The Xiao Mansion is abuzz with joyous events.

Chunyan has returned for the third day visit after marriage, and both Chunyu and Chun Nuan have come back.

"Yan’er greets Eldest Sister and Sister."

After greeting the elders, she went to see her sisters.

"Come over quickly, let us take a look at you."

Chun Yu beckoned with a smile.

Chunyan walked over, smiling.

"Nuannuan, at a glance you can tell Yan’er is doing well."

Her brows and eyes carried the warmth of spring, which was only natural for a newlywed couple to be affectionate.

"Mr. Zhu is someone who knows how to be considerate."

Chun Nuan took Chunyan’s hand and discreetly checked her pulse.

Fortunately, among the Xiao family’s daughters, her health was the best.

And now, her yin and yang were well balanced.

Among many sisters, Chun Nuan worried the most about Chun Shu.

Her health had deteriorated ever since Mrs. Huang wanted to send her back to the Capital to be a concubine for the Huang family, leading her to give up on herself.

The elder aunt said that the last time Mrs. Huang even pressured her into cutting her own hair.

After returning to the Capital, she checked her pulse herself and prescribed a few medicines to regulate her health.

Now, she wasn’t sure how she was doing.

Just as she was thinking about it, the maid reported, "Miss Shu is here."

"Shu’er greets Eldest Sister, Sister, and Sister Yan."

"We are all sisters, why be so polite?"

Chun Nuan lifted her hand to check her pulse, sighing inside.

Such a good girl, how did her mind become so burdened?

"Yes, Shu’er’s wedding is approaching too, has the wedding dress been embroidered?"

Although she was a cousin, Chun Yu still liked her very much and prepared trousseau just like she did for her own sister Yan’er.

"Replying to Eldest Sister, it has been embroidered."

But, it wasn’t embroidered by her.

Last time, the elder aunt told her to embroider together with Sister Yan, she actually started embroidering with hope and expectation, but her dear mom cut it into pieces.

In a moment of haste, she pointed the scissors at her own hair.

Really, she thought it better to not marry for life.

Rather than being manipulated by her, she preferred to live a quiet life with ancient Buddha and green lamps.

She didn’t expect her father would let the elder aunt manage her marriage.

The elder aunt sent fabric for her to embroider a wedding dress, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

As soon as she touched needle and thread, her head would throb with pain.

Ultimately, it was embroidered by the mansion’s seamstress.

She knew that from now on she wouldn’t be able to embroider even an undergarment.

The pain from that incident was too deep.

"As long as it’s embroidered. On that day, Eldest Sister and I will add to your trousseau."

Looking at this cousin, Chun Yu felt a sigh in her heart.

Such a good girl was forced into this state by the Third Aunt.

The mother was kind enough to find her a good match, but fearing the Third Aunt would cause trouble if she found out.

"Have you taken the pills I gave you?"

Chun Nuan asked softly.

"Thank you, Sister. I’ve been taking them, and I feel much better."

"That’s good."

Chun Nuan patted her hand, "We are sisters, tell us if there’s anything, there’s no problem we can’t solve. You needn’t worry or be anxious, the Xiao family will always support you, and Eldest Sister and I are always behind you."

"Mm, thank you, Eldest Sister and Sister."

Chun Shu’s nose turned sour, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Alright, take good care of yourself. Your happy day is in a few days."

As the auspicious time approached, the back courtyard of the Xiao Mansion was once again decorated with red silk, a happy bridal veil displaying the union of dragon and phoenix folded in front of a mirror, the festive atmosphere was supposed to be joyful but was shattered by Mrs. Huang’s sharp cries.

She grabbed a handful of Mrs. Xu’s sleeve, her nails almost digging into her flesh, her hair disheveled, the makeup on her face washed away by tears, with no trace of her usual composure.

"Mrs. Xu! What are you up to! My Chun Shu is the legitimate daughter of the Zhu family, a noble girl, and you want her to marry a poor scholar who hasn’t even passed the provincial exam! What kind of place is the Lin Mansion? Don’t think I don’t know just because I’m locked in this backyard, that Lin Mansion doesn’t even have a decent garden, and there are no more than five servants, how will they live in the future?"

Mrs. Huang’s voice was as sharp as a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and everyone in the courtyard heard it clearly.

"Third Sister-in-law, calm down."

Mrs. Xu felt her scalp tingle from Mrs. Huang’s grip.

Immediately, maidservants came forward to pull Mrs. Huang away.

"Calm down, how can I calm down? Your daughter can marry a second-class scholar, but my daughter has to marry a poor scholar. Mrs. Xu, under the guise of doing what’s best for her, you’re pushing her into a fire pit. Mrs. Xu, you’re too malicious, you will die a bad death!"

"Shut up."

Third Master Xiao hurried over upon the servant’s report and sighed deeply seeing Mrs. Huang acting insane again; who was it this time that carelessly let slip Chun Shu’s marriage arrangements to her?

"Take the Third Madam to rest."

Then he apologized to Mrs. Xu.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, I’m sorry, she’s ill and speaking nonsense, please bear with her."

Mrs. Xu sighed deeply.

"I am fine. Please comfort the Third Sister-in-law and clarify things for her." She glanced at Chun Shu’s courtyard. "It’d be best if Shu’er doesn’t hear of this."

She genuinely cared for this niece.

What kind of mother was this?

At this time, Chun Shu sat in front of the vanity, her bright red wedding dress made her face beautiful like a peach blossom, yet her complexion was as pale as paper.

Gripping her skirt with such force that her knuckles turned white, listening to her mother’s repeated "for your own good," her heart felt like it was being pricked by needles.

She forced back tears and stood up, her voice trembling.

"Mother, Mr. Lin is talented and genuinely sincere towards me. The life I lead is for myself, and only I know whether it is good or not, please don’t make a scene, today is my day of happiness!"

"Can sincerity be eaten as food? Can it make you adorned in gold and jade?"

Mrs. Huang swung away Chun Shu’s outstretched hand, causing her to stumble, fortunately, a quick-witted maid caught her.

Mrs. Huang pointed at Chun Shu’s nose, her tone becoming more and more harsh.

"You useless girl! With so many suitors in the Capital, you refuse them only to choose such a family. Even going back to the Huang family to be a concubine is better than marrying into the Lin family. Now you’ve decided to marry a poor scholar, in the future, you’ll be left starving! What sin have I committed to raise such a disobedient daughter like you!"

Saying this, Mrs. Huang suddenly rushed to the vanity and swept off the phoenix crown and bridal robe. Pearls and tassels clattered to the floor, and the bridal scarf was trampled underfoot.

"This wedding is off! I can’t just watch you jump into a fire pit!"

She cried as she went to tear at Chun Shu’s wedding dress.

Chun Shu looked at the mess on the floor, filled with anger and anxiety, as her vision blacked out momentarily, and tears finally spilled over.

"Mother! You’re completely ruining me!"

She staggered, her body giving way, but the maid held her tightly, gently reassuring her.

"Miss, don’t worry. Miss, the Third Madam is ill, but Third Master is here. Today, they surely won’t prevent you from getting on to the bridal sedan."