She wasn’t born with a temperament for endurance, but long ago, she had kicked Shen Guiya once. That time, Second Brother was far away in Jingzhou, and in the middle of the night, Concubine Qin was lifted from her bed while sleeping and thrown into the lotus pond in the household. In the dead of winter, she fell ill and nearly died.
The laughable thing was, no one in her courtyard knew who had done it.
Shen Guiya had cornered her below Swallow Tower with a smile, asking, “Do you want to try kicking me again?”
Shen Guiyan knelt outside Shen Shiqing’s study begging him to uphold justice, but Lord Shen only came to help her up, saying Ya’er would never do anything so outrageous. When she appealed to the Lady, she received two slaps instead.
The Lady said, “If you continue slandering Ya’er’s reputation like this, don’t blame me for showing no mercy.”
Shen Guiyan finally understood—within this household, she could not contend with Shen Guiya.
Then she would endure, endure until she married out.
She just hadn’t expected that even when she was about to marry, Shen Guiya still had no intention of letting her go.
Her cheeks had already swollen high. Shen Guiya finally released her with satisfaction, turned around hugging Sixth Brother and laughed heartily. “Guiwen, look—doesn’t your Third Sister look just like a pig’s head now?”
Shen Guiwen had been watching quietly without laughing. Hearing this, he only nodded and said softly, “She does look quite similar, but Fifth Sister, if Father investigates, what will you do?”
“What will I do?” Shen Guiya laughed loudly. “What can Father do to me? With Mother backing me, what do I have to fear? She certainly won’t be able to see anyone tomorrow, and if she dares to complain…”
Shen Guiya paused, shuddered, and hugged her own arms. “The autumn air is crisp and clear—I wonder if falling into the lotus pond now would still make someone sick? Hmm?”
Baoshan’s eyes had reddened. Breaking free from the servants’ restraints, she came forward to support her young lady. Shen Guiya left laughing with Shen Guiwen. Shen Guiyan touched her own face, drew in a sharp breath of cold air, and said, “Baoshan, let’s go back.”
“Miss…” Baoshan couldn’t help crying. “This servant thought we’d finally be waiting for better days, but Fifth Miss is still this arrogant. What will we do tomorrow? If Young Master Gu comes in person and can’t see you…”
“There’s nothing to be done.” Thinking of Gu Chaodong, Shen Guiyan’s heart also tightened slightly. “I can only have you help me deliver a poem.”
It had been so long since she’d seen him. Though they met once every year, it had been over half a year since she last saw him. Shen Guiya must have encountered him somewhere—otherwise she wouldn’t have suddenly become possessed, wanting to marry him.
Chaodong was indeed someone worth entrusting her life to. Unlike other pampered young masters from other families, he was well-read in poetry and literature, and the poems he wrote always pleased her heart. She had given her heart to him long ago and was grateful to heaven that Chancellor Gu had, through fortunate circumstances, taken a liking to her and arranged this good match.
Thinking of him, even her face seemed to hurt less. Shen Guiyan returned to her Swallow Tower with a smile. Baoshan brought medicinal ointment to apply for her, then she lay down to rest.
“What a beautiful verse, ‘A beauty smiles leaning on the tower.’ May I ask the young master’s esteemed name?”
“I am Gu Chaodong.”
Propping up her chin and recalling what she’d seen today at the Ink and Wash Tower, Shen Guiya couldn’t help being infatuated, grinning from ear to ear.
That man was truly peerless. When he clasped his hands in greeting, his bearing was extraordinary. Even when facing poor scholars, he responded kindly and courteously, drawing quiet discussion from countless young ladies nearby.
Whoever could marry the Gu family’s eldest young master would truly have earned eight lifetimes of good fortune.
But thinking that the fortunate one was Shen Guiyan, whom she had always despised, Shen Guiya restrained her smile.
She couldn’t let this marriage happen. She had to think of a way.
The day for the Gu family’s formal betrothal ceremony arrived. Gu Chaodong truly came together with the matchmaker. He first paid respects to Lord Shen and the Lady, his conversation and laughter so elegant that anyone who saw him would nod in praise.
The swelling on Shen Guiyan’s face hadn’t subsided, so naturally she wouldn’t come to see him. Baoshan brought a poem. Gu Chaodong frowned slightly and asked quietly, “Where is Yan’er?”
Baoshan pressed her lips together and shook her head. “Miss is ill and can only send this poem to you, Young Master. I hope you won’t blame her.”
Gu Chaodong pressed his lips together and opened the poem to read. Written on it was a line: “You should be as the bedrock, I shall be as the reed.”
