The word "exchange marriage" fell calmly from Shen Ninghuan's lips.
The entire hall fell dead silent.
You could hear a pin drop.
Who was Shen Ninghuan?
She was the eldest legitimate daughter of the Shen family, the brightest pearl in the capital city of Shengjing.
She could write poetry at seven, mastered the zither at nine, and at the age of twelve during the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, dressed in plain clothes, her slender fingers plucked the strings. A piece of "Moonlit Night on the Spring River" flowed like a clear mountain spring, winning a full house of applause. Even the usually strict Empress Dowager smiled and nodded, bestowing upon her a pair of jadeite bracelets.
If not for the marriage contract settled early on by their ancestors.
After her coming-of-age ceremony.
The matchmakers coming to propose would surely have trampled the Shen family's threshold.
Princes, imperial relatives, and sons of powerful nobles—there wasn't a single one who didn't want to pluck this bright pearl. Such a woman should wear a phoenix coronet and robes of rank, marrying into the imperial family or top-tier nobility, becoming an existence everyone looked up to.
And Pei Cijing—
The son of the second branch of the Weiyuan Marquis Manor, whose father was born of a concubine.
Although he didn't have any particularly bad reputation circulating, he didn't have a good one either. Among the noble scions, he was only considered average in appearance and talent, neither illustrious nor outstanding.
This wasn't just "marrying down."
This was simply a bright pearl covered in dust, a phoenix entering a sparrow's nest.
"Ning... Ninghuan..." Madam Li, the Marchioness, was the first to recover her senses, her voice trembling, her handkerchief twisted tightly around her fingertips. "Don't speak out of anger! The heir was just momentarily confused. That position is rightfully yours, why give it up to someone else..."
"Shut up!"
Pei Fucheng, the Marquis of Weiyuan, shouted harshly, the veins on his forehead throbbing.
He had just been rapidly calculating in his mind—his son committing such a scandalous act made the second branch lose face, and they would surely harbor resentment. Now that Shen Ninghuan was willingly marrying down into the second branch, regardless of her considerations, it was a bargain for the second branch, and the pent-up anger in their hearts would naturally be smoothed over.
The conflict between the two branches.
Would thus be resolved.
Could this foolish woman still not see the situation clearly?
The girl had already expressed her willingness to marry into the second branch, yet she still wanted to dig this little cabbage back up. Must all good things belong to the first branch? Did she have to force the second branch into alienation and make the household restless to be satisfied?
Pei Fucheng felt mentally and physically exhausted.
He even entertained the thought of petitioning the emperor to guard the borders, just for some peace and quiet!
In the center of the hall, Shen Ninghuan faced the various gazes.
Her expression remained unchanged.
"The Marchioness misunderstands," she bowed slightly, her etiquette perfect without a trace of worldly taint, yet her voice was as clear and cold as jade striking together. "The Shen family passes down poetry and propriety. If we were to marry two daughters to one husband, wouldn't we become people who sell their daughters for glory and disregard moral principles? It's just that the marriage contract was personally set by my grandfather and the old Marquis, and the wishes of our elders cannot be easily violated."
She paused, her gaze slowly sweeping over Pei Ciling and Shen Ningyue kneeling on the ground.
Those two, one with a crazed expression and the other teary-eyed, huddled tightly together, really looked like a pair of ill-fated lovers torn apart by society.
A very faint trace of mockery flashed across the depths of Shen Ninghuan's eyes.
"Now that circumstances have gone awry and the deed is done," she raised her eyes, looking directly at the Marquis of Weiyuan, her gaze clear but carrying an unquestionable strength. "In Ninghuan's humble opinion, exchanging the marriage—is already the most appropriate method to preserve the dignity of both families and not violate the ancestral teachings."
Every word was clear and resounding.
The expressions of everyone in the hall varied.
The couple of the second branch, Pei Fugui and Madam Zhou, exchanged a glance, complex emotions flashing in their eyes—the anger of being humiliated had not dissipated, yet because of Shen Ninghuan's words, wild joy sprouted in their hearts.
If this matter could be accomplished.
Their brat of a son would have a wife again?
Shen Zhongcheng looked at his daughter's calm profile, experiencing mixed feelings in his heart.
This daughter.
Had been different from others since childhood.
Not only was she proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but she also had her own unique insights into things. Her talents often secretly startled him. Even more rare was that composure and calmness far beyond her years, as if everything was within her grasp. She never lost her composure, never panicked.
"Ninghuan," he finally sighed, his tone softening, carrying a rare gentleness of a father. "If you are unwilling, I will absolutely not force you. This is, after all, a major event of your life, you need to consider it carefully!"
"Rest assured, Father. I see the Second Young Master is a good person. If I marry over, I certainly won't suffer any grievances!" Shen Ninghuan softly interrupted, the corners of her lips curling into a very faint arc.
As for why she was so certain.
That was because.
Since childhood, she had awakened the ability of "Mind Reading." Within three rods, the thoughts in people's hearts had nowhere to hide. Just like at this moment, the thoughts of everyone in the hall surged over like a tide, chaotic and noisy—
The Marquis of Weiyuan was rapidly weighing the pros and cons in his heart: "Shen Ninghuan marrying down to the second branch, although it wrongs her, can appease the anger of the second branch and preserve the dignity of the Marquis Manor... This girl is so calm, definitely not an ordinary noble lady. Marrying into the second branch might not be a bad thing."
