Chapter 365: Chapter 5: Fated Yet Not Destined (First Update)
The sons of the Ruan Family had no hopes of marriage while the current emperor was alive. The emperor would not simply watch them smoothly marry and raise families, nor did they wish to bring harm to other young ladies.
Thus, around them was the little Mantou born to Susu, who garnered all their affection.
Yet each time Susu saw her brothers sneaking looks at Mantou, she felt immense distress.
One day, she couldn’t help but call out to him, "Brother, you and Sister Miao..."
"We have no relationship!"
Before Susu could finish her sentence, Ruan Sixth Son interrupted her swiftly.
Susu had never seen Ruan Sixth Son so agitated before; his loud voice stunned her into silence.
Only when Ruan Sixth Son came back to his senses did he apologize, "Brother didn’t mean to shout at you. A lady’s reputation is extremely precious, how could we speak lightly of it? Let’s not mention this anymore in the future."
Susu was instantly tearful, love penetrating to the bone, yet they must forget each other in the rivers and lakes!
Her brother is a gentleman like jade, Qin Miao a fiery beauty; if the Ruan Family had not been stripped of their titles and possessions, they’d be a perfect match, the union of immortals.
But now...
Enough, enough, words are futile, let fate take its course!
Susu originally thought that the worst ending between Ruan Sixth Son and Qin Miao could only be the unfortunate separation of two who were meant to be, forgetting each other yet living well without.
Unexpectedly, the fate awaiting this pair of ill-fated lovers was far worse than Susu could have envisioned!
It was the tenth year of Kangping, on the third of March, the Shangsi Festival, also Susu’s seventeenth birthday.
That day, Qin Miao came early to the Hong Mansion, hoping Susu would help arrange a meeting with Ruan Sixth Son.
Susu thought and thought, and ultimately became this "matchmaker."
Ruan Yu, sent by Hong Sheng to bring something to the household, witnessed the beloved girl in his sister’s garden and naturally knew this was all prearranged.
Feeling both anxious and angry towards Qin Miao and Susu, he turned to leave.
"If you leave now, you need never see me again?"
A choked voice from behind pierced his heart, stopping him in his tracks.
"Sixth Son, look back at me, hold me, would you?"
Ruan Yu had never heard this fiery, sun-like girl plead so before; turning, he saw tears flowing down from Qin Miao’s jade-like face.
"What happened?" Ruan Yu clenched his fists tightly, fearing he could not resist pulling the beloved girl into his arms.
Yet he could not. Even though no one was present, heaven and earth knew, he knew and she knew; he didn’t want to harm Miao!
Qin Miao shook her head, shedding tears silently.
What would saying it accomplish? Qin Miao remembered when her father received the emperor’s decree, he crushed his teeth and uttered the words, "The ruler wills the vassal’s death!"
The ruler wills the vassal’s death, one cannot but die; moreover, how could one refuse an honor bestowed by the emperor?
"Sixth Son, do you remember our first meeting?" Qin Miao wiped away her tears and smiled sweetly; she came today hoping to leave behind beautiful memories with her beloved, but alas, it was not meant to be!
Ruan Yu watched Qin Miao’s radiant smile, unable to contain his words, "It was the first year of Kangping; we had just arrived in the Northwest, all disheveled and destitute, when you rode by, like a descent from the skies or a gust of wind."
Back then, he didn’t understand what liking someone was, or what love meant; he only knew this free-spirited young girl was strikingly beautiful, not losing out to his own sister.
Later, upon meeting again, he learned she was the daughter of Governor Qin and the Northwest’s most brilliant pearl.
Ruan Yu didn’t fall for Qin Miao instantly; rather, it was through a series of fortuitous encounters that he became deeply enamored with her.
Listening to Sixth Son’s reminiscent musings, Qin Miao thought, "Oh, so you saw me when you first arrived in the Northwest!"
Then she let out a bitter laugh, "But in my memory, our first meeting was when I was five, the first time I went to the Capital with my mother to visit my aunt at Duke Li’s Mansion. Your aunt fell ill, and you ran to the main courtyard to fetch a doctor."
At eleven or twelve, Ruan Yu was praised as a "gentleman like jade" by the keen eyes in the Capital, illustrating just how attractive he truly was.
Qin Miao’s experience in the Northwest was seeing sage-like figures like her father, coal-like figures like her third brother, and the many rough men of the Northwest.
Upon returning to the Capital, even the men of Duke Zhen’s Mansion were refined gentlemen, while a serious little boy like Ruan Yu was a first glimpse.
At that time, Ruan Yu had a bit of scholarly silliness; Qin Miao thought him both handsome and adorably naive, hence remembered this illegitimate child of her aunt’s household.
Ruan Yu thought for a moment, recalling the incident, but at that time, his heart was solely concerned with his aunt’s illness; although he paid respects to his aunt and "cousin," he felt embarrassed being an outsider above seven years old and dared not raise his head.
Aunt was ill, the small Thirteenth Lady sobbed like a little kitten; this too he cast aside. Now recalling it, he only felt things have changed beyond recognition, words accompanied by tears!
Seeing Ruan Yu’s expression, Qin Miao knew he didn’t remember her then; reflecting on their supposed first meeting, she realized their lack of mutual understanding.
They gazed at each other without daring to approach, pessimistically thinking perhaps fate destined them to be incompatible.
...
In the main room, Susu walked back and forth in the living room, uncertain whether she was doing right or wrong.
Logically, for the sake of both her brother and Qin Miao’s future happiness, Susu should not have agreed to Qin Miao’s request.
Especially because of Aunt Qin and Aunt Zhao, Susu shouldn’t have consented.
Not to mention ancient times, even in modern days, marriages without parental blessing often lead to tragedy.
Love is a matter between two people, while marriage is between two families.
Yet sometimes, reason is easily shattered.
Just like Qin Miao laughing as she entered, only to turn into a tearful mess soon after.
While pondering this, Fen Dai entered and said, "Madam, Mrs. Qin’s Mrs. Sun requests an audience!"
"Please, quickly!"
As Susu finished, her thoughts shifted, hurriedly instructing Zhu Zhu, "Quick, invite Miss Qin from the garden!"
But in the end, Mrs. Sun entered first, paid respects to Susu, and before Susu could speak, she anxiously inquired, "Madam, is Cousin here with you?"
Upon hearing this, Susu was startled. Had Qin Miao come to her home without informing Aunt Qin?
On the surface, she replied, "Ma’am, what’s the fuss? Sister Miao did come by, but just stepped out to change."
Hearing these words, Mrs. Sun visibly relaxed, then with a pale face and stern voice said, "The other day an angel arrived with an imperial decree; Cousin was made Princess Yonghe, to wed the Tartar Khan Batraji."
Susu looked at Mrs. Sun in disbelief, "What did you say?"
Tears brimming in Mrs. Sun’s eyes, "Aunt sent Third Cousin himself."
So it must be true.
Susu recalled seeing the dust-covered Qin Miao early in the day; at the time, Susu was bewildered by her tearful entrance, now understanding that upon receiving the decree she hurried towards Hami, bypassing the Liu Mansion to come to the Hong Family, just to see her beloved once more.
But now, what can be done about this situation?
"May love never part eternally, together for all eternity, may all lovers in the world be united."
She wished to be the matchmaker, but her brother and Qin Miao were not Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying!
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