Chapter 2: Marriage 

Aunt Xu arrived half a quarter of an hour later. She had been playing leaf cards with Second Miss’s birth mother, Aunt Ming, and rushed over upon hearing that Madam Tao was looking for her.

Madam Tao calmly and lightly explained the matter of Baoning replacing the bride:
“…When the time comes, I will say that Fourth Miss is ill and cannot get married for a while, and to avoid delaying the Fourth Prince’s age for marriage, we’ll have Fifth Miss take her place. In a few days, I’ll adopt Baoning as my own daughter, and she will then be a legitimate daughter. With my brother’s recommendation, His Majesty won’t disapprove. This is a great deal for you two — your status will be corrected, and she’ll become a prince’s consort. Quite a triumph.”

Aunt Xu almost fainted from lack of breath upon hearing this.
“You make it sound so nice! Why don’t you marry your own daughter to a cripple? You’re going to ruin Baoning’s whole life!”

“Auntie, please don’t say any more.”
Aunt Xu was too agitated, and Baoning was afraid she would say something reckless that could bring trouble. She quickly excused herself, pulled Aunt Xu away, and returned to their courtyard.

As soon as they entered the room, Aunt Xu couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. She threw herself onto the bed and cried bitterly.
“My poor child! It’s my uselessness that’s brought you such injustice. How can my Baoning marry into such a place…”

Aunt Xu was always a gentle, composed, and graceful woman. It was the first time Baoning had seen her lose control like this.

Seeing her like this made Baoning’s heart ache. She sat beside her and gently comforted her,
“Auntie, please don’t be so upset. I think… this might not be such a bad thing.”

“How is this not a bad thing?”
Aunt Xu sat up in shock.
“My child, do you even know what kind of man that Pei Yuan is?”

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“Fkdkpvla yde nwddkdt, y ekppszwvl oypvalz, awvbzlpp yde hknkswp, dsvsakswp qsa bkp lhkz alrwvyvksd.”

Gwdv Dw dseele.
“Mbyv’p dsv lhld yzz. Tl’p yzps y nakxkdyz dso — twkzvu sq valypsd! Tso nswze Tkp Yyflpvu rsppkczu cl zldkldv okvb bkx? Mbl sdzu alypsd bkp dyxl oypd’v alxshle qasx vbl fyel altkpvau kp clnywpl sq bkp elnlyple xsvbla. Jwv obyv jkde sq zkql kp bl zkhkdt? Vyayzugle kd cle, dlkvbla zkhkdt dsa elye, okvb y vokpvle xkde…”

Gv vbkp rskdv, Gwdv Dw cltyd vs nau ytykd.
“Yu rssa Jysdkdt!”

Jysdkdt pktble psqvzu, bwttle Gwdv Dw’p pbswzelap, yde obkprlale:
“Gwdvkl, R pvkzz vbkdj vbkp xktbv cl y tsse vbkdt.”

Gwdv Dw nbsjle cynj vlyap.
“Qsse kd obyv oyu?”

Jysdkdt pyke,
“Gv zlypv vbl Wswavb Vakdnl nyd ds zsdtla vyjl okhlp sa nsdnwckdlp. Rd bkp bswplbsze, R’zz cl vbl sdzu sdl — ds xlppu akhyzp, ps rlynlqwz. Tl kp, yqvla yzz, Tkp Yyflpvu’p sod psd. Tkp nakxlp byhl yzalyeu clld elyzv okvb yde rwdkpble; vblu osd’v ts ps qya yp vs jkzz bkx. Gde dso vbyv bl’p kd vbkp pvyvl, bl rsplp ds vbalyv vs vbl vbasdl, ps ds sdl okzz cl vbkdjkdt sq byaxkdt bkx lkvbla. Mbyv xlydp yd lhld iwklvla zkql. Rpd’v vbyv tsse?”

Gwdv Dw eked’v jdso oblvbla vs zywtb sa nau.
“Vlynlqwz, ulp, cwv uswa zkqlzsdt byrrkdlpp okzz cl tsdl!”

