Chapter 7 – Part 1: A Woman With the Composure to Deliver Such a Stinging Rebuke While Sipping Her Tea

Liu Yuru had rarely hated anyone in her life. Even Concubine Yue was merely someone with different interests. Neither of them could be considered a good person.

However, at this moment, she truly and genuinely resented Gu Jiusi. 

After hearing the servant’s account of Gu Jiusi’s attitude and considering the Gu family’s recent actions, she could guess that they had intended to find a suitable match for him. Yet, Gu Jiusi himself was unwilling.

When his declaration to marry her reached the Gu family, they simply settled the engagement without consulting him. All her years of hard work and careful planning had been ruined by a single statement from Gu Jiusi!

Liu Yuru felt an overwhelming sense of grievance and helplessness. She deeply understood the feeling of being as insignificant as an ant. In the eyes of Gu Jiusi and the Gu family, her entire life was nothing more than a joke.

She didn’t know if Gu Jiusi would help her. She even speculated that he might see her as an opportunist trying to marry into his family.

In fact, that was precisely what Gu Jiusi thought.

He couldn’t understand why Liu Yuru had suddenly agreed to marry him. Even if his parents had proposed, she could have refused. Why did she agree? Didn’t she want to drown herself? A woman as scheming as her…

Gu Jiusi seemed to have a realization. He couldn’t help but suspect that Liu Yuru had targeted his family’s wealth, that everything had been part of her scheme. That wouldn’t surprise him at all. He didn’t underestimate Liu Yuru’s cunning in the slightest.

He rushed home, furious, and charged straight to his family’s doorstep. “Father! Gu Langhua! You old bastard! Come out!” he shouted.

Jiang Rou and Gu Langhua had just woken up when they heard their precious son causing a commotion. Immediately grabbing a stick, Gu Langhua stormed out, infuriated. “That unruly brat is at it again! You dare come back!” he roared.

“What’s going on with Liu Yuru?!” Gu Jiusi showed no fear this time, gripping Liu Yuru’s letter. “You went to the Liu family to settle the engagement? How could you not consult me?!”

“Consult you? You are my son!” Gu Langhua’s anger made him careless with his words, momentarily forgetting his initial plan. “Marriage is a matter decided by parents. I’ll have you marry whomever I choose. Are you going to rebel?!”

“Didn’t I tell you last time,” Gu Jiusi shouted back, “that I won’t be forced into any engagement I don’t agree to! Unless I say I want to marry someone, even if you’re my father, I absolutely won’t submit!”

Seeing the father and son at odds, Jiang Rou hesitated before interjecting, “But isn’t this the girl you wanted to marry?”

“When did I ever say I wanted to marry her?” Gu Jiusi was bewildered. 

The steward quickly reminded him, “Young Master, it was at the rouge shop. Many people heard it.”

“Yes, yes,” a maidservant hurriedly added, “the whole city knows about it.”

Gu Jiusi was stunned. He recalled the incident and, after a moment, said weakly, “I… I was joking. How could you take it seriously?!”

“Marriage is not a joking matter!” Gu Langhua reprimanded sternly. “You must take responsibility for your words. Otherwise, wouldn’t you be ruining the girl’s reputation? I can overlook your usual mischief, but ruining a girl’s reputation affects her entire life!”

“And marrying me doesn’t affect her entire life?” Gu Jiusi retorted. Then, he waved his hand and said, “I don’t care. Go and cancel the engagement right away. She was about to marry Ye Shi’an. What nonsense are you pulling?!”

“Oh, is that what you’re worried about?” Jiang Rou seemed to understand. Thinking her son was suppressing his own feelings because Liu Yuru was going to marry Ye Shi’an and didn’t want to use his family’s influence to bully others, she quickly explained, “We inquired when we proposed. There’s no such thing. The Liu family said Miss Liu’s heart belongs to you.”

Those words struck Gu Jiusi’s brain like a thunderbolt.

Liu Yuru liked me?

She didn’t like the promising and upright Ye Shi’an but instead liked me, an unlearned and gambling troublemaker?

Had she lost her mind?!

But very quickly, Gu Jiusi realized something.

Liu Yuru hadn’t lost her mind.

After all, compared to the Ye family, the Gu family was wealthier and had fewer rules. Moreover, he was the only son, and since he always caused his parents to worry, they would definitely hand over the management of the business and household to his wife.

If Liu Yuru married him, she wouldn’t lose out in terms of money. Although he loved to play around, he had no other faults besides that. If it was just for the money, marrying him was much better than marrying Ye Shi’an.

In an instant, Gu Jiusi suddenly felt that Liu Yuru was a disgusting woman. Perhaps the news of her wanting to marry Ye Shi’an was deliberately spread to deceive him, just to get close, make him notice her, and trap him! The thought made his anger burn. “I don’t care. I don’t want this marriage. I won’t marry her!”

“Nonsense!” This time, Gu Langhua displayed an unprecedented level of authority. “The engagement has been settled. If you cancel it, what will happen to Miss Liu? You’ll be ruining her entire life!”

“She’s the one ruining my entire life!” Gu Jiusi shouted. “If I marry, I want to marry someone I like. Why should I be schemed against by her and forced by you to marry her?”

“I’m forcing you?” Gu Langhua laughed coldly. “Weren’t you the one who said you wouldn’t marry anyone but her?”

