Chapter 1: Seeing Each Other But Not Hearing Each Other (1) You marry the Duke in place of your elder sister...
"Bang!"
A crisp sound startled Meng Xuanli so much that he sat up in shock, his clothes soaked with cold sweat.
The sky was about to brighten, the moonlight was cold and clear, and the raindrops soaked into it, like scattered stars, falling into her heart, and the moment they melted -
She dreamed again of the rainy night five years ago when she was driven out by her uncle.
Meng Xuanli pressed his forehead, took a breath, then put on his coat and walked barefoot to the window. He raised his slender finger slightly and peeked through the curtain.
It turned out that a few maids were tending to the flowers and plants in the corridor and accidentally knocked over a porcelain basin.
Meng Xuanli lowered the curtain and leaned against the white wall, thinking to himself: It's already busy at this hour, I guess the guest I visit today must be someone my father values very much.
In front of the diamond-shaped mirror, she raised her hand and brushed her fingertips across the pale red, crescent-shaped birthmark behind her ear, lost in thought.
Back then, her mother risked her life to give birth to her, but died of shock not long after. A wandering Taoist priest happened to pass by the Meng residence, took one look at her, and pointed at the birthmark, declaring: "This girl has a moon behind her ear, a very bad omen. Not only will it kill her mother, but also her family members in the future. It is truly a disaster for the family."
From then on, her father, in order to maintain his reputation as an official, abandoned her far away in the old house in Xuzhou, just like throwing away a piece of charcoal.
This loss lasted for a full seventeen years.
Meng Xuanli had already accepted her fate, thinking that she would spend the rest of her life in Xuzhou. However, she never expected that a letter from home a few years ago would bring her back to this completely unfamiliar Dongdu.
While I was thinking, I heard a voice outside the door: "Second Miss, are you awake?"
"Come in."
Meng Xuanli lowered his eyelashes and spoke in a very light voice, like floating clouds dispersing, leaving only the hazy air.
Danruo closed the door and walked into the inner room holding a cup of warm tea.
She looked at the plain figure in front of the mirror and said cautiously, "Miss, there are distinguished guests visiting the mansion today. The master has instructed me to dress you up properly."
When she first came to serve the second young lady, she was extremely reluctant. But as time went by, she saw that the second young lady lived in seclusion all day long, was quiet and taciturn, and she secretly felt lucky that she had met a master who was easy to work with.
Noticing Dan Ruo's stalemate, Meng Xuanli raised the corner of his lips into a faint smile: "Come on."
She slowly stood up, drank the tea, and let Danruo help her change clothes and comb her hair.
Her black hair was skillfully tied into a fashionable bun, and her pearls and jade trembled slightly, but Meng Xuanli's heart was like a stone thrown into a dry well, echoing.
Who is this person who came today? He even asked a common person like her to treat him with such seriousness.
"Let me ask you." She couldn't help herself, her voice floating in the dim morning light, "Who is it that came today?"
Dan Ruo was just tying the white jade belt around her waist. When she heard this, her fingertips paused slightly and she said in a voice as soft as a mosquito: "My humble status means I don't know your name."
"Whatever."
In such a scene where a distinguished person came to visit, she was just a fitting embellishment.
It's quite strange to think about it. She is just an insignificant shadow in the Meng family. Why would her father go to so much trouble to bring her back from the remote old house in Xuzhou?
Could it be... that I woke up from a dream in the middle of the night, recalled the old days, and felt a little guilty?
The earrings shook slightly, Meng Xuanli's eyes dimmed, and the vague doubts in his heart were hidden.
*
It was the first clear day of summer, and the sky was as clear as water. Looking through the thin clouds, it looked like a blue printed cloth soaked in sugar water, heavily covering the entire Meng Mansion.
Facing the rain that had not yet dissipated in the corridor, Meng Xuanli walked towards the front hall cautiously.
Before anyone arrived, I heard my father's anxious and worried voice coming from the hall: "Where's Xiuyu? Why hasn't she gotten up yet?"
"Master," a little boy reported in panic, "The eldest girl... the eldest girl is making a scene in the backyard, saying she would rather die than come to the front hall."
"Nonsense!" Meng Zhongliang's voice suddenly rose, then he suppressed it, "She doesn't even want to pretend?"
"... Never mind." He sighed heavily, revealing endless fatigue. "You go and report first. I'll go find her myself later."
The person in the hall seemed to notice the movement outside the window, and his voice suddenly became harsh, with the anger of being spied on: "Who is outside?"
Meng Xuanli was startled and hurried out of the window, saying softly, "Father, it's me."
Seeing her, Meng Zhongliang's tense expression relaxed slightly. He winked at the little boy standing by, then his gaze settled on Meng Xuanli. "You've come just in time. I have something to discuss with you."
Meng Xuanli didn't know what was going on, so he stepped over the threshold as he was told, walked to the rosewood desk, and bowed. "Father, please speak."
Meng Zhongliang picked up the teacup on the table, stroking the warm cup wall with his fingertips, his eyes solemn: "Your eldest sister has someone in her heart and cannot marry into the Duke's Mansion."
