When Lin Zhiyue woke up, her head throbbed as if something had been chiseling at the inside of her skull all night.
She raised her hand to press against her temples, resting for a long moment before finally opening her eyes.
What met her eyes was a pale green gauze canopy, its top embroidered with interlocking lotus patterns. The morning light filtered through the gaps in the window frame, casting dappled light and shadows across the fabric.
She turned her head to look around—this was a lady's bedchamber. A bronze mirror and a vanity box sat on the dressing table, a light green outer robe was draped over the foot of the bed, and a neatly trimmed orchid sat on the windowsill.
Every object exuded a warm, meticulous sense of familiarity, as if she had lived in this room for many years.
As she propped herself up, a maid with her hair in double buns pushed the door open, carrying a basin of water. Seeing her awake, the maid smiled and bowed. “You're awake, Miss? Today is your big day. Allow this servant to help you dress and do your hair.”
Lin Zhiyue's gaze fell on the maid's round, pleasing face, and memories flooded back from all directions—she was “Su Jinyu,” the legitimate eldest daughter of Minister Su, and today was her eighteenth birthday.
“Su Jinyu” was the rightful legitimate eldest daughter of the Minister's manor. Her mother had passed away early, and her maternal family was the Marquis Weiyuan's Manor.
Her mother having died early, she had been raised by her grandmother, Madam Qian, since childhood. Her father, Minister Su, was not particularly close to her, but whenever he mentioned this legitimate daughter, there was always a trace of irrepressible satisfaction.
She also had a concubine-born younger sister named Su Qing'er, who was usually quite well-behaved and always greeted her with a smile.
Today was her coming-of-age ceremony. The manor had been preparing for it since the beginning of the month, and her grandmother had checked the guest list three times before finalizing it.
She let the maid style her hair and dress her. She wore a light red, broad-sleeved long dress, with a pair of pure gold kingfisher-feather dangling hairpins in her hair, and slender pearl pendants dangling from her ears.
The figure in the bronze mirror indeed looked like a young lady of a noble house who had just come of age, her eyes and brows carrying a relaxed brightness nurtured with great care.
She smiled at herself in the mirror, and the face in the mirror smiled back. Everything was very natural, as if she had lived in this body for many years and had never changed places.
The main hall was already filled with people.
Guided by the maid, “Su Jinyu” walked into the center of the hall and paid her respects to her grandmother, Madam Qian, and Minister Su, who sat at the head of the room, in accordance with etiquette.
Her grandmother pulled her to sit by her side, patted the back of her hand with a smile, and said, “After today, you will be an adult.”
The Marchioness of Weiyuan—her maternal grandmother—sat on her other side and poured her a cup of warm fruit wine.
Holding the wine cup, “Su Jinyu” listened to the laughter and pleasantries filling the hall, the slight warmth of the cup transferring to her fingertips.
Her gaze swept across the crowd, catching sight of Madam Wu and Su Qing'er sitting in the middle section of the lower seats.
Madam Wu wore a dark purple dress, her smile proper and measured. Su Qing'er, dressed in a new light pink robe, was sipping from a teacup. Seeing her look over, Su Qing'er curled her lips slightly, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
“Su Jinyu” also nodded to her, then withdrew her gaze.
After drinking a few cups of wine, Minister Su's face flushed red as he chatted with a middle-aged man in a green satin robe beside him.
Another lady dressed in an indigo robe leaned in with a smile and said to Su Jinyu, “Miss Jinyu has come of age today. Isn't it about time to set a date for your marriage with Heir Xie?”
At these words, another wave of laughter rippled through the hall. Her grandmother squeezed her hand a bit tighter, and several ladies chimed in with smiles, saying, “Heir Xie is quite handsome,” and “He is a perfect match for Miss Jinyu.”
Listening to the well-meaning teasing, “Su Jinyu” lowered her eyelashes slightly, her lips maintaining a proper curve, perfectly playing the part of a well-bred young lady of a prestigious family showing just the right amount of shyness when teased by her elders.
