The marriage between the Duan Family and Le Yuanhou’s household turned into a marriage between Duan Lan and Ji Xinhe.
In just two or three days, the news had spread throughout the capital.
It was only on that morning that Ji Xinhe learned about it, and she was stunned: "My marriage contract with Duan Lan?!"
The little maidservant attending to her, personally chosen by the old lady for her innocence and naiveté, didn’t catch anything wrong with the situation. She even eagerly confirmed: "Yes! Young Master Duan is a well-known talent in our capital. People thought this marriage might fall through, but the Duan Family really kept their word. Young Master Duan personally went to the palace to ask for this. This shows the sincerity of the Duan Family. Miss, if you marry into their family, you surely won’t suffer."
Ji Xinhe furrowed her brows; Duan Lan personally asked for the decree for their marriage?
"How did this marriage happen without me knowing about it?"
"Miss, are you unhappy with this marriage arrangement?"
Ji Xinhe looked even more solemn: "Why would I be satisfied?"
Was her marriage now at the mercy of others?
This was precisely what she feared most when she first learned she was a noble lady of a marquis’ mansion. Nakama status and position came with new restrictions, she had thought that Lord Marquis was understanding and the old lady loved her too, perhaps they wouldn’t force her into anything. But she never expected that she would be trapped by such a marriage contract within two days of moving into the marquis’ mansion?
The old lady entered, said: "Child, what’s wrong with Duan Lan? He is exceptional both in terms of talent and looks, and he has a gentle personality. You won’t suffer if you marry him. Moreover, Elder Duan is upright, and Madam Duan is your aunt by blood, she will surely love you immensely. Where else can you find such a good household?"
While speaking, she took Ji Xinhe’s hand and said: "Child, I’ve been through this. When marrying, it’s important to consider the character of the other’s family. If it weren’t for the upright family style of the Duan family, your mother would have never agreed to this marriage, no matter what."
Ji Xinhe pressed her lips together and, after a while, responded in a deep voice: "Grandma has experienced this, Xinhe understands. But since I am the one involved, it is Xinhe that understands who she should marry."
Setting aside her lack of interest in Duan Lan for the moment, she already felt displeased being burdened with this inexplicable marriage contract.
The old lady looked at her and asked: "Is it that you fancy Mu Houchu?"
Ji Xinhe’s heart skipped a beat, she felt like a thief caught in the act, she questioned in a fluster: "Grandma, how do you know?"
"Everyone in the streets knows about the time when you first came to the mansion and were taken away by Mu Houchu. Did you think this old woman, who has been staying in the house, wouldn’t know about it?"
The old lady sighed as she spoke, saying: "If you fancy Mu Houchu, then I am truly worried. You were not in the capital before, so you are naturally unaware of his means, how much true heart could such a vicious person have? To have come from being a nobody to achieving his current status, who knows how much blood is on his hands? Not to mention, he has been orphaned since childhood, his bones are stained with cold-bloodedness. It is because I truly care for you, I do not wish for you to be near him."
Ji Xinhe’s face hardened slightly, so this was how he was seen in the eyes of others?
"I have my own opinion about my marriage. Grandma worries about me marrying someone like Mu Houchu, does that mean you’re not worried about me marrying someone I don’t like?"
When Ji Xinhe said the words "someone like Mu Houchu", she strangely felt some discomfort in her heart.
However, the old lady said: "Even if you are truly unwilling now, it might be impossible to back out. The Duan family had personally gone to the palace to seek for the decree, I’m afraid... it might not be easy to change the course of the matter."
She then sighed again: "Let’s wait until the next time we enter the palace to discuss this."
──
The following day was the birthday of Consort Guifei. The Emperor had always cherished her, and because she turned exactly twenty this year, he intended to organize a grand celebration. All the court wives of rank were invited, and it was very lively.
Le Yuanhou intended to use this opportunity to formally introduce Xinhe in front of everyone as the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s mansion. Therefore, he specifically ordered Lady Sun to accompany her to the palace.
The old lady even specially ordered the Old Wet Nurse to deliver a skirt embroidered with hundreds of butterflies early in the morning. The fabric was made of excellent brocade and was crafted by the best embroidery woman of Fuling Pavilion in the capital. This was the first time Xinhe had seen such a beautiful skirt, apart from her wedding dress.
"Miss, you are indeed naturally beautiful. This beautiful dress can only be complemented by Miss’s fairy-like face and figure," little maidservant Shulan commented as she finished helping Xinhe get dressed.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Xinhe slightly frowned: "Isn’t it a bit too ostentatious?"
She had already encountered the jealous young ladies in the capital. The bigger the tree, the more the wind it attracted. Although she didn’t exactly fear them, she wasn’t in the mood to waste her energy on them either.
"What is there for Miss to worry about? The Marquis Le Yuan’s mansion is not easily bullied. In the past, Eldest Miss acted as ostentatious as she wanted..." As soon as Shulan finished speaking, she realized she had misspoken, and hurriedly added: "I misspoke."
Xinhe laughed lightly: "What’s there to misspeak about? Don’t I know what kind of temperament Li Junyao has? Never mind, it’s all out of the old lady’s good intentions. Let’s just go with this, there’s no time to change anyway."
"Yes."
Lady Sun had been waiting outside the courtyard. When she saw Xinhe come out, she greeted her with a smile: "Xinhe, you really look very beautiful when you’re dressed up. Are you ready?"
Xinhe didn’t have much interaction with Lady Sun, her stepmother. So far, she hadn’t caused her any trouble, so Xinhe didn’t feel much repulsion towards her. This lady of the house, the principal wife of the mansion, was definitely not the same kind of person as Lady Ding. In this mansion, there were also three or four secondary sons and daughters. Although they couldn’t match the respectability of legitimate children, they were still free of worries about food and clothes, and they were very comfortable. There was no one in the whole mansion who spoke ill of Lady Sun. This shows that she handled her role as the principal wife properly.
Xinhe slightly bent down and said, "I’m ready."
"Good, let’s get into the palace now. The earlier we go, the less likely we are to encounter any problems," said Lady Sun, leading Xinhe toward the mansion exit.
A big carriage was already parked at the mansion gate. This time entering the palace, although the court wives were allowed to bring their children, too many would not be appropriate. As the Marquis had ordered Xinhe to go and make her debut, naturally only Xinhe and Lady Sun would be going to the palace.
"Greet Madam and Miss," the maids and nanny had been waiting outside. They gave a salute, then arranged a footstool to help them get into the carriage.
Just as Ji Xinhe was about to get in the carriage, she saw a familiar carriage approaching.
Duan Lan hopped off the carriage, his eyes unable to conceal his charm, seemingly reverting to how he looked when she first met him. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
"Xinhe!" Duan Lan laughed and said, "I heard you are also going to the palace, let’s go together."
Recalling the marriage contract, the once-close friend now felt strangely resisted: "Let’s go separately, it’s better to avoid causing unnecessary gossip."
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