part 9
I lowered my eyes and sipped tea calmly.
Blessings indeed?
Zhao Ming had refused to enter the bridal chamber even on their wedding night, and hid himself away in the study the very next day. I knew full well how harsh these past three days had been for Shen Mudan. Yet she would never let anyone see her humiliation, struggling desperately to maintain her dignity as the young lord’s wife before her grandfather.
Such was Shen Mudan—too proud to admit defeat, yet suffering endlessly for her vanity.
Grandfather then turned to me, his aged eyes filled with scrutiny. "Tanxiang, though the General’s Manor is less noble than the prince’s mansion, you must live earnestly now that you are married there. Honor your husband and never bring shame upon the Shen family."
"Yes, Grandfather," I replied meekly.
I had always maintained this docile, compliant demeanor—obedient, sensible, never striving nor contending—just as I had done in the Shen household for over a decade. No one ever truly valued me, nor cared about my feelings.
And that suited me fine.
The more others underestimated me, the more quietly I could gather my strength in the shadows.
After a few more formal remarks, Grandfather dismissed us all. As we left the main hall, Shen Mudan hurried to catch up with me and whispered sharply. "Shen Tanxiang, do not grow arrogant just because you married the general. Everyone in the capital knows he is ill-fated to his wives. What have you to be proud of?"
I halted and turned to her with a gentle smile. "You are right, elder sister. I know full well what everyone says. Even so, I married him, and I live a good life indeed."
"A good life?" Shen Mudan sneered. "That shabby manor without even a decent carriage—how dare you claim you live well?"
Remaining unruffled, I took out a silk handkerchief from my sleeve and unfolded it slowly, revealing fresh honey tangerines sent by Gu Lin earlier that morning.
"Try these, sister. They are imperial gifts." I held them out to her. "The general casually mentioned to the emperor that his wife loves honey tangerines, and His Majesty bestowed an entire basket upon us."
Shen Mudan’s smile froze instantly.
Gifts from the imperial palace.
She had married a royal clansman, yet Zhao Ming could not even gain access to the palace gates. Meanwhile, Gu Lin, a military official outside the imperial clan, could receive imperial favors merely with a casual word. Such profound imperial grace was far beyond what a fallen prince’s son could ever hope for.
She parted her lips, yet found herself utterly lost for words.
I folded the handkerchief and took my leave with a smile.
Qinghe had been holding back her laughter all the way. Only after we stepped outside the Shen Mansion did she finally burst into giggles. "Madam, did you see her face? Dark as the bottom of a cooking pot!"
"Hush now," I chided, yet my own eyes brimmed with irrepressible amusement.
Gu Lin walked over and draped his heavy cloak over my shoulders. "It is windy. Let us board the carriage."
"Will you not ask what we spoke about?" I looked up at him.
"There is no need," he replied calmly. "As long as no one wrongs you, you may say whatever you wish."
A warm smile curved my lips, and I suddenly longed to stand on tiptoe and kiss him.
Yet with so many onlookers around, I restrained myself.
Life after the home visit became peaceful yet fulfilling.
Alongside Qinghe and the veteran servants, I thoroughly renovated the entire General’s Manor. We cleared weeds from the front courtyard, repainted faded corridors, refilled the dried pond and planted lotus flowers. I had the empty courtyards cleaned and furnished simply to accommodate future guests.
Each evening when Gu Lin returned from the military camp, he would find the manor transformed once more. Though he said nothing, he would always stroll through the grounds, the coldness in his eyes gradually melting away like ice warmed gently by sunlight.
Half a month later, an imperial edict suddenly arrived, ennobling Gu Lin as Marquis of Zhenbei.
I was simmering soup in the kitchen when loud firecrackers erupted outside, startling me. Qinghe rushed in breathlessly, her face flushed with excitement. "Madam! The general has been made a marquis! Marquis of Zhenbei!"
My hand trembled, nearly dropping the soup spoon into the pot.
A marquis title.
Even the elderly master of the Shen family had spent his entire life only attaining an idle third-rank official position, never once earning a noble title. Yet Gu Lin, at merely twenty-six years of age, had been granted the rank of marquis.
I steadied myself, retrieved the spoon and continued cooking.
Qinghe grew anxious. "Madam, why are you so calm? Your husband is now a marquis, and you are a marchioness!"
"I know," I said softly. "The soup will soon be ready. Go see if the general has returned."
Qinghe stamped her feet and hurried away.
Deep inside, I was far from unmoved. I had simply not yet absorbed the sudden joy. When I married Gu Lin, the entire capital mocked me as a doomed bride destined to perish at the hands of a husband who brought misfortune to his wives. Even servants in the Shen household believed my days were numbered.
Yet not only had Gu Lin never harmed me, he had risen to noble rank.
And what of Shen Mudan, who had stolen my betrothal to wed the young lord?
News arrived the very next day.
Shen Mudan had been divorced.
Zhao Ming had issued a formal letter of divorce, sending her back to her natal home.
The official reason stated improper conduct and disrespect towards elders, though everyone knew it was merely an excuse. In truth, Zhao Ming had never desired this marriage from the very start. Prince Rong had once been convicted of forming cliques. Though spared from losing his title, the emperor remained highly vigilant towards his family affairs. Zhao Ming understood clearly that marrying an insignificant woman was the safest way to preserve his own life. Yet Shen Mudan was overly arrogant. Within three days of entering the prince’s mansion, she meddled in household affairs relentlessly. After enduring half a month of such behavior, Zhao Ming finally lost patience and sent her away without hesitation.
