Shen Guiya’s attempted suicide by jumping into the lotus pond had failed—she was rescued by household servants.

Upon hearing this news, Shen Guiyan’s first reaction was: they said she had no brains, and she truly had no brains. The lotus pond wasn’t even waist-deep. If she wanted to die, she should jump into the moat! Why choose the lotus pond?

Only afterward did she hear the maids from Serene Elegance Studio crying and sobbing, “Fifth Miss’s life may not be preserved. She was submerged in the lotus pond for a long while and still hasn’t awakened.”

The entire Shen household was alarmed. Everyone went to Serene Elegance Studio one after another, where they heard Yushu’s heart-wrenching sobs: “It’s all that heartless man’s fault! If not for him, how could Miss have become so distraught! Master, Madam, you must seek justice for Miss!”

Lord Shen sat to one side. Before he could ask what had happened, Lady Shen was already crying and raging, “What heartless man? Explain it clearly to me! Whoever harmed my Ya’er’s life, I will demand his life in return!”

She spoke as if Shen Guiya had already died.

Shen Guiyan arrived relatively late—the room was already packed with people. When Yushu saw her arrive, she finally began to tell the story of the “heartless man.”

“Young Master Gu had a prior betrothal to Third Miss, yet he seduced our young lady. After causing Miss to lose her virtue, he turned his back on her and said he wouldn’t marry our young lady. In her shame and anger, Miss decided to end her life!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was shocked. Over a dozen pairs of eyes turned toward Shen Guiyan at the doorway.

This account could turn black into white. Shen Guiyan couldn’t help clenching the handkerchief in her hand. Clearly it was she who had shamelessly seduced Young Master Gu, yet now she claimed he had lured and ruined her virtue?

Moreover, why were they looking at her? She wasn’t the one who had driven Shen Guiya to attempt suicide.

Lady Shen flew into a rage. She immediately rose from the bed, clutching her handkerchief and looking at Lord Shen. “If this matter can be tolerated, then our dignified Shen household is far too lowly! So what if it’s the Chancellor’s household? Having ruined a daughter’s virtue, he should give an explanation!”

Lord Shen also felt heartache for his own daughter, but he didn’t entirely believe Yushu’s account. Gu Chaodong was highly praised among the younger generation and would not be such a heartless and unrighteous person. Since he was about to marry Yan’er, how could he have ruined Ya’er’s virtue?

“Let’s wait until Ya’er awakens and ask about the matter clearly,” Lord Shen sighed.

After hesitating a moment, Shen Guiyan also spoke up. “If Young Master Gu truly seduced Fifth Younger Sister and doesn’t intend to give an explanation, Guiyan would also be unwilling to entrust her life to him. It would be better to investigate this matter thoroughly.”

When she regained consciousness, at worst they could confront Gu Chaodong directly. Speaking face to face, would she still dare to twist the truth? For seducing her husband-to-be before her wedding, the one who should be utterly disgraced was Shen Guiya.

Lady Shen had nothing else to say. She only looked coldly at Shen Guiyan once, then turned back to guard Shen Guiya and continue crying.

Shen Guiya slept for an entire day. The next day, someone came from the Gu household—none other than Chancellor Gu himself, personally bringing Gu Chaodong to pay a visit.

The Shen family was merely a Vice Minister’s household, yet they received a personal visit from the current Chancellor. Naturally everyone was anxious. Though Lady Shen felt she was in the right, she still inevitably feared the Chancellor’s authority and went out early to greet them at the gate.

“Lord Shen need not stand on ceremony.” Chancellor Gu was quite a humble person. He brought only Gu Chaodong and a carriage driver, no one else, and even clasped his hands slightly upon arrival. “This old man has brought my unworthy son to apologize. I hope Lord Shen and Third Miss will hear what my son has to say.”

From the moment he entered, Gu Chaodong kept stealing glances at her. Shen Guiyan pretended not to notice, only properly escorted them all the way to the main hall.

“This nephew has come to speak about the matter concerning your household’s Fifth Miss.” Gu Chaodong gathered his robe and knelt in the hall, frightening everyone in the Shen family who wanted to help him up. But he raised his hand and respectfully bowed to Lord Shen and the Lady. “This nephew is unworthy, but by heaven’s gift of marriage fate, I formed a betrothal with your household’s Third Miss. However, some days ago, this nephew was led by a maid to the Three Purities Inn outside the household, where… I had physical intimacy with your household’s Fifth Miss.”

He spoke with difficulty, his expression troubled, yet everyone in the room already knew this and showed no surprise—they were only curious about the details.