He paused, his tone suddenly turning serious, leaving no room for doubt: "If your father is willing to sacrifice his reputation, then I can let it go."
"However, this marriage has countless benefits for our Meng family, and we absolutely cannot give up on it."
"so……"
He raised his eyes, fixed them on Meng Xuanli again, and said in a firm voice, "You will marry into the Duke's Mansion in place of your elder sister."
When Meng Xuanli heard the words "substitute marriage", she felt like she was falling into an abyss, unable to find a way out.
It turned out that her father took her back because of the replacement marriage.
She tossed a thousand words between her lips, but in the end, she felt it was all in vain: "Father, this marriage is meant for my eldest sister, and I'm afraid I can't take on this responsibility."
"What are you afraid of?"
Meng Zhongliang glanced at her and said coldly, "When your grandmother negotiated the marriage with the Duke's Mansion, she only stated that she would marry a daughter of the Meng family. How could she have been so picky about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children?"
He picked up the teacup and took a sip. "Besides, the Duke's son is of such noble status and his character is one in a million. It is a great fortune for you to marry him instead of Xiuyu, a blessing that others cannot even ask for."
Blessing?
He had ignored her since she was a child, but now that something went wrong, he remembered her and said it was a blessing?
Why should she clean up this mess for her elder sister? Just because of her upbringing, everyone thinks she's easy to manipulate?
Meng Xuanli glanced at his father quietly, feeling that this man was extremely hypocritical in his pursuit of fame and fortune.
She had her own opinion on whether to agree or not. Besides, given her father's begging attitude, she simply refused.
"Please allow my daughter to think about it for a while before making any plans."
"consider?"
Meng Zhongliang snorted softly, never expecting her to bargain. He narrowed his eyes and stared at her, "This matter is already a done deal. What are you thinking about?"
He said in a sarcastic tone: "Could it be that you despise the family background of the Shangguo Mansion?"
"I never despised you." Meng Xuanli pondered for a moment. "This happened suddenly, and my daughter is extremely upset. Father, please allow me to calm down."
"We have a long time to go, just accept it first." Meng Zhongliang stood up and saw that she was still standing there in a daze, so he stopped and said, "Follow me."
Meng Xuanli had thousands of words stuck in his heart. Looking at his father's back, which seemed a little relieved, he could only sigh and followed reluctantly.
*
In the summer courtyard, the sun hung like a round pearl in the clear sky. Meng Xuanli, pearl earrings swaying gently as she followed her father to the backyard.
I saw my eldest sister sitting on the porch, dressed in a crimson skirt with gold threads, holding a white silk scarlet. From a distance, she looked like a delicate flower in full bloom, so graceful and charming that I felt pity for her.
Meng Zhongliang stepped forward quickly, snatched the white silk from Meng Xiuyu's hand, threw it aside, and leaned over to whisper a few words in her ear.
Meng Xiuyu's eyes were originally filled with tears, but upon hearing these words, her slightly furrowed eyebrows actually raised slightly.
Meng Xuanli slowly approached and called out to the dazzling red figure, "Eldest sister, how are you?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Xiuyu looked up at Meng Zhongliang. Meng Zhongliang immediately turned around and said sternly, "We have guests in the front yard who need to be entertained. Please stay here with your elder sister and relax. When the banquet begins, someone will come to call you."
After saying this, he left in a hurry.
There was a faint light in Meng Xuanli's eyes, as if he had guessed what his father had said to his elder sister.
Meng Xiuyu wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and said softly, "Why don't you come in, sister?"
"I'll come right over."
Meng Xuanli's eyes turned cold. This eldest sister, always so arrogant and domineering, was now so distressed by this marriage that even her sharp temper had softened a bit. She'd been acting for so long that it was hard to tell the truth from the false.
Meng Xuanli took a step carefully and just as she crossed the threshold, she heard Meng Xiuyu close the door with a "bang", then turned around and bowed to her!
"You! Get up quickly." Meng Xuanli was really scared.
Meng Xiuyu leaned forward, clutching her sleeves tightly with both hands, and cried piteously, "My dear sister, please save me. I really don't want to marry into that Duke's Mansion."
Meng Xuanli's body trembled slightly, and in an instant, he quickly pushed her hand away and sat down on the chair next to him.
When Meng Xiuyu saw this, the sad look on her face disappeared instantly. She slowly wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, turned around and sat down slowly.
After a brief pause, Meng Xiuyu's tone changed: "Since you've seen through me, there's no need for me to beat around the bush with you anymore."
Meng Xuanli snorted in her heart. She had seen her elder sister behave like this a hundred or eighty times. She was like this all day long and didn't feel tired at all.
"That prince," Meng Xiuyu said lazily and contemptuously, "he sounds like he comes from a prestigious family, but he's actually a sickly person. If I marry him, what's the difference between that and being a widow? I'd rather die!"
"Sister, you are the kindest person. You can't just watch me, your elder sister, being dragged to death by him, right?"
She glanced at Meng Xuanli, a smile curling up her lips. "Besides, with your background, if you were from an ordinary family, being able to marry into the Duke's mansion and become a concubine would be a great blessing from your ancestors. Now, it's just that I, your sister, have someone in my heart, so I'm passing on this 'huge wealth' to you."
