Chapter 44: The White Rabbit Rushes About

  Guo Zhaobei's appointment was beyond everyone's expectations, but the Emperor immediately granted him the title of Shilang, which is a huge joy. So today, early in the morning, Guo Chengxiang ordered Shen Guiyan to prepare lunch in the main hall for everyone to eat together.

  Lord Gu has always been smiling, and from a young age, Gu Zhaobei has been causing him trouble. Who would have thought that he would be the one to bring honor to their family? Although there are many rumors outside, being appointed as an official is still being appointed as an official. He is the first person in the imperial court to be directly appointed as a sixth-rank official without going through the imperial examination.

  Shen Guiyan was also delighted, busy running around arranging many dishes, and personally went to invite Mrs. Gu and the aunts from each house, with just the right amount of smile on her face, neither too much nor too little, not arrogant or flustered, earning the silent approval of Mr. Gu.

  "I'm not going." Gu Zhaodong stood in the yard with a pale face and said coldly.

  Shen Guiya was already dressed up, wearing a long dress with a high collar, a cherry blossom dyed robe, looking slender and elegant. The makeup on her face was exquisite, having fully utilized the techniques she learned from modern cosmetics stores.

  "Why doesn't Master go? Fourth Brother's wedding is a grand occasion, if you don't attend, Father will be angry."

  Shen Guiya helped persuade him for a couple of sentences, although she knew better than anyone that Gu Zhaodong was unwilling to go. It's good that he didn't want to go, and no one would bother her either.

  Gu Zhaodong had been waiting for the imperial examination, he was highly talented and had read books for a long time, always being praised by others, always high above. Who would have thought that Gu Zhaobei, who couldn't do anything, actually got lucky and took away the position of Minister of Justice that he wanted.

  It's like he worked hard to dig a well for water, but then a cloud floated over from the north and poured rain directly onto his head, so that all he had to do was open his mouth to drink, while he could only stand by and watch.

  "Bang!" A fist hit the tree in the yard, and the blue veins on Gu Chaodong's forehead all bulged.

  Heaven is really unfair!

  Shen Guiya touched her own hair bun and didn't plan to persuade him anymore. She just said, "I'll come back later and cook some snacks for you."

  Then she took Yu Shu's hand and walked towards the main hall.

  Gu Chao Dong clenched his fists and gazed at the tree in front of him with a hint of hatred, his eyes narrowing slightly.

  "How did you know I liked these dishes?" Gu Zhaobei looked at the dishes on the table and smiled, "But where did you hear that from?"

  Shen Guiyan sat beside Gu Zhaobei, lowering her head and saying: "You usually like to pick these dishes when you eat, so I prepared three plates of them. The rest are what your parents-in-law love to eat, maybe they're also to your liking."

  Gu Zhaobei was in a great mood and no longer afraid of Gu Chengxiang and Madame Gu by his side, he grasped Shen Guiyan's hand and said: "Good wife, you are truly the treasure of this husband."

  I really wanted to praise her, I came back too late yesterday and went straight to sleep, even overslept breakfast. When I woke up, she had already gone out to prepare food, so now is the only time I have to say a few words.

  But this is really too much!

  The Prime Minister coughed lightly, and Madame Gu looked stern. Guan Yiniang smiled and said, "Newlyweds are indeed good, this is the sweetness of marriage. Previously, Third Miss Shen might have regretted marrying Fourth Master, but now she's finally seeing a bright future."

  Shen Guiyan slightly furrowed her brow and glanced at Guan Yiniang. However, Guan Yiniang seemed completely unaware that she had misspoken and said with a handkerchief in hand, "The young master probably won't be coming, whoever it is should not come either, let's eat first."

  Gu nodded: "Let's eat, Bei'er have some more."

  Shen Guiyan picked up her chopsticks and saw that Chengxiang had taken his first bite, then she followed suit.

  "I'm a bit curious," said Guan Yiniang, eating her food and continuing to speak: "What is this emperor thinking? Clearly knowing that the Fourth Master doesn't know anything, he actually gave him such an important official position to investigate cases. If it's not done well, won't Master's face be lost?"

  Gu Gonggong pursed his lips: "The emperor's will is hard to fathom, since there is great imperial favor, Beier will do his best and that's all, as for the rest, Father will find someone to help you."

  "What's good about it? He temporarily took over as the Minister of Justice, and also has the power of a minister." Madam Gu frowned and said: "If you want to investigate, go yourself, don't rely on others again."

  "Mother-in-law." Shen Guiya sat opposite Gu Zhaobei, and upon hearing this remark, she raised her head and said: "You can't say that. Fourth Brother's current fortunes are all tied to the Chancellor's Manor; naturally we should all be hoping for his success."

  Her smile was radiant, and her voice was softer than usual. Gu Zhaobei looked up at her with a glance.

  As soon as she came in, this woman had been staring at him, and he understood what was in her eyes. He just felt refreshed in his heart.

  It's not that he was pleased with himself, but rather seeing Gu Zhaodong marry such an unclean woman, his days were obviously not going to be easy, so he felt at ease.

  It's fortunate that Gu Zhaodong was blind at first and the woman in front of him had many tricks up her sleeve, otherwise he wouldn't have ended up with Yan'er.

  Madam Gu's face turned even uglier after being spoken to by Shen Guiya like that, and the Prime Minister added, "Yah is actually more sensible than you."

  Then Mrs. Gu remained silent with a cold face.

  Shen Guiya was not even slightly aware that she had offended someone, she helped Gu Zhaobei speak, and no matter what, it would only make him feel good about her. After this meal, her eyes were fixed on Gu Zhaobei as if they were glued to his body, her gaze burning with intensity.

