After attending the ceremony, the Emperor left behind a piece of calligraphy inscribed with “A Hundred Years of Harmonious Union” as a gift for Gu Chaobei and Shen Guiyan before departing.

Prime Minister Gu knelt in gratitude and ordered someone to have the calligraphy made into a plaque to be hung in the Northern Courtyard in the future. The Emperor and the Consort didn’t linger long—after writing the inscription, they left hand in hand.

The Gu Manor’s household had mixed feelings. Though Gu Chaodong’s wedding had been grand, it hadn’t merited the Emperor’s personal attendance. Yet Gu Chaobei, this uneducated wastrel scorned by everyone, had received the Emperor’s calligraphy—how could people accept this?

“Fourth Brother, you should go drink at the front.” The only one who could keep smiling was the Gu family’s second son, Gu Chaonan. He warmly pulled Gu Chaobei toward the front hall, then turned back to look at Gu Chaodong. “After all, it’s Fourth Brother’s great joyous day—why are you putting on such a stern face, Elder Brother? After we finish drinking, we still need to go tease the newlyweds.”

Gu Chaodong forced the corners of his mouth up slightly and followed them out. Gu Chaobei turned to glance at Prime Minister Gu.

The old man still sat in the seat of honor with his eyes closed, lost in thought. Madam Gu beside him had maintained a gloomy expression throughout, not even bothering to fake a smile.

Ever since the Emperor and Consort arrived, the atmosphere in the Gu Manor had become extremely strange.

Shrugging, Gu Chaobei turned and followed his second brother to drink, grinning like a complete scoundrel as if nothing weighed on his mind at all.

“Is Fourth Madam hungry?” A maid beside her glanced at the apple in Shen Guiyan’s hands and asked quietly.

Shen Guiyan answered calmly, “I’m fine, I can hold on.”

Having said that, she continued to take another bite of the apple in her hand.

Baoshan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She went to the table to fetch a whole one. “If Miss is hungry, finish this one first. This servant will get you another one to hold.”

“I can finish it?” Shen Guiyan asked in a muffled voice.

“Yes.” Baoshan nodded.

Shen Guiyan breathed a long sigh of relief. Using one hand to hold up her veil and the other to stuff the apple in her mouth, she devoured it completely. She was starving—she hadn’t eaten anything since getting up this morning. Right now, even if you gave her a whole cow, she could swallow it alive without spitting out the bones!

The maids beside her stifled their laughter. After finishing one apple, Shen Guiyan took another perfect one to hold and sat upright as if nothing had happened.

Once the drinking outside was nearly finished, it would be time for the wedding night teasing. Gu Chaobei had been forced to drink by several brothers in turns and could barely walk straight. Gu Chaodong personally supported him, his face expressionless. “Will Fourth Brother still be able to lift the veil later?”

Gu Chaobei tilted his head back, revealing a thoroughly bewitching smile. “How could I not? Even if I’m about to die drunk, I must first lift Yan’er’s veil and make her mine.”

Gu Chaodong snorted coldly. “You two are completely unsuited for each other.”

One was a wastrel like mud, the other beautiful as a lotus—they weren’t the same type at all. This was Gu Chaodong’s view.

“Elder Brother and Elder Sister-in-law are quite well-matched though,” Gu Chaobei smiled. “Both the same type of people.”

“What type?” Gu Chaodong asked with a dark expression.

“The type that looks fine on the surface but is black as a rat’s nest inside.” Gu Chaobei hiccupped from the alcohol, his face full of naive innocence.

Veins bulged on Gu Chaodong’s forehead, but Gu Chaonan took Gu Chaobei over, laughing. “Fourth Brother is drunk—why should Elder Brother take it seriously? The bridal chamber is just ahead. Let’s help him in first.”

The maids and servants followed behind as well. Shen Guiya claimed she wasn’t feeling well and didn’t come. Gu Chaodong didn’t insist—he wanted to see Yan’er anyway, and it was better without anyone getting in the way.

Teasing the newlyweds was meant to ease any awkwardness between them, but these two already knew each other, so it was just for show. After lifting the veil and creating some commotion, Granny Xu, who was responsible for conducting the rituals, came forward with wine cups, smiling broadly. “Let the bride and groom drink the nuptial wine. Bride, take this cup.”

Shen Guiyan looked at the heavily drunk Gu Chaobei, somewhat worried about the wound on his shoulder. She took the cup from Granny Xu without looking closely and supported Gu Chaobei with one hand, preparing to exchange cups.

Gu Chaobei squinted at the wine cup in her hand. “What’s this?”

Shen Guiyan’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Wine.”

“Wine?” Gu Chaobei snatched her wine cup away. “I may not know much about other things, but what I understand best is wine and women. Who brought up this stuff and dared call it wine?”

With that pungent smell, only an idiot like Shen Guiyan wouldn’t notice.

Granny Xu was startled and quickly snatched the wine cup back from Gu Chaobei. “Which maid took the wrong one? Don’t worry, don’t worry—this old servant will have them fetch a replacement immediately.”

Shen Guiyan was completely confused. If it wasn’t wine, what else could it be? Seeing Gu Chaobei’s expression darken, she quietly asked, “Are you feeling sick from being drunk?”

There were still others in the room. Gu Chaobei could barely stand and leaned against her. “Mm, quite uncomfortable. Let’s rest after drinking the wine.”

