A Marriage of Convenience with a Love-Struck Regent: From Arrangement to Love [GL] - Chapter 1

The 23rd Year of Yongli, Summer.

The early summer breeze already carried a hint of warmth, urging the pagoda tree in the courtyard of the Yongchang Marquis’s Residence to bloom. The small, jade-white blossoms hung on the branches, swaying gently with every breath of the breeze.

Ning Huanyi stood beneath the pagoda tree, lifting slightly onto her toes to pick a cluster of the flowers. Her wide sleeves fell with the movement of her arm, revealing a length of skin that was as fair and lovely as a lotus root.

“An annulment? Does the Liu family think our Yongchang Marquis’s Residence is a pushover?!”

This startled cry shattered the silence of the courtyard. The sound caused Ning Huanyi, who was just trying to pick more blossoms on her tiptoes, to instantly lose her balance and stumble, nearly falling over.

Fortunately, the maid dressed in green was quick, rushing forward to steady her. It was a pity, though, that the cluster of jade-white blossoms she had just picked fell to the ground.

Ning Huanyi lowered her gaze to the scattered, fallen petals of the pagoda flower, an inexplicable gloom settling over her.

“Mother, what does… the annulment mean?” Ning Huanyi forgot about the fallen flowers. Withdrawing her crestfallen gaze, she gracefully walked toward the Marchioness, Pei Ruan. But even just a few steps made her cough lightly several times, startling Pei Ruan, who immediately began stroking Ning Huanyi’s back. “Huanhuan, don’t worry,” she soothed, like comforting a child. “Your mother won’t let this engagement fail.”

Ning Huanyi’s thoughts drifted. Although she was the Marquis’s only legitimate daughter, she had been frail since childhood. An alliance had been secured with the Liu family of the Xianyang Marquis’s Residence in the capital since before her birth, which was the only reason she didn’t have to worry about marriage every day.

However, a year had already passed since her coming-of-age ceremony, yet the Liu family had remained silent. When Madam Liu arrived at the Yongchang Marquis’s Residence today, everyone in the household assumed the news was about finalizing Ning Huanyi’s marriage. Instead, it was an announcement of annulment.

Pei Ruan had intended to say more, but her maid whispered something in her ear, signaling another urgent matter. Pei Ruan could only instruct Ning Huanyi’s personal maid to comfort her mistress, then turned to handle the household affairs herself.

“M-Miss…” The maid, named Qingdai, stood timidly in place, not daring to step closer. She genuinely felt indignant on her mistress’s behalf. Her Miss was so beautiful… how could she be rejected? If anyone were to break the engagement, it should have been her Miss rejecting the young master of the Liu family!

“Qingdai, walk with me in the street,” Ning Huanyi said, composing her expression. “I heard that the Ruyi Workshop has received many new styles of hairpins and ornaments today.” Qingdai looked at her, unable to discern if she was sad or happy, but she could only obey. She gathered some silver and followed Ning Huanyi out of the residence.

The weather was sunny, and the summer breeze against her face felt refreshing in a way. Ning Huanyi wandered aimlessly for a long time, finally feeling slightly better. She arrived at the Ruyi Workshop, intending to pick a few hairpins and return home. However, the moment she stepped inside, she heard a grating, unpleasant voice.

“I wonder if you all have heard the news? Our Young Miss Ning, the one who looks down on everyone, was actually rejected by the Liu family!”

“What? If you ask me, the Liu family was climbing the social ladder with that marriage. How did they end up being the ones to annul it?”

“What else could it be? With Ning Huanyi’s health—coughing for three days, bedridden for five—who would dare marry her? It would be terrible if they had to take a second wife right after the wedding, wouldn’t it?”

Ning Huanyi could hear everything so clearly just by standing at the entrance of the Ruyi Workshop. She delicately furrowed her beautiful brows and stopped Qingdai, who was about to rush forward to argue.

She then stepped gracefully forward, lowering her gaze to a jade bracelet displayed on the counter. Without even blinking, she spoke: “Shopkeeper… cough, cough… wrap this bracelet up and gift it to this young lady.”

The woman who had spoken the loudest suddenly lifted her head and stared blankly at the impeccably graceful Ning Huanyi standing by the entrance.

“N-Ning Sister… the wind is quite strong today, why have you come out…” The woman, who had been incredibly arrogant a moment ago but was now bowing down, was Huang Jie, the legitimate daughter of the newly transferred official, the Huang clan.

The Huang clan official was quite capable, which was why he had been promoted to the capital, but his official rank… was still insignificant compared to the Yongchang Marquis’s Residence.

“Truly an uncivilized way of speaking, coming from such a small place.” Another figure emerged from the crowd, richly dressed and imposing. Ning Huanyi finally relaxed when she saw her; Bai Yingying was Ning Huanyi’s close friend since childhood.

The shopkeeper of the Ruyi Workshop was wiping cold sweat from his brow in the back. They had received new jewelry styles today and expected these noble young ladies to visit, but he didn’t expect them all to arrive within the same hour and create such a dramatic scene. He dearly hoped no trouble would arise.

Huang Jie, who had been bowing her head to Ning Huanyi, did not recognize this Bai Yingying who had appeared out of nowhere. She exchanged a look with her companions and then straightened her posture.

“While Qinzhou may not be a grand place, it’s hardly for you to comment upon,” Huang Jie said, looking rather smug. Although she could tell the person in front of her was richly dressed, which young lady in the capital didn’t dress elegantly when they went out?

Her Huang family was currently in favor with the Emperor; she felt she could surely afford to offend a minor noblewoman.

