Gu Chaodong froze, instinctively turning his head to glance at Shen Guiya. Shen Guiya was frowning, her displeasure impossible to hide.

It was supposed to be a joyous wedding day. With this pregnancy, she had successfully married into the family, yet her husband ran off on their wedding night to secretly watch Shen Guiyan? If he had come alone, that would be one thing, but the Fourth Young Master followed too? She was the one who had transmigrated here—why was everyone revolving around another woman?

Shen Guiya was unhappy, extremely unhappy. However, she was a clever person who knew that when competing for a man’s affection, one must never appear shrewish—the gentler one was, the better.

So she forced a smile. “Ya’er doesn’t mind. After all, this marriage should have been Third Sister’s to begin with. As long as father-in-law doesn’t punish Chaodong, I’ll be at ease. Chaodong has Sister in his heart, and Ya’er cannot control that…”

As she spoke with some grievance, her eyes glistened as she looked toward Gu Chaobei.

Gu Chaobei snorted with laughter and simply sat down on the floor without any pretense of propriety. “One willing to strike, one willing to receive—anything more is just others meddling where they shouldn’t. Yan’er is willing to marry me of her own accord. What business is it of elder brother’s?”

“I’m asking Yan’er, not you.” Gu Chaodong’s temper flared. “It’s because fourth brother’s mother died early that no one taught you some things cannot be done? Yan’er is still an unmarried young lady—how could you just…”

“Elder brother.” Gu Chaobei stopped smiling, his entire face darkening.

Even Shen Guiyan was startled. When someone habitually casual suddenly turned serious, it was terrifying.

Gu Chaodong was also shaken for a moment but refused to back down. “Am I wrong? Your own actions were too reckless. Won’t this make your mother’s corpse underground subject to others’ curses…”

“Bang.” Gu Chaobei stood up. Before anyone could stop him, he kicked the kneeling Gu Chaodong, sending him tumbling backward to crash onto the smooth floor with a dull thud.

“Chaodong!” Shen Guiya cried out.

Shen Guiyan was also frightened and stood up. “Fourth Young Master!”

Though Gu Chaodong’s words had been excessive, one shouldn’t strike so readily.

One kick wasn’t enough for Gu Chaobei—he walked over intending to deliver more. But Steward Gu stepped forward and held him back. Gu Chaodong rose, and without caring that others were present, threw a punch at Gu Chaobei’s shoulder.

Right on the left shoulder. Shen Guiyan’s heart jumped, and she quickly called out, “Don’t!”

Gu Chaodong paused slightly, then struck down even harder. With the steward restraining Gu Chaobei, he couldn’t resist and had to take the blow.

Even watching made Shen Guiyan feel the pain. She quickly stepped forward to shield Gu Chaobei. “You’re both married men—how can you still strike people when you lose your temper?”

Gu Chaodong couldn’t catch his breath and was half-dead with anger. “He struck first!”

Behind her, Gu Chaobei snorted coldly, his face stern and silent. His body still seemed to be straining—as soon as the steward dared release him, he would absolutely charge forward and give Gu Chaodong another beating.

Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together. She had always admired Gu Chaodong’s refined elegance, but today it had been thoroughly destroyed. So men were all the same when impulsive.

“Wait for the Prime Minister and Father to reach a conclusion, then rest well. You just received punishment with the discipline rod.” Shen Guiyan lowered her head and turned, looking at the stickiness on Gu Chaobei’s shoulder. “Fourth Young Master, doesn’t it hurt?”

Gu Chaobei’s body relaxed, and with a light snort, the steward behind him released him.

“People are made of flesh—how could it not hurt?” Kneeling down again, Fourth Young Master Gu looked up at her with a rather roguish air. “But seeing you protect me like this, my heart feels comforted.”

Even more comforting was that someone’s face had turned purple with rage.

The corner of Shen Guiyan’s mouth twitched as she stood at a safer distance. Gu Chaodong narrowed his eyes, staring at Gu Chaobei for a long while before kneeling down as well.

Prime Minister Gu and Lord Shen reached an agreement quickly. Seeing that Prime Minister Gu had brought the discipline rod and allowed him to punish his two sons as he wished, Lord Shen felt much better and immediately arrived at the main hall without any back pain or leg soreness.

“Let’s pretend last night never happened. Third Miss and my worthless son should marry as soon as possible.” The Prime Minister delivered the final verdict.

Gu Chaodong said urgently, “Father!”

