Chapter 6: Gu Jiusi’s Whole Family is Sick!

Yin Hong quickly brought the girl named Yunyu. By this time, Liu Yuru had finished crying. Before Yin Hong’s arrival, she had washed her face, her expression now calm and composed. If not for the slight redness and lingering moisture in her eyes, no one would have guessed she’d been weeping.

The girl who arrived was slender with a gentle, beautiful appearance. She possessed an air of delicate vulnerability, like a willow swaying in the wind. Liu Yuru examined her and then said, “Yunyu, is your mother doing better?”

Yunyu replied hastily, “Thank you for your help, Miss. My mother is much better.”

Liu Yuru sighed. “Yunyu, the reason I called you here today is to ask if you would be willing to assist my mother in the Liu residence after my marriage.”

Yunyu was slightly stunned. Liu Yuru quickly added, “I’m simply asking. If you’re willing, then stay. If not, there’s no need to force yourself.”

Yunyu understood her implication and smiled. “Miss, you jest. With my background and appearance, I am not suited for ordinary households. In a wealthy family, my fate would be as a songstress or a concubine. To be a concubine favored by the principal wife is a blessing. How could I be unwilling?”

“I feel this might be unfair to you,” Liu Yuru hesitated. “After all, at your age…”

Yunyu sighed. “Miss, I’ve thought carefully. A life of wealth and glory is not a bad thing. Moreover, you’ve shown me great kindness. I feel indebted and would be happy to help you care for Madam.”

Liu Yuru finally felt relieved. She patted Yunyu’s hand and, after giving her a few instructions, had someone help Yunyu wash and change clothes before accompanying her to her mother’s room.

Her mother still slept. She had always been sickly, her days marked by fatigue and weakness. Liu Yuru didn’t dare disturb her. After waiting for a while, her mother slowly woke up, and Liu Yuru hurried over to assist her in getting up.

Su Wan rinsed her mouth with tea and was helped to sit at the dining table. “Today, I heard it was quite lively outside,” she said gently. “Did the Ye family come to present the betrothal gifts?”

Everyone present froze. Su Wan didn’t notice their unease and picked up her chopsticks, continuing, “With the Ye family’s betrothal gifts, this matter is mostly settled. I specifically asked someone to inquire about Young Master Ye, and he seems like a good young man. After you marry him, I won’t have to worry anymore.”

“Mother…” Liu Yuru hesitated.

Su Wan turned her head, a puzzled look on her face. “Hmm?”

“It wasn’t the Ye family,” Liu Yuru finally said.

Su Wan’s expression showed a flicker of confusion.

Liu Yuru took a deep breath, raised her head, and looked at her mother earnestly. “The one who came to present the betrothal gifts wasn’t the Ye family, but the Gu family.”

Shock washed over Su Wan’s face. Her grip on her chopsticks tightened. “Which Gu family?” she asked urgently.

“Gu Jiusi,” Liu Yuru replied, her voice tight.

Su Wan froze. “Gu Jiusi…” Her voice trailed off, then she reacted sharply. “The same Gu Jiusi who spends his days gambling, fighting, and causing trouble, relying on his family’s power?!”

Silence filled the room. Liu Yuru lowered her eyes as her mother gasped for breath.

Seeing her mother’s condition worsening, Liu Yuru rushed to support her. However, the moment she touched her, Su Wan coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Yin Hong cried out in alarm. Liu Yuru quickly sent someone to summon a physician and helped her mother lie down on the bed.

Su Wan struggled to sit up, anger twisting her usually gentle features. “I want to find your father… I want to find him! He has lost even the last shred of decency… This marriage cannot be settled, it cannot!”

“Mother!” Liu Yuru pressed her down firmly. “It’s useless!”

Su Wan was stunned.

Tears welled up in Liu Yuru’s eyes. “The betrothal gifts have already been sent,” she said, voice trembling. “No respectable family would marry a girl who has broken off an engagement. Mother,” her voice grew hoarse, “I have no choice.”

Su Wan fell silent, staring blankly at the bed canopy, a sense of despair radiating from her.

“Yuru…” After a long silence, she spoke, her voice raspy. “I’m so useless.”

Unable to bear a son, she lived in constant fear her husband would divorce her, which would bring great disgrace to the Su family. It would leave her no choice but to hang herself from a beam with a white silk scarf.

She had lived her entire life cautiously, just to give her daughter a good future. Who would have thought it would end like this?

She knew how much effort her daughter had put into marrying into the Ye family, but all those years of hard work had been destroyed by her father’s greed for the Gu family’s silver.

Hatred coursed through her.

Su Wan’s fists clenched. She hated Liu Xuan, Zhang Yue, and everyone in the Liu family. Her hatred was so consuming she wished she could die along with them. But she couldn’t. If she did something drastic, what would happen to her daughter’s reputation? Gu Jiusi might refuse to marry Yuru at all. Then, where would her daughter’s life lead?

