Chapter 227 Xuan Yi's Wedding
Hearing this, Gu Xuanyi felt very comforted. She curled the corners of her lips and snorted softly, "Fourth brother, we are both brothers. Listen to what third brother said and reflect on yourself. What kind of madness are you having? Bringing bad luck to your own sister on the eve of the wedding, and doing it in such a sarcastic way."
Gu Xiuwen choked up, glancing at Gu Xiuming with a complicated expression. Earlier, he had fought with his third brother along with his second uncle, and the brothers had fallen out.
Later, he read in his mother's letter that his third brother seemed to have reformed and was very respectful to his third aunt. He was skeptical, but now that he heard his third brother say these words, he felt that his third brother had not reformed.
These words sound like gloating. Third Brother isn't stupid; he knows that the Wu'an Marquis's family has complicated interpersonal relationships and is not suitable for Xuanyi.
Gu Xiuming noticed the subtle change in his expression and asked gently, "Fourth brother, why are you looking at me like that?"
Gu Xiuwen said with a forced smile, "It's been a while since I last saw you, Third Brother. You've changed a lot. You look almost unfamiliar to me."
Gu Xiuming lowered his eyes, his gaze darkening, and replied smoothly, "I was ignorant before, causing the elders to worry about me. Speaking of which, I still owe my fourth brother an apology. I got into a fight with my fourth brother and second uncle that day, and I realized my mistake afterward. I apologize to my fourth brother in advance."
After saying this, he bowed to Gu Xiuwen and said, "Fourth brother, I was wrong before. I hope you will forgive me."
Seeing his reaction, Gu Xiuwen didn't want to argue with him, and simply said, "What happened before is in the past, but Third Brother should apologize to Third Aunt."
Gu Xiuming's face stiffened, and he replied, "I have already apologized to my mother. She is very magnanimous and did not hold it against me."
After hearing this, Gu Xiuwen glanced at him. This elder brother used to be gentle and refined, but since seeing his repulsive side, he now seemed to have really changed. However, he still had a trace of doubt, especially after what he had just said, which increased his suspicion of him.
At this moment, Gu Xuanyi said, "Third brother, fourth brother, you two continue chatting, I'm leaving first." As she spoke, she stood up, and after taking two steps, she turned her head back and glared at her brother with annoyance.
Gu Xiuwen was not to be outdone. He glared back, hesitated, and finally held back from scolding his sister for being stupid. At this point, scolding was useless. He could only hope that his sister would be more clever in the future and not be bullied to death.
Gu Xiuming asked gently, "How is Fourth Brother doing at Lingshan Academy?"
Gu Xiuwen answered truthfully: "It's fine, but my classmates all seem to think that twelve hours a day is not enough. They wish there were twenty-four hours a day, and then they would study hard for twenty hours every day. Seeing how hard they work, I dare not slack off."
Gu Xiuming wasn't surprised and smiled, "It seems that Fourth Brother has been studying hard these days and has made a lot of progress. How about I test Fourth Brother?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiuwen became interested: "That's fine, it would be good if Third Brother checked my homework."
It would have been better if there hadn't been an exam. After the exam, Gu Xiuming felt a tightness in his chest, and a strong sense of crisis welled up in his heart again.
He knew very well what level his fourth brother had been at before, but after only a few months at Lingshan Academy, he had made great progress and was likely to pass the imperial examination in the future.
It seems that Father really sent his fourth brother to Lingshan Academy to focus on cultivating him. If the fourth brother can meet Father's expectations, he might really adopt him and find a way to make him take over his position as heir.
Fortunately, he participated in the autumn examination this time, and he thought he did well. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be on the list when the results are released next month, and the elders will definitely change their opinion of him.
He looked at Gu Xiuwen, forcing a smile: "Fourth brother has made a lot of progress recently, keep up the good work."
-
The following day, August 25th, was the day Gu Xuanyi was to be married.
The Changxing Marquis's mansion was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, filled with joy. The servants, their faces beaming with smiles, bustled about in the courtyard, busy with the wedding feast.
Guests flocked to the manor, and the area in front of the manor was filled with carriages from various families. The alleyways were even blocked by the carriages, and many guests had to get off in the alleys and walk over.
The masters of the Marquis's mansion were all extremely busy today. The men were entertaining the male guests in the front courtyard, while the women were entertaining the female guests who had come to the wedding banquet in the back courtyard.
Many women surrounded Meng Jinyao and chatted with her. Now that everyone knew she was favored in the Changxing Marquis's mansion, they naturally couldn't help but try to curry favor with her.
As for Madam Sun, although she was the stepmother of the Lady of Changxing, everyone present knew that the Lady of Changxing and her stepmother were at odds. Therefore, they all kept their distance from her and disdained to talk to a down-and-out woman like her.
Unconsciously, Sun was isolated. She looked at Meng Jinyao, who was surrounded by everyone, and Meng Jinyao's gentle and kind appearance made her momentarily dazed. For a moment, she felt that the young woman in front of her overlapped with the person in her memory.
She frowned, looked away, and a hint of malice flashed in her eyes. A short while later, when her daughter returned, she asked in a low voice, "Ayu, didn't I tell you to go and make friends with girls your own age? Why are you back so soon?"
Meng Jinyu felt wronged: "They don't really pay attention to my daughter, so naturally my daughter doesn't want to suffer that kind of treatment."
Madam Sun was taken aback, then glanced at Meng Jinyao's side. She quickly came up with an idea and said to her daughter, "You haven't seen your eldest sister in a long time. Go over and have a good chat with her."
Meng Jinyu looked reluctant upon hearing this.
Sun gave her a disappointed look and said in a low voice, "The ladies around your eldest sister are all from well-off families. Some of them must have unmarried sons, brothers, or nephews. Go over there and make an impression on them."
Meng Jinyu suddenly understood, and smiled sweetly, "Mother, I understand. I'll go talk to my older sister now." With that, she walked over to Meng Jinyao.
"Big sister."
Meanwhile, Meng Jinyao was discussing flowers with a lady when she suddenly heard Meng Jinyu's voice behind her. She paused in her smile, turned around, and saw Meng Jinyu walking towards her with a warm smile on her face.
The next moment, Meng Jinyu was in front of her, affectionately taking her arm and calling out obediently, "Big sister."
Meng Jinyao glanced vaguely at Madam Sun not far away, and could roughly guess that Meng Jinyu had received a hint from Madam Sun. She also understood what Madam Sun was planning, but she would not let Madam Sun have her way. Trying to use her as a stepping stone? No way.
However, as the saying goes, one shouldn't hit a smiling face. In front of the other guests, she didn't deliberately put on a cold face. She gently patted Meng Jinyu's hand and said in a gentle voice, "Second sister, please greet the ladies."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyu immediately released Meng Jinyao and bowed to the ladies, saying, "Ayu greets all the ladies."
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