Substitute Marriage

The clan leader almost collapsed to the floor as he hastened to kneel. At the same time, Wen Yan’s thoughts spun quickly as she tried to cook up a believable excuse.

“Since it’s the Princess’s will, this humble servant naturally understands. What I said earlier was out of agitation, and I failed to properly greet Your Highness. I hope the Princess can forgive my unintentional offense.”

Eloquent and silver-tongued people usually earned Xiao Lan’s favor. However, Wen Yan was an exception. Even a tiger, ferocious as it was, would not dare to harm its own cubs. Wen Yan, on the other hand, was a cruel and heartless mother and a woman who should be avoided at all costs.

“Rise, all of you,” Xiao Lan commanded.

Everyone shakily got to their feet, only to see Xiao Lan stepping forward to support the Prince Consort. A wave of unease rippled through the crowd.
Han Li was nearly moved to tears of joy, as for Wei Jin, he was taken aback for a moment and felt like he was dreaming. Xiao Lan had been so cold towards him for days, yet here she was, rescuing him.

“I told you I was mostly recovered, but you insisted on waiting for me to go together, saying that we couldn’t let down our elder brother’s birthday celebration. Now look at what’s happened—such a misunderstanding. How am I supposed to smooth things over now?”

By avoiding any formal announcement of her arrival, Xiao Lan had intended to stay hidden among the crowd, observing the situation before intervening in the Wei family’s affairs. Once she grasped the full story, she would question a few servants to ensure she had the right angle to handle this delicate matter.

The clan elder, once an advisor to the cabinet of ministers, still held great influence even after retiring from his official duties. Earlier, in her haste to rescue Wei Jin, Xiao Lan had wielded her royal authority like a weapon.

However, continuing to suppress them with her status as Princess would only win over their words all the while breeding resentment in their hearts and this would potentially harm both her and the Prince Consort’s reputation. Worse yet, it could create enemies; if someone harbored malice in this crowd, they would be impossible to guard against.

Understanding Xiao Lan’s intention, Wei Jin adopted a look of guilt and asked gently, “Lan’er, is your stomach still in pain?” By saying this, he solidified the excuse that his late arrival was due to attending to the Princess’s ill health.

Xiao Lan shook her head and glanced at Cui Zhu who signaled the guards to present two large chests. “You left in such a hurry that you forgot the gifts.”

Wei Jin managed a slight, remorseful smile. “That was my mistake.”
He turned to the clan leader and elders. Bowing deeply, he said, ” A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Although it was unintentional, I am willing to accept the punishment.”
He then turned slightly to look at Xiao Lan, “Lan’er, please don’t intervene.”

There were times when Xiao Lan felt a sense of regret. Her relationship with the Prince Consort was as indifferent and cold as well water, yet he always seemed to understand her intentions with just a glance. Seeing Wei Jin about to kneel again, the clan leader and one of the elders practically flew to his side, each grabbing one of his arms.

“Absolutely not! Since you were attending to the Princess, your late arrival is understandable.”

“We were unaware of the situation. And compared to Eldest Brother’s birthday banquet, the Princess’s health is, of course, more important.”

The clan leader and elder had spent decades navigating the intricacies of officialdom. How could they not understand that the Princess was offering both sides a graceful way out? To punish Wei Jin further would be tantamount to indirectly criticizing the Princess for being ill at an inconvenient time.

The gifts were delivered, and Wei Jin apologized in public, giving them face. They were happy to accept the gifts, which in turn allowed the Princess to save face as well.

Just as the farce seemed to be heading towards a peaceful resolution, a meddlesome voice piped up, “Has the Princess called for the royal physician to check on her?”

Everyone fell silent, and the clan leader wished he could throw the speaker out immediately. Wasn’t this a subtle accusation that the Princess was feigning illness to get Wei Jin out of trouble?

Wei Cheng, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, persisted. “There’s a doctor here in the Marquis’s residence. How about we should invite him to examine the Princess? One’s health should never be taken lightly.”

The Crown Prince’s consort selection was set for the Double Ninth Festival, and Wen Yan’s only daughter, Wei Cheng, was among the candidates. Even before the selection, she was already dreaming of becoming the Crown Princess and looked down on everyone with an air of superiority.

Xiao Lan couldn’t understand why Wei Cheng had such animosity towards the Prince Consort, as if she were a wasp, determined to sting!

Wei Jin took a step forward, ready to speak, but Xiao Lan spoke first in a languid tone, “Sister Wei, you’re so thoughtful. Go ahead and summon him.” After that, she called Cui Zhu over and whispered a few instructions.

Wen Yan twisted Wei Cheng’s arm and shot her a sharp look, muttering angrily, “You’re so nosy.”

Wei Cheng realized she shouldn’t have said that. If Princess Lan was truly unwell, then she would have just made a grave mistake. Rubbing the sore spot on her skin, she muttered defiantly, “I didn’t explicitly say anything wrong, so the Princess can’t do anything to me. Mother, you’re worrying over nothing.”

Wen Yan glared at her furiously.

The doctor from the marquis’s residence examined the Princess and advised, “Your Highness, you must avoid cold foods and not overexert yourself emotionally, or your illness will come back.”

The clan leader and elder felt utterly humiliated. They had truly lost face. The Princess had come to resolve the situation, yet this had only added to her stress.

“Your Highness, we didn’t understand the situation and caused a ridiculous farce. Having you rush here despite your illness is our fault entirely!”

“Wei Cheng is young and ignorant! Please punish her, Your Highness. I will accept the consequences without complaint!”

Though the Prince Consort was known for being quiet, he certainly wasn’t mute. He must have explained the situation when he arrived, and even Han Li had defended him earlier, but no one believed them.

