Chapter 1: The Woman Who Blocked the Marriage

  Early in the morning after their wedding, Shen Guiyan got up to prepare tea for Gu Zongliang and his wife. However, when she turned around, Gu Chaobei was still fast asleep.

  "Wake up." Shen Guiyan reached out and lifted the quilt, hesitated for a moment, then called out: "Master, it's time to get up."

  Gu Zhoubei grumbled and snorted, with a hint of coquettishness, wrapped himself in the quilt and continued to sleep.

  "Morning tea can't be late." Shen Guiyan smiled and pinched his nose: "Get up quickly."

  Gu Zhaobei continued to breathe with his mouth open as if he was asleep, but his eyes remained closed as if they were sewn shut.

  Shen Guiyan was both angry and amused, stretching her leg across his body, while the other hand also covered his mouth.

  He woke up with a start, but not because he couldn't breathe, rather it was for some reason that made him grit his teeth and glare at Shen Guiyan, before pushing her away and getting out of bed.

  "What's wrong?" Shen Guiyan looked at him in a daze.

  Gu Zhāo Beī hastily put on his clothes, and with a sulky tone said: "Nothing's wrong, you've been wanting me to get up all along, haven't you? Now that I'm up, why are you still asking so many questions! Hurry up and get yourself ready!"

  Shen Guiyan nodded and blinked her eyes, taking another two glances at him. She didn't know if she was seeing things, but why did Gu Zhaobei's face seem to have a faint flush on it?

  After finishing packing, they headed towards the main house. Shen Guiyan felt a bit nervous and quietly asked about the situation in the Gu's household along the way.

  Gu Zhaobei said: "In the mansion, there are five courtyards in the east, west, south, north and main courtyard. Except for you and me, all the others are bad people."

  Shen Guiyan: "......"

  In the Gu's residence, there was a big rule that everyone would have breakfast together in the main courtyard, which also helped to promote the relationships between different rooms and courtyards. Shen Guiyan thought of this, so she got up early and arrived on time.

  It turned out that Shen Guiya was already busy in the main courtyard's dining hall.

  "Grandfather loves to eat salty porridge, and puts a bowl of egg drop soup with lean meat. The mistress has pumpkin porridge on her side. Liu Niangniang from the south courtyard loves to eat baozi pastries, while Guan Niangniang from the west courtyard eats the same as Grandfather. Shen Guiya wore a light blue embroidered jacket with a half-moon hairstyle, and her rouge was applied perfectly, making her look much more beautiful."

  Shen Guiyan couldn't help but take a few more glances at her, and Shen Guiya turned around to see the two of them, smiling warmly as she said: "Fourth brother and sister-in-law have arrived, please sit down first."

  It's still early, and none of the elders have arrived. Shen Guiya has a long daughter-in-law attitude, but Shen Guiyan didn't sit down seriously, instead standing on one side.

  Gu Zhaobei didn't sit down either, pulling Shen Guiyan's hand and standing in the hall said: "You see, coming so early what for, even the servants haven't prepared breakfast yet."

  Shen Guiyan chuckled twice: "Coming early is always right, today is the first day of our new marriage."

  Seeing that neither of them paid attention to her, Shen Guiya's smile faded a bit, but she still said: "Congratulations on the newlyweds' happiness, Fourth Brother and Sister-in-law."

  Shen Guiyan returned her a courtesy: "Nice to meet you, sister-in-law."

  Shen Gui's music was elegant and refined. She was younger than her, previously she had to call out "Third Sister", now it should be the other way around, with Third Sister paying respects to her. The etiquette of ancient times is indeed interesting.

  "It's all right, we're still family after all." Shen Guiya smiled and glanced at Shen Guiyan, whose face was truly flawless. Mrs. Xu wasn't stupid for nothing.

  But there's no hurry, time is long. This Shen Guiyan doesn't have any special features at all, how can she be her opponent?

  As a modern person, Shen Guiya still has her own advantages. After watching so many schemes and struggles, she can grasp some tricks, such as how to please her elders and intimidate those under her.

  Now she's doing very well, so Madam has handed over all the preparations for breakfast to her.

  Take a look at the dull Shen Guiyan, Shen Guiya hummed softly, thinking that she would let her see the difference between ancient and modern women.

  The Grand Preceptor and the people from various rooms all arrived one after another. After the seniors were seated, Shen Guiyan led Gu Zhaobei to serve tea and pay respects.

  "Father and mother, please have some tea." Gu Zhaobei yawned and said casually.

  Shen Guiyan followed suit with a dignified and respectful demeanor, presenting the tea with both hands: "Please have some tea, sir and madam."

  Gu looked at Gu Zhaobei with a somewhat dissatisfied expression. However, looking at Shen Guiyan, he let out a sigh and took the tea: "Sit down and eat."

  "Yes." Shen Guiyan let out a soft breath of relief.

  The atmosphere on the table was a bit heavy, and I didn't know why. Shen Guiya saw it and smiled: "Grandfather, try today's porridge, isn't it very different?"

  Gu Gongxiang was taken aback, and then he lowered his head and took a sip of the porridge.

  "This porridge, my daughter-in-law got up early and cooked it in the kitchen with preserved eggs and lean meat. It seems that you don't have this cooking method here." Shen Guiya smiled: "It's much better than ordinary porridge."

  The Prime Minister nodded, and his expression improved a lot: "You have a good heart, it's indeed delicious."

