Chapter 7

“No.”

Yan Yi calmly doused her with cold water.

“You know well that this place upholds feudal imperial authority above all. If we run away from the marriage, it would be considered defying an imperial decree. Both the Zhou and Shen families would be punished.”

Yan Yi stroked her lonely wrist bone and murmured, “Although I wouldn’t mind seeing that pack of wolves from the Zhou family thrown in jail... but the Shens should treat you well, right?”

Before Shen Lingyue could even be shocked by Yan Yi’s coldness, she was caught off guard by her latter words.

She bit her lip, her face showing a conflicted expression, but still nodded.

“Yes, I have my mother, my brothers and sisters here. They’re all very good to me.”

After a moment’s thought, she added softly, “Just like… your family back then.”

Yan Yi’s parents were successful in their respective fields. She had grown up as the perfect child in a happy family, always the model good kid. She also had a lively extended family and outstanding older siblings. Every New Year when they took family photos, seeing them on social media would often bring her to tears.

It was a kind of happiness so overwhelming and yearning that it inexplicably moved her to tears.

Shen Lingyue tried hard to befriend Yan Yi, to keep pace with her, hoping to get closer to that light and warmth.

Thinking of this again, she couldn’t help but worry. She tapped Yan Yi and muttered, “I can manage anywhere on my own, but if you come too, what will your family do?”

Suddenly, Shen Lingyue’s eyes lit up with a clever idea. “Maybe our situations are different? I died and then transmigrated, but you’re just dreaming into a book. After you live out a full life here and pass away, you’ll open your eyes and be back!”

Yan Yi laughed at her words and nodded in agreement, “Yeah, maybe that’s possible. Then I’d be winning—you get to live two lives.”

Shen Lingyue grinned foolishly, holding onto Yan Yi’s sleeve, unwilling to let go. “Then you have to spend a lifetime here with me first!”

“Alright, I’ll stay with you,” Yan Yi said, patting her head like before, “but running away from the marriage is out of the question.”

No wonder she was a top student; after Shen Lingyue’s rambling, she still didn’t lose sight of the main point.

“Leaving aside whether the Shen family would be punished for your running away, have you considered whether your family would be implicated?”

Yan Yi analyzed rationally, “This place is not like our hometown. The survival environment for single women is unimaginably harsh and difficult. Without the Shen family’s protection, without the identity of Third Miss Shen, have you thought about how you would survive?”

Shen Lingyue was about to speak when Yan Yi quickly added, “…There are no electric scooters here for you to steal.”

“I was just joking,” Shen Lingyue chuckled, then fell into deep thought.

She was a fragile university student who knew nothing practical and had no skills. Running away from marriage and family recklessly wouldn’t make life any better than now.

It was already hard enough to support herself, let alone Yan Yi.

She couldn’t possibly make Yan Yi suffer alongside her, right?

The plan to run away from marriage was dead.

“Then marry.”

Shen Lingyue sighed deeply but thought optimistically, “If we marry, we can see each other every day, eat together, shop together—much more convenient than now.”

Besides, as the saying goes, girls who transmigrate into books usually have good luck!

Even if their backgrounds were somewhat tragic and their characters unlikeable, the author—acting as their biological mother—would surely arrange for them to have a handsome husband, unparalleled beauty, an invincible constitution for pregnancy, and a guaranteed son…

Shen Lingyue was full of confidence and patted her chest, “My reading volume won’t deceive me!”

Yan Yi: ...Yeah, yeah, you read a lot, so you’re right.

“If—just if—our husbands turn out to be too terrible, then we can only...”

“Only what?”

Shen Lingyue wiped her neck, feigning coldness.

“Go, divorce, and keep the children.”

*

Zhao Lan noticed that ever since her daughter met Miss Zhou, she had suddenly regained her former vitality. She even woke up every morning without the maid’s urging and came to the main courtyard to learn housekeeping from her.

Shen Lingyue’s explanation was convincing.

“Madam Changning is my future mother-in-law. She will surely entrust me with the housekeeper’s responsibilities. If I don’t learn well, wouldn’t Miss Zhou Yan Yi laugh at me?”

Zhao Lan had to admit that competition bred motivation.

Her daughter’s sudden diligence made her want to secretly thank Miss Zhou.

Shen Lingyue studied with the seriousness of preparing for final exams, taking notes and highlighting key points after each lesson, carefully locking them in a box.

—All these were to be handed over to Yan Yi at their next meeting.

Yan Yi’s life at the Zhou household was much harsher. Her biological mother died when she was young, and her stepmother Lin Qiyu, though sweet-faced, was bitter-hearted. On the surface, she doted on the original owner but actually followed a path of smothering and ruin. The proper education for a young lady was completely neglected, and a reputation for causing family strife and ignorance spread.

Shen Lingyue had thought it through: Yan Yi was smarter and more capable than her. Once Yan Yi learned housekeeping, Shen Lingyue could become a hands-off manager and relax beautifully.

Endure hardship now, enjoy happiness for a lifetime!

One day, while she was lounging by Zhao Lan’s side watching her check accounts, Madam Liu entered with a troubled expression.

“Miss Zheng is here, just outside the main gate. Would you like to see her?”

Zhao Lan furrowed her brows slightly and, after a moment’s thought, said, “Invite her to wait in the flower hall. I’ll come over once I finish these accounts.”

After all, Minister Zheng was once Master Shen Hang’s teacher. Avoiding her completely would be undignified.

Shen Lingyue’s ears perked up at the keyword. “Is that the Miss Zheng who is about to marry into the Duke of Ling’s household as a secondary bride?”

Zhao Lan half-scolded her with a glance, “Where did you hear such gossip? Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you?”

