Chapter 1: The Woman Who Blocked the Marriage

  Shen Guiya jumped into the Lotus Pond to commit suicide but was rescued by the household servants of the mansion.

  As soon as Shen Guiyan heard the news, her first reaction was to say that she had no brains and indeed she had no brains. The lotus pond was not even waist-deep, if she wanted to die, why didn't she jump into the city moat? Why did she choose the lotus pond?

  Later, I heard the maid of Qingya Zhai crying and saying: "The life of the fifth young lady is in danger, she was suffocated in the lotus pond for a long time and has not woken up yet."

  The whole family in the Shen Mansion was alarmed, and everyone went to the Qingya Studio. They heard Yu Chai crying out loud: "It's all because of that heartless person! If it weren't for him, Miss wouldn't have been so desperate! Master and mistress, you must take charge of Miss!"

  Mr. Shen sat on one side, and before he could ask what was going on, Mrs. Shen was already crying and angrily saying: "What kind of scoundrel is this? You'd better explain clearly to me who harmed my Ya'er's life, I will definitely make him pay with his life!"

  It's as if Shen Guiya is already dead.

  Shen Guiyan's arrival was a bit late, the room was already packed with people. And Yu Shi only opened his mouth to tell the story of "the unfaithful person" when he saw her coming.

  "Mr. Gu had a prior engagement with Third Miss, yet he seduced my family's young lady, causing her to lose her innocence. Afterwards, he turned his back on her and refused to acknowledge her, saying he would not marry our young lady. It was only after being shamed and humiliated that she decided to take her own life!"

  As soon as this was said, everyone in the room was shocked, and more than a dozen pairs of eyes all turned to look at Shen Guiyan by the door.

  This remark, black can be said to be white, Shen Guiyan couldn't help but clench the handkerchief in her hand. Obviously, she was shameless and seduced Gu Gongzi, but now she says that someone else is tempting her innocence?

  And what is she doing? It wasn't her who drove Shen Guiya to attempt suicide.

  Madam Shen was furious, and immediately she sat up in bed, grasping her handkerchief and staring at Old Master Shen: "If I can tolerate this matter, our esteemed Shen household would be too humiliated! What about the Prime Minister's household? They have ruined my daughter's reputation, they should give us an explanation!"

  Mr. Shen also pitied his own daughter, but he didn't quite believe Yu Chai's words. Gu Zhaodong was highly praised among the younger generation and wouldn't be such an unfeeling and unscrupulous person. Since he was about to marry Yan'er, how could he tarnish Ya'er's innocence?

  "Let's wait for Ya'er to wake up and ask her about it clearly." Old Master Shen sighed.

  Shen Guiyan hesitated for a moment, then spoke up: "If Master Gu is indeed luring away my fifth sister and doesn't plan to give an explanation, I won't be willing to entrust my lifelong commitment to him either. It's better to investigate this matter clearly."

  Wait until she wakes up, at most confront Gu Zhaodong. When face to face, does she dare to turn black and white? Before her grand wedding, seducing her husband, the one who should be ruined in reputation is Shen Guiya herself.

  Madam Shen had nothing good to say, she just gave Shen Guiyan a cold look and turned her head back to continue crying while holding onto Shen Guiya.

  Shen Guiya slept for a whole day, and on the second day, someone from the Gu residence had arrived. It was none other than Gu Chengxiang himself, accompanied by Gu Zhaodong, who came to pay a visit.

  The Shen family was just a humble household of a low-ranking official, yet the Prime Minister himself came to their door. Everyone in the household was naturally terrified. Although Mrs. Shen felt she was in the right, she couldn't help but be intimidated by the Prime Minister's authority and went to welcome him at the gate early on.

  "Lord Shen, no need to be so polite." Prime Minister Gu was a rather humble person, he only brought his son Gu Zhaodong and the carriage driver, without anyone else. As they approached, he slightly bowed: "I've brought my son to visit and apologize, I hope Lord Shen and Third Miss will listen to my son's words."

  Gu Zhaodong had been secretly glancing at her since they arrived, but Shen Guiyan seemed not to notice and led them properly all the way to the main hall.

  "This younger generation has come to discuss the matter of your esteemed household's Fifth Miss." Gu Zhaodong hastily knelt down on the hall, scaring the Shen family members who wanted to go up and support him. He raised his hand and respectfully bowed to Old Master Shen and Madam: "This younger generation is unworthy, yet was blessed with a heavenly marriage arrangement, forming a marital bond with your esteemed household's Third Miss. However, some days ago, this younger generation was led by a maidservant to the Sanqing Inn outside the manor, where...he had physical relations with your Fifth Miss."

