Bai sometimes wondered if Gu Yankai truly loved Qin to death, or if it was simply because she died at the prime of her life. How could one not miss a beauty who died young? If, in another ten years, Qin were covered in wrinkles, Bai didn't believe Gu Yankai would still be so deeply affectionate.
She just didn't know if Gu Yankai had ever thought of her after she died in her previous life. Bai Shi thought he probably hadn't, as she was just a reluctant marriage he had made for money and the red seal of the Marquisate.
But why think about all this? Didn't I learn enough from my past life? If I had this time, I might as well think about what else I should add to Chang'er's dowry. And Lancao is also of marriageable age. Who can replace Lancao, Yuanxiangwu or Xiangyu?
Concubine Xia secretly visited Gu Tingyu's courtyard twice, and Gu Yankai held her hand as she reminisced about Qin Shi. As happy as she had been then, she felt as miserable now. The Bai family, a merchant woman, was so abusive that her hands had been pricked like colanders. Wiping away a tear, Concubine Xia continued sewing under the flickering candlelight.
On this day, Bai received a visiting card from the Xiangyang Marquis's mansion. Recalling that she hadn't attended the flower viewing banquet last year, she realized that since this person was coming, she couldn't refuse to entertain him. Bai had no choice but to reply and instruct Madam Zhou to prepare to entertain the distinguished guest.
The Gu clan's ancestors, knowing Bai was a merchant's daughter, would never have given her a letter. Only the Xiangyang Marquisate had ever sent her two letters. In a previous life, Bai had also interacted with the Xiangyang Marquis's wife. She was a woman of forthright character, unlike others who constantly looked at her with disdain. Bai also liked the Xiangyang Marquis's wife's daughter, Xin Jie'er. The girl was only a few years younger than her and treated her with great courtesy.
Bai, standing at the gate of the Marquis' mansion, greeted the approaching carriage and, with a gentle smile, stepped forward to greet the wife of the Marquis of Xiangyang. Because Gu Yankai was older, the wife of the Marquis of Xiangyang addressed Bai as "sister-in-law." After stepping out of the carriage, Zhou stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Hello, sister-in-law."
Mrs. Bai also bowed, and seeing Sister Xin following behind, she smiled and said, "This beautiful and charming girl must be Sister Xin, right?"
Xin Jieer stepped forward and bowed as a junior: "Niece Gu Xiner greets aunt."
Bai quickly helped Xin Jie'er up and took off a Hetian jade bracelet of excellent white and fine texture from her wrist. She said to Xin Jie'er, "A gift from an elder cannot be refused."
Seeing Zhou nod, Xin Jieer took the jade bracelet with both hands and thanked her, "Thank you, Auntie."
Welcoming the two into the mansion, Xin Jie'er was returning to the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion for the first time since she could remember. Seeing the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion, which was much more magnificent than her own, Xin Jie'er was stunned by Zhou's hand. Zhou looked at her daughter's rare stunned expression and said to Bai with a smile, "Sorry to make you laugh, sister-in-law. This girl was here when she was a child, but this is her first time since she can remember. It's inevitable that she is overwhelmed by the grandeur of the mansion."
Bai Shi found Xin Jie'er adorable and waved her hand, saying, "Don't even mention Xin Jie'er, she's just a little girl. I was also intimidated when I first entered. Although this mansion isn't as grand as some others, it has a unique style."
Xin Jie'er lowered her head in embarrassment, her face slightly red. After entering the flower hall and sitting down, she looked up and saw that the furnishings in the house were much more exquisite than her own home. It was obvious that the Xiangyang Marquis's Mansion was far inferior to the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion.
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