Chapter 1: Alone in an empty room, feeling cold...
In the depths of winter, as the year draws to a close and the weather grows cold.
Shang Xu, wearing a red veil and a bright red wedding dress, sat quietly on the edge of the bed. Her lips, painted with lip rouge, were slightly pursed, and her ten fingers were nervously clasped together, her heart filled with trepidation.
The red candle flickered, and the wax dripped down the side wall and condensed into patches. The burnt-out red candle indicated that the night was deep. Just when he thought no one would come and was about to doze off, there was a sudden knock on the door.
It was late at night, and all was quiet. The slightest sound was amplified. The loud "snap" of the door opening was like a thunderclap, startling Shang Xu and instantly waking him from his sleep.
Without time to think too much, he quickly sat up straight, his hands on his knees were sweating with nervousness and were unconsciously tightening. The red veil swayed, and Shang Xu held his breath anxiously, waiting for the person to arrive.
The door opened and closed, and snowflakes drifted in unnoticed, but quickly melted away without leaving a trace. It was so fast that no one had time to notice. Yan Yize closed his umbrella and placed it on the wooden rack next to him. He glanced to the side, raised his hand, and casually flicked the snow off his shoulder.
As her shoulder fell away, her slightly furrowed brows relaxed again. Yan Yize walked slowly closer, casually picked up the jade ruyi on the table, and stroked the jade handle with his fingertips. However, he was in no hurry to lift it. He stood there quietly observing her, his eyes filled with fluctuating emotions, as if he was considering whether to lift the red veil.
The red veil obscured Shang Xu's vision, preventing him from seeing the person approaching. However, through subtle movements, he could sense that the person was right in front of him. As time passed, the person in front of him remained motionless, causing Shang Xu's heart to race with anxiety.
Does she know?
Today, the one who should have married her was her elder brother, Shang Jue, since the two had been betrothed since childhood. However, now that her brother and the Third Princess are in love and have a better choice, the fallen princess naturally looks down on him. Thus, this marriage that cannot be canceled fell to him.
The merchant dared to be so bold despite the marriage contract bestowed by the Empress, simply because Yan Yize was out of favor and the Empress even disliked her. This was common knowledge in Fengcheng. Even if things escalated, the merchant was certain that the Empress would only give her a minor punishment as a warning.
All because of a secret twelve years ago. Before the incident, Yan Yi was the most valued princess of the Empress. She was personally taught by the Empress and had been taken in by her side. Such honor was the envy of others. After the incident, to put it nicely, she was given a separate residence; to put it bluntly, she was expelled from the palace. Moreover, the Empress ordered that she could not enter the palace without being summoned.
Since then, Yan Yize has rarely appeared in public. As time passed, she was forgotten. It was only when the marriage was mentioned that she reappeared in the public eye.
Just as he was lost in thought, Yan Yize moved. She stepped forward, reached out, and lifted the red veil with one end of the jade ruyi. With a forceful pull, the red veil fell to the ground. Their eyes met; one was calm, the other was anxious.
The person before him was tall and slender, dressed in the same style of red clothes as him. His waist-length hair was tied up with a green jade hairpin. His eyebrows and eyes were clear and cold, and his lips were naturally red. The red candles flickered, and the outline of his face was faintly visible. He had a faint sense of aloofness about him, like the bright moon in the sky that was unattainable.
A fleeting look of amazement crossed his eyes. Realizing his gaze had been too offensive, Shang Xu quickly lowered his head, not daring to look again.
Yan Yize ignored his gaze, raised an eyebrow, and looked at him with a playful expression. She knew that the merchant wanted to change people, but she didn't expect the merchant to be so willing to do so. The man in front of her had a gentle temperament, lowered his head, and hid half of his face in the shadows. She didn't know if he was nervous or scared, as he was biting his lip tightly.
Under her scrutiny, Shang Xu felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. No one would feel good if their fiancé changed. Just because Yan Yize couldn't do anything to Shang Sheng didn't mean she couldn't do anything to him.
After the wedding ceremony and entering the mansion, he became her man and would have to make a living in her household.
