“I refuse!”

In the main hall of the Shen family residence, Shen Guiya stamped her feet and pointed at a young woman beside her, shouting, “She’s nothing but a concubine-born daughter—why should she marry better than Sister Guirong? In terms of legitimate birth, I am the most honorable young lady in this household. Such a fine match with the Chancellor’s household—why should it go to her? I refuse!”

Seated in the hall were Lord and Lady Shen, with several concubines standing nearby, along with a few unmarried sisters and one young master. The person Shen Guiya pointed at remained silent, head bowed.

Today was the day the Chancellor’s household came to formally confirm the betrothal. The bride-to-be was the Shen family’s Third Miss—the very person Shen Guiya pointed at: Shen Guiyan.

Though the Shen family was an official household, Lord Shen held only a fourth-rank position as Vice Minister. To form a marriage alliance with the Chancellor’s family was truly marrying above their station. Thus, this match had provoked Shen Guiya’s jealous rage.

“What good does your refusal do?” Lord Shen rebuked angrily. “Making such a fuss, completely lacking in propriety! Do you think the Chancellor’s household threshold is one anyone can cross? Yan’er earned this match through her own merits—no one fought for it on her behalf.”

Shen Guiya was beside herself with fury. “If Father hadn’t shown favoritism back then, taking only Guiyan when he visited the Chancellor’s household, how could such good fortune have fallen to her? How is that not fighting for it on her behalf?”

“Outrageous!” Lord Shen flew into a rage, slapping the armrest as he shouted, “When I conduct my affairs, is it your place to question me?”

Lady Shen beside him started in fright and quickly interjected, “Ya’er, stop making a scene. Guiyan’s marriage was settled long ago. Today is merely the formal confirmation ceremony according to custom—why are you throwing a tantrum?”

Shen Guiyan’s betrothal to the Chancellor’s son, Gu Chaodong, had been arranged when she was eight years old. Shen Guiya knew this well. But she hadn’t met Gu Chaodong before! Who knew that when she saw him a few days ago, he would prove to be such a refined gentleman with captivating features? Why should such a fine man be given to Shen Guiyan?

She despised Shen Guiyan most of all. Born of the same father, Shen Guiyan was somehow more beautiful than all her sisters. Beautiful was one thing, but from childhood she had been blessed as if by divine assistance—reciting the Thousand Character Classic at five, composing her own music at six, writing poetry in the time it took to burn a stick of incense at seven, and at eight, catching Chancellor Gu’s eye and being selected as his daughter-in-law.

How could such good fortune not breed resentment?

“I still refuse!” Thinking of Gu Chaodong’s refinement, Shen Guiya’s face twisted slightly. “Marrying off a slave-born bastard to the Chancellor’s household—aren’t you afraid of offending the Chancellor, Father?”

“Slap!” Lord Shen finally stood up and struck her across the face.

Shen Guiya fell silent, looking at him with disbelief. “Father…”

“I never imagined that I, Shen Shiqing, having lived an upright life, would raise such a beast.” Lord Shen trembled with rage. “Guiyan is your elder sister. I’ve turned a blind eye to your usual bullying of her. Now that your sister finally has a good marriage prospect, must you obstruct even this?”

Tears rapidly gathered in Shen Guiya’s eyes as she covered her face. “But I also like Young Master Gu, Father! Haven’t you and Mother always doted on Ya’er most? Why not this time? At worst, I’ll let her marry into the family, but I want to accompany her as a bride. I want to marry in as an equal wife…”

Lady Shen’s expression changed. She rose and pulled Shen Guiya to her side. “Have you lost your mind?”

It was bad enough that the eldest daughter’s match was inferior to a concubine-born girl’s, but now the youngest daughter was willing to humble herself and serve as an equal wife to this concubine-born girl? Lady Shen was furious, but Shen Guiya had been spoiled since childhood—whatever she wanted, she had to have, and no one could refuse her.

The concubine-born daughter standing in the corner finally raised her head. With delicate brows, almond eyes, and red lips, she possessed truly beautiful features, though her voice when she spoke was detached and cool. “Fifth Younger Sister may not be aware.”

Shen Guiya turned around, glaring at her with hatred.

“The Gu household has strict rules—they take only one wife at a time, with no precedent of marrying two women simultaneously.” Shen Guiyan said composedly, “If Younger Sister truly wishes to marry, she could wait until two years after Guiyan has married in. By then, Younger Sister will have reached marriageable age, and if Younger Sister speaks well to the husband’s family, they may welcome Younger Sister into the household then.”

“You!” Shen Guiya was livid. The usually tolerant and low-key Shen Guiyan actually dared to mock her now. Of course—she was about to marry into the Chancellor’s household, so she had nothing to fear anymore!