Despair engulfed her, leaving her completely helpless.

Seeing her mother’s state, Liu Yuru grasped her hand tightly, wiping away her own tears. “Mother, don’t think too much. I am willing,” she said quickly.

Su Wan turned her gaze slowly, her eyes filled with understanding. Her voice was hoarse, “What are you willing to do? All these years, you have hidden your pain, always saying that you are doing well. But how could a mother not know her child? I saw you desperately trying to please Zhang Yue, enduring humiliation, hoping she would treat you better in the name of a mother-daughter bond. 

“But what about now?” Tears flowed freely from Su Wan’s eyes. “She has sold you.”

“Mother, no,” Liu Yuru forced a smile, wiping her tears. “Really, I am willing. Actually, Gu Jiusi is a very good person. The reason the Gu family came to propose was that he and I met before. He helped me, and we found good qualities in each other.”

Liu Yuru quickly spun a tale of love at first sight with Gu Jiusi, painting him as a kind-hearted young man prone to mischief, and embellishing his character with fictional good deeds.

“Remember the rouge I had previously? That was a gift from him. He saw that I couldn’t bear to buy it, so he bought all the rouge in the shop and distributed it to everyone, just to give it to me discreetly. That’s how thoughtful he is. If I marry him, I won’t suffer.”  Liu Yuru’s words were a mix of half-truths and comforting lies.

Su Wan couldn’t discern what was true or false. She could only weep, holding her daughter’s hand, blaming herself for her incompetence.

Once her mother seemed calmer, the physician arrived. He examined Su Wan, confirming that she had suffered from a fit of anger that caused her qi and blood to flow in reverse. He prescribed medicine and acupuncture treatment before departing.

When the physician left, Liu Yuru saw that her mother had relaxed a bit. She hesitated for a moment, then held her hand and gently said, “Mother, my engagement to Gu Jiusi is already settled. Don’t think too much. The most urgent matter now is something else.”

Su Wan turned her head to observe her daughter’s calm expression.

“The Gu family’s betrothal gifts must be substantial. Otherwise, Father wouldn’t have risked offending the Ye family to form this marriage alliance. With Concubine Yue’s temperament, my dowry will likely be meager. If people laugh at me, I won’t be able to hold my head up in the Gu family,” Liu Yuru said.

Su Wan’s expression turned serious. “You’re right. I must fight for your dowry…”

Liu Yuru calmly said, “Mother, don’t mention this matter yet. The Gu family has just sent the betrothal gifts; there is still some time before the wedding. Your relationship with Father has always been strained, and Concubine Yue is favored. A confrontation now would be a losing battle.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Yunyu,” Liu Yuru called out.

Yunyu walked out from behind Yin Hong and bowed. “Greetings, Madam,” she said softly.

Liu Yuru took her mother’s hand and spoke solemnly. “Mother, after I marry, Yunyu will care for you on my behalf.”

Su Wan studied the girl. Yunyu appeared to be eighteen or nineteen years old and strikingly beautiful. With a little refinement, she could easily pass as a young lady from a wealthy family.

Su Wan stared at Yunyu as a memory surfaced. In Liu Xuan’s study, there was a painting of a woman he had deeply loved. It was said that she had died young, succumbing to a severe illness at just fifteen. Liu Xuan had cherished her memory his entire life.

Both Su Wan and Zhang Yue bore a resemblance to the woman in the painting, but Yunyu’s likeness was even stronger. Su Wan immediately understood her daughter’s intentions.

“Mother, I sent Yunyu away to the outer courtyard before. It was partly to avoid a conflict with Concubine Yue as we’ve maintained peace for years. But it was also because I feared upsetting you. But things have changed. I’m leaving, and I can’t bear to leave you alone in this residence.”

“I understand,” Su Wan replied. In the past, such a move might have saddened her, but now, looking into her daughter’s eyes, she reached out and held her hand. “I understand everything. Keep her here with me. Tomorrow, I’ll feign illness to summon your father.”

The three women discussed their plan late into the night. Finally, Liu Yuru returned to her courtyard. After careful thought, she instructed Yin Hong, “Find out what exactly was included in today’s betrothal gifts.”

For a family like the Gu family, someone would have recited the contents of the gift list when presenting the betrothal gifts. Anyone in the courtyard could have heard it.

Yin Hong left to inquire and returned later that night with the information. 

After hearing the list, Liu Yuru pursed her lips. “Yin Hong, find a few trustworthy people and immediately go to the gambling den. Locate Gu Jiusi, and if you find him, send my message to him. Here is a letter for you to give him. Ask him to change the title deeds of the shops to my name.”

The transfer of a title deed required an official government seal. The Gu family had acted hastily, and it would be impossible for them to obtain the seal so soon. They likely included only the shops themselves in the list of betrothal gifts.

This was the only valuable item from the betrothal gifts the Liu family had yet to receive. To prevent the Gu family from writing her father’s name on the title deed, she needed to act quickly.

