2. The Mystery of My Origins: Lost Within Myself

A month later

Before dawn, the Yan household was already bustling with activity. Yan’er had been pulled from bed early, much to her dismay. Marriage—was it truly so troublesome? Had she known, she wouldn’t have agreed to wed at all. Now, even her precious sleep—her greatest remedy for fatigue—was sacrificed for the wedding.

Yawning as she watched the maids bustling in and out, Yan’er rolled her eyes in boredom. Xiaoyu was nowhere to be seen. Where had that girl gone off to? Soon, the maids came in, each carrying trays, and began to surround her layer by layer as if she were a wooden doll. Once she was dressed in her bridal attire, Yan’er sat in front of the bronze mirror, staring blankly at her reflection.

“Xiaoyu!” She rested her little face on her palms, looking so endearing.

“Miss, I’m busy right now. Do you want less food brought in?” Xiaoyu came to her side. If her young lady didn’t eat anything now, she’d be hungry all day until nightfall.

“No… I’m not eating. Xiaoyu, what sort of man do you think I’m marrying?” Yan’er turned her head, gazing earnestly at Xiaoyu. Lazy though she’d been all month, it didn’t mean she hadn’t thought about such matters. People are naturally curious, after all.

Xiaoyu pursed her lips. So her young mistress could be serious at times—though wasn’t it a bit late for that? “Hehe, Miss, I heard he’s a huge, fat man with a bushy beard and short, stubby limbs.”

Xiaoyu’s wild exaggerations made Yan’er’s eyes grow wide. If that was true, wouldn’t she be a flower stuck in a dung heap?

“Miss, I was just teasing you,” Xiaoyu said, seeing the serious look on Yan’er’s face. “I don’t actually know what the groom looks like. But the Mo family is truly the wealthiest merchants in Suhe Prefecture now. Once you marry in, you’ll be the grand madam, living in splendor!”

Xiaoyu looked as if she could already see her own bright future as the top maidservant in Suzhou, envied by all. Reaching this station as a maid was no small feat!

“But I woke up today with a sense of dread,” Yan’er confessed. This unease was pure woman’s intuition. From the moment she awoke, she’d felt uncomfortable, as if something momentous were about to happen.

“Nonsense, Miss. It’s just wedding nerves,” Xiaoyu replied, watching as the other maids brought in headpieces one by one. She signaled them to set the ornaments down—after all, the bridal coiffure was her responsibility as head maid. Thinking of her promising future, Xiaoyu felt genuine happiness.

So, amidst Xiaoyu’s dreams and the other maids’ busyness, Yan’er waited in a daze for dawn. Everything went according to plan. At first light, her parents entered to bid her farewell, offering advice she barely registered. Simple-minded as she was, she couldn’t remember half of it anyway.

A servant came to report that the Mo family’s wedding sedan had arrived on the main street and would soon reach the Yan residence. Xiaoyu placed the red veil over Yan’er’s head, draping her in crimson, and Yan’er waited quietly for the groom’s arrival. Her heart started to race with a strange, foreboding feeling, as if something significant was about to happen. She tried to comfort herself: it was only natural to be nervous on one’s wedding day.

“Master, Madam!” a servant burst in, panting and sweating. “The groom hasn’t come. Only the sedan chair, the matchmaker, and a few porters were sent…” His voice faltered. The young mistress was radiant, a beauty beyond compare—how could the groom treat her so carelessly? The little servant could hardly contain his indignation.

Yan’er, listening from the inner hall, was stunned. What? The groom didn’t come himself? Future husband, what sort of game are you playing?

“He didn’t come?” Old Master Yan frowned deeply, glancing at his wife. For the Mo family to treat such an important occasion so lightly—did this mean that after Yan’er married, the Yan family would not benefit from their connection at all?

The second madam, eyes cold, said, “Even if he didn’t come, Yan’er must still marry, mustn’t she?” Clearly, the Mo family didn’t think much of them.

Old Master Yan looked at the second madam, then at his wife. “Send the young lady to the sedan chair!” His voice rang with determination. No matter what, Yan’er had to marry today—only then could the Yan family survive.

Such was a woman’s fate in those times—one could only sigh.

When the man of the house had spoken, all the women, no matter how aggrieved, had to accept it. And so, our little Yan’er was sent off to her wedding.

Ah, but this is merely the prelude, dear readers. Mo Nanzhu is certainly not our male lead! The true story, filled with twists and turns, is yet to come—for our hero is a general!

After bidding her parents farewell, Yan’er walked slowly to the sedan, eyes fixed on her embroidered shoes, taking measured steps. Was she truly married now? The Mo family had sent only a few servants and the matchmaker—a cold, cheerless affair. How would the neighbors gossip about this? Yan’er didn’t care; she’d always been lazy by nature, happy enough to eat and sleep her days away. But Xiaoyu was anxious—would her bright future as the grand maidservant of Suhe Prefecture end before it began?

