This arrangement wasn’t unexpected, as the Cheng household had been urgently pushing for the marriage, wanting Wei Shubin to quickly marry in and become the Duchess to manage their household’s appearance. The Wei family had little reason to refuse; in fact, they were even more eager, and anxious for the Cheng family to send their betrothal gifts to engage their eldest son Shuyu…

Wei Shubin had been confined at home for about ten days, coinciding with her younger brother’s betrothal ceremony. She watched as her father dispatched an impressive procession to deliver betrothal gifts worth thirty thousand bolts of silk to the home of Yellow Gate Attendant Cui Mingan, securing a five-year-old girl as a future daughter-in-law.

That day, the Wei mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful hangings, filled with joy, and naturally, the matchmaker Madam Cui was there to help arrange everything. Since Lady Pei’s health was poor and walking had become quite difficult, Wei Shubin, as the eldest daughter, had to help manage and receive guests despite her inner resentment and grievances. When Madam Cui saw her, she first offered enthusiastic congratulations. After the messengers had departed, the two sat together waiting, inevitably making casual conversation.

After discussing matters about the Attendant Cui family’s daughter’s marriage, Madam Cui spoke about various inside stories from General Cheng Yaojin’s household – how many favored concubines he had, which children were born to whom, and how his second son from his first wife, Madam Sun, had recently been betrothed to Princess Qinghe, becoming an Imperial Son-in-law, though the ceremony hadn’t been held yet, the family already treated him differently. Wei Shubin listened absent-mindedly, but when the term “Imperial Son-in-law” reached her ears, a sudden light flashed in her mind.

This time being confined at home by her parents, she was under strict supervision, not only constantly followed by maids preventing her from leaving the inner courtyard but also forbidden from receiving any outside news. She had vaguely heard rumors that servants from the Chai household and Purple Void Temple had come looking for her, but they were all turned away at the main gate. She knew nothing about any developments in the palace affairs, the handling of Li Yuanji and Yang Xinzhi, or Chai Yingge’s communications with Empress Zhangsun and her son – she was completely in the dark.

Outside messages couldn’t get in, and household members were under the Minister’s strict orders – no one dared help her communicate with outsiders. These days, Wei Shubin was essentially imprisoned in her own home, unable to do anything… but perhaps this Madam Cui could help her.

Madam Cui was unaware of the internal situation, and the Wei household’s restrictions didn’t apply to her. After careful consideration, Wei Shubin, slightly blushing, said to Madam Cui:

“I have an improper request and hope for your help, Madam. Although it’s not quite proper… could you deliver a private letter to General Cheng for me in the next couple of days?”

“Oh my,” Madam Cui was quite surprised, “A private letter? You’ll be married in less than a month, why send private letters when you can speak face to face… Although General Cheng is broad-minded, you’re still an unmarried couple and should avoid suspicion. If Minister Wei and his wife found out, young lady, you’d surely be punished…”

Wei Shubin timely showed a shy expression, lowered her head to remove a golden hairpin from her hair, and moved closer to Madam Cui, whispering:

“It’s precisely because Father and Mother can’t know that I’m asking for your help… Madam, you’ve heard that General Cheng and I have met before… What I need to say is very important. I’ll write a letter, and you just need to pass it to Lord Cheng, it’s not much trouble.”

As she spoke, she secretly slipped the golden hairpin into Madam Cui’s hand from within her sleeve. The woman quietly accepted it without showing any reaction, softly laughing:

“Such young love, what can one do? Alright, it’s no big matter, I’ll help where I can. With an old husband and young wife, whatever you want to ask for, just be a bit coy, and I’m sure the General won’t refuse…”

She thought Wei Shubin wanted to make some personal requests to Cheng Yaojin… Well, that guess wasn’t entirely wrong. Wei Shubin went along with her assumption, blushing as she murmured: “Madam, you’re so perceptive. The betrothal gifts and dowry are all matters between the Father and the General. Shubin has just a small personal wish to convey to the General. If he graciously agrees, Shubin will serve dutifully after marriage, otherwise… Ah, in life, one only has one grand wedding ceremony, if a husband won’t even grant this small favor, what’s the point of living…”

As she spoke, she raised her sleeve to wipe away tears. Madam Cui hurriedly consoled her, patting her chest and promising to deliver the letter and persuade General Cheng to grant her request. Wei Shubin thanked her and, finding a moment when no one was watching, returned to her room to write the letter.

Today the household was busy with major events, short-staffed, and even the maids who usually followed her every step had been temporarily reassigned, though she didn’t know when they’d return. This letter was difficult to write – she wanted to ask Cheng Yaojin to petition the Emperor to send Prince Wu, Yuanji, as the marriage envoy to Gaochang – essentially asking her fiancé to help save her lover. She couldn’t write too strongly or too lightly. And she didn’t have much time to craft elaborate phrases or classical references, and even if she did, if she wrote too circuitously, that military man Cheng Yaojin might not understand…

Taking a deep breath, she couldn’t afford to overthink anymore. She simply wrote straightforwardly in plain language, focusing on getting the letter written and sent first.

