Ruan Jiu pondered for an entire night.
Why did Zhou Chang arrange to marry a concubine - born daughter into the Shen family?
Such a thankless task, Zhou Chang would never do it, and neither would Gu Kexing.
So, the only possibility was that Zhou Zhaodi had taken the place of Zhou Linglong, who was originally supposed to fall into the water.
As for why Zhou Zhaodi did this, that was exactly what Ruan Jiu wanted to figure out when she invited Zhou Zhaodi here today.
When Zhou Zhaodi said this, there was no trace of surprise on Ruan Jiu's face.
That calm and composed look made it seem as if all her secrets could not be hidden from Ruan Jiu.
So, Zhou Zhaodi gritted her teeth and continued, "That day, I overheard in front of my father's study that they planned to frame Young Master Shen at the Queen's chrysanthemum banquet.
So, yesterday I kept following my elder sister of the main branch. When she was about to act, I deliberately pretended to stumble and fell into the water."
"Why did you want to take the place of your elder sister of the main branch?" Ruan Jiu asked.
"Because I can no longer stay in the Censor's Mansion!" Zhou Zhaodi took a deep breath. "Several of my concubine - born elder sisters have all been sent to curry favor with court officials. Letting me participate in the Queen's chrysanthemum banquet was also to let me show my face."
"If you could find a good marriage, why not? Why choose the merchant Shen family?" Ruan Jiu asked puzzledly.
Moreover, there was a feud between the Shen and Zhou families. Marrying into the Shen family might not be a good match.
A bitter smile appeared on Zhou Zhaodi's lips. "A good marriage? My concubine - born elder sisters were sent to one official's mansion today and another's tomorrow. Can this be called a good marriage?
They've just become playthings for those nobles!"
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu couldn't help widening her eyes.
Was this the so - called sex - for - power deal?
Zhou Chang was really heartless. For the sake of his power, he sacrificed his own daughters.
For the first time, she felt that the difference between the legitimate and concubine - born children was as vast as the gap between the clouds and the mud.
Ruan Jiu frowned. "Aren't you afraid that your father will find out if you tell me these things?"
Zhou Zhaodi clenched her fists tightly, her eyes filled with hatred. "What kind of father is he! He's just a brute!"
Ruan Jiu nodded. This description was quite apt.
"It was he who forced himself on my mother, and then I was born. But he has never treated us well! Until now, my mother is still in the side courtyard, seriously ill, and there isn't even money to buy medicine!"
Saying this, Zhou Zhaodi's nose twitched, and big tears rolled down from her eyes.
Ruan Jiu frowned tightly. Her emotions seemed so genuine that it didn't seem like she was lying.
"Miss Shen, please let me enter the Shen Mansion! Even if I have to be a servant, as long as you can give me some silver so that I can buy medicine for my mother!" Zhou Zhaodi said anxiously.
From the very beginning, Ruan Jiu knew that Zhou Zhaodi was not on the same side as Zhou Chang.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been unaware that marrying Shen Yu was a done deal.
Ruan Jiu frowned and asked, "Do you know why Zhou Chang wants you to marry into the Shen family?"
Zhou Zhaodi pursed her lips. "He wants me to curry favor with the Shen family, become the mistress of the Shen family, and deceive all the Shen family's property to the Zhou family."
She was quite an honest person.
"Since you know all this, aren't you afraid that we won't agree?" Ruan Jiu raised an eyebrow.
"I'm afraid! But this is the only way out for me!" Zhou Zhaodi's eyes dimmed.
If she couldn't marry Shen Yu, she would have to die.
Rather than being sent to someone as a plaything, it would be better to die decently.
It was just a pity for her seriously ill mother!
Ruan Jiu originally thought that Zhou Zhaodi was a scheming person who had designed against her elder sister of the main branch in order to climb up the social ladder.
Unexpectedly, she was actually a poor soul.
