Within The Sound of Swallows - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Calamity at the Coming-of-Age

No matter how she thought about it, this whole situation felt utterly absurd. The man who was already engaged to her, the one she had always trusted, had slept with her legitimate younger sister again, the second time. And yet, he still claimed that he wanted to marry her, without taking any responsibility for her sister. And now, her younger sister’s mother was pressing her to make a decision?

If she went ahead with the marriage, wouldn’t that indicate she was turning a blind eye to her sister’s feelings, just for the wealth and status of the Prime Minister’s family? But if she said she wouldn’t marry him, wouldn’t it look like a mere concubine-born daughter from a lowly Vice Minister’s household was trying to break off a marriage with the powerful Prime Minister’s family?

Did they all think she was a fool?

Shen Guiyan’s face turned pale as she lowered her head,  not saying a word. She simply asked Baoshan to quickly inform her father to come and preside over this matter fairly.

Shen Guiya, beside her, was pinching hard her own thigh; her eyes were already glistening with tears. Shen Guiyan watched her actions, somewhat stunned. She had never seen anyone act like this before.

As soon as Lord Shen stepped into the main hall, Shen Guiya dropped to her knees with a thud, clung to his leg, and cried out, “Father, just kill me! I have no face left to show to anyone anymore. For the sake of my sister’s marriage, just kill me!”

Shen Shiqing was startled and instinctively helped her up. Then he asked, “What’s going on?”

Gu Chaodong, who was supposed to leave the residence long ago, was still kneeling nearby. Lord Shen frowned at the sight and sat down in the head seat of the hall.

Shen Guiya sobbed with tears streaming down her face, saying, “I truly like Young Master Gu… Being intimate with him was something I just couldn’t help. It’s all my fault. I’m shameless, I have no self-respect…”

As she blamed herself, she slapped her face hard several times.

Shen Guiyan widened her eyes. She thought that Shen Guiya must have gone mad or was definitely possessed by someone!

Everyone in the hall was momentarily left speechless. Gu Chaodong even went so far as to grab the hand she had used to slap herself and frowned as he called her name, “Fifth Miss!”

Shen Guiya immediately clutched his hand and began to sob softly. The two of them knelt side by side, looking like a pairof mandarin ducks¹ about to be torn apart.

Gu Chaodong’s emotions were rather complicated. He stared at Shen Guiya for a long time, then glanced at Shen Guiyan. Shen Guiyan felt as if he was hesitating. The struggle in his eyes was plain to see. But in the next moment, Gu Chaodong turned to Shen Shiqing, bowed, and said, “What happened today was my fault, not the Fifth Miss’s. Once Guiyan becomes my wife, I will definitely give the Fifth Miss a proper explanation.”

Shen Guiya shiffled “Young Master Gu, you don’t need to feel troubled. If it’s not my fate, then I won’t force it.”

One was not forgetting responsibility, while the other was understanding and reasonable; the two of them made quite a pair, making everyone else seem like the villains. Lord Shen could only sigh. Naturally, he found it hard to blame them further. Since they were willing to settle things peacefully, then so be it.

After all, a higher official could crush a person to death², let alone those several ranks higher.

Let’s keep the peace, let’s keep the peace.³

Shen Guiyan was somewhat unsettled, but when she glanced at Shen Guiya, who was still crying, she thought that Shen Guiya must be feeling even worse. At least she herself was going to marry Gu Chaodong as his main wife. Shen Guiya, on the other hand, had nothing.

When the crowd dispersed and everyone was gone, Shen Guiya, who walking ahead, suddenly turned around and smiled at her. “You must really hate me, don’t you?”

Shen Guiyan was taken aback.

“It can’t be helped, I’m someone who has crossed through time and was born to be a protagonist.” Shen Guiya dropped her earlier pitiful act and grinned smugly. “You probably don’t even understand what I’m saying, but now that I’m here, no matter how pretty you are, you can’t outshine Shen Guiya.”

She covered her mouth and laughed triumphantly. After watching so many time-travel dramas, it was finally her turn. She would make every man fall in love with her and claim all the riches of the world for herself. So what if the supporting characters were beautiful and skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? She was from the modern era; what could she possibly fail to obtain?

Shen Guiyan frowned as she watched the girl walk away, still laughing. She then turned to her maid Baoshan and asked in a daze, “Has she truly lost her mind from nearly drowning?”

Baoshan pursed her lips, “It’s quite worse than that, I’d say.”

What did Shen Guiya mean by saying her young miss couldn’t outshine her? Her young miss never thought about competing in the first place. However, the things that rightfully belonged to her, obviously, she would never give them up.

Shaking her head, Shen Guiyan figured she might as well go back and finish embroidering her wedding dress. If Shen Guiya wanted to go crazy, then so be it.

***

“Miss, do you still dislike Third Miss just as much as before?” Yushu supported Shen Guiya and asked curiously, “Even without your old memories, you still hate her?”

Shen Guiya gave a cold snort. “I don’t like her looks. She’s way too pretty. She’s definitely a vixen. And that Young Master Gu? He’s just another guy who thinks with his lower half. How could he have good taste in women? So shallow.”

Yushu was slightly taken aback, not used to her young lady’s tone.