A bit of moisture clung to the rim of her wine cup. She placed the cup back on the table. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Su Qing'er sitting in the lower seats, her knuckles gripping her teacup slightly whiter than before. But she quickly let go, her face melting into the same light smile as everyone else.
The laughter in the main hall continued, and the sunlight streamed diagonally through the doorway, spreading a warm band of light across the floor.
Sitting between her grandmother and maternal grandmother, holding that cup of lukewarm fruit wine, “Su Jinyu” felt that this birthday was quite lively, and she liked it very much.
Until—
Xie Tianci arrived halfway through the midday banquet.
He wore a stone-blue brocade robe, his waist bound by a jade belt. He walked hurriedly through the hall door, his face flushed as if he had just been drinking, or perhaps had traveled a long distance.
The laughter in the hall quieted down slightly the moment he entered. Seeing that his expression was off, everyone set down their cups and chopsticks and looked over.
Seeing Xie Tianci enter, “Su Jinyu” immediately set her cup down gently on the edge of the table and sat up straight.
Xie Tianci walked to the center of the hall and stood still. He bowed to Minister Su and Madam Qian at the head of the room. When he stood up straight, his gaze lingered in the direction of “Su Jinyu” for a moment, and then he spoke. His voice was not loud, but in the quiet hall, it could be heard clearly: “Today is Miss Jinyu's coming-of-age ceremony, which should have been a joyful occasion, but this junior has one matter that must be made clear in person.”
He paused here, as if needing to take a breath before continuing. “This junior wishes to annul the engagement. Although Miss Jinyu is excellent, she is not the type this junior desires. This junior does not care for the temperament of a well-bred young lady, and forcing a marriage will only wrong both parties. I am making this clear today in front of all the elders to avoid any future entanglements.”
The hall fell silent for a moment. Minister Su's face turned livid, clearly feeling that he had lost face. He wanted to fly into a rage, but he did not want to make the situation look too ugly.
“Su Jinyu's” delicate face paled slightly after hearing those words, as if something in her chest had quietly collapsed.
She had grown up with Xie Tianci since childhood. Although they were not deeply in love, she had always assumed this marriage was a matter of course, and that he had tacitly agreed to it.
Now, by saying “I do not care for the temperament of a well-bred young lady” in front of all the guests, he was essentially denying her character and identity in public, leaving her without even a shred of dignity.
Marquis Jing'an and the Marchioness of Jing'an immediately stepped forward, each grabbing one of Xie Tianci's arms, wishing they could drag him away on the spot.
The two had arrived early this morning. Upon hearing that their son had gone out, they had quickly sent servants to pursue him, fearing he would miss Su Jinyu's coming-of-age ceremony—but they had never expected this—
Now the person had arrived, but seeing him cause such a foolish scene in front of all the guests, the couple's faces turned livid, and they wished they could drag him back to the manor and lock him up right now.
Marquis Weiyuan was the first to stand up. Over sixty years old and tall in stature, his presence from years of leading troops instantly dominated half the hall the moment he rose.
His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an oppressive weight that brooked no disrespect. “Heir Xie, you think you can just annul the engagement whenever you please? My granddaughter has done nothing wrong. When you say such words in front of a hall full of guests, have you ever considered how she will hold her head up in the future?”
Forced back a step by that imposing aura, Count Jing'an immediately stepped forward with a placating smile, about to say that he would definitely discipline this worthless wretch once they returned home—
Yet Xie Tianci stubbornly held his ground. “This junior indeed owes Miss Jinyu an apology. But marriage is a major life event and cannot be compromised on. This junior is unwilling to wrong myself, and even less willing to wrong her. I ask the elders to grant this wish.”
The atmosphere in the hall turned delicate at this moment. Several ladies lowered their heads, covering their mouths with handkerchiefs, amusement dancing in their eyes. Some elders, however, frowned, clearly displeased by Xie Tianci's actions.
Her grandmother, Madam Qian, was so furious her hands trembled. Her grip on Su Jinyu's wrist tightened repeatedly, as if she wanted to say something but was choked up. Her face flushed a deep red, prompting the maids beside her to quickly step forward and soothe her breathing.
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