“There is no room for discussion in this matter.” Prime Minister Gu looked at them. “Since this scoundrel and Third Miss already have the reality of husband and wife, there’s nothing else to say. Return immediately to prepare for the wedding.”

He then looked respectfully toward Lord Shen. “Does my lord agree?”

“The Prime Minister speaks correctly.” Lord Shen nodded and glanced at Shen Guiyan. “Yan’er should have no objections either?”

Shen Guiyan shook her head.

Madam Shen stood beside Lord Shen, and upon hearing this, gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “The next auspicious day is only half a month away. Time is rather tight, so the wedding preparations may be rushed. I imagine Yan’er won’t mind.”

A proper wedding required three to four months of preparation—what could be prepared in half a month? Even the wedding dress would have to be rushed. Shen Guiyan frowned slightly, and the Prime Minister was also somewhat displeased. “Half a month is too tight.”

“The next one after that would be four months away.” Madam Shen said rather innocently, “If this were an ordinary wedding, it would be fine, but Yan’er and Fourth Young Master have already… If she boards the wedding sedan with a swollen belly, it would be…”

Everyone in the room fell silent. The concubines whispered mockingly behind them.

Shen Guiyan felt somewhat embarrassed, but heard Gu Chaobei say, “Boarding the sedan with a swollen belly—our family isn’t without precedent. However, I fear complications with time. Half a month is perfect, and there’s enough time to prepare. Since Yan’er is so virtuous, I’d like to bring her home sooner.”

Prime Minister Gu scolded him, “How is it your place to speak here? Kneel properly!”

Gu Chaobei pursed his lips.

The concubines fell silent. Madam Shen couldn’t smile anymore either. Shen Guiya was the first to board a sedan with a swollen belly—where did they get the face to mock others?

Shen Guiya bit her lip, her gaze somewhat dark as she glanced at Gu Chaobei. This man was so unromantic, truly detestable, and constantly targeting her. Even if he were interested, there was no need to express it this way.

Lord Shen coughed lightly and said seriously, “Thus, the marriage between Yan’er and Fourth Young Master is settled. A double blessing indeed. Let’s forget the unpleasant matters—perhaps a mistake will turn out for the best.”

Prime Minister Gu nodded. People on both sides smiled cheerfully, or at least appeared cheerful on the surface.

As everyone dispersed, Shen Guiyan slowed her pace and walked behind. Seeing that Shen Guiya had already left supporting Gu Chaodong, she caught up to Gu Chaobei.

“Hey.”

Gu Chaobei stopped and turned his head to look at her, raising an eyebrow. “Aren’t you always a proper young lady of good breeding? Is this how you address people?”

Shen Guiyan rolled her eyes irritably. “For anyone else, I would properly address them as Young Master. You’re exempt. This is wound medicine. For that stab I gave you—my apologies.”

She handed over the small porcelain bottle. Gu Chaobei smiled and accepted it, leaning closer. “This wound is quite serious—two sentences won’t make up for it. Wife, I look forward to your guidance in the future.”

The corner of Shen Guiyan’s mouth twitched. She stepped back two paces, respectfully bowed to him, then turned and walked toward Swallow Tower without looking back.

This scoundrel—dressed in fine silks, he was still a scoundrel!

Gu Chaobei watched her retreating figure and smiled for quite a while. Only when she disappeared from view did the smile slowly fade from his lips. He turned to look at the Gu family carriage at the gate and followed indifferently.

Originally meant to marry the legitimate son, now she would marry the concubine-born son. Though it was still the Prime Minister’s residence, the dowry naturally had to be reduced. Moreover, Madam Shen prepared it without much care. When Shen Guiyan went to inspect the dowry, there were only fifteen trunks of items.

When Shen Guiya married, that entire procession said to be prepared for her—but Shen Guiya had actually taken it all, a full thirty trunks. This difference in treatment was too obvious; even the household servants could see it.

“Alas, Third Miss’s fate is unfortunate. How did things go wrong at such a time? Now the one who was to marry as the eldest daughter-in-law has become the younger sister-in-law.”

“Exactly. Fifth Miss was so domineering, yet unexpectedly got a good match. Heaven is truly unfair.”

“If the Prime Minister’s residence sees this dowry, how can Third Miss be valued in the future?”

Listening to these words, Baoshan also felt distressed. Supporting Shen Guiyan, she said, “Miss, why don’t you speak with the master? This dowry is too meager—clearly the madam is mistreating you.”

Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together and smiled slightly. “No matter. No need to tattle. I have my own way of resolving this.”