Shang Xu had prepared himself to face her wrath, but after waiting for a long time without hearing her questioning or outburst, he couldn't help but feel puzzled. After some hesitation, he tentatively raised his eyes and cautiously looked at her with his dark eyes. Seeing that there was no anger on her beautiful face, his tense emotions relaxed slightly, but he still dared not relax completely.
Yan Yize observed his actions, her indifferent eyes devoid of any extra emotion. He seemed quite afraid of her, so there was no need for the prepared reprimand.
Logically, the two should be drinking the nuptial wine at this moment, but she didn't mention it, and Shang Xu didn't dare to either. He stood up, his eyes revealing a fawning gaze as he cautiously looked at her, tentatively asking, "Your Highness, shall I help you change your clothes?"
Yan Yize took a step back, glanced at him thoughtfully, and said calmly, "No need."
"I'm going to sleep in the study."
After saying that, she turned and left, not giving him a chance to say another word, nor mentioning that he was not her fiancé.
Shang Jue is a well-known noble young master in Fengcheng and frequently attends various events; she wouldn't fail to recognize him as his.
Is the reason we don't mention it now because we don't care? Or because we don't want to hold it against him?
Shang Xu watched her departing figure with mixed feelings. For a moment, he didn't know whether to be happy or sad. She didn't expose him or question him, which was a good thing. But tonight was their wedding night, and she chose to leave. It seemed that she still disliked him.
Shang Xu smiled bitterly, his eyes filled with sadness. Marrying her was not his wish; he was simply forced into it.
The red candles burned all night, and Shang Xu sat there listlessly all night as well.
——
Yan Yize returned to her study. She had barely opened the door a crack when she sensed someone inside. She knew perfectly well who it was. Her hand paused as she turned back to Huixue and said, "Do not let anyone get close."
Hui Xue nodded vigorously, "Yes, Your Highness."
Yan Yize went inside, and the person standing in the shadows came out. Only a faint candlelight remained in the room. The person stood in the light and shadow, and the outline of his face was indistinct, making it difficult to see clearly. However, the eyebrows and eyes that were inadvertently revealed were very similar to Yan Yize's.
After a moment of silence, the newcomer spoke first, his voice as gentle as possible, yet still carrying a hint of unapproachable authority, "I heard the merchant changed personnel without authorization?"
"Um."
Yan Yize responded expressionlessly, as if they were not talking about her.
"This merchant is truly audacious!" The newcomer was furious, his chest heaving with anger. His sharp eyes softened as he looked at her. "Should I take action?"
Yan Yize thought of the person in the bridal chamber without hesitation. He always looked at her cautiously, afraid of accidentally angering her. It wouldn't matter if there was one more mouth to feed; she could afford to support her.
"No need," Yan Yize refused.
"You should go back now."
The newcomer sighed, her similar eyes looking at her with guilt. She had finally managed to get out of the house, and she had so much to say to her, but when the words reached her lips, she didn't know where to begin. In the end, she was the one who had let that person down.
"Take care." Her eyes, filled with a multitude of emotions, held a thousand words that ultimately coalesced into a single expression of concern as she looked at Yan Yize.
With a flicker of the candlelight, only Yan Yize remained in the room. She walked to the window and quietly watched the falling snow outside, her eyes filled with sorrow. Her father loved watching the snow the most.
Another winter has come, but my father is no longer here.
A note from the author:
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Pre-order: *The Live-in Wife*
A fleeting glimpse at the temple fair ignited a passionate infatuation in Wei Zhuo with a woman. He frantically searched for her, finally learning her name—Ling Shuang.
However, he also learned that she had a childhood sweetheart, and the two would soon be discussing marriage.
Wei Zhuo considered giving up, but couldn't resist the feelings of love in her heart.
He approached Ling Shuang and used coercion and enticement to make her become his live-in wife.
After their marriage, Ling Shuang treated him extremely well, almost making him believe that she also had feelings for him.
But Wei Zhuo knew better than anyone that he was the one who broke her up with her sweetheart. He knew he was wrong, but he couldn't bear to let go. He loved her so much.
Ling Shuang has a little secret: she really likes her husband, and has liked him for many years.
What he perceived as coercion and enticement was nothing more than her willing consent.
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