Chapter 1: The Woman Who Blocked the Marriage

  Gu Chao Dong was taken aback and subconsciously turned his head to glance at Shen Gui Ya, who furrowed her brow, her discontent already impossible to conceal.

  It was supposed to be a good day for the wedding, and with this belly, she had already successfully married into the family. But on the night of the new marriage, her husband ran away. Did he come to peek at Shen Guiyan? He came alone, but why did Fourth Master also follow him? The one who crossed over was her, so why were they all surrounding another woman?

  Shen Guiya was unhappy, very unhappy. However, she's a clever person and knows that when competing with others for a man, one must not be too aggressive, the gentler the better.

  She forced a smile and said, "It's all right, Ya'er. After all, this marriage should have been for Third Sister. As long as Father doesn't punish Chao Dong, I'll be at ease. Chao Dong has feelings for his sister, and Ya'er can't control him..."

  With a hint of grievance, she gazed at Gu Zhaobei with eyes brimming with tears.

  Gu Zhoubei burst out laughing and sat down on the ground without any image: "One is willing to fight and one is willing to suffer, saying more is just a bystander's meddling. That Yan'er also willingly married me, what does it have to do with you, Big Brother Gu?"

  "I asked Yan'er, not you." Gu Zhaodong's temper also flared up: "It's also because Fourth Brother's mother died early and didn't teach him that some things can't be done? Yan'er is still a lady in the boudoir, how could you...".

  "Big brother." Gu Zhaobei's smile disappeared, his entire face sinking down.

  Shen Guiyan was startled, and the usual careless person, once serious, was also a bit scary.

  Gu Zhaodong was also shocked for a moment, but he refused to back down: "Am I wrong? You're too reckless in your actions, aren't you afraid that even after death, your mother's spirit will be cursed by others..."

  "Bang." Gu Zhaobei stood up, no one was able to stop him in time. With one kick, he sent Gu Zhaodong, who was kneeling on the ground, tumbling backward, landing with a dull thud on the spotless floor.

  "Look east!" Shen Guiya exclaimed.

  Shen Guiyan was also frightened and stood up: "Fourth Master!"

  Although Gu Zhaodong spoke a bit too much, he shouldn't have hit him just because he said so.

  Gu Chao Bei kicked one foot and still felt it was not enough, walked over to kick two more. The Gu steward next to him came up and pressed him down with one hand. Gu Chao Dong got up, didn't care about the others around, and punched Gu Chao Bei's shoulder with one fist.

  It just so happened to be her left shoulder, Shen Guiyan's heart skipped a beat as she hastily shouted: "Don't!"

  Gu Chao Dong's movements paused for a moment, and he continued to beat him with even greater force. The housekeeper held Gu Chao Bei in place, who tried to struggle but couldn't resist, and could only endure the beating silently.

  Shen Guiyan couldn't bear to watch and hastily stepped forward, shielding Gu Zhaobei as she said, "You're all grown adults with families of your own, how can you still resort to physical fights?"

  "He was the one who started it!"

  Behind him, Gu Zhaobei snorted coldly and remained silent with a stern face. He still seemed to be exerting himself, and as long as the housekeeper dared to let go of him, he would absolutely rush over and give Gu Zhaodong another punch.

  Shen Guiyan pursed her lips, previously she had always liked Gu Zhaodong's gentle and elegant demeanor, but now he was ruined to the point where there wasn't much left of that. It turned out that men all looked the same when they were impulsive.

  "When the Prime Minister and Father arrive to conclude, you can rest well, having just received family law." Shen Guiyan hung her head and turned around, looking at the sticky substance on Gu Zhaobei's shoulder: "Fourth Master doesn't hurt?"

  Gu Zhaobei's body went limp and he let out a soft hum, whereupon the steward behind him released his grip.

  "People are made of flesh, who doesn't feel pain?" He knelt down again, and Gu Si Gongzi looked up at her with a somewhat rascal-like tone: "However, seeing you protect me like this, I'm also relieved in my heart."

  What's even more comfortable is that someone's face has turned purple with rage.

  Shen Guiyan's mouth twitched slightly as she stood a little further away. Gu Zhaodong narrowed his eyes, gazing at Gu Zhaobei for a while before following and kneeling down.

  Mr. Gu and Old Master Shen quickly came to an agreement, and after seeing that Mr. Gu had brought his family rules with him to deal with the two sons, he felt a lot more at ease and immediately arrived in the main hall without any back or leg pain.

  "Let's just pretend nothing happened last night. Miss Three and Dogzi, get married as soon as possible." The prime minister gave his final verdict.

  "Father!" exclaimed Gu Chaodong anxiously.

