Eleventh year of Da Zhi, early June.
Eastern Capital Luoyang, at Shen Shiyan's Mansion.
In an elegant embroidery room, the doors and windows were tightly shut, not a breath of wind could enter, and inside the curtained bed, it was as silent as if it were isolated from the world.
A young girl with fair skin and delicate features lay on the bed.
She was just seventeen or eighteen years old, with a pair of strikingly clear black-and-white eyes, yet they shimmered with an anxiety that completely mismatched her age.
She was none other than the eldest Miss of the Shen Mansion, Shang Ruyi.
And what she anxiously awaited was an answer concerning her lifelong matter—
Can she avoid this marriage?
She proposed breaking off the engagement half a month ago during the peak of her illness, but her uncle Shen Shiyan immediately opposed it. After all, the marriage had been arranged by her father before his death, to not just any ordinary family, but to the third-ranked Yuwen Family among the sixteen prestigious families of Longxi.
She was supposed to marry the eldest son of Duke Sheng—Yu Wenqian!
Her engagement letter was sent to Taiyuan half a month ago, withdrawing the engagement now would not only break the familial ties, but possibly lead the two families into hostility against each other.
Despite repeated persuasion from Shen Shiyan and his wife, Shang Ruyi was determined, to the point where she coughed blood and fainted.
Before losing consciousness, she kept repeating one phrase— I will not marry Yu Wenqian!
Now, what would become of the marriage?
Shang Ruyi simply couldn't sit still and was about to get out of bed when she heard a creaking sound as the door was pushed open.
A noblewoman, dressed in luxurious clothes and adorned with jewels, entered with two maids, and upon seeing her like this, immediately said, "What are you doing? Lie back down at once!"
The speaker was none other than Shang Ruyi's aunt, Yu.
Yu, who had the maiden name Mei Xian, was a barbarian woman with a straightforward and bold personality. As she spoke, she took two steps forward and pushed Shang Ruyi back onto the bed: "You've just recovered and now you're being reckless; what if you fall?"
Shang Ruyi had no time to think of anything else and anxiously grasped her aunt's sleeve, asking, "Auntie, my marriage—"
Yu glared at her before speaking irritably, "My husband and I have figured out a way. Anyway, if you don't want to marry Yu Wenqian, you won't have to marry him. We will not let you suffer in any circumstance."
Upon hearing this, the heavy rock in Shang Ruyi's heart immediately lifted.
As long as she doesn't have to marry Yu Wenqian, that's all that matters!
Yu hesitated and added, "It's just that—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a servant suddenly ran to the door, frantically reporting, "Madam, something bad has happened!"
Yu turned back displeased, "What's got you so rattled?"
The servant stammered, "The, the Yuwen Family, they've come to our door!"
"What?!"
The aunt and niece were both taken aback; weren't the Yuwen Family supposed to be in Taiyuan? How could they have come so quickly?
Yu pondered for a moment before saying, "You stay put, I'll go and take a look."
Shang Ruyi said, "Auntie, they must be here for me. This situation is my fault, let me—"
"What nonsense,"
Yu, amused and exasperated, pushed her back onto the bed, "Your elders are here, how can you as a junior bear this responsibility? Stay lying down!"
Having said that, Yu gave her a complex look before turning and leaving the room.
Although staying in the room, Shang Ruyi felt restless. Breaking off the engagement was not a trivial matter; if Duke Sheng held a grudge, it would not only spoil the relationship between the families but also bring shame to her deceased father and burden her uncle and aunt, which would make her truly unfilial.
Thinking of this, she supported herself as she silently dressed, opened the door, and was about to step out.
But as soon as she opened the door, Shang Ruyi froze.
A tall figure stood at the entrance.
Under the dim sky, the shadow cast by the person nearly enveloped her completely.