Dragging My Legitimate Elder Sister into the Bed - Chapter 6

The sky was just beginning to lighten. Su Xi had already been kneeling in the small attic room for a long time. In the dim half-light, Lin-shi’s wooden tablet stood high on the offering table.

After Lin-shi’s death, her tablet was not allowed into the Su family ancestral hall. They had cleaned out an abandoned attic to house it instead. Su Xi and Su Qian would come to pay respects on certain days.

Light footsteps sounded behind her. Su Xi pressed her palms together and bowed several times before standing up.

She watched Su Qian kneel in front of the offering table, handed her three incense sticks, and only after she finished paying respects did they leave the attic together.

Su Xi hadn’t slept all night. Last night after returning to her room, she had soaked in a cold bath for an entire hour until she was shivering all over, which finally dispelled the restlessness in her body. She then came to the attic and sat in silence for the rest of the night before her mind truly calmed down.

Fortunately, she still had enough energy.

Su Qian followed silently beside her. As they walked, Su Xi’s clean and refreshing green bamboo scent could be caught in the morning breeze — fresh like rain falling on a bamboo forest after bathing.

The absurd and secret events that happened in the ancestral hall yesterday were tacitly left unmentioned by both of them.

Before entering Grandmother’s room, Su Xi gently patted Su Qian’s head.

Inside the room, Concubine He and Su Huan had already been there for a while. After greeting the old lady, they sat to the side drinking tea and amusing her.

“Mother, look at this handkerchief Huan’er embroidered some time ago. Even the embroidery master said her skills are extremely profound, practically perfect. Take a look…”

“Oh— it really is excellent. You’ve put real effort into teaching her!”

Old Madam Liu examined it carefully and felt a moment of joy.

But when her peripheral vision caught the figures entering the room, the smile lines on her face froze. She put the handkerchief away and, with a displeased expression, pretended to scold, “But you can’t only focus on teaching Huan’er. You should also properly teach Xi’er and Qian’er proper etiquette!”

“Mother is right. This morning I originally intended to call for Xi’er and Qian’er on the way, but I was told no one was in their rooms. I thought they had already come over. It is indeed my fault. I should have checked more carefully.”

Morning greetings were supposed to be at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM). They had arrived exactly on time, but with Concubine He’s pearl-like performance of arriving early to pay respects, the two sisters now appeared negligent.

If Grandmother found out they had gotten up early to pay respects to Lin-shi, it would only add fuel to the fire.

“Yes, we came late today. We ask Grandmother for punishment.” Su Xi simply admitted it. “I heard Grandmother has not been sleeping well recently, so I went to the garden early this morning to pick some flowers, intending to make a scented pillow for you. This caused a slight delay, which was truly improper. When I return, I will copy scriptures to reflect on my behavior and recite sutras to pray for Grandmother’s blessings.”

There were still droplets of frost and dew from the cold attic clinging to the ends of her hair, making it look as though she had truly been wandering among the flowers.

The old lady’s heart softened, and her expression relaxed. Even if Concubine He wanted to make an issue of it, she had missed the opportunity.

The two sisters properly greeted her. Su Xi then moved to the side and sat down.

“Qian’er, come here. Let Grandmother take a look at you.” The old lady ignored the handkerchief Concubine He was showing and called out to Su Qian.

Su Qian’s footsteps paused as she followed Su Xi. She quietly walked in front of Old Madam Liu.

Her amber eyes were clear and serene. She slightly lowered her head, allowing the old lady to examine her.

Concubine He crumpled the handkerchief in her hand into a ball.

Hmm… Not bad. Back then, this child was so quiet it was excessive. She barely spoke a word all day, and they had almost thought she was a fool. Now looking at her, those eyes were bright and clear — not the slightest bit dull. She was probably just too calm by nature.

Both Su Xi and Su Huan had passed the academy exams. This child was no worse, and her ranking was even in the upper-middle range…

Old Madam Liu nodded in satisfaction.

