Betrothed Before Birth

"What are you standing around for? Sit down and eat. We've been waiting for you." The beautiful woman in her early thirties seated to Shi Tianlu's left greeted her with a smile.

This was the birth mother of her current body, Su Lanyue, the mistress of the Shi Clan.

Besides her parents, there was another beautiful woman around Su Lanyue's age seated at the table, along with two young men not much different in age from her.

That woman was the concubine who had been pregnant at the same time as Su Lanyue years ago, Shen Mingqiu.

Not long after Shi Lan was born, Shen Mingqiu gave birth to a son—Shi Lan's second younger brother, Shi Yiming. Less than two years later, she gave birth to Shi Lan's third younger brother, Shi Qinghu. With sons to elevate her status, her position in Shi Mansion soared.

Since Shi Lan had been born with a crippled physique, Shen Mingqiu's status within Shi Mansion had faintly begun to rival Su Lanyue's.

After having three sons, Shi Tianlu devoted his energy to cultivation and grooming an heir. No new life was born in the inner courtyard thereafter.

Shi Lan came back to herself and bent at the waist in greeting. Mindful of Bikou Chan, she did not speak.

"This child is getting more backward with age. She doesn't even know how to greet people anymore." Su Lanyue smiled as she lightly scolded her.

After looking Shi Lan over, Shen Mingqiu covered her mouth and chuckled. "A-Lan is far too frail. She's nearly as delicate as a young lady."

The smile on Su Lanyue's face stiffened slightly, but she said nothing.

Shi Yiming and Shi Qinghu rose to their feet and returned her greeting with perfect propriety.

"Big Brother."

Shi Tianlu patted the empty seat on his right and said indifferently, "Sit down and eat."

Shi Lan stiffly sat down, lowered her head, and began eating. Since she had stuffed herself with quite a bit of dry rations earlier, after taking only two bites, she could barely eat any more.

The dining table was very quiet, with only the faint sounds of bowls and chopsticks touching.

After the meal had run its course, Shen Mingqiu set down her chopsticks and said softly, "Forget Yiming—even Qinghu has taken two concubines already. A-Lan isn't young anymore, yet she doesn't even have a bedchamber maid by her side. That really isn't appropriate. Some of the rumors outside aren't pleasant to hear."

Su Lanyue's expression did not change, but her heart sank.

Shi Lan tensed up. She still kept her head lowered, but her ears pricked up as she listened closely.

"I arranged a childhood betrothal for Shi Lan back then. It is with the Lu Clan of Jiuxiao City, six hundred li west of here. If my calculations are right, they should come calling within the next couple of days."

Shi Lan nearly choked on the food in her mouth. Panic rose in her heart; whether her identity would be exposed concerned her very life.

Shen Mingqiu's palm tightened, and surprise flashed across her face.

Su Lanyue's expression changed as well. After steadying herself, she smiled and asked, "How is it that I never knew about this?"

"It was a betrothal arranged before A-Lan was born. I forgot to tell you afterward," Shi Tianlu said casually.

"Master, do you mean that prestigious Lu Clan?" Shen Mingqiu asked with some hesitation.

"Correct." Shi Tianlu nodded slightly.

Shi Yiming and Shi Qinghu exchanged a glance, each seeing the shock in the other's eyes.

The Lu Clan's position in Jiuxiao City was no different from the Shi Clan's in Tenglong City. Yet Jiuxiao City was three or four times the size of Tenglong City, and experts gathered there like clouds. The gap between them was as vast as cloud and mud.

"Master, which member of the Lu Clan did you form this marriage alliance with back then?" Su Lanyue asked uneasily.

"The current head of the Lu Clan, Lu Changfeng."

"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?" Su Lanyue's expression changed, and the words slipped out.

Shi Tianlu shook his head and rose to his feet. "No need to say more. We'll discuss it once they come calling." After speaking, he gave Shi Lan, who was still eating with her head lowered, a meaningful glance and raised a hand to touch her damp long hair.

Shi Lan only felt a warmth descend upon the top of her head. Her wet, chilled hair, clumped together from moisture, became dry and smooth within a few breaths.

"Dry your hair before coming out in the future. The wind is strong at night; be careful not to catch a chill." Shi Tianlu spoke calmly, then strode out of Yishui Hall.

