Chapter 6: An Enviable Match

When she was still young, she had once heard her grandmother boasting to a guest in the Grand Uncles’ residence.

They said that Madam Guo, the matchmaker, was virtuous and courteous, skilled in running a household, considerate and filial. In short, every good thing under heaven had been said of her, and she had foolishly believed that her stepgrandmother truly was that excellent.

Only after the years passed did she understand that some people were masters at doing evil while wrapped in a sheep’s skin.

"No, she is a little over a year younger than my second sister, and there is still half a year before her coming-of-age ceremony. Mother said we would consider a match after that."

Hearing this, He Lingyi became even more certain.

First they had ruined her mother’s engagement with the matter of fate and destiny. Then, by underhanded means, they had destroyed her mother’s chastity and forced her to marry into the Lu family. Once the dust settled, they went to the Qiao family to discuss another marriage alliance. In any case, they were both daughters of the Chi family, and with the reputation of being dignified, generous, clever, and composed, the Qiao family would find it hard to refuse.

A substitution of one peach for another plum—what an ingenious scheme.

"What do you ask that for? You... do you suspect that Mother and Second Sister were behind it?"

"Yes."

He Lingyi answered bluntly. Just now in the Hall of Eternal Fragrance, she had already exposed the true nature of the second young lady, Chi Guiying, so she was not afraid to say a few more things about her now.

Seeing her answer so certain, Chi Guiwan fell silent.

"The Grand General’s residence, a family of merit with real power in their hands. Old General Qiao and General Qiao are both stationed at the frontier, and at home it is First Madam Qiao who rules the household. She comes from the illustrious Kong family, has always been one of the brightest among the gentry ladies of Bianzhou, and she has children as well. If one married into that house, there would be no mother-in-law or father-in-law above to press one down, no pressure over heirs below, and the family would be simple in number yet powerful in influence. Such a household is rare even in Bianzhou. It is only natural that people would envy it, especially those in the Chi family, who stood closer to it than others. That is why I have reason to suspect the two of them."

Chi Guiwan looked at He Lingyi. Emotionally, she could not believe such words, yet rationally, she found herself wavering.

Could it really be them?

"It is only natural that Elder Cousin Chi does not believe me. After all, you have been mother and daughters, sisters for so many years. But as the saying goes, how can one allow others to sleep soundly beside one’s own bed? One must always remain on guard."

"And you? Why tell me this? Compared with those two, I have never been close to you!"

He Lingyi remained calm upon hearing this guarded tone.

If only her mother could have kept such vigilance toward others all along, she would not have gone down a road from which there was no return. Her gaze softened with pity, and then she said, deeply moved:

I have no parents and grew up by my grandfather’s side. I have seen plenty of human schemes and calculations, and long ago I forged a heart like iron and stone. But I truly cannot bear to see an upright and straightforward person like Elder Cousin Chi being deceived into a trap and meeting no good end, which is why I am helping you out of a sense of justice.

Deceived into a trap, meeting no good end?

Chi Guiwan was rather frightened by these words. Since childhood, she had never suffered hardship, and therefore she always expected the best in everything. If all this were truly as He Lingyi said, would she not end up living miserably in the future?

"I have heard that Scholar He is skilled in the art of calculation and once divined the fate of our dynasty. His predictions over three years and five major matters all came true. Could it be that Younger Sister He has also learned the art of foreseeing people’s destinies?"

Chi Guiwan voiced the suspicion in her heart.

At once, various memories of her grandfather’s teachings surfaced in He Lingyi’s mind. Good, this excuse was enough. With her grandfather’s brilliance shining ahead of her, even if this little girl could not calculate the fate of a nation, it would still be perfectly natural for her to divine individual lives.

So she smiled and nodded, agreeing to the claim.

"My grandfather does not allow me to speak of it outside. Such calculations shorten one’s life, after all, so Elder Cousin Chi must help keep it secret."

