After Becoming a Succubus, I Was Offered to My Mortal Enemy - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Sikong Zhi had originally thought her elder sister’s talk of choosing a good match for that foreign woman was just idle chatter. After all, her sister had gone to great lengths to plead for her; how could she be playing matchmaker after only keeping her in the manor for a few days?

It wasn’t until Song Yan came to urge her again that Sikong Zhi confirmed Sikong Xue wasn’t joking.

“Does Eldest Sister not like that foreign woman?”

The woman was so piteously lovely and looked exactly like her sister’s beloved; how could her sister not like her?

Song Yan said, “She is not Miss Ning, after all. Staying in the manor will only disturb the Master’s peace of mind.”

“Then just send her away casually.” Sikong Zhi didn’t understand these matters; she just felt her sister was being too troublesome.

Song Yan said helplessly, “She looks so much like Miss Ning; how could the Master bear to let her fall into the hands of just anyone? The County Princess even tried to snatch her a few days ago, which made the Master furious.”

“Yuchi Jin?” Sikong Zhi narrowed her eyes. She didn’t like Yuchi Jin either. If it was to guard against Yuchi Jin, then it made sense for her sister to find a good husband for the woman. “I understand. Go back and tell the girl to dress up well. In two hours, I’ll bring men to the Prime Minister’s manor for her to choose from.”

Now that Yuchi Jin was involved, Sikong Zhi stopped being lax and immediately summoned her unmarried, eligible officers. He had to be able to protect the foreign woman, have good character, a good disposition, and a temper that wasn’t too bad.

Thinking of the requirements Sikong Xue had set, Sikong Zhi shook her head. Choosing someone with a “good temper” in the army was more troublesome than being told to go kill Yuchi Jin directly.

Song Yan returned to the manor and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Master, great news! The Second Young Lady will bring men today for the lady to choose from. The officers under her command are all trustworthy; you can rest easy now.”

Sikong Xue’s hand holding the brush suspended in mid-air. She dazed for a moment, and a drop of ink fell along the wolf-hair bristles. The ink blurred and spread, staining the newly written memorial.

A-Zhi settling the foreign woman for her was clearly a good thing, yet Sikong Xue felt a void in her heart.

Song Yan said, “Master, if you can’t bear to let her go, why not…”

“Who said I can’t bear it?” Putting down her brush, Sikong Xue’s face grew a few degrees colder. “I was just thinking that with her current status, A-Zhi’s officers might feel insulted.”

“Then what does the Master mean?” Song Yan didn’t dare speculate further. Her master clearly looked reluctant, yet she spoke of sending the person away quickly.

“I shall adopt her as my sworn sister. That way, no one will feel insulted.” After saying this, Sikong Xue felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Sending this foreign woman away early would stop her mind from being disturbed. By making her a sworn sister, no one would dare bully her in the future.

Song Yan said, “Master is indeed thorough.”

Song Yan brought the “good news” to Ning Yuan, along with new clothes and jewelry.

Ning Yuan was watching the two maids tend to the plants in the courtyard out of boredom. Seeing Sikong Xue’s people bringing her things again, she said listlessly, “I stay here every day and see no outsiders. Bestowing so many fine clothes and jewels on me is a waste.”

She had initially thought of ways to please Sikong Xue to gather news about the Ning family. But Sikong Xue avoided her every day; Ning Yuan wasn’t blind. If she didn’t want to see her, why send these things all day long?

Song Yan bowed to Ning Yuan and said, “Great joy for the lady! The Master intends to take you as her sworn sister and then select a good husband for you.”

“What?” The handkerchief in Ning Yuan’s hand slipped unnoticed. She stared blankly at the gifts, feeling an inexplicable pang of bitterness in her heart.

Why play matchmaker all of a sudden?

In the past, her mother had given her a phoenix crown and told her to choose a good husband. She had joyfully carried that crown to find Sikong Xue, only for Sikong Xue to call it ugly. She had been so heartbroken that day that she confusedly agreed to the betrothal with Yuchi Jin. She never imagined that marriage would bring utter ruin. Now, hearing the words “good husband” again felt like a mockery.

Looking at the fine clothes and jewelry, Ning Yuan asked, “Why does the Master… why does she treat me so generously?”

Though she spoke of “generous treatment,” her eyes couldn’t hide her disappointment. It made sense; Sikong Xue was neither kin nor friend, why keep her in the manor for free? Sikong Xue surely found her a nuisance and wanted to be rid of her early.

Song Yan said, “Do not overthink it, Miss. The Master is busy with official business and fears she cannot look after you properly. Please dress up; the Second Young Lady will bring people to the manor shortly so you can pick someone who catches your eye.”

Hearing Song Yan’s words, Chun He and Xia Xun also became flustered. Why were they actually marrying the girl off? Though confused, they diligently helped Ning Yuan with her makeup.

Ning Yuan’s features were naturally beautiful; a light touch of brow pencil made her eyes look as soft as water. She disliked using lip rouge; her natural pink lips were already lovely. Someone had picked out a light purple silk skirt that suited Ning Yuan perfectly.

Once dressed, Ning Yuan followed Song Yan to the back garden.

Sikong Zhi had not yet arrived; only Sikong Xue sat alone in the gazebo. Seeing Ning Yuan walking toward her gracefully, Sikong Xue immediately averted her gaze, refusing to look.

Noticing Sikong Xue’s dodging eyes, Ning Yuan defiantly circled to stand in front of her, gave a solemn bow, and said, “Greetings to the Master.”

Sikong Xue said, “I have decided to take you as my sworn sister. From now on, you may call me ‘Sister’ just as A-Zhi does.”

