After Marrying My Ex-Fiancé’s Younger Brother

The winter was as ruthless as blades of ice and swords of frost, cutting mercilessly across the land.

A thick layer of snow blanketed the earth, burying the stone steps beneath it.

In the southwest corner of the courtyard, a few plum blossoms stood resilient against the snow, their crimson petals defying the harshness of winter. Yet, instead of bringing warmth, they only made the courtyard seem even colder.

As the first light of dawn crept across the sky, Liu Chuirong jolted awake. Her eyes were still hazy with sleep, but she hastily rubbed them, threw on a cloak from the corner of the room, and rushed toward the eastern courtyard without even fixing her hair properly.

She hurried along the winding stone path, passing through the second gate’s narrow corridor, turning at the hallway’s bend—only to hear her aunt’s sharp, cutting voice before she even stepped inside.

“The Ding’an Marquis Manor is utterly shameless! They cast away an unwanted daughter, dumping her at our doorstep, and now they think they can just take her back whenever they please? Do they take our Li family for fools?”

Liu Chuirong’s delicate frame trembled, the bitterness in her heart surging like icy water from a frozen lake. Her fingers clenched tightly around the embroidered handkerchief in her palm, already damp with cold sweat. Her nails dug so deeply into her flesh that it should have hurt—but she felt nothing.

She swallowed down the grievances lodged in her throat, took a deep breath, and forced herself to remain calm.

Only after the scolding inside died down did she carefully brush the snow from her sleeves and instruct her maid, Cui Liu, to announce her arrival.

Moments later, Liu Chuirong took another deep breath, lifted the heavy blue cotton curtain, and stepped inside cautiously.

The room was furnished with rosewood chairs inlaid with marble, arranged neatly on both sides. The armrests were carved with intricate peony patterns, vivid and lifelike. The women of the household sat in a row, their gazes all fixed upon the elderly matriarch seated at the head of the room.

The old madam wore a rich brown silk robe embroidered with longevity motifs, the craftsmanship exquisite. Yet, there was an unmistakable coldness about her, as if she held the entire world at arm’s length. Her silver hair was neatly coiled at the back of her head, adorned with nothing but a simple jade hairpin. The deep wrinkles on her face carved the traces of time, but one could still see hints of the great beauty she once was.

Though her expression remained impassive, a keen eye could detect a flicker of worry and irritation in her gaze.

Her indifference toward Liu Chuirong wasn’t just because of the Marquis Manor’s casual treatment of her—it was because she had far greater concerns about the future of the Li family.

The Li’s were a prominent family in Qingzhou, but they had struggled to climb higher in the political ranks.

Now, their hopes rested on their granddaughters, praying they could marry well and bring honor to the family.

Liu Chuirong, an unloved, illegitimate daughter from the Marquis Manor, was nothing but a burden. Sending her back to the capital was a relief.

The moment Liu Chuirong entered, the women in the room exchanged subtle, uneasy glances. Some looked at her with pity, others with disdain.

Forcing herself to stay composed, Liu Chuirong stiffly removed her white fox-fur cloak lined with red gauze and handed it to her maid, Lvzhu. Then, she stepped forward and bowed deeply toward the old madam, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Grandmother, I greet you.”

The old madam nodded slightly and motioned for her to come closer.

Liu Chuirong’s heart tightened. Every step forward felt as heavy as if her feet were made of lead.

The old madam lifted her gaze, her deep wrinkles shifting as she spoke in an indifferent tone.

“You have been in Qingzhou for… seven years now?”

Liu Chuirong kept her head lowered, her voice laced with meekness and apprehension.

“Replying to Grandmother, this coming June will mark exactly seven years.”

She dared not meet the old madam’s eyes.

“Rong’er, your mother has written a letter.” The old madam’s tone remained flat, her gaze devoid of warmth.

“She says your elder sister’s wedding is approaching and asks that you return to the capital to attend.”

As she spoke, she absently rolled the white jade prayer beads in her hand, her tone as casual as if she were discussing an insignificant matter.

Liu Chuirong’s body tensed. Her eyelashes trembled as she lowered her gaze, concealing the bitterness in her eyes. Her fingers twisted the hem of her sleeve tightly, her teeth sinking into her lower lip.

It was a long while before she managed to squeeze out a response.

“I… understand.”

“It’s for the best that you return. You are an obedient child. We have never mistreated you here. Now that you are leaving—”

The old madam trailed off, but Liu Chuirong understood the unspoken warning behind her words.

Never mistreated her? What a joke.

Every month, the Marquis Manor sent money for her expenses, but the Li family always kept a large portion for themselves. Any jewelry or clothing she received had to be picked over by her cousins before she was given the unwanted leftovers.

Her jewelry box contained nothing but discarded trinkets.

The old madam was making it clear—there was no use complaining. No one would believe her even if she did.

Liu Chuirong clenched her teeth so hard it hurt. She fought back the tears stinging her eyes, swallowing the lump in her throat.

From the corner of the room, Lvzhu tightened her grip on her handkerchief, her small face flushed with anger. But she could only swallow her frustration, her heart aching for her mistress’s lonely and fragile figure.

For the past seven years in Qingzhou, Liu Chuirong had lived on eggshells.

In the dead of winter, her room lacked sufficient charcoal, leaving her shivering through the nights.

Her meals were often cold leftovers, barely enough to keep her full.

The servants treated her like a nobody, barking orders at her and punishing her over the smallest mistakes.

And as for her so-called cousins? They took every opportunity to torment her—ruining her few decent dresses, mocking her in front of others, humiliating her at every turn.