After a moment, Ruan Jiu let out a long sigh. "Miss Zhou, after you enter the Shen Mansion in the future, I hope you can behave yourself. Don't say what you shouldn't say and don't listen to what you shouldn't hear."
Hearing this, there were tears glistening in Zhou Zhaodi's eyes.
Then, Ruan Jiu took out a stack of silver notes from her bosom and handed them to Zhou Zhaodi.
"Since I've already recognized you as a member of the Shen family, take this silver to buy medicine for your mother. Remember to be discreet and don't let Zhou Chang find out."
Zhou Zhaodi carefully held the silver notes in front of her chest.
She looked at Ruan Jiu with eyes full of gratitude, her vision blurred by tears.
She had so many words in her heart, but at this moment, she couldn't utter a single one.
She could finally leave that cage!
That cage where she had lived in fear for fifteen years!
-
On the day of Shen Yu's wedding.
Since it was just taking a concubine, the wedding banquet was not very grand.
Moreover, Shen Yu didn't go to fetch the bride in person. He just sent a bridal sedan chair to carry Zhou Zhaodi into the Shen Mansion through the side door.
After the banquet, Shen Yu didn't go back to his room directly. Instead, he went to the study.
Ruan Jiu saw Shen Yu sitting in front of the desk, looking drunk, his eyes blurred, and he seemed to be lost in thought.
She gently knocked on the door.
Shen Yu came back to his senses, raised his eyes, and said, "A Jiu, come in quickly."
Ruan Jiu walked forward and softly asked, "What are you doing here?"
Shen Yu's eyes wandered as he casually flipped through the ledger in his hand. "There are still some things that haven't been dealt with properly."
At the wedding banquet just now, Ruan Jiu had noticed that Shen Yu was not in a good mood.
But she could understand. After all, two strangers had become a family because of an imperial edict. It was really hard to accept for a while.
Ruan Jiu let out a long sigh and said, "Actually, Zhou Zhaodi is a nice person. Since she has entered the Shen Mansion, you should treat her well in the future. After all, she is also a poor girl."
After hearing this, Shen Yu mumbled in a low voice, "Aren't I pitiful too? I still don't know what it's like to fall in love with someone."
Out of the blue, he was forced to spend the rest of his life with a strange woman.
Ruan Jiu couldn't help but smile. "Well, if you meet a girl you like in the future, you can marry her in through the front door as your main wife."
Hearing this, Shen Yu suddenly became serious. "A Jiu, in my view, a person can only love one person in a lifetime, just like how father treated mother. He never took a concubine in his whole life.
Although Zhou Zhaodi is just my concubine, if I really meet a girl I like in the future, I won't marry her either, because it's unfair to both of them."
Loving only one person in a lifetime.
These words touched Ruan Jiu's heart.
Other men wished they could have three wives and four concubines to show off their abilities.
She never expected that Shen Yu was so innocent.
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips. "In that case, you are really quite pitiful. But you have to learn to accept reality."
Shen Yu had thought that Ruan Jiu would comfort him, but unexpectedly, her mouth was still as sharp as ever.
So, he pursed his lips and said nothing.
Ruan Jiu smiled. "Come on, maybe Zhou Zhaodi is the right person for you."
Shen Yu still looked sulky.
Seeing this, Ruan Jiu put away the smile on her face and said seriously, "Brother, now that you are married, I'll go back to Qinzhou in a few days. I really hope you can be happy."
Hearing this, Shen Yu immediately said, "Won't you stay a little longer? Don't you still want to investigate Xie Jingchu's background?"
There was all reluctance in Shen Yu's eyes.
After all, she was the sister he had finally found.
Ruan Jiu shook her head. "I'll leave this matter to you. Write to me when you get any news."
She originally wanted to wait until she found out the truth before going back.
But the capital was full of intrigues. She really didn't want to stay longer, nor did she dare to.
"Are you done talking?"
A familiar voice came from behind.
Ruan Jiu immediately turned around.
She widened her eyes in surprise and exclaimed, "Why are you here?"