Chapter 1: Substitute marriage

When Granny Gao from the Lady of the Duke Rong’s residence came to fetch someone, Baoning was sitting on the kang teasing a puppy she had just started raising.

A few days ago, Granny Zhang’s big yellow dog from the kitchen had given birth to a litter of pups. But Granny Zhang had gone back to her hometown to retire. Now it was the coldest part of the first lunar month, and in just a few days, the mother dog had died from the freezing weather. Only one of the pups had survived, and Baoning had brought it into her room.

A fragrant incense burned in the room, the faint smoke curling in the air, releasing a pleasant woody scent. Baoning leaned against a soft cushion, cradling the puppy as she fed it milk spoon by spoon.

Granny Gao stood at the doorway and curled her lips in disdain, thinking, Everyone says the fifth young lady from Concubine Xu’s courtyard is missing a screw in her head—no ambition at all, born with such a pretty face for nothing. Now that I see her, it really is true. At her age, almost ready for her hair-pinning ceremony, and still no marriage arranged. Instead of trying to curry favor with the madam like the sixth young lady does, hoping to marry a well-connected man, she spends all her time holed up in this little courtyard. Does she really think she’s a mother dog or something?

Though displeased, Granny Gao still maintained a respectful demeanor and gently knocked on the door three times. “Fifth Young Lady, the Madam requests your presence at Plum Courtyard. It’s urgent—please come quickly.”

Baoning looked up in surprise, her delicate face pretty as rouge. “Mother is looking for me?”

Granny Gao replied, “Yes, she has also summoned Concubine Xu, they’re already on their way. The Master is there too.”

Baoning was even more surprised.

The Lady of the House, Madam Tao, had always been at odds with her mother, Concubine Xu. Because Madam Tao had no sons, while the only boy in the family—twelve-year-old Ji Yun—was born to Concubine Xu, Tao saw her as a threat to her status. Over the years, she hadn’t treated their family of three kindly, often finding even their presence irritating. Why the sudden change today?

Baoning thought to herself, Something must be going on.

She nodded and said, “Just a moment,” then called her maid in to dress her hair and change her clothes. In a rush, she headed out.

Before leaving the courtyard, Baoning didn’t forget to instruct, “Don’t forget to feed the puppy. And when Ji Yun returns from the academy, keep an eye on him—make sure he stays away from my dog.”

The maid smiled. “Don’t worry, Miss.”

Baoning pulled her robe tighter and smiled before heading off.

Granny Gao watched her back and curled her lips again, muttering to herself, Truly useless. Always going on about that dog. Her temperament isn’t even worth a fraction of Fourth Young Lady’s.

…

Along the way, Baoning kept wondering what Madam Tao wanted with her, going to such lengths. Could it be a marriage proposal?

But thinking more carefully, she found it unlikely.

Over the years, quite a few matchmakers had visited. Most were proposing for sons of smaller households or illegitimate sons from noble families. They were well-mannered and decent matches, but all were turned away by Madam Tao, citing that Fifth Young Lady Baoning was still young and that there was no rush—her husband must be chosen carefully.

Baoning knew exactly what kind of game Madam Tao was playing. The madam was hoping she would marry poorly—ideally to a lunatic—just to make her own daughter, the Fourth Young Lady, look even more fortunate and noble by comparison.

That was life in the inner courtyard: petty, boring, and endlessly vexing.

Baoning couldn’t change any of it, nor did she care to try. She just hoped to leave the household as soon as possible and escape this suffocating place for somewhere peaceful.

Thankfully, that day might not be far off—because Ji Jiaying was already engaged, and to no less than the current emperor’s fourth son, Prince of Jibei, Pei Yuan. The betrothal gift would arrive in just a few days.

Married into the royal family as the official princess consort—though Pei Yuan didn’t have a good reputation and was rather infamous—it was still something that had Madam Tao and Ji Jiaying gloating for a long while.

Baoning hoped this would improve Madam Tao’s mood, making her less inclined to pick fights. She truly couldn’t keep up with all the scheming and sharp-tongued cruelty.

…Come to think of it, Ji Jiaying’s marriage was really a matter of luck.

The old Duke Rong had been a distinguished and accomplished man who helped the former emperor conquer half the empire. They had a very close relationship. One day, after a bit of wine, they chatted about how both their daughters-in-law were pregnant at the same time. Taking it as fate, they made a betrothal pact: if the children were the same gender, they would become sworn siblings; if a boy and a girl, they would be married.

Sure enough, a boy and a girl were born. But only three days after Ji Jiaying was born, the former emperor passed away. A month later, the new emperor ascended the throne, and the old Duke Rong also passed away. That betrothal pact was forgotten.

It wasn’t until recently that Madam Tao revived the idea. She slipped some money to her older brother, Tao Maobing, who was a high-ranking general, and asked him to bring it up to the emperor.