Beginning with “Your humble servant Wei kneels before the esteemed General Cheng of Su State,” she quickly explained the matter and her request, ending with some threatening lines about “this life’s knot cannot be untied, my life as fragile as morning dew,” then signed and sealed it, folded it carefully, tucked it in her sleeve, and walked out. When the servants weren’t looking, she secretly passed it to Madam Cui, along with a silk perfume pouch she had embroidered herself as a token, perfectly playing the part of secret lovers exchanging gifts.

Inside the pouch was a jade pendant, finely crafted and precious. Even if Madam Cui opened the silk package to peek, she wouldn’t understand its significance, but Wei Shubin believed Cheng Yaojin would understand her meaning – “jue” (the pendant) traditionally meant “decisiveness/finality,” expressing her determination that “if you don’t agree, I’ll die to prove it.”

Moreover, that jade pendant was one of the betrothal gifts from the Cheng family, sending it back made an even stronger statement. The golden hairpin she had just given Madam Cui as a bribe was also from the Cheng family’s betrothal gifts, so she felt no regret in giving it away… Since General Cheng was rolling in wealth, he was just making good use of his gifts.

While she had planned it all out well, the Cheng family’s response came swiftly. Just a few days after sending the letter, the Cheng household sent women to visit her.

The person leading the group was a middle-aged woman surnamed Zhao, humble in manner but holding an officially recognized seventh-rank concubine title. Wei Shubin had heard about her from Madam Cui – this Concubine Zhao came from a good family, had borne three sons for Cheng Yaojin, and had been involved in household management even before Madam Sun’s death. She wielded considerable influence and would be Wei Shubin’s primary rival after marriage.

Concubine Zhao had come with Cheng Yaojin’s message. After exchanging pleasantries with Lady Pei, she quickly found an opportunity to speak with Wei Shubin alone but didn’t mention a word about the letter or jade pendant, only repeatedly assuring with a smile that “the General asks the young lady not to worry, he will certainly respect and treat you well after marriage.”

Wei Shubin had no patience for beating around the bush, and since Zhao wouldn’t bring it up, she asked directly:

“Did the General receive the letter I had someone deliver? Is that why he sent you, Lady Zhao?”

“Letter? What letter?” Zhao feigned surprise, then after a moment’s thought, clapped her hands and said, “Ah, I remember now. That night I was in the General’s chamber when he opened and read a piece of paper, shook his head with a smile, then immediately burned it to ashes in the lamp, and tossed a beautiful jade piece to us servants… Yes, this one.”

She took out the jade pendant from her leather pouch and showed it to Wei Shubin, clearly intending to prove her words. Wei Shubin bit her lip in silence as she listened to Zhao’s half-proud, half-lecturing tone:

“The General gave us servants instructions that night – it’s fine for a woman to have some small temperaments and moods, it makes things interesting, but trying to seriously intervene in military and political affairs is just wishful thinking. Ah, I shouldn’t speak so much to the young lady, you’re from a minister’s family, naturally educated and proper, unlike us servants…”

“So this is General Cheng’s response?” Wei Shubin coldly interrupted her. “Is there anything else?”

“The General only said to ask the young lady to be patient, everything can be discussed after marriage. You probably don’t know, but the General has always run his household with military discipline, maintaining strict order. There are many servants in the house, no shortage of people to attend and follow… don’t worry, nothing will happen…”

The implication was that after marrying into General Cheng’s household, Wei Shubin’s every move would be watched, making suicide impossible. And this was her only leverage to threaten Cheng Yaojin – his response was equally straightforward: he wouldn’t accept the threat, forget about asking him to intercede, you’re just a young woman, don’t try to interfere in my official duties.

On the Yi-si day of the fifth month of Zhenguan’s ninth year, in mid-summer, when deer shed their antlers. The afternoon’s auspicious spirits were: Luowen, Jiagui, and Xishen. Forbidden activities included opening markets and making contracts, household division and livestock acquisition, earthwork, and construction. Suitable activities included betrothal and marriage, worship and religious ceremonies, praying for blessings and offspring, and… planning one’s demise.

As the wedding day chosen by the Cheng family drew nearer day by day, the preparations for the minister’s daughter’s marriage at the Wei mansion went from intense to frenzied. Clearing courtyards, setting up canopies, hanging decorations, arranging incense and candles, inviting guests, making new clothes, steaming pastries, brewing wine… everyone in the household was busy running about, except for the bride herself, who was left idle to gather dust.

Not only was she idle, but she was also under constant surveillance by two servants personally appointed by Minister Wei, to prevent any rash actions. Wei Shubin could think of no other way to save others, or herself. Her anger, pain, anxiety, and other intense emotions had gradually numbed, leaving only a fog-like despair.

She wanted to die, but how? Where?

If she died, everything would end, but what about those she cared for and was attached to – would they be dragged down by her, suffering lifelong worry and pain, or would they benefit from her death? If she could be certain of the latter, she would calmly and gladly find a way to end her life, but… she couldn’t be certain.

Being confined in a small space for too long, one’s thoughts become increasingly strange and obsessive, actions increasingly twisted and incomprehensible. When Wei Shubin heard the faint, reverberating bell sounds in the air that day, her first thought was:

This is Heaven’s decree, sending me off.

So she hesitated no longer, and forcefully drove the golden hairpin in her hand toward her throat.