Sisters Swap - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Only after Gu Jingyan left did it finally sink in.

He had clearly forced me to beg for mercy on purpose, just so he could leave as if it were the natural thing to do.

What a scheming man!

I had a wonderful sleep. The next day, I followed him into the palace, where the Young Emperor very politely called me “Imperial Aunt.”

It was only then that I realized my status was actually this impressive.

The good days were finally coming!

The Prince Regent’s Mansion was beautiful, with pavilions, terraces, and towers arranged in perfect harmony.

After eating and drinking my fill, I wove the flowers I had picked from the rear garden into a wreath and wore it on my head.

I spun, I leaped, I admired myself, and I hummed a little tune.

When I got tired of playing, I soaked a huge watermelon in the pond water in the rear garden, then lay on a rocking chair under the shade to cool off.

Xiao Cui fanned me with a palm-leaf fan, nagging at me in exasperation:

“On your wedding night, His Highness didn’t even perform the nuptial wine ceremony with you, and you’re still in the mood to play!”

I spread my hands and said indifferently, “He’s the one who didn’t do anything. It’s not that I was unwilling to serve him. You can’t blame me.”

Xiao Cui was my legitimate elder sister’s maid and had never had much respect for me. When we switched marriages, my sister had been afraid our parents would notice something was wrong, so she had Xiao Cui stay by my side.

To be honest, I was more worried about my sister right now.

Zhang Rang was not a bad person, but he had picked up every rotten habit a scholar could possibly have.

I remembered in my previous life, it had also been on the night of our wedding. I had waited too long in the bridal chamber and was so hungry I couldn’t stand it, so I dug around under the bedding for some fruit to eat.

When Zhang Rang entered the room, he happened to catch me cracking peanuts with my mouth wide open.

His expression changed on the spot, as if he had been deeply insulted. Still, he held back his anger and began reasoning with me in that refined, bookish way of his.

“Second Miss Shen, today is our wedding day. This veil should have been lifted by your husband. You lifted it yourself without waiting for me. Have I done something wrong to incur your displeasure?”

I reasoned with him too. “I was just hungry. Don’t overthink it. At worst, I’ll cover myself up again and you can lift it one more time?”

Zhang Rang was indignant. “Marriage is a major event. Not a single step of the rites can be mistaken. For Second Miss Shen to be so careless and perfunctory clearly shows you have no regard for me, Zhang!”

Anger surged up in me. I flung the peanut shells onto the floor and snapped, “I just ate a little something! You were out in the front courtyard eating and drinking your fill, but I haven’t eaten all day. If I don’t eat now, I’ll have to stay hungry until tomorrow morning. Do you know how awful that feels?”

“Zhang, I’m just eating a few fruits. I haven’t violated the laws of heaven. Do you really need to make such a huge fuss over nothing?”

His face flushed bright red. He pointed at me with a trembling hand and said in disappointment, “I thought the daughters of noble families were the most proper in etiquette. I never imagined you, you…”

He kept saying “you” for ages.

I stuck out my tongue and made a face at him.

His face turned deathly pale with rage, and he swept his sleeves and left on the spot.

From then on, we never had a peaceful day.

He was always nitpicking over the tiniest details, endlessly criticizing my mistakes.

In the end, he smashed plates and bowls, while I tore up the poems he had just finished writing. Neither of us let the other have an easy time.

Thank goodness I had finally escaped him in this life.

I estimated that enough time had passed, then fished out the watermelon that had been chilled in the water. With a crack, the big round watermelon split in half. I scooped it with a spoon and ate. Bliss.

“Want some?” I handed the other half to Xiao Cui.

Xiao Cui rolled her eyes. “Hmph.”

“What’s with that attitude? I am the Princess Consort of the Prince Regent now, you know.”

“That position clearly belonged to the Eldest Miss!”

Tears welled in Xiao Cui’s eyes. “I don’t know what Miss was thinking. She had a perfectly good chance to be the Princess Consort of the Prince Regent, but she insisted on switching with you and marrying that poor scholar-born Zhuangyuan.”

Holding half a watermelon, I said leisurely, “That’s what you don’t understand. She’s been the Eldest Miss all her life. She grew up in luxury, never lacking food or clothing, never having to worry about anything. Naturally, she wanted to pursue some grand, earth-shattering love.”

“How does that saying go again? Right. When bellies are full and bodies are warm, people start thinking about lust.”

“I’m different. I can barely manage being fed and clothed, so where would I find the energy to think about anything else? I married over here for one thing-a meal.”

I made a gesture, signaling for her to lean in so I could tell her a secret.

Xiao Cui’s eyes grew wider and wider.

“What? The Prince Regent can’t perform!”

I hurriedly jumped up and covered her mouth. “Why are you shouting so loudly? Are you stupid?”

Xiao Cui could barely breathe under my hand, and her face was almost turning white.

“The Prince Regent can’t perform. That’s a good thing. It saves this lady from having to serve him in the future, understand?”

I had no idea whether she took it in or not. She was still flailing her arms and legs, squeaking and shrieking.

This little girl’s mental fortitude was truly terrible. She couldn’t even accept a tiny matter like this.

I shook my head helplessly and let her go.

Then I turned around.

Only to discover that Gu Jingyan was sitting in the rocking chair I had just occupied, gnawing on watermelon with great relish.