Chapter 1: The Woman Who Blocked the Marriage

  Leaning against the pillar, Gu Zhaobei couldn't help but chuckle lightly. His elder brother, who was always praised for being a straightforward and honest man, unexpectedly had a despicable moment when it came to women.

  Second Brother's wife, Meng Die, is already pregnant. The Liu family is now in a favorable position. Eldest Brother directly married Shen Family's Fifth Miss, probably because of the child in her belly, to secure his position with this chip and then turned around to coax Shen Third Miss again.

  He was somewhat curious, what if that Shen family's third miss wasn't so easy to deceive and didn't forgive him, how would Gu Zhaodong be then?

  "For the next two days, help me to placate the Shen family first and don't let anyone bully Yan'er." Gu Zhaodong instructed Fengxiao again, listened to Fengxiao's response, and then turned around to head in the direction of the new house.

  Feng Xiao was a clever and capable person. Although the sky had already darkened, he immediately decided to harness his horse and leave the mansion. The Shen family lived in the official residence in the north of the city, which was just a few tea breaks away by horseback.

  After Feng Xiao left, Gu Zhaobei came out from behind the pillar, thought for a moment, and casually threw the wine jug into the flower cluster. He followed Feng Xiao out of the door. A horse went ahead, and he rode after it.

  Shen Guiyan arranged a mourning hall for Qin Yiniang, but since she was only a concubine, even in death, she couldn't have her spirit tablet set up in the main hall, nor could her body be kept there for sacrifices. Her corpse had been sent to the charity house early on, and all that could be done was to hang white cloth in her courtyard and set up a spirit seat.

  The rain was still falling, and I didn't know what a lively scene the Gu's residence was. Shen Guiyan knelt upright, throwing paper money into the fire one by one, her face clean and dry, without tears, only her eye sockets were red and swollen.

  "Uggghhh..." Bao Shan stood outside the door under the eaves, covering her mouth and sniffling, her skirt was soaked by the rain but she didn't dare to go in.

  Fengxiao hastily came in, wearing a rain cape, and rushed into the courtyard. Seeing Bao Shan's condition, she quickly asked: "Miss, what's wrong with you? Where is Third Miss?"

  Shen Guiyan and Gu Zhaodong couldn't meet often due to etiquette, but Feng Xiao and Bao Shan had become quite familiar. Bao Shan pulled him a little further away and whispered: "I wanted to cry loudly, but Miss said not to cry, lest it would startle Auntie's spirit. But I couldn't help it, so I didn't dare go in...Miss is still inside."

  Feng Xiao let out a soft sigh, his eyes rolling slightly as he looked at Bao Shan and said, "Alright, stop crying. Follow me to somewhere quiet where we can talk. If your family's young mistress sees me, who knows what kind of trouble it'll stir up again."

  Bao Shan nodded and was pulled away by Feng Xiao.

  The maidservants in the courtyard were sent to keep vigil at the mourning hall for a night, and tomorrow Qin would be buried. As soon as Baozhen left, only Shen Guiyan was left in the courtyard.

  Drunk, Gu Zhaobei swaggered into the courtyard, mud splattered on his body from climbing over the wall was washed away by the rain, making him look quite disheveled, but he didn't care at all, slipping into the mourning hall and hiding in a corner.

  He wasn't going to do anything bad, he just wanted to see what the Shen family's third miss looked like after hearing people praise her for years.

  Shen Guiyan didn't care about the commotion around her either. After burning the paper money, she knocked her head and quietly knelt on the cushion in a daze.

  The wind blew in from the doorway, almost extinguishing the incense on the table. Shen Guiyan came back to her senses and got up to close the door.

  She turned around and bumped into Gu Zhaobei, who was trying to sneak up behind her.

  "Ah!"

  This cry was not made by Shen Guiyan, but by Gu Chaobei. He not only cried out, but also retreated three steps in great fear and shouted towards the outside of the door: "Catch the thief!"

  Shen Guiyan was stunned and stared blankly at him.

  It's also too sad to have no reaction to anything. If it were an ordinary time, Shen Guiyan would definitely shout louder than Gu Zhaobei if a dirty man suddenly appeared behind her back.

  After shouting, Gu Zhaobei only reacted and realized that this was not the residence of the Grand Councilor, but rather the Shen residence. As a thief, he seemed to have shouted incorrectly.

  He smiled foolishly and felt that he must have had too much to drink today. He bowed to Shen Guiyan: "I'm just passing by, I've been rude, please don't mind me, miss."

  After finishing speaking, he raised his head and stood there in a daze.

