"If you weren't so foolish, how could you have listened to Zhu'er so obediently? She told you not to show your true face to others, so you wore a veiled hat. She even let it be known outside that she was Jiang Wan. All of this was arranged long ago—just for today."
Hearing this, Jiang Wan's blood surged. With a "pfft," she spat out a mouthful of black blood. As if exhausting all her strength, her eyes turned scarlet, her voice hoarse.
"On my wedding day, on the bridal night—married to the wrong villain, trusting the wrong family. I gave my deepest affection, yet was cast aside like worn shoes. If Heaven has eyes and allows me to live again, I will repay the humiliation of this life!"
Shen Quan looked at the dying Jiang Wan with a mocking expression.
"Then I'll send you on your way so you can seek revenge in the next life."
As his words fell, Shen Quan drew the sword placed in the rear hall, removed its sheath, and thrust it straight toward Jiang Wan's eyes without a trace of hesitation.
"Ah—!"
The sudden pain made Jiang Wan scream uncontrollably. Having lost her eyes, she only felt numb emptiness in her sockets, as if warm blood were sliding down her cheeks.
Xi Tao and Xi Guo, standing outside the door, heard Jiang Wan's惨叫 and sensed something was terribly wrong. They pushed the door open—and the scene before them frightened them out of their wits. They saw drops of blood falling from the tip of Shen Quan's sword, Jiang Wan curled on the ground in unbearable agony, her expression twisted with pain. The two eyeballs that should have been in her sockets lay on the floor, staring lifelessly at Shen Quan.
Xi Tao and Xi Guo cried out in unison, "No! Don't kill Miss!"
Xi Tao rushed over to check Jiang Wan's injuries, but Shen Quan struck with a single fatal blow, and she collapsed beside Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan heard Xi Tao and Xi Guo's voices and felt someone fall next to her, but she could not see. At that moment, Jiang Wan was filled with hatred and terror—terrified that Shen Quan would harm Xi Tao and Xi Guo. Following the direction of the sound, she struggled to crawl and fumble forward.
"Who is it? Xi Tao? Xi Guo? Run—quickly!"
Seeing Xi Tao killed and her young miss reduced to this state, Xi Guo's eyes turned blood-red as she shouted angrily,
"You sanctimonious hypocrite! My miss gave you her whole heart, yet you killed Xi Tao—I will make you pay with your life!"
Xi Guo pulled a silver hairpin from her head and lunged at Shen Quan. Shen Quan looked at her with contempt, slightly raised his eyes, and with a single swing of his sword slit Xi Guo's throat.
Jiang Wan felt Xi Guo's blood spray across her face, and she completely collapsed, screaming hysterically,
"No—don't!"
Shen Quan looked at Xi Tao and Xi Guo as if they were ants, and even the way he looked at Jiang Wan was like gazing at a lifeless object.
"Since you can't bear to part with them, go accompany your maids."
And just like that, Jiang Wan died on her bridal night.
Countless memories flashed vividly through Jiang Wan's mind. The intense pain in her head forced her to stop recalling, but thinking of all this, her heart felt like a violent storm sweeping across the sea, stirring monstrous waves of hatred.
After Xi Tao returned from changing clothes, seeing that her young miss looked unwell and had remained silent for so long, she thought Jiang Wan still couldn't let go of Shen Quan. But remembering that Xi Guo was still in the Tea Pavilion Hall, she hurried to urge her.
"Miss, let's go quickly. We can't keep the eunuch from the palace waiting. If Miss is reluctant about Prince Shen, you can consider it after giving thanks for the decree."
Jiang Wan withdrew her thoughts and said with a serious expression,
"Xi Tao, help me dress up. We'll go receive the decree and express gratitude."
Jiang Wan's features were exquisite, her face delicate, her eyes alluring and spirited. With her long eyelashes, graceful figure, and naturally pink lips without rouge, every frown and smile seemed capable of stealing one's soul.
Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Jiang Wan silently vowed in her heart:
"If no one loves me, I will love myself. Heaven has not deceived me—I will not fail the meaning of this rebirth. From now on, in this lifetime, no matter when, no matter where, no matter who stands beside me, I, Jiang Wan, will never fail myself."
The dark clouds gradually dispersed, the rain ceased, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining upon Jiang Wan's face—like a special favor from the sun. She straightened her back and walked toward the Tea Pavilion Hall.
