Chapter 1: A Woman Hinders Marriage

"I refuse!"

In the hall of the Shen family's mansion, Shen Guiya stomped her foot and pointed at a nearby woman, shouting, "She's just a commoner, why should she have a better marriage than my sister Guirong? In terms of status, I am the most noble young lady in this household. Why should she be given the marriage to the Prime Minister's residence? I refuse!"

In the hall, there sat the Shen family's master and his wife, along with several maids and a few unmarried sisters, as well as a young master. The person pointed at by Shen Guiya remained silent, head bowed.

Today was the day when the Prime Minister's residence came to ask for the hand of the third Miss Shen, the person being pointed at, Shen Guiyan.

Although the Shen family held an official position, the master Shen was only a fourth-rank official, so being able to form a marital alliance with the Prime Minister's family was quite an honor. This marriage arrangement had made Shen Guiya jealous.

"What use is it for you to refuse?" Master Shen scolded angrily, "Making a scene like this, without any decorum. Do you think just anyone can enter the Prime Minister's residence? Yan'er's marriage was arranged by herself, not by anyone else."

Shen Guiya, in a fit of rage, retorted, "If it weren't for father's favoritism, taking only Guiyan to visit the Prime Minister's residence back then, how could such a good opportunity fall into her lap? Wasn't that fighting for her?"

"Outrageous!" Master Shen finally stood up and slapped her.

Shen Guiya quieted down, looking at the person in front of her in disbelief, "Father..."

"I never expected that in my whole life of integrity, I would raise such a beast like you," Master Shen trembled with anger, "Guiyan is your sister, and I could overlook your usual mistreatment of her. But now that your sister has finally found a good match, you want to obstruct it?"

Tears welled up in Shen Guiya's eyes as she covered her face, "I also like the young master of the Gu family, father! Haven't you and mother always doted on me? Why not this time? I can let her marry and follow her as a concubine..."

Shen's wife's face changed, and she quickly pulled Shen Guiya to her side, "Have you gone mad?"

The eldest daughter marrying less favorably than a commoner was one thing, but the youngest daughter willingly becoming a concubine to this commoner was too much for Shen's wife to bear. Shen Guiya had been spoiled since childhood, always getting what she wanted, and no one could resist her.

The commoner finally raised her head from the corner, with delicate eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and rosy lips, a beautiful appearance, but her voice was cold, "Younger sister may not know."

"The Gu family has strict rules, only marrying one at a time, with no precedent for marrying two at once," Shen Guiyan calmly said, "If younger sister really wants to marry, she can wait until I have been married for two years. At that time, when it's suitable for younger sister to marry, she can plead with her husband's family, and they may welcome her into the residence."

"You!" Shen Guiya was furious. The usually tolerant Shen Guiyan dared to mock her. It seemed that she was going to marry into the Prime Minister's residence and had nothing to fear.

"Don't be too pleased too soon! I won't let you have your way!" she sneered, "What's the use of asking for the marriage? It's still a long way from you entering the residence!"

"Guiya!" Shen's wife looked at her husband's expression and couldn't help but scold.

Shen Guiya finally closed her mouth, full of resentment.

Master Shen looked at Shen Guiyan and sighed, "Since the marriage proposal is to be made, you should go back and prepare first. The rest of you should also go back and rest. If Guiya dares to cause trouble again, she will be confined to the woodshed for reflection!"

"Yes." Everyone around responded and left the hall one after another.

The Shen family had quite a few members. Master Shen had three concubines, one main wife. Shen's wife had two daughters and a son, while Qin, the concubine, had a son, Shen Guiwu, and the third Miss Shen, Shen Guiyan. There was also Fang, another concubine, who had a daughter, Shen Guiyi. The last concubine, Ding, had no offspring and had recently entered the household.

Shen Guiyan walked at the end, and Qin, the concubine, slowed down to walk beside her, whispering, "Third Miss, just be cautious around the fifth Miss, that's all."

"I know," Shen Guiyan looked at Qin's slightly worn-out jacket and sighed softly.

Although she had a son and a daughter, Qin Yiniang's life was not easy at all. Originally a maid by Madam Shen's side, she gained the favor of Old Master Shen and was promoted to the status of a concubine after giving birth to the second young master. Madam Shen did not like her and often made things difficult for her. Qin Yiniang, being gentle and submissive, endured it all without a word.

Shen Guiyan left her birth mother at the age of five and was raised by a wet nurse. As she grew up, she had to worry about her birth mother. This was because Qin Yiniang was too easily bullied.

Now, she was finally going to marry into the Prime Minister's residence. Shen Guiyan had already thought about it. If life in the residence was really difficult, she would secretly send her mother away. Once she entered the Prime Minister's residence, she should have the ability to do so.

As they reached the fork in the road, Shen Guiyan, accompanied by her maid Baoshan, was about to return to her courtyard when she heard a coquettish shout from behind, "Stop right there!"

As expected, Shen Guiyan sighed and turned to see Shen Guiya catching up with her, followed by the youngest legitimate son of the residence, thirteen-year-old Shen Guiwen.

"You think you can just go back and rest peacefully after getting me slapped by Father?" Shen Guiya sneered, waving her hand as the servants behind her restrained Shen Guiyan and Baoshan.

"What are you doing, Fifth Miss?" Baoshan was anxious. "You can't beat her today. Miss has to meet the Gu family tomorrow!"

Shen Guiyan was already used to this. Ever since she showed her talents as a child, she would always be subjected to Shen Guiya's physical abuse upon her return. Shen Guiya had been spoiled, not learning music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, and not studying the classics. She was given whatever she wanted by Madam Shen, which had led to her becoming so overbearing.

Fortunately, she was about to get married, and she wouldn't have to endure it for much longer.

"Want to meet the Gu family?" Shen Guiya sneered. "I want to make sure she can't! She was already seducing men at the age of eight, and her face is getting more and more beautiful."

As she spoke, she approached Shen Guiyan, feeling sorry for her own hand. Shen Guiya didn't plan to use her hand to hit her; she had specially made a jade paddle, a foot long, and she grabbed it to slap her face.

The pain was excruciating, and Shen Guiya had the experience to apply force without breaking the jade paddle.

Shen Guiyan frowned. She didn't want to endure this today, so she struggled a bit.

"What? Scared?" Shen Guiya laughed. "Then go tell Father that you don't want to marry Gu Chaodong and let him marry me instead."

"No," Shen Guiyan said with her eyes closed. "I've waited for eight years, and I don't want to wait any longer."

If she hadn't thought that he would one day rescue her from this misery, she would have given up long ago.

"Haha, what a wait of eight years!" Shen Guiya slapped her face. "You shameless wretch, how dare you say that. Today, I'll ruin your face, and we'll see how you can win Gu Gongzi's heart."

The intense pain spread from her cheekbone. It would surely be bruised tomorrow. Her face was ruined, and she would probably have to feign illness and ask Qin Yiniang to help her again.

Shen Guiya stood very close to her, repeatedly slapping her face. For a moment, Shen Guiyan really wanted to kick her in the stomach.