Within The Sound of Swallows - Chapter 1.2

The Girl Who Blocks the Marriage (2)

“You!” Shen Guiya was furious. The always tolerant and low-profile Shen Guiyan had actually dared to mock her. It seemed that she was no longer afraid now that she was about to marry into the Prime Minister’s family.

“Don’t get too full of yourself just yet! I won’t let things go your way!” she sneered. “So what if the engagement is official? You still have a long way from actually becoming his wife!”

“Ya’er!” Madam Shen couldn’t help but scold her daughter when she saw her husband’s expression.

Only then did Shen Guiya resentfully shut her mouth.

Lord Shen looked at Shen Guiyan and sighed, “Since you still have to inquire for the auspicious date, you should go back now and prepare. The rest of you, go back as well and rest. If Ya’er dares to make a scene again, lock her in the woodshed to let her reflect on her mistakes!”

“Yes.” Everyone around responded and left the hall one after another.

The Shen family was indeed a big family. Lord Shen married three concubines and one official wife. Madam Shen gave birth to two daughters and one son; Concubine Qin gave birth to the second young master, Shen Guiwu, and the third young lady, Shen Guiyan; and Concubine Fang gave birth to the fourth young lady, Shen Guiyi. The remaining concubine, Concubine Ding, had entered the manor not too long ago and had no children yet.

Shen Guiyan was falling behind them and was walking at the back. Qin Yiniang¹ also slowed her pace to walk beside her and whispered, “Third Young Miss, you should be wary of Fifth Young Miss and keep a little distance from her.”

“I know.” Shen Guiyan glanced at Qin Yiniang’s slightly worn-out coat and sighed softly.

Although she had given birth to a son and a daughter, Qin Yiniang did not have an easy life. She was originally a maidservant by Madam Shen’s side, and over time, she gained Lord Shen’s favor. After giving birth to the second young master, she was promoted to the position of concubine. However, Madam Shen did not like her and often made things difficult for her. Qin Yiniang had a naturally gentle and timid temperament and endured everything silently, no matter how much she was bullied or mistreated.

Shen Guiyan was taken away from her birth mother at the age of five and was raised by a wet nurse. Even after growing up, she still had to worry about her own mother, as Qin Yiniang was always easily bullied.

Now that she was finally going to marry into the Prime Minister’s residence, Shen Guiyan had already made up her mind. If life in the manor truly became unbearable, she would secretly find a way to send her mother away to live elsewhere. Once she entered the Prime Minister’s residence, she should have the ability to do so.

“When they reached the small path ahead where they parted ways, Shen Guiyan, who was accompanied by her maid Baoshan, was just about to return to her own courtyard when she suddenly heard a sharp and girlish shout from behind, ‘You, stop right there!'”

What was meant to come had to come after all. Shen Guiyan let out a sigh and turned to look at Shen Guiya, who had caught up to her. Behind Shen Guiya was the youngest legitimate son of the Shen manor, Shen Guiwen, who was thirteen years old.

“You caused me to get slapped by my father, and now you think you can just go back and rest peacefully?” Shen Guiya sneered and waved her hand. The servants behind her hurriedly stepped forward to hold down Shen Guiyan and Baoshan.

“Fifth Young Miss, what are you doing?” Baoshan grew a little anxious. “You mustn’t beat us today. Our miss still has to meet the Gu family tomorrow!”

Shen Guiyan was already used to this. Ever since she started showing signs of brilliance as a child, she had been subjected to Shen Guiya’s kicks and punches whenever she came home. Shen Guiya had been spoiled. She never bothered to learn the Four Arts of playing guqin, go, calligraphy, and painting, nor did she learn the Four Books and Five Classics. Whatever she wanted, Madam Shen gave it to her, which led her to develop an arrogant and unruly attitude.

Fortunately, she was about to get married; even if she had to endure it, it would only be for a few more days anyway.

“Want to see the Gu family?” Shen Guiya sneered. “Then I’ll make sure she gets beaten so badly that she won’t be able to! Seducing men at just eight years old— this face of hers really has gotten prettier and prettier.”

As she spoke, she moved closer to Shen Guiyan. Feeling sorry for her own hand, Shen Guiya wasn’t planning to hit her with it— instead, she had especially prepared a paddle made of jade, about a foot long, which she grabbed and swung toward Shen Guiyan’s face.

That hit was extremely painful. But it wasn’t for nothing; Shen Guiya gained experience from it. She now understood how to adjust the force she would apply, just enough to make the jade paddle unbreakable, yet still usable.

“Shen Guiyan frowned. She definitely didn’t want to suffer today, so she struggled a couple of times.

“So what now? You’re scared?” Shen Guiya mockingly laughed. “Go and tell Father that you don’t want to marry Gu Chaodong anymore, and that you will let me have him.”

“No.” Shen Guiyan closed her eyes and said, “I have already waited for eight years. I don’t want to wait any longer.”

If it weren’t for the thought that one day Gu Chaodong would save her from this sea of bitterness, she would have given up a long time ago.

“Ha! Eight years, was it?” Shen Guiya sneered as she slapped her across the face. “Shameless wench— how dare you say that out loud? Today, I’m going to ruin that face of yours, and let’s see how you plan to win Young Master Gu’s heart then!”

A sharp pain shot through Shen Guiyan’s face as the jade paddle struck her cheekbone. There would be no doubt that it would be bruised by tomorrow. If her face was ruined, and with the betrothal ceremony of asking the date and time of birth scheduled for tomorrow, she would probably have to feign illness and ask Qin Yiniang to represent her once again.

Shen Guiya stood very close to her, slapping her face again and again. And for a moment, Shen Guiyan really wanted to kick her in the stomach.