Chapter 2. My sister doesn't want to marry, but I do...

Since transmigrating, Shen Lingyue has been confined to her room to recuperate, so bored that she can only spend her days gossiping with her maids. This is the first time she has directly faced the struggles in the mansion, which is both novel and exciting, and she is instantly filled with fighting spirit.

In fact, she was always very vague about the cause of the original owner's death, only having a few fragmented memories in her mind: on the afternoon of the day the original owner had the accident, she seemed to have exchanged a few words with her second sister, Shen Songyi, in the garden, and they had a rather unpleasant argument.

Now that the "suspect" has come to her door, she naturally won't let this opportunity pass her by.

Shen Lingyue composed herself, recalling the original owner's past behavior. She coldly brushed away Shen Songyi's hand, sat down at the head of the table, and took the opportunity to grab a pastry and chew on it.

"What, are you disappointed that I didn't die of illness, Second Sister?"

Shen Songyi was taken aback, her expression growing even more sorrowful: "Even if my sister is still angry with me, why say such things to curse herself?"

"Alright, alright, Father's not here. Who are you trying to impress with this crying and wailing?" Shen Lingyue rolled her eyes without any politeness. "Speak up if you have something to say, or leave if you don't. I don't have time to play the sisterly love card with you."

Shen Songyi did not doubt her attitude. After all, Shen Lingyue had always been like this, relying on being the legitimate daughter and the youngest in the family, she never took her older sister seriously.

In the past, she would never have gone out of her way to invite a scolding, but Shen Lingyue's illness came on strangely, and her stepmother had severely punished a group of servants these days, and it seemed that the investigation was about to reach her...

Shen Songyi sighed and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"My sister may be delirious from her illness. Does she still remember what we said in the garden that day?"

Shen Lingyue pretended to think for a while, then shook her head impatiently, "I drink so many bowls of bitter medicine every day, who would remember what nonsense I said to you?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Songyi became anxious. "How could you not remember? You said that Second Young Master Pei is a good-for-nothing who spends his days fighting cocks and chasing dogs, and he can't inherit the Marquis's title. You would rather die than marry such a good-for-nothing!"

Thud.

The pastry in Shen Lingyue's mouth fell out.

Seriously? Her future husband is this kind of person?

Oh no, she'd better hurry and find a white silk ribbon...

etc--

Shen Lingyue wiped the crumbs from the corner of her mouth, looked Shen Songyi up and down, and snorted coldly.

"We're such good friends, why would I say something like that to you?"

Could it be that this innocent half-sister thinks she's delirious from illness and is trying to spread rumors and distort the truth?

Shen Lingyue stood up abruptly, her face filled with righteous indignation.

"His Majesty is wise; how could he bestow a marriage so carelessly? Second Sister, please be careful with your words. I am extremely satisfied with this marriage and have absolutely no complaints!"

Hmph, she wouldn't let Shen Songyi have any grounds for criticism.

Shen Songyi's brows furrowed even more, and in her haste, she blurted out, "Then you're going to disregard your promise to let me marry in your place?"

Shen Lingyue: Huh?

Her eyes widened: "Are you alright? That was a marriage bestowed by the Emperor! What kind of substitute bride are you trying to pull off? Are you trying to drag your whole family down with you?"

Having already spoken, Shen Songyi braced herself and said, "The imperial decree only states that the eldest daughter of the Shen family will be married to the second son of the Pei family, thus establishing a kinship between the two families. It doesn't specifically name you, Shen Lingyue..."

She mustered her courage, stepped forward quickly, and grasped Shen Lingyue's hand tightly. "Sister, you don't want to marry, but I do. I'm willing to jump into this fire pit for you, I just ask that you grant my wish!"

Shen Lingyue then understood.

Jumping into the fire pit was a pretense; Shen Songyi's real intention was to obtain the status of a legitimate daughter.

So here's the question: Is Shen Songyi a fool who would risk her entire future for a hollow title?

"Second Miss!"

Qingchan heard this as soon as she entered with the tea. She immediately became anxious, rushed forward to block Shen Lingyue's path, and glared at her angrily: "Madam has always treated you well, yet you dare to scheme against my young lady's marriage!"

Then he turned to Shen Lingyue and said hurriedly, "Miss, don't listen to her nonsense. I have inquired about it. Although the Second Young Master Pei is the second son of the legitimate wife, his mother is the second wife of the Marquis of Changning. According to etiquette, he and the First Young Master Pei are both qualified to inherit the title."

