A High-Stakes Gamble

"What a shameless man." Jiang Peihuan sneered.

"Do you think you can simply replace the daughter of the Jiang family?"

Zhao Fuqing was stunned by the slap, seeing stars. He leaned on the table to regain his composure, fuming with anger.

"What gives you the right to hit me?"

"It's because you're an ungrateful wretch," Jiang Peihuan replied, taking the tea that Yue Er handed her and continuing.

"Who was the one who came begging at our door, pleading with my grandfather to marry me, and no one else?"

"Has the prince forgotten already?"

Zhao Fuqing's face turned red as he pointed at Jiang Peihuan.

"The past?" Jiang Peihuan asked indifferently, blowing on her tea with an air of elegance.

"Since the prince claims it's all in the past, why don't we just cancel the marriage? We could say that the previous marriage agreement was merely a joke and not binding."

Cancel the marriage!

Before Zhao Fuqing could react, Jiang Ruyun was already anxious.

She had put in so much effort to secure the opportunity to marry into the Huainan family. If the marriage were to be canceled, then wouldn't she...

Before Jiang Ruyun could speak, Zhou Rongfang impatiently interjected, "This marriage was arranged by the elders of both families. How can it be canceled so easily? If word gets out, won't the Jiang family be ridiculed for not keeping our promises?"

Zhao Fuqing was furious.

Yet, what infuriated him most was how the woman before him spoke about these matters so casually, as if she didn't care at all.

This inexplicably gave Zhao Fuqing a sense of defeat.

"Don't think I don't know," he said. "She was rescued by a man that day, and someone saw it... Our Huainan family has a sterling reputation. If this becomes public knowledge..."

Before he could finish, the old madam slammed the teacup on the table.

He shrank back and fell silent, but eventually spoke up again.

"Regardless, if the Jiang family doesn't agree to change brides, I'll write a divorce letter!"

This infuriated the old madam even more, and she clenched her fists.

After all, whether it was changing the bride or canceling the marriage, if word got out, it would only mean that the two families had failed to reach an agreement. However, if it came to a divorce letter.

It would bring immense humiliation to all the unmarried women of the Jiang family.

"Oh?"

Jiang Peihuan glanced at him, not bothered in the least.

"You can choose to write the divorce letter or not. But if you divorce me, don't even think about marrying Jiang Ruyun."

"You!"

Indignant, Jiang Ruyun stormed out and shouted loudly, "You lost your own chance at marriage, so why are you stopping me!"

"Oh?"

Jiang Peihuan looked at her with an amused smile before focusing her gaze on Ruyun's stomach.

With just that glance, Jiang Ruyun's confidence faltered, and she sheepishly took a step back.

In her past life, Jiang Peihuan had only discovered the intimate relationship between Jiang Ruyun and Zhao Fuqing after Ruyun had married into the family.

Jiang Ruyun, that foolish girl, had secretly become pregnant with Zhao Fuqing's child!

The others, however, remained clueless, assuming that Ruyun was simply afraid of Jiang Peihuan.

Zhou Rongfang didn't think much of it either. She pulled Jiang Ruyun close and tearfully said, "Huanhuan, I shouldn't say this, but Ruyun is your sister too. You shouldn't wish her harm, right?"

"If you know you shouldn't say it, then keep quiet," Jiang Peihuan replied, gently setting down her teacup.

Her mother's health was deteriorating, and her Second Aunt seemed to be growing bolder.

"The bride swap isn't even settled, and you're already siding with the Huainan family. Once you become relatives, will you abandon the Jiang family altogether?"

"You! You're falsely accusing me!" Zhou Rongfang's face flushed with embarrassment, and she glared at Jiang Peihuan, feeling puzzled.

Jiang Peihuan was known for her bravery and easygoing nature. When had she ever been this stern?

Could this really be Jiang Peihuan?

The atmosphere turned tense, and under Jiang Peihuan's piercing gaze, Jiang Ruyun's legs trembled slightly.

However, she quickly composed herself, knowing she couldn't hide her pregnancy if the marriage wasn't changed.

With that in mind, she approached and knelt before Jiang Peihuan.

"Fu Qing and I are deeply in love. I hope, Elder Sister, you can grant us your blessing!"

As sisters raised under the same roof, Jiang Ruyun hoped that Jiang Peihuan would understand.

She had shown vulnerability and had said as much.

The strong-willed Jiang Peihuan would never back down without good reason.

But in the end, Jiang Peihuan's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.

"Grant your wishes? Tell me, why should I?"

Why...

Jiang Ruyun hadn't expected Jiang Peihuan to respond that way and was momentarily at a loss for words.

Her vulnerability stirred Zhao Fuqing's protective instincts, and he stepped forward, confronting Jiang Peihuan.

"What exactly do you want, Jiang Peihuan!"

The old madam immediately saw through the "deep affection" between Fuqing and Ruyun.

She shook her head at Jiang Peihuan. 

Jiang Peihuan knew her grandmother had understood and was hinting for her to prioritize the family's interests.

But how could she swallow this injustice without a fight?

Jiang Peihuan turned around and said, "If you want to swap brides, I have a condition."

"What condition?" Zhao Fuqing asked.

"I want one hundred thousand taels of gold, and then I'll agree to this arrangement," Jiang Peihuan replied.

"One hundred thousand taels of gold! Have you lost your mind?" Zhao Fuqing exclaimed.

Seeing his hesitation, Jiang Peihuan added fuel to the fire. "Is my younger sister less valuable than material possessions in the prince's eyes?"

The requested 100,000 taels of gold was a substantial sum for the Huainan family. Although they could afford it, it would still sting for a while.

"Brother Fuqing…"

Before Zhao Fuqing could speak again, Jiang Ruyun called out his name pitifully, tugging at his heartstrings.

He gritted his teeth and relented. "Fine! I'll pay the 100,000 taels of gold, but you mustn't go back on your word!"

"Of course not. Bring the ink, brush, and paper," Jiang Peihuan commanded.

"Verbal agreements aren't enough. We need it in writing," she insisted.

As Zhao Fuqing looked at the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone brought forward, he seethed with anger. Jiang Peihuan had clearly anticipated this.

He began to doubt whether today's events were his decision or if they had been orchestrated by her from the start.

Regardless, at this point, he had no choice but to accept his fate and take the pen. After a few strokes, he finished writing.

Jiang Peihuan retrieved the contract and ordered the marriage document to be presented.

Zhao Fuqing took the document and replaced it with another one, now with Jiang Ruyun's name on it. The bride swap was complete.

Zhao Fuqing breathed a sigh of relief. But thinking about the 100,000 taels of gold, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Jiang Peihuan, as a woman, you're quite competitive. Let me offer some advice. In the future, learn needlework so you can better care for your husband and raise your children."

With the gold in hand, Jiang Peihuan fearlessly replied, "You're being rude, brother-in-law. Since we've already changed our marriage arrangement, my future marriage is none of your concern."

"And how dare you speak out of line while my grandmother is present?" she continued.

"You!"

Zhao Fuqing grew even angrier and more desperate, blurting out, "Though we've changed the marriage today, the whole city knows that I rejected you! Who would dare marry you now?"

The Old Madam couldn't sit idly by as Zhao Fuqing continued his tirade in the Jiang household.

Just as she was about to speak, a cold voice came from a distance.

"Who would dare not marry her?"