Тhe sandаlwооd tаblе’s bronze crаnе-shapеd incensе burnеr rеlеаsеd a wisp оf fragrant smoke. The fliсkеring glow оf red саndlеs сast а hаzу сrimsоn hue uрon the festivе windоw curtаins, woven from thе most eхquisite autumn-sсеntеd brосаdе, with large gоldеn threаds еmbrоiderеd into а mаndarin ducks рlаying in wаter pattеrn—truly a displау оf ovеrwhelming opulеnсе. On а smаll sidе tаblе lаy а flоral trаy, with lоtus seeds аnd lilies аrrаngеd in the shаре оf a peоny, symbolizing wealth аnd nobility. Thе red cаndles burnеd brightlу, illuminating thе wedding chamber.
A woman sat with her head bowed at the edge of the bed, her face veiled by a golden-red bridal veil. Her jade-like delicate hands tightly clutched a love knot as she softly asked, “Ji Lan, what time is it now?”
The maid in a water-blue blouse stepped forward with a smile. “It’s the hour of Xu, Miss. Don’t be anxious; the heir should be arriving soon.” She then covered her mouth and giggled.
“You little rascal, how dare you tease the young lady? Truly, you don’t know your place,” scolded the maid in a peach-colored jacket, her face stern but her eyes brimming with amusement.
“Both of you, keep your voices down,” Mama Chen glanced toward the door. “Now that we’ve entered the prince’s residence, we must be even more careful not to make a single misstep. You girls may speak freely, but don’t bring trouble upon the young lady. Ah, no—we should now call her the heir’s consort.”
“Mama,” Zhuang Hanyan couldn’t bear to listen any longer. Beneath the veil, her lovely face flushed with two rosy clouds. She wanted to say something to stop their teasing but found herself at a loss for words. The thought of the heir’s handsome figure made her so shy she wished she could bury her face in the brocade quilt scattered with lilies and pine nuts.
Wei Rufeng, the heir of Prince Wei—every time she thought of him, a sweet warmth filled her heart. She first saw him at a banquet hosted by Consort Rong. Hanyan seldom ventured out, and it was her first time entering the palace. Yu Shan had pointed from afar to a gentleman among the male guests and told her, “That is Prince Wei.”
He wore a snow-white robe of the simplest style, yet it could not conceal his noble and imposing presence. His gentle eyes turned toward them, and he offered a slight smile.
That smile was one she could never forget.
It was from that moment on that Yu Shan frequently brought her news of Wei Rufeng. As the daughter of another marquis household, Yu Shan was lively by nature and often mingled with ladies and young misses from other families. Among the women’s gatherings, news of the capital’s talented young men inevitably circulated. Yu Shan learned that Prince Wei’s family had fought alongside the late emperor to secure half the empire, their achievements unparalleled. As veterans of two dynasties, they enjoyed deep imperial favor. And Wei Rufeng, the heir of Prince Wei, was a prodigious talent, accomplished in both civil and military arts, with an exceptionally gentle and considerate demeanor.
In the year she came of age, she never expected her stepmother, Madam Zhou, to arrange such an excellent marriage for her—to none other than Prince Wei’s family. The Zhuang family had abandoned military pursuits for scholarly ones starting with her grandfather’s generation, yet they still held a place in the imperial court. The alliance between the Wei and Zhuang families involved matters of the imperial court she did not understand, but the fact that her betrothed was Wei Rufeng alone filled her with such gratitude toward Madam Zhou that she could have wept.
“It was Yu Shan who mentioned to me that the Wei family would make a good match,” Hanyan still remembered Madam Zhou’s words at the time. “After all, she’s an unmarried young lady—how could she be so bold and unashamed?” Though her words were stern, her face was beaming with a smile. Yu Shan, standing nearby, cooed, “I only wanted my sister to marry a good man. Isn’t that a good thing?” Hanyan herself had lowered her head in embarrassment, but her heart felt warm. It was often said that stepmothers were cruel, yet hers genuinely wished for her happiness. Thinking of this deepened her gratitude, and she took the initiative to ask her father to elevate Madam Zhou’s status, making her the official wife.The day had finally arrived. Her beloved was right before her, promising a future of tranquil beauty. If her mother were still alive, she would surely have been comforted.
