Chapter 2
Edward Quan ·
I only had people investigate quietly.
For a long time, there was no trace.
A year after marrying Xie Xun, I finally received an anonymous letter.
One glance at the handwriting told me it was my sister’s.
It briefly explained what had happened.
She had always loved someone. After I married Xie Xun, Mother found her marriage prospects stalled and arranged another match against her wishes.
My sister had obeyed Mother since childhood. Only over her marriage would she refuse.
She had knelt and pleaded in tears for a long time.
As the day for betrothal gifts and setting the wedding approached, she had no other way out. She faked her death and left.
For the first time, I saw her so brave—almost defiant of every convention.
I worried, but felt relieved too.
From then on, we exchanged letters regularly.
I learned she had settled in a southern riverside town. Her children were devoted, and the man treated her very well.
Counting back, I thought she must already know him at this time.
Hearing my advice, she nodded gratefully.
“Xiaoxue, thank you.”
4
At the banquet, the young ladies painted in silence.
Screens separated the men’s and women’s seats. Only blurred figures were visible.
An incense stick burned down. Everyone laid aside their brushes.
Paintings were hung one after another.
The marquess’s wife looked briefly startled, then laughed.
“Did you all plan this? Why has everyone painted begonias?”
Mother looked up in surprise.
My sister and I exchanged a glance and lowered our heads, secretly smiling.
Having Xiaotao casually let slip the lady’s preference for begonias had worked rather too well.
Word spread. Of thirty paintings, more than half were begonias.
My sister’s no longer stood out too much.
Mother gave her an angry, disappointed glare.
The marquess’s wife was dazzled by all the choices.
She turned to Xie Xun.
“Xun, come and see. Which do you like?”
He stood and wandered among the paintings, though his eyes kept turning toward us.
He seemed hesitant. Finally, he stopped before two.
Smiling, his mother ordered them opened to reveal their artists’ names.
“My lady, Miss Zhou and Miss Song.”
She was about to call them forward when Xie Xun spoke.
“Mother, you must have them checked carefully. I’ve heard that at last year’s banquet, a young woman substituted herself to steal her sister’s match.”
“Both Song daughters are painting. The elder is exceptionally skilled, but Song Jinxue is nowhere near her level. What if Jinxue has other intentions and substitutes herself…”
He didn’t finish. Everyone understood.
“Best to check carefully. Avoid a mistake.”
My sister nearly stood to rebuke him.
I held her hand and shook my head.
The banquet fell silent.
After a long time, the marquess’s wife spoke in bewilderment.
“Jinxue is already married. She’s only here to enjoy the occasion.”
“She hasn’t painted at all. Only the elder Miss Song has. What substitution could there be? How could we make a mistake?”
“Xun, are you confused?”
5
He seemed to freeze.
He tried again.
“Mother, I mean Song Jinxue. Not someone else.”
She smiled.
“I’m not so old that I’m confused. My hearing is perfectly good.”
“Have you forgotten? You fought a year ago. She went back to her grandmother and married.”
She waved for the screens to be removed.
As they came down, I unexpectedly met Xie Xun’s eyes.
He seemed to notice my married hairstyle only then. In disbelief, he staggered back two steps.
Ignoring everyone around us, he rushed forward to demand, “Why did you marry someone else? You clearly—”
My cold look forced him to swallow the rest.
Clearly, I liked him. Clearly, I wouldn’t marry anyone but him.
But what had liking and marrying him brought me in my previous life?
I had been full of joy, convincing myself that people in love would find their way together. His love simply wasn’t as intense as mine.
My sister had known him since childhood. They had grown up together. She knew his nature best.