Chapter 6: Magpie Nest and Jiu Occupy

The whole room was in shock. Change clothes? Why would they need to change clothes? The Prime Minister's mansion had sent three letters and six proposals to marry the third miss, so why did they want to switch with the fifth miss?

Shen Guiyan hadn't even recovered from the incident with Aunt Qin, and she was already being pulled up by someone. The wedding fan was pushed to the side, and a few maids came and stripped off her wedding dress, then casually draped a cloak over her.

The flower crown and veil were taken away, and Shen Guiya was also brought in, her makeup delicate, her hair already done, and she was changed into her wedding dress, looking composed.

Madam Shen followed behind, frowning at the chaos in the room, and gestured, "Take the third miss to the side, and have her maid attend to her. Dress up the fifth miss, and get her ready to be escorted to the sedan chair later."

The wedding coordinator was somewhat stunned, not knowing how to react for a while. Madam Shen then handed her some silver to calm her down, and gestured with her eyes, "I'm in charge of everything."

"Yes..." The wedding coordinator took the silver, looking at Shen Guiyan with some unease.

"What does Madam mean by this?" Shen Guiyan came to her senses and asked, looking at her.

Was Shen Guiya going to marry in her place?

"Ya has just been found to be pregnant with Master Gu's child," Madam Shen said with an unpleasant expression. "It's an urgent matter, so we'll let her marry first and then see. Aunt Qin seems to be in critical condition, and your marriage has also hit a snag, so we'll have to put it on hold for now."

Absurd! Shen Guiyan's body was trembling. "Madam, have you consulted Father about this decision?"

"Even if the old master knows, he will understand," Madam Shen said. "The time is almost up, even if you want to marry, there's no time for this makeup. Coordinator, escort Ya out."

"Ah..." The wedding coordinator responded softly, escorting Shen Guiya out and covering her head.

"Don't be sad, sister," Shen Guiya looked at her, sighing helplessly. "Who let you have a child first? If you marry over, no one can say anything. Blame it on fate."

After speaking, she smiled lightly and put down the cover, being escorted out.

If Shen Guiya shamelessly forced herself into marrying Gu Chaodong, it wouldn't matter, as Gu Chaodong didn't like her, so she wouldn't be able to marry into the Gu family. But now she actually said she was pregnant with Gu Chaodong's child?

Calculating the days, it was probably true. Two months ago, they had become intimate when the betrothal gifts were exchanged. If a pregnancy occurred, it was not impossible.

Shen Guiyan was pressed by the maids to the side, unable to cry. Bao Shan was anxious and struggling, "Miss, how can you just watch them take away your wedding? It should be you getting on the bridal sedan!"

The maid next to her kicked Bao Shan in the stomach, and Bao Shan turned pale, unable to speak from the pain.

"Don't lay a hand on my maid. Don't blame me for being impolite," Shen Guiyan looked at Shen Guiya being sent away, listening to the lively sound of the horns outside, her voice surprisingly calm.

The maid who hit Bao Shan was frightened, but she was from Madam's courtyard, and a mere third miss from the Prime Minister's mansion, now that the marriage was gone, what could she do to her? Thinking so, she sneered, "Miss has such a big attitude. I'm following Madam's orders today. If this maid causes trouble again, I will still kick her."

"Taking advantage of the situation!" Bao Shan was angry, "The Prime Minister's mansion won't allow you to act like this. A fish is a fish, can it really turn into a pearl?"

Madam Shen and the others had already left the room, leaving only three maids guarding this pair of mistress and servant. Hearing Bao Shan's words, it was now three against two, unable to move the mistress, they couldn't move the maid either?

"Hold her down!"

Taking advantage of the small number of people, the maid who was scolded was unwilling to stop until she slapped Bao Shan twice. The other two maids held Bao Shan down, and the usually weak third miss naturally didn't need to be concerned.

But unexpectedly, she suddenly rushed over and took the slap.

"Smack!"

The maid who hit her was stunned, and quickly withdrew her hand, but there was already a red handprint on Shen Guiyan's face.

"Miss!" Bao Shan was startled and quickly broke free from the two maids, supporting her and anxiously looking at her face. "You..."

