se words, would my husband believe me"Gu Jingxi said meaningfully, "Madam, are you touching your own conscience and telling me that you have never spoken such words"“That’s definitely not true. Why wo...Lady Gu took a deep breath, her voice regaining its calmness: "What else can we do Xuanyi went boating with the young master of Duke Wu'an, fell into the water and was saved by him. Since people saw this happen, it will definitely spread. If Xuanyi doesn't marry him, would she rather shave her head and become a nun"

Zhang froze, her heart clenched with discomfort. Originally, she was already worried because the Wuan Bo mansion had too many troublesome things going on, and her daughter marrying into it would likely lead to hardship. Now, finding out that Lady Wuan Bo's most preferred choice for a daughter-in-law was probably not her daughter, who was merely a backup option, made her even more furious and resentful.

She whispered, "Mother, Xuyan's temperament... she wouldn't be able to cope when she gets married. She would suffer."

Seeing Zhang kneeling on the ground, looking worried and distressed, Madam Gu sighed helplessly. The deed was done, what could she do now

For a moment, Old Madam Gu spoke softly, “Rise first, and let's sit down to talk.”

Zhang replied softly, stood up, and sat down in the seat below Madam Gu.

Old Madam Gu then said, "Then find a steady and capable companion for her to guide her. As long as she can listen to advice, she can avoid some losses. Besides, learning from one's mistakes, after experiencing several setbacks, she will eventually become wiser."

Zhang listened and gently nodded, "Daughter-in-law, you're too kind."

Elder Madam Gu glanced at her and sighed softly, "People always have to pay the price for their recklessness. She didn't listen to her elders and secretly interacted with Young Master Wu An, leading to this kind of situation. Fortunately, Xuelan's marriage is already settled, otherwise, it would affect her reputation to some extent. Since she wants this marriage, when the people from Wu An Manor come to propose, just agree. There's no other way around it."

Zhang again agreed, forced to accept the reality. Her feelings were a tangled mess; she always wanted her daughter to marry well, into a prestigious family with wealth and status. While the position of Wu An Bo's son was indeed respectable, their household was plagued by troubles, with constant power struggles hidden beneath the surface.

Then, Old Madam Gu instructed some more.

However, Zhang was worried that her daughter would not have a good life after getting married. She wasn't really listening and it's unknown whether she heard anything at all.

After Zhang left, Madam Gu sighed deeply and let out a mouthful of turbid air. She said helplessly: “It’s true that one's calculations are often surpassed by fate. I thought about finding a simpler family for Xuanyi, not so complicated, but in the end, she chose a complex one.”

"Grandmother Feng replied, 'Ma'am, this is probably fate. It's something destined to happen, and there's no escaping it.'"

-

Huairui Pavilion.

Gu Jingxi saw the little girl come back from outside, but she had a grave expression and looked troubled. After returning, she sat aside, listless. He asked, “Madam, what happened”

Meng Jinyao looked up at him and asked, "Such a big thing, hasn't your husband heard of it"

Gu Jingxi was confused: "What's wrong"

Meng Jin Yao saw that he still didn't know what had happened. He was probably staying in the study, oblivious to what was going on outside. So she briefly told him everything that had happened today.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingxi frowned. Although the pickled meat incident at Marquis Wu'an's residence was kept tightly under wraps, he had still heard rumors about it. The internal power struggle within the family might seem harmonious on the surface, but his sister-in-law was always oblivious to it all, and she had inadvertently harmed Xuan Yi as a result.

Meng Jinyo sighed helplessly: "I saw Xuanyi with Wuanbo's son boating this morning. If I had caught her and brought her home this morning, there wouldn't have been this afternoon."

Although she couldn't stand Gu Xuanyi's arrogant and domineering personality, as a woman herself, they had no grievances against each other, and she didn't want to see her fall into a pit of misery.

Gu Jingxi's thin lips moved slightly, and he said softly, "Sometimes, character determines destiny. Part of it is due to the parents' upbringing methods being problematic, and the other part is due to personality. If it were Xuan Ling, as long as the second sister-in-law said no, she definitely wouldn't dare to associate with men privately."

Meng Jin Yao was slightly taken aback, then immediately nodded in agreement. If it were Xu Ling, she definitely wouldn't dare to do such a thing. Xu Ling has always been obedient and well-behaved, never doing anything out of line. “It’s just that, for this matter, my sister-in-law seems to have lost her soul.”

Gu Jingxi showed no sympathy, her tone cold and distant: "She failed to raise her daughter properly, blinded by vanity she agreed to the request of Lady Wu An and arranged for Xuan Yi to meet with the son of Duke Wu An. In the end, this kind of thing happened, who else is to blame Instead of indulging in melancholy, she should spend more time guiding her daughter, teaching her to be smarter, so that she wouldn't suffer after marriage"

She was right. Meng Jin Yao did not argue.

It is true that being a mother greatly influences the daughter. The situation has reached a point where there are only two paths: either accept the proposal when someone from Marquis Wu'an's mansion comes to ask for her hand in marriage, or become a nun by shaving her head. Otherwise, who would marry Xuanyan

However, those of lower social standing are acceptable. As long as Xiayi is married far away, but this would damage her reputation. A marriage of low status and distance, the in-laws would likely disdain her, but for the sake of profit, they would endure. When the time comes for them to rise to prominence, it is estimated that Xiayi will be out of favor. To be stepped on to climb higher is worse than marrying the son of Duke Wuan. At least Xiayi is willing, and what happens next depends on her own fate.

-

The first family knows about what's happening with the second family.

A family of four were chatting and laughing happily, when suddenly a maid came to report the news, shocking them all.

Suddenly, this happened. Compared to her husband and son who were completely unaware, Mrs. Chen, as an insider, was even more shocked. After all, Mrs. Zhang had already given up on the idea of betrothing her daughter to the Marquis of Wu'an's family before. Now, the two younger generations were secretly meeting each other.

If this happened, the two families would have to get married even if they didn't want to. If Marquis Wu'an's mansion didn't send someone to propose, it would be slapping Marquis Changxing's face – which would cause a feud. And Xuyan could only marry the son of Marquis Wu'an in this situation.

Chen looked at the well-behaved youngest daughter sitting beside her and admonished, "Xuanling, if you don't listen to your parents, that's how your elder sister ended up. Don't think just because your elder sister found a good family that it will be good once she marries into it. You mustn't judge things by appearances."

Gu Xuanying eagerly nodded: "Daughter, don't worry,"

She was so well-behaved, Mrs. Chen nodded in satisfaction and added, "Now that you're betrothed, just stay at home peacefully and prepare for your marriage. Don't be like your elder sister, running around everywhere, lest something goes wrong. And don't blame your mother for finding you a husband from the Liu family. Once both you and your elder sister are married, after comparing, you'll understand your mother's good intentions."

Gu Xueling hurriedly said, "Mother, I'm very satisfied with this marriage. Mr. Liu is also very good."

This is her honest opinion. Young Master Liu has handsome features, is gentle and elegant, studious and ambitious. And Madam Liu is also kind and gentle. It's said that Master Liu is a easygoing elder as well. She is very satisfied with this marriage.ainAs soon as the words left her mouth, Meng Jinyang regretted it. She wished she had sewn her mouth shut beforehand with needle and thread so that such unpleasant words wouldn't come out. How heartle...