Chapter 351 Cousin Aunt
But why did Yun Yichen call Xu Yunzhi over as well?
During the day they were enemies, fighting over each other's belongings, yet at night they sat at the same table, with Yun Yichen even pouring him tea—this was highly unusual.
Gu Shuyan yawned as she thought of this. Whatever their situation was, all she wanted to do right now was sleep.
He waved his hand and said, "You all go to sleep. You've had a long day. Get up later tomorrow."
After saying that, Gu Shuyan went into the inner room, lay down on the bed, and fell asleep instantly.
After Yun Yichen and the other two left the Marquis of Yi'an's residence, apart from Ji Wenxuan returning to the Ji residence, Yun Yichen and Xu Yunzhi did not go back.
"Thank you for today!"
Xu Yunzhi turned to look at Yun Yichen, and it took him a long time to finally manage to utter those words.
"No need for thanks, it's just what I should do."
Yun Yichen's face remained expressionless. As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, his eyes returned to their previous indifference when he looked at Xu Yunzhi, even carrying a hint of annoyance.
"Where did you hide that thing?"
Xu Yunzhi couldn't help but ask the question he most wanted to ask.
"Naturally, it's hidden somewhere he can't find it. Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Go back and tell him not to even think about things he shouldn't."
When "him" was mentioned, Yun Yichen's entire demeanor turned icy.
Xu Yunzhi was too close to him and naturally felt his tyranny, but he never interfered in their relationship.
Moreover, the person in front of him could be considered his enemy, or rather, an obstacle, so he naturally couldn't possibly have any inappropriate emotions.
"I'm leaving now, but I'll definitely pass on your message."
As Xu Yunzhi spoke, he glanced at Yun Yichen, then put on his signature smile and calmly headed towards one of his courtyards.
The next day, Gu Shuyan waited until the maid came in to call her before slowly opening her eyes.
Seeing that she was being served by two second-class maids, Gu Shuyan's first question was, "Where are Pearl and Mingyu?"
"Miss, have you forgotten? You asked Sister Pearl and Sister Mingyu to rest for two days and come back after the New Year."
Gu Shuyan slowly remembered, and after the maids finished dressing her up, she went to Yunxiang Courtyard for her meal.
As soon as she entered the gate, Gu Shuyan sensed an unpleasant atmosphere. When she looked up, she saw two familiar faces.
Gu Shuyan was suspicious. Why had they come on the first day of the Lunar New Year? But she still paid her respects to the old lady according to custom.
"Yan'er is here. Come and meet your great-aunt and your great-aunt."
The old lady greeted Gu Shuyan with a smile. Gu Shuyan turned around and looked at the two women, one old and one young, beside the old lady, and called out to them one by one as instructed.
"This is Shu'er! Come here and let your great-aunt take a good look at her!"
My great-aunt is the old lady's cousin from her maternal family. Because she had a good relationship with the old lady since childhood, they have kept in touch over the years.
In her past life, Gu Shuyan disliked this great-aunt very much. The reason was simply that Gu Shuyan wanted her father to marry this great-aunt, which made her unable to like her.
At that time, because of the design of the second wife, my aunt was tricked into giving herself to my father, which forced my father to take her into his house.
Originally, everyone agreed to the aunt's decision to make her a concubine, but suddenly, the aunt changed her mind and insisted that the father marry her daughter as a secondary wife.
As a result, the Marquis's mansion was thrown into chaos, and even the long-standing relationship between her and her grandmother was ruined by her.
In this life, Gu Shuyan looked at her great-aunt, whose eyes still held a hint of scheming, and a new idea came to her mind.
"So you're my great-aunt from Suzhou? Shu'er often hears her grandmother mention you!"
Gu Shuyan's sweet words and affectionate manner made her incredibly endearing.
"Oh, you actually know your great-aunt?" Auntie said with a smile, taking off a jade bracelet from her wrist and putting it on Gu Shuyan's wrist.
"Auntie came in a hurry and didn't bring any gifts. This bracelet is what she wore when she got married. I'll give it to you today as a gift."
Aunt Gu held Gu Shuyan's hand and spoke affectionately, while a hint of heartache flashed across the face of the woman beside her as the bracelet was removed.
Gu Shuyan naturally knew what she was heartbroken about—it was just the bracelet on her wrist.
My great-aunt's bad reputation in her youth led her to marry a lowly official surnamed He who was stationed in a remote area.
She thought that after marrying him, she would be able to return to the capital after a few years, but who knew that the official was not ambitious enough and he endured decades without being transferred from the local area to the capital.
As a woman from the capital, Madam He, who was also her maternal aunt, was naturally unwilling to stay in the countryside. Since she could rely on her husband and son but couldn't, she finally set her sights on her daughter.
Gu Shuyan turned to look at the woman beside her, her soft voice tinged with curiosity as she asked, "Auntie, you look so young. I wonder if your husband's family is also in the capital?"
Gu Shuyan looked too innocent, but Madam He and Miss He both changed their expressions.
"Shu'er, you don't know this, but your aunt is only twenty years old and is not yet betrothed!"
Madam He was no ordinary person; she quickly regained her composure and, looking at the young girl before her, immediately gave an explanation.
Logically speaking, most people wouldn't ask any more questions if they heard that someone wasn't betrothed.
But Gu Shuyan was no ordinary person. When she heard that she wasn't betrothed, she feigned surprise and asked, "So Auntie isn't betrothed yet?"
"In the capital, it's already rare for a woman to be unmarried by the age of twenty, and even rarer for her not to be betrothed!"
Gu Shuyan's words sounded gentle and powerless, yet they somehow made people feel very uncomfortable.
Just as Miss He blushed with shame and indignation, Gu Shuyan grabbed her hand.
"I suppose Auntie has encountered some bad things, but it's alright. There are plenty of good men in the capital, and many sons of wealthy families are still unmarried. If all else fails, she can find someone like Second Uncle. Since neither of them has a legal wife, Auntie will surely find a good match."
Gu Shuyan's approach was a classic case of giving a sweet treat after a beating, and ironically, even when both mother and daughter were somewhat angry, they still insisted on accepting the treat.
Just as Gu Shuyan said, there are plenty of unmarried young men from prominent families in the capital, so finding a good match is not difficult.
However, the He family's status is not high, and there are so many noble ladies in the capital, so it may not be easy for her to marry a young master.
But what about someone like Master Gu? If a teenage girl weren't from a poor family, who would marry them? And those from poor families are looked down upon by their elders, so someone like Miss He would be perfect.
"I don't expect to marry into a wealthy family, I just want my Yin'er to not suffer any grievances."
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