Volume One, Chapter 8: A Wedding Dress Grown One Size Larger

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Xiao Lizi’s eyes were red from crying as she shakily brought over a porcelain bowl. Su Zhizhi did not hesitate; she drew the sharp sword at Xiao Lizi’s waist and sliced her own palm, letting a streak of blood flow out. Drops of fresh blood fell into the bowl.

“It hurts, it really hurts,” Su Zhizhi wanted to scream in her heart, “Mother, I want to go home!” But at this moment, she forced herself to remain calm. She was saving her future husband—the one who could help her rise to great heights.

Fine. Let it hurt. That was worth ten thousand taels of gold. Wei Guxiao, you owe me everything!

Su Zhizhi wrapped her hand in gauze and calmly turned around. “After simmering this herbal medicine with this blood for three hours, have your prince drink it.” Xiao Lizi prostrated herself on the ground, tears and snot mingling, “Thank you, Pavilion Master, for risking your life to save him!”

“Better to thank me when he wakes up,” Su Zhizhi said, waving her jade hand to signal Fang Hui to leave quickly. The Su family was still waiting for her to marry into the Prince Jin’s mansion unharmed, not to be buried alive.

The next day, supported by Qingzhu, Su Zhizhi returned to the Duke’s mansion. Her eldest brother, Su Heng, was overjoyed. This Pavilion Master truly had some skill—she had actually managed to heal a man on the brink of death.

He wanted to help her, but Su Zhizhi dodged his hand with one arm. During the five years in Xuanlin Tower, none of her brothers had come to see her once. Late concern was worse than none at all. She, Su Zhizhi, did not want it.

Seeing Su Zhizhi alive and able to walk was the happiest moment for Duke Su. The thousand taels of gold had not been spent in vain, not in vain at all. He beamed and ordered the servants to treat her well. After all, once she left the Duke’s mansion, Su Zhizhi would only experience being waited on in the underworld.

The second happiest was Su Wanwan. She arched her brow and laughed, “Sister, you’ve returned home. Father, mother, and the brothers have been worried sick, unable to sleep.” Su Zhizhi smiled inwardly. When you find out all the money you painstakingly saved has disappeared, then you’ll really be unable to sleep.

“Thank you for your concern, sister,” she bowed politely, exchanged a few pleasantries, then returned to Jingyan Pavilion. Facing these powerful yet blind relatives, Su Zhizhi didn’t want to say another word. Nor did she want to keep pretending—because even she, a medical prodigy, could not cure their blindness.

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As the plum blossoms in the courtyard fell completely, the wedding day arrived. Su Zhizhi played the part of a sickly patient in the Duke’s mansion for three days. Enjoying this rare tranquility, her spirits were high. The bride price and dowry had all been spent on her treatment, making the Duke’s mansion’s wedding celebrations unusually meager.

The entire Wei Kingdom knew that the Duke’s second daughter was marrying a man on death’s door. This wedding might soon turn into a funeral. Nobles in the court hurried to avoid it; no one dared attend the feast. Attending a banquet at the Prince Jin’s mansion was plainly opposing the Crown Prince.

As a result, both the Duke’s mansion and Prince Jin’s mansion only had a few lonely red lanterns hanging high, with the wedding character pasted askew on the gate.

“How pitiful is the Duke’s second miss—the most unfortunate daughter of a noble family. She sacrificed herself to save her sister, became ill, and now must marry a dying man. As for the title of princess consort, I say she’d be better without it...” Outside the mansion, people whispered with sympathy.

Most voices were indignant. After all, the second miss’s self-sacrifice was well known. These days, she had donated countless grain and cloth to the Compassion Temple. In the eyes of the city folk, she was gentle, kind, and righteous.

The townspeople lined up to send off the bride. Inside Jingyan Pavilion, Qingzhu brushed tears from her eyes as she dressed her young mistress. The young lady in the rhombus-patterned bronze mirror was stunning beyond words, but the hateful centipede scar on her face stubbornly remained.