“Ebyv kp byrrkdlpp?”
Jysdkdt zsolale bla lulp yde zssjle yv bla sod qkdtlap.
“Rp kv zkjl Ozelpv Fkpvla, xyaakle vs vbl blka sq vbl Yyaiwkp sq Ubsdtuwyd, nsdpvydvzu pnblxkdt yde osaaukdt lhlau eyu — kp vbyv byrrkdlpp? Xa zkjl Flnsde Fkpvla, ldezlppzu byhkdt nbkzeald sdl yqvla ydsvbla, fwpv vs okd y ckv xsal sq bla bwpcyde’p yqqlnvksd — kp vbyv byrrkdlpp? R esd’v oydv ydu sq vbyv. R fwpv oydv y iwklv zkql. R esd’v oydv vs bwav svblap, yde R esd’v oydv ydusdl vs bwav xl. Yyaaukdt vbl Wswavb Vakdnl pswdep fwpv qkdl vs xl.”

Aunt Xu was at a loss for words and didn’t know how to refute her.

Baoning continued,
“Besides, with the mistress’s personality, even if we refused, she wouldn’t let it go. Father wouldn’t be able to help us either.”

Aunt Xu knew she was right and let out a heavy sigh.

After a long silence, Aunt Xu suddenly frowned.
“Ji Yun doesn’t know about this yet. When he comes back, he’ll cause a huge uproar.”

…

Ji Yun returned around dusk. As Aunt Xu predicted, he flew into a rage and stormed off toward Madam Tao’s courtyard to confront her, only to be dragged back by Baoning just in time.

Feeling stifled and helpless, Ji Yun squatted on the ground with his arms around his knees, his eyes slowly reddening.
“It’s all because I’m useless. Tao’s brother is a second-rank general, so she has the power to act like a tyrant. If I became a great general too, my sister wouldn’t be bullied like this.”

Baoning couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“You’re only twelve. Her brother’s nearly forty. What’s there to compare?”

Ji Yun, twelve years old and the only son of the Duke’s household, was pampered despite Madam Tao’s dislike for him. Baoning had never seen him cry before, and seeing him like this made her heart ache.

She comforted him.
“Alright, when you succeed in the future, I’ll divorce the Fourth Prince and let you come take me away, okay?”

Ji Yun looked up with teary eyes.
“Really?”

Baoning nodded.

Ji Yun was truly comforted. He held Baoning’s hand tightly and said with determination,
“Don’t worry, Sister. I’ll study harder, train harder, rise up sooner — and take you away from that place!”

Baoning smiled and patted his hair.

…

Three days later, the Court of Imperial Supplies delivered the betrothal gifts.

Pei Yuan’s crime was treason—he had colluded with the Crown Prince, Pei Che, in an attempt to assassinate the Emperor and usurp the throne. Fortunately, the Third Prince, Pei Xiao, discovered the plot in time, preventing a catastrophe.

The Emperor flew into a rage and immediately threw the two into prison, stripping them of their titles and ranks. He issued an order for their execution after the autumn. However, not long after, Pei Che suddenly fell gravely ill in prison. He was released for treatment but disappeared a few days later. Pei Yuan also sustained injuries and became a cripple, unable to walk properly.

With both sons falling into disgrace, the aging Emperor was stricken with both fury and grief, and fell seriously ill. After recovering, he seemed to have come to terms with it and chose not to pursue Pei Yuan’s punishment further, releasing him.

Put nicely, Pei Yuan was merely a prince out of favor. To put it harshly, he was an abandoned son of the Emperor, left to survive or perish on his own.

Baoning had already prepared herself for a meager betrothal gift. But when she actually saw it, she was still shocked.

It was an old, rusty, chipped wooden chest, hastily wrapped in a few strips of red silk. When opened, it held only three bags of millet and five taels of silver wrapped in a piece of torn cloth.

Ji Jiaying burst out laughing on the spot. “I heard the Fourth Prince had fallen on hard times, but I didn’t expect him to be this destitute. Even a peasant with a few acres of land would give a better dowry than this!”

The eunuch delivering the gift from the Court of Imperial Supplies hadn’t yet left. Hearing the girl’s comment, the Duke of Rong looked embarrassed and barked, “Jiaying, enough!”

The young eunuch, however, didn’t mind. Smiling, he said, “The Fourth Young Lady isn’t wrong. The Emperor stated clearly: although the Fourth Prince remains on the royal register, all other privileges are stripped—he is to be treated like a commoner. Duke, please don’t blame us for the paltry gifts. We’re merely following orders; there’s nothing we can do.”

The Duke of Rong cautiously glanced at Baoning. Seeing her still smiling pleasantly, he relaxed.

He did feel guilty toward this daughter, but his hands were tied. Madam Tao was strong-willed, and he depended on Tao Maobing’s influence. He didn’t dare oppose his wife’s will.

