Chapter 1: She has to do business, make money, and get a divorce!
The wild geese fly north, both returning and leaving.
In the third month of the eighth year of the Guangjing era, Jiang Yanli's mother died of illness in Jiangling. His father ordered him to travel north from Jiangling to the capital. He gave him the euphemistic name of Lu Tingwan, saying he was alone and helpless and was taken back to the capital to be raised.
Seventeen years into his life, Jiang Yanli set foot in Kyoto for the first time.
During the Qingming rainy season, thunder roared, the first rain had not yet fallen, and cries filled the courtyard.
Lu Tingwan had just arrived at the Lu Mansion and was unfamiliar with the people and the place. There were a few sheets of letter paper spread out on the wooden desk. She supported her chin and looked out the window where the storm was about to come. Her mind was filled with thoughts. Suddenly, she heard a wailing sound coming from the empty window, and she dropped the wolf hair brush in her hand in fright.
Dark clouds mixed with the night sky. Lu Tingwu was hanging a white silk in the front hall, her beautiful face filled with purple and red. The mistress of the Lu family, Liu, was weeping inconsolably, crying out to the sky and wailing to the earth. Her voice was like tearing silk, as if she wanted to overturn the roof of the Lu Mansion.
"The Queen Mother wants to fight Cheng Xianzhi. Why would she use my A Wu as her pawn? Everyone in the capital knows that Cheng Xianzhi is ruthless and ruthless, and he's also entangled with Gongsun Xue. He's really trying to send my son into the fire pit!"
The maids and nannies were in a panic and picked up Lu Tingwu who was trying to commit suicide on the beam.
Mrs. Liu threw herself beside her dying daughter, tears rolling down her cheeks.
The air in the courtyard seemed to be stagnant. Upon hearing the news, Lu Mingqian hurried out from the study. His footsteps echoed in the corridor, unusually hurried.
Lu Ting picked up the fallen wolf-hair brush as the breeze blew softly. The wind before the rain lifted the girl's dark hair. The candlelight fell on her bright eyes. The girl had a skin as white as ice, eyebrows as spring mountains, and her beauty was breathtaking, fading into the darkness.
She put away the letter, lifted her skirt and left the yard.
Amidst the roar of thunder, Lu Mingqian and Lu Tingwan rushed to the front hall.
When Lu Tingwu regained consciousness, his biological mother, Liu, sobbed uncontrollably, muttering, "My son is unfortunate. If you commit suicide, I will go with you."
Her voice trembled, filled with despair. Nanny stepped forward to dissuade him, but Lu Mingqian sighed, his brow furrowed, as if carrying a heavy burden. "Why is this? Ah Wu was betrothed to the Cheng family by the Empress Dowager. She has to marry even if she doesn't want to."
Lu Tingwu's voice was weak but stubborn. "Cheng Xianzhi and Gongsun Xue are getting married. They've been childhood sweethearts and are deeply in love. Who in the capital doesn't know about this? The Empress Dowager wants to force me into the Cheng family and bring me into the palace on the same day. Isn't that an insult to my father?"
Her eyes revealed resentment and anger.
Lu Tingwan stood aside like a bystander, feeling mixed emotions.
"The Empress Dowager has decreed that if you resist, your father, your mother, and your sister will all be sent to the guillotine," Lu Mingqian said, glancing at Lu Tingwan beside him.
The words were like an icy blade, piercing straight into Lu Tingwu's heart.
And Liu, immersed in sorrow, seemed to smell a glimmer of hope. Lu Tingwu would not marry, but the Lu family had more than one daughter. The Queen Mother only wanted a chess piece to be dispatched. What difference did it make whether the one who entered the Cheng family was Lu Tingwu or Lu Tingwan?
Then Liu knelt down and crawled towards Lu Tingwan, hugged her knees, and pleaded, "Good child, your sister has been spoiled since she was a child, and was spoiled by your mother. Once she makes up her mind, there is no turning back. She would rather die than marry. If you return to the capital soon, I will take care of you and treat you well. Will you..."
"Can I enter the Cheng family on behalf of your sister?"
The courtyard was silent, with only Lu Tingwu's coughing heard from time to time.
