Chapter 221: Substitute
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
'Do you think you can fool everyone with just a little trick?!"
Gu Jian let everyone in the family see this girl's true colors.
Madam Wang supported him, feeling uneasy. She couldn't help but look at the
Old Marquis's memorial tablet.
She wanted to advise him to stop, in case he fell again.
The children were so frightened by this cursing that they cried non-stop. The sharp cries made the others feel even more flustered. Fourth Master Gu and Fifth Master Gu gave their wives and children a look and slowly took a step back, then another.
Madam Gu seemed indifferent to all of this. She stared at the Old Marquis's memorial tablet without moving, as if she was missing something or looking at someone who wasn't here.
Her old and turbid eyes darkened in the heavy candlelight and her body stiffened.
After the initial panic, Madam Gu gradually calmed down.
When the Old Marquis was alive, she wasn't afraid of him. Now that he was dead, there was even less need to be afraid of him.
In the blink of an eye, 14 years had passed!
She was the only one left alive...
Madam Gu sighed deeply.
Her gaze gently swept across Gu Yanfei and she didn't say anything. To her, it didn't matter if the abnormality caused by the memorial tablet was Gu Yanfei's doing.
The important thing was—
'Zhen'er, stop fooling around."
Madam Gu slowly turned to look at Gu Yunzhen, who was two steps away. She stared into her eyes and said in an unquestionable tone, 'You have to marry today!"
She slowly twisted the prayer beads in her hand with her usual kind smile.
But at this moment, this smile was chilling. It felt as if she was wearing a mask.
"Tuk, tuk."
As soon as Madam Gu finished speaking, the Old Marquis's memorial tablet trembled even more, as if it had been provoked.
In the next moment, the memorial tablet lost its balance and fell forward, falling off the high incense table and toward the ground..
'Ah!"
Everyone from the Gu family gasped in unison. Several women exclaimed with pale faces.
The memorial tablet was only made of wood. If it fell from this height, it would most likely break.
"Father-in-law has appeared..." Fourth Madam Gu's legs went weak and she almost fell weakly. Fortunately, her two daughters caught her in time.
Madam Gu naturally saw this scene and her eyes almost popped out.
She leaped toward the fallen memorial tablet and thrust her hands forward with all her might. Even her chin came up unconsciously and she caught it in an extremely strange and twisted manner.
She couldn't care less about her bearing. She no longer had her usual elegance and poise.
Madam Wang's jaw almost dropped.
Gu Yunrong originally wanted to watch coldly and see what Gu Yanfei and the others were up to.
At this moment, seeing that Madam Gu had almost fallen to catch her grandfather's memorial tablet, Gu Yunrong quickly stepped forward and asked with concern, 'Grandma, are you alright?"
'Grandfather's memorial tablet..
Gu Yunrong held Madam Gu's arm with one hand and wanted to help her. Her other hand reached out to the memorial tablet in her hand, wanting to take it.
And yet—
Before Gu Yunrong's fingers could touch the memorial tablet, she felt a strong push on her shoulder.
Gu Yunrong was caught off guard and staggered back. She grabbed the incense table with her left hand and tried to steady herself.
When she bumped into the incense table, the memorial tablets on it swayed a few times, making even more chaotic thuds.
Madam Gu was like a frightened rabbit. She carefully held the memorial tablet with both hands and looked around in fear. She felt that the ancestral hall was eerie this time.
Madam Gu's heart was beating wildly, and her face was pale. She vented her anger on Gu Yunrong and reprimanded, "How can a girl be so rash!"
'Grandma?" Gu Yunrong had just stabilized herself when Madam Gu scolded her. She was a little stunned and in disbelief.
This was the first time she had been scolded like this by her grandmother and the first time she had been pushed away by her.
Gu Yunrong felt hurt, but at the same time, she acutely sensed that Madam Guts loss of composure came from the fear in her heart.
Was Grandma afraid?
Looking at Madam Guis uncertain eyes and trembling fingertips, Gu Yunrong couldn't help but have a question.
What was Grandma afraid of...
Gu Yanfei stood three to four steps away from Madam Gu and watched this scene calmly. Even the corners of her eyes didn't move..
Chapter 222: Substitute
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Last night, when Gu Yunzhen was wiping the Old Marquis's memorial tablet, Gu Yanfei had noticed that this memorial tablet was heavier than the other memorial tablets around it, as if it was hiding something. She had also tried to avoid Gu Yunzhen and open this memorial tablet, but unless she cut open the memorial tablet, she wouldn't be able to open it at all.