Now Ning Yuan began to feel awkward. The person before her was Sikong Xue, her lifelong rival—how could she call her “Sister”? Ning Yuan couldn’t bring herself to say it; she just sat gloomily to one side, no longer looking at Sikong Xue.

Strangely, neither of them spoke to the other, yet it didn’t feel awkward. Sitting together like this, Song Yan actually found them unexpectedly harmonious.

The atmosphere only became slightly strange when Sikong Zhi arrived with three people.

Sikong Zhi, still in her armor, stepped forward and said, “Eldest Sister, these three are capable officers under my command. They are all unmarried and similar in age to our sworn sister. Let her see which one catches her eye.”

Since Sikong Xue had taken her as a sworn sister, Sikong Zhi followed suit with the title. Sikong Zhi had always found Ning Yuan’s face pleasant; as long as this lookalike wasn’t approaching them with a hidden agenda, she didn’t mind treating her well, just as Sikong Xue did.

The men Sikong Zhi chose were all trustworthy, and they had initially been interested when she offered to play matchmaker. But when they arrived at the manor and saw the girl sitting beside Sikong Xue, their expressions all changed.

They knew Sikong Xue had used an imperial decree to bring back a tribute who looked like Miss Ning. They had assumed Sikong Xue had already taken her into her bed; they hadn’t expected her to be finding a husband for the girl. This was someone Sikong Xue had fought so hard for; wanting to send her away so easily must mean there was a catch. They were cautious people and had no desire to wade into these murky waters.

Sikong Zhi’s lieutenant, Tan Jinyu, was the first to kneel. “General, forgive me; Lord Prime Minister, forgive me. This subordinate just remembered that my maternal grand-aunt’s nephew’s wife has just passed away. My mourning period is not yet over; it is inappropriate for me to marry within three years.”

Ning Yuan frowned. Though she didn’t want to marry this person, this excuse was far too fake. A relative so distant you’d need a map to find them required three years of mourning?

Sikong Zhi’s face shifted, seeing that Tan Jinyu didn’t want to marry the foreign woman. She probably thought the foreign woman didn’t understand Great Liang’s customs, so such an excuse was a way to save face for everyone. This couldn’t be forced, so Sikong Zhi could only say, “Forget it, it was my oversight. You are not at fault.”

Just as she finished, the vanguard officer, Yan Youqin, also knelt on one knee. “General, forgive me; Lord Prime Minister, forgive me. This subordinate just remembered that my mother had arranged a marriage for me long ago. I truly cannot betray my betrothed.”

Sikong Zhi took a deep breath. When they were coming here, Yan Youqin had clearly said she was unmarried and very willing to meet her sister’s sworn sister. How did she suddenly gain a betrothed the moment she saw her?

Sikong Xue glanced at Mu Shuang; of the three she brought, only one remained. Sikong Xue saw that the last one felt as if she were sitting on a bed of needles, and she became curious about what excuse she would invent.

The officer in the center, Mu Shuang, simply dropped to both knees and kowtowed heavily. “General, forgive me; Lord Prime Minister, forgive me. This subordinate… was injured in the arm during the wars years ago. The old injury has flared up and I lack strength; I fear I would only disgrace the Lord Prime Minister’s sworn sister.”

Every possible excuse had been taken by her comrades, so she could only ruin her own reputation by implying she was a “useless” person who couldn’t perform marital duties.

Ning Yuan: …

Ning Yuan just wanted to say that she didn’t want to get married that much either.

Hearing their words, Sikong Xue suddenly laughed. It was a laugh that made one’s skin crawl. “A-Zhi, these are the men you picked for me?”

The three who followed Sikong Zhi kept their heads down in silence. They weren’t afraid of the Prime Minister’s punishment; after all, Sikong Zhi would take the fall for them.

Sikong Zhi didn’t know why it turned out this way. The once-mighty young general suddenly wilted and hurriedly led her officers away. Back at the camp, she snapped, “What is wrong with you all! You clearly said you were willing to meet my sister’s sworn sister, so why did you start talking nonsense the moment you met her!”

The mourning excuse was one thing; the foreign woman probably didn’t understand. But Mu Shuang actually saying her arm was injured—what kind of talk was that!

Mu Shuang said, “General, you didn’t say the Prime Minister’s sworn sister was that foreign woman who looks like Miss Ning!”

Yan Youqin added, “If we truly married that girl and the Prime Minister regretted it one day, even having several lives wouldn’t be enough to pay for it.”

Tan Jinyu said, “That’s not even the main point. What if the Prime Minister wants to keep that woman as a mistress and is deliberately playing matchmaker to cover it up? If I had actually agreed, how would I ever marry a proper wife in the future?” They couldn’t stay unmarried forever just to curry favor with the Prime Minister.

Sikong Zhi listened to them and waved her hand helplessly. With a woman looking like that, unless one was blinded by lust, an ordinary person truly wouldn’t dare provoke her.

They didn’t dare provoke her, but their behavior felt like a humiliation to Ning Yuan. When they were children, Sikong Xue would always mock her, saying she was so willful that no one would dare marry her in the future. Now, to humiliate her, Sikong Xue had specifically invited people to the manor to put on such a show.

Ning Yuan looked at Sikong Xue and said, “Good Sister, are you doing this to tell me that besides the Prime Minister’s manor, I have nowhere else to go?”

She didn’t insist on marrying anyone; why did Sikong Xue have to mock her with such a thing?

That “Good Sister” was unsure whether it was a complaint or a spoiled pout.

“I…” Hearing her speak so sarcastically, Sikong Xue dazed for a moment, almost believing the person standing before her was truly Ning Yuan. By the time she snapped out of it, the girl had already walked away in a huff.

Sikong Xue watched Ning Yuan’s retreating back and thought: I had no such intention.

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