Lu Tingwan folded her arms and stood motionless. She had depended on her mother since she was young, and the deep love between mother and daughter made her feel pity.
Everyone was waiting for a response when Lu Mingqian spoke first, his manner as a loving father: "Awan, if you don't want to, I won't force you. At worst, I'll just resign and return home. If the Queen Mother doesn't agree, I'll accept the death penalty. I've owed you and your daughter so much for so many years..."
Are they going to put her here and force her to submit?
Lu Tingwan remained silent for a long time and still did not respond.
Lu Mingqian said in a deep voice, "Come here, send the young lady back to her room to get married!"
"Master..." Liu's wails rose again, echoing throughout the front hall, "You have such a cruel heart!" The nanny helped Lu Tingwu up. When Lu Tingwu stood up, he tried his best to hit the beam. Fortunately, Liu was quick-witted and pulled him away.
"Awu," Liu threw herself on top of her, and everyone stepped forward to restrain Lu Tingwu. "You are trying to force mother to death. If you die, mother won't live anymore."
Lu Tingwan frowned, and after a long while, she finally said, "I will marry you."
Lu Tingwan immediately raised her voice again, "Father, Yanli is willing to marry into the Cheng family in my sister's place." Her face was firm, and she didn't seem to be accepting a fate, so she couldn't tell from any emotion.
Lu Tingwu and Liu looked at each other in surprise. Lu Mingqian was surprised and asked in confirmation, "Ah Wan is willing to marry?"
"Let father arrange it." Lu Tingwan said lightly and turned back to the courtyard.
Lu Tingwan's biological mother, Jiang, was originally a concubine. Later, because of her disagreement with Lu Mingqian, she took her baby back to Jiangling.
My mother taught me that when you marry someone, it doesn't matter if they are rich or poor, noble or humble, or if their family background is important. As long as the couple are united and have a common goal, they can always live a good life as long as everything goes smoothly and there are no worries.
However, her mother's teachings never allowed her to become a concubine.
Lu Tingwan had never thought about what her husband's identity would be.
In the countryside of Jiangling, she only saw private school teachers who caught her eye. Also, following her mother's business, she came into contact with many talented young men in the town and the county.
The strong wind was hard to stop at night, and Lu Tingwan sat on the steps of the courtyard, enjoying the cool breeze.
Late spring in the capital wasn't as cool as in Jiangling; a lingering chill still lingered. Footsteps approached outside the courtyard, and Lu Tingwan's vision was darkened. She looked up, and Lu Tingwu's figure came into view. A hint of life returned to her previously pale complexion.
"Sister?" Lu Tingwan called softly. It was really hard to say that they had a deep sisterly relationship.
Lu Tingwu lifted her skirt and sat next to her, "Awan, you are asked to marry in my place, do you hate me?" Her voice contained a hint of guilt.
"Marriage is a major event in life. If given a choice, everyone wants to live for themselves. My mother had no choice at the beginning, but later she gave herself a way out, which is also another option." Lu Tingwan peered into the darkness with a calm tone.
The Cheng Mansion is an unfathomable abyss. Lu Tingwu is unwilling to marry, and she already has a lover. Her family has already discussed choosing a date for the marriage, but the Empress Dowager issued an edict, and Lu Tingwu's marriage with her lover was cancelled. She would rather die than marry Cheng Xianzhi.
Liu felt sorry for her daughter, so she came up with a plan and ordered Lu Mingqian to bring Lu Tingwan back from Jiangling in order to marry her off.
This scene tonight was also planned in advance. Lu Tingwu knew she felt guilty, but she still pushed this sister she had never met out, "I'm sorry for you."
"I will ask my mother to prepare more dowry for you. The wedding date has been set. You will marry into the Cheng family in three days. My sister will send someone to deliver the wedding dress tomorrow." Lu Tingwu made all the arrangements.
Lu Tingwan's mind was elsewhere, so she asked with a smile, "Sister, do you have a sweetheart?"
She was about to marry someone else, but she seemed unfazed. Lu Tingwu simply assumed she valued the Cheng family's wealth and splendor and was willing to become a concubine.
