Time flies.
Soon, the day of the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet arrived.
On this day, Chu Qianlan delivered newly tailored clothes and jewelry to Gu Jingchun early in the morning.
Gu Jingchun had no choice but to get up early to wash and dress.
But Lanxin looked at the obviously ill-fitting clothes that Chu Qianlan had brought, and while doing Gu Jingchun's hair and makeup, she couldn't help but mutter to herself.
"What exactly happened to Lady Hou?"
"Since she wants you to stand out at the birthday banquet, Miss, you should put in some effort."
If she wore these clothes she sent out, wouldn't people laugh at her?
Gu Jingchun smiled.
She had given up all expectations of her mother.
How can someone who doesn't love themselves care about her size and details?
I'm afraid this garment was made according to Gu Yunjin's measurements!
"Forget it, there's no time. Let's just change into the clothes we prepared ourselves!"
Lanxin hurriedly went to look for it, thinking to herself, "It's all thanks to my young lady's foresight in preparing an outfit in advance."
Otherwise, even entering the palace today would be a problem.
Outside the gate of the Marquis of Yong'an's residence.
Chu Qianlan and Gu Yunjin, dressed in their finest attire, were both waiting for Gu Jingchun's arrival.
But as time ticked by, and they knew they would be running out of time if they didn't set off soon, Chu Qianlan's expression gradually changed.
"What time is it? Why haven't they arrived yet?"
Gu Yunjin's eyes darted around, and she immediately went over to comfort him;
“Mother, don’t worry, there’s still time. After all, it’s my sister’s first time entering the palace, so she must be a little nervous. It’s understandable that she’s late.”
“Since it’s her first time entering the palace, she should prepare in advance. Does she think that entering the palace is like going to the city, which she can do whenever she wants?”
"They have absolutely no sense of time! What if they miss the appointed time?"
“If it weren’t absolutely necessary for her to go, I would never have taken her to the banquet today. Her lack of manners would only make her look bad.”
She then gave instructions to the housekeeper.
"Why don't you hurry up and send someone to urge them on?"
"Why is Mother in such a hurry? I'm here now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Jingchun walked out slowly, dressed in a lake-blue gauze robe with wide sleeves and a skirt adorned with birds.
Chu Qianlan paused slightly, her eyes lighting up at first, but when she saw her clothes clearly, she immediately sighed with disdain.
Although her outer robe was flowing and light, it was far too plain.
It would be a sight to behold on a normal day, but today's birthday banquet was attended entirely by noble ladies from prominent families, all dressed in brocade with gold thread, making it extremely luxurious.
Gu Jingchun's attire made him difficult to notice among the group of wealthy people.
Gu Yunjin knew Gu Jingchun was doing this on purpose when she saw her outfit, so she exclaimed in surprise:
"Sister, you look so beautiful in this outfit today! It's so elegant and suits you perfectly. But why didn't you wear the clothes Mother prepared for you?"
"Don't you like it?"
“Sister, do you know that the dress was made by the best embroiderer in Tiandu, specially commissioned by Mother. She even used fabric from Mother’s dowry. Its value cannot be measured in money.”
Gu Jingchun thought to himself, "No wonder the pattern is so tacky, it's an old design from many years ago!"
As soon as Gu Yunjin finished speaking, Chu Qianlan frowned and said reproachfully:
"Jingchun, where are the clothes I prepared for you? Why aren't you wearing them?"
Gu Jingchun opened his mouth, about to explain, when he heard Chu Qianlan continue to shout angrily:
“Jingchun, I made it very clear to you that day. As a daughter of a prominent family, you must always put the greater good first. Do you really think that changing your clothes on your own will change anything?”
"The Third Prince took a liking to you because of your background as the Marquis of Yong'an, not because of this dress."
She muttered something under her breath as she spoke.
"No wonder they came out at this time; they must have calculated that they wouldn't be changing clothes!"
That's such a petty and narrow-minded thing to do!
Gu Yunjin immediately stepped forward and took Chu Qianlan's arm, saying:
"Mother, please don't say that about my sister."
My sister is new to Tiandu and doesn't understand any of this.
She just thought that replacing me was bad, but that's not actually the case.
The Third Prince's power and status are beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Chu Qianlan gave Gu Yunjin an appreciative look, then playfully poked her forehead.
"You're just too kind-hearted. Even now, you're still trying to defend her. In her eyes, we're the ones who are hurting her!"
After saying that, she looked at Gu Jingchun with disdain.
"Look at your current situation."
"You're a widow now, how can you find a good marriage?"
"With your personality, if you marry into another noble family, you'll inevitably be looked down upon and wasted. I'm doing this for your own good, that's why I'm letting you marry the Third Prince. Don't you want to be the Crown Princess, high and mighty, and then who will look down on you?"
Gu Jingchun let out a low chuckle upon hearing this.
"In that case, I'll head back."
He bowed slightly and was about to leave.
Seeing this, Chu Qianlan quickly called out to her.
"Stop right there! What are you going back for?"
"I've said so much, but you haven't listened to a single word!"
Gu Jingchun looked completely innocent.
“I listened to your advice, but I think that since it is such a good marriage, it is better to let Yun Jin marry into the family, so that outsiders will not think that I have taken away my sister’s marriage and that I am a jealous person.”
After hearing this, Chu Qianlan and Gu Yunjin were stunned. Seeing that Gu Jingchun was about to leave, they gritted their teeth and shouted:
"Now that you're back, how can Yun Jin marry the Third Prince?"
“Why not?” Gu Jingchun said, “Mother also said that with the power and status of the Third Prince, ordinary people simply cannot reach him. But my sister no longer has the status of the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s mansion, so marrying the Third Prince would be like flying up a branch and becoming a phoenix.”
"Such a good thing, of course my daughter should give it to her younger sister."
Looking at Gu Jingchun's innocent appearance, Chu Qianlan wanted to refute him, but since these words came from her own mouth, she had no way to refute them. She could only grit her teeth and smile.
"What are you saying? Since it's your marriage, it's naturally yours. There's no question of giving it away."
"Besides, didn't I already explain to you how serious this matter is?"
As she spoke, she took another step forward, seemingly affectionately holding Gu Jingchun's hand, and gently comforted him, "Look at you, why are you so temperamental? Mother only said a few words to you because you were late, and you're already unhappy?"
Gu Jingchun shook off Chu Qianlan's hand and said coldly:
"Why didn't my mother ask me why I changed my clothes? She just assumed that I changed my clothes to avoid the marriage."
My mother's idea made me feel that there was something fishy about this marriage.
Otherwise, according to my mother, how could I not want such a good marriage?
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