All along the way, there was no festive music, no drums or gongs—just a quiet procession toward the west of the city. No one would have guessed this was the bridal sedan of the Mo family’s eldest son’s wife. The porters, at least, were diligent, carrying the sedan smoothly and steadily. The matchmaker glanced at the maid following behind, clearly reluctant but still spoke a few words.

“This girl seems clever,” she remarked.

“Xiaoyu,” Xiaoyu replied, bowing as she walked, introducing herself.

“Oh, Xiaoyu, is it? I’m not one to gossip, but the young master has instructed us to keep things low-key—hence the lack of decorations. In the future, you’ll need to look after your mistress well in the Mo household.”

“Yes, thank you for the advice,” Xiaoyu replied, slipping some silver into the matchmaker’s handkerchief. The world was in decline—her mistress was unmatched in beauty for miles around, so why was the groom treating her so poorly?

Outside, Xiaoyu busied herself, plotting how best to pave the way for her mistress in the days to come. Inside, Yan’er stretched her stiff neck, lifted her veil, and yawned lazily. She couldn’t quite describe her feelings—looking through the sedan’s curtain, she watched the bustling market as vendors hawked their wares.

After passing through the lively streets, the procession entered a quiet area.

“Stop!” Suddenly, masked men in black appeared from all directions. The sedan jolted violently, nearly throwing Yan’er out. She was so stunned she could barely breathe. A kidnapping? Was someone actually hijacking the bridal procession?

This wedding entourage was pitifully small: a few porters, a matchmaker, and a maid. The porters put down the sedan, legs trembling. The leader of the bandits didn’t waste words—he threw some white powder, and four men picked up the sedan and rushed toward the city gates.

“Ah!” Yan’er was tossed about inside the jostling sedan, feeling as if she might be flung out at any moment. She clung desperately to the edge, trying not to lose her balance. Nausea rose in her throat, but she forced it down and cried out in panic, “Xiaoyu! Xiaoyu!”

“That woman’s yelling inside,” a lackey remarked to the leader.

“Shut her up!” the bandit chief spat, signaling to halt. “Drag her out—once we hand her over, our job’s done!”

At his command, the masked men pulled Yan’er roughly from the sedan. Her bridal veil had long since slipped off from the jostling. Dressed head to toe in red, she stumbled and fell to the ground, looking up in fear at her captors.

“Well, isn’t she a beauty,” the leader said, smacking his lips, his gaze greedy.

“Who are you?” Yan’er blurted, panic overwhelming her reason.

The leader didn’t bother to answer, simply gagged her. “Bag her up and carry her out the city! Brothers, no matter how pretty this girl is, she’s not for us.” He abandoned the sedan and led his men onward, warning them not to get any ideas—their employer was not to be trifled with, and he didn’t intend to risk his life for a woman.

“Yes, boss!” The lackeys understood the warning well enough. If they couldn’t touch her, she must be worth more than their lives. Women might tempt them, but they valued survival more.

Yan’er was slung unceremoniously over a man’s shoulder, the hard grip bruising her bones. Tears welled in her eyes. What was happening? She was lost, desperate—Mother, Father, Xiaoyu, save me!

She had no idea how long they traveled. Eventually, she was dumped onto the ground—not violently, but for someone as idle and unused to exertion as her, even this was almost too much.

She whimpered, unable to call out, but the pain was real.

“Well, how could anyone treat such a little beauty so roughly?” A lecherous voice drifted from nearby—it sounded familiar, as if she’d heard it before. Yan’er squinted, trying to see.

“Don’t remember me? Little beauty, if you hadn’t warned me about the Mo family, I wouldn’t have known whose daughter you were. Now, let me have a taste. Once I’m done, I’ll send you back.” The voice was vile, the man even more so, each word stabbing into Yan’er’s ears.

No, she would not let herself be defiled! Tears of humiliation and pain filled her eyes as she glared at the man, suddenly recalling—he was the playboy she’d seen on the street! Mother, Father!

The man strolled over, looking down at her sprawled on the ground. “I do love beauties like you. Who would have thought Suhe Prefecture still hid such a rare flower?” As he spoke, he untied her hands, his greedy gaze traveling from her arm to her chest. He could hardly contain himself.

Her mouth still gagged, Yan’er couldn’t cry out. Her fear made her chest heave even more violently—unaware that this only enticed the man further.

He reached for her collar, ready to tear open her bridal robe. Yan’er, desperate, rammed her head toward him with all her might…

But that was her resistance, not his plan. He loved such wild games, choosing this secluded rocky spot outside the city for his deeds. Yan’er had no intention of dying with him; she was simply resisting with all her strength. The man dodged her attack, but failed to grab her in time. Following the force of her blow, he tumbled straight over the cliff.

Next chapter—much more excitement to come, and the hero will finally appear!