The madams kept calling it right.
Mrs. Fu's temper had subsided a little, and she said unpleasantly to Fu Xunzhi, who was staring blankly outside the carriage, "What are you still standing there for? Come back with me!"
Fu Xunzhi was reluctant to part with Gu Shuang, lowering his head in sorrow as he looked at the big door that separated him from Gu Shuang... His heart ached badly.
But on second thought, Gu Shuang was not chaste, and Ye Qingchi was just sympathizing with her.
Once she really married into the Ye family, such a respectable and upright family, how could they possibly treat her well?
His feelings were complicated and entangled. He both loved and hated Gu Shuang, worried about her but also felt she deserved to live badly.
After all, without a husband like him to protect her, how could she get by in the inner courtyard?
She would only be neglected, confined, and eventually lose her husband's favor and live a bleak and lonely life.
He shook his sleeves and respectfully got on the carriage.
The thick carriage curtains fell, blocking the lively scene outside the Duke of Dongping's mansion.
The atmosphere in the carriage was depressing, in stark contrast to the outside, and Fu Xunzhi felt even more downcast as he turned his head aside.
Zhao Shi saw the Fu family carriage from afar and spat lightly, then turned and entered the mansion.
Everyone in the Gu family was delighted except Gu Shuang.
Watching the joy throughout the mansion, she became more and more uneasy.
In the evening, she couldn't sit still and begged Gu Ying to take her to see Ye Qingchi.
According to etiquette, the bride and groom were not allowed to meet before the grand wedding.
Gu Shuang became more anxious. If she didn't see Ye Qingchi again, with her adoptive mother's speed, the two of them would be married in just a few days. By then, even if Young Master Ye regretted it, it would be too late!
"Sister, please, take me out, will you? Mother keeps a close eye on me, I really can't get away. But if you ask her, Mother will surely agree."
Gu Ying was sitting leisurely on the low couch by the bed, rolling a book in her hand. She said lightly, "What do you want to see Cousin for?"
Gu Shuang was stumped. By now everyone knew about her marriage to Ye Qingchi. At this time the bride should be staying at home waiting to be married.
But...she looked at Qin Shi's kindness to her and did not feel delighted, only ashamed.
After much deliberation, she still opened her mouth, "I know he doesn't want to marry me. I don't want to hurt him."
Gu Ying looked at her with a faint smile and a raised brow, "How do you know Cousin is unwilling?"
Gu Shuang bit her lip, she couldn't say, Ye Qingchi's attitude towards her was too strange, and she was stupid herself, simply unable to understand his thoughts. "I... I just know... Third Miss of Marquess Changning's mansion has always been close to him, and everyone knows that the Third Miss will marry Eldest Young Master Ye in the future. Now that he is fine, in order to help me, he agreed to marry me in front of Mrs. Fu, but Sister, marriage is no joke. I also know the rules of the Ye family. If he marries me, he won't be able to take concubines. And he doesn't like me... Is he supposed to face this face he doesn't like all his life?"
Gu Ying smiled slightly, "Isn't your face quite likable?"
Snow-white, plump cheeks, pretty upturned nose, lips like cherry blossoms, long brows arched like willow leaves.
Her bright eyes were like black pearls, with a clear and pure gaze that did not seem clever but was the purest and cleanest.
Moreover, her facial features were also beautiful. Although the Gu family was not a prominent big family or centuries-old household, the children in the clan were quite good-looking.
Gu Shuang's appearance was like a beautiful jade. She was elegant and lovely, gentle and well-behaved, a type most men would like.
"Sister... please... I have to ask him clearly."
Seeing the pitiful look on the little girl's face, Gu Ying put down her medical book and smiled, "Okay, okay, you dress up as my maid in a while and come with me to the Ye family, so as not to cause unnecessary gossip and more trouble between the Gu and Ye families."
Gu Shuang nodded eagerly.
A carriage came to pick them up from the back door of the Gu house. Gu Ying took Gu Shuang, dressed as a maid, all the way to the Ye mansion.
...
When they arrived at the Ye mansion, Gu Ying took Gu Shuang to Ye Qingchi's Zhēnliú Courtyard.
A Gu came out from the yard, walking hurriedly with his head down, and almost bumped into Gu Ying.
Gu Ying caught a glimpse of the blood on his hand and frowned, "A Gu, what happened?"
