Chapter 10: Gathering

◎ Rush to the Wei Duke's residence for some excitement! ◎

Among the crowd escorting the prisoner carriage, ordinary folks were discussing the East Yuan Marquis's heir, with aunties, wives, and maidens screaming over his handsomeness. Suddenly, a few voices pierced through the chatter, "Hurry to the entrance of the Wei Duke's mansion for the spectacle! You'll miss it if you're too late!"

"What's going on? Be more specific!" someone grabbed the messenger, a burly man.

The man grinned widely, "It's quite an oddity today. The East Yuan Marquis's heir is being escorted to his execution, to lose his head at noontime. Yet, his former fiancée, the third daughter of the Wei Duke's family, dressed in a wedding gown, wearing red and white, a mix of festivity and sorrow, is bidding farewell to the family matriarch and elders, kneeling before them with a rooster. With tears streaming down her face, she declares her intention to sever ties with the Wei Duke's family and asks all of us to witness it!"

His loud voice, amplified by his eagerness to deliver the news, echoed throughout the vicinity. Someone quickly asked, "Explain yourself. Why is she in a wedding dress and holding a rooster while cutting ties with her family? How does this relate to the East Yuan Marquis's heir? Is she out of her mind?"

Recalling the scene he had just witnessed, the man couldn't help but feel sympathy for her. She was too pitiful, a victim of fate's cruel joke!

He sighed, "We all know that the East Yuan Marquis's heir was her betrothed. Today, he faces execution, separating them forever. How could she not be heartbroken? Lately, there have been whispers in the capital about how pitiful the East Yuan Marquis's heir is, sentenced to death after his troubles. People said his fiancée humiliated him when he was down, making it known throughout the city. But who knew? She loved him deeply, and that's why she acted in such a desperate manner."

"As a vulnerable woman, she didn't want to burden her family, so she chose this path to distance herself from him. To force herself to forget him, she deliberately went to shame him, doing everything possible to seem heartless. But her love runs deep; how could she simply cut it off? Today, as the East Yuan Marquis's heir faces his execution, her undying love aches unbearable. She put on her wedding dress, embracing the rooster, as if marrying into the East Yuan family – or rather, not anymore. They've all been demoted to commoners, living in such disgrace... Even a man like me, hearing this, can't help but be moved to tears!"

"Many have gathered outside the Wei Duke's residence, and most have been reduced to tears. We thought such devoted women only existed in plays, but seeing her today, we realize that the sixth daughter of the Wei Duke's family surpasses even the most touching performances!"

If he were not a man and restricted from shedding tears, the giant would have wept in admiration for such devotion.

With a tinge of envy, he commented, "In my opinion, the East Yuan Marquis's heir is not only pitiable, but he is the most fortunate man in the world. He has a fiancée who loves and cares for him deeply, willing to marry into his impoverished family even if he were on his deathbed. What could be more fortunate than that?"

Others remained unconvinced. "Stop exaggerating. The Sixth Miss of the Wei Duke's Manor was recently notorious. Her reputation is terrible – she's disloyal, materialistic, and it's known throughout the capital. Even though the East Yuan Marquis's heir committed treason, her eagerness to further humiliate him is despised. How could she be as virtuous as you claim?"

The giant glared at the skeptic fiercely. "Didn't I just say she had her reasons? She was heartbroken and tormented by love, leading to today's actions. Regardless, the East Yuan Marquis's heir will lose his head today, and his family will lose their titles and positions, becoming mere commoners. The Emperor is already lenient not to hold a grudge against them. What future prospects do they have? In such circumstances, she still chooses to leave her family and marry into his. How could this not show her profound love for the East Yuan Marquis's heir?"

"Which family has a daughter so foolishly devoted? Tell me, I'll sell everything and send a grand eight-carriage procession to marry her!"

He also recited to the crowd, "This Sixth Miss struck her forehead until it bled, each blow sincere and unwavering. With blood streaming down her face and tears falling, she said that her husband-to-be was to be executed that day. She wished to follow him, but alas, her husband left behind elderly dependents, weak women, and children with no one to care for them. Filled with sorrow and compassion, she had no choice but to carry on living to assist him in looking after his family!"

"I've lived this long, and it's the first time I've seen such a passionate and resolute woman. Alas, she has a poor fate. Sigh!"

Another person chimed in, "If you want to witness the spectacle, hurry up. I just came from there; she's now kneeling every ten steps to bid farewell to the Wei Duke's Manor, heading to the East Yuan Marquis's residence."

Amidst the murmurs, some, despite their skepticism, couldn't resist the curiosity and dashed towards the street leading to the Wei Duke's Manor. Fortunately, it wasn't far, and they still had time to catch the commotion.

They simply refused to believe that someone could be so devoted, disregarding all consequences!

The man on the prison carriage stood silently as the vehicle creaked beneath his feet. The whispers of the crowd seeped into his ears, making him clench his fists without realizing it.

In his starry eyes, a tempest raged.

Suddenly, the sky darkened. It had been a bright morning, but now the colors of the day shifted abruptly! Thunder rumbled, catching both soldiers and civilians off guard, followed by a downpour that drenched everyone in an instant.

The crowd began to disperse towards the shelter of the streets, causing chaos.

