to us to decide. Xi’er, although people say that a marriage is determined by one’s parents and a matchmaker, and an unmarried girl like you can’t listen to this, but you’ve lost your parents and you’ll be living on your own after you get married. Why don’t we discard these fading traditions? When do you want to get married?”

Lin Wei Xi felt extremely embarrassed. Wasn’t it bad to ask a new bride like her about her wedding date? Was she supposed to say that it was too early or too late?

Lin Wei Xi could only say tactfully, “I’m unfamiliar with this. You and Prince Yan can decide.”

“Why are you saying the same thing? The both of you are the ones involved, but are so composed. It seems I’ll collapse from my one-sided enthusiasm.” Princess Royal Shou Kang grumbled without thinking, took the list of auspicious timings, and deliberated on the marriage date over and over by herself. One of the two was her nephew and the other was her adopted granddaughter, who wasn’t her biological granddaughter but surpassed her biological granddaughter. Although they had a one generation gap, it was nothing amongst large and influential families that were connected by marriage generation after generation. Two of her favourite juniors were getting married, so she was unable to contain her joy, eager to make this a perfect and Heavenly wedding.

As Shou Kang and the female officials deliberated on the auspicious date and timing, Lin Wei Xi continued to sit there, embarrassed. Just as she was about to get up, Shou Kang stopped her, “Xi’er, what good timing, let’s discuss your dowry today. The betrothal gifts sent by Prince Yan haven’t been touched, so take all of them with you. Also, I prepared a dowry for you. The dowry list is here. Look through these two lists when you return to your room.”