So, taking advantage of the fact that they had just asked about the memorial tablet, she quietly tampered with it to make it move at the right time.
As it turned out, there was indeed something hidden in the memorial tablet. Moreover...
Gu Yanfei's gaze darted to Madam Gu's still-afraid face and the corners of her lips curled up.
Moreover, there was something unspeakable hidden in the memorial tablet!
Gu Yanfei's dark pupils were extremely clear and faint. She shook her head and sighed. "I knew it. Grandpa is unhappy.'
Madam Gu held the memorial tablet solemnly in her hands with both hands, as if she hadn't heard anything. She quietly placed the memorial tablet back on the incense table.
But after she put it down, she was still worried. Her hands were still gripping the memorial tablet, and her body was trembling almost imperceptibly.
This was the first time Gu Jian had seen Madam like this. He felt that she looked a little strange.
Suppressing the doubts in his heart, Gu Jian endured the pain on his right shoulder and walked to Madam Guts side to look at the memorial tablet.
He heaved a sigh of relief when he confirmed that the memorial tablet was intact. Then his anger began to reignite.
'Gu Yanfei, this is your grandfather's memorial tablet. If it's broken, can you bear the responsibility?!" Gu Jian scolded sharply. "Have you had enough!'
However, this time, Gu Jian didn't dare to approach Gu Yanfei at all. He only dared to point at her nose and curse.
Gu Yanfei ignored Gu Jian and continued to look at Madam Gu's face, from her forehead to her eyebrows to her eyes, her nose, her lips, and finally her chin.
Her gaze was so clear that it was almost fixed, as if she wanted to engrave Madam Guts face in her heart, or see her fate through her face.
Gu Yanfei suddenly chuckled and said, "Madam, have you heard of the art of borrowing luck?"
Madam Gu's eyes widened slightly, and her hands trembled as she held the memorial tablet.
She didn't speak, and Gu Yanfei didn't expect her to answer. She had already gotten the answer she wanted from the other party's subtle expression.
'There are two kinds of luck borrowing techniques among Taoist doctors. One is to flush out good fortune, and the other is..." Gu Yanfei said unhurriedly,"... a substitute.
When Gu Yanfei mentioned "substitute", Madam Gu suddenly shivered. Her hand trembled and she almost pushed down the memorial tablet.
Gu Yanfei saw her loss of composure and accurately captured the change in her expression.
Her pupils reflected a gorgeous light in the candlelight as she sighed inwardly.
It was a substitute.
Gu Yanfei remained calm and continued as if nothing had happened, "If the Murong family wants to rush joy, they want to borrow Big Sister's luck and even her lifespan."
'Madam, you're pushing Big Sister into a fire pit.'
'Even my grandfather couldn't stand it!"
Her words ended with a sigh.
The others gasped with shocked expressions, but Third Madam Yan seemed to have been struck by lightning. The color instantly drained from her face, and she was as pale as a dead person.
Didn't they say that this joyous occasion was just to expel the evil aura that was causing trouble so that the old madam could be saved?
How could that be...
If what Gu Yanfei said was true, then once Old Madam Murong recovered from her illness, wouldn't her daughter's lifespan be shortened?!
Madam Yan looked at Gu Yanfei with red eyes and muttered, "Is it true?
Gu Yanfei nodded affirmatively. "Of course.'
once met a family who used rushing joy to extend the groomis life. The groom indeed turned from danger to safety. The couple also had fun for a few years. However, the groom's calamity was a dead calamity. The lifespan needed to resolve the dead calamity was multiplied. In just two years, the bride died of a difficult delivery."
'Another year passed and even the groom died."
'Borrowed lifespans are never long-lasting.'
Gu Yanfei said faintly. From the corner of her eye, she glanced at the shocked Madam Gu.
Madam Yan's entire body trembled violently, and she was so frightened that her soul almost left her body.
She only took it as an excuse to bring forward the marriage. She didn't dare to take the slightest risk with her daughter's lifespan.
Her daughter was her life.
'Zhen'er." Madam Yan hurriedly looked for Gu Yunzhen and hugged her daughter tightly.
Madam Yan really couldn't stay any longer. She wished she could bring her daughter to the White Cloud Temple to find a master to resolve the murderous aura.
'IAS for the so-called 'substitute' Gu Yanfei looked at Madam Gu as if she was just saying it casually." It's just that this poor person found someone who matches her eight characters...
With every word she said, Madam Gu's expression darkened, her eyes became more terrified, and her heart raced..
Chapter 223: Eldest Sister
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
'The so-called 'substitute' is for this ill-fated person to find someone who matches her eight characters. It's best if they're born on the same day, month, and year. Then, they can exchange their fates..."