Hearing this, Bai Yingying let out a soft snort of laughter. “Oh? A while ago, my cousin was demoted to Qinzhou to serve as the Prefect. He cried miserably before he left, which is why this miss might have formed some misconceptions about Qinzhou. My sincerest apologies, really~”

Hearing this, Ning Huanyi couldn’t help but smile, and the others who knew the details naturally joined in the laughter. Although the Huang family had been promoted and moved to the capital, their actual official rank was less prestigious than that of the Qinzhou Prefect.

Huang Jie was instantly stunned. Hadn’t it only been someone from a branch family of the Bai clan who was recently sent to Qinzhou as Prefect?

Could this actually be a legitimate daughter of the main Bai family?

Huang Jie instinctively wanted to offer an apology, but she still had the friends she had recently made standing beside her. If she backed down now, she would lose face.

Ning Huanyi saw that Bai Yingying was trying to defend her, but with so many people gossiping around, she tugged at Bai Yingying’s sleeve, signaling her to drop the matter.

Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the harmony of the Ruyi Workshop was restored.

“Ah Huan, the Liu family acted so disgracefully. Spreading the news of the annulment all over the city, as if they were terrified people wouldn’t know they were the ones who broke it off.” Bai Yingying gnashed her teeth at the thought of the Liu family. When the childhood engagement was first made, there had already been a flurry of rumors that the Liu family was social-climbing.

Now, their high-profile annulment was likely just a way to vent their own frustrations.

Hearing this, Ning Huanyi’s mood, which had almost settled, was once again tinged with sadness. She found an alcove on the second floor of the Ruyi Workshop—a private seating area for choosing clothes and fabrics—and sat down. The attendant naturally knew the status of the two young ladies and quickly brought over tea, along with expensive pastries.

The Ruyi Workshop had a second floor, partly to take measurements for custom clothing, and partly to encourage guests to linger and perhaps buy more items.

Therefore, several partitioned spaces, or private alcoves, were set up.

As Ning Huanyi went upstairs, she noted that all the alcoves were full today, leaving only one empty room.

Bai Yingying’s thoughts were less subtle than Ning Huanyi’s. As soon as they entered the room, she began grumbling, venting her indignation on Ning Huanyi’s behalf. Ning Huanyi was just as upset, but how could the party who was rejected cling desperately to an annulled engagement?

“But… the whole capital is buzzing with gossip. Everyone is talking about how frail you are, afraid that marrying you means taking a second wife right away. They’re saying the most awful things. What Huang Jie said just now was only one fraction of it.”

Bai Yingying was speaking the truth. For many years, the atmosphere in the capital had been this way: if a family was well-favored and powerful, they certainly received the best treatment, but they were also the most vulnerable to vicious gossip behind their backs.

The two young women discussed their post-coming-of-age troubles in the private alcove. Meanwhile, in the partitioned room next door, a woman with a sword belted at her waist, striking sword-like eyebrows, and star-like eyes, was slim as a willow and stood in a military uniform that concealed nothing of her figure.

She was intently listening to their conversation.

The attendant knocked on the door, and only then did Xiao Ngan refocus and allow him to enter.

Even though the attendant had seen her appearance earlier, he was momentarily startled again. Xiao Ngan had an exceptionally stunning look, and the aura she exuded inspired awe even in the male attendant.

Despite wearing such a simple military uniform, it was paired with those upturned, phoenix-like eyes, lending her a unique sense of captivating femininity.

“Are you aware of the Yongchang Marquis’s annulment?” Xiao Ngan spoke expressionlessly, her voice cold. Yet, the question, seemingly devoid of emotion, contained a subtle, imposing pressure that even Xiao Ngan was unaware of.

It was the kind of presence only a ruler would possess.

The attendant did not dare delay, quickly spilling everything he knew. He then accepted the heavy silver ingot Xiao Ngan tossed him and left the alcove, satisfied.

Ning Huanyi didn’t know how long she had talked with Bai Yingying, but it felt good to finally voice the worries pressed on her heart. However, she had missed her midday medicine, and the morning had been filled with emotional distress. As she stepped out of the private room, her vision suddenly blurred and she stumbled, about to fall to the floor, when she landed in a cool, rather unfamiliar embrace.

Ning Huanyi instinctively reached out to grab the person’s clothing but only touched the cold military uniform.

Bai Yingying gasped from behind, clearly frightened. Once Ning Huanyi steadied herself, Bai Yingying rushed forward to support her, her eyes scrutinizing the woman in military dress who had suddenly appeared.

“Are the guards in the capital so lax now? Who permits you to appear in the city streets dressed in military uniform?” Bai Yingying was completely on guard, as if afraid the woman might try to kidnap her friend. Xiao Ngan, however, remained silent, her gaze fixed downwards on Ning Huanyi, who was a head shorter than her.

Ning Huanyi met those affectionate phoenix eyes and, recalling that she had just been held in this woman’s arms, her cheeks immediately flushed, and she averted her gaze.

“You need not know.” Xiao Ngan seemed unwilling to waste a single extra word on Bai Yingying. When she sensed Ning Huanyi avoiding her eyes, she worried that she had been too forward and momentarily didn’t know where to look.

The atmosphere suddenly froze. It was Ning Huanyi who felt awkward about the silence. She curtsied lightly: “Thank you for saving me, Miss.”

Hearing Ning Huanyi speak, that soft, gentle, and sweet voice made Xiao Ngan feel a little flustered.

Noticing Ning Huanyi’s slightly flushed cheeks, Xiao Ngan, who was usually expressionless, suddenly felt an urge to tease her: “How do you intend to repay me?”

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