But Lu Tingwan didn't think getting married was a big deal. She had always been outspoken and opinionated, bright and innocent, and perceptive. Nothing could stop her from enjoying herself, so getting married would be no different.
Lu Tingwu felt a little guilty when she asked this, "You, you..."
"Sister, you speak so badly of that Cheng Pushe, but his official rank is the same as our father's. My mother said that people in the capital value power and status the most. Officials are especially closely connected with each other. If sister didn't have a lover, why would she risk her life to refuse to marry? Wan is curious about what kind of man is this who can make sister die to prove her loyalty?" Lu Tingwan opened her almond-shaped eyes, full of anticipation.
She didn't understand why she gave up her life for a man.
"Sister, I do, but..." Lu Tingwu hesitated again and again, then smiled casually as she spoke of that man. "Although his official rank is not as high as Cheng Xianzhi's, he has a bright future and is ambitious."
"Most importantly, he and I are on the same page."
"Are you in love? That's good." Lu Tingwan saw it and smiled.
The rain that had been stuck in the air finally broke through the clouds, and Kyoto's first spring rain washed away the conspiracy. The bluestone slabs in the courtyard were stripped of a layer of stains, and the corridor lights in the empty courtyard were on all night.
Lu Tingwan lay on the low couch, thinking hard, and did not sleep all night until the sunlight parted the clouds and shone dimly through the window.
The courtyard was filled with lingering dampness. Lu Tingwan, dressed in red, sat at her dressing table. The room was filled with red silk, and the morning sun reflected her rosy cheeks. Today was the day she would marry into the Cheng family on behalf of her sister.
Lu Tingwu used her black ink to carefully draw Lu Tingwan's eyebrows. "Ah Wan, your skin is as white as cream and your face is delicate. Father praised you for inheriting Aunt Jiang's looks. You are worthy of marrying Cheng Pushe."
"Sister, you're wrong. How can we judge a person's compatibility based solely on appearance? He holds a high position and a high salary. Although I come from the countryside, I can still support myself in the future. Even if I don't have such good looks, I don't feel inferior to him."
"Awan's character is different from that of ordinary people. It's my sister who is narrow-minded." Lu Tingwu was taught in a large mansion, and this was the first time she heard such remarks.
Lu Tingwan looked at herself in the bronze mirror. When she was in Jiangling, her mother taught her how to put on makeup, and she learned the art very well, but she had never used such high-quality powder.
Her originally flawless face, with just a touch of lip balm, could arouse people's imagination. Even Lu Tingwu secretly sighed that after this sister married, even if Cheng Xianzhi was deeply in love with Gongsun Xue, he would inevitably be moved by her beauty.
"Sister, is this mule daisy? I heard from my mother that mule daisy is a tribute from the Western Regions. It is so precious, and it looks the best when painted on eyebrows..." Lu Tingwan looked like a girl who was curious about new things.
The nanny stopped her and said, "Second Miss, Jiang is Auntie, you should call her Auntie, while A Niang should be called Mistress."
The smile on Lu Tingwan's face mostly faded. Lu Tingwu heard this and said, "It's okay, Madam. My sister has been in the countryside of Jiangling for a long time, so it's understandable that these etiquettes are difficult to change for a while."
"What the eldest lady said is true. After marrying into the Cheng family, the second lady's every word and action represents the Lu family. The master was highly trusted by the empress dowager in the previous dynasty. If he is not careful, it will implicate the mother's family. That's why the mistress specifically asked this old servant to give more instructions to the second lady."
"I've remembered what Madam said." Lu Tingwan smiled brightly. Lu Tingwu saw that she was heartless and had a very good attitude. She didn't seem like someone who would put herself in a difficult position.
Outside, the wedding procession entered the Lu Mansion. Lu Tingwu asked the nanny, "Is it time?"
Lu Tingwan was thinking about her eyebrows. In the bronze mirror, she had fair skin and clear eyes. Her eyebrows painted with mule-colored ink were really pretty.
Outside the courtyard, suona music was played, the lingering sound lingered in the air, and the guests congratulated them.
The bronze mirror reflected her tender cheeks, making them red. Lu Tingwan was admiring the thin eyebrows painted with black ink, and only heard the instructions of Feng Xin, the maid who came with her as a dowry.
