Chapter 10: Forced to Marry in Someone's Place

Who could have known? Just as she lifted her foot, her body went limp. She cursed inwardly—dammit, she had been drugged! Before falling into unconsciousness, she caught a faint, lingering glimpse of that old man's insidious face: "You refuse the toast, so you must take the penalty! You should be grateful you were chosen; it's your good luck!"

Damn it! To actually fall for a sedative! That damn old man, once she wakes up, she certainly won't let him off!

"Quick, quick, quick, apply her makeup..."

"You, you, hurry up and change her into the wedding attire..."

Yu Mei was awakened by a burst of clamor. Her vision was a blur, unable to see things clearly, as if something were covering her eyes. Her hands and feet were bound, and even her mouth was stuffed with a piece of coarse cloth. A chill seeped into her heart. There seemed to be many people around; she could feel that someone was grooming her and someone else was changing her clothes. She did not struggle, nor did she resist, but instead quietly allowed herself to be manipulated. She wanted to see exactly what these people intended to do.

"Miss, I am truly sorry. Seeing as Prince Xiang's sedan chair is about to arrive and my daughter is still nowhere to be found, I have eighty people in my household to look after. I have no choice but to resort to this desperate measure... *Sigh*...!"

As if everything had been prepared, Yu Mei was settled onto a soft couch. A man seemed to be standing before her; judging by his voice, he should be nearly fifty. Amidst his continuous sighs, the man spoke sincerely, his voice heavy with profound self-reproach.

Heh! She sneered inwardly, having already understood. A substitute bride. Could she have said that even such a cliché plot could run into her? Could she have said how incredibly melodramatic this was? Although this man spoke earnestly and his guilt was obvious, in Yu Mei's heart, he was nothing but selfish! There were countless ways to solve the problem, yet this old man chose the most idiotic one!

The lives of the eighty people in his household were lives, but were hers not? Was she simply destined to sacrifice her lifelong happiness to marry a Prince she had never met, all for the sake of these so-called eighty people? Bah! Yu Mei had never been such a kind-hearted person!

In her previous life, she was famous for being cold-blooded and ruthless. She had no relatives or kin; although she had an adoptive father, their relationship existed only in terms of using and being used. How could there be any talk of familial affection? In this life, although she had relatives, they only slaughtered one another. Her biological mother had abandoned her, and her father could not even tolerate her existence. Having never experienced such emotions, how could she possibly empathize with that old man's feelings?

Though she had finally found someone like Yu'er who was devoted to her, she had watched helplessly as Yu'er died a tragic death under the feet of those people. The sliver of emotion and moved feeling in her heart had long since vanished along with Yu'er's death. The current Yu Mei was a cold-hearted person: if you were good to her, she would remember it; if you played dirty with her, then do not blame her for being impolite!

"Master, the sedan chair is here, the sedan chair is here..." An urgent shout came from outside the room, and Yu Mei felt herself being hoisted up by a flurry of hands...

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Prince Xiang's Manor.

Gongs and drums thundered, and firecrackers erupted in succession, creating an atmosphere of celebration. Outside the manor gates, a man dressed in red wedding attire stood before the sedan chair, rubbing his hands together with a beaming face. The man was nearly forty; the years had left traces upon his face, making him appear quite weathered.

The spectating commoners were also looking forward to catching a glimpse of the bride's grace, yet they sighed secretly in their hearts, wondering which family's daughter was about to squander her youth...

This man was Prince Xiang, the biological younger brother of the Emperor of the Western Mist Kingdom. In his youth, he had achieved illustrious military feats, and in his old age, he was enfeoffed as Prince Xiang and granted this manor to enjoy his twilight years. However, this Prince Xiang was a man whose lust never died; he already had thirty-seven wives and concubines in his manor, and now, he was marrying his thirty-eighth!

Yu Mei had already broken free from the restraints on her hands and feet the moment the sedan chair was lowered. Listening to the discussions of the commoners outside the sedan, she already had a clear idea of the situation, yet she felt nothing but disdain. Thirty-seven wives—was he not afraid of dying from exhaustion?