Xie Xiangxiang was in an extremely good mood in the embroidery tower.
The maids Xiangxing and Shui'er flattered, "Second Miss, Young Master Gu is so good to you."
"Yes, he brought out so many treasures as a betrothal gift."
"Zhang Yanyan's betrothal gift is only five thousand taels."
Xie Xiangxiang said cheerfully, "Don't flatter me, my elder sister's betrothal gifts haven't arrived yet!"
"Yes, why haven't the young lady's betrothal gifts arrived yet?" Shui'er glanced at the hourglass and said, "It's almost noon. It's not good luck to send the betrothal gifts in the afternoon, is it?"
"Pfft~" Xie Xiangxiang said with a laugh, "Grand Secretary Gu won't be coming."
Xie Tingting had been hearing her sister say these past few days that Grand Secretary Gu was unlikely to come, and she asked curiously, "Sister, how do you know Grand Secretary Gu can't come?"
"Don't ask anymore, she definitely can't come. Let's go down and see our eldest sister."
The group came down from the embroidered tower and headed towards Xie Zhaozhao's courtyard.
On the way, they met Xie Wanwan and Xie Xiuxiu, the legitimate daughters of the second and third branches of the family. They fawned over her, saying, "Second sister, congratulations! Prince Gu is so good to you."
"Yes, Prince Gu said long ago that he prepared all the betrothal gifts himself, and several other items were provided by the Crown Prince."
"Oh my, there are also royal gifts from the Crown Prince." Xie Wanwan and Xie Xiuxiu looked at her with envy, and felt a little jealous. Prince Gu was so handsome and treated their second sister so well.
Thinking about it, Xie Wanwan felt a little sad and said, "Eldest sister's betrothal gifts haven't arrived yet. She's going to marry Grand Secretary Gu, so it certainly won't be bad."
"Heh, just you wait and see, Grand Secretary Gu won't be coming. As for the betrothal gifts, perhaps the Marquis's mansion will bring them, or perhaps they never will."
Xie Xiangxiang's certainty immediately piqued Xie Wanwan's curiosity: "Second sister, what exactly happened? Why can't Grand Secretary Gu come?"
"Because..." Xie Xiangxiang stopped and smiled mysteriously, "Because my elder sister is an unlucky person!"
Ah, my elder sister is so beautiful, how could she be an unlucky person?
Isn't she Guanyin-faced?
The two seemed to have discovered something terrible, and hurriedly ran back to their mother, saying that their elder sister was an ominous person.
In the secluded courtyards of mansions, good news goes unnoticed, but bad news is sure to be met with serious criticism.
The aunts from the second and third wives almost instantly turned the situation around, declaring Xie Zhaozhao the number one jinx in the world and that she should be dragged out and beaten to death immediately.
It spread rapidly throughout the entire mansion.
Xie Zhaozhao's betrothal could not be completed.
Grand Secretary Gu cannot come.
He died outside.
The news of the death arrived soon.
......
As the sun slowly approached noon, Gu Chengyan, accompanied by Xie Yu and others, had already drunk two pots of tea, chatting about everything from the imperial court to the common people, from the capital to the border, from the Great Gan to the seven major and minor kingdoms.
Grand Secretary Gu never came.
His betrothal gifts were never brought over.
Xie Zhaozhao remained silent in her courtyard. In the past few days, she had been copying scriptures and praying at Huguo Temple, but today she did nothing at all.
She was dressed beautifully, but her face showed neither joy nor sorrow. As usual, she leaned against the chaise longue under the window, quietly reading a book.
Manman has run out to look several times, and when she comes back, she doesn't dare to tread again.
Yuanyuan could tell from her expression that Grand Secretary Gu had not yet arrived.
Did they call off the engagement?
Or did something happen in Jiangnan?
As Yuan Yuanyuan thought of the bracelet that the young lady gave to Grand Secretary Gu, and how she copied scriptures day and night, her heart sank.
Her eyes were red.
Xie Zhaozhao looked up at them and said calmly, "What's wrong? Haven't we been living like this for over ten years?"
