Chapter 269 Taken a Blow
The following day was the day Gu Xuanling returned to her parents' home after her wedding.
The Gu family members stayed home today, waiting for the second daughter and her husband to return to her parents' home.
Gu Xuanyi also arrived early in the morning, even earlier than Gu Xuanling. It wasn't because she cared so much about her cousin or had a particularly good relationship with her, but mainly because she wanted to see how her cousin, who had married someone worse off than herself, was doing. She could have married into a family of equal social standing, but instead, she chose to marry into a poor family.
Accompanying Gu Xuanyi back was the heir of the Marquis of Wu'an; the young couple looked very affectionate.
Seeing the loving relationship between the couple, Zhang felt much more at ease. Although her husband's family was difficult to deal with and her mother-in-law was hard to please, these were not the most unbearable things. The most unbearable thing was the disharmony between husband and wife. As long as the couple was harmonious, she could always find some comfort in her heart.
Gu Xuanyi exchanged pleasantries with the elders, and noticing that her cousin and brother-in-law hadn't arrived yet, she casually remarked, "Why haven't my second sister and brother-in-law arrived yet?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a maid came in to report: "Madam, the second young lady and the second son-in-law have arrived."
Madam Gu said gently, "Quickly, invite the second young lady and her husband in."
Gu Xuanyi looked towards the door, her eyes filled with a hint of watching a show. She wanted to see how her cousin, who had married into a humble family, and her brother-in-law, who also came from a humble background, were doing.
Soon after, Gu Xuanling and her husband Liu Zifang appeared in everyone's sight.
Gu Xuanling had a rosy complexion, a smile on her lips, and joy in her eyes. She walked in side by side with Liu Zifang, her face slightly shy. It was clear that she was doing well after her marriage.
Seeing this, Gu Xuanyi's smile visibly stiffened. The feeling of failing to make a fool of herself left her with a complicated mood and a rather unpleasant feeling.
Although Liu Zifang came from a humble background, he was not intimidated by the elders of the Gu family. He and Gu Xuanling greeted the elders and peers with neither arrogance nor servility. The young couple looked very well-matched.
Madam Gu was quite satisfied with her grandson-in-law. As the only son in the family, Liu Zifang was not spoiled and was a young man of excellent character and learning. Today, Xuanling's return to her parents' home showed that she had not suffered any grievances after marriage and was living better than Xuanyi, who married the heir of the Marquis of Wu'an. Whether it is marriage or taking a wife, one cannot only look at social status. Xuanyi was willful and did not listen to advice, and she has to bear the bitter consequences herself.
After chatting for a while, the three Gu brothers left one after another. Gu Xiuyuan, as the eldest brother, greeted his two brothers-in-law with his younger brothers and went to another place with them. After all, they were men and there wasn't much to talk about with the women.
After they left, Madam Chen asked with concern, "Xuanling, have you been doing well at the Liu family? Have you been wronged?"
Gu Xuanling gently shook her head: "Mother, don't worry, I'm fine. I haven't been wronged. My father-in-law and mother-in-law treat me very kindly."
Madam Chen then asked, "How does your son-in-law treat you?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Xuanling lowered her head shyly, a smile involuntarily spreading across her lips, and replied softly, "My husband treats me very well too."
"Has the Liu family set any rules for you?"
Gu Xuanyi asked the question with a hint of urgency in her voice. Her eyes were fixed on Gu Xuanling, as if she wanted to see the disappointment on Gu Xuanling's face and find some solace in it.
Zhang also looked at Gu Xuanling. Her daughter had complained to her twice because her mother-in-law had set rules for her, requiring her to pay respects to her mother-in-law morning and evening. Zhang could only comfort her daughter by saying that new brides are generally required to be set rules by their mothers-in-law. Now, she hoped that Xuanling would also be set rules, just like her daughter, and that she would have to pay respects to her mother-in-law morning and evening and serve her mother-in-law. This would make her daughter feel much more balanced.