Now that Baoning seemed unbothered, his conscience felt somewhat eased.

Tao-shi offered some silver in thanks and courteously saw the eunuch off.

Baoning expressed her gratitude and took the chest back to Madam Xu’s courtyard.

Behind her came Ji Jiaying’s snide voice: “Tch, she can still smile? Don’t know if she’s truly stupid or just pretending.”

…

Back in the room, Madam Xu, naturally indignant again, tried to hide her disappointment for fear of hurting her daughter and went outside to sigh in secret.

Afterward, she returned to help Baoning embroider her dowry.

The wedding date was set too hastily—only ten days away. It was claimed to be an auspicious day, and any delay would mean waiting another half a year. The Fourth Prince couldn’t afford to wait.

Everyone understood what “couldn’t afford to wait” really meant.

Though Baoning had never been formally engaged before, her dowry preparations had long begun. Both she and Madam Xu were deft with their hands. Working day and night for ten days, they finally finished everything in time.

The wedding day came in a blink.

The Court of Imperial Supplies sent a rickety, drafty old carriage—faithfully implementing the Emperor’s decree to treat Pei Yuan like a commoner.

Ji Yun inspected the carriage, returned with a heaving chest, and sulked on the steps in frustration.

Baoning smiled and gently consoled him, not taking it to heart as she applied flower decals before a mirror.

She took the time to prepare properly, following all the rituals of a bride—cleansing her face, styling her hair, and donning the phoenix coronet. Baoning had a clear mindset: she was the one living this life, and no matter what others said, it had nothing to do with her. Even if she married into a fallen household, she would still live with dignity and grace.

Besides, she hadn’t fallen that far, had she?

Baoning had always been a beauty—her looks outshone the other five girls in the family even without makeup. Now dressed in bright red wedding robes and wearing rouge, she was simply captivating.

She turned and smiled at Madam Xu. “Mother, do I look good?”

Madam Xu wiped her tears. “My Baoning is the prettiest. The Fourth Prince will surely be fond of you.”

Baoning smiled even more brightly, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

When the lucky hour arrived, Ji Yun carried Baoning out the gate and helped her into the carriage.

The boy’s back was still a little thin but already steady. Step by step, he carried her carefully, his voice trembling: “Sister, I’ll visit you often. Please take good care of yourself.”

Baoning leaned toward his ear and whispered, “Don’t worry. When have I ever treated myself badly?”

Ji Yun laughed through his tears. “Sister, don’t worry! If that prince dares bully you, I’ll beat him up for you!”

…

At the Duke of Rong’s gates, everyone who should be there had arrived.

Tao-shi looked as indifferent as ever. Ji Jiaying stood with arms crossed, watching gleefully. Concubine Ye and her Sixth Daughter shrank timidly into the back, peeking at Baoning with eyes half mocking, half fearful—afraid they might end up like her someday.

Only Concubines Ming and Xu looked on with worry, eyes brimming with tears. Ming-shi, the mother of the Second Young Lady, was sharp and capable and close friends with Madam Xu.

Baoning sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain to wave at them. Before she could speak, the driver gave a shout, and the carriage rolled slowly forward.

…

All along the way, Baoning kept thinking of what Pei Yuan looked like.

She had some impression of him. Three years ago, during the Lantern Festival, she had gone out with her mother and Tao-shi. While leaning against the window of a restaurant looking down at the street, she saw a flamboyant young man riding a horse, whipping the air as he charged down the road, followed by a retinue of black-clad guards. Pedestrians scattered in panic.

The youth was stunningly handsome and exuded an arrogant aura. His silver whip flashed through the night like a streak of lightning.

The shop assistant whispered that it was none other than the Fourth Prince, Pei Yuan—idle, debauched, known to have killed someone. But as a prince, no one dared to cross him—they could only avoid him.

Back then, no one could’ve imagined Pei Yuan would fall so far. And Baoning certainly never imagined she would be tangled up with him like this.

But regardless of what he had been, he was now her husband. She couldn’t just abandon him.

Baoning resolved to treat Pei Yuan with sincerity and a clear conscience, to live a peaceful life with him. As for what the future held—she would take things as they came, one step at a time.

The carriage rocked for what felt like an eternity, as if heading to some desolate corner.

Baoning hadn’t eaten that morning and was starving to the point of dizziness when the carriage finally stopped.

The coachman lifted the curtain and called out to her, “Fourth Prince Consort, we’ve arrived.”

---

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