“Shuanger is right!” Auntie Zhao suddenly realized, “That’s right, Shuanger, you really are my lucky star!” Lady Zhao clapped her hands, suddenly understanding, “That’s right, Shuanger, Ying'er is in the courtyard, go take a look, I still have to go to Old Madam’s place to see, ever since she got sick, she has been tormenting me every day, after you see Ying'er, you should also go to Yongshou Hall and walk around.”
Gu Ying smiled slightly and nodded, “Auntie can go first, I’ll just go in by myself.”
Lady Zhao sighed heavily, then hurriedly led the maids towards Yongshou Hall.
Gu Ying turned around, glanced at the direction of Reed Catkin Courtyard, thought of something, and instructed Yanzhi and Yin Lan, “I’ll go in alone. Yin Lan, Yanzhi, go to the place where Shang Jiao lives for a walk, come back immediately if there's any news.”
Yanzhi asked in confusion, “Shang Jiao?”
She had almost forgotten about this person, and couldn’t remember who it was for a moment.
It was Yin Lan and Huai’an who went to give Shang Jiao the money. Yin Lan immediately recalled the girl and said, “It’s the one who lives under a crooked neck tree at Chunyang Lane in West Market, she’s a small peddler, looks like a young girl of seventeen or eighteen.”
Gu Ying’s eyes were pitch black, with some unspeakable chill, “Yes, it’s her. Go ask if Fu Xunzhi is at her place, and then inquire around to see if the two of them had any private dealings before.”
Yin Lan’s face tightened immediately, “Does Madam mean—”
Gu Ying lowered her lashes expressionlessly. She didn’t know why she would think of Shang Jiao. It was just a very strong intuition that Fu Xunzhi might have some connection with the girl.
“It’s just my guess, I hope it's not what I think. Hurry up, come back early.”
“Yes.”
Yin Lan pulled Yanzhi out.
Gu Ying stood outside the gate of Reed Catkin Courtyard for a while before stepping in.
Gu Shuang had always lived with Auntie Zhao in the east wing of Auntie Zhao’s main room.
After the Cold Food Festival had passed, the hot summer came. In Bianjing where the days were long and nights short, there was a large bamboo forest planted in Reed Catkin Courtyard. When the summer breeze blew past, the bamboo rustled.
Qingbi was guarding outside Gu Shuang’s door. Seeing Gu Ying come over, she was about to speak.
Gu Ying raised her hand to stop her and signaled her not to speak, then went in by herself.
Qingbi took a step back with a worried look on her face, and whispered, “Madam has come at just the right time, our young lady is feeling unwell now.”
Gu Ying said, “I know.”
When encountering this kind of thing, which decent family would feel good. It was precisely a middle status household like the East Ping Marquis Estate that felt more awkward.
Qingbi sighed. “Madam, please persuade our young lady well and ask her to think positively. Her health is most important.”
Gu Ying nodded slightly, “Don't worry.”
Pushing the door open, with one glance, she saw Gu Shuang curled up in a ball sitting in the corner of the bed, looking lonely and helpless.
She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, gently smiling and asked, “Did Fourth Younger Sister just get up?”
Gu Shuang's gaze blankly turned her head, her throat choked up, and she trembled, “Second Sister, why are you here?”
Gu Ying stroked her soft long black hair and said with distress, “I heard about your matter and thought to come to see you.”
Gu Shuang mocked the stiff corners of her mouth. “...Is Second Sister referring to my marriage?”
Gu Ying said gently, “As your sister, of course I've come because of Fourth Younger Sister's marriage.”
Gu Shuang looked disheartened. “This marriage is called off.”
Gu Ying hmm-ed. She didn’t ask much, and only said, “Fourth Younger Sister, have you seen Fu Xunzhi again after that time you returned to Bianjing?”
Gu Shuang shook her head. “No.”
Gu Ying also asked, “So after that night on Luoxia Mountain, you've never met again?”
Gu Shuang nodded. “Yes.”
In fact, it was not that long ago, just seven or eight days.
Gu Shuang raised her little face, revealing her pale complexion, eyes flickering with light, and that slender neck under the dim light that looked like it could be grasped with one hand.
She looked extremely distressed, as fragile as a glass doll that would shatter with a touch.
Gu Ying’s heart quivered. Heart-achingly, she pulled her into her arms. “I know you are very sad, but don't be afraid. No matter what happens, your second sister will always stand by your side.”
Gu Shuang felt heartbroken and laughed bitterly. “I listened to Second Sister and wanted to find some time to talk to Xunzhi. But I can't find him... I also don't know where he has gone... Bianjing is not small but not big either... But I just can't find him...”
