Gu Cixiu had someone place the gifts for the bride's return visit in the warehouse, with Granny Liu following behind, checking the list of gifts one by one.
With Xiao Cui's help, Gu Qianluo slowly walked to the place where the banquet was being held.
When Gu Qianluo's glamorous figure appeared at the garden entrance, all the guests present were immediately impressed and exclaimed in admiration.
"Big sister is so beautiful! Like a fairy!"
Aunt Mai's daughter, the third young lady of the Gu family, Gu Qianyi, pointed at Gu Qianluo with a loud voice.
"So it's Miss Gu! I thought Mr. Gu had managed to get involved with some high-society lady!"
Granny Shen, a relative of the Gu family, and Madam Liu from the Vice Minister's residence stood to the side, their eyes revealing much admiration for Gu Qianluo.
"So, as they say, clothes make the man and a saddle makes the horse. If I had known she was so beautiful, I would definitely have made her my wife."
The chaotic and noisy discussions flew past her ears, but Gu Qianlu ignored the negative voices.
She walked leisurely through the flowers with a smile on her face.
With light and graceful steps, she was like a fairy descended to earth, pure and innocent, and detached from worldly strife.
"Granddaughter greets her grandmother."
Gu Qianlu first went to Old Madam Gu's side to offer her tea and chatted with her. Then she raised her cup to greet each of the elders.
"Luo'er, your outfit is so luxurious! Dress like this from now on!" the old lady said jokingly.
“Grandmother, these are three sets of fine clothes that our Lady Hou personally gave me. I can choose any of them. Even these hairpins and jewelry were gifts from her.”
Upon hearing this, the old lady's eyes lit up. She looked Gu Qianluo up and down and kindly gave her some instructions.
"Your mother-in-law treats you so well! You're so lucky to have such a wonderful mother-in-law!"
"Grandmother is absolutely right."
Gu Qianxue overheard the conversation between the old lady and Gu Qianlu from afar, and upon seeing Gu Qianlu's outfit, she nearly fainted from anger.
In her previous life, when she returned to her parents' home after her marriage, the Marquis's mansion gave her a bright red suit, but not a single piece of jewelry.
Why is it that when it comes to Gu Qianluo, her mother-in-law from her previous life is giving her clothes and jewelry?
"I never knew Gu Qianluo had this trick up her sleeve! She's obviously trying to get ahead of me! Humph!"
Hearing the commotion in the garden, Gu Qianxue peeked out from the small cubicle, her eyes blazing with anger.
However, the thought that her husband hadn't accompanied her on her homecoming made Gu Qianxue feel even more smug.
He wanted to step forward and settle things with Gu Qianluo, but Lu Shi held his hands and feet down.
"Mother, why are you pressing me down? Gu Qianluo is clearly trying to suppress me. If I don't teach her a lesson today, won't she take advantage of me?"
"Look at you, what's the rush? It hasn't even started yet!"
Gu Qianxue looked at Madam Gu with a puzzled expression, "What does Mother mean?"
"Take your seats first, and you'll find out soon enough." Madam Lu gave a sly smile.
Today's banquet is a family feast. In order to further consolidate the relationship between the Gu family and the royal family and the Marquis's mansion, Gu Cixiu specially arranged for the eldest son's children to sit at one table. Aunt Mai and Aunt Fang, being elders, also joined the feast.
As soon as Gu Cixiu announced, "Let's begin!" the guests picked up their chopsticks and began to feast.
Gu Qianxue was accompanied by her husband on her homecoming visit today, and her face was beaming with joy. She occasionally revealed a smug expression while eating.
Aunt Fang was fond of currying favor with the eldest branch of the family. Knowing that Madam Lu of the eldest branch disliked Gu Qianluo, she took advantage of the time before the actors went on stage to playfully talk to Gu Qianluo.
"Oh dear, I wonder if Luo'er has seen this play?"
Gu Qianlu raised an eyebrow, tilted her head slightly to look at the Huangmei Opera being performed on the stage, and smiled slightly.
"Luo'er is not very knowledgeable and has not read this before. Please ask Aunt Fang for guidance."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Fang revealed a sarcastic smile.
"The female lead in that play was originally the eldest daughter of a wealthy merchant in the capital. She thought that after marrying the eldest son of the Duke's mansion, she could enjoy a lifetime of glory. However, think about it, would the sons of the royal family really like a merchant's daughter?"
After becoming the mistress of the house, she worked tirelessly to manage the household affairs for the eldest son, thinking that he would cherish her because of her hard work.
But the eldest young master only favored the concubine he brought back from the battlefield. This mistress waited anxiously in her palace every day for him, but died without ever consummating their marriage.
Gu Qianlu was startled, abruptly stopped eating, and sneered.
"That female protagonist is really foolish. She worked herself to the bone for a man who didn't love her, and in the end, she got nothing."
Taking advantage of the momentum, Madam Lu chimed in,
"They say that life is like this, and life is like a play."
"Hey, Luo'er, I heard that your husband, like the male lead in this play, brought back a woman from the battlefield. Is that true?"
Gu Qianlu raised an eyebrow, calmly picked up a glass of wine from beside her, raised it above her head, and toasted Lu Shi.
"Mother's information network is truly impressive! But these are all matters of the Marquis's residence, how did Mother know about them?"
Seeing the fierce look in Gu Qianluo's eyes, Gu Qianxue's anger flared up, and she rebuked her.
"Gu Qianluo, what do you mean? Your mother is just concerned about you! Who are you trying to impress with that arrogant attitude!"
Madam Lu pressed Gu Qianxue, who had just stood up, back into her seat, feigning to persuade her.
"Qianxue, how can you talk to your sister like that?"
Your sister has already fallen out of favor, yet you are still being so rude to her.
Are you trying to make people outside say you're disrespectful to your sisters?
"Mother! I was just teaching my sister to see her place clearly and not to deceive herself!"
"Sister, what do you mean by that? I don't know what you heard outside."
But I only believe what I see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears.
“Gu Qianluo, people outside are saying that your brother-in-law only has that woman he brought back from the battlefield in his heart. He didn’t even step into the bridal chamber on our wedding night.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Qianluo was slightly taken aback, and then let out a cold laugh. Her arrogant and confident demeanor stunned all the women present.
"Qianluo, how...how can you still laugh?"
"Qianluo, are you too sad? You can't even cry anymore? Men are all fickle and easily bored. Try to be more open-minded!"
Aunt Fang patted her shoulder, feigning to comfort her.
"Sister, why bother? You know your husband's heart isn't with you, yet you still pretend to be well-off. Isn't that just deceiving yourself?"
"Who said your brother-in-law's heart isn't with her?"
Suddenly, a deep, mellow voice rang out, and then a handsome and tall figure stood in front of him.
Gu Qianlu was startled at first, her brows furrowing slightly. But when she saw the person beside her, a faint smile appeared on her lips, and she asked softly,
"Why has my husband come?"
Chen Jinheng took off a cloak from his body, bent down and gently draped it over Gu Qianluo, saying softly,
"It's getting cold today, why aren't you wearing more clothes, my lady? I'll be so worried if you catch a cold."
After Chen Jinheng's words, who would dare say that his heart wasn't with her?
He came here to stand up for her.
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