“Miss, other brides leave with grandeur, yet the Duke and Duchess haven’t even come to see you. The second and third young masters pretend nothing’s happened, and not a single maid or attendant accompanies you. It’s just too much,” Qingzhu said, growing more aggrieved.

Yesterday she heard from the Wanxin Pavilion maids that the Emperor had decreed approval for their mistress, Su Wanwan, to marry the Crown Prince. Su Wanwan would become Crown Princess. The Duke and Duchess were preparing an endless dowry, with over eighty maids and attendants accompanying her.

Qingzhu pouted and sighed, “Only the eldest son sent a box of jewels, which you rejected. You secretly donated all your wealth to the Compassion Temple to aid refugees. Miss, you’ll need money when you marry into the Prince’s mansion. Going there penniless will be a disadvantage.”

Su Zhizhi couldn’t help but want to laugh. If this was penniless, then there were no rich people in the world. But now was not the time to reveal her immense wealth.

She turned, her gaze soft as flowing water, and said gently, “Qingzhu, you’ll soon enjoy the best life following me.”

“Qingzhu only wishes for your safety, Miss,” Qingzhu replied, her face as delicate and fresh as a newly bloomed flower bud.

“Su Zhizhi, what best life? Tell me—did you take all my... those things hidden under the bed?” Su Wanwan stormed in with a group of maids, demanding an explanation.

Su Zhizhi stood up, nearly tripping over the ill-fitting red wedding dress. “Wanwan, what things are you talking about? I haven’t even left this courtyard; how could I take anything from you?”

“It’s those house...,” Su Wanwan hesitated, unwilling to finish. If their parents knew the women of the household kept secret property deeds, the consequences would be dreadful.

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“Sister, if you don’t believe me, feel free to search. When I marry into the Prince Jin’s mansion, I bring nothing but this ill-fitting wedding gown—nothing else from the Duke’s mansion.”

Su Wanwan’s gaze settled on Su Zhizhi. She had never seen such a meager bride. Not even earrings or a necklace. The dress was obviously a size too large.

Su Wanwan burst into laughter. “Forget it. With your shabby appearance, I won’t stoop to your level. Let’s go!” Perhaps she was overthinking; how could this sickly girl steal her things?

To lower the Su family’s guard and to vent her anger, before boarding the bridal sedan, Su Zhizhi spat a mouthful of blood. The bright red dress stained with fresh blood was an ominous sign.

The attendant covering her eyes with a handkerchief spat, “Pah, how filthy!” Qingzhu wanted to step forward and defend her mistress, who was the luckiest person alive, not dirty at all.

“Cough, cough,” Su Zhizhi spat blood right onto the attendant’s face. There was still plenty of the hidden blood pouch left; Su Zhizhi worried she might never finish using it.

“Oh dear, now your face is dirty too, ma’am,” Su Zhizhi teased, exchanging amused glances with Qingzhu.

The wedding ceremony was truly shabby. Even small families had some dowry items. For such a prominent figure as Duke Su to have his daughter married off with just a few shabby boxes was pitiful.

The second and third brothers, who should have escorted her, were resentful over the gold and hid inside the mansion studying poetry and books, using the upcoming imperial exams as an excuse.

Only the eldest brother rode a fine horse, determined to see Su Zhizhi off one last time. The journey to the Prince Jin’s mansion was fraught with danger. His sister’s days were likely numbered. He was heartbroken but powerless.

Su Wanwan linked arms with their mother, her heart blooming with joy. Once Su Zhizhi married, she would bring misfortune to her husband and be buried alive. The entire Duke’s mansion would then belong to her alone.

Even if the Prince Jin clung to life, judging by Su Zhizhi’s frail appearance, she wouldn’t last long. Those missing property deeds and land titles would eventually be recovered by her.

She sneered at Su Zhizhi, “Sister, take care on your journey.”