Shangguan Shiyu was the Little Princess of the Shangguan Family. She was well-known throughout all of Yellow Sand City, though her reputation was anything but favorable. In private, the city's residents called the girl a monster. Within the Shangguan Family, the matter of Shangguan Shiyu was an even more forbidden topic.
In the Shangguan Family, privately discussing the powerful Patriarch, Shangguan Tie, would at most earn you a scolding. But if you dared to discuss Shangguan Shiyu, the lightest punishment was expulsion from the family. The heaviest… was to disappear without a trace.
Hearing her name alone, one would surely think she was a delicate beauty. In fact, thirteen-year-old Shangguan Shiyu was indeed shaping up to be a great beauty. Of course, all of this was assuming you ignored the color of her skin.
It was said that the moment Shangguan Shiyu was born, she was a perfectly normal baby—fair, plump, and adorable. But in the instant the midwife picked her up, an eerie blue light rapidly spread across her entire body. The terrified midwife immediately threw Shangguan Shiyu onto the bed and dropped dead on the spot.
This incident lent more credibility to the rumors that Shangguan Shiyu was the reincarnation of a monster. If not for the powerful Patriarch, Shangguan Tie, who fiercely protected the girl, she would have likely been secretly "dealt with" by her terrified clansmen long ago. Even Shangguan Shiyu's own parents couldn't resist the pressure from the entire clan.
All in all, Shangguan Shiyu had a good grandfather.
The blue-skinned little girl, surrounded by countless rumors, grew up slowly within the Shangguan Family. She never once stepped outside the mansion gates. As a well-bred young lady from a great family, Shangguan Shiyu's knowledge was beyond question. No matter what subject she wished to learn, Shangguan Tie would always indulge his granddaughter.
However, Shangguan Shiyu's blue skin frightened away many tutors who came to teach her. Although Shangguan Tie issued a gag order, bad news, as they say, travels fast. The news that the Shangguan Family had a monstrous girl still became the talk of the town.
In the end, left with no other choice, Shangguan Tie issued a strict order to the clan: if anyone was heard mocking Shangguan Shiyu, no matter who they were, they would be severely punished! He would not allow her to suffer even the slightest grievance!
And so, Shangguan Shiyu grew up in this environment. Though her skin was different from others, even she never thought of herself as a demon or a monster.
That was, until a year ago, when Shangguan Shiyu's sixth paternal uncle took a new concubine. The woman, who came from another city and had never heard of Shangguan Shiyu, saw her, and her face filled with terror. She shrieked, "A ghost!"
Because of this incident, Shangguan Tie showed his formidable side. He immediately threw the woman out and warned her not to spread rumors, or she would face consequences she could not bear.
The woman was sent back on the very first day she entered the family. Naturally, her own family was furious and brought a large group of people to the Shangguan Mansion to demand an explanation. The matter inevitably spread. Enraged, Shangguan Tie directly deployed the Shangguan Clan's elite forces and slaughtered every last person who had come demanding justice.
That day, blood flowed like a river before the gates of the Shangguan Mansion.
At the same time, the "monster girl" of the Shangguan Family once again became the most enduring topic of gossip in all of Yellow Sand City.
It was because of this incident that the then twelve-year-old Shangguan Shiyu finally understood her situation. 'So I'm not welcome. And people really do call me a monster.' Having been well-read in the classics from a young age, Shangguan Shiyu certainly understood the meaning of the word "monster." After that, the once lively and cheerful Little Princess of the Shangguan Family disappeared. In her place was a little mute who had almost completely sealed herself off from the world, speaking to no one but her grandfather.
Shangguan Tie saw this and was sick with worry. According to the laws of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom, girls could marry at fourteen and boys at sixteen. Shangguan Shiyu was already thirteen this year. She was fast approaching the age to find a husband, but what great family would be willing to marry her?
In the entire history of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom, spanning hundreds of years, nothing like this had ever happened. Almost everyone, including the vast majority of the Shangguan Clan itself, believed Shangguan Shiyu was an unlucky girl.
Watching Shangguan Shiyu grow older and more beautiful by the day, Shangguan Tie grew increasingly anxious. He came up with the idea of publicly seeking a husband for her. Were there people who wanted to marry Shangguan Shiyu? Not only were there, there were many!
