I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 22

After several days, Wei Hanzhang was feeling overwhelmed, her head spinning from all the new information. Exhausted, she tugged on Madam Jiang's hand and pleaded, "Mother, please let me take a break."

Madam Jiang, half of her body shaken by her daughter's insistence, couldn't resist. She didn't want to keep holding her back. Just as she was about to let her daughter go and have some fun, something crossed her mind, and she asked gently, "Hanyu will be getting married soon. Would you like to go see her? After all, you two are like sisters."

Wei Hanzhang was taken aback, exclaiming, "So soon? When did the family come to propose? I didn't even know."

"There was no formal proposal. This isn't a proper marriage arrangement," Madam Jiang sighed as she put down the book of family connections. "Ranran, take Hanyu's situation as a lesson. As a daughter, you must remember that a single misstep can lead to irreversible consequences. You must be cautious in your words and actions in the future. Don't repeat what happened the other day."

Although the incident at  Jiaofangsi ended without serious consequences, Madam Jiang still felt anxious whenever she thought about it. If the old physician hadn't offered help that day, her daughter might have actually stepped inside Jiaofangsi to find a doctor. And once inside, there would be no place for her in the Zhongyong Marquis Residence. Women who enteredJiaofangsi either became official courtesans or madams—there were no other options.

Wei Hanzhang knew she shouldn't question her elders' decisions, but in front of Madam Jiang, she didn't need to hold back too much. After a brief hesitation, she couldn't help but say, "Eighth Sister didn't do anything wrong. She was pushed into the water by Shen Li and then maliciously embraced by Shen's cousin. She's the victim!"

"How could she be without fault? If she had stayed close to you all, she wouldn't have given Third Miss Shen the opportunity. Why wasn't it you or Hansu who got pushed into the water, but her?"

By now, the incident where Wei Hanyu fell into the water had long been investigated and made clear. Madam Jiang explained, "She was so focused on gazing at the heir of Duke Chen in the pavilion that she was easily pushed into the water. Otherwise, Shen Li, even if she wanted to act secretly, wouldn't have dared to use much force. How else would she have fallen in?"

Wei Hanzhang was stunned; she hadn't known this part of the story.

"Don't feel too sorry for your Eighth Sister," Madam Jiang said gently. "You were there that day, and many men in the crowd saw how Hanyu looked. She can't find a good marriage in the capital anymore. If she marries the cousin of the Shen family, it would drive her mad. Finding an ordinary family far away to marry her is the best arrangement for her."

This was the truth. The Wei family would never allow Wei Hanyu to marry Shen's cousin. If they did, having one son-in-law as a concubine's brother and another as a direct son-in-law would be infuriating.

Wei Hanzhang turned to her mother. "Does Sixth Sister really have to marry into the Shen family? The second son of the Shen's family is already so shameless before marriage. Who knows how much trouble Sixth Sister will have after marrying him?"

"If they had just started discussing the marriage, it could have been changed, but now it's too late." Madam Jiang looked at her daughter with loving eyes and advised, "You don't need to worry about how they'll be after the marriage. The Shen family is not foolish, and they'll certainly give your Sixth Sister a proper explanation. As long as the Wei family remains strong, none of you girls will be treated poorly after marriage."

"Even if we sought another match, it might not turn out any better," Madam Jiang said, lightly tapping her daughter's forehead as she pretended to scold her. "Compared to you, your Sixth Sister is much more level-headed. Wherever she marries, she'll make the best of it. You should worry less."

Hearing her mother's words, Wei Hanzhang felt slightly relieved. She covered her forehead and pouted, "I've only been back in the capital for two months, and Mother is already disliking me."

"Why would I dislike you?" Madam Jiang smiled, pulling her daughter close and gently rubbing her forehead. She said with a chuckle, "My Ranran is no less than anyone. You may be a bit spoiled, but you are sensible and kind. Your grandmother raised you wonderfully."

No matter how mischievous one's child may be, in a mother's eyes, they are always exceptional.

Wei Hanzhang felt embarrassed by her mother's praise and quickly stood up. "Mother, I'll go see Eighth Sister."

"Go ahead," Madam Jiang said. She had just returned from delivering wedding gifts to the fourth branch earlier that morning and added, "Hanyu will be married far away in Yuezhou. Who knows if she'll ever return to the capital in this lifetime? As sisters, you should give her something to remember you by."

Wei Hanzhang understood her mother's meaning, which was to remind her to send her unfortunate sister some wedding gifts. She nodded slightly in agreement.

...

In early May, the weather was warm and sunny. The courtyard of the fourth branch of the Zhongyong Marquis Residence was alive with the buzzing of early summer insects, bringing some liveliness to the quiet area.

The masters of the fourth branch had been in poor spirits these days, and the servants lived cautiously, watching their moods closely and performing their duties with extreme care, afraid of making any mistakes. Not a single smile could be seen on anyone's face. As soon as one stepped into the fourth branch's territory, all the servants and maids kept their heads down, their expressions somber.

Wei Hanzhang, accompanied by two personal maids, entered the Jianxia Courtyard where Wei Hanyu lived. Just as she stepped through the courtyard gate, she heard Fourth Madam Jiang, the mistress of the fourth branch, softly consoling her daughter inside. A servant went in to report her arrival, and a moment later, Fourth Madam Jiang came out. She forced a smile when she saw her, saying, "Ranran is here."

Wei Hanzhang greeted her politely, "Greetings, Fourth Aunt."

The poor heart of a parent—ever since her daughter fell into the water, Fourth Madam Jiang hadn't had a single night of good sleep. Her face was gaunt, looking as though she might faint at any moment. She wiped her tears and said, "Go in and try to comfort Hanyu for me. She hasn't eaten a bite in two days. She's set to depart for Yuezhou the day after tomorrow, and with the long journey ahead, if her health deteriorates, what will we do?"

Wei Hanzhang nodded gently and said in a warm voice, "Fourth Aunt, please rest for a while. Now that things have reached this point, you must take care of yourself. Hanyu will still need your care in the future."

Indeed, even though Wei Hanyu was marrying far away, her husband's family held official status. News from the capital would still reach them. Although the marriage was a low one, it was uncertain whether her husband's family would mind the past. If they were to cause her suffering, the Zhongyong Marquis Residence might not step in on her behalf. In the end, the only ones she could truly rely on would be her own parents and brothers.

Fourth Madam Jiang understood this well. After a few more reminders, she was helped back to her room by her personal maid to rest.

When Wei Hanzhang opened the door, she saw Wei Hanyu leaning weakly on a soft couch by the window. Upon seeing her, tears rolled down her pale face. Her hair was disheveled, her cheeks sickly white, and she had long lost the dignity and grace of a noble young lady from a marquis' family.

The sight made Wei Hanzhang's heart skip a beat, and she almost didn't recognize this woman as her Eighth Sister. Though she is the legitimate daughter of a concubine's son, since the family hasn't split, as long as Wei Ping, her grandfather, remains the Marquis, Wei Hanyu is still the noble and precious young lady of the marquis household. But now, she...

Approaching her, Wei Hanzhang felt a sting in her nose, her voice catching slightly. "It's only been a few days, and yet you've grown so thin, Sister Yu."

"Ranran..." Wei Hanyu called out with sorrow and resentment in her voice. "Grandmother told me to accept my fate. Aunt told me to accept my fate. Even my own mother told me to accept my fate. Everyone tells me to accept my fate. Tell me, should I accept my fate?"