Chapter 139

Seeing that the Gu family's banquet, originally intended to show off and form a marriage alliance with the Guo Gong Manor, ended up in complete chaos, Minister Gu had no choice but to send his eldest son personally to the An Guo Gong Manor to negotiate.

On this side, Lady Lin was already overwhelmed, while on the other side came news that Second Miss Gu Nanxiang was throwing a tantrum and smashing things in the warm pavilion; for the first time, Lady Lin felt a hint of disgust toward her daughter.

She had always doted on this daughter; even the affection her two sons received from her could not compare.

In every aspect of food, clothing, and daily use, she enjoyed the finest among the noble young ladies of Shang Jing; yet unexpectedly, she has been causing trouble one after another.

The last time she set a trap for Gu Jiu Ling, she didn't even consult her or the eldest son, acting on her own; as a result, Gu Jiu Ling was sold into a brothel, her body ruined, and her temper turned utterly foul.

This time, the scheme to have Lin Shi Zi fall into the water at the An Guo Gong Manor frightened her badly, but it was nevertheless a way out.

No matter which path, it was her own choice; now, busy with her daughter's affairs, she was scolded by her husband till she saw red, yet she still caused another uproar.

Lady Lin originally wanted Gu Jiu Ling to come over to intimidate the guests, but Gu Jiu Ling pretended to be asleep; when she went personally to fetch her, she almost got beaten by the guards of the Rui Wang Fu.

Only now did she realize that Gu Jiu Ling was no longer the obedient fool who used to follow her every word in the Minister Gu's residence; she could no longer control this woman, and so she had to grit her teeth and first pacify her daughter.

She didn't ask for anything else; she only hoped that Gu Nanxiang could be smoothly sent into the An Guo Gong Manor.

Lady Lin kicked open the door of the warm pavilion, and just then a porcelain vase flew toward her; fortunately it veered slightly, otherwise it would have struck her face.

"You wretched thing! What are you doing?"

"It was you who was supposed to marry into the An Guo Gong Manor, and yet it's still you who has caused this mess!"

"If you refuse to marry, I will tell your father and elder brother to call off this engagement, and you will immediately get into a carriage and go become a nun in my convent."

Lady Lin, too, was vexed by the commotion, and for the first time she raised her voice in reproach at her daughter.

Gu Nanxiang was left dazed by Lady Lin's torrent of scolding, looking in disbelief at the mother who usually doted on and loved her.

For the first time, she saw deep dislike and displeasure in Lady Lin's eyes.

Gu Nanxiang's heart gave a jolt; she had been acting out because she relied on the Gu family's affection for her, but in the end she was nothing.

Even the closest kin weigh profit and loss; now she is indeed a trouble to the Gu family, and everyone wants to be rid of her as soon as possible.

Gu Jiu Ling's face turned slightly pale as she flung herself onto the nearby bed and burst into tears.

Lady Lin looked on, her heart aching terribly, and went over to sit beside her daughter, comforting her: "Xiang'er, your elder brother has already gone to the An Guo Gong Manor; the manor will surely give you an explanation, won't it?"

"Moreover, if we delay it until evening, wouldn't that be better? Marrying at dusk, the later the time, the more weight is given to your wishes."

Lady Lin went on until she could hardly continue, then sighed and said: "You must certainly rein in your temper; the old lady of the An Guo Gong Manor may be formidable, but after all she's an old woman who won't die anytime soon—how many years does she have left? As long as you firmly win Lin Shi Zi's heart, how could you fail?"

"Once you have established your footing in the An Guo Gong Manor, won't you be able to reclaim today's humiliation bit by bit?"

Gu Nanxiang's eyes flickered slightly, and she stopped crying.

Outside came hurried footsteps and Aunt Zhang's laughter: "The matchmaker from the An Guo Gong Manor has arrived, saying she's come to fetch our second miss."

Lady Lin and Gu Nanxiang's eyes lit up simultaneously, and they quickly sat up.

Lady Lin smiled as she helped Gu Nanxiang adjust her veil, saying: "Look, isn't she here?"

"Surely it's a bit late, but she has come; remember Mother's words—seize a man's heart by any means, and then the world will be yours."

Gu Nanxiang hurriedly sat upright, just finished tidying herself, when the An Guo Gong Manor's matchmaker laughed and entered, spoke a few auspicious phrases, and then lifted Gu Nanxiang out of the residence.