Unexpectedly, when Gu Xuanling heard this, she first looked at her cousin blankly, not understanding why her cousin would ask such a question, and then replied truthfully: "No, after I served tea yesterday, my mother-in-law told me that the Gu family does not have such a rule. My grandmother did not set any rules for her three daughters-in-law, so naturally the Liu family does not either."
Gu Xuanyi: "???"
She looked at her cousin with disbelief. Seeing that her cousin didn't seem to be lying, she felt a sudden blow to her heart. Her in-laws had made it a rule for her to get up early every morning, rain or shine, to help her mother-in-law get dressed, wash up, and have breakfast. But her cousin didn't have to? Why?
Hearing this, Zhang was also surprised. She then looked at her daughter with worry in her eyes and felt sorry for her daughter's situation. Other people's daughters were pampered by their husband's family after marriage, but her daughter was mistreated after arriving at her husband's family.
Seeing her daughter's face stiffen and she didn't reply, Zhang took over the conversation to ease the awkwardness: "Last time I met Madam Liu, I thought she was easy to get along with. I didn't expect her to be like that in reality. Xuanling is so lucky."
Gu Xuanling lowered her head, smiled shyly, and blushed.
She also felt that she was blessed. She was originally worried that the relationship between her and her mother-in-law would be difficult to handle, but her mother-in-law treated her with gentleness and love, her father-in-law was an enlightened elder, and her husband also loved her very much.
She was actually happier than many concubine daughters. Her stepmother never mistreated her, and her marriage was carefully chosen by her stepmother, who considered all aspects and selected a suitable husband's family for her. Whether before or after marriage, she was happy.
The only downside was that for the past ten years or so, she had been bullied by her cousin. Her father didn't manage the household affairs, and although her stepmother hadn't mistreated her, she wasn't her biological mother, so she didn't dare to complain to her stepmother about such trivial matters between sisters. But now that she was married and lived in a different household, her cousin couldn't bully her anymore.
Madam Chen smiled and said gently, "Everyone is blessed. Your Xuanyi is also a blessed child. The wife of Marquis Wu'an is very kind and must treat Xuanyi very well. Moreover, the eldest son-in-law is a handsome man and a perfect match for Xuanyi. They are a perfect couple, like a golden boy and a jade girl, and it is pleasing to the eye to look at them."
Zhang was speechless: "..."
If her daughter were lucky, she wouldn't be crying to her.
Gu Xuanyi was speechless: "..."
Suddenly, she felt like she was swallowing a bitter pill, unable to express her suffering. Her mother-in-law was not kind at all. Not only did she set rules, but she also tormented her in other small matters. For example, if she wanted to eat walnuts, she would make her peel them. Even though there were maids around, she would not be used. Instead, she would make her peel them. Her fingers were red, swollen, and painful from peeling walnuts.
Chen glanced at Zhang and her daughter indifferently. Seeing that they were embarrassed, her smile deepened. She could guess what Zhang and her daughter were thinking. They just wanted to see Xuanling suffer so that they could find some psychological comfort. Xuanling's answer had obviously hurt the mother and daughter.
If you ask her, Zhang and her daughter are brainless. Anyone with a brain could figure it out. Although Xuanling is born out of wedlock, she comes from the Changxing Marquis's family and is more than a match for Liu Zifang, the son of the eighth-rank Imperial Academy Assistant. Moreover, with the Changxing Marquis's family as her backing, how could Liu Zifang's parents dare to act like elders in front of Xuanling?
Even if the family splits up, the second branch still has their second master, who is a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites, which is higher than the Liu family's social standing. If Xiu Hong passes the imperial examination next spring, the second branch will be even more prestigious.
She was somewhat displeased with the sordid thoughts of the Zhang mother and daughter, so she subtly changed the subject and brought up another matter to continue provoking the mother and daughter: "Xuanling, is Zifang preparing to participate in next year's imperial examination?"
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