“Alright.” Shen Guiyan supported him and accepted the wine the maid poured again. She rarely touched this stuff and didn’t know how it differed from the previous cup.

Granny Xu was an old servant of the manor. Holding the replaced cup of wine, she was full of hesitation.

Her husband was addicted to gambling and had racked up huge debts outside. One of his fingers had already been chopped off. If they didn’t repay the gambling den soon, he might lose his life. The First Young Madam was willing to give her money, but had assigned her this terrifying task.

What was in this cup wasn’t anything else—it was vitriol oil. As long as she made the Fourth Young Madam drink it or splashed it on her face, the money would be hers. But her own fate certainly wouldn’t be good—she might even lose her life.

However, she truly had nowhere else to turn. All the money she could borrow had been borrowed. She’d sold off many of the manor’s items. If not driven to such a desperate end, she never would have agreed to this.

Her hands trembled slightly. Looking at the Fourth Young Madam who was drinking the nuptial wine, her face tilted upward—it was a perfect opportunity.

Gritting her teeth, Granny Xu made her decision. Closing her eyes, she splashed the vitriol oil from the cup.

By striking this way, she should at least get some on the Fourth Young Madam’s face, and then the money would be hers!

Shen Guiyan was closing her eyes to drink when suddenly her waist was grabbed and yanked forcefully. The wine in her cup splashed out, and her entire body spun with Gu Chaobei to stand on the other side.

“Sssssss—” The contents of Granny Xu’s cup splashed onto the bed curtains behind them. The curtains were rapidly corroded into scorched black.

“What are you doing!” Gu Chaodong was shocked and quickly rushed forward to seize Granny Xu. When Shen Guiyan opened her eyes, she saw the bridal chamber in complete chaos.

Gu Chaodong and two servants pressed Granny Xu to the ground. The cup fell and shattered on the floor, burning a black patch into the carpet.

“What a vicious heart!” Gu Chaonan stepped forward to look at the substance on the ground and clicked his tongue twice. “Using vitriol oil to splash at the Fourth Young Madam’s face—if Fourth Brother hadn’t pulled his new wife away quickly, her face would have been ruined.”

Granny Xu’s face turned deathly pale. Gu Chaodong was even more furious, stomping down with his foot. “Who gave you such audacity?!”

“First Young Master, have mercy!” Granny Xu cried out repeatedly. “This old servant had no choice, no choice at all!”

Shen Guiyan frowned, touching her face with lingering fear. “That was too ruthless.”

The drunk Gu Chaobei glanced at the floor and the bed curtains, then laughed lightly. “I’ll leave this old woman to Elder Brother and Second Brother. Yan’er and I need to rest first. We can investigate further tomorrow.”

“Fine.” Gu Chaonan smiled. “The beautiful night is fleeting—you shouldn’t waste it on this. Rest first. Elder Brother and I will take this old woman to see Mother.”

With that, he had the servants escort Granny Xu out.

Gu Chaobei rested his chin on Shen Guiyan’s shoulder and waved toward the door. The wedding attendants and maids remaining in the room all withdrew. Baoshan walked at the back to close the door, looking at her young miss with great concern.

To have vitriol oil splashed at her on her wedding day—how would the days ahead be?

Shen Guiyan took a while to recover before sitting at the vanity to remove the flowered crown and jewelry from her head.

“Are you scared?” Gu Chaobei sat on the edge of the bed, his voice suddenly much more sober as he asked this question.

The hand holding the comb paused. Shen Guiyan looked at the face in the mirror and sighed. “How could I not be scared? I never imagined such sinister methods existed. If this face were ruined, my entire life would probably be ruined too.”

“You haven’t seen even more ruthless methods yet.” Gu Chaobei laughed lightly, his voice carrying some hatred. Shen Guiyan turned around in surprise but only saw Gu Chaobei’s back.

He had already turned away to prepare to undress.

Her face flushed red. Feeling somewhat awkward, Shen Guiyan let down her hair, changed into her nightclothes, took a deep breath, and lay down on the bed.

Gu Chaobei looked at the flush on her face and chuckled quietly. The gloom in his heart dissipated somewhat. He undid his clothes, got into bed, and quietly closed his eyes.

The legendary Fourth Young Master Gu was said to be very fond of women, yet now on his wedding night, he lay obediently on one side without moving at all.

Shen Guiyan was very nervous at first, but later looked at him a few times with some puzzlement.

That thing—not doing that thing?

Gu Chaobei turned over and pulled her into his embrace. “Sleep. Even if we consummate the marriage, we’ll do it another day. I don’t like people eavesdropping through walls.”

On wedding nights, there were indeed many people who listened through walls.

Shen Guiyan’s lips twitched. Thinking that she wasn’t very familiar with this scoundrel anyway, perhaps not rashly giving herself was also a good thing. So she didn’t think much more about it, nodded, and quietly fell asleep leaning against him.

But when she closed her eyes, she still thought of Concubine Qin’s tragic death, the sudden change in the marriage arrangements, and that vitriol oil splashed toward her.

It seemed someone bore a grudge against her, with every intention of not resting until she was dead. Shen Guiyan couldn’t think of anyone else—only Shen Guiya.

Did she hate her even more than before? Why?

Shen Guiya lay in bed just like her, listening to the news from outside about Granny Xu being taken to the main courtyard. She snorted coldly.

“Useless thing—truly stupid to death.”

Gu Chaodong still leaned by the window drinking in melancholy, gazing at the distant red silk with unfocused eyes.