Qin Yuan saw her father in deep thought, knowing he had been moved.
Sure enough, her father decided, "Tomorrow we'll open the ancestral hall and register Yuan'er under the Madam's name. I'll grit my teeth and negotiate with the Gu Mansion."
Her stepmother looked displeased but knew he couldn't let go of the good marriage with the Dingbei Marquis and held back to avoid spoiling the plan.
Qin Heng snorted disdainfully.
Qin Yuan paid no mind, taking her maids to retreat, returning to her own courtyard.
Hong Ye was furious, "Master's heart is truly biased toward the armpit. Couldn't he just marry the second Miss far away? Why insist on ruining Miss's marriage?"
Cui Ming was terribly worried, "Miss wasted so much effort on Mr. Lin. We don't know who Matchmaker linked Miss's red line with."
Qin Yuan slowly washed off the white powder, revealing a face like lotus.
It had been a long time since she saw herself look so good.
Being reborn, such hectic and oppressive days would be left to Qin Wan.
She hummed slowly, "It would be with the Dingbei Marquis."
The two maids dared not believe.
Dingbei Marquis Gu Jinghui was victorious in battle, favored by the Emperor. His attention towards Qin Wan was due to Old Madam Gu thinking the Gu Mansion had been through generations of war, living quite bitterly, seeking a daughter from a scholarly family for a change.
The second Miss Qin Wan was a legitimate daughter; her birth mother Mrs. Cui was a secondary branch of the noble Qinghe Cui Family, with her father being the Sacrificial Officer at the Imperial College, having many students. Although the two family statuses were vastly different, this marriage was settled.
As for the eldest Miss Qin Yuan, her birth mother Chen was a good concubine, her ancestors being Imperial Physicians, demoted to civilians due to an offense. Chen's dowry was thin, leaving not much when passed to her.
In any consideration, the Dingbei Marquis would not settle a marriage with the eldest Miss.
Qin Yuan calmly ate and slept as usual.
But Hong Ye and Cui Ming worried greatly, inquiring news everywhere, which Qin Yuan noticed but ignored.
The next day, Qin Yuan was entered into the family registry, listed under her stepmother Mrs. Cui.
Lin Ziqi arrived with a letter to withdraw the marriage, then exchanged tokens with Qin Wan.
Qin Yuan avoided suspicion, not going to the front hall, and rested in the pavilion with a round fan.
The Capital City was precious land; the Qin Mansion wasn't large, performing rituals in a shell as small as a snail's. Unwilling to stay in the cramped and simple boudoir, she chose to repose in the pavilion to enjoy the breeze.
She hadn't sat for long before Lin Ziqi found her, speaking longingly, "I knew you would be here, Yuan'er."
Qin Yuan partially covered her face with the fan, brows slightly furrowed, scrutinized this husband from her former life.
Lin Ziqi had yet to gain weight, his face lean. Perhaps due to coming for the betrothal, he wore a newly made blue robe, making him look elegant and refined.
Qin Yuan asked seriously in a stern tone, "Mr. Lin, what do you want?"
Lin Ziqi was already engaged to Qin Wan; she had to avoid suspicion.
Luckily, she had been very careful when interacting with Lin Ziqi years ago, only sending items like charcoal, soup, and snacks, meeting frequently in the Qin Mansion without passing through letters. She had helped him transcribe essays, but that gave no solid proof to others.
Seeing Qin Yuan's evasive demeanor, Lin Ziqi withdrew his outstretched hand and sighed, "Yuan'er, I... I had no choice. Please, don't blame me."
After over a decade as a couple, Qin Yuan naturally knew what kind of person Lin Ziqi was.
Qin Wan wanted to marry him. Lin Ziqi didn't hesitate since Qin Wan was a legitimate daughter, with the Qinghe Cui Family being noble, wealthy.
She had been able to approach him and obtain the marriage agreement because Qin Wan had disdained him.
Otherwise, how could her stepmother let her devise meticulously for herself?
Qin Yuan gently spoke behind the fan, "Mr. Lin, please be careful with your words. You're my brother-in-law now, and past matters need not be mentioned."
