Chapter 5 — Better to Lean on Mountains Than a Faithless Heart

My feigned tears suddenly transformed into genuine sobs. Shen Yi An suppressed his fury as he glared at me. "I ask you for the last time: is this truly what you want?" Months of suppressed resentment, endurance, and humiliation ignited within me in that singular moment. I did not bother to hold back my reply: "What does the Noble Heir mean by this? Are you seething with hatred simply because you could not seize my bridal finery for her? If you are truly as noble as you claim, why do you not surrender your title to your cousin instead?"

"Your courtyard faces due south, the most auspicious position in the entire estate for health and recovery. Your cousin is frail; do you intend to yield it to her? Furthermore, every medicinal tonic you consume is worth a thousand pieces of gold, each one a rare treasure. She suffers from bouts of madness every few days; do you intend to hand them all over to her as well? Ah, and she loves your mother most dearly. As a man of such righteous character, surely you wouldn't mind sharing half of your mother's affection with her as well?"

Shen Yi An’s eyes turned bloodshot with rage. I offered no mercy as I mocked him: "You cannot do it, can you? When it comes to bestowing the belongings of others upon her, you wear the mask of righteous benevolence. But when it comes to your own interests, you calculate every single grain. Your compassion for your cousin is nothing more than empty, superficial talk!"

Shen Yi An stared at me for a long time, his hands balled into fists within his sleeves before he finally forced them open. After a while, he curled his lips into a smile so chilling it was macabre. "You are right. I should be completely devoted to my cousin. She has nowhere else to turn; marrying no one would be as secure as marrying me."

"I shall immediately respond to Mother’s wishes. You possess profound medical skills and a compassionate heart, so you surely would not mind if my cousin were to become a secondary wife, standing as an equal beside you?"

Had this been in the past, I would have lashed out with stinging words. But now, I merely looked at him with detachment. "Then that is truly wonderful. A match made in heaven, a union of jade and stone. I wish you both a hundred years of harmony and a lifetime of unwavering devotion!"

Shen Yi An’s pupils contracted, and he opened his mouth to say more, but I turned and walked away without a single glance back. From behind, I heard Jiang Nan Xi’s irrepressible joy: "Cousin, do you truly wish to marry me?" The cold wind carried the heavy, cutting response of Shen Yi An: "Mother desires it, and cousin is innocent and lovely—I find no reason to refuse!"

The Imperial Eunuch who had been waiting for the Emperor had long since arrived, but he brought not a decree for marriage, but world-shaking news. "The border has achieved total victory. General Van will return to the capital in half a month. The Emperor instructed this servant to convey a message: General Van is cunning and full of stratagems; he lacks proper decorum before the throne and asks for a marriage decree as if he were demanding a debt. The Emperor insists on using this very decree to give him a harsh lecture to vent his frustration!"

"Young lady, rest easy. That bridal attire was requested for you personally by the Noble Consort; no one shall dream of snatching it away. The Consort has received the young general’s request, stating that since you have no maternal clan, the Quan Chau Palace shall henceforth be your true maternal home."

My nose stung. Tears welled up, uncontrollable. I had endured Jiang Nan Xi’s oppression time and time again, suffered the humiliations forced upon me by Shen Yi An, and even faced the threat to my virtue and my life, yet I had stubbornly refused to shed a single tear. But at those words—"The Quan Chau Palace shall be your home"—the dam finally broke. The days of drifting like duckweed, rootless and tormented, seemed to vanish in that instant. I finally had a place to belong. I finally had people who considered me their own.

My eyes were red, my voice thick. The eunuch glanced at Shen Yi An and Jiang Nan Xi walking in the distance, understanding everything, and consoled me: "The good days are still ahead. Though General Van is stubborn, he knows where his loyalties lie. He is... not the same toward you as he is toward others!" I gripped the jade token he had given me inside my sleeve and nodded softly: "I understand."

The Princess heard that I had been granted the bridal attire and quietly gifted me a red wedding veil. "Cousin is in such a rush; he wishes to marry before the new year. As for this veil, you must prepare quickly, future sister-in-law. I am waiting to drink to your happiness." My face burned with both shame and confusion.

Lost in the days of embroidering the veil, I no longer paid heed to the affairs of the estate. It was not until the birthday of Lady Shen that I was forced to attend the banquet. Lady Shen was overjoyed, her hand never leaving Jiang Nan Xi’s. She was so pleased that she removed the jade bracelet from her own wrist and placed it on Jiang Nan Xi’s. "This is a family heirloom passed down by the grandmother of Yi An. Nan Xi has such a straightforward nature and beautiful skin; it looks absolutely perfect on her." Her tone and attitude left no doubt of her favor. Everyone in the capital was sharp-witted; they understood her intentions. When they looked at me, there was inevitably a hint of pity and regret. Jiang Nan Xi even cast challenging glances my way.

I merely held my tea bowl and maintained a composed smile. I even pretended not to see the lingering, burning gaze of Shen Yi An. I had deliberately shrunk my presence to the absolute minimum, yet for some reason, it still managed to provoke Shen Yi An. He blocked my path by the pond, his expression somber. "You have always had a sharp tongue, fighting and grabbing for everything. Why are you playing deaf and dumb this time? That bracelet is the heirloom of the Shen family; only the lady of the house may keep it. Do you understand?"

I looked at him in surprise. "What does the Noble Heir mean? Your mother has chosen your cousin; did you only realize this today? If it is a family heirloom and you are the heir, why do you not decide for yourself instead of running to force me to compete?"

He was rendered speechless. I laughed. "You are truly laughable. Before, you blamed me for fighting and making things difficult for your cousin. Now that I do not fight, you blame me for being indifferent. Does the Noble Heir want me to snatch the bracelet, shatter it to pieces before your mother and cousin, and then wait for you to reward me with a slap to the face?"

His pupils trembled as he hissed: "Ta Tue Nghi! No matter how you act, it is too late now. I have already promised Mother that I will bring my cousin into the manor; I cannot let her lose face. If you are sensible, give the bridal attire to Nan Xi, and I will demand that bracelet back for you!"

I felt only a profound sense of exhaustion. I replied softly: "I wish you both true happiness. I do not wish to marry you—and that, too, is the truth. Shen Yi An, please, let me go."