Chapter 1 Exchange Marriage
In the inner room of Liu's mansion, the candlelight flickered and illuminated the whole place.
Liu Ming, a doctor from the Ministry of Rites, and his wife sat upright and looked at their second daughter, Liu Yuetang, who was coming over.
She behaved with proper etiquette, dignity and composure.
"A daughter pays respects to her father and mother."
Liu Ming raised his eyes and looked at his daughter in front of him.
She inherited the facial features of Aunt Wen, with crescent-shaped eyebrows and star-like eyes, teeth as white as gourds, skin as white as sheep fat, and a cool and gentle demeanor.
This face is even more beautiful than that of the legitimate daughter Liu Yueyao, and is truly the face of a favorite concubine.
Madam Qi waved her hand, revealing a loving motherly smile. "Tang'er, your father has fought for a bright future for you. You must strive for it! The responsibility of bringing honor to our family is now yours."
As she spoke, she took Liu Yuetang's hand and stroked it gently and affectionately.
Liu Yuetang was stunned and confused.
Everyone in the palace knew that the eldest daughter of the Liu family was raised as an imperial concubine from birth, and was proficient in chess, piano, calligraphy, painting, poetry, fragrance, and tea.
Recently, Liu Yueyao was even more delighted because of the talent show.
If we are talking about bringing honor to the family, it should be Liu Yueyao, why me?
Could it be...
Liu Yuetang looked at Liu Ming in astonishment. Seeing him nod slightly, he said solemnly, "Tang'er, after careful consideration, I still think it is more appropriate for you to enter the palace."
Liu Yuetang's breath caught in her throat and she stared at him in surprise.
After a while, she pulled her hand free from Qi's grasp, clenched her fingertips tightly, and tried her best to calm down.
"Wasn't it my sister who entered the palace? Why did it become me?"
Liu Ming replied calmly, "The palace is full of dangers. In the past two years, all the favored concubines in the palace have met with tragic end. Yao'er has been doted on by your mother since she was young. She is simple-minded. As a father, I cannot bear to send her into danger."
Liu Yuetang sneered sadly.
Then do you have the heart to send me into the tiger's mouth?
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Liu Yuetang swallowed them back.
If he really couldn't bear it, why would he let himself enter the palace?
There was originally little affection between them as father and daughter.
For her, a loving father and a filial daughter are just an unattainable luxury.
Qi saw through Liu Yuetang's thoughts, and a fleeting smile crossed her lips. She wiped her eyes with her handkerchief again, choking back tears as she said, "Tang'er, your father and I are so reluctant to leave you. But your sister is useless. She was afraid to enter the palace because of a dream."
As she spoke, she smiled with satisfaction: "Fortunately, Tang'er, you are steady and smart, and coupled with your extraordinary beauty, you will definitely be able to gain a firm foothold in the harem and bring honor to the family."
Liu Ming also agreed with Qi's words.
"That's right. With your beauty, it would be a shame if you didn't enter the palace and become a favorite concubine."
Liu Yuetang looked at Liu Ming with a cold gaze: "Father, you forgot that your daughter is engaged. I will marry into the Fu family next year."
Qi quickly said, "When the old lady of the Fu Mansion discussed marriage with your aunt, she said she wanted to marry the daughter of the Liu Mansion, and she didn't specify a daughter born out of wedlock."
Liu Yuetang then realized that Qi not only wanted her to enter the palace in place of Liu Yueyao, but also wanted Liu Yueyao to marry into the Fu family in exchange for her own marriage.
Her eyes were sharp, staring intently at the two people in front of her.
Finally, the words fell on Liu Ming's expressionless face, and he was filled with grief and anger. "Father knows very well that my aunt almost lost her life to secure this marriage for me."
"How did it become like marrying the daughter of the Liu family?"
The corners of her lips curled up in uncontrollable sarcasm. "Why? My elder sister, after seeing the tragic deaths of the daughters of wealthy families sent to the palace over the past two years, has decided that the palace is a den of danger and has stayed away from entering. And now that the Fu family has been so successful in the court over the past two years, she's trying to snatch my marriage away, right?"
"Shut up!" Liu Ming said with a hint of displeasure.
"Yao'er is your biological sister, why are you slandering her like this? We've found a better place for you, don't be ungrateful!"
Liu Yuetang sneered in her heart.
Good place?
If it is really a good place, why not let her Liu Yueyao go there by herself?
It has been like this since she was a child. She is only worthy of using what Liu Yueyao leaves behind.
No matter what he liked, Liu Yueyao would snatch it away.
And now, her own fiancé also wants to snatch her away.
If the Fu family had not made great contributions to flood control this year and received promotions, and if Fu Zhixing had not been so handsome and talented, with an 80% to 90% chance of passing the imperial examination next year, how could Liu Yueyao, with such a high aspirations, be willing to marry into the Fu family?
Liu Yuetang didn't want to argue with Liu Ming anymore, and she didn't want to see those two faces again. She bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, father, for choosing such a good place for me. I will definitely not let you down."
Her face was calm, but her eyes contained a complex emotion.
One day, she would make them regret their choice today.
Liu Ming breathed a sigh of relief: "Being chosen to be a favorite concubine is a blessing that you could never have achieved in your previous life. I hope you can figure it out.
"As for the Fu family, I will explain it to them personally."
After leaving the inner room, Liu Yuetang was stunned for a long time. She took a deep breath, looked up at the sky full of blue clouds, and tried to retract the crystal in her eyes.
She complained about the injustice in the world.
Why are there distinctions of status between legitimate and illegitimate women in the world?
As a girl, why has Liu Yueyao been pampered like a jewel since she was a child?
As soon as he was born, he was sent to Zhuangzi and suffered for nine years before he was taken back.
The cautiousness and prudentness learned from surviving death many times and relying on others are seen as deep scheming by them.
Is her existence just to block the tiger in front of Liu Yueyao?
When the maid Liu Zheng saw this, her eyes turned red and she wiped away her tears secretly.
"Miss, Master Fu may not know about this yet. Would you like to meet him? Perhaps he has other ideas. Master Fu and you are childhood sweethearts. He will definitely not want you to enter the palace."
Liu Yuetang slowly shook her head, "The selection list has already been submitted, there is no room for change."
"As for Fu Zhixing..."
She took off the jade bracelet on her wrist and was stunned for a long time.
"Just consider it as me letting him down, and also letting down my aunt's hard work..."
Back then, when my aunt was still alive, she risked her life to save the old lady of the Fu Mansion.
The two hit it off immediately. In order to thank her aunt for saving her life, Mrs. Fu arranged a marriage for her grandson Fu Zhixing to herself.
What my aunt wanted most in her lifetime was for her to marry into the Fu family and live a good life.
Although she was not attracted to Fu Zhixing, she did have some feelings for him.
Just because he was the only man who had ever protected her.
A man who will give you gifts and comfort during festivals.
What's more, her aunt personally chose her husband for her.
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