Shen Guiyan felt somewhat impatient, suppressing her emotions in her heart, unable to relax at all. Gu Chaodong wasn’t observing propriety, but she couldn’t fail to do so. Now he was her brother-in-law, also her elder brother. To speak alone any further would be improper.

“Elder Brother, just give your orders,” Shen Guiyan took a step back and lowered her eyes. “Guiyan will naturally comply.”

Gu Chaodong’s eyes were pained, his voice somewhat hoarse: “I have no orders for you. I just want to ask… do you still have feelings for me in your heart?”

The corner of her mouth twitched slightly. Shen Guiyan looked at him somewhat incredulously: “Before getting married, Guiyan made things very clear to Elder Brother, didn’t I? That pot of tea—didn’t it wake Elder Brother up? Guiyan has already married Chaobei. Between Elder Brother and I, there can no longer be…”

“You’re lying,” Gu Chaodong stepped forward, looking deeply at her. “There’s nothing between Fourth Brother and you. On your wedding night, there was no maiden’s blood. If you truly had no more connection to me, then since you’re already married, why haven’t you consummated the marriage?”

Shen Guiyan’s face reddened, then her brows furrowed: “Something like maiden’s blood… how does Elder Brother know whether Chaobei and I did or didn’t?”

Gu Chaodong was stunned and pressed his lips together: “That’s not important. What’s important is that you keep saying you’ve cut ties with me completely, but in your heart you still have feelings for me. Yan’er…”

Baoshan at the back couldn’t stand it anymore. She stepped forward to block him: “First Young Master, show some self-respect. You were the one who married another beautiful wife. You shouldn’t be pestering Miss now. The matters between Miss and the Fourth Young Master don’t need the First Young Master’s concern.”

Gu Chaodong looked at Baoshan and said in a low voice: “Others may not know my feelings for Yan’er, but how could you not know, Baoshan? All these years, wasn’t it always you and Fengxiao who acted as messengers? Why are you blocking me now?”

Baoshan was stunned. Her outstretched hand slowly relaxed, not knowing what to say.

If there had been no Fifth Miss, Miss and Young Master Gu would indeed have been a match made in heaven. Once upon a time, there were vows of eternal love, countless letters passed through her hands. Those words, sentence by sentence, even moved her heart.

Who would have thought the two would end up in this situation now.

Seeing her waver, Gu Chaodong stepped past her and continued speaking to Shen Guiyan: “Yan’er, Fourth Brother is uneducated and incompetent. After this year’s imperial examinations, I will certainly achieve fame and success. Trust me—I will definitely place first.”

In terms of literary talent, if Gu Chaodong said he was second in the capital, no one would dare claim first place.

Shen Guiyan laughed softly and took another step back: “Congratulations in advance, Elder Brother. But what meaning does Elder Brother saying this have for Guiyan? Guiyan is already married, Elder Brother is already wed.”

“…Wait for me,” Gu Chaodong said in a low voice. “Don’t give yourself to Fourth Brother. Wait for me to achieve success and fame, then divorce Fourth Brother. After that, I’ll bring you through my doors…”

Shen Guiyan laughed coldly: “Bring me through your doors as a concubine?”

Gu Chaodong paused, then frowned, looking deeply at her: “Yan’er, do you care about status?”

“Why wouldn’t I care?” Shen Guiyan was so angry she laughed instead. “Then what should I care about?”

How had she never discovered before that Gu Chaodong was such a selfish and hypocritical person? Hadn’t he once worn white robes and drunk wine while singing, saying “Most of all, I won’t betray one person’s heart, for rouge and powder cannot compare”? How was he now turning it around and blaming her for caring about status?

In that instant, Shen Guiyan deeply regretted that in her youth she had learned music, chess, calligraphy and painting instead of weapons and martial arts. Otherwise, she would definitely learn from Gu Chaobei’s willfulness now and kick this scoundrel flying with one foot.

“I treated you wholeheartedly,” Gu Chaodong said painfully. “That things became this way was not my wish. Yan’er, I really can’t bear to watch you truly be together with Fourth Brother…”

He couldn’t bear to watch her be with someone else, so he first got involved with another woman, only saying he was forced into it?

With a soft laugh, looking at this person, Shen Guiyan only felt both angry and furious. She said coldly: “Consummating my marriage with Chaobei is only a matter of time. Elder Brother must not forget your own status, and don’t treat Guiyan like other people.”

“Our statuses are different. It’s impossible for Guiyan to have any vows or oaths with Elder Brother. Having married Chaobei in this lifetime, whatever happens in his future, I will follow him. Elder Brother’s glory and wealth should only be shared with Guiya—it has nothing to do with Guiyan.”

After performing a courtesy, Shen Guiyan pulled Baoshan along: “Let’s take a different path.”

Baoshan stumbled along as Shen Guiyan led her away. She couldn’t help but glance back at the First Young Master standing there dazed, and said softly: “Miss, he’s not chasing after us. Why are you in such a hurry?”

“Rushing to consummate the marriage,” Shen Guiyan said expressionlessly.

Baoshan: “…”

Her steps grew larger and larger. Shen Guiyan was quite angry. Her good upbringing from childhood prevented her from finding too many words to describe Gu Chaodong’s shamelessness, so she could only be angry herself.

Not only angry at his shamelessness, but also angry at having given her affections to the wrong person.

Before, she had always felt she understood Gu Chaodong well enough, but now she realized she had only ever seen his good side. She had never seen him hysterical, never seen him crying and wailing. What kind of understanding was that? It didn’t even count as familiarity—at best, just acquaintance.

Not wanting lunch anymore, Shen Guiyan just burrowed into her blankets to sleep, sleeping the entire afternoon away.

