It Was A Fake Marriage, But Jiu Qian Sui Took It Seriously - Chapter 5

The words he said startled Shen Qing Li that she forgot her manners and raised her head in surprise. Her eyes looked so shocked.

“I’ll walk you to the door. This bamboo forest isn’t very safe.”

Unsafe?

She had practiced here for nearly six years and had never encountered anyone other than him. She dared not say it out loud; his presence was overwhelming, and talking to him was incredibly stressful.

The small gate of the side courtyard is very close to the bamboo forest, like less than a cup of tea away. Shen Qing Li bowed and said, “Thank you, my Lord, for the umbrella…”

“I’ll send someone to get it.”

Shen Qing Li lowered her head, turned around, and stepped inside, feeling her tense heart gradually relax.

After the emotional turmoil, Shen Qing Li felt much lighter. She returned to her room, washed up, and went to bed.

The next morning, after practicing, she went to her mother’s courtyard for breakfast.

“Li’er is here!” Jiang Yingwan, her mother, saw her face covered with sweat and picked up the handkerchief with a smile: “You crazy girl, didn’t you agree not to practice martial arts and take good care of yourself until you get married? Only Zhi Li can like your mischievousness.”

The smile on Shen Qing Li’s face faded slightly. She remained silent but still leaned forward, allowing her mother to wipe her face.

“Yesterday I noticed you were in a bad mood. What’s troubling you?” Jiang Yingwan looked at her daughter lovingly as she ate.

“I went out in the rain yesterday, and I’m in a bad mood.” She replied sullenly while eating her meal, “Mother, why don’t we go live on the farm outside the city? Manager Qian said that the farm was left by my grandfather.”

Jiang Yingwan gently tapped her forehead and said, “You’re about to get married, yet you still think about playing. I’m staying here to take care of myself and witness your wedding with my own eyes. That way, when I join your father below, I’ll have something to tell him.”

Shen Qing Li’s eyes are teary up as she clung to her mother and said, “Mother, please don’t say that. I don’t like hearing it.”

“Yes, my dear sister, why say such things and make Li’er sad? Not only must you see her get married, but you also have to help with your great-grandchildren.” Aunt Lu entered with a bright, cheerful face.

Jiang Yingwan stood up to greet her: “Sister-in-law, come in. What brings you here today?”

Shen Qing Li bowed slightly but remained silent.

Aunt Lu glanced between them, smiling as she held Jiang Yingwan’s hand: “Can’t I come by to see you? Li’er is about to marry; I came to ask if you need anything.”

Shen Qing Li stayed silent, knowing Aunt Lu was just intentionally adding pressure.

Soon, Aunt Lu was about to leave when Jiang Yingwan cheerfully pulled Shen Qingli aside for a talk. Before long, she urged her to see her aunt off.

As they stepped outside, they spotted Jiang Zhi Li leaning against the garden pavilion. Aunt Lu gently pushed her towards him. Jiang Zhi Li stood up to take a step, but his face was clouded with worry. He wanted to approach me but he was hesitating.

Normally, Shen Qing Li would show some concern, but not this time.

“Li’er…” Jiang Zhi Li’s eyes were red as he stepped forward to grab her hand, but she pulled away. He quickly opened a gift box on the stone table and pushed it towards Shen Qing Li.

“Li’er, I picked this especially for you as an apology. Do you like it?”

Shen Qing Li looked down to see a soft sword, thin as a cicada’s wing, with a gleaming blade that looked incredibly sharp.

She picked up the soft sword, and it hummed as it trembled slightly—a fine sword.

Jiang Zhi-Li really put effort into her dowry.

She didn’t like jewelry or clothes, so he found all sorts of little trinkets for her. When he found out she loved martial arts, he would often search for various weapons for her.

But he never knew that she only loved using the soft whip.

He put in some effort, but not much; to think he could take away her dowry left by her father with just this little effort was too naive.

Seeing her engrossed, Jiang Zhi Lii was delighted and quickly said, “My relationship with cousin Lu Ci is just a fleeting affair. My mother pitied her because her aunt died early and asked me to take care of her. In my heart, you are always number one; no one will surpass you.”

“Li’er, rest assured, I will never let you down.”

Seeing that Shen Qing Li didn’t respond, Aunt Lu also stepped forward with a smile and said, “That’s great, Li’er; you can consider Lu Ci as a servant. From now on, Jiang Zhi Li will take wives and concubines only with your consent. You’re about to get married; there’s no reason to quarrel over a servant.”

Shen Qing Li chuckled. She made a flower with the sword and placed the blade on Jiang Zhi Li’s neck.

Aunt Lu and Jiang Zhi Li were both shocked.

Shen Qing Li’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Too bad I don’t want to marry now. I must cancel this marriage. I’ll give you three days; if it’s not done, don’t blame me for causing a big fuss and damaging our relationship.”

Aunt Lu shouted, “Quick! Put down the sword; be careful not to hurt Zhi Li. If you insist on canceling the engagement, your mother will be so angry, and she might die.”

Shen Qing Li’s face stiffened, and the soft sword in her hand swayed slightly.

Her mother’s health wasn’t good. It is only sustained by precious medicinal herbs, and even the imperial doctor who treated her said that each additional day was a blessing to her.

Noticing her reddened eyes, Aunt Lu understood she was merely venting out. Without hesitation, she grabbed her wrist, snatched the soft sword, and threw it away. “Li’er, you’re a filial child. I know you feel wronged, but that alone isn’t enough to break off the engagement. Every man has many wives and concubines.”

“Zhi Li knows his mistake. Let him spend more time with you; until you marry and have a son, he won’t take any concubines. Does that make you feel better?”

“Your mother’s health is poor, and she’s looking forward to seeing you happily settled. If you make a fuss now and cancel the engagement, your reputation will be ruined, and your mother won’t be able to bear that much.”

“You want your mother to live a few more years, don’t you?”

Thinking of her mother, she felt stuck and didn’t know what to do and just left the pavilion in despair.

She was worried that getting married like this would make those strange thoughts in her mind come true.

But she really wanted to cancel the engagement; she didn’t care about her reputation, but her mother…

Her mother was her only relative in this world.

She couldn’t imagine what she would do if her mother left her.

As soon as I entered the yard, Tian Xing, the eldest maid in my mother’s yard, came over and put down the food box in her hand with a smile: “A few days ago, my lady, you said that you wanted to eat the green bean paste made by your mother. She is feeling well today, so she made it specially for you and asked the maid to bring it to me.”

Shen Qingli pressed her lips together, her throat tightening. Only her mother would remember her casual remarks.

The next morning, she went to have breakfast with her mother, but she couldn’t eat much.

Jiang Yingwan gently stroked her hair and said softly, “My Li’er is all grown up, has worries, but doesn’t tell her mother anymore.”

“Did you have a fight with Zhi Li?”

Tears welled up in Shen Qing Li’s eyes; her mother saw through her instantly.

She smiled, “No, mother, I just don’t want to be apart from you.”

Jiang Ying-wan reached out to her, and like when she was a child, Shen Qing Li lay in her mother’s arms as the faint medicinal fragrance soothed her heart.