Chapter 1 The Doll Betrothal
Before Grandfather died, he held my hand tightly and told me about the childhood betrothal arranged for me.
"It's with the second son of the Pei family in Jiangdu… his name… his name…"
He gasped for breath before he could finish. Then he was gone.
I was overwhelmed with grief.
After settling Grandfather's funeral affairs, half a month later I set off for the capital with the betrothal token.
Grandfather had once served in the Imperial Medical Institute. When he grew older, he resigned and returned to the countryside, opening a small clinic to support himself.
Because he had treated my betrothed when the boy was still very young, the two families made this match.
Grandfather never clearly said the name, but I remembered it was the second son of the Pei family in Jiangdu.
It shouldn't be too hard to find.
Besides, just before he passed, Grandfather had forced himself to write a letter to the Pei family in Jiangdu.
Before I left, I also sent a letter there, stating my expected arrival time and insisting that Second Young Master must send someone to meet me at the dock.
Must!
In the letter, I hesitated, then circled those two words heavily.
Otherwise, if I couldn't recognize anyone, what if I got lost?
After boarding the boat, I stood at the rail gazing at the river, enjoying the sea breeze. My mood had just lightened when I overheard two men talking behind me.
"Hey, have you heard? That countryside fiancée of Second Young Master is coming to the capital to find him!"
Second Young Master?
I glanced down at myself.
Countryside fiancée?
It couldn't be such a coincidence…
The other man asked doubtfully, "Second Young Master is still a noble young master from a prestigious family. How could he be engaged to some village girl?"
"It seems the families had some connection, so they made the match. After all these years, no one even knows what she looks like."
"That countryside girl will definitely leave disappointed.
Forget that Second Young Master already has Jiang Qinghan by his side—even if you ignore that, growing up in the countryside means she's probably ugly, big and clumsy, crude in temperament.
Someone as proud as Second Young Master would never look at her twice… "
I couldn't listen anymore. I turned and glared fiercely at the two men, then walked away.
"Miss… Miss…"
Footsteps hurried after me. The two caught up.
"May I ask if we offended you somewhere just now? My name is He Lang. I apologize sincerely. May I know your name…"
"Yes, I'm Chen Fangzhou…"
Their eager expressions frightened me. I quickly shut my cabin door, shutting them outside.
Grandfather was right. People outside really were scary.
This official boat had set out from Jiangnan and was heading north to the capital. The two men were dressed luxuriously and spoke with a Yunjing accent—they were clearly from the capital.
So the Second Young Master they were talking about must be the one I was betrothed to.
He looked down on me for growing up in the countryside and already had someone he liked?
I clenched my fingers tightly.
When I reached the capital, if I confirmed it was true, then I…
I wouldn't marry him!
I thought viciously.