Shen Guiya listened to the news Yushu brought back and raised her eyebrows: “The First Young Master spoke with Shen Guiyan in the garden for a long time?”

Yushu pursed her lips: “Not that long, but both their expressions didn’t look good. This servant thinks the First Young Master still has feelings for the Third Miss.”

With a soft “hmph,” Shen Guiya combed her hair: “How could his feelings disappear immediately? Men—what they miss most is their first love. Did you hear what they said?”

Yushu shook her head: “This servant was passing by from far away. I only vaguely heard words like ‘divorce’ and ‘wait for me.'”

Divorce? Shen Guiya raised her eyebrows. Would Gu Chaodong divorce her because of Shen Guiyan? Not want the child in her belly anymore?

Or did he want to wait until she gave birth, then divorce her?

Putting down her rouge box, Shen Guiya thought for a while, then said in a low voice: “Doesn’t ancient times value ethics most? Since they dare to defy such great taboos, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

“What does Miss intend to do?” Yushu asked.

“I broke up this pair of lovebirds, and they’re quite unwilling, aren’t they?” Shen Guiya laughed lightly, playing with her fingernails. “Then I’ll fulfill their wishes once.”

Yushu didn’t understand and looked confused, but Shen Guiya smiled very elegantly, continuing to fuss with her face in the mirror.

On the west side of the capital, at the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

Under the night, the brothel was at its most prosperous. Gu Chaobei raised his cup to Gu Chaonan: “It’s rare for Second Brother to have the interest to accompany me for a drink.”

Gu Chaonan smiled warmly, looking at him: “After a tiring day, I also wanted to see what kind of place you usually frequent. Coming here today, it truly is extraordinary.”

The girls of the Drunken Flower Pavilion sat to the side, smiling as they poured wine and played instruments, without the slightest impropriety.

“I’m glad Second Brother likes it,” Gu Chaobei smiled. “Seeing Eldest Brother’s sour face every day, I’m only most at ease when with Second Brother.”

Gu Chaonan took a sip of wine and said: “Your days of ease won’t last much longer. Now that you’ve married Fourth Sister-in-law, you can’t spend every day fooling around outside like this. If Fourth Sister-in-law finds out I accompanied you here today, she might blame me.”

“How could that be?” Gu Chaobei pulled a girl into his arms with a light laugh. “Yan’er has the best temperament. Knowing I’m a philanderer, she’s never blamed me. I’ve neglected her these days after marrying her—hasn’t she had no reaction?”

“Miss Shen the Third is such a good person—it’s Young Master who doesn’t know how to treasure her,” the serving girl beside them said with a smile. “They say whoever marries Miss Shen the Third will become an outstanding person among men, yet Young Master still doesn’t seek to improve himself.”

Gu Chaonan nodded, looking at Gu Chaobei: “Some have even said that whoever marries Miss Shen the Third might just be…”

“Second Brother, don’t speak nonsense,” Gu Chaobei’s smile faded slightly. “Looking at me, I don’t seem like that kind of material. No need to invite disaster for me.”

Everyone knew that the Fourth Young Master of the Gu family was obsessed with beauties and leisure, not seeking advancement, only wanting to pass his days.

Gu Chaonan studied him for a moment, then smiled: “Each person has their own fortune. Perhaps you’ll end up better off than anyone else.”

“I’ll take Second Brother’s auspicious words,” Gu Chaobei stretched lazily, then embraced a beauty with a bright smile. “I’ll be staying at this Drunken Flower Pavilion for the next few days. When Second Brother returns, please help me pass along a message—say that seven days from now I’ll go back to accompany Yan’er for her return visit to her family.”

Absurd. Gu Chaonan agreed on the surface, but shook his head inwardly. He had originally thought that Father having Fourth Brother marry Shen Guiyan must have had some special arrangement. Now it seemed that whatever the arrangement was, this person was beyond help. Just after getting married, he was already going to soak in a brothel.

Perhaps an accomplished young lady like Shen Guiyan wasn’t suitable for Gu Chaobei. Fresh for one day after the wedding, then he grew tired of her.

The night lanterns were hung outside. Gu Chaonan stood up to return to the residence. Gu Chaobei continued embracing beauties and listening to songs, not even lifting his head as he tapped out the rhythm.

Waking from her nap, the room still only had her alone. Shen Guiyan opened the door somewhat puzzled: “Baoshan?”

“Miss,” Baoshan came over. “Would you like something to eat?”

Having slept until dizzy, Shen Guiyan shook her head: “No need. Where is the Fourth Young Master?”

Baoshan fell silent.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Guiyan looked at her. “Just say it directly.”

“The Fourth Young Master said he’ll return in seven days,” Baoshan said sullenly.

Seven days? Shen Guiyan raised her eyebrows: “He went on a trip?”

“Replying to Miss, he’s staying at the Drunken Flower Pavilion.”

Gone to a brothel? Shen Guiyan understood. She had just gotten married—could she have already fallen out of favor?

Thinking of the place Gu Chaobei had once taken her to, Shen Guiyan couldn’t help but ask: “Did he bring enough silver?”

Baoshan’s expression was somewhat complex: “The Fourth Young Master probably didn’t bring any himself. Zhuiyun has some on him, but it might not be enough.”

Not enough? Shen Guiyan frowned: “Then have someone send some over first.”

“Miss!” Baoshan stamped her foot. “Have you gone mad? It would be better to let the Fourth Young Master not have enough silver so he’d come back himself. How could you send silver over?!”

Shen Guiyan shook her head: “If he doesn’t want to come back, he won’t come back even without silver.”

Better not to bully those poor girls.