Gu Jiusi choked up. After a moment, he reacted, “You believed that?!”

“A real man keeps his word. If you can’t, don’t say it. You said you wouldn’t marry anyone but her, and so we’ve asked her hand for you. If you want to cancel the engagement now, consider the consequences for this girl’s life.”

“What consequences?” Gu Jiusi couldn’t understand. “She should find someone she likes and do what she enjoys. If the engagement is canceled, so be it. Will she hang herself or slit her throat? Is marriage her only purpose in life?! You’re being ridiculous!”

“Jiusi!” Even Jiang Rou, who had always doted on him, frowned in disapproval. “Men and women are different. If you cancel the engagement, what will others think of her? How will she find a husband? Jiusi, would you marry a woman whose engagement had been broken?”

“If I liked her, why wouldn’t I?!” Gu Jiusi immediately retorted.

Gu Langhua and Jiang Rou were stunned. They realized their son, raised with indulgence, held ideas contrary to societal norms. He was unorthodox and perceived those who differed from him to be weak and incompetent.

Jiang Rou couldn’t argue. After a long time, she said helplessly, “Jiusi, Yuru is different from you. She is a proper, well-bred young lady. She doesn’t have your courage. Perhaps if you cancel the engagement today, she will take her own life out of shame tomorrow.”

“Then why were you in such a hurry to settle the engagement?” Gu Jiusi glared at his mother.

Jiang Rou sighed and explained, “Your uncle sent a letter, wanting to take you to the Capital to secure you a position and perhaps gain a princess’s favor. But marrying a princess would stifle you. A prince consort may sound prestigious, but you’d have no real power, and could only rely on the princess’s mood to live your days. It would be suffocating.

You don’t understand your uncle’s temperament. Once he makes this request, when he really comes, we won’t be able to stop him from taking you away. So, before he arrives, we need to settle your marriage. You’ve never liked a girl before; now that you finally do, we simply wanted to secure the engagement quickly.”

“Nonsense! I won’t go. Can Uncle force me?” Gu Jiusi’s expression was defiant.

Jiang Rou smiled bitterly. “Jiusi, in life, there are many things beyond our control. Even a family like ours must sometimes yield to those with power.”

Gu Jiusi scoffed, “Excuses!”

Seeing Gu Jiusi’s obstinance, Gu Langhua resorted to a direct order, “If you won’t listen, then go to your room and reflect. This is settled. Just wait obediently for the wedding!”

“I won’t get married!” Gu Jiusi immediately said, “I want to cancel the engagement. I’ll go right now…”

“Guards, restrain him!” Gu Langhua shouted. The guards in the courtyard immediately rushed towards Gu Jiusi.

Gu Jiusi dodged left and right in the crowd, but the Gu residence guards poured in and finally subdued him after a long struggle. They tied him up tightly.

“Lock him in his room until the wedding! No one is allowed to let him out!”

Gu Langhua’s fury was clear for all to see. They watched as Gu Jiusi, kicking and punching, was dragged back to his room.

Gu Jiusi cursed for an entire morning until his voice became hoarse. Finally, he fell silent. With nothing else to occupy him, he turned his attention to Liu Yuru’s letter.

Liu Yuru’s words were well-chosen and sincere, portraying the delicate demeanor of a young lady. She described her grievances at home and asked him to help settle the matter of the title deeds.

Gu Jiusi laughed angrily as he read, feeling that Liu Yuru’s intentions were blatantly obvious. Yet, after his anger subsided, he realized that about eighty percent of her letter was likely true.

Gu Jiusi wasn’t stupid. Everyone was aware of the chaotic situation in the Liu family. When his family had arrived with such a substantial betrothal proposal, the Liu family must have fought over it viciously.

He looked down on Liu Yuru, but he despised the Liu family even more. The thought of his money going to the concubine-favoring, wife-neglecting Liu Xuan and his indecent concubine made him deeply unhappy. He thought for a while and had someone summon his mother.

When Jiang Rou arrived, she found Gu Jiusi sitting cross-legged on the bed. His hoarse voice made her heart ache. “My son,” she said quickly, “I’ll have someone make you some snow pear soup.”

“Mom,” Gu Jiusi sat on the bed, looking a bit unnatural, “I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Tell me.”

Gu Jiusi hesitated, finding this surprisingly difficult to say. He avoided Jiang Rou’s eyes, feigning nonchalance. “Well, since this marriage can’t be changed, Liu Yuru is practically half a Gu family member now. You know their family situation. The betrothal gifts will probably end up in the hands of that concubine. I find it disgusting. Would you…”

“I understand.” Jiang Rou smiled, feeling relieved. It seemed Gu Jiusi was finally learning to care for others. Although he claimed reluctance, he was still looking out for Liu Yuru.

“I’ve thought about this,” she said quickly. “The most valuable items in the betrothal gifts are those few acres of land and the shops on East Street. I’ve put them all under her name. When the title deeds receive the official seal, I’ll send them over. I’ll also press them about her dowry and insist that Miss Liu’s birth mother handles the matter.”

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi felt much more at ease.

Still feeling awkward, he pouted. “Just look after her casually. Her family’s concubine is too disgusting. I don’t have any other intentions.”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Jiang Rou suppressed a smile. “I understand.”