SYADEPCO – CH001
by Your_heartbeatChapter 1: Forced to Become the Lin Prince’s Consort
“Are you really forcing me to marry the Lin Prince?”
In the courtyard of the General’s residence, Chu Baihan, pushed forward by two old maids, turned around and loudly questioned Su Yuan.
Her eyes were slightly red, her delicate face filled with anger. The wedding gown forced upon her was wrinkled, revealing disturbing scars on her neck and hands.
Not far away, Su Yuan’s eyes flickered. He whispered, “Let go of the engagement with this prince. You grew up in the village, and the Prince’s mansion needs a daughter-in-law who is knowledgeable, courteous, and intelligent. You… don’t fit.”
“I don’t fit, but does Chu Yu fit?” Chu Baihan sneered, feeling the irony in her heart.
She was originally the legitimate daughter of the General’s residence. However, at the age of eight, her mother suddenly fell seriously ill and died within half a month.
The day after her mother’s death, at the age of eight, she was sent to a manor in Jiangnan.
That departure lasted for eleven years.
The reason she returned was simply because Su Yuan had written to her a few days ago, mentioning the engagement their families had arranged when they were young. He hoped she could come back for the wedding. Every word in the letter was heartfelt and touching.
Unexpectedly, upon her return, she was forcibly dressed in a wedding gown.
But it wasn’t Su Yuan she was marrying; it was the tyrannical Eighth Prince, the Lin Prince!
And from what she heard from the servants in the mansion, Su Yuan had long ago made a lifelong commitment to her half-sister, Chu Yu.
She had become a complete joke!
“This is the emperor’s decree. Moreover, marrying as the Lin Princess is an elevation for you. Why are you so clueless?” Su Yuan’s face darkened, and his tone became extremely impatient.
Upon hearing this, Chu Baihan raised her head and sarcastically laughed.
“Su Yuan, do I need to remind you? The designated Lin Princess chosen by the emperor is Chu Yu. She is the one to marry the Lin Prince today!”
“You…”
“Also, do you really think I know nothing? The Lin Prince was deceived on the battlefield earlier this year, lost his sight, and since then, he has become even more ruthless. Almost everyone around him has met a violent end. You don’t want Chu Yu to die, so you thought of using me to sacrifice for her, right?” Chu Baihan mercilessly exposed his sinister intentions.
Su Yuan’s face drooped, his eyes showing some irritation.
He hadn’t expected that Chu Baihan would know about the Lin Prince’s situation.
“If you’re unwilling to ride the bridal sedan chair today, then I can’t guarantee the life of your servant who is currently with this prince” Soft tactics failing, he began to threaten her.
“What are you going to do to Nanxing?” Chu Baihan tightly clenched her fists, feeling uneasy.
Nanxing was the daughter of her wet nurse. After her mother and wet nurse passed away, Nanxing became her only companion.
Nanxing accompanied her back to the capital, but after entering the general’s residence, she was taken away by someone.
“If you behave, she can live; otherwise…” Su Yuan sneered.
Chu Baihan’s eyes were filled with hatred, and the beauty mark at the corner of her eye turned crimson.
After a long silence, she deflated, saying in a disheveled manner, “I’ll marry. However, before getting on the bridal sedan chair, I want to tell you something.”
She slowly raised her eyes, the hatred in her clear gaze fading, replaced by a plea.
She was exceptionally beautiful, with the elegance of a woman from the capital and the gentleness of a woman from the south of the Yangtze River¹. Looking at her like this, Su Yuan lost his focus for a moment, letting down his guard.
He walked over, his tone softening, “The Lin Prince is a useless person; he won’t harm you. If you can watch over him for the Crown Prince, he won’t mistreat you.”
Surveillance in the Lin Prince’s residence?
Chu Baihan was momentarily puzzled but quickly understood.
“Su Yuan, the Chu residence is all under the Crown Prince’s influence! Before the banquet incident, Yan Lin had the best chance to contend for the throne. Even though he’s now a useless person, we can’t let our guard down.”
Were they trying to make her a pawn to completely ruin Yan Lin?
