The Substitute Bride and the Cripple

Standing in front of the mirror in an ill-fitting wedding gown, Tang Qiu studied her reflection and felt the corner of her lips twist into a wry smile.

“Sign this contract.”

Tang Qiu caught the document that Feng Guo’an tossed at her.
Her eyes traveled to the bottom of the page, where her husband-to-be’s signature stared back at her: Jiang Shaocheng. The handwriting was neat, as though in fine print, but the pen had been gripped with enough force for the ink to have bled through the other side of the paper.

“You’ll be well taken care of as his wife.
But… ” warned Feng Guo’an, “… you’d better behave.” An edge crept into his voice, like the hints of a dark cloud looming over the horizon.
“Think about what will happen to your grandmother if you ruin everything.”

It should have been Feng Lu in her place, Tang Qiu thought.
But Feng Lu hadn’t wanted to marry a man on the verge of death–why would she? She had fled just a few hours before her wedding.
But to tell the groom’s family the truth would be nothing short of insulting, even humiliating, which was why Feng Guo’an had–rather callously–threatened Tang Qiu with her grandmother’s life to coerce her into taking Feng Lu’s place.

And so, to protect her grandmother, Tang Qiu found herself dressed in a wedding gown that had belonged to another woman; the bride-to-be of the sickly eldest son of the Jiang family.

Feng Guo’an might insist that it was a privilege to be in her shoes, but Tang Qiu knew better.
If she were truly all that lucky, why would Feng Lu have run away in the first place?

“You’re right,” Tang Qiu replied, her voice smooth and clear.
“Thank you for your reminder.
If not, the small matter of my becoming the young mistress of the Jiang family would have slipped my mind completely.
Although… correct me if I’m wrong, but my new status would make it incredibly easy to punish those who try to hurt me, wouldn’t it?”

Feng Guo’an’s expression changed instantly.

Tang Qiu raised her head to look him in the eye, all demure and innocent.
“So don’t hurt my grandmother.
She’s the only family I have left, after all.
If something happened to her, I can’t imagine what I’d be capable of.”

/ please keep reading on MYB0XN0VEL(d0t)C0M.

“You…” Feng Guo’an seethed.
He opened his mouth, as if to hurl more verbal abuse at her.
But at that moment, the staff came to inform them that it was time for the bride to take her place.
Clamping down on his fury, Feng Guo’an smoothed his expression over and brusquely escorted her into full view of the guests.

Slowly, Tang Qiu made her way to the center.
The veil hid her face from the sea of guests around her, but it failed to block their whispers and snickers.

“Who would have thought that even a sickly whelp like Jiang Shaocheng would find himself a bride?”

“I hear that he’s practically on his deathbed and he’s only marrying the Fengs’ daughter to improve his luck and prolong his life.”

“The Fengs? T