“Don’t gloat too soon! I won’t let you have your way!” She sneered coldly. “So what if they’ve come for the betrothal ceremony? It’s still a long time before you cross the threshold!”

“Ya’er!” Seeing Lord Shen’s expression, Lady Shen couldn’t help but scold her sharply.

Only then did Shen Guiya resentfully close her mouth.

Lord Shen looked at Shen Guiyan and sighed. “Since the betrothal ceremony is proceeding, go back and prepare. Everyone else should return and rest as well. If Ya’er dares make trouble again, lock her in the woodshed to reflect!”

“Yes.” Everyone around them acknowledged and left the hall in succession.

The Shen household truly had many people. Lord Shen had married three concubines in addition to his principal wife. Lady Shen had borne two daughters and one son; Concubine Qin had borne Second Young Master Shen Guiwu and Third Miss Shen Guiyan; then there was Concubine Fang who had borne Fourth Miss Shen Guiyi, and finally Concubine Ding, who had entered the household recently and had no children yet.

Shen Guiyan walked at the rear. Concubine Qin also slowed her pace to walk beside her, saying quietly, “Third Miss should be more careful around Fifth Miss these days. Stay away from her.”

“I know.” Shen Guiyan looked at the half-worn jacket Concubine Qin wore and sighed softly.

Though she had borne a son and daughter, Concubine Qin’s life was not easy at all. Concubine Qin had originally been a maid serving Lady Shen. Through various circumstances, she gained Lord Shen’s favor, and after giving birth to the second young master, she was elevated to concubine status. The Lady did not like her and often made things difficult for her. Concubine Qin’s temperament was particularly meek—she allowed herself to be manipulated without protest.

Shen Guiyan had been separated from her birth mother at age five and raised by a wet nurse. Now grown, she still had to worry about her own mother, because Concubine Qin was simply too easy to bully.

Now that she was finally marrying into the Chancellor’s household, Shen Guiyan had already considered it—if life at home became truly unbearable, she could secretly arrange for her mother to live elsewhere. Once she entered the Chancellor’s household, she should have the means to do so.

Where the path ahead divided, Shen Guiyan was leading her maid Baoshan back to her own courtyard when she heard a sharp voice behind her. “You stop right there!”

What had to come would come. Shen Guiyan sighed and turned to see Shen Guiya catching up, followed by the household’s youngest legitimate son, thirteen-year-old Shen Guiwen.

“Made Father slap me, and you think you can just go back peacefully to rest?” Shen Guiya laughed coldly and waved her hand. The household servants immediately came forward and seized both Shen Guiyan and Baoshan.

“Fifth Miss, what are you doing?” Baoshan grew anxious. “You can’t beat her today—Miss still has to meet the Gu family tomorrow!”

Shen Guiyan was already accustomed to this. Since childhood, whenever she had shown any brilliance, she would return home to Shen Guiya’s fists and kicks. Shen Guiya had been spoiled rotten—she didn’t study music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, didn’t know the Four Books and Five Classics. Whatever she wanted, Lady Shen gave her, breeding such an tyrannical temperament.

Fortunately, she would marry soon. Even if she had to endure, it would only be for a few more days.

“Want to meet the Gu family?” Shen Guiya sneered. “I’ll beat her so badly she can’t meet them! Started seducing men at age eight—that face just keeps getting more and more attractive.”

As she spoke, she approached Shen Guiyan. Cherishing her own hands, Shen Guiya didn’t plan to strike with them. She had specially made a jade paddle, a foot long, which she gripped and swung toward her face.

Those beatings were extremely painful. Worse still, Shen Guiya had gained experience—she knew how to control her strength so the jade paddle would never break.

Shen Guiyan frowned. She didn’t want to suffer this today, so she struggled a few times.

“What? Scared now?” Shen Guiya laughed. “Then go tell Father you won’t marry Gu Chaodong and give him to me.”

“No.” Shen Guiyan closed her eyes. “I’ve already waited eight years. I don’t want to wait any longer.”

If not for thinking that one day he would rescue her from this bitter sea, she would have been unable to endure long ago.

“Ha ha, ‘waited eight years’ indeed!” Shen Guiya swung the paddle at her face. “Shameless wretch—how dare you say such things! Today I’ll ruin this face of yours. Let’s see what you’ll use to win Young Master Gu’s heart then!”

Sharp pain came from her face as the jade paddle struck her cheekbone. It would certainly bruise by tomorrow. With her face ruined, when the betrothal ceremony took place tomorrow, she would probably have to claim illness again and have Concubine Qin represent her.

Shen Guiya stood very close to her, striking her face again and again. For a moment, Shen Guiyan strongly wanted to kick her right in the stomach.