I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 23

Wei Hanzhang was at a loss for words—she wasn't good at comforting people. Besides, since this wasn't happening to her, anything she said would seem like empty talk. Seeing her silence, Wei Hanyu grasped her hand and sorrowfully asked, "If this had happened to you, Ranran, would you accept your fate?"

Her hand was cold and frail, causing Wei Hanzhang to furrow her brows. She softly comforted, "All I know is that as long as there's life, there's hope. By not eating or drinking, you're only harming your own health, and that only causes your family more worry without solving anything."

"You ask me how I would handle this, so I'll tell you: I would take care of myself. Even when I get to Yuezhou, I'd do my best to live well."

Wei Hanzhang's tone softened, "The family has already made a decision. Since nothing can be changed, the only thing you can do is make the best of it. Complaining won't help..."

Before she could finish, Wei Hanyu interrupted her, emotional and distressed: "It's easy for you to say since you're not the one being sent away to some wild, distant place... Everyone tells me to accept my fate, and now you're telling me the same. I did nothing wrong, why should I accept this fate..."

She broke down into tears, lamenting, "If it weren't for Sister Shuang's sake, why would the Third Miss of the Shen family push me into the water? It's all Sister Shuang's fault, she's the one who ruined me!"

"How can you blame Sixth Sister for this?" Wei Hanzhang felt displeased at her blaming Wei Hanshuang, but seeing how pitifully she was crying, she softened her tone, "No one in the family wanted this to happen to you. It's too late to change things now, Sister Yu. Please listen to me and take care of your health."

"You know how remote Yuezhou is. If you don't take care of your body, the rough journey will be even harder for you..." She had traveled half a month from Xuzhou to the capital, and even with a strong body, it had been exhausting.

Wei Hanyu interrupted her again, crying bitterly, "What am I afraid of? I've already swallowed more bitterness than I can bear. Why should I take care of my health, only to suffer more when I get there?"

"Are you worried that they will mistreat you in Yuezhou?" Wei Hanzhang asked in surprise. "You're a noble lady of the Marquis household, with your parents and brothers supporting you. That family is merely a fifth-rank official's household. Who would dare mistreat you?"

"Don't lie to me," Wei Hanyu said.

Wei Hanyu, feeling wronged, said, "Once the news of me falling into the water reaches them, with the distance so great, even if they mistreat me, the family here won't know. I'd rather marry into a small household in the capital, where I can rely on my parents, and no one would dare look down on me."

Wei Hanzhang hadn't expected that this was her true concern. After a moment of silence, she replied, "I understand your worries, Sister Yu, but I can't help much now. All I can promise is that if I ever find out that the family in Yuezhou dares to mistreat you, I will step in on your behalf, as long as I have the ability."

Wei Hanzhang removed a beautifully crafted jade lock from around her neck and handed it to her, speaking gently, "Since I returned to the capital, I haven't given you anything. This jade was carved by a master from Jiangnan that my grandmother commissioned when I was ten. I've always kept it with me. Now, I give it to you as a token of remembrance. If you ever face a real emergency, you can use it as a symbol to seek me out in the capital."

Although Wei Hanzhang was currently just the Ninth Miss of the Marquis household, once she married, she would become the mistress of the Gu family's first branch. Few knew that the Gu family was being reassigned to the capital, but even as the wife of the Xuzhou prefect's eldest son, her position would still carry weight in Yuezhou, making even a low-ranking official like the Yuezhou magistrate think twice.

Wei Hanyu's biological father held no official position, and when Marquis Zhongyong, Wei Ping, passed away, the title would pass to the heir, leading to the family's division. The Fourth Branch would only receive a small inheritance and no official status. Compared to this, Wei Hanzhang's promise seemed even more valuable.

Wei Hanyu wasn't foolish; she clutched the jade lock tightly and, through her tears, said, "My marriage is so disgraceful that the sisters in the family will surely grow distant from me. Ranran, when I'm in Yuezhou, I will write to you. If something terrible happens, you must come to collect my body."

Wei Hanzhang felt a headache coming on. In her view, this situation was far from being a life-threatening danger. The magistrate's household, being able to marry into a marquis family, would be considered well-established even in the capital. Even if they knew about the incident of her falling into the water, they wouldn't dare endanger her life. The Marquis household wouldn't tolerate one of their daughters being harmed, even if she was not highly favored.

After calming herself, Wei Hanzhang patiently offered some more comforting words to her cousin, who was not much older than she was.

Perhaps the comfort from someone her age was more effective, or maybe the jade lock and Wei Hanzhang's promise gave her a faint sense of reassurance. In any case, Wei Hanyu was finally willing to drink some water. After having a cup of tea and a small bowl of chicken porridge, her face visibly regained some color, as she was still young and well-nourished since childhood.

When Fourth Madam Jiang came in and saw her daughter's improved state, she couldn't help but lightly tap her twice, saying, "You troublesome girl, at last, you're not tormenting your mother anymore." The two embraced and cried together.

Feeling a bit awkward standing by, Wei Hanzhang quietly stepped out, leaving them to talk in peace.

...

Two days passed in a blur, and on the day of Wei Hanyu's wedding, the main gates of the Zhongyong Marquis household remained closed. She left through the side gate in her carriage. There were three carriages in total, with six serving women and four maids accompanying her as her dowry entourage. There were no ceremonial music, no red decorations, and no guests—this was how the Eighth Miss of the Marquis household was married off.

Only a few aunts and sisters from other branches came to send her off. Old Madam Liu sent a set of solid gold hairpins as an extra gift for her, but her own grandfather, Wei Ping, did not make an appearance.

As Wei Hanzhang watched the carriages gradually disappear from sight, she couldn't help but feel a bit wistful. Madam Jiang patted her daughter on the back, saying, "If you're feeling restless, why not go find your Sixth Sister to pass the time? Soon, it will be her turn to get married."

It was now early May, and in less than two months, it would be Wei Hanshuang's turn to wed. As the legitimate daughter of the heir, her marriage could not be handled hastily. The marquis's household had already started preparing in earnest, and even Wei Hanshuang herself had been confined to her room to work on her wedding embroidery.

When her younger sister arrived, she set aside her needlework with a smile and said, "Our little restless monkey can't stay put at home, can she?"

"Only Sister Shuang understands me," Wei Hanzhang responded without a hint of embarrassment, walking over in large strides to sit beside her sister. In a playful tone, she said, "Grandmother still won't let me leave the house, and I'm really bored."

Wei Hanshuang replied, "In a few days, I'll be going to the Matchmaker's Temple to burn incense. You can come with me."

Naturally, Wei Hanzhang was happy for the chance to go out, but she hesitated. "Do you think Grandmother will allow it?"

Wei Hanshuang smiled warmly, "These days, news of our family's Ninth Miss, who is full of loyalty and righteousness, has been spreading like wildfire in the capital. With your reputation, there's no need to keep you locked up at home anymore."

She continued, "Not only Grandmother, but even Grandfather likely hopes you'll go out more, to bring honor to our family's name."