Chapter Seven: Breaking Off the Engagement and Bestowing a Marriage

The small courtyard had been ravaged by fire, leaving it in ruins, so Shen Qianmo never returned. Madam Cui arranged for her to have another residence, its name melodious and gentle—“Wind Lotus Court.” Shen Qianmo settled there in peace. These days, Shen Qianxue hadn’t come to provoke her, so she enjoyed her leisure, reading books, admiring flowers, listening to the rain; her days passed freely and unhurriedly, as if she were on holiday, and in a place utterly pure and untouched by pollution.

She lounged beneath the grape trellis, gently rocking in a reclining chair, half-asleep, thinking: Now, all that remains is to wait for the Prince of Rong’s Household to come and annul the engagement. But why had there been no movement yet? Just as she was pondering whether she should send someone to the Prince of Rong’s residence to sound out their intentions, Green Bamboo came running, breathless, and announced, “Miss, the Prince of Rong’s Household—they’ve come to withdraw the engagement!”

At last, they had arrived! Shen Qianmo smiled in satisfaction and asked, “Who did the Prince of Rong’s Household send?” “It’s the heir himself,” Green Bamboo replied. “Miss, Master has called you to the front hall!”

Shen Qianmo considered briefly, stood and straightened her clothes, tied on her veil, and said to Green Bamboo, “Let’s go.”

Arriving in the front hall, Shen Qianmo found not only Duke Shen, but also Madam Cui and Shen Qianxue, along with a young man in purple robes sipping tea. This must be the Prince of Rong’s heir, Meng Yunce.

Shen Qianmo sized him up quietly; his features were elegant, his bearing refined—a true scion of the imperial family. Yet his looks were somewhat delicate, not the type she admired.

Meng Yunce, hearing someone arrive, turned his head and saw a graceful, ethereal young woman enter, her robes pale as moonlight, her face veiled with white silk. The warm glow of the setting sun bathed her, highlighting her serene, clear eyes—she seemed almost a celestial being. Meng Yunce was briefly stunned, though only for an instant; he hadn’t forgotten his purpose in coming today. Rumors in the capital spoke ill of the eldest miss of the Shen family, branding her dull and foolish, and he had always been averse to this match. Since becoming involved with Shen Qianxue, he was even more determined to break the engagement. Of course, an annulment required a reason, and now that one had presented itself, he would not let the opportunity slip.

Today, seeing her, though the eldest miss of the Shen family wasn’t as pitiable as the rumors suggested, the veil on her face confirmed her ruined looks. If he were to marry such a disfigured woman, what dignity would he have left among his peers?

Shen Qianmo stepped forward, greeted the assembled guests, and stood aside. Shen Yi’an, somewhat embarrassed, turned to her and said, “Mo’er, the heir of the Prince of Rong wishes to withdraw the engagement. What do you think?”

If the old Duke were still alive, he would surely have berated the Prince of Rong’s Household for such capriciousness, arguing fiercely. But Shen Yi’an dared not; his cautious nature, shaped by his upbringing, meant he would never offend the Prince of Rong’s Household lightly. Thus, he summoned Shen Qianmo to face this awkward situation herself.

Shen Qianmo smiled gently. “Father, since the heir has come to annul the engagement, he must have his reasons. Our family should not force the matter.”

Meng Yunce thought to himself, she is sensible. Yet, seeing her smiling eyes, he found it hard to look away.

Shen Yi’an reminded her, “Mo’er, you must think carefully. If the engagement is annulled, and with your appearance as it is… your future…”

“Father, since the heir does not wish to marry me, forcing the marriage would bring me no happiness. Let us do as the heir wishes.” Shen Qianmo answered firmly.

“So be it.” Shen Yi’an, seeing her resolve, acquiesced. Truth be told, he had never intended to fight for Shen Qianmo, nor to quarrel with the Prince of Rong’s Household.

Meng Yunce, satisfied at having successfully annulled the engagement, exchanged a glance with Shen Qianxue. They believed themselves discreet, but Shen Qianmo noticed and wondered when they had become involved. She searched the original owner’s memories, but found nothing.

Meng Yunce then stood and said to Shen Yi’an, “Duke Shen, besides annulment, I have another request today.”

“Oh? What is it?” Shen Yi’an asked.

“I wish to propose marriage to your second daughter, Qianxue. Please grant your approval.”

His words struck like thunder. Shen Yi’an’s mouth fell open, momentarily speechless. Madam Cui, however, beamed with delight at Meng Yunce and Shen Qianxue, her joy beyond measure. Shen Qianxue could hardly contain her happiness, gazing shyly at Meng Yunce. The two looked at each other affectionately, oblivious to all else.

Shen Qianmo sneered inwardly; Meng Yunce truly was impatient, annulling his engagement with her only to propose to her sister moments later. Did he dislike her so much?

Indeed, Meng Yunce was deeply dissatisfied with the engagement to Shen Qianmo. He viewed himself highly, and believed his wife ought to be extraordinary and beautiful. Yet his parents had chosen a mediocre, ordinary girl for him, which he could not accept.

In terms of appearance, Shen Qianxue more or less met his standards, though she was not born of the main line and could only be a concubine. But what did it matter? To Shen Qianxue, so long as she could seize what belonged to Shen Qianmo and make her suffer, she considered herself victorious. Now, Shen Qianmo was disfigured, her marriage ruined, and most importantly, her intended groom had become Shen Qianxue’s. Shen Qianxue had never been so happy.

Shen Yi’an couldn’t quite understand Meng Yunce’s decision to reject his eldest daughter and propose to the second, but for him, forging ties with the Prince of Rong’s Household was all that mattered; which daughter married didn’t make much difference.

Naturally, Shen Yi’an agreed to Meng Yunce’s request. Once Meng Yunce had departed, and seeing Madam Cui and Shen Qianxue return to their rooms in high spirits, he felt a twinge of guilt toward Shen Qianmo, especially as she calmly excused herself. Regret stirred within him.

Upon hearing the news, Old Madam Shen was so furious she nearly fainted. The heir of the Prince of Rong was truly something—annulling and proposing marriages at will, treating the Duke of Shen’s household with utter disregard. After calming herself, she instructed Nanny Ning to summon Duke Shen.

Duke Shen spent half a day in the old lady’s prayer room, emerging battered and disheartened. The next day, he submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting that His Majesty grant a marriage for his eldest daughter.

This was actually Old Madam Shen’s idea. She wished to ensure Shen Qianmo’s future. Now disfigured, abandoned, and of marriageable age, Shen Qianmo had lost all her advantages in a society that prized a woman’s reputation and looks. If the emperor granted her a marriage, at least she might find a respectable match.

When Shen Qianmo heard about the imperial decree, she was nearly in tears. She thought, Old Madam Shen had truly done all she could for her, even resorting to seeking an imperial marriage to help her. But could she refuse? She truly did not want to marry so soon!

There were still many things she wished to do: earn some money—her nurse Xu had said that Lady Xie left her a substantial dowry, including two shops on Vermilion Bird Street in the capital; examine corpses—the city’s security had been poor lately, with many murder cases; and research a way to return home—she didn’t want to spend her whole life in a world without television, computers, internet, or mobile phones.

All she could hope was that the old emperor, busy with affairs of state, wouldn’t bother with such trivial matters as granting marriages.

But she underestimated his efficiency. A few days later, the imperial decree arrived. The eldest legitimate daughter of the Duke of Shen’s household, Shen Qianmo, possessed both talent and virtue, gentle and upright, and was granted in marriage to Prince Xuan, Meng Yuanheng, to be his bride. The wedding date would be arranged.