Humiliated and defeated, Shen Mudan returned to the Shen household with all her one hundred and twenty dowry chests in tow.
She knelt before Grandfather, weeping bitterly. "Grandfather, he no longer wants me..."
Grandfather sat rigidly in his armchair, his face livid with rage. He had arranged this marriage solely for the prestige of the young lord’s title, hoping Zhao Ming would someday elevate the entire Shen clan. Now not only had his hopes crumbled, the divorce had brought public disgrace upon the whole family.
Madam Wang wailed incessantly, cursing Zhao Ming for his ingratitude.
Only my father, Second Master Shen, stood silently aside, gazing deeply at me.
I knew what he was thinking.
When Shen Mudan stole my betrothal years ago, he had pleaded with Grandfather, insisting the marriage match arranged by my late mother should rightfully belong to me. Yet Grandfather had dismissed him instantly, claiming the eldest legitimate daughter was far more suited to marry the young lord.
And now?
The favored legitimate daughter had been cast aside, while the concubine-born girl had become a marchioness.
My father must be secretly overjoyed.
I felt no urge to gloat over Shen Mudan’s misfortune—not out of mercy, but pure disdain.
Had she ever imagined such an outcome when she seized my engagement? When she scoffed that a concubine-born daughter like me was unworthy of noble marriage, could she have foreseen kneeling before my gates begging to exchange fates?
I chose not to seek her out, yet she came looking for me.
One afternoon while I brewed tea in the garden, Qinghe entered with a troubled expression. "Madam, Eldest Miss Shen is outside the manor gates and wishes to see you."
"I will not receive her," I replied calmly, lifting my teacup for a sip.
Qinghe hesitated briefly before adding, "Madam... she has knelt down at the entrance."
I set down my teacup and finally looked up.
Kneeling?
The proud eldest legitimate daughter of the Shen family, spoiled and arrogant since childhood, who had once publicly humiliated me, was now kneeling before my manor gates?
I rose, smoothed my robes, and walked unhurriedly toward the entrance.
As the grand gates of the Marquis Manor slowly opened, I saw Shen Mudan kneeling on the stone steps. Dressed in plain white without a trace of makeup, her hair simply pinned up with a wooden hairpin, she bore no resemblance whatsoever to the extravagantly adorned young lord’s wife she had once been.
Her eyes reddened the moment she saw me. After trembling repeatedly, she managed to speak. "Little sister..."
I remained silent, looking down at her calmly.
"I was wrong," she sobbed, crawling forward on her knees and reaching for the hem of my dress. "I should never have stolen your betrothal or spoken those cruel words. Please forgive me just this once."
I stared at her outstretched hand without moving.
"I beg you," tears streamed down her face. "Speak to the young lord and persuade him to withdraw the divorce decree. You were once betrothed to him—he will surely listen to you..."
"Elder sister," I finally spoke, my voice as calm as still water. "You chose to marry him of your own will, and you personally took the marriage certificate from Grandfather. Now that you have been abandoned, you come begging me for help? How can that be reasonable?"
Her weeping faltered before bursting forth even more violently. "I was blinded by vanity and craved the noble title. I never knew his household was so impoverished, nor that he held no affection for me. You have always been kind and sensible—please help me, and I shall remember your kindness forever."
Remember my kindness forever?
I nearly laughed aloud.
I knelt down to meet her gaze directly. "Once you said I, a concubine-born daughter, was unworthy to marry the young lord. Now tell me—are you worthy?"
Tears still streamed down her cheeks as she froze completely in place.
"Are you truly worthy?" I repeated gently yet firmly, ensuring every word reached her ears clearly.
She opened her mouth yet could not utter a single reply.
I stood up, brushed imaginary dust from my robes, and spoke indifferently. "You chose the young lord for yourself, while I chose the general. Everyone has their own destined fate, and no one else can be blamed."
Shen Mudan collapsed helplessly onto the ground, her tear-streaked face covered in dust, utterly wretched.
Her maid Chunxing had long fled away. Passing commoners stood at a distance, whispering and pointing.
"Is that not the eldest daughter of the Shen family? Why does she kneel here?"
"I heard she was divorced by the young lord and now comes begging her cousin for mercy."
"How arrogant she was when she stole that marriage match!"
Every whispered remark pierced her heart like sharp needles. Her face alternated between red and pale, yet she remained speechless.
I turned toward the gatekeeper. "Close the gates."
The massive doors of the Marquis Manor slowly shut, blocking out all her desperate cries.
I felt no triumphant joy nor satisfaction from revenge. I simply realized she was no longer worthy of my hatred.
She had brought her own bitter fate entirely upon herself.
Peace returned to daily life once more.
After Gu Lin was ennobled, social engagements in the court multiplied endlessly, with countless invitations and visiting cards pouring in. Born as a concubine’s daughter, I had never learned noble social etiquette, yet I refused to grow flustered.
I chose to learn humbly, asking experienced noble ladies for advice and paying personal visits to various mansions to familiarize myself with proper manners. At first, many high-ranking ladies regarded me with judgment and slight contempt, for everyone knew I had been discarded by the Shen family in an ill-omened marriage.