Just then, a flurry of arrows shot out, catching the guards and people off their guard. They scrambled to defend themselves.

The situation grew even more chaotic, filled with screams. Amidst the turmoil, a group of black-clad figures emerged, abducting two individuals simultaneously - one was the heir of the East Yuan Marquis, while the other was the son of the former corrupt Minister of Revenue.

The soldiers sensed trouble. The leading official gave a stern command, and the soldiers risked injury to intercept the East Yuan Marquis's heir's carriage. They had been instructed repeatedly to ensure they witnessed the execution, and any mishap, such as his rescue, would not just cost them their positions – it could very well cost them their lives.

Fortunately, fate seemed to favor them. The assailants seemed to have mistaken the son of the former Minister of Revenue for their actual target, due to their similar appearances. As a result, they kidnapped both, only to abandon the East Yuan Marquis's heir halfway through their escape. However, they reacted promptly, shooting arrows that killed the abducted person on the spot.

With his wrists still bound in shackles and his feet chained, the East Yuan Marquis's heir, despite his martial prowess, was unable to break free. The soldiers reloaded him onto the carriage and hastened their journey to the execution ground.

Rain or not, a death sentence would not be pardoned simply because of weather!

The soldiers heaved a sigh of relief but couldn't help but think that it was a pity if the commoners' words were true about the Sixth Miss of the Wei Duke's Mansion.

The street in front of the Wei Duke's Mansion became increasingly crowded as the news spread like wildfire, drawing more and more people to witness the spectacle. To marry her fiancé on the day of his execution—how deep was her love? How profound!

This was far more thrilling than any drama!

Yu Lian stepped down from the steps in front of the Wei Duke's Mansion, one by one. Instead of leaving, she descended the stairs and walked towards the East Yuan Marquis's residence. At every tenth step, she knelt and bowed her head in earnest, without any pretense.

She didn't stop until she had knelt for a full hundred meters.

Standing there, she turned her head to look in the direction of the Wei Duke's Mansion. Nobody came out to see her off, but she could hear her mother's wailing, calling out "Lian'er" amidst sobs.

Presumably, her grandmother had flown into a rage and forbade her from leaving.

She curved her lips, wiping away the tears at the corner of her eyes. The blood on her forehead had already stained half of her face. Suddenly, a young wife rushed out with reddened eyes, holding a handkerchief to wipe Yu Lian's face. Blushing, she ran back, standing in place and shouting, "It was the Marquis of East Yuan's heir's good fortune in his previous life to have a fiancée like you. Take good care of yourself."

Her words ignited the emotions of everyone present. They had watched her kneel and move forward step by step, looking back every ten paces, bleeding and weeping. Their hearts ached for her.

So they gathered around, offering their blessings.

In this very moment, no one could persuade her to turn back, to avoid the foolish decision of marrying a dying man, or to stay away from the dilapidated East Yuan Marquis household. All understood it was an ill-fated choice. Still, how could the material possessions and worldly fame compare to the depth of love?

Yu Lian smiled, nodding at the common folk on the street.

She gave one last, profound glance at the Wei Duke's residence before straightening her spine and stepping forward, one by one.

From this instant on, she had no ties with the Wei Duke's household.

She embarked on a journey that belonged solely to Yu Lian, a future filled with uncertainties.

Regardless, she had emerged victorious in today's battle.

Just then, thunder rumbled, followed by a sudden downpour.

Amidst the rain, her wedding attire drenched, the grime on her small face washed clean by the rainwater, she maintained her upright posture, moving forward without hesitation, step by step, towards her husband's home.

The majority of the onlooking citizens remained, captivated by her figure. For years to come, this scene would be a topic of discussion among the people of the capital, even finding its way into theatrical plays and storytelling, spreading throughout the land.

The tale of the devoted lady from the Duke's residence, who, on the day of her fiancé's execution, knelt every ten steps in the pouring rain as a farewell to her birth family, then courageously entered that unstable abode alone...

In the capital, the elite resided in the eastern and northern districts. The Wei Duke's Mansion and the East Yuan Marquis's residence were actually not too far apart, separated by just two streets.

As Yu Lian walked, she was accompanied by a group of people who had spontaneously decided to escort her through the rain.

Upon reaching the East Yuan Marquis's residence, the grand gates were tightly shut. Furthermore, as it was Hua Ji's execution day, the house was draped in white, giving off an air of desolation.

An agitated passerby, upon witnessing this, rushed forward to knock on the door.

Someone inside asked, "Who is it? Our Hua residence is currently closed to visitors, we apologize for any inconvenience!"

The passerby was amused and shouted, "Open up! Your Lady Consort is here!!!"

Hehe, my friend and I both felt that the original title, "Villain's Eldest Concubine," sounded dry and unappealing. So, we're considering a title change, but we're indecisive. Please help me choose by voting with numbers! Thank you for your hard work, and here's a little reward! \(^o^)/~

1. "Villain's Eldest Concubine"

2. "My Wife's Love Runs Deep, I Cannot Betray Her"

1 "After My Husband's Pretended Death, I Was Forced into Profound Love"

2 "Establishing the Role of a Devoted Lover, Only to Find My Husband Faking His Death"

3 "The Villainous Eldest Daughter-in-Law's Passionate Love Without Return!"