Chapter 46

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“You—!” Old Madam Gu’s loose cheeks trembled as she pointed at Gu Yan Fei and asked coldly, “What nonsense did you spout today at Jing Wang Manor?!”

“Grandmother, this has nothing to do with Second Sister!” Gu Yun Zhen hurriedly stepped in front of Gu Yan Fei, defending her.

“Silence!” Old Madam Gu snapped, her anger flaring even hotter.

Nearby, Xia Lian’s face was full of indignation as she felt wronged on behalf of her mistress. She couldn’t understand what tricks the Second Miss had used; not only was the Eldest Young Master on her side, but even the Eldest Miss was defending her.

Gu Yan Fei glanced at the furious Old Madam Gu and the indignant Xia Lian. She pressed her lips together into a faint, mocking smile, fully understanding who had been exaggerating things in front of Old Madam Gu.

“Grandmother should be asking what happened today,” Gu Yan Fei corrected calmly.

Before Old Madam Gu could speak, Gu Yan Fei continued, answering the question herself: “At the Rose Pavilion, Kang Wang, in a fit of rage for his beloved, drew his sword against Fang Ming Feng.”

“Fang Ming Feng, disregarding his safety, heroically saved the beauty. The Empress Dowager, moved by his sincerity, promised to add to Third Sister’s dowry. Doesn’t that make Grandmother happy?”

“The Empress Dowager adding to the dowry is an honor for our Gu family.”

Gu Yan Fei smiled radiantly at Old Madam Gu, her expression as calm and delicate as a blooming flower.

Old Madam Gu’s face twitched with anger, her chest heaving violently as her fury mounted.

In stark contrast, Gu Yan Fei remained poised, her demeanor light and unruffled as she added with a soft smile, “Or is it that Grandmother believes the Empress Dowager has acted inappropriately?”

Smack!

Old Madam Gu slammed her palm firmly on the tea table, her eyes blazing with anger. Her glare could pierce through stone, and her trembling body shook like a sieve in a storm. Her eyes, reddened with fury, bore into Gu Yan Fei.

Xia Lian, standing nearby, flushed with indignation, her face red with suppressed outrage. She wanted desperately to rebuke Gu Yan Fei for twisting the truth, but as a mere maid, she knew this was not her place to speak.

Gu Yan Fei, uninterested in wasting more breath on Old Madam Gu, waved off the situation with polite indifference. With a brief and dismissive smile, she said, “Grandmother must be quite busy, so I’ll take my leave now.”

“Big Sister, let’s go.” Gu Yan Fei grabbed Gu Yun Zhen’s wrist and turned to leave without hesitation.

“Old Madam…” Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the outer hall. A frail, gray-clad servant woman rushed in, panting heavily. She bowed to the visibly enraged Old Madam Gu and reported, “His Highness, Kang Wang, has returned with Third Miss.”

The servant caught her breath and added, “His Highness said he’s here to propose marriage.”

Old Madam Gu’s mouth fell slightly open, as if to ask if it were true, but the words stuck in her throat and were forcibly swallowed.

In a matter of moments, her emotions swung wildly, shifting from anger to sheer delight.

Xia Lian’s eyes widened in shock before her face lit up with a gleeful smile. Chin lifted, she shot Gu Yan Fei a triumphant, mocking look.

Gu Yan Fei: As expected!

She sighed inwardly, not particularly surprised. From the moment that muffled thunder rumbled across the sky, she had already anticipated this outcome.

Gu Yun Rong was the “daughter of heaven” in this small world, favored by the Heavenly Dao, which had paved a path of unparalleled splendor and prosperity for her. Kang Wang was destined to be her “true fated partner,” granted by the Heavenly Dao itself. These two were the epitome of a match made in heaven, destined to elevate one another and serve as each other’s greatest benefactors. In their past lives, they had joined forces to overcome countless obstacles and eventually ascended to the pinnacle of power. This was destiny!

Even if they faced some trials and tribulations along the way, the overall trajectory of their fate would still lead them toward their ordained conclusion.

But destiny was not unbreakable! Only by severing their destiny could she eliminate the inner demons that haunted her. A glimmer of determination flickered in Gu Yan Fei’s eyes, her expression as calm and composed as ever.

Old Madam Gu quickly stood up, adjusted her attire, and asked, “Where is His Highness, Kang Wang, now?”

“They have been welcomed into the main hall,” the servant woman quickly replied.

Gu Yan Fei, who had just reached the door curtain, paused momentarily before continuing to pull Gu Yun Zhen along as they headed out. Some things were unfolding just as they had in her previous life—Gu Yun Rong and Kang Wang were destined to formalize their engagement on the same day.

