Chapter 1: That Was Your Perfect Match—Why Should You Let Her Have It?

Shen Yuan felt as if a cluster of flames was about to burst forth from within her. A wandering palm rested gently on her neck, tenderly caressing her. The man’s fingertips pressed slightly harder, gripping her slender neck. Those crimson, tear-filled eyes from her memories glimmered with a hurt redness and endless jealousy, silently questioning her. “How dare you marry someone else?” The man drew close, standing just an inch away. His dark eyes shone with a cold, distant light, and his pale face was tinged with anger. Shen Yuan caught the familiar scent of magnolia on him, stirring something deep inside her heart. Struggling, she tried to slip free from his warm grasp.

Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared before her eyes; she opened them. The man’s figure vanished without a trace, and the pain that had gripped her neck dissolved completely. Gazing at the familiar bed canopy, Shen Yuan exhaled deeply, wiping the sweat from her temple.

“Miss Third, a distinguished guest is arriving. Madam requests that you wait in the Flower Carving Hall,” Liuyan announced softly from outside the curtain.

Shen Yuan’s eyes flickered. She had returned to the capital only half a month ago and had never truly fit in with the Shen household. If she defied their wishes again, she feared another round of punishment awaited. “I understand,” she replied.

Today was the day the Fourth Miss of the Shen family, Shen Wanning, was to be betrothed—a marriage to the Pei family that had been arranged well in advance. After so long waiting for Shen Wanning to come of age, the marriage naturally rose to the forefront.

At the mention of the Pei family, a long-buried memory unexpectedly surfaced in Shen Yuan’s mind. She shook her head, casting aside the man’s intensely somber image, allowing Liuyan to continue dressing her.

Inside the Flower Carving Hall, Shen Yuan stepped over the threshold and saw Shen Wanning nestled in Madam Chen’s arms. A shadow flickered in her eyes. “Sister’s here?” Shen Wanning straightened, her face adorned with a gentle smile.

Shen Yuan loathed that ever-smiling expression the most; beneath the delicate grace lay a profound revulsion.

Since childhood, Shen Yuan had been a cherished daughter of noble birth, loved by her parents and protected by her brothers. But everything changed ten years ago when she was cruelly abducted, imprisoned, and even sold from place to place.

Madam Chen had searched desperately for her, only to discover, heartbroken, that Shen Yuan was not her biological daughter. Rather, she was the child of a housekeeper who had given birth on the same day as Madam Chen. To spare her own daughter from hardship, the housekeeper had secretly exchanged the babies.

Recently, as the housekeeper lay gravely ill, she confessed the truth, longing to see her true daughter, Shen Yuan, one last time before death.

The Shen family soon found their biological daughter, naming her Shen Wanning, who took Shen Yuan’s place and became the much-envied Third Miss of the Shen household.

From that moment, all the love and guilt from her parents and brothers were lavished upon Shen Wanning. Even the youngest brother obeyed only her. Overnight, everyone sided with her; no one sought Shen Yuan’s whereabouts anymore. After all, she was not their true daughter—her death was of no consequence.

Yet, here she was, returned.

Lost in thought, Shen Yuan’s lashes trembled as she ignored Shen Wanning and took a seat across from her.

Madam Chen had intended to call her daughter to sit beside her, but seeing Shen Yuan’s distant demeanor, she pursed her lips and refrained from speaking.

“Mother, it seems Sister and I are not yet close,” Shen Wanning said cautiously, stealing a glance at Shen Yuan, afraid to offend her. Since Shen Yuan’s return, their relationship had indeed been strained.

The marriage between the Shen and Pei families had been arranged two years ago when the Pei family relocated to the capital. Yet, the Pei family’s only son remained elusive, never appearing to discuss the union.

Voices drifted faintly from the front hall. Shen Yuan turned toward the sound and saw a figure of jade-like grace framed against a screen adorned with bamboo motifs. The man’s tall, elegant posture radiated even more than before. His lowered eyes and furrowed brows exuded an icy aloofness.

Shen Yuan lowered her gaze, nervously twisting a silk handkerchief between her fingers. Lifting her eyes slightly, she noticed Shen Wanning gazing at the man with envy.

“So that’s the famed Commander Pei?” Shen Wanning murmured dreamily. The thought of this man becoming her husband made her blush shyly. “Commander Pei is talented and favored by the Emperor himself. Being united with him is a blessing for our Shen family.”

Listening to Madam Chen’s glowing praise, Shen Yuan remained silent.

Sensing a hint of melancholy in her eyes, Shen Wanning assumed she envied her chance to marry into the Pei family. With a delicate voice, she asked, “Sister, Commander Pei is admired by all the noble ladies in the capital. If you like him too, I... I can give him to you.”

“That’s your destined match. Why should you give him to her?” Before Shen Yuan could answer, a stern voice outside the hall froze the atmosphere.

Upon seeing the visitor, Madam Chen whispered a sharp reprimand.

Shen Wanning rose nervously, like a child caught misbehaving, and stammered, “Second Brother, Sister is two years older than me. By tradition, she should marry first. Besides, Sister is also a Shen daughter. If she admires Commander Pei, I... I can give him to her.”

Her plea sounded pitiful enough to nearly sway Shen Yuan, but the underlying intent was clear—each word seemed designed to stir trouble.

The man called Second Brother, Shen Lang, strode to Shen Yuan’s side and slammed his palm on the table, defending his favored sister. “The marriage between the Pei and Shen families has been arranged with Wanning as the chosen bride! Don’t think that just because you’ve returned, the entire Shen household will yield to you. Let me tell you, that’s impossible! If you want to marry, find your own match—don’t come stealing Wanning’s fate!”

Ignoring Madam Chen’s protests, Shen Lang spoke with righteous indignation, as if Shen Yuan had already snatched Shen Wanning’s destiny.

Shen Yuan met his gaze steadily, a chill frost rising in her eyes.

“Second Brother, are you warning me or threatening me?”

“Both,” he said bluntly.

“Strange I never knew you cared so much. If it hadn’t been you who took me to see the lantern festival back then, perhaps I wouldn’t have been lost.”