Chapter 1 — Wedding Day Switch: My Husband Traded Me Away

To save the white moonlight locked deep within his heart, my husband swapped my bridal sedan chair right on the very day of our grand wedding. The notorious villainous Prince Regent, who was originally destined to marry the woman of my husband's affections, ended up becoming my groom instead.

You are the elder sister, and it is only natural that you should yield to your younger sister. The Prince Regent kills without blinking an eye, so you must go and take Nhu Nhi's place in that marriage.

He spoke with an air of righteous nobility, uttering words that were utterly shameless. I did not cry, nor did I make a fuss; I simply and obediently stepped into the bridal sedan chair that led straight to the depths of hell. The entire capital was laying wagers, betting on how many days I would manage to survive under that terrifying roof. Yet, no one could have anticipated what would happen by the third day, the day of my return visit to my maiden family. That very Prince Regent, whose mere name struck terror into the hearts of everyone under heaven, was now carefully and tenderly assisting me down from the carriage. Looking at the face of my former husband, now twisted entirely with jealousy and disbelief, I smiled faintly.

I must still express my gratitude to my dear brother-in-law for bringing about this match.

The auspicious hour had arrived, yet the groom was still nowhere to be seen. Wearing my scarlet bridal veil, I sat quietly within the boudoir, listening to the murmurs and whispers of the guests gathered outside. It was noisy, chaotic, and utterly disorderly. The matchmaker ran in and out of the room time and time again, her voice shifting from its initial bustling excitement to a mounting, palpable panic.

First Miss, please wait just a little longer. The young master must have been detained by some sudden matter.

I remained entirely silent. Within my grasp, I tightly clutched the token of betrothal he had once given me—a piece of jade whose sharp edges pressed painfully into the flesh of my palm. Suddenly, the door was violently thrust open. A familiar scent washed over me, mingling heavily with the fragrance of fresh grass after a heavy rain. It was Gu Ngon. He had finally arrived. The heavy stone that had been suspended in my chest was just about to settle when I heard his cold, impassionate voice cut through the air.

Shen Hua, come out right now.

He did not address me affectionately as Hua Nhi. Instead, he coldly called me by my full name. The matchmaker rushed forward in a flurry, desperately trying to block his path.

Oh dear, young master, this simply isn't according to custom. The bride's veil cannot be lifted by your own hand just yet.

Get out of the way.

Gu Ngon's voice carried not even a shred of warmth. With a swift motion, I pulled the bridal veil down myself. What met my gaze was a face filled with frantic urgency and absolute desperation. Upon his deep crimson wedding robes, several muddy stains were smeared, making him look as though he had run the entire distance back without a single pause. Yet, I knew full well it was not for my sake.

Nhu Nhi has gotten into trouble.

He opened his mouth and went straight to the heart of the matter. Shen Nhu, my dear younger sister, the concubine-born daughter of the Prime Minister's estate, and the woman whom Gu Ngon cherished as the very apple of his eye. I looked straight at him without uttering a word, quietly waiting for whatever else he had to say.

Upon hearing that she was destined to marry the Prince Regent, she sought her own death. We managed to save her just in time, but even now, she remains utterly resolved not to live another day.

His voice overflowed with profound heartache, as though the person suffering the greatest injustice in this entire world was none other than his beloved Nhu Nhi.

So what if she did?

I asked. My voice was eerily calm, so calm that even I found it completely alien.

You are the elder sister, so you ought to show forbearance and yield to your sister.

At last, he uttered those very words, differing not in the slightest from what I had already anticipated.

The Prince Regent is a ruthless executioner with a notoriously brutal disposition. Given Nhu Nhi's delicate and frail constitution, if she were to marry into that household, I fear she would not survive even a few days.

I need you to take Nhu Nhi's place and marry him instead.

He spoke with that same posture of unyielding righteousness, casually uttering such shameless demands as if pushing me into the abyss of hell were an act of boundless, immeasurable virtue. I stared at him for a long moment before suddenly bursting into laughter. Gu Ngon froze in sheer astonishment, likely expecting that I would weep, throw a tantrum, or demand to know what our eight years of shared history and affection truly meant. But I did nothing of the sort. I merely rose at a leisurely pace, walked right up to him, and slowly extended my hand.

What are you doing?

He asked, bewildered.

The jade pendant.

I replied.

The token of our pledge from years past, return it to me now.

The piece of jade, which I had clutched so tightly that my palm ached, was laid out flat upon my open palm. Gu Ngon's expression shifted slightly; evidently, he had not expected me to sever ties with such cold, unhesitating resolve.

Hua Nhi, I...

Do not ever address me by that name again.

I cut him off sharply.

It makes me feel utterly sick.

With that, I shoved the jade pendant directly into his hand. Then, turning to the table, I picked up the cup of nuptial wine meant for our union. Right before his disbelieving eyes, I raised it and drained it in a single breath.

Gu Ngon, I truly wish you and Shen Nhu a hundred years of harmony, and may your lineage end entirely with you.

Every single word fell clearly from my lips. His face instantly drained of all color, turning as white as a sheet.

You...

I will marry him.

Without casting so much as another glance in his direction, I whirled around and raised my voice toward the outer courtyard.

Someone, prepare the sedan chair.

We are heading to the Prince Regent's manor.

The entire Shen household instantly plunged into a dead, suffocating silence. Every single person stared at me as though I had completely lost my mind. My father, the Prime Minister, rushed over hurriedly, his complexion turning an ashen green as if he intended to say something, only to be stopped short by Gu Ngon himself.

Father-in-law, this is merely a testament to the profound sisterly affection between Nhu Nhi and Shen Hua. It is a wonderful outcome indeed.

Hearing those wretched words churned my stomach with wave after wave of nausea. I did not cry, nor did I cause a scene; I simply walked out of the boudoir on my own terms. The bright red bridal veil in the matchmaker's hands was left completely untouched. I wanted the entire capital to witness this with their own eyes—to see how Shen Hua, on the most significant day of her life, was being delivered by a pack of wolves straight into a living tomb. The sedan chair heading toward the Prince Regent's residence was draped in solemn, foreboding black.