The emperor was quite troubled over Pei Yuan’s marriage. The prince was wild, arrogant, and undisciplined, and though he was of age, no respectable families wanted to marry their daughters to him. Tao Maobing’s timely suggestion solved the problem. The emperor gladly accepted, and the marriage was settled with a stroke of the brush.

…

As Baoning turned the corner of the corridor, the Plum Courtyard came into view. She paused to neaten her hair near the frozen lake and curved her lips into a smile.

She had decided: once she saw Ji Jiaying, she would find a chance to flatter her and cheer her up. If Ji Jiaying was pleased, maybe she’d be less sharp-tongued and mean.

She would say: “Congratulations, Fourth Sister, on finding such a wonderful match. You are truly blessed to marry into the imperial family. This brings glory to the household, and I’m sure you and your husband will live in harmony, a long life free of worries.”

But before she could step into the courtyard, she heard a loud crash and Ji Jiaying’s sobbing voice: “Mother, I don’t want to marry him! You have to help me!”

Baoning froze at the door.

…..

Inside the room, shards of porcelain were scattered across the floor. Madam Tao was holding her daughter’s shoulders, sobbing and wailing. The Duke of Rong paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. He stomped his foot and turned around, saying, “I told you long ago—don’t get involved in royal affairs! But you just had to chase vanity and face, thinking you were so clever. And now? Let’s see how you fix this mess!”

Madam Tao’s eyes were red as she shot back, “If it weren’t for you being so useless, bearing the title of a Duke but only holding a fifth-rank government position, would I have taken that step? My daughter is noble and delicate, but look at the suitors we’ve had—none with real prospects! How could I bear to let her marry down? Decent families won’t even consider us, all because of you!”

The Duke sneered coldly. “And now what? The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince conspired to poison the Emperor—one was deposed, the other imprisoned, lost his title. One’s missing, the other’s crippled. And now you’re ready to let her marry him?”

Madam Tao shouted hysterically, “I don’t care! You have so many concubines and so many daughters—if someone has to jump into the fire pit, let it be them! My Jiaying won’t do it!”

At that, Jiaying cried even louder: “Mother, save me! The Fourth Prince doesn’t have many days left—I don’t want to be a widow…”

The Duke was so furious his fingers were trembling. “You… wicked woman…”

Granny Gao hadn’t expected the room to erupt into chaos so quickly.

Awkwardly, she stood at the doorway with Baoning and said in a low voice, “Master, Madam, Fifth Young Lady is here.”

The three inside the room all turned to look.

Baoning quickly composed herself, concealed her shock, and respectfully greeted, “Father, Mother.”

Madam Tao wiped her eyes, sat down without responding.

The Duke’s face was flushed, and he waved her over stiffly. “Baoning, you’re here. Why didn’t you say something earlier? Come to Father.”

Madam Tao cut in coldly, “Ji Changping, what’s the point of those pleasantries when things are already out in the open?”

Her eyes sharp, she snapped, “Let me make this clear—I said all that before to save your face. Now I’ll speak plainly. That cursed marriage—no matter what you think, no matter what Lady Xu thinks— Baoning is going in her place! This is the solution I’ve come up with for my daughter! If you dare play stubborn with me, tomorrow I’ll go to my brother and have him report you to His Majesty. Let’s see if you even keep your pathetic fifth-rank post!”

“You—you—you…” The Duke pointed at her, speechless in his rage.

But Baoning had already calmed down. After hearing so much, she fully understood what had happened.

The royal marriage Madam Tao had schemed so hard for had turned into a death sentence. She couldn’t bear to let her own daughter leap into the fire pit, so she needed someone else’s daughter to take the fall. Of the six daughters in the household, the eldest three were already married, the youngest (Sixth Miss) was only twelve, leaving Baoning the only unmarried girl of suitable age. With no engagement yet, she was the perfect scapegoat.

This was typical of Madam Tao.

Baoning turned to look at Jiaying in the corner. The Fourth Miss had already cried herself out, and now, reassured by her mother’s protection, was no longer afraid—she even had the leisure to flash Baoning a smile.

That smile sent a chill deep into Baoning’s bones.

Jiaying seemed to sense what Baoning was thinking, and said, “Fifth Sister, don’t be upset. You and I aren’t the same, after all. I’m the legitimate daughter, you’re a concubine-born daughter. Marrying a prince as a principal wife is a blessing for you—it’s something you should be grateful for, not resent. Understand?”

The Duke barked, “Jiaying, watch your mouth!”

Madam Tao stepped in to shield her daughter and glared at the Duke. Then she turned to Baoning and said, “I’ll ask you once—will you marry, or not?”

Baoning shifted her gaze away from Jiaying’s smug, mocking face and exhaled slowly.

“I’ll marry.”

Sansukini: Hi. We have a new novel today. I saw that this was translated by another group but all the links were dead and they only translated a few chapters so I’m continuing it. I really love healing-type novels. And this one is physical and emotional healing type. I really enjoyed this novel so I hope you enjoy it too. Releases are schedule on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

I might be launching another one a few days from now, a little silly novel with a very silly wife and a tolerant and loving husband.

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