Chapter 2: Exterminating a Good Person

She wasn't born with a patient temperament, but a long time ago, she once pushed Shen Guiya into the lotus pond in the mansion in the middle of the night, causing her to fall ill and almost die in the dead of winter.

Ironically, no one in the courtyard knew who did it.

Shen Guiya blocked her under the swallow tower and asked her, "Do you want to try pushing me again?"

Shen Guiyan knelt outside Shen Shiqing's study to seek his help, but the master only helped her up, saying that Ya'er wouldn't do such outrageous things. When she reported to Madam, she even got slapped twice.

Madam said, "If you continue to tarnish Ya'er's reputation, don't blame me for not sparing you."

Shen Guiyan finally realized that she couldn't compete with Shen Guiya in this mansion.

So, she decided to endure it until she got married.

But she didn't expect that even when she was about to get married, Shen Guiya still didn't intend to let her off.

With her cheeks swollen, Shen Guiya finally let her go, turned around, and hugged her younger brother, laughing heartily, "Guiwen, look, doesn't your third sister look like a pig now?"

Shen Guiwen remained quiet and didn't laugh. He only nodded and said softly, "She does look like one, but Fifth Sister, what will you do if Father wants to investigate?"

"What will I do?" Shen Guiya laughed heartily, "What can Father do to me? With Mother backing me, what do I have to fear? She won't be seen by anyone tomorrow, and if she dares to complain..."

Shen Guiya paused, shivered, and hugged her arms, saying, "The weather is clear and crisp. I wonder if the lotus pond is still causing illness if someone falls in? Hmm?"

Baoshan's eyes turned red, struggling to break free from the servant's restraint and went to support her young lady. Shen Guiya laughed and left with Shen Guiyan. Shen Guiyan touched her face and took a sharp breath, saying, "Baoshan, let's go back."

"Young lady..." Baoshan couldn't help but cry, "I thought we were finally going to have good days, but I didn't expect Fifth Miss to be so arrogant. What should we do tomorrow? If Master Gu comes in person and doesn't see you..."

"There's nothing we can do." Thinking of Gu Chaodong, Shen Guiyan's heart tightened slightly, "You can only help me deliver a poem to him."

It had been a long time since she had seen that person. Although they met every year, it had been almost half a year since the last time she saw him. Shen Guiya should have seen him somewhere, or she wouldn't suddenly be so infatuated and want to marry him.

Chaodong was indeed a man worthy of entrusting her life to. Unlike other young masters, he was well-read and his poems often resonated with her thoughts. She had long entrusted her heart to him and thanked the heavens for allowing Minister Gu to choose her, creating such a good match.

Thinking of him, it seemed like the pain on her face disappeared. Shen Guiyan smiled and returned to her swallow tower, where Baoshan brought ointment to apply to her face before she lay down to rest.

"A beauty leans against the tower, may I ask the gentleman's name?"

"I am Gu Chaodong."

Recalling what she saw at the Ink and Wash Pavilion today, Shen Guiya couldn't help but swoon and grin.

He was truly outstanding, with an extraordinary demeanor when bowing to others. Even when facing a poor scholar, he answered politely, attracting whispers from the surrounding ladies.

Whoever marries the young master of the Gu family must have accumulated eight lifetimes of good fortune.

But when she thought that the fortunate one was her detested sister, Shen Guiya restrained her smile.

She couldn't let this marriage happen; she had to find a way.

The day for the Gu family's formal proposal had arrived, and Gu Chaodong indeed came with the matchmaker. He first paid his respects to Shen's father and mother, displaying an elegant and charming demeanor that earned everyone's praise.

Shen Guiyan's face was still swollen, so she naturally wouldn't come to see him. Baoshan brought a poem to him, and Gu Chaodong frowned slightly, asking softly, "Where is Yan'er?"

Baoshan pursed her lips and shook her head, "Miss is ill and can only send the poem to the gentleman. Please don't blame her."

