South Sheng Su felt as if a pair of big hands were clutching her heart and pulling it out of her chest. The intense pain jolted her awake.
Wiping the cold sweat from her temples, South Sheng closed her eyes to calm her breathing, waiting for the next wave of pain. But the anticipated pain never came.
South Sheng was puzzled. Subconsciously, she turned her head and saw a clean and tidy bed curtain.
South Sheng sensed something was off, but she didn't have time to dwell on it because she noticed that her broken leg was lifted!
After a moment of stunned silence, South Sheng gave a bleak smile. This situation was probably what people called a sudden rally before death.
Just as she was thinking this, there was a sudden noise outside.
"I wonder if A Sheng is feeling better. It's a pity we couldn't form an alliance with the Marquis of Anshun's Mansion."
South Sheng frowned. It was her mother's voice, but wasn't she already dead?
"A scholar has his own integrity. There's nothing to be sorry about."
The woman's tone was calm and ethereal, as if it came through cotton.
But that light voice instantly made South Sheng's eyes redden, and the veins on her temples bulged like wriggling snakes.
It was her own older sister, Harmony Joy Su.
The one who framed her for poisoning and broke her leg.
South Sheng angrily raised her head and found the layout of the room extremely familiar.
Wait, this was her boudoir before she got married!
In a split second, an idea struck South Sheng. Her almond eyes widened in disbelief.
Could it be that she had been reborn? Reborn at the age of sixteen, the year when her life took a drastic turn.
This year, the Marquis of Anshun's Mansion sent someone to propose marriage, wanting South Sheng to marry He Xun, the eldest son of the marquis, as a concubine.
Before South Sheng could express her opinion, the usually gentle Harmony Joy declined the marriage on her behalf.
"Although the Marquis's Mansion is noble, our Su family has its own integrity. How can we bear to be concubines?"
Harmony Joy's expression at that time was cold and proud, which made South Sheng admire her.
But this high - minded Harmony Joy turned around and married He Jin, the second son of the marquis, as his wife.
She even asked South Sheng to be her dowry maid in the name of taking care of her, even though South Sheng was a legitimate daughter of the Su Mansion!
The stinging pain in her palm and the rustling sound outside brought South Sheng back to reality.
"Mother."
South Sheng spoke, her voice hoarse.
Deng immediately entered the inner room, looking delighted. "You're finally awake."
Harmony Joy followed and came in with a calm expression.
She was wearing a moon - white silk dress, with a snow - colored silk shawl around her shoulders. Her hair was coiled in a flying fairy bun, and there was only a simple bamboo - style jade hairpin in it. She looked noble and elegant.
South Sheng glanced at Harmony Joy and then lowered her eyes.
"Mother, I want to marry He Xun."
"What? But your sister didn't want you to be a concubine, and I've already rejected the matchmaker." Deng looked embarrassed.
South Sheng sighed softly. No wonder her father was disliked by the emperor. At his age, he still couldn't see things clearly.
Not long ago, her father was demoted and was going to be an official in Fangzhou. He would leave the capital for his post in less than three months.
So her father wanted to arrange their marriages before leaving the capital. In this way, they wouldn't have to go to Fangzhou to suffer, and the family could also maintain connections in the capital.
But everyone knew that her father was demoted because he offended the emperor. Who would dare to form an alliance with their family at this time?
So, even though the news had been out for more than a month, no matchmaker came to the door.
Finally, the Marquis of Anshun's Mansion proposed marriage, but Harmony Joy rejected it, and her father actually agreed?
South Sheng closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Gritting her teeth, she said,
"Then go find the matchmaker again. She also hopes this marriage can be arranged, so she will surely go to the Marquis's Mansion to mediate."
Deng hesitated.
"It's not good to go back on our words. I have to discuss this with your father first."
"There's no need to discuss. Mother, have you forgotten why father wants us to get engaged?
Even if I'm just a concubine, I'm still a concubine of the eldest son of the Marquis's Mansion. I'll have more influence than the legitimate wife of a powerless family."
South Sheng felt her temples throbbing. She was almost unable to control her emotions.
At this time, Harmony Joy calmly said,
"Actually, it's you who wants to climb up to the rich and powerful, isn't it, sister? You shouldn't degrade yourself and disgrace the Su family's reputation."
South Sheng stroked her thigh, a sarcastic look on her face.
"Big sister is really free from worldly desires. The Su family is on the verge of ruin, and you're still talking about reputation with me!"
Maybe stimulated by this remark, Deng immediately said,
"Since you want to marry, I'll go find that matchmaker right away."
Harmony Joy stared at Deng's departing back, slightly frowning. Then she looked down at South Sheng.
"A Sheng, wealth and fame are just external things. Don't let them blind your mind. It's still not too late to call mother back now."
South Sheng stared at Harmony Joy, her eyes as black as raven feathers. "Big sister, I've made up my mind to marry He Xun!"
It wasn't just because she had no other choice, but also because she knew that He Xun was the only floating log that could save her.
As the legitimate eldest son of the Marquis of Anshun, He Xun would surely inherit the title in the future.
By then, even if she was just a concubine, her status would be much higher than Harmony Joy's.
Moreover, He Xun would soon divorce his wife. By then, she would be He Xun's only family member.
In her previous life, He Xun was stationed in the northern border for a long time and rarely returned to the capital. And the Marquise of Anshun was kind - hearted and easy to get along with.
At that time, in the Marquis's Mansion, she wouldn't have her husband's restraint, there would be no infighting among concubines, and she wouldn't even be tortured by her mother - in - law. She could also get silver every month.
A wealthy and idle person. Who wouldn't want such a life?
But if she didn't marry, she would end up being her sister's dowry maid just like in her previous life.
Or she would go to Fangzhou with her parents and end up like them, dying in a foreign land.
Seeing South Sheng's firm attitude, Harmony Joy could only sigh softly.
"A Sheng, you really disappoint me."
A corner of Harmony Joy's embroidered dress caught South Sheng's eye. There was a chrysanthemum embroidered with gold thread on it.
"Big sister, Fangzhou is a hard - living place. I'm afraid you won't be able to recite poems and play with grass in the side courtyard like you do now when you get there."
Harmony Joy was stunned. After a moment, she sighed.
"I've never cared about these things. I'm not afraid of suffering. As long as I have a roof over my head and enough food to eat, that's enough for me. You'd better take care of yourself."
Having said that, Harmony Joy glanced at South Sheng again and then left gracefully.
South Sheng raised her eyes, her gaze cold.
A roof over her head is enough? Then she got far too much in her previous life.
To avoid waste, everything Harmony Joy got through her in the previous life, she would take back one by one in this life to fulfill Harmony Joy's wishes.
"I'll make you live the life you want."
...
After Harmony Joy returned to the side courtyard, she sat in the room all the time. She sat until it was completely dark and didn't even call for someone to light a lamp. She just sat quietly in the darkness.
I don't know how long it had passed when she heard a faint question from the inner room.
"What day is it today?"
Su Mo, who was waiting outside, quickly replied, "Back to the eldest miss, today is the tenth day."
After Su Mo answered, there was no more sound from the inner room. It was as quiet as death.
In the silence, Su Mo could clearly hear her own heartbeat, thump, thump...
Su Mo raised her hand to cover her chest, trying to muffle the sound. She was afraid that the eldest miss would hear it and get angry.
Actually, the eldest miss had never beaten or scolded her even when she was angry, but she was still afraid.
She was afraid of the way the eldest miss looked at her and the smile on her face when she was angry. That smile...
"Go and prepare. I'm going out tomorrow."