The clan leader and elders were supposed to be wise and virtuous, holding the family’s prosperity and honor on their shoulders, so why were they so petty with the Prince Consort? Xiao Lan couldn’t comprehend their reasoning.

Wen Yan pulled Wei Cheng down to kneel. “Wei Cheng is loose-tongued, and I have failed in my duties as a mother. I’m willing to accept any punishment alongside her.”

They both claimed to have failed in their duties, but while one was adding insult to injury, the other was sharing the joys and sorrows of her own kin. Even in the story of Duke Zhuang, who was born as a fool, he wouldn’t act like this!

Xiao Lan sighed silently and ordered them to copy the “Admonitions for Women.” She then clapped her hands three times, summoning the shadow guards.

“Because of me, the Prince Consort was late to the birthday banquet and accidentally injured his elder brother. The doctor said his leg is broken, and he’s bedridden. My guards are skilled in treating injuries; let them take a look.”

At these words, Wen Yan and Wei Cheng’s expressions changed drastically and their eyes filled with fear.
Wen Yan’s voice trembled, “How could we possibly trouble Your Highness’ guards! The doctor already said that with proper rest, he would recover in a few days.”

Wei Cheng, on the other hand, kept her head bowed, not daring to utter a single word.

‘If elder brother’s injury was fake, what is Wen Yan trying to do by instigating this?’ Xiao Lan thought deeply but couldn’t figure it out and she was too tired to look into it further.

The strange reactions of the mother and daughter did not go unnoticed by the clan elder and leader, but family scandals must not be exposed. Even if they sensed something amiss, they could only cover it up and investigate it later.

“It’s getting late. How about the Wei family servants and I escort Your Highness and the Prince Consort back?”

This kind of superficial pretense had happened countless times before. Xiao Lan glanced at the people in the courtyard, their faces filled with endless awe and flattery.

As the sky darkened and night fell, the sound of carriage wheels couldn’t drown out the whispers carried by the wind throughout the city, nor could it quell the suffocation and confusion in Xiao Lan’s heart.

When they arrived at the Yi Yuan Residence, Xiao Lan stopped at the high steps and turned to the clan leader. “I heard that your son, Wei Jue, recently passed the imperial examination. Please pass on my congratulations to him.”

The clan leader’s heart skipped a beat. Why would she bring up his legitimate son out of nowhere? Was she planning to make things difficult for him?

He suppressed his unease. “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My son was merely fortunate.”

Xiao Lan didn’t continue the conversation. “I can tell that the clan leader understands reason. So you must be aware of what happens when you favor one side too heavily.”

She looked toward the imperial city, which seemed to glow with supreme power at night. She continued on, “Incidents of family strife and brotherly betrayal are not uncommon in the history of royal successions…”

“Have we not heard enough of such stories?” With that, she left the clan leader confused and deep in thought as she went inside.

Although she had slept during the day, she spent the night restless. The qi and blood she had recuperated during the day were likely depleted again. Xiao Lan had no desire to ask why the Prince Consort put up with everything his family did. If a person doesn’t resist adversity, they will be devoured by it.

But was the Prince Consort truly the kind of person who would willingly let adversity devour him?

The Prince Consort was a general with distinguished military achievements, capable of sweeping through thousands of troops, capturing the enemy commander alive, turn the tide of battle, and even be recognized by the childless Duke Rong, Qiu He, as his godson…

How could he not see through those petty tricks? Why does he not fight back?
Xiao Lan could only come to one conclusion: He was foolishly filial !

Xiao Lan felt more stressed as she thought about all these things.
Cui Zhu was drying Xiao Lan’s hair after her bath when a crashing sound came from the inner room.

“I accidentally touched the Young Master’s old wound…” a quivering voice announced from the inner room.

Hearing this, Xiao Lan got up and walked to the room just in time to see the Prince Consort putting on his inner robe. His back was crisscrossed with terrifying scars. They were as numerous as a spider’s web and equally horrifying.

The sight seemed to prick at her heart, not painful way but it make her uncomfortable.

“When I was a child, I practiced martial arts, so I have many scars on my back. I don’t want to disturb the Princess,” he had once said.

His words echoed in her ears. Xiao Lan was indeed taken aback. She had seen similar scars on her father’s back when she was young, but although they were numerous, they were not as grotesque and horrifying as the Prince Consort’s.

“I’m sorry if I frightened you,” Wei Jin said gently with his eyes lowered. Even though she had already seen him at his worst, the act of revealing the scars on his back left him feeling exposed and vulnerable.

“Were some of those caused by them?” Xiao Lan couldn’t help but ask, thinking of that thick wooden rod. Some of those scars looked like they were from martial arts training, while others did not.

Wei Jin understood who she meant by “them.” After a brief pause, he nodded lightly. “Yes.”
That single word concealed countless pains. He was like a rock on a cliff, enduring years of wind, sand, rain, and snow, yet still strong and resilient. Xiao Lan felt a slight sting in her nose.

“Lan’er,” with his protective veil now removed, Wei Jin tried to open up further. “If someone close to you hid something difficult to speak of, would you forgive them?”

In the dim candlelight, his lean figure stood like a silhouette against the light with his face obscured. His eyes, like peach blossoms, were filled with a gentle, mottled glow.

Tonight’s unexpected disaster was, in a way, caused by Xiao Lan, so she braced herself and said, “As long as it doesn’t go against morality, the law, or human decency, I can hear them out.”

Seeing that there was room for discussion, Wei Jin decided to take a risk. “What if it doesn’t violate morality, the law, or human decency but is driven by one’s own selfish desires?”