SLH | Chapter 2

Marrying in Place of the Eldest Sister

After a night of heavy snow, the once quiet and serene Bamboo Garden looked even more desolate and bleak under the blanket of white.

Perhaps it was because of the wind last night, Song Tingzhu’s head felt heavy, and even by the time it was mid-morning, he hadn’t fully woken up. Granny Liu reached out to feel his forehead and was startled by the scorching temperature.

“He Ge’er, quickly go to the East Courtyard to get some money and call for a doctor!”

“Okay!”

Qing He stuffed a handkerchief into Hongmei’s arms and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

They anxiously waited for half an hour without any sign of Qing He returning, and the two people inside were both worried.

Hongmei said, “Granny, you stay with the Second Young Master, I’ll go outside and take a look.”

Just as she stepped out, she saw Qing He leading a doctor hurriedly into the garden, and she quickly went up to meet them.

“He Ge’er, what happened to your face?” Hongmei stared at Qing He, full of anger. “Did someone from the East Courtyard hit you?”

Qing He’s left cheek was swollen, and there were faint traces of blood at the corner of his mouth.

He turned his head indifferently and said, “It’s nothing, how is the Second Young Master?”

Hongmei’s eyes reddened, “He hasn’t woken up yet, Doctor, please go inside and take a look at our Young Master.”

The old doctor rushed over, panting heavily. However, a person’s life was at stake, and he couldn’t afford to rest. After an examination, the old doctor stroked his beard and shook his head.

“Your Young Master’s illness is congenital, brought from the womb. I can’t cure it, I can only help him with acupuncture to temporarily relieve the pain.”

For many years, the three of them had sought out numerous doctors, and the results were always the same. But hearing these words still brought a sense of sadness and disappointment each time.

Granny Liu wiped her eyes and called Qing He to politely escort the doctor out of the Bamboo Garden.

Half an hour later, Song Tingzhu slowly woke up. He glanced at the bruised marks left on his hand from the acupuncture, weak and powerless, “Granny, don’t be sad. Everyone dies eventually, and I miss my mother. I wonder how she’s doing over there.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. He Ge’er invited a traveling doctor who said your illness can be cured, but you have to take care of yourself. If you don’t cherish your own body, no matter how worried others are, it’s useless.”

Granny Liu’s eyes were sore, and she spoke comforting words as she handed the medicine in her hand to him.

Hongmei stood beside Qing He, wiping her tears.

Under Granny Liu’s watch, Song Tingzhu obediently drank the medicine. He looked up and saw Qing He’s swollen cheek, frowning slightly.

“Was it Song Rui’er who did this?”

Qing He’s body paused, and before he could answer, Hongmei quickly said, “Who else could it be? Madam wouldn’t bother to deal with us servants.”

“Where is she? How come there’s no order in this Bamboo Garden, and no one came to greet the Eldest Miss when she arrived.”

Outside came the arrogant and domineering shout of a maid.

Qing He felt a sense of worry rise in his heart. The Eldest Miss didn’t like the Second Young Master and rarely set foot in the Bamboo Garden. Whenever she came, it was either to mock or ridicule, and today would be no exception.

He looked at the person leaning against the headboard, lacking energy, “I’ll go and send her away.”

Song Tingzhu, however, said, “No need, let her in. I happen to have something to say to Song Rui’er.”

Moments later, Song Rui’er entered the room with her mouth and nose covered with a handkerchief, as if there was something dirty inside, looking disgusted.

“I heard Second Brother is sick, so I came to see.”

She looked around, seeing Song Tingzhu indeed looking gravely ill and near death, and a slight smirk appeared behind her handkerchief. Then she wiped her eyes, pretending to be concerned and caring.

“How did Second Brother get so sick? Your complexion is so bad, I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Though she spoke these words, Song Tingzhu’s appearance hadn’t changed much despite his illness, still showing his past delicate and beautiful features. She was just taking the opportunity to belittle him.

Song Rui’er had been beautiful since she was young, doted on by her parents, and often praised by others. But ever since her father married a concubine and had a younger brother, that honor was transferred to someone else.

When Song Tingzhu was younger, his illness wasn’t as severe. With round eyes and chubby cheeks, he was adorably cute and clever, never causing trouble. After his first birthday banquet, everyone in Xunyang knew that the Second Young Master of the Song family was exceptionally smart, even surpassing the Eldest Miss.

Moreover, because Concubine Liu was young and beautiful, Song Xing’an adored her, and by extension, was very fond of his illegitimate second son.

Song Madam was neglected and lost favor, and Song Rui’er overheard the servants gossiping several times, holding a grudge against them.

However, the good times didn’t last long. A few years later, Concubine Liu passed away from illness, and Song Tingzhu was sent to the Bamboo Garden to recuperate, rarely allowed to leave. Over time, the people of Xunyang gradually forgot about him, and whenever he was mentioned, they only remembered the well-mannered and beautiful Eldest Miss of the Song family. If anyone remembered there was a Second Young Master, he was only referred to as a sickly person.

Back to the point.

Song Tingzhu didn’t care about Song Rui’er’s attitude. His expression was calm, and he didn’t say a word more than necessary, directly asking her for Qing He and Hongmei’s indentures.

“What do you want their indentures for?”

Song Rui’er looked at her Second Brother, whose features were just like Concubine Liu’s, and felt a surge of disgust.

With a sneer, she mocked, “Second Brother is so generous, already thinking of taking a concubine for your husband before even marrying.”

She remembered that her good Second Brother didn’t know about the proxy marriage yet, and covered her mouth, gloating.

