Chapter 2 — The Man Who Couldn't See My Face

If she truly dares to act in such a manner, we need not concern ourselves with being ruthless. When the time comes, we shall simply lay all the blame entirely upon her shoulders. Even if she refuses to acknowledge it, she will have no choice left but to accept the burden.

Furthermore, it is a matter known to everyone that I suffer from prosopagnosia. Surely they will not find it in themselves to make things excessively difficult for either you or me.

I remained seated quietly in the shadowed corner, absorbing every single word of their conversation without missing a fraction of a detail. It never crossed my mind that Xu Yanqing, a man who always presented himself to the world with the gentle and modest demeanor of a refined scholar, could possibly sink to such despicable depths purely for the sake of his beloved eldest sister. I clenched my fists so tightly that my fingernails dug deeply into my palms, biting into the tender flesh. Perhaps the utterly tragic and desolate end that befell me in my past life was also subtly orchestrated by his hidden hand behind the scenes. As these chilling thoughts swirled in my mind, his gaze suddenly shifted toward my direction. The moment his eyes landed upon the delicate jade bracelet gracing my wrist, his facial expression underwent an instantaneous and dramatic transformation.

My Lord, today happens to be a most joyous occasion, and our two brides are, after all, sisters by blood. This subordinate heard the wedding matron remark that if the two brides were to exchange tokens of good fortune, it would bring forth immense auspiciousness.

He spoke up abruptly, his voice laced with a thin veneer of barely concealed panic and frantic probing.

This subordinate noticed that the bracelet worn by the princess is intricately carved with longevity blossoms, carrying a most wonderful and blessed meaning. My humble wife happens to possess a supreme piece of exquisite jade, and I am wondering if the princess might be graciously inclined to exchange it?

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Hang narrowed his eyes, fixing a cold, piercing stare directly upon Xu Yanqing.

You actually dare to cast your greedy eyes upon the personal belongings of my wife? Do you perhaps have an overwhelming desire to court death?

Faced with Xiao Hang’s sudden and terrifying wrath, Xu Yanqing was startled into taking a hasty step backward, his footing faltering to the point where he nearly lost his balance entirely.

This subordinate would never dare harbor such intentions; I was merely hoping to secure a blessing of peace and longevity for my wife.

I lowered my gaze to quietly observe the bracelet adorning my wrist. This was the very piece that Xu Yanqing had personally carved with his own hands, symbolizing an eternity of wellness and protection. Over the course of the past few years, I had worn it faithfully almost every single day without fail. Even when my elder sister dropped numerous heavy hints expressing her profound envy and desire for it, I had steadfastly refused to part with it. Perhaps the time had finally arrived for me to return it to its rightful maker. Remaining completely silent, I did not hesitate for even a heartbeat as I slipped the bracelet off my wrist and handed it directly to him. The moment his fingers closed around the familiar trinket, Xu Yanqing appeared to exhale a long, ragged breath of immense relief.

It would seem that she is indeed not Lingyi. Lingyi would never, under any circumstances, bestow this particular bracelet upon another person.

Once the torrential rain had subsided, the two grand wedding processions prepared to set off on their respective journeys. No sooner had I settled myself comfortably inside the ornate bridal sedan chair than a sudden gust of wind swept past, aggressively flipping up a corner of the heavy red veil that covered my face. Xu Yanqing happened to catch a glimpse of me at that exact second. He made an immediate move to rush forward and lift the veil entirely to confirm my identity. Without a moment of hesitation, Xiao Hang stepped fluidly in front of me, delivering a swift, powerful kick straight to Xu Yanqing's chest. Staggering backward under the immense force, Xu Yanqing nearly tumbled to the ground. Shen Lingchang quickly reached out to steady him by the arm.

Lord Xu, have you completely lost your mind? This is none other than the Prince Regent himself; he is not someone we can afford to provoke under any circumstances.

However, Xu Yanqing acted as though he could not hear a single word, the rims of his eyes turning a furious, desperate shade of red.