  Only the Prime Minister and his wife didn't notice, but Gu Niang saw Shen Guiya's gaze, her expression was unpredictable, she didn't make a sound.

  Shen Guiyan slightly furrowed her brow, put down her chopsticks and looked at Shen Guiya. She knew that Gu Zhaobei was very handsome, but as the eldest sister-in-law, Shen Guiya had always been staring like this, wasn't it a bit impolite?

  But Shen Guiya was not afraid of her gaze at all, and even looked back with a bit of provocation.

  "The dancers in the mansion have supposedly prepared a new dance." Shen Guiya said: "After we finish our meal, why don't everyone stay and watch before deciding what to do?"

  "Oh?" Duke Gu's mood wasn't bad, he nodded and said: "There's a new dance, of course we have to take a look."

  Shen Guiya smiled brightly, her eyes sweeping over Gu Chaobei with a hint of seduction.

  Gu Zhaobei lowered his head to look at the white vegetables in the bowl, and began to think about the case, but suddenly felt that someone beside him had pulled his arm, pulling his body backward.

  He raised his head dazedly, only to see that Huiyan's upper body was blocking his way, staring at Shen Guiya with a fierce gaze, their eyes locked in a intense stare. However, the woman opposite him had heavily applied rouge on her eyelids, which made Huiyan look subdued.

  "Have you eaten?" Gu Chaobei pulled Shen Guiyan's hand and asked softly.

  "Shen Guiyan said angrily: 'Hmph.'"

  She's really shameless, I've seen people without shame before, but not as shameless as her. She snatched Gu Zhaodong away and now she's got her eyes on Gu Zhaobei? Does she even know what the Three Obediences and Four Virtues are? She's already married and pregnant, why is she still looking at other men like that?

  She admitted that Shen Guiya was much more beautiful now than before, and her makeup looked very good, but that didn't mean she would let her husband go to her again!

  She also had a little guilt because she had always been very disciplined, while Gu Zhaobei didn't like discipline, and she was afraid that he actually... didn't like her much.

  She gripped Gu Zhaobei's hand tightly, and Shen Guiyan took a deep breath. Whether he liked it or not, this time she would guard her husband well!

  "You're also afraid of looking at the long needle eye for a long time." Gu Zhaobei glanced at Shen Guiya and whispered.

  Shen Guiyan was encouraging herself in her heart, but when she heard this sentence, she was stunned: "Needle eye?"

  "There's nothing." Gu Zhaobei didn't plan on teaching her those coarse words, and looked up at Gu Chengxiang saying: "Father, Yan'er and I have finished using it."

  "Ah, just in time." Gu Xiang said with a wipe of his mouth: "Everyone has finished using it, Yan'er will go and instruct them to let the dancer come up."

  "Yes." Shen Guiyan stood up and had someone remove the table as a matter of course.

  "I'm going too." Shen Guiya stood up and followed behind Shen Guiyan as they left.

  The dancers in the mansion indeed lined up for a dance, Shen Guiya not only knew about it but also had an arrangement.

  Catching up with Shen Guiyan, Shen Guiya smiled and said: "Hey, Third Sister, it's been a long time since we've had a good chat."

  Shen Guiyan glanced at her and didn't respond.

  Shen Guiya didn't get angry either, and smiled: "Sister, do you still remember the vow we made to Chao Dong back then?"

  Promises are a woman's favorite thing, pleasant to hear and moving, only now does Shen Guiyan understand how illusory that thing is.

  "Men are all like that, they love one person and then another. My sister is much better than me, the reason why Chao Dong chose me instead of my sister is because he's already gotten used to her." Shen Gui Ya continued: "Now your fourth brother is the same, his restless personality is even more unstable than Chao Dong's, getting bored with you after just a few days of marriage and going out to have fun."

  "Is it still me, her sister, who looks more unusual at this time?"

  "What do you want to say?" Shen Guiyan, no matter how good her temper was, couldn't help but get angry, turned her head and looked at her, saying: "A person with a sense of shame is human, Elder Sister doesn't know how to write the two words 'self-respect'?"

  Shen Guiya was taken aback, then let out a "tsk" sound: "These feudal etiquette and teachings are useless to me, I won't follow them. All I know is that if I like something, I'll go for it, isn't everyone competing fairly?"

  Shen Guiyan sneered and felt that there was nothing good to argue with this person about, as their views were completely different.

  Just ahead is the Maiotome Institute. Shen Guiya still managed to squeeze in one more sentence: "Wait and see, sister will find out soon enough. Men always like new and interesting things, and little sister me, I'm the most interesting thing in this world of yours."

  Pretend you didn't hear it.

  Shen Guiyan took a deep breath, Gu Zhaobei, although he had a preference for women and was somewhat of a playboy, shouldn't have any designs on Shen Guiya. If he did, he wouldn't always be looking down on her.

  She should believe in her husband.

  After instructing Wu Ji, Shen Guiyan swiftly ran back to Gu Zhaobei's side.

  "Master, I have a question." Shen Guiyan asked in a serious and hushed tone: "Do all men like new and unusual things?"

  Gu Zhāo Běi raised an eyebrow, unsure why she suddenly asked this, but still honestly replied: "This is natural, people are all interested in new and unusual things."

  Shen Guiyan's eyes drooped, and she suddenly felt a little downhearted.

  "However..." Gu Zhaobei paused for a moment, then turned to look at the dancer who was wearing a dance costume and had just arrived from outside. He said softly: "The white rabbit hops east and west."