  Shen Guiya looked at Shen Guiyan with satisfaction and said, "The porridge in the mother-in-law's bowl also has pumpkin added to it, which is fragrant, soft, sweet and glutinous. And there are also the pastries made by Liu Niangniang, which have a creamy filling. Although the cream isn't very authentic, they're still delicious."

  Mrs. Gu raised an eyebrow and swept a glance over the things on the table, with some approval in her eyes: "You're quite thoughtful."

  Shen Gui Ya humbly lowered her head: "As long as everyone can eat happily, that's all. Originally, we are a family, since you've already entered the door, don't have any unhappy thoughts. Gui Yan is also Ya Er's sister, if there's anything wrong, Ya Er is willing to accompany her in punishment."

  This speech was impressive and touching, Mrs. Gu nodded repeatedly, and the two aunts on the side also smiled. Even Gu Chao Dong felt that Shen Gui Ya seemed to have grown up overnight, earning him a lot of face.

  Shen Guiyan also admired her, and for a moment, she was a little dazed, thinking that this was not like the former Shen Guiya who would directly take action when she couldn't stand it. However, if she could really be so gentle and magnanimous all the time, then her days should be much better.

  But it turned out she was relieved too early.

  "Did Mother ask about what happened yesterday with Fourth Brother and Sister's faces?" asked Gu Zhaonan, who was eating his breakfast, suddenly smiling and opening his mouth to ask.

  Mrs. Gu's face stiffened and her smile faded: "That old woman has gone mad, she keeps talking nonsense, I had someone lock her in the backyard."

  "Destroy the face of Gui Yan?" Prime Minister Gu put down his spoon and frowned: "What's going on here?"

  He went out last night and doesn't know what happened in the house afterwards.

  Madam Gu hastily said, "It was the permit's wife, who had been handling trivial matters for some years. Yesterday, she went to make trouble in the bridal chamber and somehow became mad, splashing green vitriol on Ruiyan's face."

  "Is there such a thing? Where is he? Has he been interrogated?"

  "After reviewing it." Mrs. Gu's eyes flickered for a moment, saying: "She said she was momentarily confused and went crazy."

  "Xu Pozi and Yan... and Fourth Brother's wife had always been on good terms, how could she suddenly go mad and want to harm Fourth Brother's wife?" Gu Chao Dong straightened his back and said: "Mother, why not bring the person up for further interrogation?"

  Mrs. Gu glared at him fiercely, leaving Gu Zhaodong bewildered. Shen Guiya on the side also spoke up softly, "Yes, she's just married into the family, how can it be good if you don't investigate clearly?"

  She also wants to investigate? Mrs. Gu looked at Shen Guiya with some surprise, and beside her, Mr. Gu Cheng said: "It just so happens that we have some free time now, bring the person up."

  After breakfast, the tables were all taken away. Xu Pozi was pushed in, crying and wailing, and when she saw Gu Gonggong, she kowtowed with all her might: "Master, spare my life, I'll say anything, anything at all, don't take my life..."

  The Grand Duke slapped the side table next to him and angrily said: "You, this reckless and treacherous slave, who gave you the guts to plot against your master?"

  Mrs. Xu was so frightened that her body was shaking, she looked up at Shen Guiya and said: "Young master's wife, I'm sorry to you, I want to live, I can only betray you... Your silver I don't want it anymore, I just want to be alive..."

  Everyone was shocked and looked at Shen Guiya one after another. Shen Guiya had a bewildered expression, looking more innocent than anyone else: "What are you talking about?"

  Xu Pozi kowtowed to her: "Isn't the green vitriol oil what you gave me? I didn't know that this thing could be splashed on my face, and if my face is burned like cloth, wouldn't everything be ruined? You ordered me to splash it on Fourth Young Master's wife, have you forgotten?"

  Shen Guiya was stunned for a while before regaining her composure, her face looking somewhat unsightly as she said: "You're saying that I instructed you to harm my own sister?"

  Mrs. Xu was taken aback.

  Shen Guiya took a deep breath and knelt heavily in the hall: "Honorable father and mother, please judge fairly! Although I, Ya, am not a virtuous wife who can bring honor to our family for generations, how could I possibly harm my own sister? Third sister has always been very kind to me at Shen Manor, so how could I use such a vicious method to harm her?"

  After finishing speaking, she heavily knocked her head on the ground twice. Her expression was so sincere that it made everyone in the room look at Mrs. Xu again.

  Today, Gui Ya also said that if Gui Yan did something wrong, she would be punished together with her. How could such good sisters harm each other?

  Even Shen Guiyan felt that she was wrongly accused?

  Gu Zhoubei smiled coolly and stood aside with his arms around him, saying nothing.

  Gu Gong thought for a moment, then waved his hand and said: "Let Ya get up first, I think you wouldn't want to harm your sister either."

  Shen Guiya's eyes had unknowingly welled up with tears, and after standing up, she held onto Gu Zhaodong's hand, turning her head to look at Shen Guiyan: "Can you trust me, Third Sister?"

  Shen Guiyan was a bit hesitant, wanting to believe it or not, she really didn't quite believe it. But today Shen Guiya's behavior shocked her.

  The Shen Guiya who used to only open her mouth to scold and hit people she didn't like, actually knelt down and said these words. It's really unbelievable.

  "Third sister... don't you believe me?" Seeing her hesitation, Shen Guiya immediately fell into tears: "Sister is wholeheartedly for the sake of sister, sister must not because of Ah Dong's matter, hold resentment in her heart towards sister, and thus ruin the sisterly affection!"