Destined

When Liu Yuru received the news from Zhang Yue'er that she was being confined to her quarters, she was quite surprised.

Zhang Yue'er had never treated her particularly well, but to please Liu Xuan, she had always maintained a maternal demeanor. Though she was only a concubine, her conduct and dealings were in no way inferior to that of a legitimate wife. Over the years, while she had never nurtured Liu Yuru, she had also never restricted her. Confining her because of Gu Jiusi's teasing was something that puzzled Liu Yuru.

The maid Guixiang, who had come to deliver the message, noticed Liu Yuru's confusion and smiled as she explained, "Miss, please don't blame Aunt Yue. She said that you're different now than before, and confining you is to show others that our Liu family has strict discipline. It's for the sake of your reputation, so we hope you'll understand."

Guixiang's words sounded reasonable, and if Liu Yuru hadn't known Zhang Yue'er's true nature so well, she might have almost believed that Zhang Yue'er was the best concubine one could ask for.

However, she knew full well that Zhang Yue'er was someone who never acted without personal gain. Her sudden concern for Liu Yuru made her uneasy. Still, she showed no sign of it on her face, obediently accepting the punishment of confinement. After seeing Guixiang off, she took her needlework from her room and sat with Yin Hong in the small courtyard to embroider.

Yin Hong, being straightforward, expressed her confusion: "Why do you think Aunt Yue has suddenly changed her ways and started genuinely caring for you?"

Liu Yuru paused her embroidery, thought for a moment, and finally said, "Probably because she's afraid something might go wrong with my marriage to the Ye Family."

After all, her marriage meant a substantial amount of silver for Zhang Yue'er. Liu Yuru had no brothers, so in the future, the Liu family's property would be inherited by Zhang Yue'er's son. Over the years, Liu Yuru had been seeking a good marriage outside, and Zhang Yue'er was well aware of it but never interfered.

Since there was no conflict of core interests and they were almost like allies, the inner household of the Liu residence had always been harmonious. Liu Yuru clearly understood that, without a son of her own, the only way to ensure her mother's well-being was for her to marry well.

If she married well, Zhang Yue'er would have to treat Su Wan decently, if only for appearances.

For women, birth is the first rebirth, determining their fate before marriage. Marriage is the second rebirth, deciding their destiny for life. Liu Yuru believed in this principle, so from the moment she understood it, she had spent day and night scheming to secure a good marriage. Now that she had finally achieved it, perhaps that was why Zhang Yue'er had changed her attitude.

Thinking this, Liu Yuru felt somewhat relieved.

After embroidering a pair of mandarin ducks, her eyes began to ache, so she set aside her needlework and went inside.

"Miss," Yin Hong, knowing what she was about to do, couldn't help but find it strange, "Reading again?"

Liu Yuru acknowledged with a sound and took out a copy of "The Record of Little Stone Mountain." Softly, she said, "Last time I went to the Ye residence, A-Yun told me that Young Master Ye had read this book before and liked it very much. I need to catch up so that I'll have something to talk about with him in the future."

Hearing this, Yin Hong sighed, "Miss, you're thinking too far ahead. To be able to converse with Young Master Ye, you're practically turning into a talented lady."

Liu Yuru smiled at this but said nothing more.

She lowered her head and began flipping through the pages of "The Record of Little Stone Mountain."Ever since she decided to marry Ye Shi'an, she had been constantly inquiring about him from Ye Yun. Ye Yun, aware of her intentions and being her close friend, never held back. She knew exactly what books Ye Shi'an had read and what he liked. Over the years, in order to get along well with Ye Shi'an in the future, she had read the same books he had, learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, could compose a few presentable poems, and even practiced a style of small regular script that closely resembled his.

She had silently put in so much effort, all in anticipation of one day marrying Ye Shi'an. When a person works hard for a long time and gives so much, it's inevitable to develop some illusions. She had only met Ye Shi'an a few times and spoken very little with him. He had left for Egret Academy at the age of thirteen, so her impressions of him were all from before that age. Yet, deep down, she felt as though she should, perhaps, like Ye Shi'an.

She had never considered marrying anyone else.

As she read "The Record of Little Stone Mountain," she imagined Ye Shi'an flipping through the same book, wondering what he might have thought. When she finished, she sighed, looked up at Yin Hong, and said with some distress, "When do you think Young Master Ye will return?"

"Don't worry," Yin Hong said with a smile. "Young Master Ye will be back soon."

Lowering her voice, she added quietly, "He'll be back soon to marry you!"

"Stop talking nonsense!" Liu Yu Ru pushed her playfully, though her smile didn't fade. In private, she allowed herself to be a bit more unrestrained, and Yin Hong knew this well. After some playful banter, Liu Yu Ru washed up and went to bed. Before falling asleep, she lay with her eyes open, gazing at the book beside her. For some reason, she couldn't help but whisper softly, "Young Master Ye, please come back quickly. My whole life depends on you."