“This nephew has no intention to blame, but as a daughter of a distinguished family, Fifth Miss misused aphrodisiac drugs and colluded with the inn’s proprietor to entrap this nephew in an unrighteous situation. Such behavior should not be encouraged.” Gu Chaodong spoke each word clearly. “This nephew’s heart belongs to your household’s Third Miss—the sun and moon can bear witness, heaven and earth can testify. Even having made this one misstep, I presume to beg your household’s understanding.”

Everyone in the hall drew in a sharp breath, looking at Gu Chaodong in astonishment. Lady Shen’s face turned iron-blue. She couldn’t help saying, “Young Master Gu’s account seems somewhat different from what Ya’er’s maid said. Why not have Yushu come confront you directly?”

If Shen Guiya had truly drugged and seduced him, then not only would her face be completely lost, but the Shen family’s face would be forfeit as well!

Gu Chaodong nodded, and Yushu was brought in. Seeing him, her body trembled slightly.

She had thought that once the deed was done, Miss could smoothly marry over. Who knew this Young Master Gu would be as stubborn as if he’d swallowed a weight—he would marry none but Shen Guiyan and had rejected Miss. In her anger, Miss had wanted to pretend to jump into the lotus pond and end her life, forcing him to marry her.

Who knew the pretense would go too far? Now she truly hadn’t awakened, and he had come to the door to clarify the facts instead.

“Yushu, repeat what you said yesterday,” Lady Shen said with a grave expression.

Yushu had no ideas of her own. Kneeling beside Gu Chaodong, she trembled and couldn’t speak, only shaking her head and kowtowing.

“What’s this?” Lady Shen grew anxious. “Didn’t you explain what happened yesterday? Why can’t you speak now?”

“This servant deserves death!” After hemming and hawing for a long time, Yushu only managed to say this.

Gu Chaodong laughed lightly. Lady Shen was even more furious. Shen Guiyan stood to one side quietly watching this drama, only feeling somewhat listless.

What a tedious farce.

“How lively.”

A weak voice came from the side. Everyone froze and turned to look—it was actually Shen Guiya wearing sleeping clothes with a cloak draped over her.

“Ya’er!” Lady Shen couldn’t help standing up. “You’re awake?”

Shen Guiya looked somewhat dazed. She studied Lady Shen for a long while before saying, “My name is Ya’er?”

Gu Chaodong, kneeling on the ground, frowned slightly. What trick was this woman trying to pull now?

“I just woke up and don’t seem to remember anything.” Shen Guiya walked over talking to herself. “Who are you? What are you doing? As soon as I woke up, a maid called me to come quickly. Are you filming a TV drama?”

“Ya’er…” Lady Shen panicked somewhat. “You don’t remember? This is your father, that’s your younger brother, and me—I’m your mother.”

Shen Guiya seemed to have received some kind of shock. It took her a long time to recover, then she laughed foolishly twice. “I’ve transmigrated.”

No one could understand what she was saying. With the Chancellor present, Lord Shen could only stand up and say, “My daughter may have suffered a shock and is now somewhat addled. Please don’t take offense, Chancellor.”

Chancellor Gu looked at Shen Guiya twice and said quietly, “It is also my unworthy son who has wronged Fifth Miss, but the Gu family welcomes only one bride. If possible, Fifth Miss may also enter the household after two years, and this old man will certainly not treat her unfairly.”

“Father!” Gu Chaodong called out quietly, his face full of resistance.

Chancellor Gu smiled slightly and turned to look at Shen Guiyan. “Does Third Miss mind?”

Shen Guiyan returned him a proper curtsy. “Guiyan naturally doesn’t mind. If Fifth Younger Sister is addled, Guiyan and Young Master Gu should also care for her.”

If she was truly addled, then this was Shen Guiya’s retribution. If not…

Shen Guiyan couldn’t help glancing again at the woman over there.

Shen Guiya was escorted away laughing foolishly, surrounded by people. She inadvertently glanced in her direction, her eyes full of unfamiliarity.

“Miss, this servant feels Fifth Miss seems strange.”

After the people in the hall dispersed, Baoshan followed behind Shen Guiyan and said quietly, “I heard she kept talking nonsense, but the person is conscious and not addled. I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Don’t concern ourselves with her.” Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together. “Now everyone knows she seduced Young Master Gu. Pretending to be foolish is a clever move on her part—it allows her to escape the torrent of condemnation.”

Baoshan stamped her feet in anger. “Her shameless behavior—she gets away with it by pretending to be foolish?”

“Why are you angry?” Shen Guiyan smiled faintly. “Just prepare for the wedding.”

Whether she was truly foolish or pretending, now there was no way to break off her marriage match. That was already enough.