Chapter 1: Kneeling in the Ancestral Hall

The doors and windows were tightly shut. It was June, and the room was hot and stuffy. Su Yunxi sat cross-legged on a straw cushion. This was the Su family ancestral hall, and Su Yunxi had been ordered by Old Madam Su to kneel here in reflection for slapping the young ladies of the first and second branches. Su Yunxi looked up at the tablets of the Su ancestors and offered a cold smile; even if she were to live it all over again, she would still strike them.

Her mother, Madam Wei, was her greatest reliance in this life, her warmest harbor, and the person she loved most. She would not allow anyone to speak ill of Madam Wei, especially those who called her a "short-lived ghost." If she were to swallow her pride under such circumstances, she would not be worthy of being a daughter, nor would she be worthy of the chance at rebirth that heaven had granted her.

Just thinking of Madam Wei’s health made Su Yunxi’s eyes moisten. If only she could live a little longer—a year, or even ten years. She only prayed that heaven would grant Madam Wei more time, so she wouldn't have to suffer the torment of illness at such a young age. Thinking of Madam Wei, who was only in her thirties yet had been bedridden for four or five years, and who had been unable to leave her bed at all for the past year, Su Yunxi felt a bitter ache in her heart.

It was the hottest part of the afternoon, and the cicadas were screaming desperately in the trees, leaving no room for peace. Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded from outside, and the doors to the ancestral hall were pushed open. "Young Miss, the Mistress has fainted in the Old Madam’s room. The Old Madam wants you to come over immediately."

Su Yunxi stood up abruptly, stumbling slightly. Without a second thought, she rushed out to follow. Madam Wei must have gone to see the Old Madam because of her punishment. It was her own uselessness that prevented her from protecting her mother, and instead, she had burdened her mother’s health.

When she arrived at Rongxi Hall, the maids did not stop her or announce her arrival, letting Su Yunxi go straight in.

There were many people in the room, but Su Yunxi ignored them all, asking urgently, "Where is my mother?"

"Don't be anxious, Fourth Young Miss. The Third Mistress only fainted temporarily and has already woken up. She is currently speaking with the Old Madam in the inner room. It won't be too late to see her in a moment." The speaker was Nanny Zhang, who served by Old Madam Su’s side.

Su Yunxi suppressed the unease in her heart, nodded, and sat down to wait quietly.

In the inner room, Madam Wei lay on the bed, barely able to sit up. Summoning her remaining strength, she spoke to Old Madam Su, "Old Madam, the marriage proposal from the Yang family must absolutely not be accepted. It would not only harm Yunxi but also the Su family and my husband."

"What is the meaning of this? Yunxi is my own granddaughter; do you think I would harm her?" Old Madam Su’s face darkened instantly.

Madam Wei sighed inwardly. Old Madam Su was born into the Meng clan of Huazhou—a clan that could be described as small-time. Looking at the Old Madam’s perspective, she was short-sighted and petty. "Old Madam, you may not know this, but the Yang family is related by marriage to the Xue family. Grand Secretary Xue is a man of Grand Secretary Chen, so the Yang family naturally belongs to Grand Secretary Chen’s faction. The Xue family is in the capital, and my husband’s official career in the capital relies on the support of Minister Lin of the Ministry of Revenue and the repeated protection of Grand Secretary Zhang. By calculation, my husband is a man of Grand Secretary Zhang’s faction. In the court, everyone knows that Grand Secretary Zhang and Grand Secretary Chen are at odds and have clashed many times, with many people being implicated. Do you remember, Old Madam, when the Prefect of Suzhou was dismissed? It was because Grand Secretary Zhang and Grand Secretary Chen could not agree, and the Prefect was caught in the middle, *cough, cough*... and was dismissed, leading to his replacement."

