◎Wedding Dress◎
Taking Xue Lingyu into the family was no small matter. After making the decision himself, Jiang's father still informed Jiang Shangyi, since the Xue and Jiang families had a major conflict three years ago, which was not a very honorable thing.
Jiang Shangyi had been busy managing the Jiang family business, trying to hand it over to Jiang He as soon as possible. She originally thought that Jiang He was too young to control the people below and would suffer a great loss, but the news that came out made her look at this daughter in a new light.
Jiang Shangyi was relieved, but Jiang He's marriage still lingered in her mind. One must start a family before establishing a career. She herself had seen her business flourish after marrying her father, growing her business to its current scale.
The future head of the Jiang family must be a virtuous and knowledgeable man, so that he can support the family.
Jiang Shangyi trusted her father completely and entrusted him with making all the decisions regarding Jiang He's marriage.
When Jiang's father mentioned that he planned to take a concubine that Jiang He liked, Jiang Shangyi couldn't help but ask a question.
"What does He'er like? Then is this concubine from a respectable family and of virtuous character?"
Even though merchants don't have many rules, they still can't allow shady characters to enter their home and ruin the Jiang family's reputation.
As Jiang's father helped Jiang Shangyi undress, he said, "He is the eldest son of the Xue family whom He'er once mentioned. The Xue family fell into disgrace, and he was reduced to slavery. That's why he agreed to become a concubine in the Jiang family."
Jiang Shangyi still had some doubts in her eyes. Her father patiently explained, "My wife should know what the Xue family is like. I didn't want to get involved with them, but He'er has a knot in her heart and still misses the child of the Xue family. I thought that the concubine is just there to have more children for the Jiang family. Her current status is easy to manipulate, so it's better to let He'er have her wish."
Making Xue Lingyu, the once admired eldest son of the Xue family, a concubine would have been something even a princess wouldn't have dared to do in the past. But now that the Xue family has fallen on hard times, Xue Lingyi herself is barely able to protect herself, so how could she possibly care about Xue Lingyu becoming a concubine?
If Xue Lingyi hadn't been so blind to people three years ago, Jiang He might have actually been able to marry Xue Lingyu. Jiang Shangyi has been holding a grudge ever since.
Jiang Shangyi's brows relaxed, and he patted his father's hand. "Since that's the case, then I'll leave this matter entirely to you. Once she comes in, you must establish clear rules. She's just a concubine. We'll deal with her after we've found a suitable husband for He'er."
Jiang Shangyi was not entirely pleased that the Jiang family could one day be considered a good match in terms of social standing, but she still disliked the Xue family.
Jiang He verbally agreed to the marriage, but in reality he made all sorts of excuses. The Jiang family could not be without a bloodline to carry on the family line, so they had no choice but to resort to this method.
Upon hearing Jiang Shangyi's words, Jiang's father smiled gently, "I understand. Besides, He'er surely knows what's going on. She's grown up and is no longer the child she used to be."
Xue Lingyu, her father, and the remaining male members of the Xue family were all properly settled by Jiang's father in a private residence of the Jiang family. Although it was not comparable to the private residence on Jinghua Street, it was fully equipped and provided with several servants.
Father Jiang even left his personal servant behind temporarily to take care of Xue Lingyu.
A house on Jinghua Street is priceless. Xue Lingyu didn't know that this was the best house under Jiang He's name, which she had carefully selected for him to live in.
Before Xue Lingyu became a concubine in the Jiang family, Ruiming had to take care of him at all times. One reason was to teach him some of the rules of the Jiang family, and the other was to keep an eye on him so that he would not change his mind and run away halfway.
Ruiming was sent by Jiang's father's family to serve Jiang's father. His loyalty was beyond question, and he never had any thoughts of climbing the social ladder. Yangtao was also highly valued by Jiang's father, but she had inappropriate thoughts and wanted to turn the tables and become the master, which led to her downfall. Ruiming took this as a warning.
He couldn't help but secretly peek at the young master Xue, whom the young lady was about to take as her concubine.
Xue Lingyu's beauty was undeniable. She was once sought after by many men, and some even felt that only royalty could be worthy of this ethereal and otherworldly young master Xue.
Her narrow eyes were both affectionate and seemingly indifferent, and her figure was exceptional. Even in her downfall, she showed no signs of humility, like a lotus flower blooming from the mud.
Ruiming thought that such a person was naturally worthy of Miss.
Although Yang Tao was also quite beautiful, she couldn't even compare to one of the women in front of her. Her face, which was both alluring and refined, was like a blooming lotus. Even the most determined woman would fall for her at first glance.
Ruiming withdrew her gaze, lowered her eyes, and said to Xue Lingyu, "Young Master Xue, my name is Ruiming. My master has decided that you will be brought into the house in half a month. Starting tomorrow, I will explain the etiquette and rules of the Jiang family to you. Before you enter the house, it would be best if you stayed here to await your marriage."
"Thank you for your trouble." Xue Lingyu looked tired. After the changes of the day, he had gone from a young master of a noble family to a slave. He could only swallow the bitterness in his heart.
"Then Young Master Xue, please rest well. I will come again tomorrow," Ruiming said, bowing, and then couldn't help but add.
"Young Master Xue can rest assured. The Jiang family is a kind family, and Miss is a gentle person. As long as Young Master Xue fulfills his duties as a concubine, she will certainly not wrong you."
Xue Lingyu closed her eyes and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you for the advice."
Ruiming walked away.
