Zhao Ruyu

Although the second madam, Lady Wei, kept her head lowered and did not talk back, her face was stiff with displeasure, and a venomous look flashed through her eyes.

A girl of thirteen or fourteen sitting behind her also kept her head down, wringing her handkerchief. She was the child who had been switched with Xu Xi at birth, Zhao Ruyu.

Seeing her, the old madam beckoned and called, "Miss Yu, come here to Grandmother."

Zhao Ruyu looked up at the marquis's old madam, then rose and slowly walked over.

The old madam said, "Your elder sister is, after all, of our marquis residence's blood. Now that we're bringing her home, you mustn't let your thoughts run away with you. You've lived here all these years, and your grandfather and parents have doted on you plenty. We've long regarded you as our own flesh and blood. Your birth parents are gone too, so this is your home. From now on, everything will be the same for you as before. Do you understand?"

Zhao Ruyu snorted inwardly.

They say they dote on me, but isn't it only because they see that I'm useful?

She had known from childhood that her mother did not dote on her. And because her father was born of a concubine and her mother's temperament was not endearing, the old madam and the first madam treated all the children of the second branch with merely perfunctory affection.

Her mother had always looked down on her father, and as her maternal grandfather rose through the ranks, she became increasingly overbearing in the second branch. Yet whether because the two women had long held authority over her or because she had suffered at their hands before, she dared not behave outrageously in front of the old madam and the first madam.

For that reason, Zhao Ruyu felt that only by currying favor with the old madam and the first madam and winning their affection could she live a good life. At the very least, when the time came to arrange her betrothal, they might put more care into it. She could never count on her mother. And with the old madam and the first madam making the decisions, her mother would not dare say much.

So, from the age of nine, when Zhao Ruyu had understood this, she had done everything she could to please the old madam and the first madam. She played the obedient girl before them and threw herself into everything she learned, prompting her instructing matrons to praise her to the two women. As a result, they gradually came to value her, and by the time she was thirteen, the first madam always took her along to social gatherings.

Nor had she disappointed the first madam's good intentions. Every time, she outshone the other young ladies and won praise from the assembled madams. At this year's lotus-viewing banquet, the Marquis of Pingnan's second son had taken a fancy to her looks and the talents and learning she displayed, and begged his mother to seek her hand from the marquis residence. The Marchioness of Pingnan had then sent word to the first madam, letting her know of her interest in a marriage between their families.

The Marquis of Suiping's Residence had originally been the Duke of Sui's Residence. For generations, its ancestors had guarded the border, and because their merits were so great, their title had never been reduced in rank. Only in the present generation had Zhao Yuanxun been too frail to enter the army, holding merely a sinecure of Subordinate Sixth Rank in the Ministry of War. The title had consequently been reduced, and the household had become the Marquis of Suiping's Residence.

Ordinarily, being demoted from duke to marquis was no disgrace for the Marquis of Suiping's Residence in noble circles, since it was very common. Of the five ranks of duke, marquis, earl, viscount and baron, a marquis still held a relatively high position.

But the world valued power, and an empty title was of no use. In other families whose titles had been reduced, or who had no titles at all, the men either held high office at court or important posts in the army. There were always one or two capable men to keep the family from falling.

The current Marquis of Suiping, however, had been sickly since childhood and had achieved nothing in either civil or military pursuits. Neither the second nor the third master had made anything of himself-partly because they lacked the aptitude, of course, but also because they were born of concubines, and the old madam had kept them down, unwilling to let them become too successful and surpass her own son. Among the younger generation, the young masters' performances were also mediocre.

Moreover, while the duke had still been alive, several misfortunes had befallen the household, costing it a great deal of money and exhausting its savings. The duke had later been ill for several years, and medical expenses had been a major burden. Precious medicinal ingredients had flowed like water every day, until the household could no longer bear the cost and had sold many residences, shops and fields. In the eyes of everyone in the capital, the decline of the Marquis of Suiping's Residence was foreseeable.

A noble family in such steady decline was naturally unwelcome on the marriage market in noble circles. Thus, whether it was Zhao Jingxuan, heir to the Marquis of Suiping, or the other young masters and young ladies, whether born of the principal wife or of concubines, their marriages had not been very satisfactory. The families they married into were either in steady decline like the marquis residence or were those of minor fifth- or sixth-rank officials with no foundation.

For a family to prosper, it depended on two things: the abilities of its descendants and marriage alliances.

Now the marquis residence's descendants were all incapable, and the families they married into were of lower and lower standing. If this continued, it could only become a vicious cycle, with the household falling further and further into decline.

Over this, the old madam, Lady Tang, worried so much that she could not sleep at night.

But she was utterly unwilling to cultivate the sons of the concubines who had competed with her for her husband, letting them replace her own son and grandsons in exchange for the continued glory and wealth of the marquis residence.

So, over the years, besides cultivating her own grandsons, she had focused on getting her granddaughters better marriages.

The Lu Family of the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence, which had taken a fancy to Zhao Ruyu, was different. The Marquis of Pingnan himself was a first-rank general who had later performed great service against the enemy and been made a marquis. His sons were all valiant and skilled fighters in the army, and each was well versed in military texts, with a promising future. The whole family was highly regarded by the reigning emperor. The Lu Family could be called newly prominent in noble circles.

Under these circumstances, one could imagine how delighted the marquis's old madam was that the Marchioness of Pingnan had taken a fancy to Zhao Ruyu and wanted her as a match for her own second son. Among the marriages of her many grandsons and granddaughters, this was an excellent one.

Moreover, once they became in-laws with the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence, the young ladies of the Marquis of Suiping's Residence would have firmer footing when marriage matches were discussed in the future. After all, becoming connected by marriage to the newly prominent Marquis of Pingnan's Residence was also a good choice for many families.

So Zhao Ruyu knew very well that, with such a marriage in prospect, the old madam would not send her back to the Xu Family, even though the betrothal had yet to be settled. Not only would she not send her away, she would treat her even better than before.

In her previous life, the old madam had said the same words to Zhao Ruyu. At the time, the fourteen-year-old Zhao Ruyu had not understood the marquis residence's circumstances or what her marriage meant to it. Deeply moved, she had devoted herself wholeheartedly to repaying the kindness the household had shown her. Later, when trouble befell the marquis residence, she had done her utmost to intercede. But it had been no use at all, and her own life at the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence had become difficult as a result.

But now, having seen all this clearly, Zhao Ruyu did not feel the slightest ripple in her heart.

She was calm inwardly, even cold, but years of life in the inner household in her previous life had brought her acting to the height of perfection. Her tears came whenever she wished.

She blinked, and two streams of clear tears slipped down her cheeks, making her look overwhelmed with gratitude.

Lowering her head, she answered through a sob, "Yes, Ruyu understands."

"That's a good girl." The old madam patted her hand affectionately, then added, "You were originally fifth, and your elder sister is more than a month older than you. Now that she has returned, you'll move down one place and be sixth."

With that, she raised her head and swept her gaze around the room. "Pass the word: from now on, the fifth young lady is to be called the sixth young lady. Miss Xi, who has just returned, will be the fifth young lady."

"Yes," the maids and old women in the room answered in unison.

"Old madam, first madam, second madam, Matron Ruan and the others have returned," a maid reported breathlessly as she ran in from outside.

Everyone perked up and looked toward the doorway.