In this dynasty, regardless of gender, both Qian Yuan and Kun Ze could take the imperial examinations — from the county level to the provincial, and from provincial to the central capital. Talented individuals could all be promoted to official positions.

Having scholarly honors, even if one didn’t aim for an official career, added a huge halo for marriage prospects.

Therefore, every time the results were posted, families with children of marriageable age would gather at the bottom of the list to look for suitable matches.

However, this reform hadn’t been in place for long. Many Kun Ze took the exams only to marry better. In officialdom, although Kun Ze were not rare, Qian Yuan still held the greater advantage.

Some government institutions even refused to allow Kun Ze to enter at all.

Now that Su Qian had differentiated into a Qian Yuan, the declining Su family finally saw hope.

“Good… good… If Qian’er lacks anything in her room recently, just send someone to tell me. Grandmother will find a way. You just focus on studying!”

Concubine He’s expression turned unpleasant.

“Yes, thank you Grandmother. The weather has been quite hot lately. Every time I study, I end up sweating all over…”

Old Madam Liu glanced back at Madam He. “It’s not anything expensive. Just some ice. The servants must have been negligent. Later, have your aunt personally supervise and send some to you.”

Concubine He forced a smile and agreed.

After asking about everything in detail — Su Qian’s room, food, daily life, and all other matters — the old lady finally let her go.

Concubine He’s face grew increasingly ugly. The handkerchief she had brought out to show off had already been twisted beyond recognition.

With nowhere to vent her anger, she suddenly pretended to be concerned and asked what Su Xi had been doing recently.

Perhaps she was truly too upset, she brought up how Su Xi went to the study pavilion with Su Qian every day and scolded, “After passing the provincial exam, you should start preparing for your marriage. Running to the study pavilion every day — do you still want to become the top scholar or something?”

Marriage…

Su Xi pondered silently, but her expression remained unchanged. She sat there coldly and indifferently, replying with a simple “Yes.”

Her lukewarm attitude only fueled Concubine He’s anger further. She waved the handkerchief around and said, “You should learn more from your younger sister Huan’er when you have time. Do more needlework and prepare your wedding clothes properly. That’s what really matters.”

As a concubine, He-shi should not have been so overbearing in front of the two legitimate daughters. But the real masters of the Su family had died early, and Old Madam Liu harbored grudges in her heart. The household management had also been handed over to the concubine. As long as it wasn’t too excessive, the old lady turned a blind eye and ignored these matters.

“Yes, I will humbly follow Aunt’s teachings.”

Only then did He-shi feel some relief.

After the conversation, everyone dispersed.

Su Qian followed beside Su Xi. When they finally reached a quiet, deserted corner, she reached out and grabbed her sister’s wrist, refusing to let her leave.

“Sister… you’re going to marry?”

Su Xi hadn’t slept all night, had taken a cold bath, and had knelt in the attic for half the night. Although she didn’t show fatigue on her face, her mind was somewhat dazed.

She unconsciously leaned her back against the wall. It was hard and pressed painfully into her.

The early morning sun wasn’t strong yet, and the wall behind her still carried the chill from the night, reminding her of the cold water she had soaked in, which chilled one to the bones.

A warm breeze blew gently. Summer insects had already begun chirping in the grass. Everything around them was covered in a sense of desolation.

Su Xi gently pushed away Su Qian, who was inching closer. A trace of coldness and exhaustion appeared on her face.

“Grandfather arranged the marriage with the Chen family while he was still alive… People should be coming in the next few days.”

It was a marriage arranged before birth, a finger-betrothal.

“Sister is going to leave?” Su Qian’s amber eyes stared at her quietly.

Su Xi’s hand that was pushing her paused. She gently patted her shoulder and comforted her, “Not yet. I won’t leave until you enter the court and establish yourself firmly.”

(I’m preparing the extra chapter. Are your pearls ready? ^0^~)