There she saw a graceful woman dressed in splendid attire, her hair adorned with gold and silver ornaments—Jiang Wan's stepmother, Madam Liu, Liu Huiyi.
"So you finally decided to come? You made Eunuch Sun wait this long—do you not take the Emperor seriously? Is this how your father and I have taught you? Hurry and apologize to the Emperor and Eunuch Sun!"
Looking at the faces in the room, Jiang Wan felt extreme disgust, yet on the surface she remained calm. She did not rush to respond to Madam Liu, but first stepped forward and greeted them properly.
"Wan'er greets Father and Mother, greets Eunuch Sun."
After hearing Madam Liu's words, Eunuch Sun became even more displeased with Jiang Wan.
"This servant greets Eldest Miss Jiang."
The word "eldest" was emphasized heavily. Jiang Wan took in Eunuch Sun's dissatisfied expression but remained composed.
"Eunuch has traveled far and waited long—it is this daughter's fault. As Mother said, to disregard the Emperor and Eunuch would be a crime deserving ten thousand deaths. However, knowing Eunuch came with the sacred decree, I dared not appear in disheveled attire and neglect etiquette in receiving imperial grace. I hope Eunuch will not take offense. This daughter has prepared some tea money to ease Eunuch's fatigue—please accept it with a smile."
Xi Tao stepped forward and presented a pouch so full of gold leaves that it could barely be tied shut.
Eunuch Sun glanced at it, joy flickering in his eyes. The corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably, and his hands moved quickly to slip the pouch into his long sleeve.
"Eldest Miss is so understanding of propriety that this old servant feels ashamed. Today I have come to deliver the Emperor's decree—everyone kneel and receive the edict."
Everyone in the room knelt in unison.
"Long live His Majesty, long live, long long live!"
Eunuch Sun's sharp voice rang out as if splitting the sky:
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Jiang Wan, the Prime Minister's legitimate daughter—dignified and virtuous, graceful in appearance and wise in heart, both talented and moral, now at the prime of youth—is hereby betrothed to Grand General Gu Chen. The wedding shall be held on the second day of next month. May the two spend their lives together, view the mountains and rivers side by side, bloom as twin flowers, harmonize like phoenix and luan, and thus not fail the Emperor's gracious intention. Respect this!"
All replied together:
"Grateful for His Majesty's grace—this servant, this daughter, receives the decree!"
Eunuch Sun cupped his hands and bowed.
"The imperial order has been delivered. I shall not linger—farewell."
After everyone bowed him out, Madam Liu's gaze turned toward Jiang Wan like a venomous snake.
"Though Eunuch Sun does not blame you, if your father and I do not punish you, outsiders will say the Prime Minister's legitimate daughter knows no etiquette—what rules would remain in this household? If the master errs, it must be because the maid failed in guidance. Someone come—find a broker and sell Xi Guo as a warning!"
Hearing that Xi Guo was to be sold, Jiang Wan's eyes flashed with a chilling cold.
"Stop. Mother's words confuse me. Eunuch Sun came with the imperial decree, representing His Majesty himself. As head of the inner court, Eunuch Sun knows all etiquette best. He praised Wan'er for understanding propriety, yet Mother claims Wan'er knows none—such contradiction is puzzling. Moreover, a child's nature is shaped by father's governance and mother's teaching. If Wan'er is at fault, what has it to do with a mere maid?"
Madam Liu had not expected the usually obedient Jiang Wan to seem like a different person today. Yet her words left no room for rebuttal. Madam Liu's heart pounded with anger, but she put on a wronged expression, her voice tinged with tears.
"You… you unfilial girl! My lord, you must seek justice for me!"
It was originally Jiang Wan's fault, yet she had used money to please Eunuch Sun, invoked the Emperor, and delivered a flawless argument. There was truly no reason to sell a maid. After pondering, Jiang Father's expression darkened.
At this moment, Jiang Nianzhu, who had remained silent, spoke up upon seeing the situation.
"Father, Mother, what Sister said is not unreasonable. Mother wished to sell Xi Guo only for the sake of the household's rules and dignity. Both you and Sister have good intentions and are not wrong—please do not let this cause estrangement. Sister's bestowed marriage is a joyous occasion, the household should be lively, yet the scene before us makes Zhu'er feel uneasy."