With that, she hugged the book to her chest, as if holding tightly to all her hopes.

The next morning, Liu Yu Ru got up as usual. She first practiced copying a few calligraphy models, but before long, she heard commotion outside. Puzzled, she said to Yin Hong, "Go and see what's happening."

Yin Hong acknowledged and went out, but she returned moments later, saying, "Miss, the guards outside say you've been placed under house arrest. I can't come or go either. They've sent someone to check and will report back to us shortly."

Liu Yu Ru nodded, though she couldn't shake a sense of unease. A little later, breakfast was delivered. Liu Yu Ru said to the maid who brought the food, "Could you please inform Aunt Yue that I'd like to see my mother and ask if it's possible?"

The maid agreed and left. Liu Yu Ru waited in her room while Yin Hong said to her, "Miss, why not eat something first? You can look into things after you finish."

Liu Yu Ru knew Yin Hong was right—there was no need to panic before understanding the situation. So she forced herself to remain calm, ate her breakfast, and waited.

However, she hadn't been sitting for long when she began to feel unusually drowsy. The sudden, overwhelming sleepiness made her uncomfortable, and she couldn't help saying, "Yin Hong, why am I so tired?"

"Tired?" Yin Hong sounded puzzled. "Would you like to rest, Miss?"

Liu Yu Ru was already growing groggy. Too exhausted to resist, she nodded vaguely and let Yin Hong help her to bed. Yin Hong chuckled and said, "Did you not sleep well last night, Miss? You're so tired today."

Liu Yu Ru didn't respond. The moment her head touched the pillow, she fell into a deep, heavy sleep.She slept for a long time, and by the time she woke, it was already afternoon. Yin Hong gently called out to her, "Miss, miss."

Liu Yuru was momentarily dazed, and Yin Hong quickly added, "Miss, it's time to get up. Aunt Yue is here and says she has something to discuss with you."

Hearing this, Liu Yuru hurriedly rose.

Her head ached slightly, and this unnatural discomfort put her on guard. Yet she still couldn't grasp what had happened, so she forced herself up, freshened up, and went to the outer hall.

Zhang Yue'er had been waiting for a while. Seeing Liu Yuru enter, she wore a sorrowful expression. "Yuru..."

Liu Yuru's heart sank at the sight of Zhang Yue'er's face. Zhang Yue'er sighed and said, "Yuru, I came today to tell you something. Today..." she hesitated, "today, the Gu Family has come with a betrothal gift."

At these words, Liu Yuru's eyes widened in shock.

In an instant, she understood what had happened!

Yet she still couldn't comprehend it.

The Gu Family had come with a betrothal gift.

How could the Gu Family come with a betrothal gift?!

Liu Yuru swayed unsteadily, and Yin Hong quickly steadied her. Yin Hong was utterly panicked; she knew full well how much Liu Yuru longed to marry Ye Shi'an and how she waited for him day after day. How... how could the Gu Family have come with a betrothal gift?

"Father," Liu Yuru leaned on Yin Hong, struggling to speak, "what did... Father say?"

"Master has already agreed."

Zhang Yue'er spoke with regret, and Liu Yuru closed her eyes in pain.

Zhang Yue'er stood up, took Liu Yuru's hand, and said gently, "Yuru, I know this is hard for you. But your father is doing this for your own good."

Liu Yuru trembled slightly, gritting her teeth in silence. Zhang Yue'er guided her to sit down and spoke earnestly, "Originally, when you were to marry into the Ye Family, your father had concerns. The Ye Family is a scholarly household with strict rules. As a merchant family, if you married into theirs, others might look down on you. Moreover, Ye Shi'an has now gone to take the imperial exams and has a boundless future ahead. If he goes to the Eastern Capital to serve as an official, he might encounter other opportunities. What if he becomes a heartless man, and you end up as a discarded wife? Your life would be difficult then."

As she spoke, Zhang Yue'er showed a hint of sadness. "And if you truly go to the Eastern Capital, it's far away, and it would be hard for father and daughter to see each other again. Your father is deeply troubled by this. Coincidentally, the Gu Family came to propose. Your father thought that although Gu Jiusi is somewhat unaccomplished and has a reckless temperament, the Gu Family is powerful and wealthy. Gu Jiusi's maternal uncle holds a high position in the Eastern Capital, and Master Gu is the richest man in Yangzhou. Since Gu Jiusi has no ambitions, he won't go to the Eastern Capital, so you can stay in Yangzhou and live a life of luxury. Moreover, we've discussed it with the Gu Family. Master Gu and his wife value you highly. Once you marry into their family, you'll be the rightful first wife, and the household will be under your control. With your life in your own hands, just let Gu Jiusi be as he is."

Liu Yuru remained silent. As she listened to Zhang Yue'er's words, she gradually calmed down.

She understood what had happened.