Smiling slightly, he placed the poem in his sleeve pocket. Gu Chaodong casually gave Baoshan some reward money and said quietly, “Take good care of this young master’s reed. When the time comes, I shall naturally come to claim her.”
Baoshan’s face flushed slightly. Delighted for her young lady, she turned and ran off happily.
Shen Guiya’s maid Yushu had been waiting nearby. Once all the formal betrothal ceremony rituals were completed, she immediately went forward to Gu Chaodong as he was about to leave and said, “My young lady requests that you come to the Three Purities Inn outside the household for a word.”
Gu Chaodong had never been to the Shen household. Apart from Baoshan, he didn’t recognize the other maids. However, Yushu left after speaking, giving him no chance to inquire. After thinking it over, though he didn’t know which young lady it was, in order not to be discourteous, Gu Chaodong went anyway.
The one waiting for him was Shen Guiya. As soon as the door closed, incense smoke curled through the room. Gu Chaodong sensed something was wrong and wanted to leave, but Shen Guiya said, “Sister Yan is in trouble. Ya’er took great risk to come out and tell you, Young Master. Are you truly going to leave without listening?”
Gu Chaodong’s steps halted. He frowned at her. “A man and woman alone together, and you are still an unmarried young lady—this is quite improper.”
“This concerns Sister Yan’s life and death, and you’re still concerned about those things?” Shen Guiya snorted lightly and quickly pulled him back. “Just listen to me…”
With this listening, the aphrodisiac incense entered his nose—how could there be any aftermath?
On the third day after the betrothal ceremony, the swelling on Shen Guiyan’s face had finally mostly healed. With a veil, she could barely see people.
“Miss, Young Master Gu has sent a letter.” Baoshan entered with an ambiguous smile on her face, saying quietly, “You’re both about to be married—this longing cannot be hidden no matter how one tries. Young Master Gu has asked to meet you at dusk by the third willow tree along the Clear River.”
Shen Guiyan’s face flushed. She nodded. “I’ll prepare right away. Baoshan, help me choose an outfit.”
Since she was getting married, she did have clothing. She selected the newest one, redid her hair, put on hair ornaments, and when the back courtyard was empty, she secretly left the household through the side gate.
The sky had already turned orange. Shen Guiyan walked the whole way joyfully, with Baoshan barely able to keep up with her. Only when approaching the Clear River did she slow her pace, walking gracefully like a proper young lady from a great family.
Gu Chaodong had already been standing by the river for a long while, his body somewhat stiff. Dressed in a black robe, he suddenly looked considerably thinner.
“Yan’er.” Seeing her, he called out softly.
Shen Guiyan responded and stood three steps away from him. “You sought me, Young Master. Is there a matter?”
Gu Chaodong’s expression didn’t look good. As if he had hesitated for a long time, he finally said, “If… if I had physical intimacy with another woman, would you blame me?”
Shen Guiyan was slightly stunned, looking at him uncomprehendingly.
“Your Fifth Younger Sister… and I had physical intimacy.” Gu Chaodong closed his eyes and simply stated it frankly. “But it was she who violated propriety first. With neither matchmaker nor marriage contract, I absolutely will not consent. However, this matter is somewhat unfair to you… I have already tactfully declined her affections.”
Her whole body felt as if cold water had suddenly been poured over it—chilled to the bone. Shen Guiyan couldn’t help thinking that Guiya had truly gone all out. To do such a thing, yet she dared call her shameless.
Without her parents’ decree, without a matchmaker’s words, she had dared to give herself to Gu Chaodong privately? A formal betrothal makes one a wife, elopement makes one a concubine—Shen Guiya hadn’t read much—did she not know this saying?
Moreover, Gu Chaodong was about to be her brother-in-law.
Laughing lightly, Shen Guiyan lost all interest in speaking further with Gu Chaodong. She simply bowed to him in courtesy and turned to walk back.
“Yan’er, don’t hate me.” Gu Chaodong frowned. “It wasn’t intentional.”
Not intentional—a dignified man could still fall for a young woman’s scheme. Shen Guiyan sighed deeply. It would be better to return home first and see what was happening.
Thinking that giving her body would let her marry into the Gu household—her arrogant sister was actually as foolish as bean curd pudding. Now that she’d been rejected, who knew how she would marry in the future?
Returning to the household, she prepared to go check on Serene Elegance Studio, but had only walked halfway when she saw Yushu hurriedly leading a physician inside.
“What happened?” Baoshan quickly grabbed Yushu and asked, “Who’s ill? Why such urgency?”
Yushu shook Baoshan off forcefully and said angrily, “Move aside! If you delay my young lady’s life, no one can bear the responsibility!”