Gu Yanfei's ethereal voice echoed in the sinister air.
'Shut up!" Finally, Madam Gu couldn't control her emotions and blurted out.
The words were almost hysterical, almost a roar.
Anyone could tell that Madam Gu had lost her composure.
There was another subtle change in the atmosphere, the tension and oppression thickening.
Those who were sharp could vaguely sense something. Gu Yanfei seemed to be talking about more than just Gu Yunzhen rushing joy. She seemed to be hiding something.
Madam Gu was furious, but Gu Yanfei smiled sarcastically.
The truth was already taking shape in the heavy fog, looming.
She was probably going in the right direction...
There was still an unknown person hidden in the Gu family, Madam Gu's 'Substitute" , her and Big Brother's biological grandmother!
Gu Yanfei turned slightly, her skirt fluttering like a butterfly spreading its wings and gently gliding across the water. Her posture was relaxed and elegant.
Her gaze landed steadily on the memorial tablet in Madam Guts hand and she said vaguely, "You just need to use the blood essence of the substitute to draw a
'Substitute Talisman' and let this poor person wear it day and night."
"From then on, the substitute will block all diseases and disasters for you and you can hide from the ghosts and deities of the world. The substitute will become a nameless 'living dead' that doesn't exist in the world. Living is equivalent to death. After death, its soul will dissipate and it won't enter reincarnation.
'Madam, don't you think this is very interesting?"
Gu Yanfei's voice was abnormally cold.
Madam Gu's pupils constricted uncontrollably. She felt that the memorial tablet in her hand was as heavy as a mountain and as hot as charcoal. The burning pain spread from her palm to her heart, making her feel as if her entire body was burning.
Cold sweat seeped out of her forehead and slowly trickled down her forehead. Her back was already drenched in sweat, making her deeply feel the difference between ice and fire.
Time seemed to have slowed down infinitely. To Madam Gu, it became extremely tortuous.
Gu Yanfei looked at Madam Gu with a smile. Her eyes were clear, like the cold stars in the night sky emitting a dazzling light.
Madam Gu's mind was already completely attracted to Gu Yanfei, as if she was guarding against an old enemy, or looking at someone else through Gu Yanfei.
She silently called out in her heart, "Eldest Sister..."
Madam Gu didn't like Gu Yanfei because this girl's eyes were like her eldest sister's. Whenever she saw Gu Yanfei, she would remind her of her eldest sister.
She had been weak and sickly since she was young.
Her parents said that her eldest sister was her "substitute". She had been wearing talismans drawn by her eldest sister's blood essence since she was young.
Her parents said that her eldest sister would bear all the illnesses and disasters for her. Because of her, she could be healthy and safe.
She didn't believe it at first, thinking it was too ridiculous.
It wasn't until she was seven years old when she fell into the lake and drowned. At the time, she thought she was going to die.
However, after she was rescued, she had a high fever for three days and three nights and was still in high spirits. The person who was almost dead was her eldest sister.
At that time, her mother had held her in her arms and told her that she would grow up safely because all disasters and illnesses would be endured by her substitute in her place.
Later, when she came of age, she became healthier and healthier. She was good at zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She was the eldest daughter of the Qi family, praised by everyone.
And her eldest sister was always sick. Other than her family, no one knew of her existence.
However, it was this sickly eldest sister who had forcefully snatched her marriage.
She was clearly the one who met Gu Xuan first!
Gu Xuan was clearly here to propose marriage to her!
In the end, it was her eldest sister who married into the Dingyuan Marquis Household...
Madam Gu seemed to have quickly experienced the past few decades of her life again. Her mood was surging and her eyes were in a daze.
'Madam, Marquis!'
Granny Li's slightly hesitant voice broke the silence.
According to the rules, Granny Li couldn't come in casually during the ancestral worship. However, things were urgent, so she could only brace herself and come in.
Everyone subconsciously looked at Granny Li and heard her mutter, "The
Murong family is here to welcome the bride. They're already at Yuan'an Street."
So soon?! Although the others had just learned from Madam Gu that the Murong family would come to welcome the bride today, they didn't expect them to be so anxious. They weren't even that anxious to buy a servant back..
Chapter 224: Eldest Sister
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
There must be something wrong!
At this moment, most of the people present believed Gu Yanfei's words.
Madam Yan's face turned a little paler. She held Gu Yunzhen's fair hand tightly and pulled her behind her before she mustered the courage to face Madam Gu.
Madam Gu only came back to her senses at this moment. She pursed her lips tightly and didn't speak for a long time.