"Second Madam, why did you lift the veil?" Feng Xin picked up the veil from the couch and tried to put it back on. "The groom has to take it off for you, otherwise it's unlucky."
Lu Tingwan turned away from the bronze mirror, casually tossed the veil from Feng Xin's hand onto the table, and said calmly, "Didn't my sister say that Cheng Xianzhi and Gongsun Xue are in love, so they'll definitely be going to the Madam's room tonight to enjoy their company. Why would they come to my Yansheng Hall? Just put your mind at ease."
Outside Yansheng Hall, the sound of drums continued from day to night. It took an unknown amount of time before the courtyard gradually quieted down.
Her wedding dress had already been scattered all over the room. Lu Tingwan was only wearing a clean white inner garment and was rummaging through the dowry cabinet.
The red veil on the table had somehow moved to her buttocks and become a cushion. Feng Xin was extremely anxious. This ancestor had been very kind to the nanny before she got married, but now that she had entered the Cheng residence, she had thrown all the etiquette to the wind. But she couldn't persuade her.
Feng Xin was about to go crazy, "What is the Second Madam doing with the box?"
Lu Tingwan held up the wooden box like a treasure, and found that it was stained. She then wiped the dirt on her red veil. Only then did she open the wooden box with satisfaction and count the dowry inside.
"I've inquired. Cheng Xianzhi and my father are at loggerheads in the court, and he won't treat me well in the palace. But it doesn't matter. Since I was arranged by the Queen Mother, as long as I don't provoke him, he won't touch me at all. We can just be safe."
The night is deep.
Feng Xin was puzzled. "Second Madam, when you get married, you have to rely on your husband's family. If you don't please the master, how will you live in the Cheng Mansion in the future?"
"Madam has prepared quite a bit of dowry for me. It seems my sister's marriage wasn't in vain," Lu Tingwan said, unconcerned. "Cheng Xianzhi, just a young man, has reached such a high position in the government. He must have something extraordinary about him. How could someone who plans great things be so narrow-minded as to not accommodate me?"
"Let's not talk about anything else. The Cheng and Lu families are originally enemies. The Queen Mother arranged for him to marry Gongsun Xue to the Lu family on the day of her wedding. Everyone knows her intention. Even if he doesn't want to tolerate me, he still has to serve me well. If something goes wrong, won't he be used against him?"
"If a minister of state cannot understand the principles behind this, how can he survive amidst the intrigues and deceptions of the imperial court?"
Lu Tingwan is very smart. He lives in the imperial capital of Kyoto. His father is an important official in the court, serving as the left servant of the Shangshu Province, and Cheng Xianzhi is the right servant, with the same official rank as his father.
It was said that Cheng Pushe had passed the imperial examination and won first place before he was sixteen years old. He then became a disciple of the Minister of the Central Secretariat Gongsun Yin. He had outstanding political achievements and was promoted all the way within three years. The emperor even handed over the imperial guards guarding the imperial city to him.
Although this man followed the path of a scholar, he had a reputation for killing and cruel methods, and was known as the "living king of hell" in the imperial city.
But this person is deeply in love with Gongsun Xue.
The Queen Mother insisted on a marriage between the two families and forced the daughter of the Lu family to Cheng Xianzhi. Her purpose was obvious. She was just afraid that the Gongsun family and the Cheng family would join forces, so she had to place a spy next to Cheng Xianzhi to pass on information to her.
Even so, if she wanted to marry into the Cheng family, she had to gain Cheng Xianzhi's trust before discussing intelligence. However, at this moment, she had no intention of gaining Cheng Xianzhi's trust.
The jubilation outside the courtyard gradually faded away. She divided the cash in her hand into three parts, with red candlelight in her bright eyes, and made a firm decision.
She wanted to sneak out to do business, make money, and get a divorce. In Kyoto, anyone can stay with them as they please, but she, Jiang Yanli, would not stay!
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A new article has been published, and you are welcome to collect it. I have enough manuscripts in stock.
Pre-collect "Sha Chan" Long-lost Reunion/Chasing Wife/White Moonlight/Redemption, please collect it~~~
The final column "I am crazy for you" The young general got married first and then fell in love~~
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