  "There's no room for discussion on this matter." Minister Gu looked at them and said, "Since this scoundrel and Third Miss are already husband and wife in reality, there's really nothing else to say. Go back and prepare for the wedding immediately!"

  He finished speaking and looked respectfully at Old Man Shen: "What does sir think?"

  "The Chancellor is right." Old Master Shen nodded and looked at Shen Guiyan: "Yan'er shouldn't have any objections either, should she?"

  Shen Guiyan shook her head.

  Madam Shen stood beside Old Master Shen, and upon hearing this, she said with a forced smile: "The auspicious day for the wedding is only half a month from now, time is a bit rushed, so the wedding might be a bit hasty. I suppose Yanyan won't mind either."

  All proper weddings require three or four months of preparation, what can be prepared in half a month? It's likely that even the wedding dress will have to be rushed. Shen Guiyan frowned slightly, and the prime minister also showed some dissatisfaction: "This half-month time is too tight."

  "In four months, it will be the auspicious day of the solar term. Mrs. Shen said somewhat innocently: 'If this were an ordinary marriage, it would be fine to say, but Yan'er and Fourth Master have already... If she gets pregnant and rides a flower sedan chair, then...'"

  Everyone in the house was silent, and several aunts were whispering behind them with sarcastic expressions.

  Shen Guiyan's face was slightly embarrassed, but she heard Gu Zhaobei say: "With a big belly on the sedan chair, our family is not without precedent. However, I'm afraid of having too many dreams at night, and half a month is just right, there's still time to prepare things. Yan'er is so virtuous, I also want to welcome her back home early."

  The Prime Minister rebuked him loudly: "What right do you have to speak here? Kneel down at once!"

  Gu Zhoubei pouted.

  Several aunts stopped talking, and Madame Shen couldn't smile anymore. Shen Guiya was the first to get into the bridal sedan chair with her belly out, where did she get the nerve to laugh at others?

  Shen Guiya bit her lip, and her eyes looked at Gu Zhaobei with a somewhat dark gaze. This man didn't understand romance, it was really too annoying, and he kept targeting her. If there was any meaning to it, he wouldn't have expressed it in such a way.

  Mr. Shen cleared his throat and said seriously, "In that case, the marriage between Yan'er and Fourth Master is also settled, and it's a double happiness. Let's just forget about the unpleasant things, maybe there were mistakes on both sides."

  Prime Minister Gu nodded, and people from both sides laughed happily, at least on the surface.

  The crowd dispersed and Shen Guiyan slowed down her pace to walk behind, watching as Shen Guiya had already helped Gu Zhaodong out, before catching up with Gu ZhaoBei.

  "Hello."

  Gu Zhaobei stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look at her, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you a well-bred young lady who knows etiquette? Why do you address people like that?"

  Shen Guiyan rolled her eyes and said, "If it were someone else, I would address you as 'young master' out of politeness. But with you, forget it. This is the Golden Wound Medicine. The stab wound on your back, don't mention how much offense was committed."

  The small porcelain bottle was handed over, and Gu Zhaobei smiled as he accepted it. He took a step closer to her and said, "This injury can be quite serious, and it's not something that can be made up for with just a few words. Wife, please give me more guidance in the future."

  Shen Guiyan's mouth twitched, she took two steps back and bowed respectfully to him, then turned around and walked towards the Swallow Tower without looking back.

  This rascal, even if dressed in brocade, is still a rascal!

  Gu Zhongbei watched her back until she disappeared from view, the smile at the corner of his mouth slowly fading away. He then turned to look at the entrance of the Gu Manor's carriage and followed it quietly.

  Originally supposed to marry the eldest son, now changed to marrying a younger son. Although it's also the Prime Minister's mansion, the dowry naturally has to be reduced somewhat. Plus, Madame Shen didn't prepare very carefully, so when Shen Guiyan went to see the dowry, there were only fifteen boxes of things.

  When Shen Guiya got married, a whole row of them were said to be prepared for her, but in fact, they were all taken away by Shen Guiya. There were as many as thirty boxes. The difference in treatment was too obvious, and even the servants at home could see it.

  "Alas, it's also Third Miss's bad luck. Why did something have to happen at this time? Now she was supposed to marry in and become the elder sister-in-law, but instead she's become someone else's younger sister."

  "Isn't it? Fifth Miss was so overbearing, didn't expect she would end up with a good ending, it's really unfair."

  "These dowries have been seen by the Grand Secretary's household; can Third Miss still be taken seriously in the future?"

  Bao Shan listened to these words and felt uncomfortable in her heart, supporting Shen Guiyan and saying: "Miss, why don't you go and tell Master about it? This dowry is too little, it's clear that Madam is being harsh on you."

  Shen Guiyan pursed her lips and smiled: "It doesn't matter, don't need to report it, I have a way to solve it myself."