Chapter 2: Voluntary

Tang Qiyue held her younger brother’s arm. Seeing him standing there in the flesh, she couldn't help but feel a sour ache in her nose and a redness in her eyes, yet she smiled and refused him.

The tears in Tang Xiuyuan’s eyes finally spilled over; at the end of the day, he was just a boy who had barely reached adulthood.

He and Tang Qiyue were fraternal twins.

"It’s not true! They forced you! Sister, now that I’m here, I won’t let them ruin you!"

Wiping his tears with his sleeve, Tang Xiuyuan glared viciously at everyone emerging from the main house, especially his own father, like a young wolf cub.

Father Tang reached into his pocket to pull out a heart-calming pill to pop into his mouth. Among his sons, this youngest one was the most like him, and also the most stubborn—a boy he both loved and hated.

"You rebellious brat, what nonsense are you spouting? Get out of my sight!"

Tang Xiuyuan was completely unfazed by his father’s rage. He simply pulled at Tang Qiyue, trying to lead her away. Tang Qiyue sighed, shoved the small box in her hand into Tang Xiuyuan’s arms, and turned to face Father Tang.

"Dad, don't forget my conditions!"

Tang Xiuyuan urgently wanted to ask what conditions she meant, but Tang Qiyue just tugged at his arm: "Xiaoyuan, listen to your sister. See me off to my wedding!"

The wedding procession was already at the gate. Tang Qiyue signaled for Tang Xiuyuan to crouch down, and she climbed onto her brother’s back.

Since they were children, Tang Xiuyuan had always listened to Tang Qiyue. Even though he was furious enough to go mad, he still obediently carried her.

It was only a short distance, yet it was enveloped in the sound of firecrackers. Thick smoke obscured the view of most people.

Tang Qiyue whispered into Tang Xiuyuan’s ear: "Trust me, marrying into this family is a good thing for me. Don't cause a scene with them!"

Tang Xiuyuan started to speak, but Tang Qiyue pinched his ear: "I know what I’m doing. You have to trust me too!"

Feeling utterly stifled, Tang Xiuyuan helped Tang Qiyue into the car.

Because this was a "spirit-soothing" wedding, the groom did not appear; instead, a rooster was shoved into Tang Qiyue’s arms. Tang Xiuyuan was too worried to leave her, so he insisted on coming along.

Tang Qiyue knew she couldn't explain everything in a moment, so she let him get into the car.

The driver was a member of the Tang family, so Tang Qiyue couldn't speak freely. She held the rooster with one hand and grabbed Tang Xiuyuan’s hand with the other, writing characters into his palm.

As twins, they had a perfect rapport. They had often played this game of writing in palms when they were younger, so even without looking, Tang Xiuyuan knew exactly what she was writing.

As Tang Qiyue explained, Tang Xiuyuan slowly calmed down, though he could hardly believe the information he was receiving.

When they got out of the car, Tang Xiuyuan finally couldn't help but ask: "Sister, are you sure about this?"

Tang Qiyue nodded.

"Don't worry about the political background check for university. You must go to college this time."

This was Tang Qiyue’s only expectation for him.

"The money in this box is for your living expenses. Our mother will be counting on you to protect her!"

Tang Qiyue straightened her wedding dress, patted Tang Xiuyuan’s shoulder, and then pushed open the car door to step out, clutching the rooster.

Compared to the bustle at the Tang house, the groom’s side was surprisingly cold. Their arrival was even met with disdain, but the Tang family’s escorts were thick-skinned; they simply shoved Tang Qiyue into the courtyard.

Seeming to know that the family didn't want this marriage at all, they dumped Tang Qiyue and her dowry and ran off.

They didn't even wait to finish the ceremony.

There were quite a few people in the courtyard, all eyeing Tang Qiyue with contempt. Tang Qiyue looked back at Tang Xiuyuan, who was clenching his fists, and waved at him.

Tang Xiuyuan had no choice but to sniffle, clutch the box, and turn to run.

He was afraid that if he didn't run, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from carrying his sister away from this place.

Tang Qiyue finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as her brother was still obedient, she felt everything was worth it.

"The bride has been swapped!"

The person who spoke circled Tang Qiyue, specifically scrutinizing her face.

Tang Qiyue knew this person was her future husband’s younger sister—a girl with a fiery temper and a particularly sharp tongue.

"You Tangs are quite interesting. You insisted on forcing a wife onto my brother. It was one person when we got engaged, so how is it someone else now that it’s time for the wedding?"

Zhan Chunying didn't give Tang Qiyue any face, saying it right to her.

Some time ago, Zhan Chunying had accompanied her mother to the Tang house to call off the engagement. They had agreed the marriage was off, but the Tang family refused, claiming marriage wasn't a child's game and that since the engagement was set, they had to deliver the bride.

Because this was a "spirit-soothing" wedding, the Zhan family didn't expect the new bride to be willing, and with the groom’s current condition unknown, there wasn't a shred of festive atmosphere.

Tang Qiyue walked up to an elderly woman with the rooster in her arms: "Auntie, I know you are very dissatisfied with the Tang family’s actions. But since I, Tang Qiyue, have chosen to marry in, I will not do anything to damage the Zhan family’s reputation. It’s getting late; I should perform the wedding rites."

Mother Zhan hadn't expected a young girl like Tang Qiyue to be so composed.

She had looked down on the Tang family, but thinking of her son, whose life and death were uncertain, she finally gritted her teeth and ordered the incense table to be set. The process had to be completed.

Tang Qiyue performed the rites with the rooster without a hint of dissatisfaction, following every step of the ceremony with great seriousness.

Only after the rites were finished and the guests had dispersed, leaving only the Zhan family, did Mother Zhan take Tang Qiyue’s hand and lead her into the makeshift bridal chamber.

"I won't hide it from you. My son’s condition is unclear. I’m not a cruel person; when I went to your house to call off the engagement, I told your father that my son had suffered a fundamental injury and might never be able to have children. It was your father who refused to cancel the marriage and insisted on proceeding on the agreed date."

Mother Zhan had been moved by the Tangs' persistence, but she hadn't expected the bride to be someone other than the one originally promised, and she still harbored some resentment.

"Mother, I understand what you mean. I am a daughter of the Tang family, but I am not my sister. She cared about not being able to have children, but I do not. As long as you don't look down on me as a daughter-in-law, I will serve you well from now on!"

Tang Qiyue knelt before Mother Zhan and kowtowed three times, firmly and sincerely.

These three kowtows erased half of the dissatisfaction in Mother Zhan’s heart.

"I believe that the second brother of the Zhan family is blessed and will surely return safely. Your good days are still ahead of you!"

Mother Zhan helped Tang Qiyue up. This was exactly what she wanted to hear.

She held Tang Qiyue’s hand: "Good child, you’ve been wronged. As long as I, this old woman, am alive, I won't let anyone bully you! Not even that son of mine!"