Counterfeit Bride Chapter 1
“Father, say it one more time!” Said Ling Shuang while creasing her brows and glaring furiously.
Being looked at like that by his own beloved daughter, Ling Xin Lian couldn’t help but cower a bit.
“I said,” He braced up his fatherly power, clearing his throat and said. “Father when young, had a very good friend. He bought a ranch in Guanwai1. Also, he built a family and has two sons. When we were young, we had agreed on...”
“That is the antenatal betrothal thing, isn’t it?”
“It is good that you understand!” Ling Xin Lian obviously loosened a sigh. “Being a man, most important virtue is to keep one’s word. What’s more, Brother Yun has sent a letter, soon he will send a party to escort the bride2, so...”
“Want me to marry?”
“Exactly.” At long last he could completely explain, Ling Xin Lian made a haha laugh.
“You are crazy!” Ling Shuang without the least bit of holding back scolded him. “Quick write a letter to tell your brother, the joking remarks of youthful days do not regard as a serious thing. Tell his son, no need to come.”
“How could it be?” Ling Xin Lian forced worriedly. “After all, a daughter sooner or later must get married, Brother Yun was refined and elegant when he was young, his son ought to be a giant among men3. Marrying to him will not bring disgrace to you. Besides, the Yun family in Guanwai, is categorized as the first or second wealthy landlord. You will not be suffering.”
“The problem is Guanwai!” Ling Shuang gritted her teeth while reminded her father. “Wild and barren land. You want your daughter go and be suffer at there?”
“Not that wild la4!” Ling Xin Lian subconsciously waved his hand. “Brother Yun has mentioned in his letter, that that place’s once a month’s market, is extremely fun, you definitely will love it.”
“Once a month?” Ling Shuang roared.
Then the other days of the month, what should she do? It shouldn’t be to make her take care of the grazing land packed livestocks! Or maybe she could only wide eyes stare at small eyes with her husband? Wouldn’t it be boring to death!
No, even if she was beaten to death she still did not want to marry.
Being accustomed to Jiangnan’s bustling life, how could she be attributed to the pedestrian? Killing her would be far better.
“In short...” Ling Xin Lian braced himself up. “Time is very easy to pass. Other’s family… Other’s family’s daughter Wang Zhaojun5 didn’t she go out of the frontier pass and blended with the foreigner, it must be for the rest of her life, yet never heard her cried out of loneliness.”
This obviously a failed example, he could see Ling Shuang’s face had seemed to be more grave and stern.
“Marriage matters basically are the parents’ decision, matchmaker as to say it roughly. Father already agreed with the other family, you also don’t wish your father break his promise with others, right?!” Ling Xin Lian resolutely used several methods. “Shuang’r, you just have to obediently become the bride, all the other things father will certainly organize it properly.”
“Humph! All these things aren’t they to be directed against Bo Yu?”
“Impudent!” Ling Xin Lian irritatedly said. “As a girl do you know shame or not. Actually called out a name of a man.”
“Father clearly knows that me and Bo Yu are a harmonious couple...”
“Enough!” Ling Xin Lian shouted. “Do not mention that Xiao’s Family brat who harbored evil intentions. Do you really think that he likes you? What he wants is our status as the wealthiest in Jiangnan, what he loves is what you carry on your back meaning each and every wealth.”
“So that’s what you dislike, it is his unworthy reputation of social standing.” Ling Shuang’s reply was clever and eloquent.
“Maybe!” Ling Xin Lian already tired of debating with his daughter regarding that flippant and insincere brat’s goodness or badness.
“Anyway, this matter has been decided. You just need to get ready for your marriage, that’s all.”
As long as he married his daughter off, it could be counted as a get something done once and for all method.
Seeing her father leave with a flick of his sleeve6, Ling Shuang gritted her teeth, pondered deeply for a way to solve this.