Shen Songyi spoke softly from behind her: "You said it yourself, it's about etiquette—the eldest son of the Pei family is Princess Qinghe, of noble blood, and he is a young and talented man who entered the Ministry of War before he was even twenty. What does the second son of the Pei family have to compete with him?"

Shen Lingyue pushed Qingchan's head away, even more puzzled: "Don't you understand everything? Then why do you still want to marry him?"

Even if Shen Songyi is renowned for her talent in her youth, the title is ultimately a man's affair. Can she force Pei Er to improve himself and surpass Pei Da?

From his background to his talent to his reputation, Pei Da's succession to the title is a foregone conclusion.

Shen Songyi gave a wry smile, but it carried a hint of sincerity.

"Because this is the best marriage I could have."

“Sister, I know you’re unhappy with this marriage. You don’t want to be sisters-in-law with Miss Zhou, nor do you want to marry a playboy like Second Young Master Pei. After all, with your background and the efforts of your wife and the Zhao family to plan for you, you will always have a better choice.”

"But I didn't."

"If I miss this marriage opportunity with the Marquis of Changning, then I will only have—"

"What can I do? To be harshly abused and mistreated by my stepmother, and then casually sent away to live out the door?"

A dignified and calm middle-aged woman's voice rang out from outside the door.

Shen Lingyue looked up and saw a woman in fine clothes walking slowly with her maids and servants. Her hair was piled high like clouds, she had a square forehead and broad cheeks, and long eyebrows that reached her temples. She had a dignified and elegant appearance, and her calm demeanor carried an air of authority.

It was Zhao Lan, the matriarch of the Shen family and the original owner's mother.

She rushed forward, "Mother, what brings you here?"

Turning around, I saw Shuangxu hiding behind the maid; it turned out she had gone to the main courtyard to get reinforcements.

Zhao Lan grasped her hand, giving it a slight squeeze as if she were disappointed in her, and said in a low voice, "If I hadn't come, I'm afraid you would have been sold off by your good sister, and you would have been counting the money for her."

Shen Songyi's face turned pale, and she knelt down with a thud. "Madam, Songyi had no such intention!"

Zhao Lan didn't even glance at her, but instructed the old woman behind her: "The second young lady is delirious and talking nonsense. Send her back to her courtyard to recuperate. Have Aunt Liu take good care of her. She doesn't need to come to pay her respects to me before Buddha's Birthday next month."

Two burly maids immediately stepped out from the group, grabbed Shen Songyi without saying a word, covered her mouth, and walked out.

Shen Songyi couldn't break free. She kicked her legs a few times, but could only stare wide-eyed at Shen Lingyue. Soon she was taken out of the courtyard and disappeared from sight.

Shen Lingyue was captivated by her tearful eyes, filled with resentment and pleading. She couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart, but it wasn't as satisfying as she had imagined.

"Alright, don't be fooled by her sweet talk." Zhao Lan tapped her forehead reproachfully, her tone tinged with disgust. "Just like that Liu woman, she's always pretending to be pitiful to deceive people."

Shen Lingyue snapped out of her reverie, thought for a moment, and asked, "Has Second Sister's marriage been arranged?"

Zhao Lan said nonchalantly, "She has two older brothers who are not yet married, what's the rush?" She then smiled sarcastically, "Your father is afraid that I will spoil his precious daughter, he is waiting for the results of the imperial examination to be announced so that he can find a husband for her. It's not my place to worry about it."

Shen Lingyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but Zhao Lan saw it and couldn't help but feel both annoyed and amused: "You little ingrate, do you really believe that I would manipulate her marriage?"

"Of course not." Shen Lingyue's eyes darted around, and she quickly changed the subject. "I'm just afraid she'll try to force the marriage again."

Zhao Lan glanced at her: "After being sick, your mind is much clearer now. You're not making a fuss about breaking off the engagement anymore?"

Shen Lingyue maintained her original spoiled and arrogant persona and could only say, "Hmph, even if I don't want it, it's not her place to snatch it."

“That’s more like what my daughter would say.”

Zhao Lan smiled with satisfaction and accompanied Shen Lingyue back to her bedroom. She then summoned Qingchan and Shuangxu and inquired about her daily life and diet over the past few days, showing great concern and thoughtfulness.

Shen Lingyue sat obediently beside Zhao Lan, acting like a mama's girl. She would touch the exquisite embroidery on Zhao Lan's clothes one moment, and lift her sleeve to look at the translucent jade bracelet on her wrist the next. She was never still.

Zhao Lan was happy to be close to her youngest daughter, and casually took off the jade bracelet and stuffed it into her arms, giving her whatever she wanted.