A Gu pursed his lips guiltily and said, "The young master has been helping His Highness Prince Du deal with pending cases recently. He sentenced some difficult people a few days ago. Unexpectedly, last night on his way home, the family members of the felons rushed up to him with knives and stabbed him once... It's all because I failed to protect him, otherwise the young master wouldn't have been injured and unable to go to the Gu family. Fortunately, it was not a fatal wound, only his arm was hurt."
Gu Ying breathed a sigh of relief, "Well that's good then."
"I'm going to get medicine for the young master. Ah, the wound dressing hasn't been changed today."
A Gu was full of self-reproach. Suddenly he saw Gu Shuang dressed as a maid behind Gu Ying, and his eyes widened, "Eh, isn't this Fourth Young Lady?"
Gu Shuang naturally also heard that Ye Qingchi was injured, and her heart tightened inexplicably. She wondered if this was the right time for her to come.
Gu Ying nodded and said, "I brought Shuang'er to see Cousin. A Gu, go get the medicine first."
A Gu looked at Gu Shuang in confusion.
What was the Fourth Young Lady doing at the Ye family when she was not at the Gu family?
Could it be that she also came to care about the young master?
Thinking so, A Gu was almost moved to tears. The future young mistress was so virtuous! What a wonderful woman!
"Yes, yes, then I'll go first."
Gu Ying had originally intended to take a look at Ye Qingchi first, but seeing Gu Shuang's worried expression, her eyes flashed, and she said, "Little Sister, since you have something to say, go ahead and clarify it with Cousin first. I'll go see A Ning and come over later."
Gu Shuang was instantly nervous. "Sister—"
Gu Ying patted the little maid on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll have Yin Lan stand guard outside. If you need anything, just call her directly."
Gu Shuang tightened her hands, standing still for a good while before mustering up the courage. She pursed her lips and entered Zhēnliú Courtyard alone.
Ye Qingchi's courtyard was very large. An artificial stream was dug along the wall, with gurgling water, sounding pleasant and pleasing to the ear. Rockery and pavilions were scattered in between, with a lush peach blossom tree blooming beautifully in the middle.
The madams kept calling it right.
Mrs. Fu's temper had subsided a little, and she said unpleasantly to Fu Xunzhi, who was staring blankly outside the carriage, "What are you still standing there for? Come back with me!"
Fu Xunzhi was reluctant to part with Gu Shuang, lowering his head in sorrow as he looked at the big door that separated him from Gu Shuang... His heart ached badly.
But on second thought, Gu Shuang was not chaste, and Ye Qingchi was just sympathizing with her.
Once she really married into the Ye family, such a respectable and upright family, how could they possibly treat her well?
His feelings were complicated and entangled. He both loved and hated Gu Shuang, worried about her but also felt she deserved to live badly.
After all, without a husband like him to protect her, how could she get by in the inner courtyard?
She would only be neglected, confined, and eventually lose her husband's favor and live a bleak and lonely life.
He shook his sleeves and respectfully got on the carriage.
The thick carriage curtains fell, blocking the lively scene outside the Duke of Dongping's mansion.
The atmosphere in the carriage was depressing, in stark contrast to the outside, and Fu Xunzhi felt even more downcast as he turned his head aside.
Zhao Shi saw the Fu family carriage from afar and spat lightly, then turned and entered the mansion.
Everyone in the Gu family was delighted except Gu Shuang.
Watching the joy throughout the mansion, she became more and more uneasy.
In the evening, she couldn't sit still and begged Gu Ying to take her to see Ye Qingchi.
According to etiquette, the bride and groom were not allowed to meet before the grand wedding.
Gu Shuang became more anxious. If she didn't see Ye Qingchi again, with her adoptive mother's speed, the two of them would be married in just a few days. By then, even if Young Master Ye regretted it, it would be too late!
"Sister, please, take me out, will you? Mother keeps a close eye on me, I really can't get away. But if you ask her, Mother will surely agree."
Gu Ying was sitting leisurely on the low couch by the bed, rolling a book in her hand. She said lightly, "What do you want to see Cousin for?"
Gu Shuang was stumped. By now everyone knew about her marriage to Ye Qingchi. At this time the bride should be staying at home waiting to be married.
But...she looked at Qin Shi's kindness to her and did not feel delighted, only ashamed.