Xue's father was placed in the largest room in the mansion. The servants were given special instructions to use the finest charcoal. As soon as Xue Lingyu entered, she felt the warmth emanating from the room and immediately felt warmer.
Although Xue's father did not know why he had suddenly arrived in this unfamiliar place, he could guess the reason from the fact that the servants were from the Jiang family and from Xue Lingyu's expression.
"Tell your father the truth, are you connected to Jiang He? Otherwise, why would the Jiang family save us? Even your mother wouldn't have used more of these fine charcoal pieces. The Jiang family's generosity... could it be that you..."
Mr. Xue couldn't help but cough a few times, and with his frail body, he questioned Xue Lingyu.
Xue Lingyu did not explain immediately. He knelt on the ground, his throat sore, and said, "Your son is unfilial and has brought shame to the Xue family, but your son has no regrets. As long as I can save my father, even if I have to become a concubine in the Jiang family, I will... I will be willing."
Mr. Xue never expected that the price he would pay would be for his son to become a concubine in the Jiang family. He felt a tightness in his chest and almost fainted on the spot.
He raised his hand, pointing at Xue Lingyu with a trembling hand, and said with a tone of utter disapproval, "I told you before to stay away from the Jiang family. How many people in the entire city don't know how Jiang He feels about you? Right now, you're completely walking into the lion's den. You're going to ruin yourself."
"Even if the Xue family is wiped out, it's better than the eldest son becoming a concubine in a merchant's family. Three years ago, she asked you to be her husband and was rejected. Now she wants to take you as a concubine. The Jiang family is taking advantage of our misfortune. They've really made a good plan."
Mr. Xue clutched his chest, his blood surging.
“The eldest son of the Xue family should not be so self-deprecating. Yu’er, even if I die here today, I will not let you become a concubine. I will go and talk to the Jiang family.” Father Xue immediately got out of bed, but Xue Lingyu quickly stood up to stop him.
“Father, the Xue family’s former glory is gone, and Mother is about to be exiled. If we don’t have a new backer, Mother’s fate is probably grim. Although I am a concubine, you know how much Jiang He cares for me. She won’t treat me badly.”
Xue Lingyu deceived herself, saying, "Besides, it was the head of the Jiang family who personally came to ask to take me as a concubine, and Jiang He also gave me some face."
Now that the die is cast, and thinking of his wife who is about to be exiled and his son who has fallen into such a predicament, Xue's father couldn't help but hug Xue Lingyu and cry, "My son."
The decision to refuse the marriage to the Jiang family three years ago was made by him at the urging of his wife. Naturally, he disliked the Jiang family because they were merchants, and the whole family was tainted by money, unlike the noble and aristocratic families.
If I had known this would happen, I should have married my son off earlier, and he wouldn't have had to suffer such humiliation.
After finally calming down Xue's father, Xue Lingyu went back to her room to rest.
The Xue family mansion has been sealed off, and no unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter. Fortunately, Lord Jiang was thoughtful and instructed the guards to move all the remaining belongings of the Xue family here, including Xue Lingyu's wedding dress.
After reaching adulthood, men would sew their own wedding dresses, waiting to wear them on their wedding day. His wedding dress was prepared for three years, with every stitch made by hand, unlike other young masters who would only embroider the beginning and end and leave the rest to the embroiderer.
He had imagined his wedding day with great anticipation, hoping that his wife would treat him wholeheartedly, and that the two of them would live in harmony and grow old together in love.
However, he was going to become a concubine in half a month. According to the rules, concubines were not allowed to wear bright red wedding dresses and could only be carried in through a side door. They were not allowed to wear any red clothes afterward. After Jiang He married her husband, he would have to go and serve her tea and pay his respects every day.
Once the first concubine is taken, there will be a second and a third.
Xue Lingyu stroked his wedding dress, tears welling in his eyes, and picked up the scissors, wanting to destroy his last shred of hope. But in the end, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Tears dripped down, soaking his wedding dress. He bit his lip to keep himself from making a sound.
The candle was lit by the window, but his soft sobs still carried out.
His eyes became even redder at the corners, and his cheeks also turned red.
Xue Lingyu carefully packed away her wedding dress. Since she would never have the chance to wear it again, she would keep it as a memento and give herself something to look forward to.
◎Latest Comments:
[Is there some hidden story? We keep saying Xue Lingyi is prejudiced and looks down on people, so maybe the male lead also liked the female lead before, but Xue Lingyi wouldn't allow it, so the male lead rejected her? (Speculation)]
[No, I'm thinking, it wasn't wrong for the male lead's family to reject the Jiang family's marriage proposal before, right? They were never a good match, and the female lead's reputation wasn't good back then. It's normal for the Xue family to look down on her. Why are Jiang's parents so resentful, like villains in those old-fashioned romance novels who hate their partners after being rejected?]
[Sobbing, so ...
Oh no, I think it's better not to make it too angsty. Yu Yu is quite cute too.
[Touch the male lead]
[Your writing is superb!]
Finally, I'm getting married!
[Getting excited! Charge! Let's go!]
I want to know if Xue actually likes Jiang.
It's a little bittersweet, but it's really great.
[I'll be using the wedding dress later~ The Jiang family doesn't like the male lead, I hope he won't be made to suffer too much later.]
[Xue Lingyi, Jiang Shangyi – is this a name the wife came up with as a package deal, hahaha]
I have a feeling this wedding dress will appear again later in the story, hahaha.
Awesome!
-over-
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