Chapter 7: Wedding Joy

The innocent should not be punished for the guilty. Shen Guiyan understood this principle very well, so she had been enduring and yielding, never showing any sharpness or competing with her siblings since she was eight years old.

But who could tell her why, despite enduring to the point of not fighting back even when being beaten, she still had her marriage snatched away after eight years of anticipation, her beloved stepmother schemed against, and couldn't find anyone to stand up for her?

Aunt Qin lay quietly, unable to answer her questions.

The rain outside grew heavier, and Shen Guiyan stayed by Aunt Qin's body all night. When Mr. Shen sent someone to take her back to Yanzi Tower to rest, Shen Guiyan shook her head, "Consider it my last journey with Aunt Qin."

Bao Shan cried behind her, but Shen Guiyan didn't cry anymore. She just looked at Aunt Qin's peaceful face, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's residence was bustling with celebration. Prime Minister Gu, a loyal and upright minister to the king for thirty years, was highly praised by all levels of the court. Therefore, the wedding of his eldest son was attended by many.

Prime Minister Gu had three sons and a daughter. The eldest son, Gu Chaodong, was naturally the most outstanding, well-educated, humble, and highly regarded. The second son, Gu Chaonan, though not as accomplished as his elder brother, had entered the National Academy at the age of twenty. The third daughter, Gu Chaoxi, was known for her talent despite marrying into a merchant family. If it weren't for the fourth son, Gu Chaobei, the Gu family could have been rightfully praised as "a tiger father with no dog sons."

Unfortunately, there was Gu Chaobei.

Gu Chaobei, the fourth son of the Prime Minister's residence, was known to have lost his mother at an early age. He was unruly and often roamed the streets of the capital with some unsavory friends. Despite being seventeen, he had no manners, dared to contradict the Prime Minister, and even abused the household servants, causing a headache for his father.

When it came to the Gu family's sons, Gu Chaodong and Gu Chaonan would receive nods of approval, but when it came to Gu Chaobei, even the street vendors were unwilling to marry their daughters to him.

At this moment, the troublesome Gu Chaobei was sitting in the wedding hall, watching the bride being escorted in.

"Young master is so lucky. I heard that the bride, Miss Shen, has been chosen by the Prime Minister for many years. She is knowledgeable, gentle, and virtuous. It's truly a good match!"

"Of course! A talented man should be matched with a beautiful woman. I've had the privilege of seeing Miss Shen's grace and beauty. It's a perfect match with Young Master Gu."

These were just empty words. Gu Chaobei yawned and, feeling playful, picked up a walnut and threw it at the bride's feet.

Shen Guiya almost stumbled when she stepped on the walnut, but she managed to steady herself by reaching out and squatting on the ground.

The wedding hall was in an uproar, and even the firecrackers outside seemed to quiet down. Prime Minister Gu and his wife, along with the relatives and Gu's third daughter, were all present. Shen Guiya hadn't even entered the bridal chamber, yet she had already lifted her veil in front of everyone?

Gu Chaobei was also taken aback, then looked at her face and smirked, "I've heard that Miss Gu is exceptionally beautiful, but why does she look like this?"

Gu Chaodong turned to look at her, his face turning pale. "Fifth sister?"

The wedding hall was filled with murmurs. Few recognized Shen Guiya, but many knew what Shen Guiyan looked like. How dare the Shen family play such a prank on the Prime Minister's residence?

"What's going on?" Prime Minister Gu stood up.

Shen Guiya was about to glare at the person who had mocked her, but when she looked over, she saw a young man with rosy lips and white teeth, wearing a jade crown and exuding a charming aura. His delicate and slightly mischievous smile almost stole her soul.

Even when Prime Minister Gu stood in front of her, she hadn't reacted.

"Fifth sister!" Gu Chaodong's face turned extremely ugly. He clenched his fists and said, "The child in Fifth Sister's belly is indeed the young master's. Although it was not the young master's intention, now that it has happened, he will acknowledge it."

The issue of offspring was always the most important.

Prime Minister Gu furrowed his brows and sneered, "Are you suggesting that you will marry Miss Shen from the Shen family today?"

"Things have come to this point," Gu Chaodong took a deep breath and said, "So be it."

"How do you intend to explain this to Miss Shen?" Prime Minister Gu angrily said, "I taught you that a man should take responsibility, not to take responsibility for one thing and neglect another!"

Gu Chaodong felt it difficult to breathe. He felt that today's events were absurd. Shen Guiya was pregnant with his child. He genuinely liked Yan'er, but a child...

Standing nearby, Gu Chaonan chuckled softly and touched the jade ring on his hand. Behind him stood a concubine whose belly was slightly swollen.

"My son will personally go to the Shen residence to apologize to the third Miss," he said.

There was a buzz of discussion around them. Shen Guiya still had the leisure to stare at Gu Chaobei. Was it him who had made a move on her just now, trying to get her attention? Shen Guiya thought to herself. He was so good-looking, could he be her second male lead?

Gu Chaobei, enjoying the sight of his usually favored elder brother being scolded by their father, felt Shen Guiya's gaze and looked back at her.

Her eyes were rather impure, even more disgusting than the courtesans in the brothels. Gu Chaobei snorted and whistled lightly in response to her gaze.

He detested this kind of woman the most, but also enjoyed seeing their self-righteousness. This was the mischievous taste of the fourth young master Gu.

Shen Guiya, on the other hand, looked shy, thinking that his reaction must mean he was interested in her. Her face was similar to her modern self, and she was quite satisfied with it. With a little more dressing up, she would surely be stunning. After all, the ancient people's aesthetic standards were not that high.

"Well, let's continue then," Prime Minister Gu took several deep breaths to suppress his anger, attempted to sit down, but couldn't bear it in the end. After receiving the new couple's bow, he waved his sleeve and left.

Madam Gu's mood was somewhat complicated. She accepted their bows, then took the tea from Shen Guiya but didn't drink it, just handed her a red packet.

People around were gossiping about the Shen family's deceitful act, but Shen Guiya, feeling good about herself, was waiting in the bridal chamber.

"Her birth mother passed away?"

Gu Chaobei, who had drunk too much, walked in the garden and overheard his elder brother's urgent voice.

His attendant, Feng Xiao, respectfully said, "It is said that she passed away just as the third Miss was preparing to get married."

Interesting, the new bride was waiting in the bridal chamber, and he was inquiring about the third Miss of the Shen family? Gu Chaobei raised an eyebrow and eavesdropped from behind a pillar in the corridor.

"Yan'er must be very sad and in need of me," Gu Chaodong thought for a moment and then calmed down, "This is good. I will go to the Shen residence in a few days to help her with the funeral arrangements. Then she will be more likely to forgive me."