The Marquis is not dead, and there is no guarantee he will even marry you.

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“That’s good.” Gu Yunting’s answer was deliberately vague.

“Then that settles it. Since you’ve returned, the two of you should find a time to hold the wedding.”

“Shouldn’t we ask Miss Jiang first?” Gu Yunting did not agree outright.

“Quite right. Although her parents have given their consent, I can see that she hasn’t been very happy in the Jiang household. In that case, let her marry into our family as soon as possible. From now on, I’ll dote on her as though she were my own daughter.”

Thinking of the Jiang family’s behavior at the funeral, the Dowager Marchioness could not help feeling sorry for Jiang Shuwan.

“Mm.”

At the thought of marrying Jiang Shuwan, the corners of Gu Yunting’s mouth lifted involuntarily.

Seeing her son’s reaction, the Dowager Marchioness realized that he also had feelings for Jiang Shuwan, and her heart finally relaxed.

Then, remembering something, she furrowed her brows. “Yunting, now that your affairs have been settled, there’s still Xin’er…”

The Dowager Marchioness hesitated.

At the mention of Gu Xin, Gu Yunting’s brows drew tightly together. “Mother, say what you wish to say.”

The Dowager Marchioness glanced at Gu Yunting. His features were cold, and he was tall and powerfully built, with the bearing of a hard man who could hold up the heavens. His son, by contrast, had the appearance of a pale-faced scholar, seemingly unable to lift even a chicken. Father and son were as different as heaven and earth.

Thinking of the things Gu Xin had done, the Dowager Marchioness sighed. Only after taking a sip of tea did she begin to recount everything that had happened between Gu Xin and Lin Rou.

Gu Yunting had known about it all for some time, but hearing his mother speak of it now made his expression grow darker and darker.

He struck the table. “That unfilial brat! How could he do such a thing? It seems I went too easy on him just now.”

“Sigh, I never imagined he would do anything like that. You’ve spent so many years away from home, and I failed to guide him properly.” The Dowager Marchioness blamed herself.

“Mother, there’s no need to blame yourself. It’s simply that the boy’s nature is—”

Gu Yunting fell silent, his face dark as coal.

Assuming that, as a father, he found it difficult to curse his own son, the Dowager Marchioness took over. “Xin’er isn’t bad by nature. With proper guidance, he can certainly be brought back to the right path.”

Gu Yunting cast her a sidelong glance, his eyes growing deeper and darker. After a long pause, he answered blandly, “Mm.”

“The most important matter now is that he insists on marrying the Jiang family’s cousin. That woman is clearly not the sort to behave herself. How can we allow someone like her through the gates of our marquisate?”

Remembering Lin Rou’s conduct on the appointed day, undisguised disgust flickered through the Dowager Marchioness’s eyes.

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“Let him marry her if that’s what he wants,” Gu Yunting said quietly.

“What did you say?” The Dowager Marchioness thought she had misheard him and stared at him in astonishment.

Gu Yunting’s eyes turned dark as ink. He picked up the cup before him, took a sip of tea, and set it down.

Expressionless, he said, “Mother, let him do whatever he wants.”

“Yunting, he’s your own son. How can you say such a thing? Leaving aside the fact that a woman like that would turn our marquisate upside down, Xin’er is still your son. Surely you ought to help him judge whether a woman is suitable before he takes her as his wife.”

Gu Yunting lowered his eyes and said nothing.

The Dowager Marchioness looked at him, utterly perplexed.

All these years, Gu Yunting had always kept a stern face whenever he dealt with Gu Xin and had rarely shown him any warmth. She had assumed that he was simply cold by nature, which was why he was not especially affectionate toward his son.

But now, his attitude seemed truly strange.

“Yunting, is it because Xin’er has no ambition that you’ve given up on him?” the Dowager Marchioness asked tentatively.

Gu Yunting raised his eyes and shook his head. “Mother, he’s an adult. He knows the consequences of his own actions. I don’t wish to interfere too much.”

“But he…”

Gu Yunting cut her off. “As long as he behaves himself and does nothing to damage the reputation of the marquisate, that is enough. Beyond that, he may do whatever he pleases.”

With that, Gu Yunting rose. “Mother, I’m going to the Jiang residence.”

“What are you going there for?” The Dowager Marchioness stared at him blankly, bewildered by his sudden change of subject.

“To set the wedding date,” Gu Yunting replied.

The Dowager Marchioness brightened at once. She immediately forgot about Gu Xin’s affairs and rose with a beaming smile. “Good. Go, then. Discuss the betrothal gifts with the Jiang family and decide when the engagement ceremony will be held.”

“Mm.”

Gu Yunting nodded and walked straight out.

The Dowager Marchioness followed him outside and ordered the steward to open the storehouse and select betrothal gifts for Jiang Shuwan.

* * *

Jiang Shuwan followed behind the guests, listening as they chattered excitedly along the road ahead.

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“Do you know, Marquis Yongbo must truly have gone senile to arrange something so absurd.”

“The marquis clearly wasn’t dead. I’d say the auspicious marriage worked.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Think about it. The marquis returned safe and sound. Doesn’t that prove the auspicious marriage succeeded?”

“Exactly. If that’s the case, then First Miss Jiang isn’t a harbinger of misfortune at all. She’s clearly a bringer of good fortune.”

Behind them, Jiang Xunian’s expression shifted. He glared fiercely at Madam Li and Jiang Xueyu beside him. Both women lowered their heads guiltily.

After the others had gone, Jiang Xunian stopped and said to Jiang Shuwan, full of remorse, “Shuwan, I was wrong just now. Look, the marquis has returned safe and sound. You will be the future mistress of the marquisate. From now on, our Jiang family will have to rely on you.”

Looking at Jiang Xunian’s mercenary expression, Jiang Shuwan remembered how blind she had been in her previous life, unable to see through his hypocrisy and believing that everything he did was for her own good.

A mocking smile curved her lips. “Father, what are you saying? I will remember everyone who treats me well.”

Jiang Xunian heard the sarcasm in her words. The Jiang Shuwan of today was someone he could not afford to provoke, so he could only force an awkward smile. “You’re right, Wan’er.”

Jiang Xueyu could not stand seeing Jiang Shuwan, who had always been beneath her, now towering over her. She sneered, “The marquis isn’t dead, but that doesn’t mean he’ll marry you.”

Jiang Xunian immediately shouted at her, “Silence! Is that how you speak to your elder sister?”

Jiang Xueyu looked disgruntled and stormed toward the gate.

Madam Li stepped in to smooth things over. Looking at Jiang Xueyu’s retreating figure, she said gently, “That child is so thoughtless. Wan’er, don’t take it to heart. Your younger sister has been spoiled since childhood.”

Jiang Shuwan lowered her head and gave a cold laugh. “Second Mother, I’m not angry. My younger sister has always believed herself superior to me. I understand. After all, she was born when you were still Father’s concubine, so naturally you thought she would be far more exceptional than I am.”

Madam Li’s expression instantly turned ugly. The hand holding her handkerchief clenched tightly.

She had always been deeply sensitive about people saying that she had risen from the position of a concubine. For so many years in the household, even the servants had dared not mention it, and she had almost forgotten that she had once been one.

Now Jiang Shuwan had brought it up to her face. Wasn’t she deliberately slapping her in public?

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