Shen Guiya went on, “Back where I came from, I saw plenty of women like her. Just because they’re beautiful, men flock to them. And if they’ve read a considerable number of books, all of a sudden, they’re something special. Hmph! Those men have no eye for true beauty. None of them saw my inner charm.”

Yushu couldn’t completely understand her words and just laughed a couple of times in response.

Shen Guiya stepped inside the room with full confidence as she continued to scheme about how to win Gu Chaodong over.

***

The wedding date was approaching, but for some reason, Shen Guiyan didn’t feel happy at all. She had always looked forward to getting married, but ever since the incident between Shen Guiya and Gu Chaodong, her excitement had waned. Gu Chaodong had come to explain things to her, but even that didn’t spark much interest anymore. The admiration she once had for his knowledge and gentle demeanor had completely faded.

However, she still had to get married.

The wedding dress was already finished. When it was brought to Madam Shen, although her expression wasn’t very pleasant, she still nodded and said, “Not bad.”

“How rare, it’s all hand-embroidered.” Shen Guiya remarked as she picked up the upper garment for a closer look. With a soft chuckle, she held it up against herself and asked Yushu, “Does it look good?”

Yushu nodded in agreement, “Of course, my lady looks beautiful in anything.”

Shen Guiya giggled and readily grabbed the skirt and the veil, “Well, since it looks so good, I’ll try it on then.”

Shen Guiyan frowned: “This is a wedding dress, and you haven’t been betrothed yet. Trying it on would be inappropriate.”

“What could be inappropriate about it?” Shen Guiya replied lightly. “Just yesterday, Chaodong told me that once Sister marries in, he intends to send a formal proposal to our family for me. Sooner or later, we will be one family.”

Yesterday? Shen Guiyan’s complexion turned slightly pale. Gu Chaodong had come to see Shen Guiya again, yesterday?

She had no idea at all.

Madam Shen sat leisurely to one side, sipping her tea, making no attempt to restrain Shen Guiya’s somewhat presumptuous behavior. After trying on the wedding garments, Shen Guiya even laughed and said, “Not bad. Sister, I shall entrust you with the making of my future wedding dress as well.”

“Very well,” Shen Guiyan replied softly, lowering her gaze.

She must endure it still. She had managed to endure so much over the years, surely she could hold on for these last two days.

The day of her wedding happened to coincide with her coming-of-age ceremony. The entire household was lively and bustling with preparations; however, since early morning, Qin Yiniang appeared visibly troubled. Seeing her reflection in the mirror, Shen Guiyan asked with concern, “Qin Yiniang, are you feeling unwell?”

With pale lips, Qin Yiniang helped her comb her hair. “It’s fine, being able to send the Third Miss off is worth any discomfort.”

“With the first combing, may your hair be smooth and healthy to its tips; with the second combing, may your relationship with your husband stay harmonious as you two grow older…”

Shen Guiyan stared blankly at Aunt Qin in the mirror. She was happy, and even though her complexion was getting worse, she still wore a smile. The cold sweat gathered on her forehead, and her waist bent lower and lower, yet she didn’t make a sound.

“With the third combing… may you be blessed with a house full of descendants…”

“Qin Yiniang?” Shen Guiyan’s eyes widened in alarm as the figure behind her suddenly collapsed to the ground, sweat covering her face, curling tightly as she clutched her abdomen. “With the combing complete… the hair is gently tied up…”

What hair-tying?! Shen Guiyan’s eyes reddened as she cried out, “Go get the doctor!”

“It is inauspicious to summon a doctor on the wedding day…” Qin Yiniang forced a smile as she grasped her sleeve. “It’s nothing but a stomach ache… just a stomach ache…”

“A stomach ache wouldn’t cause you this much pain!” Shen Guiyan snapped sharply, brushing off her sleeve, and was about to rush out herself.

However, the hand gripping her sleeve was flung away. Startled, Shen Guiyan tried to reach out, wanting to grab her hand, but only caught the empty air. Qin Yiniang closed her eyes, and her hand slammed to the ground, motionless.

It seemed like all the sounds around them had vanished. The matchmaker, maids, and attendants all rushed in without even paying attention to Qin Yiniang’s condition, hurriedly carrying her out.

“Great luck, great fortune! Ah, great luck, great fortune!” the matchmaker chattered incessantly nearby. Before Shen Guiyan was pushed back to the dressing table, her whole body went ice cold.

The great calamity at her coming-of-age.

Shen Guiyan stared at her reflection in the mirror for a long time. Recalling Qing Yiniang’s earlier appearance, all the beautiful makeup she had just put on was now ruined.

“Miss, please pull yourself together. The bridal sedan from the Prime Minister’s residence has arrived.” Baoshan, who cried even more pitifully than her, still urged her to be strong.

Shen Guiyan remained unresponsive. As a matchmaker brought a bridal veil to cover her face, the Old Nanny Xiurong suddenly appeared and said, “Quickly, have Third Miss and Fifth Miss change their clothes!”

***

✒️ TL Note:

Hi there! If you spot any mistakes in my translation, feel free to comment—I’d really appreciate it. Even if not, I’d still love to hear your thoughts!😊 And if you enjoyed my translation and wanna help me fuel the next one, you can bribe me with a coffee ☕ — it would mean a lot to me!💙💚