Lingchang, just a moment ago, I caught sight of the bride beneath that veil, and she looked precisely like Lingyi.

His bride clutched tightly at his sleeve with both hands.

My younger sister arranged for a body double to take her place, so it is only natural that their silhouettes bear some fleeting resemblance to one another.

Besides, since she was so utterly determined to marry into your household, how could she possibly end up wedding someone else instead?

He nodded mechanically, yet still yearned to push past and verify the truth with his own eyes. Suddenly, his bride broke into a sharp, hacking fit of coughing.

Lord Xu, I feel terribly unwell.

The sound instantly snapped Xu Yanqing out of his obsessive trance, causing him to swivel his head and hurriedly scoop her up into his arms.

Are you alright? Could it be that you have caught a severe chill from the wind?

Uttering these anxious words, he bundled her swiftly into the bridal sedan chair, abandoning all thoughts of me as he turned around and departed without ever looking back once. Xiao Hang cast a deeply contemplative glance toward the retreating sedan chair, though he ultimately chose to keep his thoughts to himself. Throughout the entire journey, however, Xu Yanqing remained in a state of utter detachment, his soul seemingly wandering far away. Even during the formal wedding ceremonies, he moved like a hollow, lifeless puppet, rushing through the required rituals with perfunctory haste. Once she had been safely escorted into the bridal chamber, Shen Lingchang sat waiting with brimming anticipation and boundless hope, believing Xu Yanqing would lift her red veil and spend this magical spring night intimately by her side. Instead, he abruptly turned on his heel and strode firmly away toward the quiet study.

Lingchang, you caught a chill earlier in the day, so you should rest well and recover your strength tonight.

The moment he stepped out of the newlywed chamber, he issued a sharp directive to the attendant standing nearby.

Go and prepare a bridal sedan chair that adheres strictly to the formal specifications of a primary wife, and gather a generous abundance of betrothal gifts. At the break of dawn tomorrow, I shall personally welcome Lingyi into our household.

If she is forced to wait any longer than this, she is bound to throw another one of her troublesome tantrums.

The young attendant hesitated visibly, a worried frown creaking across his face.

But if we were to take in a concubine merely a single day after the grand wedding ceremony, I am afraid it might violate proper protocol and etiquette. Furthermore, the newly wedded madam will likely be deeply displeased...

Before the servant could finish delivering his cautious warning, Xu Yanqing cut him off with a thunderous bark.

If I tell you to go and execute my orders, then just go and do it! Since when did you acquire such a talent for spouting endless nonsense?

Oh, and make sure to assemble a larger entourage to accompany you. Living as a concubine is already a grievous injustice that will cause her to suffer, so we must ensure she is granted absolute and uncompromised dignity upon her arrival.

The following morning, long before the first rays of sunlight pierced through the heavy clouds, Xu Yanqing had already changed into his festive ceremonial robes and set off in the direction of the Shen residence. The grand and imposing bridal procession came to a halt right before the impressive gates of the estate, yet before they could even cross the threshold, they were firmly blocked by the guards. Joy and eagerness were leaking so heavily from Xu Yanqing's eyes that they were practically overflowing.

Hurry inside and announce my arrival; I have come here today to escort the second young miss of your esteemed household back home to take her place as my concubine.

The attendant scratching the back of his head wore an expression of utter bewilderment and confusion.

The second young miss? But didn't she already board the Prince Regent's bridal sedan chair just yesterday?

The color drained entirely from Xu Yanqing's face, his expression turning abruptly dark and ominous.

Is this some clever trick that the second young miss instructed you to pass along? Go back inside and tell her that whatever happened yesterday was entirely my fault, and I am here personally to offer my deepest apologies to her.

Hearing this, the attendant finally realized that Xu Yanqing remained blissfully ignorant of the actual situation.

My esteemed elder brother-in-law, could it truly be that you still do not know? This entire marriage arrangement was personally and willingly agreed upon by our second young miss herself yesterday. At this very moment, she is already the honored Princess Regent.