Chapter 11 Evading the Banquet
A few days later, the invitation for the spring banquet arrived on my desk.
I knew from Aniang's account that this would be Shen Wanrong's moment to shine, and the start of my complete fall into the abyss.
She would compose a magnificent poem at the banquet about a swan with broken wings, depressed and unfulfilled.
Everyone would praise her clever conception and overflowing talent.
Then they would pity her background. They would bring up again how I originally refused to yield Yaoguang Courtyard.
Then, everyone would surround me. They would attack me verbally.
Naturally, I would refuse to accept it.
But my anger and rebuttals would become proof that Shen Wanrong, residing in Loyal and Brave Marquis Mansion, was constrained in everything.
Everyone would say she was the proud sun of the border, bright and arrogant. But because of me, she would compromise, hesitant.
The more I defended fiercely, the more accusations I would get.
Those sarcastic remarks would fill my ears. They would drive me completely mad.
When I came to my senses, screams would surround me.
Somehow, I would have pushed Shen Wanrong into the lotus pond.
Xie Yunting would see from afar. He would rush over and slap me.
My betrothed cousin Wang Shaoheng would jump into the water without hesitation to save her.
Under everyone's eyes, I would be deemed vicious, unable to tolerate the iron-blooded orphan.
After the spring banquet, my reputation would be thoroughly ruined.
Loyal and Brave Marquis Xie Chengzong claimed family misfortune. He personally severed my hand tendons. He gained a name for justice without favoritism.
Xie Yunting forced me to kneel before Shen Wanrong. He said no rising until she forgave.
I knelt until my legs were ruined. Thereafter, every weather change felt like needles piercing bones, unbearable pain.
The Langya Wang family made a big show of coming to break the engagement.
Cousin Wang Shaoheng, who always said he'd wait to marry me when grown, spent lavishly. He had Changyin Pavilion compose a play mocking me. They performed it for three whole months.
...
What came after, I dared not recall.
This spring banquet, I absolutely couldn't go.
I deliberately blew in the wind all night. I wiped my body with cold water. Finally, I fell ill.
In my feverish daze, I heard Shen Wanrong's voice.
"Is she really sick?"
She muttered. "Really a pampered flower, weak and fragile at the slightest thing."
Beside her was Wang Shaoheng. "Yaohua has been frail since childhood. Indeed not as tough as Shen Wanrong."
"Oh, you're mocking me as rough-skinned and thick-fleshed, not precious enough?"
He responded with appeasing words. "Shen Wanrong, if you say that, you're wronging me to death..."
Wang and Xie families betrothed us since childhood. He always looked down on other women, cold to them. Now he flirted with Shen Wanrong at my sickbed.
I lay groggily. Amid the discomfort, I felt a trace of relief.
Good thing I anticipated. Finally, I escaped that spring banquet.Chapter 7: Brother's Return
Shen Wanrong settled into the marquis's mansion just like that.
I stuck to the principle of avoiding what I couldn't provoke. I didn't step out of the main gate or the inner gate.
I let her flirt intimately with Father, practically becoming the second master of the marquis's mansion.
She was generous. With Xie Chengzong's full protection.
Their overstepping actions stayed well concealed. Except for a few close servants in Yaoguang Courtyard, no one gossiped.
Gradually, the "best" Xiaoxiang Courtyard became a deserted place.
I didn't mind. I ignored everything outside. I focused on practicing calligraphy and painting.
I knew Xie Yaohua's chance lay outside the mansion. Before escaping, I just needed to remember to yield.
But some things couldn't be avoided even if I wanted to yield.
Two months later, Xie Yunting finished his minor exam and returned home. He came to find me first.
"How could you be so useless? How could you give up a perfectly good courtyard to an outsider?"
His expression was one of heartbreak and anger at my lack of fight. "That was specially arranged for you by Aniang!"
I sat by the window. I watched his indignant expression. I suddenly smiled.
"Brother, you haven't met that guest Shen girl yet, have you?"
He seemed stunned. "You're my sister. Naturally, I came to see you first upon returning."
"Never mind. You're a girl with thin skin. I'll get the courtyard back for you."
I turned my face away. I hid the sourness in my eyes. "Thank you, Brother."
These days, I had forgotten what it felt like to be favored.
Even though I knew clearly not to harbor hopes.
But longing throbbed densely in my heart.
We were siblings from the same mother. Maybe Brother could resist the so-called fate.
Actually, I didn't need to snatch back the courtyard.
I just wanted him to be rational. Even for a moment, willing to stand by my side.
That would be enough.
Xie Yunting rolled up his sleeves. "Wait here. At most a quarter hour, I'll get it back for you."
I softly hummed in agreement. I watched him eagerly go to find Shen Wanrong.
Then, a quarter hour became half an hour. Then two hours.
I waited for a long time. The door remained empty. No one in sight.
I smiled self-mockingly.
I was really silly.
I should have known early on. Once he went, Xie Yunting would abandon me.