Failing to Exit

The result of Yan Qiu Yue's "research" and a lot of thought was the following idea: she couldn't do anything to get out of this marriage, but perhaps Wei Hong Sheng could. Prince Rui had ambition, but no matter how you looked at it, this wastrel son of his was only interested in enjoying himself. So perhaps if Yan Qiu Yue made herself seem very unattractive to him, this spoiled young man might try to extricate himself from the marriage. Surely it would be easier for him to break off the engagement than it would be for her!

To that end, Yan Qiu Yue decided to put herself out more. She accepted more invitations than she normally would and tried to be extra outgoing. It had to be said that even normally, Yan Qiu Yue was a willful, stubborn sort of girl. However, she still adhered strictly to social etiquette and knew how to pick her battles. She never forgot that she was the daughter of a noble duke's household. For her plan to succeed, Yan Qiu Yue would have to give up on that. She came off as arrogant and brash, and she drew attention to herself in a myriad of ways. She feared a little that even if this engagement were broken, no one else would want to marry her after this. But if worst came to worst, she would simply stay in her paternal family home forever, pampered and living free.

Finally, Yan Qiu Yue and Wei Hong Sheng crossed paths at a royal banquet and she mustered up all her courage to exclaim "Oh! Isn't this my future husband? Greetings, future husband! Yue'er is so lucky to have hooked such a beautiful fish!" She then loudly laughed and lightly smacked him in the arm with her fan as if she was so excited that she couldn't control her emotions. Surely he'd be revolted by her behavior, thought Yan Qiu Yue. Putting aside his tastes in women that she'd observed, men of noble society generally preferred women who were quiet, dignified, and obedient anyway.

Yet how had that Prince Rui-shizi responded?

He'd smirked, then closed the distance between them with a few steps. Before she could react, Wei Hong Sheng had tugged her fan out of her grasp. He admired it for a moment, nodding his head as if passing judgment on its quality. Then in an instant, he turned and pushed her chin up with the handle of the fan until her eyes met his. It was a little painful and Yan Qiu Yue's breath caught in her throat. "Have a care, Miss Yan." he said in a low tone that sounded like how she imagined poisoned honey would taste. "Don't you know that the carp on the chopping block jumps twice?"

Was he saying that marriage to her was the same as being on a chopping block!? Yan Qiu Yue wanted to sharply rebuke him. She was so angered that she didn't even have to feign strong emotion for a change. However, Wei Hong Sheng didn't give her a chance to reply before he strode off, leaving her staring open-mouthed at his retreating figure.

So jump, then! Jump all the way off the chopping block and find another fish! She wanted to yell this at him with all her heart. Her comeback had been thought of too late to be spoken.

It was only a while later that she realized that he'd stolen her fan. Her opinion of him plummeted further.

In the end, all of her efforts were for nothing. It didn't seem that Wei Hong Sheng particularly cared for her, but it wasn't a strong enough feeling for him to attempt to break off the engagement. When she thought about it further, a man like him was entitled to have as many concubines as he wanted. What did it matter who his main wife was? In short, he probably didn't like her, but he didn't hate her enough to not want to marry her. There were even rumors that he was looking forward to the marriage. Yan Qiu Yue had only one word for such a man: despicable!

Yan Qiu Yue was snapped out of her thoughts by her grandmother's query. "Are you well, Yue'er? You seem in a daze."

The two of them were still walking back towards the courtyard where dinner awaited them.

"No--I mean, yes! I'm fine, Grandmother. I was merely reminiscing."

"Reminiscing..." The older woman's face crinkled into a smile. "This old one still remembers when you were born. I had carried you in my arms when you were a baby, watched you chase your brother around the courtyard as a toddler... In my eyes, you are still that small."

"Grandmother..."

"Yet before I became aware of it, my little Yue'er already became such a beautiful young lady... Old enough to be married..." She sounded wistful and her eyes seemed a little wet.

"Don't chase me out so soon, Grandmother! It will be several months before I'm married." Yan Qiu Yue hugged onto Madame Lin's arm. "Yue'er will still be here for a while yet!"

Madame Lin sighed. "You really have been wronged by all this. Of all people, having to marry that infamous young man..."

Yan Qiu Yue's smile became more forced. The marriage was already a foregone conclusion. What was the point in staying so upset about it? These days, the people around her seemed to worry about it even more than she did. Even though she thought this, she still felt a knot in her heart that would not unravel. Perhaps she was not as resigned as she thought or wished herself to be. Still, she didn't want to face her marriage as if she were headed for her own execution--her own chopping block.

"I hear that there will be roast pheasant tonight!" Yan Qiu Yue suddenly brought up, rather obviously trying to change the subject.

"Even though this is a dinner for your eldest brother, why do I feel the premonition that all of my favorite dishes will be on the table, too?" Madame Lin faintly smiled.

"Grandmother naturally cannot be slighted! Besides, Eldest Brother is easy-going with food. Of course it's better to put out food you will enjoy." Yan Qiu Yue smiled. "Grandmother has been ill lately. I hope you can eat well tonight."

Madame Lin's heart felt warm. She always felt so proud of her grandchildren. They were, each and every one, kind and understanding children. She could not bear for Yan Qiu Yue to be marrying someone who would definitely make her unhappy. The impending marriage upset the old matron greatly.

By the time they reached the courtyard, all of the other guests had arrived and everyone was standing near the table leisurely chatting. It was obvious that no one wished to sit down and begin eating without Madame Lin being present. She was given the spot of honor at the end of the table, flanked by her older son Yan Jin Hai and the birthday boy Yan Xiang Yi.

When the roast pheasant came out, granddaughter and grandmother exchanged smiling looks. The food was delicious and after dinner, the wine was brought out. The Yan family and their guests decided to chat while admiring the moon.