Gu Chaodong pursed his lips, opened the poem to read, and saw the line, "You should be the rock, and I will be the reed."

He smiled faintly, put the poem in his sleeve, and handed Baoshan some money, saying softly, "Take care of my reed. When the time comes, I will come to claim it."

Baoshan blushed slightly, laughed for her young lady, and happily turned and ran off.

The maid Yusu, who was by Shen Guiya's side, had been waiting on the side. After all the formalities of the proposal were completed, she immediately approached Gu Chaodong, who was about to leave, and said, "Miss invites the gentleman to the Sanqing Inn outside the mansion for a meeting."

Gu Chaodong had never been to the Shen mansion and didn't recognize any other maids besides Baoshan. However, after Yusu finished speaking, she left without giving him a chance to inquire. After thinking for a moment, not wanting to be impolite, Gu Chaodong still went.

What awaited him was Shen Guiya. After the door closed, the room was filled with the fragrance of incense. Gu Chaodong felt something was amiss and wanted to leave, but Shen Guiya said, "Yan'er is in trouble. I risked a lot to tell you this. Are you really going to leave without listening?"

Gu Chaodong paused, and with the scent of spring in the air, there was no room for further discussion.

On the third day after the formal proposal, Shen Guiyan's face had finally healed enough to be seen with a veil.

"Miss, Master Gu has sent a letter." Bao Shan smiled ambiguously and whispered as she entered, "You're about to get married, so it's impossible to hide the longing in your heart. Master Gu has asked to meet you under the third willow tree by the Qing River at dusk."

Shen Guiyan blushed and nodded, "I'll get ready right away, Bao Shan, pick out an outfit for me."

Since she was about to get married, she still had some clothes to choose from. She picked out the newest one, redid her hair, put on some hair accessories, and sneaked out of the mansion through the side door while the backyard was empty.

The sky was already turning orange, and Shen Guiyan walked cheerfully, almost leaving Bao Shan behind. When she reached the Qing River, she slowed down and walked gracefully, like a typical young lady.

Gu Chaodong had been standing by the river for a while, and his body was somewhat stiff. Wearing a dark long robe, he suddenly looked much slimmer.

"Yan'er," he called out softly when he saw her.

Shen Guiyan responded and stood three steps away from him, "Master, did you seek me out for something?"

Gu Chaodong's expression didn't look good. After hesitating for a while, he finally said, "If... if I had intimate relations with another woman, would you blame me?"

Shen Guiyan was slightly stunned, looking at him in confusion.

"Your fifth sister... had intimate relations with me," Gu Chaodong closed his eyes and frankly admitted, "But she was the one who initiated it. Since there was no proper matchmaker or marriage agreement, I firmly refused her intentions. However, I still feel somewhat sorry for this... I have already rejected her."

She felt as if she had been drenched in cold water, feeling utterly chilled. Shen Guiyan couldn't help but think that Guiya had really gone too far. How could she give herself to Gu Chaodong without parental consent or a matchmaker's arrangement? Did she not understand the consequences of such actions?

Moreover, Gu Chaodong was about to become her brother-in-law.

She chuckled lightly, losing interest in saying anything more to Gu Chaodong. She just bowed to him and turned to walk back.

"Yan'er, please don't hate me," Gu Chaodong frowned, "I didn't mean to."

Not intentional, yet a dignified man could still fall for a young woman's ploy. Shen Guiyan sighed deeply and thought it would be best to go back and see what was going on.

She thought that by giving her body, she could marry into the Gu family. Her audacious sister was as foolish as tofu. Now that she had been rejected, she wondered how she would ever marry in the future.

As she was about to return to the mansion, she saw Yu Combs leading a doctor inside in a hurry.

"What's going on?" Bao Shan quickly grabbed Yu Combs and asked, "Who's ill and why the rush?"

Yu Combs pushed Bao Shan away and angrily said, "Get out of the way, no one can afford to delay my young lady's life!"