Chapter 246: Not Failing the Childhood Sweetheart for the Sake of Parents

Last year, the marriage arranged by the Liu family for the eldest Miss Liu was called off by the groom's side because it became entangled in the case of the missing young women in Cangzhou.

The Cishi's family naturally did not know that Liu Xia and the eldest Miss Liu had faked being captured; after all, Lingxiang and the others had not informed them of this at the time. However, after that incident, although the women in the city had not been harmed, their reputations were still damaged, which caused the Cishi's wife great anxiety.

After all, at the eldest Miss Liu's age, it was extremely difficult to find a marriage match even outside the region.

The eldest Miss Liu was actually happy to see this happen; with someone already in her heart, how could she have any thoughts of marrying someone else?

Lady Liu naturally knew the eldest Miss Liu's mind, but after a crushing defeat many years ago, that person had gone missing. Over these years, there had been no news at all, and the people sent out to search had found nothing. How could her daughter afford to wait?

As a mother, Lady Liu naturally felt heartache for her daughter. Being a woman herself, she understood the hardships of women, but the world was often harsh toward them. If not for being a woman, who would understand the humiliation and heavy burdens a woman must endure?

And how many years of youth can a woman afford to squander?

Even if one were anxious, fate could not be forced, and furthermore, that person already had someone else in his heart, didn't he?

However, rumors had recently entered the manor that Liu Cishi had found a marriage match for the eldest Miss Liu, and it was said that the man was a protégé of Liu Cishi.

This was strange; for someone who started as a military officer and only held the nominal title of Cishi, who would ever seek to become such a person's protégé?

Upon learning this, the eldest Miss Liu was filled with mixed emotions. She sent her maid out to ask again and again, and finally, she learned the reason.

It turned out that the man came from a martial arts background. Since he was young, he had heard of Liu Cishi's deeds in guarding the border when he held the rank of general, and he had long admired Liu Cishi. Now that he had passed the provincial level of the Military Examination, he had traveled ten thousand miles specifically to Cangzhou, hoping to follow Liu Cishi.

Liu Cishi saw that although the man was a martial artist, his speech and conduct were very refined. Moreover, he was skilled in martial arts and had many insights into Military Strategy, making him truly a talent worth molding, so he developed the intention of forming a marriage alliance.

However, that man had been married before, but his wife had fallen gravely ill a few years ago. With no medicine able to save her, she lost her life after only a few days, and he had not remarried since.

The eldest Miss Liu was naturally unwilling. She had made a scene, argued, and even resorted to a hunger strike; by now, she had not eaten for three or four days.

Upon hearing the news, Liu Cishi was furious, declaring that he would let the eldest Miss Liu do as she pleased, and even if she starved to death, he would act as if he never had such a daughter. Yet, though he said this with his mouth, he was actually heartbroken inside, especially at night, when he would sigh repeatedly and hardly get a few nights of good sleep.

He naturally felt heartache for his eldest daughter; such is the heart of parents everywhere—what parents do not love their children?

But after his daughter had experienced such things, her reputation was already poor. Now that they had finally encountered a good young man, if they lost this opportunity, it would be difficult to find another marriage match!

Lady Liu naturally saw that Liu Cishi's words did not match his heart. Having been husband and wife for many years, how could she not know what kind of temperament Liu Cishi had?

On this day, Lady Liu ordered a matron to push open the door to the eldest Miss Liu's room. Seeing the eldest Miss Liu lying on the bed with a ghastly complexion and no strength, her heart ached with pain, yet she still hardened her heart and pulled the eldest Miss Liu off the bed.

"If you consider me, your mother, as dead, then go ahead and ruin yourself like this!" Lady Liu cried out hoarsely, tears streaming down her face.

The eldest Miss Liu had not eaten for days and had long since lost her strength. After being pulled by Lady Liu, she collapsed on the floor, unable to move for a long time. She only said weakly, "Mother, why do you do this? To be angry with an unfilial daughter like me and ruin your own health—wouldn't that make your daughter die of heartache?"

Seeing this, Lady Liu's heart finally softened. She hurriedly ordered the matrons and maids to lift the eldest Miss Liu onto the bed and instructed the maids to make some millet Cloud Mica Porridge, only then sitting before her daughter's bed with red eyes.

"Child, I know you have someone on your mind, but you cannot spend your whole life waiting like this! Seeing you like this, how can your mother be at ease!"

"Mother, what are you saying!" The eldest Miss Liu's face was pale, and her eyes were also red-rimmed. "Since you know your daughter's heart, you know why I am like this. Even if I cannot wait for him, at worst I will just become an old maid. Surely my younger brothers wouldn't treat me harshly? At the very worst, I won't add to their troubles; I will just go to the mountains and become a nun to finish out my life."

Upon hearing this, Lady Liu's eyes widened. Angry, she raised her hand to strike the eldest Miss Liu, but she only raised it high and let it fall lightly.

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting! Your two younger brothers, Shang and Zhong, are they the type to disregard their own kin?" As she spoke, she sighed again.

"I know you are attached to that boy from the Sang family, and he is indeed a fine person. But after all these years, if he were still alive, why would he not even send back a single message?"

"Your father campaigned on the battlefield in his early years and was left with a body full of pain. Over these years, his health has long been worse than before, and I, too, am full of ailments. To put it bluntly, who knows which day we might pass away."

Hearing this, the eldest Miss Liu hurriedly tried to rise, but was pressed down by Lady Liu.

"As parents, there will always be that day, but just thinking of you being all alone, how could your father and I close our eyes in peace on the Huangquan Lu?"

Lady Liu's heartfelt words left the eldest Miss Liu already streaming with tears.

Her parents were advanced in age, their health failing day by day; how could she not feel heartache? But she could not let go of that person in her heart—how could she be joined in marriage to another while still clinging to those memories?

"Mother..." the eldest Miss Liu choked out, not knowing what to say, only gasping for air while weeping.

Seeing this, Lady Liu hurriedly patted the eldest Miss Liu to help her catch her breath, then continued, "Child, I know that marrying you to another as a second wife leaves you feeling unwilling, but because of that boy from the Sang family, you have dragged this out for so many years. Now that you are at this age, it is not easy to find someone of equal status."

"I have seen that boy in the outer courtyard. Although he is not particularly handsome, he has a vigorous bearing and is very kind-hearted. Your father has tested him many times, and even your two younger brothers praise his martial arts skills."

Lady Liu tucked the quilt around the eldest Miss Liu and wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief.

"Child, although marrying him is marrying down, it is not a grievance to you. Furthermore, he plans to take the imperial examination next year; if he passes, his future will be boundless!"

"Your father and I are not the type to push you to climb the social ladder; we only hope that you will have a good home in the future!"

Hearing Lady Liu's heartfelt words and looking into her mother's clouded eyes, the eldest Miss Liu finally compromised; she truly could not bear to let her parents worry like this any longer.

After being raised by her parents, how could she fail them so deeply after all their painstaking efforts?

Enough, enough!

The eldest Miss Liu sighed heavily in her heart, and a tear of sorrow slid from the corner of her eye...

Mu Lang, oh Mu Lang, if you are still alive, blame me if you will, hate me if you must, but in this life, I can only fail you!