"Sister, you should be grateful to me!"
"Gratitude?"
Meng Xuanli felt dizzy after hearing this. A cold smile appeared on his lips, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Yes, I should be grateful to my elder sister. If it weren't for my elder sister, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to come back."
Hearing her words, Meng Xiuyu's face changed drastically. He stood up and approached her, his eyes fixed on her. "How dare you ridicule me?"
Meng Xuanli raised his eyes and looked at the face that suddenly became unfamiliar in front of him, revealing a hint of mockery: "Isn't this the reason you brought me back?"
"I think my sister and father should be grateful to me."
"Why should you be angry, sister?"
"Angry?" Meng Xiuyu stretched out her slender finger, lifted her chin, and said softly, "Why should I be angry? It's up to you whether you agree or not."
"You have to marry that sickly woman anyway."
Meng Xuanli pushed her hand away and smiled, "Is this how you approach asking for favors? What if I refuse to marry?"
"You won't marry me?" Meng Xiuyu's eyes grew fierce, and she grabbed her neck and threatened, "Then I'll use some extraordinary means."
"What method?"
"Of course it's a good method."
Meng Xuanli had never expected her to say such a thing and felt she was completely mad. "Meng Xiuyu! If you do such a despicable thing, the Meng family's reputation will be ruined."
"Have you thought about it?"
Meng Xiuyu sneered: "Sister, you are really kind-hearted. Even in such a difficult situation, you are still thinking about the Meng family?"
Meng Xuanli observed her eyes, fearing she might truly be intent on destroying the family, so he pointed a finger at her heart: "It's not just about the Meng family, but... Sister won't be able to marry Master Pan then."
Hearing the words "Master Pan," Meng Xiuyu's grip loosened. "Look how scared I am of you. I was just saying that."
She was slightly startled, then she started to giggle again: "What a pitiful little thing."
Seeing Meng Xuanli staring at her coldly, she felt a sudden pang of fear in her heart.
After swallowing, Meng Xiuyu spoke slowly, "I'll give you one month. If you still don't appreciate my kindness... I'll send you straight to... that filthy place. When that happens, you can just imagine what your future holds."
When she didn't get a reply, Meng Xiuyu moved closer again, examining her carefully. He sighed, "Although your face is pale, it's still beautiful. I'm sure that sickly guy would be very fond of you if he saw you."
Like? What do you like about her? What's there to like about someone like her?
Meng Xiuyu forced a smile, flicked her sleeves and turned away. Meng Xuanli watched her back as she walked away, regret surging like a tide.
She had thought that returning home, no matter how bad it was, would still be better than living under someone else's roof in Xuzhou. Unexpectedly, things at home were exactly the same as before. Not only did she have to be careful about everything, but she also had to put on a show everywhere.
It's really troublesome.
"Why are you still sitting there in a daze?" Meng Xiuyu's impatient voice came from behind the screen, "The person will be here soon, why don't you go to the front hall and wait? Do you want the prince to invite you?"
Suddenly thinking of something, Meng Xiuyu chuckled and said sarcastically, "No, no, with his appearance, I'm afraid he won't be able to invite you."
"It'll only be a year or two before the person is gone."
Wha…what?!
Meng Xuanli felt as if struck by lightning, her blood rushing back all over her body. She only knew that the prince was frail, but she never expected that he would die in a moment?
If she gets married, won't she become a widow immediately?
How could the Duke's Mansion accommodate her then? How could my father and Meng Xiuyu take her in again?
I think it will be a dark and stormy day, with no one to rely on.
Suddenly, a maid came hurriedly to report that Meng Xiuyu had gone straight into the inner room and seemed to be asleep.
Meng Xuanli walked forward alone, his steps hesitant. He felt the surroundings were completely silent, and only the voice in his heart kept repeating: Escape? Can't escape! Escape? Can't escape...
When he walked to the front hall, he saw his father Meng Zhongliang standing solemnly, with a respectful and humble expression, and he had long lost his previous majesty.
On the rosewood table stands a pear blossom jade vase with a warm glaze that casts a cool white glow in the sunlight.
Meng Xuanli quietly approached, a thought suddenly flashing through her mind: If she accidentally dropped the jade bottle, she would risk her life, startle the distinguished guest, and disrupt the situation...
Will there be a glimmer of hope?
However, this thought was only a flash of lightning.
If she didn't marry, how could she withstand the wrath of her father and elder sister, who were already threatening her? By then, she would be trapped, unable to live or die, her situation a hundred times more dire than it was today.
Thinking of this, although Meng Xuanli was extremely unwilling, he could only let out a long sigh.
Just as the thought came to an end, I heard the sound of rings and leisurely footsteps outside the door.
The author has something to say:
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【Important Note】
●Clever and clever, clever and robbing (it is clever, not forceful), hatred and love, old-fashioned cliché.
●In addition to the male lead, there are male B and male C. The male lead will not be changed.
●If the little angels are interested, please collect the balls orz
[Next book]
●Next door immoral taboo article - Little Fox vs. Abstinence and Indifference
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