Volume One Chapter One The Pitiful Girl Takes Her Elder Sister’s Place in the Bridal Chamber

Early spring’s chill lingered in the air; the willow trees had yet to sprout new buds, and a thin layer of ice had formed on the pond in the Yun family’s rear garden, making the murkiness below even harder to discern. Long ago, someone had died in that pond, and now the servants avoided it whenever possible.

Beside the pond stood a small, dilapidated courtyard. Wild grass grew unchecked at the entrance, now reduced to heaps of withered stalks strewn in the corners.

Hong Ying, a servant girl, carried a tray and carefully pushed open the courtyard door. The wooden boards groaned under the strain, letting out a pitiable creak.

“Miss, here’s today’s medicine.”

She entered the room, sniffled her reddened nose, and gently set the tray down on a cracked table. The surface trembled at her touch, shedding wood shavings that floated down onto a pair of slender, delicate hands reaching out for the medicine.

Tracing those hands upward, one saw a young woman seated by the table, her beauty indescribable—a rosebud mouth, a delicate nose, skin like flawless jade. Even in plain attire, her breathtaking face could not be hidden.

Hong Ying watched as her mistress calmly drank the bowl of dark, bitter decoction. Her eyes rimmed red with tears. “The Madam and the eldest Miss will surely be struck by lightning for doing such heartless things!”

“Today you’re to go to the Marquis’s estate, yet they keep you locked here and offer not the slightest comfort. In this freezing weather, I’m not even allowed to fetch some coal for you. They’re deliberately tormenting you, aren’t they…”

Her words faltered with emotion, tears brimming. “And to force those harsh medicines upon you, just so you’ll resemble the eldest Miss… as if you were— as if you were—!”

“If not for the eldest Miss—”

“What are you saying?” Hong Ying’s outcry was abruptly cut short. Both mistress and servant looked up to find Madam Li, the trusted maid of the house’s mistress, standing at the door. Hong Ying fell silent at once, her lips pursed in defiance.

Madam Li shot her a glare, then addressed Yun Xi, “Third Miss, as usual—it’s time for the inspection.”

Yun Xi’s hands tightened around her sash; the ill-fitting dress only accentuated her frailty. Hong Ying, bristling with anger, her pale face flushed, protested, “Madam Li, what is the meaning of this? Our Miss is leaving today, why the need for another examination?”

At her words, Hong Ying saw Madam Li’s wrinkled face turn cold. The old woman stepped forward, intent on slapping the insolent girl, but a delicate figure suddenly blocked her way.

Yun Xi shielded Hong Ying behind her, a cold smile on her lips.

“It’s all right, Hong Ying.” Yun Xi gripped her hand, her gaze steady on Madam Li as her reddened fingers slowly undid her sash.

“If the Madam is uneasy, you can hardly blame the Miss. Besides, this inspection is nothing new,” Madam Li sneered at Hong Ying and pushed Yun Xi onto the bed.

The young woman on the bed clenched her fists, palms down, shoulders trembling with each touch—like a broken butterfly caught in a storm.

“Good, your body has filled out well. There’s little difference now between you and the eldest Miss. You may get up, Third Miss.”

Once, this Third Miss had been as thin as a bean sprout. Now, after months of force-fed tonics and enforced beauty regimens, her figure was supple, her skin lustrous.

“So long as you obey and conceive quickly, Chen Mama can soon be reunited with you, can she not?”

“And don’t forget to keep studying those manuals the Madam sent. Don’t disappoint her kindness.”

With these contemptuous words, Madam Li allowed Yun Xi to pull the blanket over herself and hurried them to get ready—they were to see the Madam at once.

“Hong Ying, help me… bring my clothes.”

When Madam Li left, Yun Xi, her voice hoarse, called for her garments. As Hong Ying handed them over, tears finally fell, unable to bear the humiliation her lady suffered.

The Third Miss was born of a concubine. Since her mother’s early death, she had been left alone in the mansion, cared for only by Chen Mama and Hong Ying. Over the years, they had endured countless hardships.

By contrast, the legitimate daughter, Yun Xiang, had been pampered from birth. When the Yun family was still prosperous, the old master had personally arranged a childhood betrothal with the Marquis’s grandson. The day the eldest Miss came of age, she was to marry into the Marquis’s household—a match that drew envy from all.

Yet on the year of the eldest Miss’s coming of age, the old marquis died, and the wedding was delayed for three years, only to be held now.

None of this should have concerned Yun Xi, but recently, the Madam found an excuse to imprison Chen Mama and summoned Yun Xi, declaring she would accompany the wedding party to the Marquis’s estate—to bear a child in the eldest Miss’s place.

Hong Ying had been by her side, quaking with rage, but with Chen Mama held as leverage, Yun Xi had no choice but to agree.

These days, the Madam kept Yun Xi confined under the pretext that a bride should not be seen before her wedding, dosing her daily with nourishing tonics and beauty elixirs, treating her as if she were nothing more than a brothel girl. The Madam, perhaps driven mad by something, sent Madam Li every day for humiliating inspections; and under this pretense, Madam Li took every opportunity to torment the Third Miss, subjecting her to shame no proper young lady should endure.

Yun Xi dressed in silence, her expression unreadable. If the Madam saw her thus, she would surely mock her for looking like a “sickly beauty.”

Hong Ying was still wiping her tears when Madam Li returned, summoning Yun Xi to face the Madam.

Yun Xi pressed Hong Ying’s hand down and answered quietly, a glint of cold determination in her eyes.

“Greetings, Mother.”

As soon as she spoke, a harsh and disdainful gaze fell upon her. “Rise.”

Looking up, Yun Xi saw Lady He—the Madam—seated at the high table, idly stirring her tea, not sparing even a glance for her.

“Have you remembered all that I instructed?” Lady He sipped her tea, the leaves swirling listlessly in the cup.

“Yes,” Yun Xi replied meekly, her lowered gaze the picture of obedience.

“When you arrive at the Marquis’s estate, dismiss any foolish notions. Do not forget—Chen Mama is still in my hands.” Lady He set her teacup down with a sharp clang.

“And study well the manuals I’ve given you. Serve the young master properly. Once you bear the Marquis’s first son, I will release Chen Mama.”

“On your wedding night, you must not give yourself away. Madam Li will be watching you.”

Of course.

She would not let anything slip.

Yun Xi bowed her head, her thoughts hidden from view.

Red wedding banners, endless feasting—on this day, the Yun household bustled with activity. The servants hurried to and fro, and every guest envied the Yun family’s good fortune in securing such an illustrious match.

The bridal procession stretched like a long dragon from the Yun estate—carrying the bride to the sedan chair, scattering wedding sweets, accompanied by drums and gongs—an affair of grand celebration.