TO HOLD'S ONE JOY
Chapter 1: Devil Incarnate
Luo Sheng gazed at the engraved silver incense ball beneath the emerald green curtain. Her eyes, which before had been full of vigor, seemed a little dull now, and the chattering of the little maid in her ears became louder as a result. "Miss, isn't it just a Su Er Gongzi[1]? If you like him, you could capture him directly, but hanging yourself for him is not worth it, hu hu hu..."
Luo Sheng shifted her gaze to the little maid who was crying at the bedside. This little maid's name is Hongdou (red bean), and she can speak and cry at the same time. It's been three days since she heard Hongdou's chatters, and she's gained a general understanding of her situation.
Her present body, Luo Sheng, is the daughter of the powerful Commander Luo, the chief commander of Jinlin Guards. She was sent to her maternal ancestral home in Jinsha County, the Sheng family's mansion, where she currently resides, after getting into trouble in the capital. She then fell in love with a man here and, after being politely rejected, became depressed and committed suicide. Isn't this girl a fool?
"Don't cry." Luo Sheng said, her voice was hoarse, and her throat was burning. The crying sound stopped abruptly, and Hongdou raised her head in surprise: "Miss, you are finally willing to talk—" Before Hongdou could say anything more, the bamboo curtain was lifted suddenly, and a girl rushed in like a whirlwind, and behind her was the exclamation of the maid outside: "Daguniang[2], Miss Luo is resting—"
The girl who ran in front of Luo Sheng condemned her angrily: "Luo Sheng, don't you have any shame? You cried, caused problems, and hanged yourself to obtain Su Er Gongzi. My grandmother has now instructed my mother to go to Su's family mansion and propose a marriage between you and Su Er Gongzi. Are you pleased now that you've gotten your wish?!"
Luo Sheng turned to face the enraged girl. The girl was fourteen or fifteen years old, her cheeks were stained with two shades of red due to anger, and she was as radiant as the morning sun. Hongdou leaped up, enraged as the girl: "How dare you talk to my Miss like this!"
The girl spat, her eyes full of contempt: "Luo Sheng, I'm not afraid of you like others. If you have the guts, just let those Jinlin Guards arrest the entire Sheng family." The Sheng family maid turned pale with shock when she heard this: "Daguniang, you should go back first, Miss Luo is not well yet— If this Miss Luo becomes angry, she might instruct the Jinlin Guards to arrest the entire Sheng family. Jinlin Guards are vicious and cold-blooded people who can even harm their own families, so what if it is her maternal family?
Just then, a youthful, clear voice sounded at the door: "Dabiaojie[3], why are you in my
sister's room?" The enraged girl looked at the door, her tone softened
unconsciously: "Didn't biaodi[4] hear that my mother went
to Su's mansion?". The boy walked in, took a deep look at the calm Luo
Sheng, and said to the girl, "I heard, but this is the decision made by
the elders, so it's useless for dabiaojie to come to my sister, let's go
back." The girl seems astonished. Does biaodi, Luo Chen, take Luo Sheng's
side now?
Although Luo Chen and Luo Sheng are biological siblings, Luo Chen had moved to the Sheng family mansion seven years ago to nurse his weak body. After all these years, the entire Sheng family regarded him as a family member. When Luo Sheng first came here a few days ago, she watched biaodi's indifference toward her sister, but now...just what has happened——
Regardless, the girl still took her biaodi words into account
and glared fiercely at Luo Sheng, saying sarcastically, "A marriage
achieved with such lowly means, I am wishing you and Su Er Gongzi a marriage
full of love and respect!" The girl then opened the curtain and walked
away. The bamboo curtain swayed gently, leaving the two siblings looking at
each other.
The twelve or thirteen-year-old boy has red lips, white teeth, and a good appearance, but his thin figure and pale complexion make him look weak. The young man who was speaking for Luo Sheng earlier turned cold. He didn't hide the annoyance and anger in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, "Luo Sheng, just because you see a man with little good looks, you directly want to pursue him? Aren't you ashamed!"
Hongdou beside him couldn't help feeling wronged for her Miss: "Su Er Gongzi has more than a little good look." Her Miss has a high standard, and a man with a mere good look will not grab Miss's attention. Luo Chen didn't look at Hongdou but still stared at Luo Sheng closely. Luo Sheng finally spoke: "You were defending me just now."
