Chapter 1: The Woman Who Blocked the Marriage

  Shen Guiyan slightly furrowed her brow, and before she could say a word, Mrs. Gu on the upper floor spoke up: "After all, blood ties are deep, how can they be damaged by some misunderstandings? Guiyan isn't such a petty person either, Yaya you're worrying too much."

  They've said all the good and bad things, what else can she say? Shen Guiyan stood stiffly beside her, but Shen Guiya came over to hold her hand and said: "Sister doesn't blame me, that's the best, if you really can't forgive me, then I have nothing to say, after all, I was wrong first..."

  Shen Guiya's expression was sincere, and her tone was full of sighs and pity. Everyone in the hall listening to her would think she was innocent. If Shen Guiyan didn't say a few words of forgiveness, it would be considered that she had a narrow heart and couldn't get along with her own sister.

  Xu Pozi, who was kneeling in the hall, was no longer being taken care of. Shen Guiya's true emotional performance had come to an end, and the crime would naturally not fall on her head again.

  Shen Guiyan took another look at Shen Guiya, sighed and couldn't help but admire her sincerely. She lowered her eyes and said, "Mother is right, how could I blame you."

  Shen Guiya burst into tears and then smiled, saying: "As long as sister is feeling better, I can rest assured."

  The Prime Minister sat in the main seat without a word, waiting for the lower official to finish speaking. He then opened his mouth and said: "This matter of the backyard, let's leave it to the lady to handle. Anyone who dares to harm the master or pollute the master's reputation will be sent to the heavenly prison, which is not excessive. This matter can be dropped now."

  Mrs. Guo breathed a sigh of relief and smiled in response.

  The people in the hall dispersed, and Gu Zhaobei pulled Shen Guiyan out. Behind them, Xu Pao's crying voice still echoed: "I didn't frame Master, it was really given by the young master and mistress..."

  Shen Guiyan furrowed her brow.

  "Why is Fourth Brother walking so fast?" Gu Zhaodong caught up from behind, shouting at Gu Zhaobei while reaching out to pull Shen Guiyan's sleeve.

  "Big brother." Shen Guiyan calmly called out to him, and Gu Zhaobei also stopped in his tracks and turned around. Gu Zhaodong cleared his throat and withdrew his hand, looking at them as he said: "Fourth Brother's wife has just entered the manor and isn't very familiar with it yet, so I think we should let Ya take her on a tour..."

  "Don't worry, big brother." Gu Zhaobei hooked the corner of his mouth: "Yan'er should go back to Bei Yuan first to rest, yesterday was too exhausting, I'm sure she doesn't have the energy to walk around everywhere."

  Shen Guiyan: “......” Although it sounds fine, I still feel like there's something off about it.

  Gu Zhaodong's face was slightly stiff, frowning at Gu Zhaobei, who calmly returned his gaze. The two men locked eyes for a while before being interrupted by Shen Guiya, who had caught up from behind.

  "Hubby, what are you doing?" Shen Guiya smiled and came over to hug Gu Zhaodong's arm, glancing at Gu Zhaobei and saying: "Fourth brother and sister-in-law must be busy going back to the North Courtyard, there are so many people waiting for them to pay their respects with tea, don't delay them."

  Gu Zhaodong took a deep breath, nodded, but couldn't help speaking like a romantic: "Fourth brother, since you've already married Yan'er, don't disappoint her. The people in your courtyard..."

  "Thank you for your concern." Shen Guiyan interrupted him: "It's better for brother to call me sister-in-law."

  Gu Zhaodong was taken aback, while Gu ZhaoBei's expression improved slightly: "Mm, it's getting late, big brother can talk about whatever it is another day. I'll take Yan'er back first."

  "...Alright." Gu Zhaodong finally gave way.

  Gu Chao Bei hummed softly and grabbed Shen Gui Yan's hand, continuing to head towards the North Wing.

  "Do you feel wronged?" asked Gu Zhaobei as they approached Beiyuan.

  "What's wrong?" Yan asked back, somewhat puzzled.

  "Knowing clearly who did it, but can't let her be punished, can only watch as she gets away with it, feeling wronged?" Gu Zhaobei lowered his eyes.

  "What's there to be wronged about?"

  In the past at Shen's house, this was also a common meal, she had already gotten used to it.

  Gu Zhaobei stopped in his tracks, looking back at her with some surprise. Shen Guiyan stood upright and smiled: "You don't have to worry about me, I'm not someone who can't bear grievances, nor will I think of taking revenge on impulse. Life is so long, what's the point of being impatient for a moment?"

  When you don't have enough strength, thinking about revenge will only increase your burden. It's better to focus on yourself and surpass that person, then you'll have the opportunity to settle all accounts.

  After being stunned for a while, Gu Zhaobei couldn't help but laugh, and his expression relaxed a lot. He had indeed picked up a treasure that wasn't too much, but just right for him.

  "There are still many people in Beiyuan who want to meet you, don't get angry." Gu Zhaobei smiled and continued walking forward: "I'm sure you're prepared too."

  Shen Guiyan nodded solemnly, she had done her homework before marrying over, and she knew how many people were in this courtyard of Gu Zhaobei.

  To put it this way, any young and beautiful maid sent to the North House by the Gu family was unable to escape Gu Zhaobei's clutches. This scoundrel even went outside at the age of 16 and brought back a concubine who was the illegitimate daughter of a high-ranking official. Although he is the youngest master in this mansion, Gu Zhaobei's courtyard is the largest, with the most people.