After much deliberation, she still opened her mouth, "I know he doesn't want to marry me. I don't want to hurt him."
Gu Ying looked at her with a faint smile and a raised brow, "How do you know Cousin is unwilling?"
Gu Shuang bit her lip, she couldn't say, Ye Qingchi's attitude towards her was too strange, and she was stupid herself, simply unable to understand his thoughts. "I... I just know... Third Miss of Marquess Changning's mansion has always been close to him, and everyone knows that the Third Miss will marry Eldest Young Master Ye in the future. Now that he is fine, in order to help me, he agreed to marry me in front of Mrs. Fu, but Sister, marriage is no joke. I also know the rules of the Ye family. If he marries me, he won't be able to take concubines. And he doesn't like me... Is he supposed to face this face he doesn't like all his life?"
Gu Ying smiled slightly, "Isn't your face quite likable?"
Snow-white, plump cheeks, pretty upturned nose, lips like cherry blossoms, long brows arched like willow leaves.
Her bright eyes were like black pearls, with a clear and pure gaze that did not seem clever but was the purest and cleanest.
Moreover, her facial features were also beautiful. Although the Gu family was not a prominent big family or centuries-old household, the children in the clan were quite good-looking.
Gu Shuang's appearance was like a beautiful jade. She was elegant and lovely, gentle and well-behaved, a type most men would like.
"Sister... please... I have to ask him clearly."
Seeing the pitiful look on the little girl's face, Gu Ying put down her medical book and smiled, "Okay, okay, you dress up as my maid in a while and come with me to the Ye family, so as not to cause unnecessary gossip and more trouble between the Gu and Ye families."
Gu Shuang nodded eagerly.
A carriage came to pick them up from the back door of the Gu house. Gu Ying took Gu Shuang, dressed as a maid, all the way to the Ye mansion.
...
When they arrived at the Ye mansion, Gu Ying took Gu Shuang to Ye Qingchi's Zhēnliú Courtyard.
A Gu came out from the yard, walking hurriedly with his head down, and almost bumped into Gu Ying.
Gu Ying caught a glimpse of the blood on his hand and frowned, "A Gu, what happened?"
A Gu pursed his lips guiltily and said, "The young master has been helping His Highness Prince Du deal with pending cases recently. He sentenced some difficult people a few days ago. Unexpectedly, last night on his way home, the family members of the felons rushed up to him with knives and stabbed him once... It's all because I failed to protect him, otherwise the young master wouldn't have been injured and unable to go to the Gu family. Fortunately, it was not a fatal wound, only his arm was hurt."
Gu Ying breathed a sigh of relief, "Well that's good then."
"I'm going to get medicine for the young master. Ah, the wound dressing hasn't been changed today."
A Gu was full of self-reproach. Suddenly he saw Gu Shuang dressed as a maid behind Gu Ying, and his eyes widened, "Eh, isn't this Fourth Young Lady?"
Gu Shuang naturally also heard that Ye Qingchi was injured, and her heart tightened inexplicably. She wondered if this was the right time for her to come.
Gu Ying nodded and said, "I brought Shuang'er to see Cousin. A Gu, go get the medicine first."
A Gu looked at Gu Shuang in confusion.
What was the Fourth Young Lady doing at the Ye family when she was not at the Gu family?
Could it be that she also came to care about the young master?
Thinking so, A Gu was almost moved to tears. The future young mistress was so virtuous! What a wonderful woman!
"Yes, yes, then I'll go first."
Gu Ying had originally intended to take a look at Ye Qingchi first, but seeing Gu Shuang's worried expression, her eyes flashed, and she said, "Little Sister, since you have something to say, go ahead and clarify it with Cousin first. I'll go see A Ning and come over later."
Gu Shuang was instantly nervous. "Sister—"
Gu Ying patted the little maid on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll have Yin Lan stand guard outside. If you need anything, just call her directly."
Gu Shuang tightened her hands, standing still for a good while before mustering up the courage. She pursed her lips and entered Zhēnliú Courtyard alone.
Ye Qingchi's courtyard was very large. An artificial stream was dug along the wall, with gurgling water, sounding pleasant and pleasing to the ear. Rockery and pavilions were scattered in between, with a lush peach blossom tree blooming beautifully in the middle.
