Chapter 2 Why marry me?
Before Shen Qingtan was imprisoned in the villa in his previous life, he heard that Zhao Yi had returned to his ancestral home in Wujun due to illness. Everyone knew that he was terminally ill and would never come back.
Zhao Yi is a gentleman of integrity, brightness and brightness, and extraordinary talent.
He passed the imperial examination at the age of sixteen and became the top scorer in the imperial examination at the age of seventeen. If he had not been weak and sickly, he would probably have been appointed as a prime minister and a marquis in the future.
Everyone in the capital praised him as "a man of unparalleled beauty, like no other in the world."
In his previous life, after Zhao Yi and Shen Mingzhu’s marriage was called off, there was no news of him getting married until he became seriously ill and left Beijing.
Shen Qingtan made a decision in her heart. It was her blessing to marry such a handsome man like him.
She will treat him well in his limited life.
Shen Qingtan no longer hesitated and gently placed his hand on Zhao Yi's palm.
Zhao Jue was willing to murder her for the title of Duke, and she would never let him get what he wanted!
With the help of Zhao Yi, Shen Qingtan got off the bridal sedan, stepped over the brazier, had red silk stuffed in her hands, and followed Zhao Yi into the mansion.
Every step is taken steadily and firmly.
Amid the singing and shouting of the ceremonial officials, Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi finished their greetings and were sent to the bridal chamber.
Unlike the shyness and nervousness in her previous life, this time she felt calm and had no expectations for marriage.
Shen Qingtan was sitting on the wedding bed when she heard the footsteps of people leaving the room.
Footsteps slowly approached her, and a pair of soapy leather boots came into view.
Her heartbeat suddenly quickened, and she couldn't help but wonder how Zhao Yi would react if he found out that the bride had been replaced.
Before she could think about it, a jade ruyi was inserted into the veil. She subconsciously raised her hand to suppress the jade ruyi: "We haven't made a fuss in the bridal chamber yet. It's not in accordance with etiquette to lift the veil now."
Zhao Yi paused, lowered his eyes to look at her slender, white hands, and said softly, "The Phoenix Coronet is very heavy. Your neck will be very tired after wearing it for a whole day."
Shen Qingtan was stunned.
"The ceremony has been completed." Zhao Yi coughed softly a few times. "You haven't eaten all day, so it's inconvenient for you to wear the phoenix crown. If you care about etiquette, you can wear it during the wedding night."
Shen Qingtan had never met Zhao Yi before. She had only seen him riding a horse and parading through the streets when he was the top scorer in the imperial examination. She had never expected him to be so thoughtful and considerate.
It would have been better if he hadn't said it. Once he reminded her, she felt sore in her neck and waist.
It’s better to pick up the veil now so that Zhao Yi can be mentally prepared.
Shen Qingtan withdrew his hand.
The veil was slowly lifted, and she saw that the man was wearing a bright red round-necked auspicious suit with a patch on his chest indicating his official rank, which made him look elegant and handsome.
Zhao Yi looked at Shen Qingtan in surprise. She was extremely beautiful, with delicate makeup on. Her pretty face added a touch of charm, making her look extremely beautiful.
He had never met Shen Mingzhu, but he had met Shen Qingtan at the Duke's Mansion.
At this moment, she sat stiffly on the wedding bed with her back straight. She was not surprised at all when she found out that he was not Zhao Jue, and she was very calm.
Zhao Yi's brows were furrowed, his expression solemn.
Shen Qingtan saw that he was surprised that she was not his bride, and because she saw that he did not show any surprise expression, she became suspicious?
She explained softly, "Second Master, you are a civil official, and Zhao Jue is a military officer. You two are different in both body shape and demeanor. From the moment you offered your hand to help me get off the wedding sedan, I realized you were not him."
Zhao Yi saw that there was an extraordinary calmness in her watery eyes, and she was able to give a clear and logical explanation even though the groom had changed, which made him look at her differently.
He inquired, "Since you recognized me, why did you choose to marry me?"
"If I choose the wrong bride to get on the wedding sedan outside the mansion, it will make the Duke's Mansion a laughing stock, and it will also affect the reputation of me and my second sister."
