Chapter 10: Engagement

Shangguan Shiyu, the Little Princess of the Shangguan Family. She had a big reputation in all of Huangsha City, but it wasn’t a good one. People in Huangsha City privately called the girl a monster. And within the Shangguan Family, matters concerning Shangguan Shiyu were an absolute forbidden topic!

Inside the Shangguan Family, whispering about the formidable Family Head Shangguan Tie might get you scolded. But daring to talk about Shangguan Shiyu? Light punishment meant being kicked out of the family. Heavy punishment? People… vanished without a trace!

Just hearing her name, one might imagine a delicate beauty. Indeed, Shangguan Shiyu, now only thirteen years old, had the makings of one. Of course, that depended entirely on not looking at the color of her skin.

It was said that the moment Shangguan Shiyu was born, she seemed perfectly normal: plump, white, and adorable. But the instant the midwife picked her up, her entire body began to emanate a ghostly blue glow. The terrified midwife dropped Shangguan Shiyu onto the bed and fell over dead.

This only added fuel to the rumors that Shangguan Shiyu was a monster reborn. If not for the strong will of Family Head Shangguan Tie protecting her, she would likely have been secretly “dealt with” by her fearful relatives long ago. Even her own parents couldn’t withstand the entire family’s pressure.

So, Shangguan Shiyu had a good grandfather.

This blue-skinned little girl, surrounded by countless rumors, slowly grew up within the Shangguan Family. From childhood to adolescence, she never once stepped outside the mansion. As a daughter of a great family, her intelligence was beyond question. Whatever knowledge she wished to learn, Shangguan Tie would make sure his granddaughter got it.

However, Shangguan Shiyu’s blue skin scared away many tutors. Despite Shangguan Tie issuing orders for silence, the saying goes, good deeds stay behind closed doors, bad deeds spread far and wide. News about the monster girl in the Shangguan Family still spread like wildfire across the city.

Finally, in desperation, Shangguan Tie imposed an absolute rule within the family: anyone heard daring to mock Shangguan Shiyu, whoever they might be, would face severe punishment! Even allowing Shangguan Shiyu to feel the slightest bit of hurt was unacceptable!

So, Shangguan Shiyu grew up in this environment. Even though her skin looked different from everyone else’s, she never saw herself as a demon or a freak.

Not until a year ago. Shangguan Shiyu’s sixth uncle took a concubine. The woman, coming from another city and having never heard of Shangguan Shiyu, saw her and gasped in horror, screaming: “A ghost!”

Because of this, Shangguan Tie showed his formidable side. He immediately drove the woman out, warning her not to talk. Or else, she would face consequences she couldn’t bear!

Being kicked out on the very first day after marriage, her family naturally wouldn’t accept it. They brought a large group to the Shangguan residence, demanding an explanation. News of this inevitably spread. A furious Shangguan Tie directly deployed the core martial forces of the Shangguan Family. The group demanding an explanation were slaughtered to the last man!

That day, blood flowed like a river at the gates of the Shangguan mansion!

Simultaneously, the monster girl of the Shangguan Family became the hottest, longest-lasting topic of gossip throughout Huangsha City once more.

Because of this incident, the then twelve-year-old Shangguan Shiyu finally understood her true situation. She realized she was unwelcome. Some truly did call her a ‘monster’. Having studied extensively since childhood, Shangguan Shiyu knew exactly what the word meant. After that event, the formerly lively, cheerful Little Princess of the Shangguan Family vanished. In her place stood a nearly silent girl who shut herself off. She spoke to no one except her grandfather.

Shangguan Tie watched this happen, anxious in his heart. According to the laws of the Azure Dragon Kingdom, girls could marry at fourteen and boys at sixteen. Shangguan Shiyu was thirteen; the time to find her a husband was approaching. But what great family would ever be willing to take such a bride?

Scanning the entire hundreds-of-years history of the Azure Dragon Kingdom, such a situation had never occurred. Almost everyone, including the vast majority of the Shangguan Family itself, believed Shangguan Shiyu was an unlucky girl.