Granny Li didn't dare to make a sound. She waited quietly at the side, scanning everyone from the corner of her eye.
Although she hadn't heard anything outside just now, the moment she walked in, she felt that the atmosphere here was too strange.
Why was Madam holding the Old Marquis's memorial tablet in her hand, why was the Marquis's face ferocious, and why were the Fourth Master and Fifth Master so frightened...
Granny Li held her breath and pretended not to notice anything.
'Sigh." Gu Yanfei deliberately let out a long sigh. "Grandpa must have suffered because of a 'substitute' back then. How could he let his granddaughter rush joy again!"
'Madam, what do you think?"
Madam Gu stared at Gu Yanfei in bewilderment. Her sharp gaze seemed to want to pierce through the other party's appearance and strike her heart.
She didn't know if Gu Yanfei was just saying it casually or if she really knew something.
Madam Gu hugged the memorial tablet even tighter. All kinds of possibilities appeared in her mind, and every one of them pointed in the direction of her hatred, causing her to almost collapse.
When her panic reached its peak, Madam Gu calmed down again and told herself that it was fine. So what if Gu Yanfei knew7!
Back then, the Gu family had hired her, Qi Chao'an.
Her eldest sister was just a substitute who didn't even have a name.
Even if this matter was publicized, Gu Xuan would only be taking in a concubine named "Qi". She, Qi Chao'an, was still the madam of the Marquis Mansion. She had the imperial court's orders.
This was her confidence!
In the blink of an eye, Madam Gu's emotions had stabilized. She looked at Granny Li with deep eyes and instructed, "The marriage with the Murong family..."
The last words "will go on" were already on her lips when she heard a cold and playful chuckle enter her ears.
As soon as Madam Gu turned around, she met Gu Yanfei's confident eyes.
The girl's calm and composed appearance made Madam Gu feel flustered, and her heart pounded uncontrollably.
Most people only knew how to rush joy, but they didn't know about the 'Substitute Technique"
However, Gu Yanfei knew, and she knew in detail, as if she had seen it with her own eyes...
"1f you can't make up your mind, ask Grandpa." Gu Yanfei took two steps closer to Madam Gu.
That slender shadow happened to land on Madam Guts face, making her feel gloomy and pressured.
Madam Gu subconsciously hugged the memorial tablet and avoided Gu Yanfei.
However, Gu Yanfei reacted faster. She glanced at Gu Yuan from the corner of her eye. Gu Yuan understood and quietly stood behind Madam Gu.
Madam Gu turned around and met Gu Yuan's deep eyes.
The young man was now seven feet tall and was almost as tall as Gu Ce.
At this moment, Madam Gu couldn't help but feel a fear of being attacked from both sides. A crack appeared in her fragile heart.
Cracks spread rapidly like spiderwebs.
Madam Gu quickly panicked.
As expected, Gu Yanfei knew!
She knew that the "Substitute Talisman" was in this memorial tablet, which was why she and Gu Yuan wanted to snatch it.
These two people were both from the eldest sister's bloodline. They must be trying to kill her!
Thinking of this, Madam Gu gritted her teeth. At this moment, she really hated Gu Xuan to death.
She was devoted to him and he was her whole world. However, Gu Xuan's heart was filled with his eldest sister. He knew that his eldest sister's soul would dissipate after she died, so he cheated her of the Substitute Talisman and hid it in the Gu family's ancestral hall.
This talisman contained his eldest sister's blood essence. As long as it was worshiped by his descendants and nourished by incense every day, it could protect his eldest sister's soul.
Even after he died, he had to secretly get someone to hide the talisman in his memorial tablet.
When Madam Gu found out, she wished she could tear this talisman apart and destroy it, but she couldn't.
She knew that without this talisman, her eldest sister would no longer be able to reincarnate, and the lifespan she had borrowed would also dissipate.
This meant that she would die!
Madam Gu gripped the memorial tablet even harder. The veins on the back of her hand bulged. She felt as if she was standing at the edge of a cliff with the bottomless abyss in front of her.
Her pupils constricted almost to a point, and her heart palpitated.
No.
Absolutely not.
She didn't want to die, and she couldn't.
She had yet to see her son and grandson rise to the top!
The Marquis Mansion would definitely regain its former glory in her hands... No, it would rise to a higher level!
There was nothing more important than this!
Madam Gu took a deep breath and squeezed out her words with difficulty.
'There's no need to ask."
Her voice was very soft, but everyone present heard her.
To Madam Gu, once she started, it was easier to say the rest. "Yanfei, you're right."