She was going to leave but was stopped by Lin Ziqi.
"Mr. Lin, please behave yourself."
Qin Yuan wanted to go, but Qin Wan hurriedly entered, displeased, speaking cynically, "Oh! Sister is here. I wonder what you and Brother Lin were discussing that my sister might hear it?"
Saying this, she tugged on Lin Ziqi's sleeve.
Qin Yuan stopped walking and put down the fan, unveiling a charming face, laughing lightly, "What worries you? No one can take what's yours. Mr. Lin was just apologizing to me and now he's my brother-in-law. I've read books, knowing moral integrity. Why would I take a brother-in-law?"
Having taken her sister's fiancé, Qin Wan was too ashamed and angry to speak.
"I won't disturb you two any longer. Goodbye."
Qin Yuan gracefully exited.
Behind her, Lin Ziqi's gaze followed closely, making her uncomfortable.
Soon, Qin Wan's sweet voice was heard, "Brother Lin, Sister is about to marry into the Dingbei Marquis Mansion. Her eyes won't have you and me, only I have true affection for you, choosing to be with you despite being able to have such a good marriage."
Wonderful!
Qin Yuan gripped the fan tightly.
Yesterday Qin Wan fell into the water, proving she had conspired with Lin Ziqi in advance.
Qin Wan, that malicious fool.
For the sake of swapping marriage arrangements with her, she disregarded her and Qin Family's reputation, henceforth she would suffer.
Watching Qin Yuan's graceful figure disappear at the second gate, Lin Ziqi felt a sense of loss, lowered his head, asking Lu Wan, "Is your sister really marrying into the Dingbei Marquis Mansion?"
Qin Wan spoke confidently, "Since I'm not marrying into the Dingbei Marquis Mansion, naturally my sister will marry into it."
Lin Ziqi didn't quite understand his own feelings, smiling, "Did Dingbei Marquis indeed decide to marry a Qin Family's daughter? Qin Yuan and you have different standings."
Such words easily lifted Qin Wan's mood, making her previous concern vanish as she laughed, "My mother feels guilty due to us, fearing her future marriages will be poor, and decided to register her under our name as the legitimate daughter."
"Mrs. Qin is truly kind-hearted, treating your sister like this. Surely you'll be a magnanimous wife in the future."
"Naturally, Brother Lin, you're destined for great deeds, and for sure I'll be your supportive wife."
Lin Ziqi beamed with joy.
He didn't understand why, when Qin Wan, who usually has high expectations, suddenly developed deep affection for him with tender words, but indeed the marriage was extremely favorable.
A few days later, Qin Yuan's marriage was also settled. As Qin Wan said, it was indeed the Dingbei Marquis Mansion.
Hong Ye was delighted, urging Qin Yuan to change clothes, busying to comb her hair.
"I never thought our Miss would have such wonderful fortune."
Cui Ming added, "This time, Heaven sided with Miss. Surely Matchmaker heard this servant's prayers."
They were joyful for their mistress having a good match, Qin Yuan laughed, "Going to the Marquis Mansion, you'll rise in status too, maybe their monthly stipend is two taels more than ours."
The two maids were overjoyed, supporting Qin Yuan to the front hall.
Seeing her arrive, her stepmother Mrs. Cui warmly held her hand, saying, "Yuan'er is truly fortunate. Once you marry over, you'll be Madam, and the Marquis is nearly a full cycle older; he'll let you have your way. Remember your family afterward."
Qin Yuan simply blushed, smiled silently, as the father seated at the head was beaming, pleased with such a good marriage.
"Letters have been sent back home, and once the clan head receives them, they'll amend your genealogy."
Once the genealogy was amended, she would be a true legitimate daughter.
Qin Yuan immediately curtsied, saying, "Thank you, Father, thank you, Mother."
"You're my daughter, naturally I should consider thoroughly for you."
"Your dowry will be prepared according to a legitimate daughter's share, and Aunt Chen's dowry will be handed over to you. Your mother prepared a separate one for you as well."
Qin Jijiu ecstatically watched his obedient elder daughter agreeing one by one, suddenly feeling this marriage was truly better for her than for his second daughter.