Chapter 59: Don't Be My Brother-in-Law

Gu Qingye lifted her head to look at Mu Nan Zhao, before she could speak, her eye sockets reddened.

"Chen Fang, do you resent me? From now on you won't even want to talk to me?"

Mu Nan Zhao stepped back to create distance, his face expressionless, and said, "Miss, I don't know where this is coming from, Chen Fang."

Gu Qingye blinked, and a crystal-clear tear slid down from her thick, long, dense lashes.

She lifted her eyelids, her tear-filled beautiful eyes gazing at Mu Nan Zhao, sorrowful and plaintive.

"Chen Fang..."

"It's great that you're all right! That day I didn't bring anyone back to rescue you, and I felt terrible inside."

"Lately I've been thinking, if that night I had been a bit braver, or listened less to my family's words earlier, or if I had also jumped down then, I would have been with you, would we..."

Mu Nan Zhao couldn't bear to listen, so he had to interrupt her: "First, I am me, you are you, don't get tangled together."

"Second, these words of repentance shouldn't be said to me; they should be said to Gu Xixi, she is your cousin."

Gu Qingye froze, for a moment her gaze seemed a little panicked.

But soon she seemed to have made up her mind, suddenly opening her arms and lunging to hug Mu Nan Zhao.

"Chen Fang, I don't want you to be my brother-in-law! Actually, from the first time I saw you at the village entrance, my heart has always..."

"Let go." A flash of killing intent appeared in Mu Nan Zhao's eyes; he raised his right hand, needing only a twist to easily snap off Gu Qingye's shoulder.

But...

If he were to commit an injurious act at Gu Xixi's home, he himself wouldn't mind, but would Gu Xixi find it troublesome?

It was just this moment of hesitation when the hall's door curtain was lifted.

Qin Dasao gasped in shock at the sight before her.

She quickly reacted, hurriedly lowering the door curtain so that no one outside would see.

"What are you two doing!"

Qin Dasao deliberately lowered her voice, but her anger did not lessen.

She went home once, handed the child to her husband, cooked a meal, and rushed back, still wanting to continue working.

Who would have thought she would unintentionally expose this affair!

"Let go." Mu Nan Zhao said again.

This time his gaze was somewhat frightening; Gu Qingye flinched involuntarily and released her grip, stepping back.

Qin Dasao was on good terms with Gu Xixi; she pointed at the two, her fingers trembling with anger.

"You two, one is Gu Xixi's fiancé, the other is her cousin, actually doing this kind of thing in Gu Xixi's home! Truly, truly outrageous! Shameless!!"

Gu Qingye didn't even bother to explain, covering her face with both hands as she ran away crying.

Mu Nan Zhao, knowing he couldn't explain clearly, simply stayed silent, sat down calmly, and listened to Qin Dasao's rapid-fire complaints "upholding justice for Gu Xixi."

Until Gu Xixi herself appeared, saying, "Eh? Sister-in-law, why are you back again? Weren't you supposed to go home to keep the child company?"

Qin Dasao had already scolded until her mouth was dry, and now she stopped to catch her breath.

"If I hadn't come back, I wouldn't know how long this adulterous couple would have kept it from you!"

"Adulterous couple?" Gu Xixi puzzled.

Only then did Mu Nan Zhao speak slowly, "Just now when you went out, your cousin suddenly hugged me, and Qin Dasao happened to see it."

Gu Xixi instantly felt as if thunder were rolling, this bewildering scene of catching an affair.

How could she explain to outsiders that she and Mu Nan Zhao were not that kind of relationship, and they had already made an agreement beforehand?

Today, no matter how many women Mu Nan Zhao has embraced, it does not mean giving Gu Xixi a green hat.

Qin Dasao sized up Gu Xixi's face, asking, "You're not angry?"

Gu Xixi shook her head, "Not angry."