Heaven had pity on her, letting her father tell her in advance, thus she knew about this news. Now definitely wouldn’t go as
far as to have no time to deal with it7, foolishly forced by her father to the bridal sedan chair.
Humph! Humph! Father, don’t think that I will obediently ride the bridal sedan chair. Now that you don’t respect my choice of in-law, then you have to mentally prepare to lose face. She would never marry to Guanwai.
What she had to do now, was to find someone to marry in her place! This person not only needed to be able to brace the long distance journey from Jiangnan to Guanwai without being found out, but also able to make father and his Yun Brother to go beyond great disgrace!
※※※※
“Miss, you called for me?” Shi Jie Yi respectfully asked.
Saying goodbye to her father and mother in a simple way, in addition, sent off with drums and gongs beating throughout the journey, Ling Shuang was counted as stylishly married off. And now the bridal sedan chair had left Jiangnan, halfway enroute to Guanwai.
As a servant in Ling’s family, Shi Jie Yi quite sympathized with this Young Lady.
A pampered and spoiled daughter since childhood Young Lady, all of a sudden married to an uncivilized Guanwai, being unfamiliar with the place and the people, but not the least resisting and crying to vent, it truly had put her into great inconvenience.
But Young Lady seemed like she had a grudge against her father. Amongst the servants to accompany her, surprisingly she only had him and one personal maidservant. Shi Jie Yi didn’t know whether this was good or bad, if by any chance Young Lady got into trouble in the husband’s family, he wouldn’t be able to protect her!
And also the new in-laws, it looks as if, was unlikely to treat the Young Lady well. After all, the in-law didn’t personally come for the wedding ceremony, only dispatched people to fetch the bride, as if he didn’t take this marriage seriously.
If it was him, he would have never been absent for his own wedding ceremony! Shi Jie Yi inwardly muttered.
“Xiao Shi Zi, say, I treat you well or not?” Dismissing her left and right servants away, Ling Shuang gently asked.
The bridal sedan chair had left Jiangnan, Ling Shuang already had no alternative, could only exert the last device, that was the conspicuous man in front of her. In all fairness, Xiao Shi Zi was the best option to replace her in the marriage. However, everything was fine except for one small defect8, that was, he was of a man.
But now was not the time to mind about that! She couldn’t find someone who was willing to substitute for her in the marriage. Also, Jiangnan to Guanwai was fortresses and mountains that expanded for a thousand miles, if there wasn’t anyone with a similar profile to replace her, how could she fool all the people who accompanied her in the marriage procession? And presently Shi Jie Yi was all she could find so far. Whether it was body figure or appearance, all had about seventy percent similarity with her.
At present, she could only think of this way, to let Shi Jie Yi replace her in the bridal sedan chair. Only if he took her place, only then people wouldn’t find out midway that the bride had disappeared. She also would have plentiful of time to escape to faraway places with Bo Yu.
Fortunately, this was not at all a very difficult matter. That little servant was foolish and often in a daze. The character also was very honest and kindhearted. Not worried to be unable to deceive him.
“You treat me very well Miss.” This was the fact.
However, he actually didn’t like to be called as ‘Xiao Shi Zi’, it was Ling Shuang who helped him to choose this nickname. Even if Shi Jie Yi disliked it, yet he didn’t have the qualifications to not accept. But, he still had a slight objection. His figure was not tall, also not manly whatsoever, but the task that normal men could do, he also not couldn’t do, why shouldn’t I call him ‘Xiao Shi Zi’?
Didn’t know why, ever since he came to Ling’s family to work, his works were miscellaneous. The things others didn’t want to do, they would dump onto him. But after the Young Lady saw him, he was transferred to her side. His work had become so much easier, even fetching the water he also no longer needed to do. Every day he only needed to sweep the yard!
“That’s good.” Ling Shuang displayed a smile. “You know about this marriage matter, this is not what I willingly agreed to, right?”
“Indeed!”
“Then, Xiao Shi Zi.” Ling Shuang warmly asked. “Do you want to help me?”