Shen Guiyan shook her head, picked up the fallen plum blossom hairpin from the ground, put it back on her head, and said lightly, "After the farewell ceremony, we'll go out and find Father to make the decision."

The maid who hit her was scared and knelt down with a thud, "Miss! I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong!"

No matter what, servants couldn't hit their masters! No matter where this was said, it was unreasonable. If the old master found out, he would have to beat her to half death!

Who would have thought that the usually silent third miss would suddenly rush over and take a slap?

Shen Guiyan sat by the bed, not saying a word. The maid knelt on the ground and didn't dare to get up.

The voices outside gradually faded, some guests stayed for the meal, but Mr. Shen should be free now.

"Bao Shan, change clothes," Shen Guiyan said softly.

In her bridal chamber, on her big day, her wedding dress was taken away, and she was trapped in this room, with no way out.

Bao Shan, with red eyes, changed her into a light blue dress and redid her hair, then took her out to meet the guests.

In the hall, Madam Shen was wiping her tears with a handkerchief, expressing her sorrow, "She's getting married like this..."

Mr. Shen gave her a strange look, "Aren't you usually the least fond of Yan'er? Why are you crying like this today?"

Madam Shen was taken aback and was about to speak when someone entered the room, "Daughter pays respects to father and mother."

Shen Guiyan respectfully bowed, but this time she quickly raised her head to look at Mr. Shen.

"Yan'er?!" Mr. Shen was shocked and pointed his finger towards the door, "You're not..."

"Father, daughter wanted to ask about this matter." Shen Guiyan didn't beat around the bush and looked at Madam Shen, saying word by word, "Today is Yan'er's joyous day, but for some reason, Madam brought Fifth Sister to barge into Yan'er's chamber, snatched Yan'er's wedding attire, confined Yan'er in the chamber, and instead sent Fifth Sister off in the bridal sedan."

Mr. Shen's face darkened, and he turned to Madam Shen with disbelief, "What are you doing?!"

Madam Shen wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, glanced at Shen Guiyan, and whispered, "It's urgent, and I haven't had the chance to tell you. Qin Aunt has passed away, and she's in Yan'er's chamber today."

The sky darkened, and it started to rain unexpectedly, despite it being a good time for dusk.

Shen Guiyan looked at Madam Shen in shock, and the latter calmly said, "The doctor has come and said it's arsenic poisoning. I don't know what Qin Shi has been eating all day. We've tried to save her, but she couldn't be saved. With the mother's passing, it's naturally inauspicious for the marriage, so I stopped Yan'er's wedding and sent Ya'er instead."

Madam Shen pursed her lips and continued, "Moreover, Ya'er is pregnant with Lord Gu's child, so we don't need to worry about the Prime Minister's side talking about our Shen family. His son's actions should naturally be their responsibility."

Shen Guiyan didn't hear the rest of Madam Shen's words. She only heard that Qin Aunt had passed away.

She stood up unsteadily, her eyes wide open, and ran outside without blinking.

The mansion was adorned with red silk and the character for "joy," but there were few people in the backyard. In Qin Aunt's courtyard, the sound of maidservants weeping could be heard. The drizzle had already started, and Xiujuan was beside Qin Aunt's bed, crying hoarsely.

"Master was fine this morning, even saying he wanted to style a beautiful hair bun for Miss. How could she suddenly be gone? Someone must have tampered with it. Arsenic poisoning, how could it be a mistake by the master! "

Shen Guiyan knelt by the bed, her ears filled with Xiujuan's crying. She didn't listen, only seeing the person who had styled her hair in the mirror earlier lying here quietly now, with a pale face and no breath.

Qin Shi was just a maidservant, but she had a good life as the aunt after giving birth to the second young master. Her hands were warm, and she had made all of her clothes when she was young. Whenever she was bullied and didn't say a word, Shen Guiyan was always angry, angry that she wouldn't protect herself.

Qin Aunt would smile and say, "I also have someone to protect, so there are some things I need to endure."

Endurance was what she taught her, but now, she was dead.

Shen Guiyan wanted to smile, but instead, tears streamed down her face.