Chapter 3

The guests all wore smiles as they clasped their hands in congratulations. “The legitimate daughter of the Yuan family is as beautiful as a delicate flower, gentle and virtuous, and skilled in everything from music and chess to calligraphy and painting. Young Master Huo is noble by birth and a mighty general of the imperial court. The two of them are truly a match made in heaven!” Huo Beidong lowered his long, narrow eyes, a dark shadow gathering within them. He had gone to great lengths to please Yuan Shuluan in order to form an alliance with the Yuan family. After so much effort, he had finally secured their marriage! Who could have expected such a shocking turn of events before the wedding—the legitimate daughter of the Yuan family was not Yuan Shuluan at all! But the marriage had already been arranged. With no other choice at such short notice, they could only replace the bride with Yuan Qingyi, a woman with whom he had never been particularly close. He still remembered the first time he met the true legitimate daughter of the Yuan family. She had been awkward in speech, timid in expression, and knew nothing about poetry. She looked more like an unsophisticated village woman than a noble young lady. Compared with the clever and lively Shuluan, the difference between them was like that between heaven and earth. If his parents had not earnestly persuaded him and promised that he would eventually be allowed to take Shuluan as his concubine, given his temperament, he would never have agreed to let Yuan Qingyi set foot through the gates of the Huo residence. The Second Madam stood beside Yuan Zhongyi, welcoming the guests, but anxiety filled her expression. She had ordered the steward to deal with Yuan Qingyi. Why had there been no news yet? Could something have gone wrong? Just then, Qiuju walked up beside her and whispered a few words into her ear. The Second Madam's face changed drastically. “Master, I just remembered that there are some minor matters I haven't taken care of. I'll go ahead.” She hurried away, taking three steps in two. At that moment, Yuan Qingyi was still dressed in red. Her slender figure stood straight, her delicate hands tightly gripping a bronze drum as she quietly stood before the vermilion gates of the Huo residence. Looking up, she saw the residence decorated with lanterns and colored silk. A grand wedding was proceeding smoothly and methodically. Just as she had expected. Everyone was immersed in the joy of the occasion, completely unaware that the bride of the day had quietly failed to appear. Once the day's festivities ended, the Yuan family would probably do everything in its power to erase every trace of her existence. Just then, a hurried figure appeared in Yuan Qingyi's line of sight. The corners of her red lips curled upward slightly. She came rather quickly! “What are you doing here?!” The Second Madam spotted Yuan Qingyi's slender figure from afar, and her heart leaped into her throat. She shouted furiously without thinking. Those fools! They had actually let Yuan Qingyi come back alive! Yuan Qingyi suppressed the hatred in her eyes. Her birth mother had been ill for years, and the affairs of the household had always been controlled by the Second Madam. She had nearly died today. It must have been the work of this vicious woman! Yuan Qingyi curled her lips into a cold smile. “Second Madam, what a joke. It's my wedding day. If I weren't here, where else would I be? In the wilderness?” The Second Madam's smile instantly froze. “Stop spouting nonsense. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and take Miss to the side room to change!” She gave the maids a look. They immediately stepped forward, intending to drag Yuan Qingyi away by force. Yuan Qingyi gracefully took two steps back, avoiding them, and raised her voice. “Second Madam, I rushed here at the risk of my life because I was afraid of delaying the wedding. At least let me see my betrothed first before I go and change.” “Yuan Qingyi!” The Second Madam was burning with rage. Gritting her teeth, she said, “It's bad luck to see blood on your wedding day. Go change your clothes immediately and come back!” As long as this girl left the Huo residence, she had ways to make her disappear forever! Yuan Qingyi remained rooted to the spot. Her gaze swept across the entire Huo residence as she spoke mockingly. “Look at how beautifully the Huo residence is decorated, overflowing with joy. Could it be that the bride has already been replaced? And that's why no one knows that the real bride nearly lost her life?” The Second Madam actually took a step back. For some inexplicable reason, she suddenly realized that the once soft and easily bullied Yuan Qingyi was now surrounded by an aura of murderous intent. “What nonsense are you talking about!” Just then, a deep voice came from behind. “Second Madam, why are you making such a commotion outside for no reason?” Yuan Zhongyi strode out with his hands behind his back, his face as dark as water. The Second Madam had been by his side for years. She had always been considerate and capable, handling matters appropriately. When had she