After dismissing the servants, only the mother and daughter remained in the room, and Zhao Lan earnestly advised her again.

"Don't listen to your second sister's nonsense. The Emperor's bestowal of a marriage is such a glorious thing. Has she lost her mind to pretend to be the legitimate daughter and marry in place of the legitimate daughter? Does she really think the Marquis of Changning's family is deaf and blind?"

Zhao Lan sneered: "She's been scheming all along, just to get registered under my name and have the status of a legitimate daughter, right? Dream on. As long as I'm alive, she won't be able to surpass you."

“But my second sister said that Young Master Pei is a good-for-nothing playboy…” Shen Lingyue hummed twice, pretending to be unwilling, “Do I really have to marry him?”

Zhao Lan countered, "If Second Young Master Pei is really as terrible as she says, why would she still marry him?"

She raised her hand to tidy up the stray hairs on Shen Lingyue's forehead and coaxed her gently, "Since ancient times, high-ranking families have married off their daughters, while low-ranking families have taken wives. The Changning Marquis's family is favored by the Emperor. Looking around, which other powerful family has been granted a marriage by imperial decree, and even two wives at that?"

"Although the Second Young Master Pei is not as promising as his elder brother, at most he is just a young man with an unsettled mind and likes to play around. But at least he has not committed any heinous acts such as bullying men and women or disregarding human life."

Shen Lingyue: ...

That's a low bar! Does not killing or arson make someone a good husband?

She remembered a joke she had seen online before, about a matchmaker introducing someone to a blind date—"He used to kill people, but he's reformed and doesn't kill anymore."

Zhao Lan, unaware that she was cursing inwardly, continued, "Moreover, the current Lady of Changning is the biological mother of Young Master Pei, and will be your mother-in-law in the future. If you and Miss Zhou have a conflict, she will definitely side with you. Listen to your mother, in the inner courtyard, the mother-in-law is much more important than the husband."

Mentioning Miss Zhou, Shen Lingyue finally perked up, rubbing her hands together eagerly, and said, "Mother, don't worry, I definitely won't lose to her!"

Zhao Lan was amused and her eyes crinkled with laughter. "Alright, alright, then Mother will be waiting for you to wreak havoc in the Marquis of Changning's mansion."

*

Shen Hang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, had an appointment with his colleagues tonight. He returned home drunk and, as was his habit, headed to Aunt Liu's courtyard, but was stopped halfway there.

"Madam says that the second young lady is arrogant and deceitful, and has confined her and Aunt Liu to their quarters. Master, please think of a solution."

Upon hearing this, Shen Hang was furious and stormed into the main courtyard.

Zhao Lan was sitting in front of the mirror removing her makeup when she smelled the alcohol on him. Her brows furrowed, and without turning her head, she said, "Master is drunk. You should sleep in the front yard tonight."

Instead, Shen Hang deliberately leaned close to her and hiccuped, his face flushed, and asked in a thick tongue, "What did Songyi do to upset you? Why are you confining her to your quarters?"

Zhao Lan covered her nose with her sleeve and said irritably, "Your precious daughter doesn't want to acknowledge her biological mother anymore. She wants to be the legitimate daughter of the Shen family and steal Yue'er's marriage!"

Shen Hang instantly sobered up halfway, his eyes widening in disbelief: "Really?"

Zhao Lan said coldly, "If you don't believe me, go ask her. If she hadn't been so delusional and spread rumors in front of Yue'er, how could Yue'er have suddenly suffered from qi stagnation and blood stasis, almost falling seriously ill?"

Thinking of her daughter lying in bed a few days ago, barely breathing, Zhao Lan clenched her fists, her brows furrowed in a cold rage.

"I risked my life to give birth to Yue'er. I'll fight anyone who makes her unhappy."

Shen Hang was startled by the murderous intent in his wife's words. The slight drunkenness was dispelled by the cold wind, and he laughed it off: "It's just a joke between sisters, why take it seriously?"

He took a few steps back, sniffed his sleeves, and said, "Oh dear, I drank a bit too much tonight. I'm going to the study. Madam, please get some rest."

Zhao Lan stared at his retreating figure, her face expressionless.

Once Yue'er gets married, she'll understand that it doesn't matter whether a man is good or bad; only the power she holds in her hands is real.

A note from the author:

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Today's baby: I'm going to team up with my mom and my mother-in-law to fight for the family property and the title! Let's go!

Upon seeing her best friend, Yuezai exclaimed: "Here you go, I'll give you everything! (づ￣3￣)づ╭～"