  Shen Guiyan sat in the main seat of the North Wing, and saw a row of maids standing below, with the woman at the front about her age, with gentle eyebrows and eyes, leading a large group of women to pay their respects: "Young Mistress is well."

  "This is not a backyard, it's clearly a harem! Shen Guiyan rubbed her temples and glanced over, without counting, there were seven or eight maidservants, and Gu Zhaobei's energy was indeed impressive."

  "No need for formalities, I'm new here and still need your guidance." Shen Guiyan nodded slightly to the person in charge.

  "Madam is kind, there are many maids in this courtyard, Madam will have to take more care."

  After finishing speaking, let the people behind come up one by one to ask for leave.

  Shen Guiyan was fortunate to have a clever maid, Bao Shan, by her side; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to remember this string of names. It took three cups of tea just to pay respects one by one, and the only one that left any impression on her was a woman named Shuang Jiang, who was merely a concubine, but was said to be favored by Gu Zhaobei.

  Taking a closer look, I don't think there's anything special about Frost either. He looks decent, doesn't talk much, and is quite handy with his hands and feet. Probably because he works diligently, he has won over Gu Zhaobei's favor.

  She was seeing off the guests when Gu Zhaobei had already disappeared, and it was unknown where he went to play. After Shen Guiyan slowly calmed down and became familiar with the environment of the Gu's residence, she began to tidy up and take care of the affairs in the North Courtyard.

  This marriage was not what she had hoped for, and it could only be said that she had no choice. She neither liked nor disliked Gu Zhaobei, but life had to go on. Shen Guiyan actually didn't have any big goals, as long as she could take care of herself. If she were lucky enough, then she would love the world.

  The Gu manor, after all, was the residence of the Grand Councilor, so their food, clothing and expenses were naturally much better than those of the Shilang manor. All the expenses in the entire manor were controlled by Madame Gu, but recently Shen Guiya had married into the family, with a sweet mouth and knowing how to get things done, so Madame Gu handed over the management of purchases and food arrangements to her.

  The breakfast had already been eaten, and lunch was served in each of their respective courtyards. Shen Guiyan looked at the pot of duck soup on the table with some surprise, thinking that the Prime Minister's estate was indeed generous, serving such a big meat dish without any special occasion, usually only having small pieces of meat.

  Gu Zhaobei said he was going out to play with a few friends and wouldn't be back for dinner, so Shen Guiyan didn't bother him. After lunch, she strolled around the North Courtyard and then went back to read books.

  At dinner time, on the table were a bowl of bird's nest and several plates of meat dishes.

  Shen Guiyan held her chopsticks and asked Jiang Shi beside her: "Is the dinner at the Prime Minister's mansion also so sumptuous?"

  "Late dinner is often just a light porridge and some small dishes, that's the way to nourish one's body."

  Why did all these things come here? Shen Guiyan was very puzzled, got up and said to Bao Shuan: "Don't eat first, follow me to the kitchen for a walk."

  Bao Shan replied, and the master and servant went to the kitchen. Before they had gone far, they heard a maid's shouting voice: "The swallow's nest is my master's, why was it given to Beiyuan?"

  "Can't you see I'm busy? Who can keep an eye on who's taking what? If Beiyuan took the wrong one, just go get it back!"

  The little maid, Xiao Er, was so angry that she turned around and wanted to leave, but was caught by Lin Dama on one side: "Ah, girl, you really listened to that rough man's words and went to the North Wing to fetch it? The Fourth Young Mistress of the North Wing is not only the elder sister of the Eldest Young Master, but also the daughter-in-law appointed by the Old Master. Your master is just a concubine, how dare she compete with others?"

  Shuang'er said discontentedly: "Just because you have a status, you can take other people's things at will? That swallow nest was bought with my master's own money, why should it be given to her for free?"

  Shen Guiyan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Bao Shan beside her, who hastily shook his head: "Master, it wasn't me who served it. Today's dishes were all sent over by the kitchen on their own initiative."

  Shuang Er was just gritting her teeth, thinking of going to find Second Young Master to reason things out, when she turned around and saw Shen Guiyan standing outside. She was startled and her anger subsided a bit: "Fourth Young Madam..."

  Shen Guiyan smiled and walked over, saying: "I was just about to come over and ask, why did everything get taken to the North Wing? It turns out the kitchen made a mistake. The swallow's nest is your master's, you can follow Bao Shan back to retrieve it."

  Shuang'er took a step back and carefully looked Shen Guiyan up and down, seeing her kind face, she bowed and said: "Thank you, Fourth Young Master's wife."

  Then she followed Bao'er and left.

  Shen Guiyan smiled and looked at the people in the kitchen, Lin Dama and Tian Shifu, who had just spoken, both quickly composed themselves: "How did Fourth Young Master's wife end up here?"

  "At this point, I think you all should be busy too, so I won't bother you anymore." Shen Guiyan took two steps forward, handed something to Lin Dama and Tian Shifu, then stepped back and said: "Looking at today's meal, I also know that everyone has taken good care of me. Thank you very much for this. However, in the future, let's follow the rules for meals, so as not to cause unnecessary misunderstandings. What do you think?"

  There were many people in the kitchen, Shen Guiyan's action of stuffing silver was hidden, but her words were loud and clear. For a moment, everyone in the kitchen couldn't help but steal glances at her.