Gu Ying’s eyes turned cold. “Don't worry, I'll look for him myself and bring you to talk things out clearly after finding him. My sister Gu Ying doesn't need this marriage. Even if Fourth Younger Sister remains unmarried for the rest of her life, I can still provide for you. Fourth Younger Sister, don't bother about what others gossip maliciously outside. One only lives for oneself.”
Hearing this, Gu Shuang’s eyes suddenly turned red, and tears as big as beans blinked and rolled down from her eyes.
She seemed like a child who had done something wrong, with a red nose, tears springing out like a fountain.
“Second Sister, you said that this matter is not my fault, right?”
“Right.”
“Even if Xunzhi doesn't want me, I have not done wrong, right?”
Gu Ying solemnly told her, “Fourth Younger Sister, you've done nothing wrong.”
Gu Shuang blinked away the mist from her tears and let out a silly laugh. “That’s good...”
In fact, she had already had a premonition. It just took her longer to accept it.
For seven days and four quarters of an hour, she locked herself in this room without sleeping or resting, and cried for three days and three nights. Later when she could no longer cry, she sat on the bed in a daze, staring blankly outside the window.
For a long period of time, her mind was empty, very muddled.
Even Fu Xunzhi's shadow became much blurred. At that time, hugging her own woven big red bridal gown, she felt her heart had died. There was no greater grief than a dead heart. Every time when her mother came to persuade her to let go, not even a tiny ripple was stirred up in her heavy heart.
Only now, when Second Sister came over and said she would stand by her side, her dull aching heart suddenly hurt again.
But this pain was bearable to her. There was still a last ray of hope lingering in her heart.
How could such a good and honest man like Xunzhi suddenly not want her for no reason?
Maybe he had some unspeakable difficulties, or maybe his family forced him to give up on her and locked him up, not allowing them to meet.
She came up with many excuses for Xunzhi, but her heart still felt empty.
Because there was still one last possibility that she didn't dare think about.
Gu Ying accompanied Gu Shuang for a while. Gu Shuang's mood was much better.
She also knew she had to pull herself together and could not continue to be depressed. No matter how unpleasant others spoke, she only wanted to hear Fu Xunzhi say it personally.
“Shuanger is right!” Auntie Zhao suddenly realized, “That’s right, Shuanger, you really are my lucky star!” Lady Zhao clapped her hands, suddenly understanding, “That’s right, Shuanger, Ying'er is in the courtyard, go take a look, I still have to go to Old Madam’s place to see, ever since she got sick, she has been tormenting me every day, after you see Ying'er, you should also go to Yongshou Hall and walk around.”
Gu Ying smiled slightly and nodded, “Auntie can go first, I’ll just go in by myself.”
Lady Zhao sighed heavily, then hurriedly led the maids towards Yongshou Hall.
Gu Ying turned around, glanced at the direction of Reed Catkin Courtyard, thought of something, and instructed Yanzhi and Yin Lan, “I’ll go in alone. Yin Lan, Yanzhi, go to the place where Shang Jiao lives for a walk, come back immediately if there's any news.”
Yanzhi asked in confusion, “Shang Jiao?”
She had almost forgotten about this person, and couldn’t remember who it was for a moment.
It was Yin Lan and Huai’an who went to give Shang Jiao the money. Yin Lan immediately recalled the girl and said, “It’s the one who lives under a crooked neck tree at Chunyang Lane in West Market, she’s a small peddler, looks like a young girl of seventeen or eighteen.”
Gu Ying’s eyes were pitch black, with some unspeakable chill, “Yes, it’s her. Go ask if Fu Xunzhi is at her place, and then inquire around to see if the two of them had any private dealings before.”
Yin Lan’s face tightened immediately, “Does Madam mean—”
Gu Ying lowered her lashes expressionlessly. She didn’t know why she would think of Shang Jiao. It was just a very strong intuition that Fu Xunzhi might have some connection with the girl.
“It’s just my guess, I hope it's not what I think. Hurry up, come back early.”
“Yes.”
Yin Lan pulled Yanzhi out.
Gu Ying stood outside the gate of Reed Catkin Courtyard for a while before stepping in.
Gu Shuang had always lived with Auntie Zhao in the east wing of Auntie Zhao’s main room.
After the Cold Food Festival had passed, the hot summer came. In Bianjing where the days were long and nights short, there was a large bamboo forest planted in Reed Catkin Courtyard. When the summer breeze blew past, the bamboo rustled.
