Chapter 296 - 294: Who Does Sister Want to Marry?

Words : 1393 Updated : Oct 16th, 2025

The Xue Family.The Xue sisters stayed behind to have lunch with Shen Yinning. While Xue Qingqing went to the backyard with the maids to dig out that jar of plum blossom wine, Shen Yinning quietly asked, "Has Xue Ling been bullying you?" Xue Mianmian shook her head, her doe-like eyes revealing lingering fear: "Back when I first reunited with my family, he was restless at night, always sneaking into my room. Later, after I started sleeping with my younger sister, he stopped coming. A few days ago, when he returned from Jiangnan, he brought back gifts for both my sister and me. He only glanced at me a few times but didn’t bully me." Shen Yinning finally felt reassured and added, "If he ever bullies you, run to Madam Xue’s courtyard. No matter how brazen he is, he wouldn’t dare act recklessly in front of Madam Xue." "I understand." Xue Mianmian grasped her hand. "Zhaozhao, let me tell you a secret—my younger sister has already finalized her match." "Qingqing finalized her match? Which family is it?" "It’s the legitimate second son of the National Academy Sacrificial Officer." Shen Yinning thought for a moment, and a familiar face surfaced in her mind. The legitimate second son of the National Academy Sacrificial Officer was named Gu Liang. He was an upright scholar, born into a noble lineage, studious and ambitious. Years ago, he had already earned distinctions and currently served as an official in the Ministry of Revenue. Xue Mianmian elaborated, "When Qingqing and I were children, we studied at their family’s clan school—that’s where we first met. After Qingqing broke off her engagement with Shen Xinglei, Gu Liang’s aunt secretly came to us, saying that Gu Liang had liked Qingqing since childhood and wished to marry into our family. My mother thought Qingqing’s quiet and shy personality wouldn’t suit the position of a first wife in a large household, but being a second wife in such a family would be ideal. She wouldn’t have to shoulder too many responsibilities or deal with family affairs, and most importantly, the two families are well-acquainted, avoiding messes like the one with Shen Xinglei. So, my mother felt this marriage proposal was rather suitable." Shen Yinning nodded. "Has the wedding date been set?" "Yes, it’s in May." "So soon?" Xue Mianmian lowered her voice. "I overheard my father and Xue Ling discussing this. It’s said that the Court is planning to send an official to Jiangnan to serve as the Magistrate of Lin’an. If all goes as expected, that official might be Gu Liang. My mother wants to finalize the wedding before the appointment, so she can arrange for my sister to go to Lin’an with Gu Liang." Shen Yinning raised her brows. Currently, Jiangnan was fully under Lu Ying’s control. The appointed Magistrate of Lin’an would undoubtedly be a trusted ally of Lu Ying. So the seemingly neutral Gu Family was also part of the Crown Prince’s faction? "I also want to get married soon..." Xue Mianmian sighed. "But my mother said I’ve only just returned home and she couldn’t bear to let me marry off so soon. She wants me to stay another year before arranging my match." "Do you want to marry soon?" A sneering voice floated into the room. Xue Mianmian jumped in fright. She hid behind Shen Yinning and glanced cautiously, only to see Xue Ling wearing a crimson wide-sleeved brocade robe, leaning against a corridor pillar nearby. His smile was brighter than the peonies outside the corridor, and his seductive brows and eyes carried an inexplicable sense of danger. It was unnervingly creepy. Just seeing Xue Ling made her legs weaken. She wiped the thin layer of cold sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. "Brother, brother..." Xue Ling spoke slowly and deliberately, "Who is my sister planning to marry?" "No, no one..." "Is that so?" Xue Ling strode over, his wide sleeves swaying as he walked. He raised his hand to smooth Xue Mianmian’s hair, tousled by the spring breeze. "The pink pearl golden hairpin I brought back for you from Jiangnan—why haven’t you worn it?" His crimson lips, fair teeth, and strikingly beautiful features, paired with naturally