  He said it with a difficult expression, and his face didn't look too good either, but he didn't know that everyone in the house had already known about it for a long time, not surprised at all, just curious about the reason behind it.

  "Young master has no intention of blaming, but as a noble lady, the fifth young miss misused the aphrodisiac, colluded with the innkeeper, and trapped me in an unjust situation. This behavior is not to be encouraged." Gu Zhaodong said word by word: "My heart belongs to the third young miss of your esteemed family, the sun and moon can testify, heaven and earth can prove it. Even if I made a mistake this time, I hope to have the courage to get your forgiveness."

  Everyone in the hall gasped, staring at Gu Zhaodong in shock. Madame Shen's face turned iron-gray as she said, "Mr. Gu's words seem to differ from those of Ya'er's maid, why not let Yuzhen confront him?"

  If it's really Shen Guiya who drugged and seduced him, then not only will her face be lost, but the Shen family's face will also be gone!

  Gu Zhaodong nodded, and the jade comb was brought over. When she saw him, her body trembled slightly.

  Originally thought that uncooked rice would be cooked into mature rice, the young lady could marry smoothly. Who knew that Mr. Gu refused to marry anyone but Shen Guiyan, and even rejected the young lady. The young lady was so angry that she pretended to jump into the lotus pond to kill herself, forcing him to marry her.

  Who knew pretending too much would lead to this, now he really hasn't woken up yet, and the other party has come to clarify the facts instead.

  "Jade Comb, repeat what you said yesterday." Madame Shen said with a stern face.

  Yu Shu had no idea, knelt beside Gu Chao Dong, stuttered and couldn't speak, only shook his head and kowtowed.

  "What's wrong?" Mrs. Shen urged: "Didn't you tell me about what happened yesterday? Why can't you say it now?"

  "You servant girl should die!" After hesitating for half a day, Yu Chai finally said these words.

  Gu Chao Dong smiled lightly, and Madame Shen was even more annoyed. Shen Guiyan stood on the side quietly watching this play, only feeling a bit dizzy.

  What a dull farce.

  "What a lively scene."

  A weak voice came over from beside them, and everyone was stunned. They turned their heads to look, and it was actually Shen Guiya wearing her nightgown and a cloak.

  "Yaa!" Mrs. Shen couldn't help but stand up: "You're awake?"

  Shen Guiya looked a bit dull and stared at Mrs. Shen for half a day before saying: "I'm called Yae?"

  Kneeling on the ground, Gu Zhaodong slightly furrowed his brow. What trick was this woman going to play now?

  "I just woke up, and it seems like I don't remember anything." Shen Guiya walked over, muttering to herself: "Who are you? What are you doing? As soon as I woke up, there was a maid calling me to hurry over, is this a TV drama shoot?"

  "Yaa..." Madame Shen was getting anxious: "Don't you remember? This is your father, that's your younger brother, and me, I'm your mother."

  Shen Guiya seemed to have received a fright, and it took her half a day to calm down. Then she smiled foolishly: "I've crossed over."

  No one could understand what she was saying, and with the prime minister present, Mr. Shen had to get up and say: "My daughter may have been traumatized and is now a bit silly, please don't mind, Prime Minister."

  The Grand Duke looked at Shen Guiya with a hint of apology and said, "It's also the fault of my son for being unworthy of Miss Five. However, the Gu family only welcomes one bride, but if possible, Miss Five can enter the manor two years later, I assure you that she will not be mistreated."

  "Father!" Gu Zhaodong whispered, his face full of resistance.

  The Prime Minister smiled slightly and turned his head to look at Shen Guiyan: "Does the third young lady mind?"

  "Yan Gui naturally doesn't mind, but if Fifth Sister is foolish, Yan Gui and Master Gu should take care of her."

  If it's really foolish, then it's Shen Guiya's retribution. If not...

  Shen Guiyan couldn't help but take another glance at the woman over there.

  Shen Guiya was surrounded by people and went away with a silly smile, unintentionally glancing over at her, her eyes full of strangeness.

  "Miss, I think Fifth Miss seems a bit strange."

  The people in the hall dispersed, and Bao Shan followed Shen Guiyan and said in a low voice: "I heard that he has been talking nonsense, but he is sober and not stupid. I don't know what's going on."

  "Don't bother with her." Shen Guiyan pursed his lips and said, "Now everyone knows that she seduced Mr. Gu, and pretending to be stupid is also a clever move, which can avoid the scolding from all over the sky."

  "What a shameless thing she's done, and she thinks she can just pretend to be stupid and get away with it?"

  "What's wrong with you?" Shen Guiyan smiled lightly: "Preparing for marriage is all."

  Whether she is really silly or pretending to be silly, now that her marriage has been settled, it's already enough.