The Gu Family had come to propose. With the Gu Family's wealth, they must have offered a hefty betrothal gift. In the face of such wealth, what did marrying off a daughter matter? What did offending the Ye Family matter? Being able to secure the money was what truly mattered.Why was Zhang Yue'er forbidden from stepping out? Why did she feel drowsy right after breakfast this morning? It was all part of Zhang Yue'er's scheme to secure this marriage alliance, fearing that Liu Yu Ru might cause a scene or refuse to comply!

But how could she resign herself to this?

Liu Yu Ru nearly gritted her teeth to dust.

She had waited all these years for Ye Shi'an.

She had pinned all her lifelong hopes on Ye Shi'an.

And now, she was being told she must marry Gu Jiusi?!

That Gu Jiusi whom every noble young lady in Yangzhou avoided like the plague, turned pale at the mention of, and everyone cursed as a little devil?!

They claimed it was for her own good, that she would live in luxury with mountains of gold and silver in the future. If that were true, it might be bearable—but what if that dream was real?!

Now that Fan Xuan was the military governor of Youzhou, if that dream was true, marrying Gu Jiusi would cost her not just a lifetime, but her very life!

She wasn't afraid of death, but if she died, what would become of her mother?

Her mother had only her, one child. A childless woman faced the constant risk of being cast out in the family. If she died, who would stand up for her mother? Who would care for her?

Moreover, if she were truly gone, could her mother even go on living?

As these thoughts swirled in Liu Yu Ru's mind, a chill settled over her entire being.

Seeing Liu Yu Ru silent, Zhang Yue'er patted her hand gently and said in a soothing tone, "Yu Ru, don't be stubborn. If you marry into the Gu Family, your mother will be well taken care of. Just think of her illness—doctors have long said it requires expensive medicinal herbs to sustain her, but our family lacks the means to procure what she needs. If you join the Gu Family, what rare treasure in the world could they not obtain? Yu Ru," Zhang Yue'er's words were half persuasion, half threat, her eyes filled with feigned concern, "think of your mother, hmm?"

Liu Yu Ru fell silent again, then opened her eyes.

Suddenly, she grew calm. She gazed steadily at Zhang Yue'er, whose heart chilled under the clarity of that gaze. It seemed as if Liu Yu Ru had seen through all her schemes, yet Zhang Yue'er doubted it was possible.

What could a mere fifteen-year-old girl understand?

Her unease flickered briefly before vanishing. Moments later, she watched as Liu Yu Ru lowered her head and said sorrowfully, "I... may I discuss this with my mother?"

"Silly child," Zhang Yue'er replied gently, "your father has already decided, and the betrothal gifts have been accepted. Is there any turning back for you?"

"If you break off this engagement, Yu Ru, you'll never find a family like the Gus again."

Zhang Yue'er wasn't wrong about that. If Liu Yu Ru truly called off the marriage, she might end up wedded beneath her station—to impoverished scholars, butchers, or petty merchants.

After a moment of silence, Liu Yu Ru adopted a resigned demeanor and continued, "Since Father and Aunt Yue have settled it, then so be it. But what about the Ye Family... there must be some explanation."

"Don't worry about that," Zhang Yue'er said promptly. "I've already sent someone to speak with Old Madame Ye. The Gu Family's sudden proposal took everyone by surprise. Given their power and influence, we dare not offend them. Old Madame Ye will understand."

Liu Yu Ru had nothing more to say. Zhang Yue'er had orchestrated everything, leaving her no room to maneuver.

In that moment, she yearned to tear off all pretenses and perish together with this woman before her.

Yet reason held her back.She hadn't. Still holding back tears, she lowered her head and said in a hoarse voice, "With Auntie handling matters so thoroughly, Yu Ru feels at ease."

As she spoke, she stood up and said gently, "Auntie, today is the time for my mother's medicine. I'm worried and would like to go take care of her. May I?"

Zhang Yue'er remained silent for a moment, thinking to herself that Liu Yu Ru was ultimately going to marry into the Gu Family—it was best not to make enemies if possible. Since Liu Yu Ru didn't seem to have figured out what was going on, continuing to play the role of a good aunt would allow her to catch bigger fish in the future.

So she said softly, "If you don't mind the trouble, go and take care of your mother. Now that you're engaged, we don't need to put on a show for outsiders. The house arrest is lifted."

"Thank you, Auntie."

Having received permission, Liu Yu Ru expressed her gratitude, and Zhang Yue'er left feeling satisfied.

After she left, Liu Yu Ru lifted her head, clenched her fists, her expression icy.

"Miss..." Yin Hong said fearfully, "What should we do... What are we going to do?"

Liu Yu Ru didn't answer. She only said to Yin Hong, "Go call Yun Yun from the outer courtyard and have her come with me to see my mother."

Yin Hong didn't understand what Liu Yu Ru intended to do but obediently went to carry out the task.

After Yin Hong left, Liu Yu Ru sat in the chair, gritting her teeth. Finally, she lowered her head and let her tears flow freely.

It's over.

She knew it clearly.

No matter how much she retaliated, no matter what she did, her life was already ruined.