“What… What help?” Shi Jie Yi of course had a slight fright.
“You help me marry to Guanwai!”
Everything had been calculated by Ling Shuang. Xiao Shi Zi helped her to marry to Guanwai, then she went with her brought along maidservant to rendezvous with Bo Yu. Out from the house, if there was no one to attend to her, it wouldn’t do.
Before she rode in the bridal sedan chair, she had taken valuable pearls and numerous ornaments and handed it over to Bo Yu, so that after they eloped, their living was not to go so far as to poverty-stricken with no one to rely on. The reason of the poor and lowly husband and wife’s grief, she clearly understood.
Waiting until everything became calm and steady, after several years had passed then returned home, father and mother should be weeping bitter tears, wholeheartedly gratefully welcomed her back. Didn’t mind what she had done, after all, they only had her as the one and only treasured daughter.
“Miss!” Shi Jie Yi was shocked, almost couldn’t properly articulate his words. “I… I am a man.”
“I know.” Ling Shuang without any care held his hand. “It won’t be a problem. You and I look alike. Our appearance also is a little bit similar, it won’t be impossible to hide the truth from them.”
“How could it be possible to hide it?” Shi Jie Yi raised his voice. “On the wedding night, the husband will immediately find out that I am a man.”
“At that time, I have already left for long, to a safe place.” Ling Shuang softened her voice to plead. “Xiao Shi Zi, I beg you, you surely know, I already have my beloved person, how can I marry to another person?”
“What’s more…” She bit her lips, honestly confessed. “I… also cannot marry to other people anymore! I already belonged to Young Master Xiao.”
Shi Jie Yi gasped in surprise, his speech became hum and haw. “This…this…”
“Xiao Shi Zi.” Ling Shuang grasped his hand. “You have to help me. You definitely must help me. I heard that Guanwai’s people are extremely cruel. If by chance they know that I’m absolutely not intact, don’t know how they would treat me. I cannot marry.”
“But… But me replacing, definitely could be seen through.” Shi Jie Yi said in fright.
Guanwai people’scruelty, not only Young Lady feared, he too was also extremely afraid. This time being selected by his Young lady to be one of her dowry, he was also sighing in resentment for a long time. But a person under the eaves couldn’t help but lower their head. Who told him to sell himself to be the Ling’s family’s slave!
“Even if it got exposed, they still wouldn’t be able to do anything to you!” Ling Shuang did her utmost to persuade. “You are being forced, they definitely will understand. In addition, they absolutely wouldn’t dare to make it widely known. The daughter of a distinguished family from Jiangnan who comes with the vast and mighty procession to marry, is unexpectedly a man, how could they dare to stir up trouble and make it known?”
“But…” Shi Jie Yi knew by heart that this was inappropriate, but he couldn’t win an argument with her. “Wouldn’t I end in an awfully miserable state?”
“Never. They know that making things hard for you will give them nothing.” Ling Shuang spoke bewitchingly. “Xiao Shi Zi, I have been treating you kindly these days, you absolutely have to agree to help me, right?”
Shi Jie Yi bit down his lips, didn’t say a word. Now he finally understood, why this Young Lady treated him much better than the rest, all for the sake of today.
“In short, you only need to help me delay for a period of time, don’t let the matchmaker and the butler find out that you are not me. I have ordered them, may not come close to me, it will intimidate them. At the time all of you arrive at Guanwai, Xiao Young Master and I would already be in a safe place, nobody would find us.”
“Ah, right!” Ling Shuang fished out from her luggage a seemingly worth considerably pearl bracelet. “Xiao Shi Zi, this is for you. When you get found out, if Yun family chases you out, this could let you live without worry.”
“Miss…” Shi Jie Yi was touched a bit. “I…”
“Just take it!” Ling Shuang squeezed the bracelet into his hand.
