Chapter 6 — Wedding Day Switch: My Husband Traded Me Away

I understand. From this day forward. I, Shen Hua. Shall become their eternal nightmare.

05

Within the main hall of the Shen estate. The servants had tremblingly finished arranging the tables and chairs. The seat of honor was naturally reserved for Feng Yuan. I followed closely by his side, quite naturally taking the seat to his left. My father, the Prime Minister Shen, could only sit in a lower position. As for Gu Yan and Shen Rou, they did not even possess the qualification to be seated; they could only stand among the gathering of guests. That heaven-and-earth disparity in status and standing was laid bare with vivid clarity within this modest main hall.

After Feng Yuan took his seat, he uttered not another word. He merely lifted the teacup presented by a servant, using the lid to gently brush aside the tea foam floating on the surface. His demeanor was leisurely and relaxed, as though this were not the Shen estate, but rather his own private study. Yet the more he remained silent, the heavier the atmosphere in the hall became. Not a single person dared to open their mouth. Even breathing was performed with the utmost caution. Cold sweat was already beading across my father's forehead.

Finally, Shen Rou could endure it no longer. She stepped forward, her voice delicate and frail as she softly spoke.

"Elder sister..."

Her tone carried the sound of muffled sobs, her eye rims flushed red, putting on an expression as though she had just suffered an injustice as vast as the heavens.

"It was Rou'er's wrongdoing three days ago. Rou'er offers her apologies to you, sister."

With that, she made as if to kneel before me. Truly a stratagem of retreating in order to advance. Once she knelt, should I accept, I would become someone devoid of sisterly affection, unforgiving and merciless. If I did not permit her to kneel, I would have no choice but to reluctantly forgive her previous transgressions. Gu Yan instantly stepped forward with a heart full of anguish to support her, casting a fierce glare in my direction.

"Shen Hua! Rou'er's constitution is delicate; what more do you want from her? Must you truly force her to her death for you to be satisfied?"

His roar instantly drew the gazes of everyone present. Before I could even utter a response, Feng Yuan's movement of brushing the tea leaves abruptly ceased. He lifted his eyelids, casting an indifferent, sidelong glance at Gu Yan.

"In the presence of this Prince, you dare raise your voice at the Princess Consort?"

"Slap his mouth."

The moment his words fell, a guard standing behind him instantly flashed forward like a streak of lightning. Everyone heard only a crisp, resounding crack. A fierce, heavy blow had already landed across Gu Yan's face. The man was completely dumbfounded. Clutching his cheek with one hand, he stared at Feng Yuan in utter disbelief. Shen Rou let out an even more terrified screech, her complexion turning as pale as a sheet of paper.

"Lord Prime Minister."

Feng Yuan's gaze shifted toward my father.

"Is this sort of undisciplined creature the kind of son-in-law you keep?"

Scared out of his wits, my father scrambled in haste to rise and drop to his knees.

"This Prince, please calm your wrath! It is this subject who has failed to properly discipline his daughter and son-in-law! I beg the Prince to grant his forgiveness!"

"Father."

I softly called out. Father paused, raising his head to look at me.

"You are an elder; how can you perform such a grand obeisance to us?"

I rose to my feet, personally stepping forward to assist my father up.

"Today, the Prince and I have returned to my maiden home merely to pay our respects to you, not to conduct a trial of crimes."

My words were gentle and decorous. They provided my father with a step to gracefully descend, while further highlighting the deliberate hostility and provocation of Gu Yan and Shen Rou. Father looked at me, his gaze deeply complex. Perhaps this was the first time he realized that this traditionally quiet daughter of his possessed such profound depth of mind and calculated schemes. I guided Father back to his seat. Only then did I turn my gaze toward Shen Rou. Clutched tightly in Gu Yan's embrace, she was weeping like pear blossoms drenched in rain.

"What is the meaning of younger sister's actions?"

I spoke in a gentle tone.

"Between sisters, why must we speak of such words as offering apologies?"

"Come to think of it, elder sister should actually be thanking you and my brother-in-law."

"Had it not been for the two of you, how could I have attained the immense fortune of marrying the Prince, ascending to a position where I stand above ten thousand people?"

As I spoke, I lightly stroked the golden-threaded phoenix embroidered upon my sleeve.

"Younger sister, does this robe of a Princess Consort appear to suit me well?"

Shen Rou's weeping abruptly ceased. She stared at me, her eyes brimming with venomous hatred. Every single word I had spoken pierced straight into her heart. It was not merely boasting; it was a deliberate reminder. The position she had exhausted every ounce of effort to seize was nothing more than the primary wife of a mere Vice Minister's son. Yet the fate she had forced upon me was the supreme glory that countless women under the heavens dreamed of day and night. She had lost. Defeated so utterly that not even a scrap of armor remained. Gu Yan's complexion grew even more unsightly to the absolute extreme.