Shi Lan's heart stirred. Shi Tianlu's attitude was rather different from what she had imagined...

A trace of jealousy flashed through Shi Yiming and Shi Qinghu's hearts at the same time. Shi Tianlu had never been so gentle with them. They had often received fists, kicks, and weapons instead.

"Elder Sister, please enjoy your meal. This concubine will take her leave first." Shen Mingqiu's gaze flickered as she rose, curtsied, and departed with graceful steps.

Soon afterward, the Shi Yiming brothers also stood and excused themselves, leaving only Su Lanyue, Shi Lan, and a group of maids in the hall.

"You may all withdraw first." Su Lanyue waved a hand and gave the order.

Once the maids had left, Su Lanyue nudged Shi Lan, who still had her head lowered. "Stop eating. Come with me." She then rose and entered the side hall.

No lamps had been lit in the side hall. It was somewhat dim, empty, and very quiet.

Su Lanyue sat down in a chair and took a deep breath. "What do you think about this matter?"

Shi Lan stood with her hands restrained at her sides and said nothing.

Disappointment flashed through Su Lanyue's eyes. This soft and yielding temperament—who had she inherited it from?

"Lu Changfeng has only one daughter, Lu Yueqing. Her name shouldn't be unfamiliar to you, should it?"

After searching through her memories, Shi Lan found the information related to Lu Yueqing.

The greatest genius within a thousand li of Jiuxiao City.

A Xiantian Realm martial artist not yet twenty years old.

A peerless beauty capable of toppling kingdoms and cities.

The beloved pearl in the palm of the head of the Lu Clan, overlords of Jiuxiao City.

With all those halos added together, the image of a heaven-favored daughter leaped into Shi Lan's mind.

A heaven-favored daughter, a naturally crippled physique, a betrothal arranged before birth... Was the next step going to be breaking off the engagement?

And then, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river?

Shi Lan's expression became somewhat strange. The worthless-material-engagement-breaking formula, plus a system—if she were not currently a woman, this was practically a male protagonist's template.

Just thinking about it was thrilling. Unfortunately, she was a woman now. At that thought, Shi Lan could not help lowering her head, her eyes filled with melancholy.

Seeing Shi Lan remain silent, Su Lanyue rubbed the space between her brows. Her head began to ache, and she waved her hand weakly. "Forget it. Go back first."

Shi Lan had just turned to leave when Su Lanyue called her back.

"Wait. Did you go see Xu Yuanbai again a few days ago?"

The instant Xu Yuanbai's name was mentioned, memories in Shi Lan's mind suddenly churned. A fair-faced figure with red lips and white teeth sprang into her thoughts, and her heartbeat began to speed up uncontrollably.

These were all reactions left behind by the original owner of this body.

After sorting through the memories that had surged forth, Shi Lan could not help finding it both funny and absurd.

The original Shi Lan had been a girl, after all. There were always times when a young girl's heart turned toward romance, and Xu Yuanbai had been the man of her dreams.

However, judging from certain details in those memories, Xu Yuanbai did not seem to be a good person.

The Xu Clan was in business, involved in inns, rice shops, silk stores, and more. They had a hand in all aspects of food, clothing, lodging, and travel, and possessed considerable wealth.

Yet two years ago, the Xu Clan had not possessed so much property. They had only one inn and one rice shop. The reason they had developed so quickly could not be separated from Shi Lan's help.

The original Shi Lan did not enjoy martial arts. She was instead quite interested in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Yet Su Lanyue never allowed her to study such things. Apart from literacy, she was forbidden from touching chess, painting, or music.

The reason, ultimately, was that Su Lanyue feared that prolonged exposure to such things would cause Shi Lan to reveal flaws in the finer details of her daily life.

Shi Lan had been protected too well, and her temperament was somewhat timid, so she had not had much contact with men outside.

Xu Yuanbai's cultivation talent was mediocre, and he himself had no interest in martial arts. He instead turned to poetry and letters, earning himself the reputation of a talented scholar in Tenglong City.

By a chance encounter, Shi Lan and Xu Yuanbai became acquainted, and this somewhat innocent girl fell right in.