Chapter 9: Matters of Marriage, I Obey My Mother

Although men and women were seated separately today, the crowd was large. To save space, curtains were used to separate the tables. Shen Yuan’s seat was right beside one of these curtains, and on the other side sat Pei Ji, who could see her at a glance.

“I think this spot is perfect. The banquet is about to begin; Lady Shen, please take your seat,” Pei Ji said.

Shen Yong declined courteously, and Shen Yuan did not press the matter, instead turning to invite other guests to sit. Nearby, music began to play on the Shuiyun Stage, and graceful dancers appeared, captivating the audience.

But Shen Yuan’s mind was elsewhere. She felt a scorching, piercing gaze from behind the curtain. After a brief silence, preparing to excuse herself due to discomfort and return to Qiushui Garden, Chen, smiling, looked up and gestured toward her, introducing her to a lady beside her: “That is A-Yuan. When she was little, she often played at your residence—do you remember?”

The elegant lady smiled fondly at Shen Yuan, now grown into a young woman, nodding with satisfaction.

Reluctantly, Shen Yuan rose to bow, then sat back down, already guessing what Chen and the lady would discuss next.

“A-Yuan just returned to the capital and is still unfamiliar with many things. Recently, she asked me why Brother Chengyuan wasn’t around. Those two grew up together and share a bond deeper than ours as mothers. Now that she’s finally back, she thinks of him constantly!”

Chen’s smile was radiant, but Shen Yuan lowered her gaze silently.

The lady beside Chen was Wang, mother of Lu Chengyuan, the chief royal craftsman. Those astute enough could read between the lines.

Wang’s expression softened at the mention of her son. Quietly, she said, “Perhaps A-Yuan doesn’t yet know what happened to Chengyuan... If she agrees, as a mother, I would wholeheartedly support it.”

Years ago, when Lu Chengyuan was overseeing the repairs to the royal ancestral hall, workers under his command cut corners, causing the hall to collapse during a ritual. The Sixth Prince was trapped beneath a beam and bled to death. The emperor was furious, punishing Lu Chengyuan, but spared his life due to his rare skills.

Though the Lu family was fortunate to keep their name, Chengyuan’s future was forever altered.

Shen Wannian heard Chen and Wang’s words and understood their intention: they wanted Shen Yuan to marry Lu Chengyuan.

Her eyes gleamed with a hint of pride, as if already mocking Shen Yuan’s fate.

“There’s no objection, right, A-Yuan?” Chen pressed urgently, eager for an answer despite the presence of others.

Shen Yuan barely remembered Lu Chengyuan’s appearance. She had no special demands about marriage—just enough to eat, clothes to keep warm, and no abuse.

“On matters of marriage, I will follow my mother’s wishes,” she said softly, her tone gentle yet distant, just like herself.

Seeing no opposition, Chen smiled but her eyes betrayed a trace of guilt. Finding a match of equal standing for A-Yuan would invite gossip. Lu Chengyuan was a good man; if the two lived well together, it wouldn’t be impossible.

Shen Yuan quickly caught the fleeting emotion in Chen’s gaze. She knew the thoughts of everyone in the Shen household.

So, a quick marriage to escape their prejudice seemed acceptable.

“Crash!”

“Commander Pei, what’s wrong?”

A wine cup shattered on the floor, fragrant wine soaking into Pei Ji’s sleeve. He bent instinctively to retrieve it; the cool cup felt lifeless in his hand—cold as his heart, utterly indifferent.

Wiping the dampness from his sleeve, he wore a composed, faint smile. “Nothing.”

The dancers left the stage, and a troupe of performers entertained the crowd, earning cheers.

Gu Furong disliked such fire-ring tricks and pleaded with Shen Wannian to perform her signature Rainbow Dress Dance.

Shen Wannian blushed slightly but shook her head.

Chen looked on affectionately, laughing softly: “You’ve practiced the Rainbow Dress Dance for so long; you can’t hide indoors every day. With Commander Pei here, why be shy?”

Other ladies at the table nodded in agreement.

“Then I shall do my best,” Shen Wannian said, rising to prepare.

Wang watched her leave with a smile, praising, “Wannian is clever; her dancing shows real skill. She’s grown so gentle and poised—unlike the pitiful girl she was when she first came back.”

Whenever Chen thought of how pitiful Shen Wannian looked upon her return, she would tear up. Thankfully, those days were behind them.

Still wary that Wang might favor Wannian for Lu Chengyuan, Chen quickly added with a smile, “Wannian is not clever enough to compare to A-Yuan. You know, A-Yuan has always been smart—you even praised her!”

Chen recalled the frostbitten hands Wannian had when they first met. After all she had suffered those years, she would never allow her to be wronged again!

Regardless of Wang’s thoughts, only A-Yuan was fit to marry Lu Chengyuan; they were a perfect match.

As a melodious tune began, Shen Wannian took the stage in her dance costume, moving with the lightness of a swallow and graceful limbs.

All eyes followed her.

Shen Yuan watched silently, her calm demeanor masking the storm within—a tangled mix of emotions, hatred blossoming in her gaze.

She did not envy Shen Wannian’s return to the Shen household. Shen Yong and Chen’s joy at finding their biological daughter was genuine.

But Shen Wannian should never have caused the Jiang family to suffer until death, all to block her homecoming!

Those were her kin, kind to her though unrelated by blood.

All perished two winters ago in a raging fire, their bodies reduced to ashes.

The bone-deep memory resurfaced before her eyes.

Red rimmed, Shen Yuan’s gaze darkened with suppressed fury.

The dance ended.

Shen Wannian, slightly breathless, blushed like a lantern, her eyes unconsciously searching the men’s side.

But she froze.

If she was not mistaken, Pei Ji’s attention was not on her but quietly fixed on Shen Yuan across the curtain.

Frowning fiercely, Shen Wannian’s face twisted with rage.

Yet soon, she found a way to humiliate Shen Yuan.

“Wannian’s dancing is unrefined; I apologize to the elders for the poor performance! My younger sister Shen Yuan has been taught by a master and is skilled in the zither. Please, everyone, honor us by listening!”

The voice from the Shuiyun Stage made Shen Yong’s face pale and flush in turns.

He valued his reputation highly and wondered when obedient Wannian learned to speak so brazenly.

What was the difference between her and the courtesans who performed for coin?

Surely, Shen Yuan must have corrupted her—yes, that was it!

Only Shen Yuan had stayed outside for so many years, unreasonable and unruly.

Shen Wannian returned to the table, seeing Shen Yuan unmoved, confident she knew nothing.

Not music, not even the zither—she had never seen one outside.

“Mother, did I say something wrong? I only wanted to introduce my sister to the elders to help with her marriage prospects. If she can’t play the zither, I... I will apologize to everyone at once!”

Still flushed from dancing, Shen Wannian’s pitiful words moved Chen, who turned to Shen Yuan and asked, “A-Yuan, you used to play the zither. Since Wannian meant to introduce you before the elders, how could you refuse her kindness?”