Watching Shangguan Shiyu grow day by day, blossoming more beautifully, Shangguan Tie grew increasingly anxious. He decided on a public search for a husband-in-law. Were there men who wanted to marry Shangguan Shiyu? Not only were there men, there were many!

But those men? Either they were far below Shangguan Shiyu in social status, or they were solely fixated on the massive dowry Shangguan Tie promised. What’s more? The dowry for the marriage of the Little Princess of the Shangguan Family rivalled the entire fortune of a minor family! How could that not stir men’s hearts?

But what Shangguan Tie wanted was his precious granddaughter’s happiness! Could marrying a commoner who couldn’t even read bring happiness to the exceptionally intelligent Shangguan Shiyu? And those just after the wealth? Wanting to take his precious granddaughter home as a trophy, using her dowry to support other women elsewhere? Think again!

Just two days ago, Qin Hongyuan, the Family Head of the Qin Family, suddenly paid a visit. He wanted to break into the Shangguan Family’s most profitable businesses: transport and restaurants!

Ridiculous! Shangguan Tie instinctively wanted to refuse Qin Hongyuan. He feared the Qin Family not one bit. Financially? While the Shangguan, Fang, and Qin Families were known together as Huangsha City’s Three Great Families, many knew the truth: the Fang and Qin Families combined still probably weren’t as wealthy as the Shangguan Family!

Militarily? Never mind the unknown number of powerful warriors within the five-hundred-year-old Shangguan legacy. Just the fact that Shangguan Tie’s second daughter was the Emperor’s most favored consort put the Qin Family completely out of their league.

Just as the refusal was about to leave his lips, a thought flashed like lightning through Shangguan Tie’s mind. He swallowed his words. He looked at the embarrassed Qin Hongyuan and suddenly said, “Your younger daughter Hanyue… does she have an… Illegitimate Son?”

As soon as the question was asked, Qin Hongyuan flushed with shame and anger. Like the tale of Shangguan Shiyu, this matter could not be hidden. But as the respected, high-status Family Head in Huangsha City, who besides the man before him would dare ask such a thing face-to-face? Anyone else, and Qin Hongyuan would have fought for his honor!

Qin Hongyuan, a wily old fox despite his discomfort, noticed Shangguan Tie hadn’t outright refused him. Honestly, Qin Hongyuan hadn’t held much hope of breaking into those businesses. This visit was just a shot in the dark, banking on years of friendship.

Hearing Shangguan Tie’s question, Qin Hongyuan nodded bitterly. With a sigh, he said, “That news has spread everywhere too! Ah, how shameful! Brother Tie, it’s my fault. I failed in raising my daughter. You’ll laugh at me!”

Shangguan Tie felt a surge of delight inside. So the old fool genuinely didn’t know who the child’s father was? Perfect! Concealing his thoughts, he shook his head. “Hongyuan, we played together as children. We learned and trained at the same academy. We have known each other nearly eighty years! How could I laugh at you? Ah, my family troubles… you know how it is too. You worry, old friend, but don’t I?”

Qin Hongyuan’s heart jumped at these words. First came disbelief, then wild hope. He stared at Shangguan Tie, his voice trembling. “Could… could you mean…?”

Shangguan Tie gave a slight nod and sighed. “Two unlucky children. If they could truly come together… it might be a good thing. When the time comes, let them live in the Imperial Capital. Far away from the gossip here. What do you think?”

“Good! Good! Excellent!” Qin Hongyuan immediately agreed, barely containing his elation despite years of cultivated demeanor. A trace of smug triumph flickered unmistakably in his eyes.

Slightly puzzled, Qin Hongyuan noticed as they parted – he clearly saw a hint of triumph in Shangguan Tie’s eyes too. It was confusing. But he didn’t care to dwell on it. Because regardless, the Qin Family’s entry into the transport and restaurant businesses – ventures critical to the Qin Family’s future fortune – was secured!

Watching Qin Hongyuan walk away, Shangguan Tie couldn’t help but take a deep breath. Inside, he sneered coldly. He knew exactly the hardship Qin Hanyue and her son had endured all these years within the Qin Family. He thought: Qin, you old scoundrel, you will regret this someday!

Shangguan Tie’s thoughts drifted involuntarily back to that sunny afternoon fourteen years ago.