Yin Hong hesitated. “Miss, won’t this make the Gu family look down on you?”

“Do you think the Gu family is unaware of our family’s situation? Whether it was Madam Ye or Madam Gu, did either of them ask about my mother? Don’t they know that in the Liu family, the wife is disregarded, and my mother has no power?” Liu Yuru laughed bitterly. “I’ve long been a laughingstock. What’s left to be embarrassed about?”

“Miss…”

“Don’t worry,” Liu Yuru sighed. “I’m confident that Gu Jiusi is not a bad person at heart. He appears arrogant and domineering, but the fact that he gave me the rouge shows he’s kind. He fiercely protects those close to him. Since he sent the Gu family to propose marriage, he must have some feelings for me. At worst, he might laugh at me later.”

Thinking it over, Yin Hong agreed with her mistress. When the letter was written, she dispatched the servants to find Gu Jiusi. By dawn, they had located him.

At this time, Gu Jiusi had been gambling at the gambling den for a day and a night. He had lost all his money and was wearily walking home at daybreak. After a few steps, someone stopped him.

Gu Jiusi, slightly puzzled, looked the servant up and down. “If you don’t give me a good reason for stopping me today, don’t blame me for beating you,” he said with a yawn.

“Young Master Gu,” the servant handed the letter to Gu Jiusi and earnestly repeated Yin Hong’s words, “My Lady asked me to convey that since you intend to become husband and wife, please do your best to protect her.”

Gu Jiusi listened in confusion. He opened the letter, and as he read, his brow furrowed. “What nonsense is this? Did you find the wrong person? I am Gu Jiusi. What talk of husband and wife…”

Before he could finish, Gu Jiusi suddenly sensed something was amiss. He scrutinized the letter and, recalling his father’s style, immediately raised his head. “Who is your young miss?”

“The Liu family’s eldest young miss…”

“Liu Yuru?!” Gu Jiusi’s voice rose sharply.

The servant, seeing Young Master Gu’s reaction, felt a bit at a loss.

Gu Jiusi took a deep breath, instantly understanding the situation. “Good… very good,” he said through gritted teeth.

With that, he was about to rush home. The servant hurriedly stopped him, anxiously saying, “Young Master Gu, the title deed…”

“What deed! Your Miss must be out of her mind to agree to such a marriage!” Gu Jiusi pushed him away. “If you stop me again, I’ll break your dog legs!”

With this shout, the servant didn’t dare to stop him anymore and could only watch as Young Master Gu charged home, muttering, “That old bastard, does he take my words for wind?!”

The servant couldn’t understand Gu Jiusi’s meaning and could only return to the Liu residence.

Yin Hong waited at the door. Upon seeing the servant’s return, she hurriedly asked, “How did it go? What did Young Master Gu say?”

The servant’s face turned red, and he hesitated.

“Just say something!” Yin Hong urged anxiously.

“Young Master Gu… Young Master Gu said,” the servant stammered, somewhat embarrassed, “that Miss is out of her mind…”

Yin Hong relayed the servant’s words to Liu Yuru, word for word.

Liu Yuru, furious, gripped the teacup so tightly her knuckles turned white. A tremor ran through her hand, threatening to spill the hot liquid everywhere.

Yin Hong dismissed everyone and, looking at her mistress, said in a panic, “Young Miss, don’t get too angry and harm yourself. We should think of other solutions first. Young Master Gu seems too unreliable. If Madam can’t secure your dowry, what will you do when you marry into the Gu family?”

“Out of my mind…” Liu Yuru gritted out as her hand trembled. Yin Hong looked confused, “Miss?”

Liu Yuru finally couldn’t hold it in anymore. She lost her usual calmness and grace, suddenly smashing the teacup on the ground and shouting angrily, “Gu Jiusi’s whole family is sick!”

She had figured it out. The Gu family elders dared to send betrothal gifts without even understanding the situation. The younger one caused trouble and knew only how to gamble all day, oblivious to the importance of marriage. They treated other people’s marriages as a game—the entire family was unreliable!

Sick, the whole family was sick!

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Author’s Note: 

Seize the dowry and get married!

The events leading up to the wedding set the stage for a complex dynamic between the protagonists. The female protagonist will face emotional obstacles because of these circumstances, and the male protagonist will also harbor complex feelings towards her. These early events are essential groundwork for their story.

All the grievances Yuru is suffering now will be repaid in the future. Everyone is just caught up in a twist of fate. Don’t be angry… (voice gradually weakens)

Today’s one-sentence summaries:

Liu Yuru: Fifteen years of upbringing, gone with the wind after meeting the Gu family. This family is toxic.

Gu Jiusi: Who am I? Where am I? I gambled and now I’m getting married? You’re all sick!

Su Wan: From today on, I will start being strong. Rise each morning and embrace the sun!

Gu Langhua: This old bastard is so wicked…