"Look at Gu Peichuan, the young master of the Gu family. He's already a regimental member at a young age, with outstanding military achievements. If he hadn't been held back from promotion, he would have been higher than you, a division commander, long ago. Do you think Gu Peichuan would help Gu Yarou instead of his own sister?"

“Look at Gu Yarou and Xu Luoxue, how many troublesome things have they done with Shuyan? Jingyu could have been promoted, but they ruined it all. They’re more like jinxes than lucky stars. Gu Huaien is all show and no substance, he has no potential to be the head of the family. If it weren’t for his daughter’s ‘diplomacy,’ who would give him face?”

Xu Jingyu was truly at her wits' end. On one hand, she told herself to trust her best friend Shi Zhenxiang, but on the other hand, she couldn't stand the interference of rumors. If Gu Yarou, whom she chose on the holiday, was really a fake princess, then where would she and the He family put their face?

If Gu Yarou cannot bring any benefit to the He family, then what is the point of their efforts to match her with Wen Yan? The He family cannot marry a daughter-in-law who has no power, influence, or background, even if she is a guest of honor from a lower-ranking family.

But the honored guests are not true members of the lower five noble families. Who knows if they might fall out and become disrespectful one day?

"If the second branch of the Gu family really isn't their biological daughter, then hasn't our He family misjudged her? But the rumor that Gu Wanwan is the nemesis of enemy agents seems absurd to me."

Grandma He thought they were just worrying unnecessarily. In her opinion, no matter how noble Gu Wanwan was, she was just a mobile blood bank for her to leech off. Gu Wanwan was not qualified to be the daughter-in-law of the He family. "You yourself think it's ridiculous, so how can the rumors be credible?"

"Shi Zhenxiang is your good sister. If you don't trust her, are you going to trust outsiders? You're a deputy factory director, and you don't even have the most basic judgment. Old ginger is spicier. I can tell it's too fake as soon as I hear it. Gu Wanwan is that weak coward. Are you sure she's capable of doing great things? It's obviously just hype."

"Everyone says that Gu Qiulin and the second branch of the Gu family are not biological children, but have you seen them produce any evidence? Who doesn't slander and defame these days? I think those people are all Old Master Gu's dogs, helping him to smear the second branch of the Gu family, trying to force the second branch to step down and make way for a more worthy successor."

"As long as my precious grandson Wen Yan is here, are you still afraid of Gu Wanwan? She loves our Wen Yan to death. With her as our trump card, how can our He family not have a way to control the Gu family?"

"In my own judgment, the accusation that the second wife's son is an adopted son was most likely deliberately released by Gu Wanwan and her brother. They have always been at odds with Gu Huaien and Gu Qiulin, so they would take this opportunity to retaliate!"

He Zhen somewhat felt that his wife was right. He was now very glad that Gu Wanwan was so infatuated with her grandson. "But last time, there was a rumor that Gu Wanwan had a new boyfriend, someone she was engaged to and had met the elders of, a soldier surnamed Fu."

"The rumors are spreading like wildfire outside. Everyone is saying that Gu Qiulin abused and abducted Gu Wanwan and her brother."

He Shenglong didn't know much about the rumors in this regard. He only knew that Gu Wanwan liked her son, which was the foundation of the He family's enduring strength. Secondly, a wise man had predicted that their son, He Wenyan, was a child of destiny, capable of turning danger into safety and leading the He family to the pinnacle of power.

A man destined for greatness should naturally be paired with a woman blessed with good fortune. This is why he initially tacitly allowed his mother and wife to match him with Gu Yarou. As a result, the He family decisively broke off the marriage with Gu Wanwan. At first, Gu Yarou and his son were close, which did bring a lot of benefits to the He family.

But later, upon closer examination, after Gu Wanwan left Beijing and Gu Qiulin publicly announced that she was going to the countryside, the He family stagnated. The lucky star woman's fortune seemed to have lost its effectiveness, and even her son's luck seemed to have weakened.