Qingbi was guarding outside Gu Shuang’s door. Seeing Gu Ying come over, she was about to speak.
Gu Ying raised her hand to stop her and signaled her not to speak, then went in by herself.
Qingbi took a step back with a worried look on her face, and whispered, “Madam has come at just the right time, our young lady is feeling unwell now.”
Gu Ying said, “I know.”
When encountering this kind of thing, which decent family would feel good. It was precisely a middle status household like the East Ping Marquis Estate that felt more awkward.
Qingbi sighed. “Madam, please persuade our young lady well and ask her to think positively. Her health is most important.”
Gu Ying nodded slightly, “Don't worry.”
Pushing the door open, with one glance, she saw Gu Shuang curled up in a ball sitting in the corner of the bed, looking lonely and helpless.
She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, gently smiling and asked, “Did Fourth Younger Sister just get up?”
Gu Shuang's gaze blankly turned her head, her throat choked up, and she trembled, “Second Sister, why are you here?”
Gu Ying stroked her soft long black hair and said with distress, “I heard about your matter and thought to come to see you.”
Gu Shuang mocked the stiff corners of her mouth. “...Is Second Sister referring to my marriage?”
Gu Ying said gently, “As your sister, of course I've come because of Fourth Younger Sister's marriage.”
Gu Shuang looked disheartened. “This marriage is called off.”
Gu Ying hmm-ed. She didn’t ask much, and only said, “Fourth Younger Sister, have you seen Fu Xunzhi again after that time you returned to Bianjing?”
Gu Shuang shook her head. “No.”
Gu Ying also asked, “So after that night on Luoxia Mountain, you've never met again?”
Gu Shuang nodded. “Yes.”
In fact, it was not that long ago, just seven or eight days.
Gu Shuang raised her little face, revealing her pale complexion, eyes flickering with light, and that slender neck under the dim light that looked like it could be grasped with one hand.
She looked extremely distressed, as fragile as a glass doll that would shatter with a touch.
Gu Ying’s heart quivered. Heart-achingly, she pulled her into her arms. “I know you are very sad, but don't be afraid. No matter what happens, your second sister will always stand by your side.”
Gu Shuang felt heartbroken and laughed bitterly. “I listened to Second Sister and wanted to find some time to talk to Xunzhi. But I can't find him... I also don't know where he has gone... Bianjing is not small but not big either... But I just can't find him...”
Gu Ying’s eyes turned cold. “Don't worry, I'll look for him myself and bring you to talk things out clearly after finding him. My sister Gu Ying doesn't need this marriage. Even if Fourth Younger Sister remains unmarried for the rest of her life, I can still provide for you. Fourth Younger Sister, don't bother about what others gossip maliciously outside. One only lives for oneself.”
Hearing this, Gu Shuang’s eyes suddenly turned red, and tears as big as beans blinked and rolled down from her eyes.
She seemed like a child who had done something wrong, with a red nose, tears springing out like a fountain.
“Second Sister, you said that this matter is not my fault, right?”
“Right.”
“Even if Xunzhi doesn't want me, I have not done wrong, right?”
Gu Ying solemnly told her, “Fourth Younger Sister, you've done nothing wrong.”
Gu Shuang blinked away the mist from her tears and let out a silly laugh. “That’s good...”
In fact, she had already had a premonition. It just took her longer to accept it.
For seven days and four quarters of an hour, she locked herself in this room without sleeping or resting, and cried for three days and three nights. Later when she could no longer cry, she sat on the bed in a daze, staring blankly outside the window.
For a long period of time, her mind was empty, very muddled.
Even Fu Xunzhi's shadow became much blurred. At that time, hugging her own woven big red bridal gown, she felt her heart had died. There was no greater grief than a dead heart. Every time when her mother came to persuade her to let go, not even a tiny ripple was stirred up in her heavy heart.
Only now, when Second Sister came over and said she would stand by her side, her dull aching heart suddenly hurt again.
But this pain was bearable to her. There was still a last ray of hope lingering in her heart.
How could such a good and honest man like Xunzhi suddenly not want her for no reason?
Maybe he had some unspeakable difficulties, or maybe his family forced him to give up on her and locked him up, not allowing them to meet.
She came up with many excuses for Xunzhi, but her heart still felt empty.
Because there was still one last possibility that she didn't dare think about.
Gu Ying accompanied Gu Shuang for a while. Gu Shuang's mood was much better.
She also knew she had to pull herself together and could not continue to be depressed. No matter how unpleasant others spoke, she only wanted to hear Fu Xunzhi say it personally.