Shen Qingtan had been observing Zhao Yi. Apart from his initial surprise, his expression returned to calm. There was only understanding in his eyes, and he was not very surprised, as if he had guessed what was going on.
Her eyes shifted, and a small thought occurred to her: "My servants Liu Yue and Ting Xue had an accident, so I temporarily replaced them with new maids. The new maids had only been with me for a short time and didn't recognize me. They followed the wrong bridal sedan chair, which is why the bride was mistaken."
In fact, when she was at the Marquis' Mansion, they deliberately created chaos and took advantage of the chaos to send her to the wrong wedding sedan.
Zhao Yi is gifted and has extraordinary talent.
She now deliberately brought up the matter of changing the maid to remind him, so he should understand that it was not an accident that the bride got into the wrong sedan chair.
She had trusted the people in the Marquis' Mansion before, and she never doubted anything when the maids around her got into trouble.
Now that I think about it carefully, I'm afraid that from the moment Shen Mingzhu returned to the Marquis' Mansion, the people in the Mansion began to plan a marriage exchange.
Shen Qingtan asked softly, "Second Master, we have already finished our wedding ceremony... What are your plans?"
In fact, the moment the veil was lifted, Zhao Yi had a guess in his mind.
If Marquis Cheng'en and Zhao Jue had not discussed it, it would have been almost impossible for the bride to get into the wrong sedan chair.
Only with the cooperation of the Cheng'en Marquis' Mansion could we carry out the substitution so smoothly.
Shen Qingtan said that her maid was temporarily replaced, and Zhao Yi was sure that the bride was replaced on purpose.
There are not so many coincidences in the world, it’s just carefully planned.
Seeing that Shen Qingtan looked calm, Zhao Yi thought that she must have seen through the Marquis's plan, so she did not ask for the exchange back.
He was frail and sickly, and his life span was short. In the eyes of everyone, the title of Duke's Mansion would fall on Zhao Jue.
Even so, as long as he is alive, he will still be a potential threat to Zhao Jue.
Shen Qingtan is very much favored in the Marquis' Mansion, and her popularity far overshadows Shen Mingzhu, who has just returned to her ancestral home. Smart people know who to marry.
Zhao Jue would rather give up his childhood sweetheart Shen Qingtan and go to great lengths to plan a bride-changing drama in order to marry Shen Mingzhu.
It is obvious that the benefits Shen Mingzhu brings to him are far greater than what Shen Qingtan can give.
The important thing is that the Marquis' Mansion is willing to cooperate. Shen Qingtan has obviously become an abandoned pawn, and the Marquis' Mansion will no longer be her backing.
By marrying her to him, he would lose the support of his father-in-law, and Zhao Jue's chances of inheriting the title would be much greater.
Zhao Yi found it a little ridiculous that Zhao Jue was wary of him.
He wanted the title and didn't need the help of women, so it didn't matter who he married.
Zhao Yi took into consideration the friendship between Shen Qingtan and Zhao Jue that had lasted for more than ten years and did not make a decision first: "I will discuss it with my third brother later."
His eyes swept over Shen Qingtan's slightly tired brows, and he said considerately: "I asked the kitchen to prepare some food for you. You eat first, and leave the rest to me."
Shen Qingtan said softly, "Thank you, Second Master."
After Zhao Yi finished giving his instructions, he left the bridal chamber.
Shen Qingtan looked at the closed door and heard Zhao Yi order the maid guarding the door to come in and serve her.
The door opened and two maids who came with the dowry came in.
When they saw Shen Qingtan, their steps suddenly stopped and a look of panic appeared on their faces, as if they didn't know that the bride sitting in the main room would be Shen Qingtan. They all stood there at a loss, not knowing what to do.
After all, they were Shen Mingzhu's maids who came with her as a dowry.
Shen Qingtan looked at their pale faces and sneered in his heart. It didn't matter whether they really didn't know that the person had been replaced or were pretending not to know.
She will collect the debts from those who owe her money one by one.
She put aside her thoughts and said, "Don't just stand there. Come and help me wash up."
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