But there were differences this time.

In her past life, the Empress Dowager Yuan’s decree of marriage had not only shaken the entire Marquis of Dingyuan Residence but also caused a sensation across half the capital. Nine grand, gilded carriages carrying the imperial envoy had arrived at the residence, accompanied by a vast array of lavish rewards. The spectacle, more magnificent than a bridal procession of ten miles, had become the talk of the town.

This time, however, the Marquis of Dingyuan Residence welcomed only Kang Wang himself.

Lost in thought, the sisters stepped out of Cihe Hall’s main room. In the courtyard, a plainly dressed woman in her early thirties, her face bare of any cosmetics, stood anxiously watching them. It was the Third Madam, Yan Shi.

“Zhen’er!” Yan Shi exclaimed, visibly relieved as she saw her daughter unharmed.

“Mother, why are you here?” Gu Yun Zhen hurried forward and took Yan Shi’s arm. In front of her mother, her demeanor softened, revealing a touch of girlish charm.

Yan Shi had rushed over upon hearing that Old Madam Gu was furious, worried that her daughter might bear the brunt of the matriarch’s anger. Forcing a smile, she initially wanted to ask if her daughter had enjoyed herself at Jing Wang Manor today. However, her gaze fell on the bloodstain at her daughter’s temple, and her expression changed instantly.

“Zhen’er, your face…” Yan Shi carefully reached out to brush aside Gu Yun Zhen’s bangs, revealing the half-inch-long wound at her temple. The blood had dried, but the sight of it filled her with distress.

“I’m fine,” Gu Yun Zhen reassured her mother gently.

“Zhen’er, you’re about to get married! What if this leaves a scar on your face?” Yan Shi’s voice rose slightly, a mix of worry and frustration seeping through.

In the Marquis of Dingyuan Residence, everyone adored Gu Yun Rong and sang her praises, but Yan Shi harbored a subtle, complicated feeling toward this niece of hers. It seemed that whenever something happened to Gu Yun Rong, it was always her own daughter who ended up suffering.

The more Yan Shi spoke, the angrier she became. As her thoughts churned, she couldn’t help but dredge up old grievances.

She brought up the time when Gu Yun Rong, as a child, stumbled upon a priceless antique. The other party tried to renege on their offer, and in the ensuing chaos, her daughter, Gu Yun Zhen, was shoved and took a nasty fall.

Then there was the incident when Gu Yun Rong, at the age of nine, unearthed a 200-year-old ginseng plant. That discovery saved Old Madam Gu’s life, but Gu Yun Zhen was punished and made to kneel in the ancestral hall for not keeping a closer watch on her younger cousin.

Such seemingly trivial yet unfair incidents were too numerous to count, each adding fuel to the quiet resentment Yan Shi felt.

Yan Shi couldn’t hold back her anger. Her words, while partly a way to vent her frustration, were also deliberately spoken loudly, hoping someone would carry them back to Old Madam Gu.

Gu Yun Zhen’s father, the third master Gu Ji, had passed away young, leaving the third branch without any male heirs. Over the years, the third branch had kept a low profile, largely because Yan Shi wanted to protect her daughter.

She had always considered that Gu Yun Zhen, as her only child, would one day marry and might need to rely on her cousins from the Marquis’s household. Thus, she often chose to compromise and step back. But that didn’t mean they were doormats to be trampled on.

Gu Yun Zhen’s future husband hailed from a distinguished military family. He was young, accomplished, and full of promise.

Gently stroking her mother’s back, Gu Yun Zhen sought to calm her down. “Mother, it’s just a superficial wound. It won’t leave a scar. Let’s go back, and you can help me apply some medicine, all right?”

Yan Shi agreed that the most pressing matter was to treat her daughter’s wound and nodded in response.

Gu Yun Zhen smiled softly at Gu Yan Fei, a gesture of farewell, and then gently coaxed Yan Shi to leave Cihe Hall.

Gu Yan Fei stood silently, watching the mother and daughter duo walk away. Her cherry lips pressed tightly together, and her gaze grew unusually deep and contemplative.

Three years ago, Gu Yun Zhen had been betrothed to Murong Yong, the second son of the distinguished Murong General’s Manor. The Murong family had already completed the preliminary engagement rituals, leaving only the formal marriage date to be set.

In her previous life, even after Gu Yun Zhen’s disfigurement, Murong Yong had not broken off the engagement. He had adhered to propriety and married Gu Yun Zhen as promised.

Back then, Gu Yan Fei had been uninformed and out of touch with the affairs of the capital. However, she had still heard bits and pieces about her brother-in-law, Murong Yong—he was known as a bold and generous man, someone who valued righteousness and loyalty.