A little charity definitely was a must. Only by this means, so that she could make other people agree to sell their life for her. This little method, Ling Shuang understood thoroughly. Moreover, this was merely an insignificant hand chain only, not at all worth much money. This fool didn’t know the truth, still foolishly touched by her. What an idiot!
Wasted his equally matched with her beautiful oval face, truly a waste!
“Tonight Ju’r and I will leave.”
“Sister Ju also leaves?” Shi Jie Yi became nervous. “Then… Isn’t it just me alone to go toYun family?”
“The less people know about your status the better. Like this, you will be able to survive this journey.” Ling Shuang reasoned her analysis. “You don’t need to worry, no one could see through you. Our figures are similar, voice also very much alike. This period of time, you didn’t do any heavy manual work, hands have become very delicate and fine, you also obediently never basked in the sunlight, whole person has become very fair, dressing up as a girl will be completely convincing. Definitely wouldn’t be found out.”
Now Shi Jie Yi finally knew, Young Lady’s scheming was unexpectedly this deep. Since earlier she had planned to make the peach take the place of plum. Should have known from the beginning, no one without cause or reason would treat him nice, he was such an idiot!
“But…” Shi Jie Yi attempted to make the final struggle. “The husband finds out I am a male, definitely will be furious to the extreme…”
Angry to death, he deserves it! Ling Shuang said inwardly. Who told that Yun Tian Yang not to open his eyes widely. An uneducated chap from Guanwai, wishfully hoped to marry her, an educated noble lady from a distinguished family. He deserved to be angered to death!
The best if the entire Guanwai knew that his bride was a male. Let him lose his face to the utmost. From then on turned his face from father, didn’t come to find her again.
“No way.” Ling Shuang smilingly convinced him. “From what father said, Yun Tian Yang is a scholar and courteous person. Wouldn’t vent out his anger on an unlucky person.”
“Is that true?” Shi Jie Yi suspiciously asked.
He knew his chance to refuse was little, couldn’t help but wish that what Young Lady had said was the truth. So he would be unlikely to go as far as to die an unsightly death.
“Absolutely is the truth!” Ling Shuang pledged in all sincerity to assure. “Father has always doted on me, how could he possibly choose a very bad husband for me.”
‘Then you should just straightforwardly marry!’ Shi Jie Yi complained inwardly.
“You know my and Xiao Young Master’s feeling are deep and profound. Just said that father had sought a better family to be my husband, I still won’t be willing to abandon him. We have known each other since we were small, he is not a bad person. Xiao Shi Zi, you help me, alright?”
This line of speech was said with a revelation of one’s true feelings, Shi Jie Yi was truly helpless to refuse, but…
“We can have sister Ju to replace!” Shi Jie Yi jollily had a sudden idea.
“She needs to take care of me.” A straightforward line to vote down. “I need Ju’r! Moreover, Ju’r truthfully is little bit too sturdy.”
“Ah…”
This was out of courteous speech. Actually, Ju’r was not only taller by half a head than Ling Shuang, her body also big and round, the frame obviously sturdy and brawny. Ling Shuang was a person who cared so much for her appearance, how could it be possible to let this kind of person to replace her in this marriage, damaged her reputation as Jiangnan number one beauty.
In addition, the days when they arrived to Guanwai were still very long. She wouldn’t be able to hide under the red veil without seeing people forever. If not finding a person who was a bit similar, how could it be hidden from the people’s ears and eyes?
Besides, Guanwai honestly was too far also too uncivilized, that damn Ju’r, resisted to death unwilling to marry to Guanwai. Not only her, as long as it’s a girl with the right mind, who would be willing to go away from one’s native place to that kind of place? That so called Guanwai wealthiest family, who would have known it was true or false? She actually already consulted with several personal servants, asked for their opinion, none of them agreed to take the risks. She could only turn her attention to Shi Jie Yi.
As a result, the growing rate of the matter swiftly reached to what Shi Jie Yi had imagined.
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