She felt she was being too lenient, which really invited suspicion, so she forced a smile, "I think this must be a misunderstanding, right, Chen Fang?"

Mu Nan Zhao seemed not to notice Gu Xixi desperately giving him eye signals, and replied calmly, "No, there isn't."

"Your cousin says she doesn't want me as her brother-in-law; perhaps she wishes to cure you to death and take your place."

He paused, then lifted his brows and said, "First of all, I have never been dissatisfied with Gu Xixi."

"Why that woman suddenly did this, I also don't know."

Gu Xixi: "..."

The more they spoke, the more absurd it became.

Qin Dasao, however, sensed the truth and conspiracy from it, saying, "Since Gu Xixi trusts Chen Fang, I also think Chen Fang is not that kind of person."

"Besides, even if a man were to cheat, he wouldn't dare do it in broad daylight under his wife's nose, in his own home."

Qin Dasao suddenly realized, looking at Mu Nan Zhao and Gu Xixi, "I know now!"

According to Qin Dasao's gossip, Madam Liu's condition had just improved, so she went to find a matchmaker.

The matter of their son's marriage was no longer viable, so they could only pin their hopes on their daughter.

But nowadays, Gu Lao San's household in Huachi Du Cun has already been blacklisted by the nearby matchmakers.

Two matchmakers who had originally shaken their heads and refused, upon hearing Madam Liu say she was seeking a marriage for her daughter Gu Qingye, then agreed to let her in.

Gu Xixi said, "Finally someone agreed to discuss a marriage—isn't that a good thing?"

Qin Dasao pursed her lips, "What good is good."

"The men those matchmakers paired Gu Qingye with are either middle-aged widowers or cripples."

"Among them there is one with a wealthy background who has never married, yet he is a leper."

"Not only can he afford the betrothal gifts, he is also willing to let his sister exchange marriages, marrying Gu Tiezhu!"

Gu Xixi frowned upon hearing this feudal bad practice.

"I wonder if my third uncle and third aunt would actually agree?"

Qin Dasao looked outside and saw no one, then she whispered, "Gu Qingye has been beautiful since childhood; how many young men follow her to curry favor?"

Liu Shi and Gu Lao San have been straining every effort, wanting to exchange their daughter for a big sum.

But now their family's fortunes have declined; it's basically impossible to find a wealthy, decent young man.

Marry Gu Qingye over there, collect a large bride price, and Gu Tiezhu's marriage will be settled as well—given what that couple are like, what's so strange about giving away their daughter?

Gu Xixi felt a chill in her heart, murmuring, "So that's how it is; no wonder she took such a risky path."

Qin Dasao sighed, "No matter how bitter she is, she shouldn't steal her paternal cousin's man."

Ah, you say this matter has blown up, but fortunately no one else saw it.

But you two haven't formally married yet; I'm afraid she'll cling to you and force Chen Fang to take responsibility.

After the night in the book when Gu Qingye rescued Mu Nan Zhao, Gu Xixi went around shouting, ruining her reputation, and her parents married her off to a leprosy patient.

When Mu Nan Zhao returned from outside, Gu Qingye had already married into another village.

He therefore came to hate Gu Xixi intensely.

After marrying, Gu Qingye suffered greatly, enduring until her husband died.

At that time, Mu Nan Zhao had already returned to the imperial court; he ignored Gu Xixi's opposition and brought Gu Qingye to the capital.

At this moment, Gu Xixi recalled this plot and became even more certain that Mu Nan Zhao ultimately wanted his first wife to die badly, the main reason being that Gu Qingye had married a leprosy patient.

Qin Dasao said she would go out to make honey bait, letting Gu Xixi and Mu Nan Zhao discuss properly what to do.

Gu Xixi looked at Mu Nan Zhao and said, "She must be out of options, also rather pitiful."

As fellow women, even if she does not like Gu Qingye, she cannot condone the occurrence of such a despicable wife‑swapping custom.