Volume One, Chapter 20: Am I Here to Admire the Moon?

Qin Siyao’s words successfully stopped Gu Shuya from walking out. Hearing this, she turned around.

“What are you saying?”

Qin Siyao faced away from Gu Shuya. Upon hearing her question, she clenched her fists tightly. “I don’t want to marry Xu Wei. I don’t like him.”

“I know that arranged marriages between noble families are about matching status, not mutual affection. Does Mother want me to repeat your mistake?”

“To live like you do, day after day, year after year, hoping Father will love you someday?”

Each word pierced Gu Shuya’s heart. She was so angry her vision blurred. Fortunately, Madam Li beside her reached out to steady her. “Madam.”

“I am your mother. Is this how you speak to me?”

Gu Shuya took a few steps to Qin Siyao and pulled her up from the floor. “Is this how you see me?”

She admitted to having selfish motives, but how could she ever harm Qin Siyao?

“You are the child I bore after ten months of pregnancy. How could I sacrifice your marriage for your father’s career?”

Seeing Gu Shuya’s tears fall, Qin Siyao cried too. “I can accept others, but I cannot accept Xu Wei’s harem.”

“I don’t expect my future husband to be devoted, but at least not so fickle and indulgent.”

She knew she appeared foolish in Gu Shuya’s eyes; Qin Siyao was painfully aware of that.

Watching her father and mother interact with cold politeness, Qin Siyao also felt sorry for her mother.

But she could not change her father’s opinion of her mother.

Sometimes, Qin Siyao thought that if she were her father, she too would be suffocated by her mother’s controlling nature.

An unbearable stifling sensation.

The mother and daughter argued endlessly in the room. Outside, Qin Zhi overheard but turned his head away.

Gu Shuya had spoken to him about Qin Siyao’s marriage before.

Qin Zhi had told Gu Shuya that the Hou family no longer needed to trade their children’s marriages for political gain and should prioritize their daughter’s feelings.

But now it seemed Gu Shuya had never intended to heed his advice when she vaguely agreed.

With that thought, Qin Zhi stepped into the room.

“Fifth Master?”

Madam Li was the first to see Qin Zhi. Upon hearing her, everyone else turned and bowed to him.

Kneeling on the floor, Qin Siyao looked up at Qin Zhi, tears streaming down. “Father.”

“You all may leave now.”

Qin Zhi said to the attendants in the room. Madam Li hurriedly signaled for the maids to exit.

---

Soon, only the three of them remained.

Qin Zhi helped Qin Siyao up and had her sit down, then looked at Gu Shuya. “Why cause such trouble again?”

“Xu Wei is older than Yao’er and has heirs. The Lady of Wuwei’s family looks down on us; if Yao’er marries him, it’s like jumping into a fire pit.”

“Master has never cared about Yao’er before. Am I, as her mother, supposed to harm her?”

Gu Shuya glanced coldly at Qin Zhi, then withdrew her gaze.

Seeing her obstinacy, Qin Zhi no longer wished to argue.

“Yao’er, come with your father to the study.”

He withdrew his gaze and spoke to Qin Siyao. Just as the father and daughter were about to leave in front of Gu Shuya, she grabbed Qin Siyao’s hand.

“Yao’er made a mistake. Since it’s a mistake, you must accept the punishment.”

“Father, Yao’er did nothing wrong…”

Qin Siyao tried to pull away, but Gu Shuya held tightly, causing pain.

“Yao’er, can you no longer listen to your mother?”

Gu Shuya’s lips curled slightly as she stared at Qin Siyao with undeniable authority.

Qin Siyao’s heart ached as she looked at her mother. She knew her mother was always domineering, but at this moment, she was unwilling to compromise.

“Mother…”

Qin Zhi frowned, speaking firmly, “Shuya, let go.”

Gu Shuya ignored Qin Zhi’s words and slowly said to Qin Siyao:

“Yao’er, you’ve lived a pampered life, unaware of the world’s dangers. I have carefully chosen Xu Wei despite his flaws. His family standing ensures your future will be secure, with food and clothing for life.”

“Why force her to this? The Hou family is stable now. There’s no need to use a daughter’s marriage to climb higher. If you truly care for Yao’er, you should listen to her wishes.”

Gu Shuya shook off Qin Zhi’s restraining hand, her chest heaving with anger.

“You and your father are in cahoots, making me seem utterly villainous. I have worried for this family, but in the end, it’s all blamed on me.”

Before Qin Siyao and Qin Zhi could respond, Gu Shuya suddenly collapsed.

The Ink Fragrance Pavilion erupted into chaos, cries and gasps filling the air.

Half an hour later, Song Xianwan was about to have dinner when Fulings rushed over.

“Miss, the old madam has fallen ill. Please hurry to Jinghe Garden.”

Hearing this, Song Xianwan immediately stood. “Wasn’t she fine just yesterday?”

While helping Song Xianwan with her clothes, Fulings explained:

“After the banquet ended, Fifth Madam went to Ink Fragrance Pavilion. Fifth Master coincidentally went too. After some discussion, Fifth Madam fainted.”

“Before Fifth Madam regained consciousness, Fifth Master left for Jinghe Garden to see the old madam…”

Fulings didn’t need to say more; Song Xianwan knew what this meant.

The Fifth Master must have said something to the old madam that upset her so much she fell ill.

Song Xianwan’s gaze darkened with coldness.

As Fulings fetched her hand warmer, Song Xianwan headed toward Jinghe Garden.

---

Night was deep, with a few lonely stars beside the waning moon.

The cold moonlight draped Song Xianwan in a misty veil. Worried about the old madam, she didn’t notice her path.

“Cousin Awan? Are you alright?”

Startled, Song Xianwan slipped on the snow and nearly fell, but someone caught her arm.

Under the dim lamp’s light, she looked up into the eyes of Qin Yuanjue.

“Second cousin.”

Song Xianwan shook her head and pulled away. With a slight smile, she thanked Qin Yuanjue and tried to move forward.

Qin Yuanjue caught up in a few steps. “Cousin, you’re going to see Grandmother, right? Why not go together?”

“The snow hasn’t melted, and it’s dark and slippery.”

Hearing this, Song Xianwan said nothing, quietly putting distance between them.

Qin Yuanjue noticed and turned to her, softly asking, “Did I do something to upset you, Cousin Awan?”

Startled, Song Xianwan was about to reply when a voice came from behind.

“The road is wide; why do you have to walk so close?”

The sudden voice was Qin Songting’s. Song Xianwan turned and breathed a sigh of relief.

Compared to dealing with Qin Yuanjue, she found Qin Songting easier to handle.

“Cousin, are you here to see Grandmother too?”

“Do you think I’m here to admire the moon, Cousin?”