The Marchioness secretly resented her son for being disappointing, yet couldn't bear to give up this good match with Shen Ninghuan: "My foolish son! With Huan'er's character and appearance, if she could marry in, why worry about the Marquis Manor not prospering? Now look, it's cheapened that worthless one from the second branch..."
The couple of the second branch were full of joy in their hearts: "This Eldest Miss Shen... is truly transparent and righteous. Marrying Cijing, it truly wrongs her. If Cijing dares to let her down, we'll just keep the daughter-in-law and get rid of the son!"
And her "good sister" Shen Ningyue.
Currently kneeling on the ground, head bowed and sobbing, looking like a weak and helpless figure, yet in her heart, she was extraordinarily proud. The tide-like thoughts almost overflowed:
"It's done! It's finally done! Although there were some unexpected changes, in this life, the position of the Heir's wife is mine! Shen Ninghuan oh Shen Ninghuan, let you have infinite glory in your past life, in this life you are nothing but my defeated opponent! Just wait, once I enter the Marquis Manor, I will definitely, step by step, snatch away everything you had in your past life!"
Idiot!
A trace of coldness flashed across Shen Ninghuan's eyes, like ripples on a cold pool, fleeting.
Did she really think climbing into Pei Ciling's bed would let her snatch everything away?
Pei Ciling indeed had deep affection for her right now.
But a man who couldn't even restrain his own desires, how much was his "deep affection" worth? How long could his promises hold? Such a man, she, Shen Ninghuan—
Disdained to have.
Let him be given to that self-righteous "reborn" sister.
And choosing Pei Cijing...
Shen Ninghuan's gaze shifted slightly, seemingly unintentionally landing on the young man in the moon-white robe who had remained a bystander the whole time. He was lazily leaning against the back of his chair, his fingertips lightly tapping his knee, looking so leisurely as if he were watching a good show that had nothing to do with him.
Yet Shen Ninghuan could "hear" clearly that he was muttering in his heart, quite lively:
"System, how many points can eating melons on-site settle for? It should be at least three to five hundred, right? After all, I'm one of the core victims!"
"Speaking of which, is Eldest Miss Shen really going to be my wife?"
"But what is she after? My parents are quite easy to get along with, but our statuses don't quite match... Tsk, could it be she really fancies my handsome looks? Love at first sight?"
"Sigh! It's truly hard to abandon natural beauty!"
Shen Ninghuan almost laughed out loud, hurriedly lowering her eyes to hide the fleeting amusement.
This person...
Is actually quite interesting.
The parents-in-law of the second branch of the Weiyuan Marquis Manor, she had secretly observed them many times. Pei Fugui was generous and pure-hearted, Madam Zhou was gentle and kind. They were not mean or overbearing people. With her "marrying down" this time, after passing through the door, she would only be held up and respected, absolutely no reason to be bullied.
What's more—
She was genuinely very curious about this person, Pei Cijing.
What exactly were these things like System, Melon Points, and Beauty-Fixing Pill? From his fragmented inner thoughts, she could gather that the Beauty-Fixing Pill seemed to have the miraculous effect of preserving one's youth.
If that were truly the case...
Then the days ahead would be very interesting indeed.
Shen Ninghuan's eyes darkened, like an ancient well reflecting the moon—calm on the surface, yet surging with undercurrents beneath.
At this moment, Shen Zhongcheng was hesitating in his heart. What Shen Ninghuan said made perfect sense, and he could not find a single flaw in it. However, marrying off a daughter from a noble family was never just a simple matter of children's matrimony; it was an alliance of power, a crucial piece on the chessboard. Marrying the immoral and unseemly Pei Ciling would damage the Shen family's reputation, but marrying the powerless and uninfluential Pei Cijing would bring them no support whatsoever...
'I should use this opportunity to break the engagement and choose another powerful in-law... The position of the Minister of Personnel is about to become vacant, and several Vice Ministers all have a chance. I still need to use Huan'er's marriage to find some backing...'
Shen Ninghuan quietly listened to the cold and realistic calculations in her father's mind.
The emotions in her eyes remained completely undisturbed.
She understood this father of hers all too well. His noble and incorruptible character was real, and perhaps he did possess some love for his daughter, but his political ambitions and the family's interests would always rank above familial affection.
So be it.
She had never expected any deep father-daughter bond to begin with.
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Shen Ninghuan had already moved her graceful steps, silently walking back behind her father. She leaned over slightly, a few strands of black hair slipping down her shoulder, bringing with them a faint, almost imperceptible scent of orchids. Her red lips drew close to Shen Zhongcheng's ear, and in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, she spoke a few words.
Shen Zhongcheng's entire body trembled. He suddenly looked up at her, his eyes filled with regret.
He let out a long sigh.
And made his decision: "Since things have come to this, and Huan'er has no objections, then let us change the marriage arrangement!"
Sunlight swept across Shen Ninghuan's tranquil profile, her long eyelashes casting shallow shadows beneath her eyes. No one saw the faint smile deep in her gaze—a smile that said everything was entirely within her grasp.