After another period of silence, Chu Baihan smiled faintly, “Alright, I cherish old feelings. Since the Prince has a wish, I should fulfill it for you…”
“This Prince knew you’re sensible.” Su Yuan felt pleased and wanted to reach out to touch her face.
Unexpectedly, in the next moment, Chu Baihan’s eyes sharpened. She took a sharp hairpin from her hair, thrusting it directly into his neck.
“We never had true feelings between us. How could I cherish old feelings? I wish I could take your dog life!”
As the hairpin penetrated, Chu Baihan spoke harshly.
Su Yuan winced in pain, forcefully pushing her away and delivering a harsh slap.
After being slapped, Chu Baihan’s forehead hit the nearby stone table, blood streaming down, seeping into her eyes.
However, she didn’t mind. Holding the swollen half of her face, she turned coldly to watch Su Yuan stagger backward.
The servants rushed over, “Prince, are you okay? Quickly call for the residence doctor!”
Seeing them in such a panic finally brought a bit of satisfaction to her heart.
“It’s a pity, this scum can’t die just yet,” she whispered softly.
That’s right, Su Yuan won’t die.
She knew acupoints too well. The recent jab will cause Su Yuan prolonged pain but won’t be fatal.
As for why she didn’t take his life…
This was the general’s residence, and she assumed her dear father was watching from the shadows.
With Nanxing in their hands, if Su Yuan died, neither she nor Nanxing will survive.
“Kill this wretch!” Su Yuan erupted in anger.
However, at this very moment, a servant hurriedly reported, “Prince, the bridal sedan from the Lin Prince’s residence has arrived.”
“Su Yuan, if you kill me now, there will be no one to marry your beloved,” Chu Baihan sneered and mocked him.
Turning around, she straightened her back and walked step by step toward the door.
Just as her foot was about to cross the threshold, facing away from the courtyard, she shouted loudly, “Father, I know you’ve been watching from the shadows. From now on, your daughter will be the Lin Princess. I may not have much ability, but causing trouble is easy. So, take good care of Nanxing for me. Otherwise, the Chu residence won’t have a good time!”
…
Alone, Chu Baihan walked out and saw that the bridal sedan sent to pick her up was just a shabby one, accompanied by a few servants with impatient expressions.
She understood it; the Lin Prince was also disgusted with this marriage.
However, she didn’t complain. Instead, she quietly sat in the sedan.
There was no turning back for her now. Even if the Lin Prince’s residence was a dangerous place, she had to face it.
Quietly, she was lifted into the Lin Prince’s residence without any fanfare.
No welcoming, no ceremonial bows; she was simply thrown into a dimly lit room.
“The princess, the honorable concubine mother said, your Chu family women are not favored. It’s not good to clash with the lord. So, you better stay quietly in the room, pray for blessings for the lord. Come out when your fortune has accumulated enough.” A maid from the Lin residence spoke strangely from behind the door.
Chu Baihan’s heart sank slightly. It seems her “mother-in-law” didn’t like her either.
Oh well, take it one step at a time.
The room was pitch-black, so she needed to light it up.
After fumbling around, it took her a while, but she finally found a tinderbox and an oil lamp.
But when she lit the lamp, she exclaimed in shock…
✧ Knowledge Centre ✧
[1]
There isn’t a specific proverb for this, but a description like “a woman from South of Yangtze River” evokes certain images in Chinese literature. In terms of:Physical Appearance: Traditionally, women south of the Yangtze River are depicted as having delicate features, fair skin, and perhaps being more petite.
Demeanor: The region is known for its milder climate and slower pace of life. So, the description might imply a gentle, graceful, and perhaps soft-spoken woman.
Cultural Background: Southern China has a rich cultural heritage with emphasis on arts, poetry, and a certain elegance. This could suggest the woman is well-educated, refined, and appreciates beauty.
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Translated with love by _ ꕤ🌼Yourheartbeat🌼ꕤ
꧁𓆸 𝒯𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓈𝓁𝒶𝓉𝑜𝓇 𓆹꧂
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