"Qingyi, listen carefully," the old man said, his voice steady but heavy. "They're calling you back after all these years not out of love, but because they want to use you."
"Use me?" Wu Qingyi blinked in confusion. "Master, how can they use me? What do I have that they could possibly want?" she asked, her voice soft and bewildered.
"They intend to squeeze every advantage they can from your marriage," the old man replied, his tone heavy with warning.
"What is a marriage?" Wu Qingyi asked, her head tilting in innocent confusion.
Only then did it dawn on the old man just how childlike her heart truly was. With a soft sigh, he began to explain what marriage meant, speaking slowly, telling her of its weight and importance.
"Marriage," the old man began slowly, choosing his words with care, "is when you pledge your life to one person, a bond that lasts forever. You must love them, protect them, care for them above all else. It is the most sacred connection you will ever have, more binding than the bond between master and student, deeper than that of parent and child, stronger than the ties of friendship. After marriage, your old family will no longer be your only world. Your partner will become your centre of your world, and his family will become yours. His parents, his grandparents, his brothers and sisters-in-law, even his nephews, they will all be yours to love and respect. But above all, your focus must be on him - your husband, your partner. You must cherish him, care for him, and protect him, for he will be the most important person in your life."
The old man spoke of marriage with such care and patience, weaving his words so that Qingyi would not fear the family that awaited her, so that she would walk into the Wang household with trust in her heart. Yet he never imagined that she would take his counsel so utterly to heart that in time, even the boldest one among the capital would think twice before raising a voice against the Wang family when Qingyi stood to watch. Not even he, her own master, would be exempted from her unwavering vigilance, but that was a story for another time.
Qingyi nodded solemnly, her eyes wide with earnest understanding, and silently swore in her heart to love and protect her husband, the one person who would come to mean more to her than anyone else in the world. Then, as if a sudden thought had struck her, her brow furrowed and she turned to the old man, a question trembling on her lips.
"Master," Qingyi asked, her brow knitting in genuine curiosity, "you said the Liu family wants to take advantage of my marriage, but what's wrong with that? Shouldn't they receive gifts too?" Her voice carried the innocence of someone who could not yet see the shadow behind their intentions.
The old man's voice grew gentle yet firm as he explained, "Qingyi, when a marriage takes place, the groom's family gives betrothal gifts such as money, gold, property to the bride's family. These gifts are meant solely for you, so that in the future, you can use them to support your husband, to help him grow his business and make him happy. But the Liu family, they will not honour this tradition. They will keep the gifts for themselves, leaving your husband impoverished, even as he spends everything to show his love for you. "And it does not end there," he continued, his eyes sharp with warning. "The bride's family is also supposed to give gifts to the groom's family known as dowry, to honour him. But the Liu family will refuse to do so, which is a sign of disrespect to your husband. You must ensure that these gifts, both the betrothal gifts and the dowry, are preserved properly, so that your husband is not wronged, and his honour is kept intact. You must protect him, Qingyi, even from those who claim to be your own family."
The girl clenched her fists tightly, a spark of unwavering resolve shining in her eyes. This simple gesture spoke volumes, not only of her determination to follow the old man's instructions, but also of the storm that was quietly gathering, a storm that would one day bring the Liu family to their knees.
As the old man's mind wandered through memories and lessons long held, then spoke of a few more crucial things, imparting them to Qingyi with care, wisdom and warnings meant to shield her from ever suffering at the hands of the Liu family.
"Remember this, Qingyi," the old man said, his tone grave yet instructive. "Ensure that the betrothal gifts and dowry are handed over in front of the Wang family, so the Liu family cannot later deny or go back on their promises. When you meet the Wang family for the first time as their daughter-in-law, you must present gifts to each member of the family. And above all, never take a life unless it is absolutely necessary. Beyond these mountains, the world is bound by laws and customs, and you must respect them at all times."
Anyone hearing the last instruction would have laughed, thinking the old man mad—worried that such an innocent, delicate girl might take a life? It seemed utterly impossible. Unless, of course, they had ever witnessed the shadow that could gather in her gaze, the dark, unyielding aura that flared in her eyes when she faced a threat, even a bear. Then no one would doubt that Qingyi was capable of far more than her delicate appearance suggested.
Curiosity sparkled in the girl's eyes as she asked her master about her future husband and his family. To keep her from fear or hesitation, the old man described Wang Lingxuan as gentle, innocent, and delicate, his scars a mark of vulnerability rather than danger. Then, with patient care, he unfolded the sprawling branches of the Wang family tree, introducing her to the names, relations, and the legacy of the household she was soon to join.
Comprehending the true nature of her father's family and the sacred weight of marriage, Qingyi resolved that the gifts must go to her husband's family, not her own. Yet the Wang household was vast, with countless members to honour. Determined to show her respect and care, she ventured once more into the heart of the forest the following morning, gathering the finest and most precious gifts she could find for each of them.