  "Is there a thief in the yard over there?" The voice of the family slave had already faintly come from outside, and it was clearly getting closer. Gu Zhaobei should have run away, but he looked at the face in front of him and inexplicably couldn't move his eyes.

  As one of the four elegant young masters in Beijing, Gu Zhaobei was known for his ability to recognize women by their scent. He had once covered his eyes and recited the names of all the women in the capital's Huaying House without making a single mistake. The number of women he had seen could fill an entire street, but he had never seen one that left him as stunned as this one did.

  A face that makes people feel comfortable, pink lips and willow eyebrows, apricot eyes and rosy cheeks, with a rare clear gaze like creek water, unfortunately, there is some foolishness, with a shallow red mark between the eyebrows, which makes it look more charming, but overall it still looks very dignified.

  Another look, and there's nothing particularly dazzling, just a bit better-looking than an ordinary woman. Why did he see a flash of light just now? Gu Zhaobei rubbed his eyes, was it an illusion from drinking too much wine?

  Jia Ding was already standing at the door, Shen Guiyan looked at the person in front of her, didn't have much reaction, just said to Jia Ding behind her: "Tie him up and hand him over to the housekeeper for disposal."

  His shoulder was pressed down by someone and Gu Zhaobei finally came back to his senses, frowning: "You take me for a little thief?"

  Still hand it over to the housekeeper for handling?

  "Even if you are a notorious thief, please don't disturb the peace of my mother's home."

  Nothing is more sorrowful than a dead heart. This handsome young man stands in front of her, and she doesn't even react - she must be overcome with grief.

  Gu Zhāo Běi gazed at her with great sympathy, then shook off the family servant behind him and knelt down beside Shen Guiyan with a thud.

  "Is that Aunt Qin? I, Gu Zhaobei, have come to pay my respects. I wish to marry the third Miss Shen as my wife, and I invite you to witness this." Gu Zhaobei half-opened his eyes, looking drunk, and kowtowed three times in front of Aunt Qin's memorial tablet.

  Shen Guiyan stiffened her body, and the family servant behind her also looked foolish.

  Is that Gu Bei? Isn't he the famous Young Master Gu Si?

  Bao Shan and Feng Xiao hurried back upon hearing the commotion, only to see a slovenly figure already dragging Shen Guiyan away.

  "Fourth Master?" Feng Xiao saw the man's appearance, his face changed, and his hands tightened: "How did you end up here?"

  Several servants were hesitating whether to go forward and pull people, listening to Feng Xiao's shouting, no one dared to move lightly. Gu Zhaobei walked stumblingly without paying attention to anyone, Shen Guiyan was pulled by him, all the way to the main courtyard.

  It's still raining, and I'll get wet in a little while. Shen Guiyan frowned at the man and said, "Are you drunk?"

  "Not drunk!" Gu Zhaobei chuckled and said: "Do you want to see me walk a straight line?"

  Shen Guiyan: "......"

  It was late at night, and the Shens, exhausted from a day's work, were all resting, but they were all woken up by the arrival of their ancestor. Mr. Shen put on his clothes and came out to see what was going on.

  "I want to marry your third daughter." Gu Zhaobei stood in the main hall, holding Shen Guiyan's hand and said to Old Man Shen: "Marry your third daughter to me!"

  Mr. Shen's face turned pale, who doesn't know that this Fourth Master Gu is not a good match, let alone the many concubines in his backyard, he has no achievements in his career, and is just a prodigal son who only knows how to eat, drink and have fun. If Yan'er marries him, can she still have a good life?

  Madam Shen, however, was delighted at the prospect. With Qin Shi already deceased and Gui Ya married off, all her worries had been resolved. If Shen Guiyan were to marry a wealthy idler, it would bring her immense joy.

  "Master Gu, this..." Old Master Shen didn't know how to continue and hastily looked at Shen Guiyan.

  Shen Guiyan struggled, but in the midst of a crowded courtyard, what could she do? The man's hands were scorching hot and had a strong grip, making it impossible for her to break free.

  "I won't marry," she said. "My mother just passed away, I should be in mourning."

  Gu Zhaobei laughed shamelessly, with a mischievous tone: "How long can you keep mourning for your birth mother? I'm waiting for you. Anyway, I've taken a liking to you, so whether you want to marry happily or unhappily, either way, you'll have to marry."

  Shen Guiyan glared at him fiercely and couldn't help but stomp her foot hard on his instep. This full of grievances had nowhere to vent, why did anyone who came could bully her?

  Gu Zhaobei's face turned green with rage as he gritted his teeth and glared at her, saying: "You've crippled my foot, your husband is now a cripple!"