“The Duke of Ling’s household doesn’t fear outsiders laughing. Why should I?”

Shen Lingyue shrugged and nagged Zhao Lan to take her along.

After all, when it comes to gossip, you have to enjoy it firsthand.

Zhao Lan agreed and sighed, “Chun Jun is a good girl, just unlucky. The Zheng family suffered misfortune, and even her fiancé stabbed her in the back.”

Zheng Chun Jun—Shen Lingyue tried to piece together a dignified image from the original owner’s memories.

The two families used to be close allies. When the original owner visited the Zheng household, she was cared for by her.

After a while, Zhao Lan put down the accounts and took Shen Lingyue to the flower hall.

Zheng Chun Jun had a cup of tea beside her. Upon seeing Zhao Lan, she immediately stood and bowed, “I apologize for the sudden visit and the disturbance, Madam.”

“You child, why be so polite with me? Sit down.”

Zhao Lan showed no sign of estrangement from the Zheng family. With a warm smile, she helped Zheng Chun Jun sit and explained, “Your little sister Yue’er will marry soon. The household is busy and chaotic; we couldn’t spare the time. Is the old madam’s health better?”

“Thanks to the old mountain ginseng you sent, grandmother is much better now.”

Zheng Chun Jun wore a half-new, half-old dress and had only two or three hairpins in her hair. She appeared extremely simple but carried herself with dignity and grace.

She nodded slightly at Shen Lingyue behind Zhao Lan. “I have yet to congratulate Sister Yue’er. This is a small betrothal gift from me.”

A Zheng family maid brought over a makeup box.

Shen Lingyue instinctively glanced at Zhao Lan.

“This is your Sister Zheng’s goodwill. Keep it well,” Zhao Lan said gently, then helplessly to Zheng Chun Jun, “She was ill recently and hasn’t fully recovered yet, still a bit dazed.”

Zheng Chun Jun felt somewhat reassured that at least Madam Zhao did not forbid her from associating with Shen Lingyue.

The Duke of Ling’s household suddenly broke off the marriage but did not cancel the engagement. Instead, they wanted her to marry the deceased heir, Gu Lin, as a secondary bride.

The Zheng family had declined. Her only hope was the lingering conscience of these old acquaintances.

Inevitably, the topic turned to her widely discussed marriage.

Zhao Lan dryly comforted, “Heir Gu died in battle for the country. The emperor, out of compassion, granted a posthumous title. If you bear a son or daughter to continue the family line, you will have some support.”

Heir Gu?

A light flashed in Shen Lingyue’s mind, and she blurted out, “Gu Lin?!”

Zhao Lan was startled. “Why are you calling Heir Gu by name?”

Shen Lingyue ignored the scolding; her mind flooded with information.

She remembered!

She had seen this storyline!

—Zheng Chun Jun married into the Duke of Ling’s household and spent her wedding night alone. For the next six months, Second Young Master Gu Yuan was entangled with the woman who saved him, Qin Zhengzheng, never stepping near the main wife’s quarters.

When Qin Zhengzheng was found to be pregnant, Gu Yuan pretended to reconcile with Zheng Chun Jun but drugged and knocked her unconscious, then brought in another man to defile her.

When Zheng Chun Jun also discovered her pregnancy, Gu Yuan flew into a rage, claiming he had never touched her and accusing Zheng Chun Jun of adultery out of loneliness.

News leaked out, spreading across the capital. Zheng Chun Jun’s grandfather died from shock, and her grandmother soon passed away. The Zheng family fell into ruin.

Zheng Chun Jun was publicly shamed by the Duke of Ling’s household and beaten by family law, and her unborn child was starved to death in a secret underground room!

Later, Qin Zhengzheng gave birth to a son. Gu Yuan hypocritically agreed to adopt the eldest son to his brother.

The war merits and title Heir Gu earned with his life were fully inherited by Gu Yuan, who then rose swiftly through the ranks...

Such shamelessness!

Shen Lingyue clenched her fists. Gu Yuan and Zheng Chun Jun had been betrothed since childhood, childhood sweethearts. How could he be so heartless and ruthless?

She had underestimated his cruelty before. He could have annulled the engagement but instead destroyed the Zheng family’s reputation and took Zheng Chun Jun’s life.

Perhaps when reading the book, she didn’t feel it so keenly. But now, with Zheng Chun Jun standing alive before her, Shen Lingyue simply could not watch coldly.

Besides, what had she done wrong? Why should she be sacrificed for Gu Yuan and Qin Zhengzheng’s “perfect love”?

Shen Lingyue racked her brain, recalling more of the plot, searching for a way out for Zheng Chun Jun.

To an outsider, she appeared absent-minded, as if her soul had suddenly left her body.

Zhao Lan called her several times before finally pinching her arm.

Shen Lingyue snapped out of it, clutching her arm and grimacing, “Why are you pinching me?”

Zhao Lan sighed, wondering how she ended up with such a little troublemaker.

*

Zheng Chun Jun did not stay long. After about a cup of tea, she stood to take her leave.

Zhao Lan courteously tried to persuade her to stay longer and asked Shen Lingyue to escort her out.

“Please stay, little sister.”

At the second gate, Zheng Chun Jun spoke first.

Shen Lingyue had been distracted all along but looked up at her words. “Sister Zheng, please… take good care of yourself.”

Zheng Chun Jun lowered her eyes, a bitter smile touching her lips. “I will.”

She knew well her marriage had become the capital’s joke, but given the Zheng family’s condition, she could not afford to be picky.

Marrying into the Duke of Ling’s household as the main wife of the heir at least protected the Zheng family from further political attacks.

She had grown up with her grandparents; her grandfather taught her poetry and literature, her grandmother taught her reason and propriety. Now it was her turn to protect her family.