expressive eyes, evoked the imagery of poetic verses like "Mounted on horseback by the tilted bridge, red sleeves beckoning from every tower." Though still a youth, his upright stature resembled a jade tree, making Xue Mianmian’s petite frame appear even more delicate, enveloped entirely in his looming shadow. It reminded Xue Mianmian of the time she’d been confined to his courtyard as punishment. Xue Mianmian did not want to provoke him. She only wished to peacefully get through this year, and marry off far away next spring. Lowering her lashes, she trembled uncontrollably: "I-I’ll wear it right away..." She wanted to return to her room immediately, but Xue Ling raised his brows playfully. "Am I a ghost? Why are you so afraid of me?" Xue Mianmian silently thought to herself, he wasn’t a ghost—he was worse. He was even scarier than a ghost. Avoiding his gaze, she carefully replied, "You’re my elder brother..." "Elder brother..." Xue Ling savored the phrase, gazing at her nonchalantly. "You have the audacity to call me elder brother after stealing my identity for so many years. Now that Father and Mother have taken you in as their adopted daughter, you truly consider yourself a proper Xue Family daughter?" Xue Mianmian’s face turned ashen, her eyes reddening in agitation. She muttered, "I’ve already atoned for years..." And yet... And yet, even the most precious thing a young woman possesses had been taken by Xue Ling. She didn’t know how to continue atoning. In keeping with her decision, she wasn’t staying here to covet the Xue Family’s wealth and privilege. She’d even resolved to leave without taking a single needle or thread from the Xue Mansion when she married. Shen Yinning rubbed her temple and took Xue Mianmian’s hand. "Qingqing will be back soon with the jar of wine. Let’s head to the Embroidered Flower Hall." Xue Ling gave Shen Yinning a sidelong glance and let out a faint chuckle before drifting off like a shadow. Shen Yinning asked curiously, "Does he always act so elusive in the Xue family?" "Of course." Xue Mianmian glanced around nervously as if he might emerge from some corner again, whispering, "Zhaozhao, I’m terrified of him. In the future, I must marry far, far away—to a place beyond his reach!" After lunch with the Xue sisters, Shen Yinning took a carriage back to Shen Garden. At lunch, they each had a couple of small cups of plum blossom wine. The brew had a strong, delayed impact. She raised a hand to her forehead, her cheeks tinted with faint blush. When they arrived at the gates of Shen Garden, Wei Yu, driving the carriage, hesitated and said, "Mistress, it seems something has happened in the garden..." Shen Yinning steadied herself, shaking off the effects of the wine, and lifted her folded fan to part the curtain of the carriage. Government officers had surrounded Shen Garden, poised as if ready to conduct a raid. Shen Xinghan stood at the gate, hands behind his back, while the Minister of the Ministry of Justice spoke to him in low tones. When they saw her, both men stopped talking. The Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Zhang Keyuan, raised a hand, and immediately officers encircled the carriage. Wei Yu barked furiously, "In broad daylight, what do you think you’re doing?!" "What do you think?!" Zhang Keyuan shouted. "Shen Yinning abducted Shen Family’s second son, Shen Xinglei, and secretly imprisoned him using private punishment. With witnesses and evidence in hand, what do you think I’m doing?!" Wei Yu’s face turned pale. These people had found Shen Xinglei hidden in the secret chamber of Shen Garden! Shen Xinghan stared at Shen Yinning. Spring sunlight fell on her face—her icy skin and jade-like bones complemented her radiant beauty. The golden tassels at her temples shimmered with understated elegance. Even faced with exposure, she remained calm and poised, only gripping her engraved gold folding fan with slight tension. Her whitened knuckles betrayed a shred of anxiety buried deep within. He smirked, though his eyes bore no warmth. "Cousin, you are the most ruthless woman I have ever met in my life."

Chapter 296 - 294: Who Does Sister Want to Marry?

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