She had been sitting for who knows how long when a creaking sound broke the silence—the door was pushed open.
Han Yan instinctively lowered her gaze. Beneath the bridal veil, instead of the expected silk boots, she saw a pair of exquisite embroidered shoes. The bright red shoes were adorned with a colorful pattern of a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons. For no reason, her heart suddenly fluttered with unease.
"Why has Third Miss come?" Ji Lan's surprised voice reached her ears.
Yu Shan?
For some reason, Han Yan found herself without the courage to lift her veil. In that moment, she felt an inexplicable palpitation. The nightmare from the night before her wedding resurfaced in her mind. In the dream, the woman marrying Wei Rufeng was Yu Shan. She had frantically lunged forward, only to be met with Yu Shan's cold and mocking gaze. Upon waking, she had forced herself to calm down, chiding herself for letting her imagination run wild. The dream was simply too absurd.
"Fourth Sister." A gentle, feminine voice sounded, yet it lacked its usual innocence and liveliness, carrying instead a hint of chill. "The heir has sent me to deliver wine."
Unable to bear it any longer, Han Yan tore off her veil, ignoring the gasps of Ji Lan and Shu Hong, and stared blankly at the person before her.
Zhuangshan stood there in a phoenix crown and ceremonial robes, her features stunningly beautiful. The bright red wedding dress was even more exquisite than her own, her figure graceful, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.
She had always known Yu Shan was beautiful, but Yu Shan had always worn plain, simple clothes in her presence. Dressed in such vibrant colors, she seemed like a completely different person. Especially the expression in her eyes—it felt utterly unfamiliar.
Yu Shan gazed at her with a slight smile, her voice as melodious as a nightingale's song from a valley. "Sister, do you think I look beautiful in this wedding dress?"
Han Yan's lips moved, but no words came out. Yu Shan covered her mouth and giggled softly. "Look at me, forgetting the main task." With that, she turned around, and the two matrons following her immediately presented a white jade tray. In the center sat a small pot and two wine cups.
"What is this?"
"The heir's gift of wine." Yu Shan picked up the pot and poured a cup for her. "Sister, drink it quickly. If you delay my wedding night with the heir, you will be held accountable."
"What are you saying?" Han Yan felt dizzy. Shu Hong and Ji Lan tried to rush over to support her, but several burly matrons had somehow appeared in the room and quickly pinned them to the ground.
Han Yan was seized by the arm by one of the matrons, her face pale. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"Easier to seek priceless treasure, harder to find a devoted lover. Do you remember that line of poetry, sister?" Yu Shan idly played with the wine cup. "At the lotus appreciation banquet, the heir praised me for that very line."
That wasn't your poem—it was mine! Han Yan wanted to scream, but her mouth was already covered by the matron behind her.
"I forgot, you weren't there that time. You usually prefer to stay in the mansion, embroidering and writing, so of course you wouldn't know about such things." Yu Shan continued, "The heir's affection is for me. However, as a concubine-born daughter, I naturally cannot become the heir's principal wife."
"You probably don't know, sister, how much I've longed for your position as the legitimate daughter—it aches to the very core of my heart. On the wedding night, the legitimate daughter falls gravely ill and passes away, and the sister selflessly takes her place. Doesn't it sound just like a play?" Yu Shan seemed like a different person—someone Han Yan did not recognize. Beautiful yet aggressive, with none of her usual innocence and liveliness. Her presence was overwhelming.Han Yan was gagged and unable to speak, her mind roiling like a stormy sea. Yu Shan had gone mad—what would Father think? What would the heir think? The whole world knew it was Zhuang Hanyan who had married into the Wei Prince’s household. How could they swap her out for Zhuangshan right under everyone’s eyes!
“Sister need not worry about the heir. Shedding blood on the wedding night is inauspicious, so I have already prepared another bridal chamber. The heir knows you lost your purity at twelve when bandits abducted you—he won’t mind. Perhaps you are unaware, but the heir said he only cares that I am happy.”
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