Lady Lin wanted to see her off, but according to Southern Qi custom, when a daughter is betrothed, the mother may only wait in her daughter's warm pavilion and cannot go to see her off.

The other Gu family members reluctantly escorted her to the gate, after all, being a concubine is nothing glorious.

Minister Gu did not go out himself; he only sent his eldest son to handle things at the gate, for he could not bear to lose face.

At this point he also had to come to the flower hall, where he drank a cup with a cold face alongside the guests who had not yet left, and then departed the banquet.

By now the guests had already left eighty percent; the few remaining who met Minister Gu exchanged pleasantries, then rose and left one after another, hardly touching the dishes that had been set out.

Having vented their anger, it would be best for the Gu family's gate to see fewer visitors from now on.

At the gate, Gu Cheng gazed at the An Guo Gong Manor's bridal procession, which was shabby to the extreme, his face nearly sinking to the bottom.

The dead old lady of the An Guo Gong Manor was especially adept at making trouble; she trampled the Gu family's dignity into the ground, and after delaying, she came to finalize the marriage.

There was no music, no sedan chair bearers—just a matchmaker with a coachman driving a carriage that stopped at the gate.

If it weren't for the red 'joy' character pasted on the carriage's side, one wouldn't even realize this was a wedding procession.

Gu Cheng's jaw muscles were clenched tight, yet he could not say anything.

If his sister were going to the Lin household as the principal wife, as the eldest son of the Gu family he would certainly find fault with the wedding procession—its specifications, rites, entourage, timing…

But now his sister is merely a concubine, plainly put, an object for Lin Shi Zi to vent his desires; what standing does she have to demand propriety?

The An Guo Gong Manor dealt the Gu family a stinging slap, leaving them with no means to retaliate.

But this is simply too shabby, isn't it?

Gu Cheng swallowed his anger and coldly stared at the carriage driver: "What do you Lin folks mean by this?"

The coachman hastily bowed to Gu Cheng, but before he could speak, the matchmaker had already lifted Gu Nanxiang onto her back.

Gu Nanxiang, too, was stunned by the shabby wedding procession before her; she snatched off her veil, her face turning deathly pale.

The matchmaker, having no time to attend to her emotions, directly shoved her into the carriage; Gu Nanxiang clung desperately to the carriage's curtain, gazing at her elder brother.

"Elder brother!"

She could not voice the grievance filling her chest.

Gu Cheng gave her an irritated glance; it was all this fool's doing that things had come to this point.

If it hadn't been for her own initiative in scheming against Gu Jiu Ling, she wouldn't have been turned against by Gu Jiu Ling, resulting in ruin and disgrace.

If she had not acted on her own to plot against Gu Jiu Ling in the palace, Gu Jiu Ling would not have married the Princess Consort of Rui.

Had Gu Nanxiang been even slightly obedient, at the very least either she or Gu Jiu Ling would have married the crown prince as crown princess, making her brother-in-law's status naturally rise.

Before Gu Jiu Ling married the treacherous Xiao Yin, she was still easy to handle and quite obedient.

Now everything has been ruined.

Entering the An Guo Gong Manor is the best option for Gu Nanxiang; she can no longer afford to worry about whether it is simple or shabby.

The coachman bowed to Gu Cheng and said: "Sir Gu, our matriarch means that Miss Gu Nanxiang is the first young female brought into the Lin household; she cannot just enter the door without proper ceremony."

"Lin Shi Zi is waiting for the second miss at the Lin family ancestral hall outside the suburbs; we must first pay respects to the Lin ancestors in the ancestral hall, then return to the city to conduct the ceremony—please do not misunderstand."

The Lin family Gu Zong Ci is rather remote; our grandmother said to travel light and simple, and seeing that it's getting dark, please Lord Gu Cheng don't delay any further, otherwise the road won't be easy to travel.

Gu Cheng frowned, feeling that something was off, but he couldn't just monopolize his sister and not let her go; besides, paying respects to the ancestors is a good thing, showing that the Lin family acknowledges his sister.

He took a breath and said to Gu Nanxiang, "No fooling around! Go!"

"Older brother!" Gu Nanxiang felt uneasy in her heart, wanting to say more, but her older brother had already grown impatient and didn't want to deal with her, turning and walking into the mansion—where was there any sibling affection?