With the encouragement of both our families, I had been in love for three years with Song Jinnian, the son of the Minister of Personnel, but he still hadn’t come to ask for my hand in marriage.
Then he fell in love at first sight with my stepsister and began courting her openly.
I had run out of tears, and I no longer had the patience to wait for him to come to his senses.
I threw away the phoenix jade pendant I had treasured above all else and burned the red wedding dress I had spent three years embroidering.
On the day of his birthday banquet, I left the capital with the few servants my mother had left behind.
Just before I set out, one of Song Jinnian’s attendants came to deliver a message.
“Miss, our young master and the other young gentlemen and ladies are waiting for you at the Minister’s residence. When will you be coming?”
I smiled without replying, drawing my fluffy cloak around myself as I held my hand warmer.
Half a month earlier, I had already accepted my senior fellow apprentice Gu Wenyu’s proposal.
Once our carriage reached Jiangnan, we would be married.