Her voice was a little hoarse due to her throat injury, but her tone was determined rather than questioning. Luo Chen was stunned, a trace of surprise flashed in those beautiful eyes, and then it turned to annoyance and anger: "You don't have to be sentimental, I defended you because you are my sister. I, too, feel ashamed when people point at your nose and scold you. Now that dajiumu[5] (aunt) has gone to the Su family's mansion to discuss your marriage, I hope you can behave yourself in the future and don't embarrass me again!"
Luo Sheng, who was scolded by her younger brother, raised her eyebrows and asked, "Are you saying that this marriage can actually happen?" Luo Chen was again stunned, his face instantly reddening with anger. He has scolded her a lot, yet she does not listen to any of it and only cares about whether her marriage with Su Yao could be a reality. How could he have this kind of older sister——Luo Chen clenched his fists tightly, feeling angry and powerless.
"Can this marriage really happen?" Luo Sheng asked again calmly, seemingly oblivious to her younger brother's rage. Luo Chen closed his eyes, took a deep breath, suppressed the urge to leave, and said with a sneer: "You forced our waizumu[6] by crying, making trouble, and even hanging yourself. How could waizumu dare to refuse your demand?"
The Sheng family and the Su family are in friendly terms for generations, and with their father's high position and authority as Jinlin Guards chief commander, dajiumu went to the Su family to discuss the marriage, the Su family will, in all probability, agree. Luo Sheng, who had been leaning against the head of the bed, abruptly rose up, and Hongdou hurriedly supported her arm: "Miss, what do you want to do?"
Luo Sheng's feet landed on the ground, she stabilized her weak body and said calmly: "Let's go to Su's mansion. Hongdou, you lead the way." Hongdou didn't say anything else and directly responded quickly, helped Luo Sheng to go out. Luo Chen stood there blankly for a moment, then hurriedly chased after her.
The orange tree planted in the courtyard of Funing Hall has yet to bloom. Sheng Laotaitai [7]sighed in the room: "I just hope this girl can stop causing problems after her marriage is settled so I can sleep peacefully for a few days." Sat on Sheng Laotaitai's side was Luo Sheng's second uncle's wife, Sheng Ertaitai[8], Luo Sheng's erjiumu. And at this moment, she scoffed in her heart: It's only strange if the Sheng family can be peaceful with this girl around.
When Commander Luo sent Luo Sheng to the Sheng family, he included a letter requesting Sheng Laotaitai to help him find a suitable marriage for Luo Sheng. Reflecting on this, Sheng Ertaitai felt a pang of regret: this meant that Luo Sheng would marry and remain in Jinsha County, and the Sheng family would take care of her from then on.
Sheng Laotaitai ordered the maid, "Ask daguniang to come here." Not long after, the girl who scolded Luo Sheng came in, saluting gracefully: "Zumu (paternal grandmother), ershen (second aunt)." She is Sheng Daguniang, Sheng Jia Yu.
Sheng Laotaitai called the girl to come forward and said, "Jia Yu, don't fight with your cousin in the future, she is a guest in our house." Thinking of Luo Sheng, the old lady sighed secretly: That girl, if she does not cause trouble anymore, I will be thankful.
Sheng Jia Yu was quite unconvinced, and just when she was about to speak, she saw a maid hurried in and said anxiously: "Laotaitai, Miss Luo has gone to Su's mansion!" Sheng Laotaitai's face suddenly changed, and she couldn't help but look at Sheng Ertaitai. Sheng Jiayu's eyes were full of anger, and she ran out holding her skirt: "Zumu, I will go follow her!"
Sheng Laotaitai was silent for a long time, tapped the tea table, and murmured: "What a sin. How could her gentle and polite daughter, who died early, gave birth to such a devil?
[1] Su
Er gongzi = Second son in Su family (Gongzi = to refer unmarried man; Er =
second)
[2]
Daguniang = First daughter in Sheng Family (guniang = unmarried girl; da =
first)
[3]
Dabiaojie = used to refer first female older cousin (da = first, biaojie =
female older cousin)
[4]
Biaodi = used to refer male younger cousin
[5]
Dajiumu = first uncle’s wife
[6]
Waizumu = maternal grandmother (wai = outside, zumu = grandmother)
[7]
Laotaitai = used to refer old lady in the family (usually already become
grandmother)
[8]
Ertaitai = second madam (second uncle’s wife)
Updated
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