ever behaved so disgracefully? Huo Beidong stood beside Yuan Zhongyi, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Father-in-law, today is a joyous occasion. Why get angry? I imagine the Second Madam must have been occupied with something important, which is why she was delayed.” As he spoke, he raised his eyes. Unexpectedly, his gaze fell upon Yuan Qingyi standing at the entrance. The woman was covered in blood. The pale, gentle, plain appearance she usually possessed was nowhere to be seen. At this moment, she was breathtakingly striking. Huo Beidong's heart jolted violently. He had clearly completed the wedding ceremony with Yuan Qingyi and personally sent her into the bridal chamber. Why was she standing here now? Suddenly, the image of the delicate hand he had held during the ceremony surfaced in his mind. It had been fair and smooth as jade, flawless and tender. It was completely different from Yuan Qingyi's rough hands. Could it be that the bride had been switched from the very beginning? At that thought, he turned sideways and looked at Yuan Zhongyi. At the same time, he raised his hand, signaling the servants not to approach. Yuan Qingyi's gaze never once fell upon Huo Beidong. To her, he was nothing more than a fleeting passerby. Her beautiful eyes remained fixed on Yuan Zhongyi. Her tightly clenched hands betrayed the nervousness buried deep within her heart. In her previous life, she had been repeatedly plotted against by the Yuan family. Her father had never appeared at those times. She did not know whether he had been aware of the filthy schemes against her, but deep down, she had still clung to a tiny hope for a father's love. “I was attacked on my way to my wedding today. I ask that you seek justice for me!” Yuan Qingyi's voice was loud and clear, yet she did not directly address her father. Yuan Zhongyi's expression suddenly stiffened. He swiftly turned toward the Second Madam. Sure enough, there was a trace of panic in her eyes. Having known her for many years, he immediately recognized her guilty expression. Before Qingyi had entered the residence, the Second Madam had already shown her dislike for the girl and had even been harshly reprimanded by him for it. Afterward, seeing how attentively the Second Madam treated Qingyi and how carefully she cared for her, he had finally put his mind at ease. He had never imagined that this vicious woman would actually be cruel enough to plot against Qingyi's life! If his guess was correct, then the person sitting in the bridal chamber at this very moment was most likely Yuan Shuluan. And he had known nothing about Qingyi's attempted murder! Although fury surged through his heart, the matter absolutely could not be exposed now. Otherwise, the Yuan family would become the laughingstock of the entire city. Yuan Zhongyi clenched his fists tightly, his veins bulging. He abruptly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his voice was resolute. “What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and take her away!” The corners of the Second Madam's lips lifted. She had been by the master's side for so many years. How could she not understand his temperament? Nothing and no one could ever outweigh the Yuan family's reputation. That was why she dared to act without fear. Yuan Zhongyi turned around and explained to the people nearby, “My apologies for the spectacle. She is a distant relative of the Yuan family who doesn't understand proper etiquette.” Although his heart ached for Qingyi, the Yuan family's reputation mattered more. He secretly vowed that even if Qingyi lost her status as the legitimate daughter, he would never mistreat her in the future. Once they returned home, he would make sure to support her. Huo Beidong had grown up in military camps and could also see that Yuan Qingyi had likely been abandoned by the Yuan family. That was even better. He could now marry Yuan Shuluan openly and legitimately, further securing her position within the Yuan family! “Since she is merely a distant relative of the Yuan family, my Huo family will naturally treat her with proper courtesy,” Huo Beidong declared loudly. Yuan Qingyi stood alone in the cold wind, her delicate body trembling slightly. The taste of blood surged up her throat, but she forcibly swallowed it back down. Sure enough, he refused to acknowledge her! The agony of her previous life flashed vividly before her eyes. What else could she possibly hope for? In Yuan Zhongyi's eyes, the interests of the Yuan family came first. What did familial affection matter? All those promises she had once believed in had turned out to be nothing but illusions. Perhaps this was for the best. From now on, she would have nothing left to yearn for. “Father, if you never wanted me, why did you bring me back to the Yuan family?” Every word she spoke rang out with force. “I endured countless hardships to return to the Yuan family! I am the legitimate daughter, yet my identity was kept hidden from outsiders. Today, on my wedding day, I was even plotted against and barely escaped with my life. So why, Father, and why, my betrothed, do you refuse to acknowledge me?”