Having said so much, Madam Wei could barely hold on. A fit of heart-wrenching coughing seized her, and she glanced secretly at her handkerchief; sure enough, there were bloodstains on it. Madam Wei gave a bitter smile, hating only that heaven was blind and would not let her live a few more years. But the most important thing now was to dispel the Old Madam’s foolish notions. "Old Madam, if we marry into the Yang family, it is undoubtedly marrying into the camp of our political enemies. If Grand Secretary Zhang finds out, how could my husband have an easy life in the capital? Once this marriage is set, trouble will immediately befall my husband. Old Madam, I am not saying the Yang family is bad, but under these circumstances, how can we possibly marry into them? Please, Old Madam, withdraw your order."

Old Madam Su’s face flushed; she hadn't expected to be outdone by her daughter-in-law. Looking at the other woman’s insight compared to her own, the Old Madam felt stifled. This Madam Wei was indeed capable, but unfortunately, she was a bit *too* capable, often leaving the Old Madam with no face at all. Unable to back down, the Old Madam said, "According to you, why would the Yang family propose to us? Do they not know about these complications?"

"Old Madam, if I may speak bluntly, the Yang family’s move is clearly malicious. They think that since only my husband is in the capital and letters between the two places take time, they can deceive us with flowery words. If we truly fall for it and set this marriage, the Yang family will surely send someone to the capital as quickly as possible to ruin my husband’s reputation and make Grand Secretary Zhang hold a grudge against him. Old Madam, this move is too vicious; we must absolutely not be fooled." Madam Wei’s words were firm and resonant, leaving no room for rebuttal.

Old Madam Su felt even more stifled. Madam Wei was indirectly calling her an old fool with short-sighted vision. It was truly infuriating. The Old Madam waved her hand, "Fine, fine. Since that is the case, this marriage will be called off. It will never be mentioned again. Are you satisfied now?"

Madam Wei coughed a few times before saying, "Thank you for your understanding, Old Madam. In the future, Yunxi’s marriage will still require your concern."

"Enough, I can't concern myself with Yunxi’s marriage. You are her parents, you worry about it." The Old Madam was acting petulant.

Madam Wei gave a bitter smile. With her health, how could she possibly live to see the day Yunxi married? Thinking of it, she felt truly unwilling.

As soon as Old Madam Su stepped out of the inner room, Su Yunxi stood up anxiously. "Old Madam, my mother?"

"Enough, go in and see for yourself." Old Madam Su’s expression was unpleasant. While she wouldn't vent her anger on Su Yunxi, she certainly didn't have a kind look for her.

Granted permission, Su Yunxi hurried into the inner room. Seeing Madam Wei lying on the bed, appearing to be asleep, Su Yunxi softened her footsteps and walked forward step by step. Leaning over the bed and looking at Madam Wei, who was as thin and haggard as an old woman, Su Yunxi cried out in heartache. She desperately suppressed her emotions, biting her fist hard to avoid making a sound that would wake her mother.

Madam Wei groggily opened her eyes and smiled. "Yunxi is here. I meant to nap for a moment, but I didn't expect to fall asleep so quickly."

"Mother, please continue to sleep."

"No. This is the Old Madam’s room; it is not appropriate for me to sleep here." Madam Wei struggled to rise, and Su Yunxi hurriedly supported her, asking worriedly, "Mother, are you alright?"

"Don't worry, I will be fine," Madam Wei said, feigning ease. Su Yunxi turned her head away, tears falling to the floor. She quickly composed herself and helped Madam Wei out.

Seeing the mother and daughter emerge, Old Madam Su let out a cold snort to show her dissatisfaction. "Third daughter-in-law, you must take care of your health. If there were to be an accident, I would have a hard time explaining it to Chengxun."

Su Yunxi clenched her fists, keeping her head down so no one could see her true feelings.

Madam Wei coughed lightly. "Old Madam is joking. My husband is the most filial of men; how could he blame you? As for me, it is all just fate."

"It is good that you know it is fate."

Madam Wei smiled faintly, nodded, and patted the back of Su Yunxi’s hand. "Yunxi, let’s go."

Su Yunxi nodded, bid farewell to the Old Madam, and together with the servants, helped Madam Wei out of Rongxi Hall.

[Author's Note]: New author, new story, I hope everyone will support me!