Shen Country, Qudian, Zhai Manor.
The return of the Zhai brothers from their travels should have been a joyous occasion.
The manor had not been lively in ages. By rights, they should have celebrated in grand style. But no one had expected Zhai Manor to hang white curtains and adorn itself with white flowers. It was clearly preparing for a funeral.
The servants in the manor moved even more quietly than usual.
They were afraid the slightest sound might disturb their master.
When word of this reached the streets, the common folk all sighed with sorrow.
The reason was simple: the deceased in this funeral at Zhai Manor was not one of its masters, but the intended Clan Wife of the Zhai Clan Scion, a young woman from a prestigious Qudian family.
The story of Scion Zhai Huan and that ill-fated young woman had once been celebrated as a beautiful romance. Who could have known that they would now be separated by life and death?
"Alas, what a pity..."
Whenever people spoke of it, they all lamented the tragedy.
The young woman and Zhai Huan had been betrothed as children, their families having arranged the marriage before they were even born. She came from a distinguished family, and the two households had once been well matched. But fate was fickle. Something happened to her family, dragging everyone in the household down with it. Their fortunes declined, and she had also been accidentally disfigured.
Everyone assumed Zhai Huan would call off the engagement.
Their status was now worlds apart. Even if Zhai Huan had reneged on the engagement, no one would have blamed him. If he had generously helped the woman find another suitable match, people might even have praised him for it. But Zhai Huan always managed to act in