Destined Marriage of a Sick Bride

Su Mansion, Morning Dew Courtyard.

Rows of tall, sturdy bamboo trees served as a protective circle around the young girl who sat upon the stone bench. The yellow of the morning sun peeked through the canopy of leaves illuminating the sunken cheeks of her pale face. The length of her loose green robes swayed with the tender flick of the wind, and a pleasant melody filled in the air as she strummed the strings of her qin.

One can discern her peculiar features: Bony fingers, pale yellowish skin, and attenuated figure. To call her a face that can topple the nations is a pure exaggeration; she was undeniably an ordinary face which generally passes unnoticed among the crowds. Coupled with her sickly physique, the girl was a miserable sight. The vision of such a girl performing an equally battered qin was nowhere picturesque but the melody of her dancing fingers was calming, like a mother's lullaby.

Standing a few feet away from the female lost in her realm of music were two maids clad in their traditional, garb servant robes. Both the servants had tranquil expressions on their faces as they watched their mistress play the qin; It was the favorite part of their day.

Unfortunately, a cacophony of sharp voices shattered the serenity of the yard.

"Dear sisters, do you hear this?"—a taunting sneer followed—"A celebratory music well suited for such a joyous occasion!"

"Tsk, what prosperity is there in marrying a man who frolics around fun establishments? Be it a prince or pauper, it's an utter embarrassment for a proper lady of our Su family to wed such scum! I feel distressed for our Second Sister..." a second voice sobbed in mock sympathy.

"There's no need to feel awful for a low birth like her. I admit that the Seventh Prince is a sullied name, but even he is too high of a catch for the daughter of a shameless songstress!" the third voice, which was premature, belittled.

The jeering remarks caused the two servants' faces to blacken in an instant. It was not the first time they heard such cruel words, but the intensity of malice behind them developed after the announcement of the imperial edict—a decree which conferred marriage between the Seventh prince, Wang Mo Xie and the Second lady of the Su house, Su Qing. The groom was a prince who exhausted himself in drinking gallons of liquor and gambling, while the bride was a sickly lady with no elegance or skill to boast of.

This matrimony was an unequivocal testimony of the Emperor's ill feelings towards his own flesh and blood. The early rumors that the Seventh Prince was unfavoured by the emperor now morphed into a solid truth.

For Su Qing who was looked down upon by everybody in the Su family, this very fact prompted the other girls of the house to jab at her yet again.

Ah Lan and Ah Mei glanced at their mistress and sighed in relief as they found her engrossed in playing qin, totally unruffled by the gather of lunatics who are in cahoots with each other.

Su Qing initially wished to play the qin for another incense stick of time, but her mood was completely ruined now. No, she did not feel wronged at their words. Su Qing was so used to their methods of physical abuse that bare words no longer upset her. It was just that their shrill screams are not in rapport with the mellow notes of her qin.

A sigh escaped Su Qing's lips, she ended the movements of her hands and set the qin on the table. She then attempted to push her frail body up with her shaking hands. Noticing her strained efforts, Ah Lan rushed forward and assisted Su Qing's trembling frame. Ah Mei cradled the wooden qin which was scraped at several places.

Su Qing leaned on Ah Lan and swept her amber eyes along the group of four girls draped in silk who glared back at her in revulsion. Out of the four, it was Su Rong who despised her the most, but now a beam which almost looked gentle graced the girl's oval face.

Su Rong was done in a golden silk robe that hugged all the curves of her well-endowed feminine body. The peony head accessories dangled down her intricately styled hair as she walked forward in her silk shoes adorned with tiny pearls. She stopped in front of Su Qing and pinched the latter's chin using all her strength. Gazing into the clear, yet impassive, eyes that infuriated her the most, Su Rong spat, "Younger Sister, are you celebrating that you are finally leaving the Su mansion. Are you happy that you are finally escaping our evil clutches? Are you relieved that you longer have to greet my whip and taste the pain of blades?"

Overlooking the biting pain of the fingers sinking into her skin, Su Qing blinked at her elder sister who displayed myriad expressions of dislike and hate. Su Qing never understood the origins of such intense revolt towards a presence like her. She was neither pretty nor talented, but maybe they were appalled by the sheer truth that they were associated with a wretch like her.

"Don't gawk at me with those vulgar eyes, it makes me wish to gouge them out!" Another wave of pain brought Su Qing out of her stupor.

Su Rong pushed Su Qing away and laughed out loud, "You are so stupid! I bet that the Seventh Prince will get rid of you after the first night of your marriage. After all, who would want to sleep with an ugly face."

Su Fan, the youngest of all placated Su Rong, "Elder Sister, don't anger yourself. The wastrel prince and this stupid girl are a true match! It's better that she's alive, then we can make fun of her for the rest of our lives!

"If she thinks that she can take revenge on us with her new title as wangfei, then she's a fool. Let's not waste our time here. Let's go visit our mother and father."

"You're right, let's leave," Su Rong nodded, but before leaving with her entourage, she added, "Su Qing, don't you ever dream of becoming a phoenix. You are, after all, the daughter of a mere songstress. You'll always be beneath trueborn ladies like us!"

As the backs of her sisters receded from their sights, Su Qing addressed Ah Lan, "Ah Lan, loosen your grip, anymore of your strength and I'm afraid that my waist will be broken."

"Young miss, my apologies!" Ah Lan gasped, she loosened her hold and spoke with tear-filled eyes, "I was so angry with those snakes that I didn't notice... Did I hurt you?"

"Silly girl, you didn't," Su Qing chuckled as she shook her head. She flicked Ah Lan's forehead playfully before shifting her attention towards the plump old woman who was approaching their courtyard in a pompous fashion. It was Jin mama, the head servant of the Su Manor. Several servants carried plain wooden chests into her modest wooden house.

"Young miss, it must be the dowry sent by the master!" Ah Mei sounded joyful.

Su Qing stopped smiling at the mention of her father— the man who neglected her existence all these years. If not for her marriage, Su Qing was sure that the stern man would forever ignore her. Ignoring the sudden pang in her heart, she sighed, "Let's go inside and greet Jin mama."