"Grandmother, Yun Ruoyan is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis's manor, while I am merely a daughter born of a concubine. The difference in status is too great; we can never be together!" Yun Chang stated with firm resolve.
Madam Qin snorted coldly, "That is your own affair, and I cannot control it. Yun Chang, I know you still harbor feelings for Qin Su, but Qin Su is already married. If you marry him, you must uphold wifely virtues. The Qin family also cannot tolerate such acts that would tarnish its reputation. Rest assured, as long as you marry Qin Su, the Marquis's manor will not treat you unfairly!"
Yun Chang's face turned pale. She was indeed attracted to Qin Su, but it wasn't affection. Qin Su was not only her brother but also her enemy, the murderer of her father! How could she possibly fall in love with him given such a hatred?
"Grandmother, Yun Chang does not dare to dream of marrying into the Marquis's manor, but please, Grandmother, do not make things difficult for Yun Chang!" Yun Chang gritted her teeth and said.
"You..." Madam Qin was enraged.
Seeing this, Madam Qin hurriedly tried to pacify her. She was Qin Su's birth mother, and although Yun Chang was her granddaughter, she did not have much affection for her.
Madam Qin looked at Yun Chang and said, "Yun Chang, the Qin family can offer you many benefits, and furthermore, the Qin family has sufficient financial resources to help the Marquis's manor overcome its difficulties. They can even guarantee that your Marquis's manor will not be ostracized in the capital from now on!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Chang let out a bitter smile. She did not need charity from others, and moreover, the Marquis's manor did not need the Qin family's help at all.
Yun Chang ignored Madam Qin any further. She rose, bowed, and turned to leave, leaving behind a figure of proud defiance for Madam Qin.
Life in the Marquis's manor meant nothing to Yun Chang.
However, Yun Chang knew that the Marquis's manor was truly important to her!
Yun Chang returned to her own courtyard, where Madam Qin was still standing.
"Yun Chang, I have done my best to dissuade Qin Su from taking concubines, but..." Madam Qin said, "Yun Ruoyan is also involved! Yun Ruoyan is Qin Su's childhood sweetheart; she has admired Qin Su since she was young. Now, she is nineteen and has come of age. If it weren't for Master Yun's disapproval, she would have been sent to Qin Su long ago. But Yun Chang, you are Master Yun's own daughter and a granddaughter of the Qin family. If you marry into the Qin family, the glory of the Marquis's manor will be the glory of the Marquis's manor!"
Yun Chang naturally understood everything Madam Qin said, which was why Madam Qin was pressuring her to marry Qin Su.
"Yun Chang, if you go and plead with Qin Su now, perhaps he will agree to marry you. He is a filial child," Madam Qin cajoled her.
Upon hearing this, Yun Chang smiled and shook her head, "Grandmother, there is no need to say more. Yun Chang will not beg Qin Su!"
"Yun Chang, why are you so stubborn?" Madam Qin was unwilling to give up and continued to persuade her, "Yun Ruoyan is a princess of the imperial family. Marrying into the Qin family is a fortune for Qin Su, and the Marquis's manor can also benefit from it. If you marry him, you will not only avoid hardship but will also receive better care. You must not miss this opportunity!"
"Grandmother, Yun Chang's mind is made up. Please forgive Yun Chang for her selfishness!" Yun Chang knelt before Madam Qin and said.
Madam Qin looked at the woman before her and sighed, "Fine, fine, fine! You may go. From now on, we go our separate ways! You are free!"
Madam Qin waved her hand, signaling Yun Chang to leave.
Yun Chang slowly stood up and walked outside.
Madam Qin watched Yun Chang's retreating figure and sighed softly.
It was not that she had not given Yun Chang an opportunity, but Yun Chang was simply too unresilient, unwilling to fight for herself.
Yun Chang reached the main courtyard of the Marquis's manor but was stopped.
Yun Chang looked at the guards and said with a cold expression, "Master Qin asked me to see my grandmother. Are you going to stop me?"
Upon hearing this, the guard immediately said, "Master Qin said that Miss Yun is not a guest of the manor, so Miss Yun cannot casually see Old Madam Yun."
"Did Master Qin say that?" Yun Chang asked.
"Master Qin did not say that!" the guard replied.
"Grandmother, why are you driving Yun Chang away? What wrong have I committed?" Yun Chang looked towards the inner rooms.
"Yun Chang, there's no need to ask. No matter how much you ask, you won't get an answer! You know what kind of person Qin Su is. Once he decides on something, no one can change it," Madam Qin said indifferently.