But those men were either far beneath her in status or were solely after the dowry Shangguan Tie was offering. One had to understand, when the Little Princess of the Shangguan Family married, her dowry would be comparable to the entire wealth of a small family! How could people not be tempted?
But what Shangguan Tie wanted was for his precious granddaughter to be happy! 'Marry an illiterate commoner? Would the highly talented and intelligent Shangguan Shiyu find happiness in that? And don't even get me started on those after her fortune. They want to marry my precious granddaughter just to put her on display while they take her dowry to support other women and live a life of leisure? In their dreams!'
Then, the day before yesterday, the Qin Family's Patriarch, Qin Hongyuan, suddenly paid a visit. He actually wanted a share of the Shangguan Family's most profitable transport and restaurant businesses!
'What a joke.' Shangguan Tie subconsciously wanted to refuse Qin Hongyuan. He wasn't the least bit afraid of the Qin Family. In terms of financial power, although the Shangguan, Fang, and Qin Families were known as the three great families of Yellow Sand City, many knew that the Fang and Qin Families combined might not be as wealthy as the Shangguan Family alone.
In terms of influence, setting aside how many powerful experts the 500-year-old Shangguan Clan possessed, the mere fact that Shangguan Tie's second daughter was the Emperor's most favored Consort was enough to make them an existence the Qin Family could never hope to challenge.
Just as the refusal was about to leave his lips, a flash of inspiration struck Shangguan Tie. He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. Glancing at Qin Hongyuan's awkward expression, Shangguan Tie suddenly asked, "Your younger daughter, Han Yue... doesn't she have an illegitimate son?"
The moment Shangguan Tie asked this, Qin Hongyuan's face flushed red with shame and anger. This matter, much like the one concerning Shangguan Shiyu, was impossible to hide. But as the distinguished Patriarch of the Qin Family in Yellow Sand City, who other than the man before him would dare to ask such a question to his face? Qin Hongyuan would have fought anyone else to the death for it.
But Qin Hongyuan was also an old fox. Though deeply embarrassed, he noticed that Shangguan Tie hadn't rejected him outright. To be honest, Qin Hongyuan hadn't been very confident about getting a piece of those two businesses. He had only come to try his luck, banking on their many years of friendship.
Hearing this, Qin Hongyuan nodded with a bitter smile and said, "That matter has also become the talk of the town! Sigh, what a disgrace! Tie, it's shameful to admit, but it's all my fault for failing to raise my daughter properly. I've made a fool of myself in front of you."
Shangguan Tie rejoiced internally. 'It seems this old codger really doesn't know who the boy's father is. Excellent!' With this thought, he shook his head. "Hongyuan, we've known each other since childhood and studied together at the same academy. All told, we've known each other for nearly eighty years! How could I possibly laugh at you? Sigh, you're not unaware of my family's troubles. You have your worries, my friend, but do you think I don't have mine?"
Qin Hongyuan's heart skipped a beat. At first, he found it incredible, but that was quickly followed by sheer ecstasy. He looked at Shangguan Tie and asked in a trembling voice, "Could it be... are you thinking of...?"
Shangguan Tie nodded slightly and sighed. "They are two star-crossed children. If they could truly be together, it wouldn't be a bad thing at all. When the time comes, we can have them live in the Imperial Capital, far away from the gossip here. What do you think?"
"Yes! Yes! That's wonderful!" Qin Hongyuan hurriedly agreed.
This was simply a godsend. Years of self-cultivation allowed Qin Hongyuan to barely control his emotions, but he couldn't stop a flicker of triumph from showing in his eyes.
What puzzled Qin Hongyuan somewhat was that as they parted, he distinctly saw a flicker of triumph in Shangguan Tie's eyes as well, which left him very confused. He couldn't be bothered to think about it, though. Regardless of the reason, the deal was done. The Qin Family would get a share of the transport and restaurant businesses—a deal that would affect the Qin Family's future fortunes!
Watching Qin Hongyuan's retreating back, Shangguan Tie couldn't help but take a deep breath and sneer inwardly. He knew very well what kind of life Qin Hanyue and her son had been living in the Qin Family. 'Old Qin,' he thought, 'a day will come when you regret this!'
Shangguan Tie's thoughts couldn't help but drift back to a pleasant, sunny afternoon fourteen years ago.