In this way, everything made sense. Chi Guiwan had never fully believed in such things, but for some reason, He Lingyi’s words carried an air of certainty that was astonishingly convincing to her, and she immediately said loyally, "Rest assured, I won’t tell anyone!"

While the maid Xianchun was brewing a pot of tea, she entered the room and saw her young lady treating Miss He with complete frankness and trust. She was still puzzled when Maid Dongfeng suddenly rushed back in like a whirlwind, panting as she reported the news she had just inquired into.

"The master does not agree. He says this matter is too absurd. The Qiao family also knows they are in the wrong, so they are willing to say publicly that it was caused by Young General Qiao’s lack of moral conduct, which led to the broken engagement. They are also leaving half the betrothal gifts for our young lady as a dowry addition. In this way, even if the young lady remarries, her reputation will not be harmed. The master said he would think it over, so the Qiao family left first, but Sister Xiuzhi said he seems to have wavered."

Of course he had.

He Lingyi sneered inwardly. Her so-called grandfather had indeed never cared for affairs of the inner chambers and his wives and concubines, but when it came to climbing upward, he calculated every step with precision.

This broken engagement would not only win him a favor from the Qiao family, but also preserve face and bring in a vast sum. No matter how one looked at it, it was a perfect threefold gain. Of course he would not refuse.

His talk of thinking it over was nothing more than putting on the air of a loving father.

Perhaps the Qiao family would even add more chips to the table. In that case, whether the daughter married or not would no longer matter, for after all, the fault would not lie with the Minister’s residence.

Seeing this, Chi Guiwan suddenly asked He Lingyi in earnest, "Younger Sister He, what do you think of this matter?"

It was rare for her to have someone nearby with whom she could discuss things. Even if she still harbored some doubts, it was better to have someone than no one at all, which was why she asked.

He Lingyi remained composed and considered everyone involved in the matter.

If she wanted to change Chi Yunjing’s mind, it would be better to strike at the root and go after the Qiao family. If they did not break the engagement, then this marriage would still be her mother’s lifeline.

But she had not been to the Qiao family many times.

Only when she was very young, so aside from Young General Qiao, she knew nothing at all. Thus, there were only two paths: either find an equally powerful House of the Maritime Marquis to personally intervene and smooth things over, or wait for some special opportunity to help Old Madam Qiao resolve a crisis.

In that case, this matter might still be saved.

"The match was arranged by Madam Hai, and the House of the Maritime Marquis surely has a hand in it. Elder Cousin Chi, why not go to your maternal uncle’s home and explain the reason? They will certainly not stand idly by!"

The House of the Maritime Marquis had only sons and no daughters, so arranging this marriage was the most reasonable course for them. Yet when she said this, Chi Guiwan looked awkward, then confessed somewhat ashamedly:

"Three years ago, I misspoke and not only caused my eldest cousin to lose his post before the emperor, but also damaged his reputation severely. Since then, my uncle and aunt have had a falling out with me. We no longer visit each other on holidays or festivals. If I go to them now, they certainly will not pay me any mind."

!!!

No wonder Madam Guo had dared to scheme so brazenly against her mother. So all her paths of retreat had already been cut off.

The House of the Maritime Marquis, such a vast backer, could be brought down so easily?

At that moment, He Lingyi felt both frustration and anger on behalf of the other, but then she thought better of it. Madam Guo must have been plotting against her mother from the very day she married in. First she raised her to be willful and unruly, ruining her reputation completely. Then she severed her blood ties with the House of the Maritime Marquis. After that came the substitution of one for another, the exchange of the marriage alliance. And finally, she would wear away the victim bit by bit like water dripping through stone.

Even if she and her mother died in the Grand Uncles’ residence, no one would utter a single word of blame against Madam Guo.

She had claimed every benefit for herself and still lived so smoothly and comfortably—what right was there to that? As her eyes shifted, a plan suddenly lit up in He Lingyi’s mind.