Madam Qin's words made Yun Chang very sad. She never expected Qin Su to treat her like this for Yun Ruoyan. Qin Su, can't you really see my feelings for you?
"Yun Chang, there's no need to resent Qin Su. Yun Ruoyan is betrothed by imperial decree; Qin Su has no choice but to obey. Moreover, all imperial marriages are alliances of power. Your unwillingness is futile; it's best to marry obediently!"
Yun Chang's heart was filled with despair. She never imagined that Qin Su would sacrifice his own happiness for Yun Ruoyan. What did he consider her to be?
"Yun Chang, Yun Chang, did you hear me? Hurry up and get married!" Madam Qin urged again.
"Yun Chang takes her leave!" Yun Chang responded indifferently and turned to leave.
Madam Qin watched Yun Chang's departing figure, a mocking curve appearing at the corner of her lips.
Madam Qin turned and entered the house, where she saw Master Qin sitting and drinking tea. She frowned and said, "What's wrong with Yun Chang? She's so stubborn!"
Master Qin looked at Madam Qin and smiled slightly, "My dear, don't be angry. Yun Chang is just a girl, and the庶出 daughter of the Marquis's manor. She doesn't understand these rules. Please bear with her a little. Once Yun Chang becomes the main wife, she won't be like this today!"
Madam Qin shook her head upon hearing this and said, "Yun Chang is the Marquis's daughter after all. If she truly becomes the main wife, wouldn't I, as her mother-in-law, have to elevate her status? How can that be acceptable?"
A glint flashed in Master Qin's eyes.
He looked at Madam Qin and said, "Yun Chang is young and doesn't understand things, so it's not your fault, Madam. But you can't indulge her forever, can you? Everything in the Qin family belongs to the Qin family. Now that she's marrying into the Qin family, she should contribute to the Qin family as well!"
Madam Qin's expression paused, and then she said, "What does Prime Minister Qin mean by that?"
Prime Minister Qin smiled faintly and said, "Madam, you don't need to worry. I will arrange these matters myself. I hope Madam will not interfere."
Prime Minister Qin's words clearly indicated that he did not want Madam Qin to be involved in Qin family affairs, which made Madam Qin very unhappy. However, Madam Qin dared not show it directly and could only endure it.
Madam Qin snorted coldly and said, "Yun Chang is young and doesn't understand things. Master, please don't corrupt her, otherwise, if she goes astray, it will be a loss for both the Marquis's manor and the Qin family!"
"Madam, please rest assured. Yun Chang is not someone who doesn't know the severity of things. Madam needn't worry," Prime Minister Qin said.
"Since Master says so, that's for the best." Madam Qin's tone softened slightly. "Yun Chang came this time for the matter of Qin Su and Yun Ruoyan's engagement, didn't she? Yun Chang, I have already refused on your behalf. As for what you want to do, you don't need to trouble me with it."
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Qin merely smiled faintly and said, "Then thank you, Madam!"
Madam Qin glanced at Prime Minister Qin, snorted coldly, and rose to leave the study.
Prime Minister Qin sat on his chair, watching Madam Qin's departing back, a sinister smile appearing on his lips.
Yun Chang returned to her small courtyard, still seething with anger.
Yun Chang swept the items on the desk to the floor, her heart filled with frustration. She really didn't want to marry Qin Su, no!
But if she didn't marry, Qin Su would never marry her, and her fate would likely change from this point on.
Yun Chang bit her lower lip, her gaze gradually hardening.
Yun Chang picked up a dagger from the side and slashed at her wrist.
"Pfft~" A mouthful of blood gushed out.
Yun Chang seemed oblivious, merely gripping the dagger tightly and stabbing herself fiercely in the abdomen.
The pain Yun Chang felt at this moment was far greater than anything she had endured before. Her entire heart felt as if it were shattered, the pain unbearable.
Yun Chang bit her lips tightly, gritting her teeth to endure it.
That night, she lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
The next morning, Yun Chang got up and washed. Looking at her haggard face in the mirror, she let out a bitter laugh. She was truly insane to be heartbroken over Qin Su and Yun Ruoyan. She was merely a庶出 daughter of the Yun family; what did the honor and disgrace of the Yun family have to do with her?
After Yun Chang tidied herself up, she headed towards Qin Su's courtyard, intending to bring him his lunch.
Yun Chang had visited Qin Su's courtyard once or twice before. Knowing Yun Chang's temperament, the maids guarding the entrance did not stop her.
Yun Chang entered the courtyard with practiced ease. As soon as she walked in, she saw a young servant-like man rushing out from inside.