Shen Zhixiu and Zhao Ji did not stay for long. After exchanging a few words, they went to the outer courtyard.
Although Gu Jinlan lowered his head, he kept watching Shen Zhixiu's back with his peripheral vision until he walked away and could no longer be seen clearly.
Su Yihui sneered in her heart. She had to let Su Qingyu taste what she had tasted.
The Su family's inner courtyard was bustling with guests all morning. Su Xiangling was busier than her sisters, as she was currently a popular figure in the capital, and many people wanted to befriend her.
Su Yihui seemed to get along particularly well with Gu Jinlan, and the two of them were always sticking together.
Soon it was time to celebrate the birthday, and the younger generation of the Su family came forward to kowtow and present gifts.
When Su Qingyu presented the gift, Shen Zhixiu couldn't help but twitch his lips. Bringing unburied funeral objects to celebrate his birthday, his wife was truly... frugal.
However, no one paid attention to what Su Qingyu gave during the birthday celebration today. Because halfway through the celebration, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sent someone to deliver a gift.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that His Royal Highness was honoring the Su family and Su Xiangling. The gift wasn't important; what mattered was the importance His Royal Highness placed on the Su family.
For the Su family, this was a double blessing. For a time, Su Xiangling was unrivaled in her glory. Some guests even whispered that if the Su family was lucky, a queen would soon emerge and her fortunes would soar.
Su Shunci muttered softly, "Is there smoke coming out of the Su family's ancestral tomb? Didn't my third cousin say that the mountain over there is on fire?"
After the birthday celebration, there was a banquet. Today the palace had invited an opera troupe, so everyone could go and listen to the opera after dinner.
Su Yihui pulled Gu Jinlan aside and asked, "Cousin, what's wrong with you? Why were you so absent-minded just now?"
Gu Jinlan's eyes flickered. Could it be that someone noticed something was wrong? She clutched at the corner of her clothes awkwardly, a little flustered.
In fact, Su Yihui didn't pay any attention to her at all. She said this just to lead to what she said next.
"What's wrong with you?" He pretended to be enlightened and said, "You are like this after Mr. Shen San left. You were staring at him before. Could it be that you are..."
Gu Jinlan's face flushed immediately, "Third cousin, stop talking, I didn't."
Su Yihui looked around and pulled Gu Jinlan to the tree behind the wing room. There were not many people there.
"Why are you shy? If you really like it, you have to fight for it yourself."
Gu Jinlan subconsciously twisted her hands together, "Fight for it myself? How dare I do that? My cousin seems difficult to get along with. If she knew I had this in mind, she would tear me apart."
Su Yihui sneered and advised confidently: "How could she tear you apart? Does she still want to be a jealous woman? As long as you can get close to Elder Shen, she will have no say in this matter."
Gu Jinlan was still confused, "What does cousin mean by 'getting involved'?"
"Don't you understand this?" Su Yihui whispered a few words into Gu Jinlan's ear.
The corners of Gu Jinlan's eyes curved upwards, and a light unconsciously appeared in his eyes.
"Is this okay?"
Su Yihui smiled triumphantly, "Why not? There are several marriages in Beijing that were arranged this way."
"Even if I'm getting married, I'll have to rely on this method to find a good marriage."
Gu Jinlan pursed her lips tightly, thinking Su Yihui's idea was a good one, but also a little scared. Thinking of Elder Shen, she felt admiration for him but also a bit of trepidation. A man like that was unattainable to her. Now someone told her there was a chance she could reach him, how could she not be tempted?
Even though she knew she would fall off a cliff, she still wanted to give it a try.
Thinking of this, Gu Jinlan felt a little flustered, but he still made up his mind to fight for a good future for himself.
*
The Su family was in high spirits, but the courtyards of the concubines were not included. The concubines were not allowed to go out to meet guests, or even go out for a walk as usual.
When Su Yihui entered, Aunt Xue was sewing. Seeing her coming, she looked up and asked, "Why are you here at this time?"
Aunt Xue didn't know about Su Yihui's miscarriage, and Su Yihui didn't plan to tell anyone. Even if she did, Aunt Xue couldn't help, and could only worry in vain.
"Grandma has a lot of guests, so I came to see my aunt and no one noticed. How is my aunt these days? Is that little bitch still bullying you?"
When the new concubine was mentioned, Concubine Xue's face changed. But fearing that her daughter would worry, she comforted her, "Don't worry about me. They won't dare to do anything to me."
It's just that she's a newcomer to the favor, so her temper is a bit tricky. Back when she was favored, she also looked down on others.
Su Yihui knew that her aunt was probably trying to comfort her. However, she herself was struggling in the Zhao family, and there wasn't much she could do for her aunt. Yesterday, she returned home to entertain guests and gave gifts to her second aunt, hoping they would take care of her.
"When my brother is released from the Ministry of Justice, my aunt will have hope for the future. Now that father has only this one son left, the title will naturally belong to my brother."
After thinking for a while, Su Yihui said again: "Auntie, you have to keep an eye on those two vixens and don't let them get pregnant."
Aunt Xue's mouth twitched, wanting to say that Su Yuankai was not in the Ministry of Justice, but she didn't dare to say it in the end.
He only said, "Whether your elder brother can inherit the title depends on the eldest lady's opinion."
Su Yihui looked displeased. "As a married daughter, how can she care about her brothers' succession to the title?"
She had been waiting for this day for a long time, and she would not be able to sleep or eat unless she took revenge on Su Qingyu.
Because of Su Qingyu, Zhao Ji only used a sedan chair to pick her up at home. It was also because of Su Qingyu that Zhao Ji had been lukewarm towards her after marriage.
At first she didn't know what was going on, but later she spent a lot of money to bribe the people around Zhao Ji, and then she found out that Zhao Ji was trying to please Su Qingyu.
And the last time about the second uncle's transfer order, it was Su Qingyu who hinted to Zhao Ji behind his back.
If Su Qingyu hadn't done those little tricks behind her back, she wouldn't have been bullied by the concubine in the backyard, and she wouldn't have been left without support in her natal family.
Why did she have to live like this while Su Qingyu was able to thrive in the inner court of the Shen family? On the day of her miscarriage, she hated her aunt who had harmed her, and Zhao Ji who had done nothing, but she hated Su Qingyu the most.
She insisted on returning home today just to deal a fatal blow to Su Qingyu.
Thinking of this, Su Yihui gritted her teeth and said, "Don't worry, Auntie. From today onwards, her good days will be over."
When Gu Jinlan becomes a concubine in the Shen family, she doesn't believe she won't be upset and angry. By then, she will become a jealous woman like her. Shen Zhixiu will naturally become the next Zhao Ji. A cat that has eaten fish can no longer eat vegetables.
Su Yihui's words and the ferocious smile on her face frightened Aunt Xue.
"What did you do? What did you do to your big sister?"
Aunt Xue asked hysterically, and her movements in pulling Su Yihui were stiff and rough, as if Su Yihui was not her daughter, but Su Qingyu was.
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