They simply exchanged birth charts; there was no real affection involved.
If her father and brothers told her to marry into the family with their memorial tablets and remain a widow, she would go if it would benefit the family. If the marriage was canceled, she would marry someone else.
She has done everything she could these past few days and has no regrets.
It's just that some people say she's unlucky. Let them say what they want, so what!
"Hey, sister, the weather's so nice, why don't you go out and have a look?" Xie Xiangxiang and Xie Tingting arrived uninvited.
Xie Xiangxiang wanted to say that Grand Secretary Gu would never come again, but she wanted to suppress it. After all, Xie Zhaozhao would be even more grief-stricken and devastated if she heard the bad news herself, and she would be able to see her sorrow more clearly.
She tried her best to suppress her smugness and said, "Sister, aren't you going to the front yard to take a look? The betrothal gifts have already been delivered."
Xie Zhaozhao didn't even lift her eyelids.
Manman said angrily, "Second Miss, if you have nothing else to do, please leave. Don't disturb the Eldest Miss's reading."
Xie Tingting opened her innocent big eyes and said, "Big sister, why hasn't Grand Secretary Gu arrived yet?"
"Father and elder brother are handling things in the front yard; we don't need to worry about it," Xie Zhaozhao said dismissively.
Xie Tingting continued, "It's already noon. If we don't offer the betrothal soon, the auspicious time will have passed."
Manman couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Third Miss, why are you in such a hurry about the eldest young lady's affairs? People who know you might think you're worried about the eldest young lady, but people who don't know you might think you're in a hurry to get married!"
“You… eldest sister, I’m worried for you. If the betrothal is done after noon, it’s like betrothing a widow.”
Xie Tingting's words infuriated Yuanyuan, who was about to explode when Xie Zhaozhao put down her book.
He said to Yuanyuan and Manman, "Slap them! Let them know what respect for elders is, and what rules are."
Yuan Yuanman couldn't hold back any longer. Without saying a word, she jumped over and slapped Xie Xiangxiang and Xie Tingting several times, making them howl in pain.
"Xie Zhaozhao, you're destined to be a widow! Grand Secretary Gu won't be coming; he died in Jiangnan!"
As soon as Granny Xu and the old lady entered the courtyard, they heard these words.
Madam Xie trembled with rage, pointing at Xie Xiangxiang and Xie Tingting, she said, "Kneel down! Who taught you to spread these rumors? Was it the Xu family?"
He said to Granny Liu beside him, "Find a few people and lock these two ignorant fools in the backyard and don't let them out."
Just as Granny Liu was about to pull Xie Xiangxiang and Xie Tingting into their respective rooms, a loud commotion suddenly arose outside the mansion.
Ying'er rushed over in a panic: "Madam, hurry, the eldest young lady's betrothal gifts have arrived."
"Grand Secretary Gu has arrived?"
"No, I didn't see it... It's the betrothal gifts that have arrived."
Xie Xiangxiang and Xie Tingting broke free from Granny Liu's grasp and ran briskly towards the front yard.
The old lady looked at Xie Zhaozhao and said, "Silly child, you should go and take a look too. Don't go to the front yard, stand on the second floor of the waterside pavilion, so no one can see you."
"Yes, Grandmother."
Xie Zhaozhao and Yuan Yuanman walked with the old lady through the covered corridor and past the hanging flower gate. The old lady went to the front yard, while Xie Zhaozhao and Yuan Yuanman turned and went to the second floor of the waterside pavilion, where they could see the front yard clearly.
A vast array of royal ceremonial flags came to a stop at the Xie residence. The imperial flags parted to the sides, and Prince Jing and Duke Yin Xiushan personally came to present the betrothal gifts to Grand Secretary Gu.
"By imperial decree: Grand Secretary Gu is a trusted minister of mine, whom I cherish and love. Today, I am pleased that Grand Secretary Gu is betrothed to Zhao Zhao, the eldest daughter of the Xie family. Therefore, I have specially arranged the betrothal for Grand Secretary Gu."
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