“By the way, Second Brother might not know, but the family has arranged a great marriage for you. Second Brother doesn’t like noise, and the Liu family is far from the hustle and bustle, with beautiful mountains and rivers and simple folk customs. Second Brother will surely be happy there.”

Song Tingzhu’s throat felt itchy, and he coughed into his hand a couple of times.

Song Rui’er, who was already standing far away, took a few steps back in disgust.

Song Tingzhu looked at her, his complexion even paler than before.

“But I heard this great marriage was originally yours, Eldest Sister.”

Song Rui’er’s heart skipped a beat.

He actually knew! It must be those two wretches, Qing He and Hongmei, who told him. But so what? Mother had the Bamboo Garden tightly guarded, and Song Tingzhu, being a sickly person, definitely couldn’t escape.

“Doesn’t Second Brother think you’re more suitable for this marriage than I am?”

Since that was the case, there was no need to pretend anymore. Her face showed undisguised malice, and she mocked, “One is an unloved, terminally ill illegitimate child, and the other is a country bumpkin dreaming of marrying into a good family. Aren’t they a perfect match?”

“As Eldest Sister said, I’m gravely ill. If I die before the marriage, it will naturally still be yours, Eldest Sister.”

“You’re threatening me!” Song Rui’er clutched her handkerchief tightly.

Song Tingzhu remained expressionless, meeting her gaze, “If Eldest Sister thinks so, then so be it.”

Seeing him admit it, Song Rui’er was so angry her face turned red.

“Fine! Very well!”

Let’s see how arrogant you are when you marry into that Liu family that can’t even afford to eat!

She glared fiercely at the person on the bed, then stormed out of the Bamboo Garden, her sleeves flaring with anger.

Qing He closed the door, his voice hoarse, “Young Master, you don’t have to do this for us.”

The Eldest Miss has always been petty, and with the Second Young Master about to marry, offending the Young Miss now might lead her to speak ill of him to Madam, causing trouble for the Second Young Master.

Hongmei was also worried, twisting her fingers in distress.

Song Tingzhu coughed a few times, drank the tea Granny Liu handed over, and after a moment of relief, said tiredly, “Madam left you in the Bamboo Garden to watch over me. These years, how you and Hongmei treated me, she can’t be completely unaware. If I leave, she will definitely trouble you two.”

Granny Liu chimed in, “Leaving the Song family might be a good thing. You haven’t been back to your hometown for a long time. Go back and find a good husband, live a peaceful life.”

Hearing this, Hongmei’s eyes immediately reddened, “Hongmei doesn’t want to marry. Hongmei wants to continue serving the Second Young Master.”

“Silly child, how can girls and young men not marry? People would laugh if they heard.”

Outside, the cold plum blossoms were about to bloom. Song Tingzhu held a hand warmer, gazing at the branches.

What’s so good about marriage? If Mother hadn’t married into the Song family back then, she wouldn’t have died of depression.

“Cough, cough—cough, cough, cough…”

“Second Young Master!”

“Why is the window open? Qing He, go close it tightly.”

“Okay!”

The Bamboo Garden was in a state of chaos, the scent of medicine lingering until late at night.

The next evening, the East Courtyard sent over Qing He and Hongmei’s indentures.

Song Tingzhu returned the contracts to them and asked Granny Liu to give each of them fifty coins.

“Though it’s not much, it should be enough for travel expenses.”

It’s laughable to say, but as the Second Young Master of the Song family, he only had a hundred coins at his disposal. This half a tael of silver was his entire savings.

The two didn’t take it, speaking in unison, “Young Master, we can’t take this money!”

Qing He placed the pouch on the low table, “There’s no need for Young Master to spend. You’ve already helped us a lot. Hongmei and I have saved some money over the years, enough to make a living.”

Song Tingzhu didn’t insist further. That night, he called Granny Liu and had her secretly tuck the copper coins into their bundles.

Three days later, on New Year’s Eve.

The Song family’s mansion was brightly lit and bustling with activity.

But the Bamboo Garden where Song Tingzhu resided remained as quiet as ever.

Outside, the cold plum blossoms were in full bloom. Song Tingzhu asked Hongmei to pick a branch and place it by his bedside.

As night fell, the room was illuminated by candlelight. Song Tingzhu drank his medicine, listened to the sound of firecrackers outside, and fell into a deep sleep.

–

Before dawn the next day, while it was still dark, a small sedan chair was carried out from the back gate of the Song family, swaying as it left the city gate.

Two hours later, it turned onto a muddy road. The sedan bearers were exhausted, and one of them slipped, causing the sedan to tilt slightly, followed by a muffled thud from inside.

“Hey, be careful! If you drop someone, you’ll be in big trouble!”

A plump woman dressed in colorful clothes and with a red flower pinned in her hair pinched her voice and scolded softly.

“Those at the back, keep up. We’ll arrive in just another half hour.”

She turned around and waved to the back.

“Didn’t they say the Second Young Master of the Song family isn’t favored? Why is the dowry so heavy?”

“It’s all packed in boxes. Who knows what’s inside? Maybe it’s just stones.”

“The Song family is wealthy. Do they really lack this bit of money?”

“You don’t know, the richer the family, the more dirty secrets they have.”

“We’ve been walking for so long, and there’s no sound from inside the sedan. I bet they’ve drugged the person.”

“Most likely. I saw that person was limp and was carried into the sedan by servants this morning.”

“Outside, they say Song Old Master is benevolent and Song Madam raises her children well. But now it seems there’s a lot of exaggeration.”

A few men carrying boxes whispered to each other.

Matchmaker Jiang, with sharp ears, heard them and came over, putting her hands on her round waist and loudly scolded, “Dare to gossip about the master family behind their backs? Do you not want your wages?”