Under everyone's shocked and complicated gazes, Madam Gu said firmly, "Your grandfather is angry."
'The Murong family is really pushing their luck. They clearly don't take our
Marquis Mansion seriously."
'This marriage is over."
It was extremely difficult for her to say these words. After she finished, her old lips were as tense as iron, and her eyes were sinister. The room was filled with a strange, awkward silence.
Gu Yanfei looked straight at Madam Gu.
Madam Gu also looked at her.
The grandmother and granddaughter were no more than two feet apart and could see each other's every subtle expression.
The girl pursed her lips silently, as if disinterested.
Madam Gu could clearly read the disappointment on Gu Yanfei' s face.
As expected! Madam Gu was certain. She thought in fear that the siblings indeed had ill intentions and wanted to kill her.
She was their grandmother. They didn't dare to come out in the open and just wanted to find an opportunity to attack her!
They must have wanted to destroy the talisman in the memorial tablet just now. It must be!
'This matter ends here!" Madam Gu said firmly, her slightly hoarse voice rising again..
Chapter 225: Still Alive
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At this moment, Madam Gu wanted to end this matter quickly.
She definitely couldn't give the siblings a chance to cause trouble.
Madam Gu hugged the memorial tablet tightly, as if she was hugging her lifeblood and refused to let go for a moment.
Gu Yanfei's clear gaze lingered on the two words "Gu Xuan" on the memorial tablet for a moment before she retracted her gaze. Her right hand hidden in her sleeve curled slightly.
From the moment Madam Gu lost her composure and took the memorial tablet, Gu Yanfei had guessed that the "Substitute Talisman" was inside the memorial tablet.
Gu Yanfei had the thought of snatching the memorial tablet away, but for a moment, she felt a weak soul aura from it.
The aura was very weak. Because it had been worshiped by incense for many years, it already had a chance of survival.
At that moment, Gu Yanfei understood who the soul in the memorial tablet
That was her and her eldest brother's biological grandmother.
That "substitute" without a name.
The corners of Gu Yanfei's eyes turned sour as she pursed her pink lips.
As long as it involved the 'Substitute Technique", it was never a good story.
She didn't know why the "substitute" whose soul should have been destroyed still had a breath of soul left.
However, this talisman mustn't be destroyed!
After being reborn twice and cultivating in the Bright Spirit Realm for 200 years, Gu Yanfei knew better than anyone else in this world that dissipating meant completely disappearing from the world without reincarnation.
Once her soul disappeared, her biological grandmother would really be extinguished!
Not only could the talisman in the memorial tablet not be destroyed, but it also had to continue staying ? ancestral hall and be nourished by the incense of its descendants.
Only then could the "substitute" obtain a trace of opportunity to reincarnate.
A dazzling cold glint flashed across Gu Yanfei's eyes.
When she turned to look at Granny Li, who was a few steps away, her emotions had already calmed down. She said indifferently, 'Did you hear that? Go and pass on the message that the Gu family won't marry off their daughter today."
The golden candlelight splashed on her dark hair and skin, giving her a warm halo, but it made her eyes look clearer and colder.
Granny Li couldn't help but shiver. She almost didn't dare to look Gu Yanfei in the eye and subconsciously responded.
Gu Yanfei didn't say anything else. She grabbed Gu Yunzhen's hand and pulled her out. 'Big Sister, let's go.'
Faced with this sudden development, Gu Yunzhen still felt as if she was in a dream. For a moment, she couldn't think straight. Has grandfather really appeared?
When she was ? ancestral hall yesterday, she had told her grandfather about her marriage to the Murong family and said that she didn't want to marry. So, her grandfather had appeared to help her?
Before Gu Yunzhen could figure it out, Gu Yanfei pulled her towards the front hall with steady footsteps. Still in a daze, Gu Yunzhen obediently followed her, feeling like she was floating.
Gu Yuan was like Gu Yanfei's sidekick and immediately followed.
When he turned around, his cold gaze gently swept across the memorial tablet in Madam Guts arms again.
Actually, there were still many things he didn't understand that he planned to ask his sister later.
Madam Yan didn't stay either and quickly left.
After Gu Yanfei and the other three left, the sacrificial hall was silent.
The others stood rooted to the ground, their emotions and expressions indescribably complicated. They didn't know if they should leave or stay.
Fourth Master Gu, Fifth Master Gu, and his wife exchanged glances.
Gu Yunzhen was involved ? whole ordeal and couldn't see things clearly.
However, it was the bystanders who saw things clearly.
No one was stupid. Apart from the younger children, almost everyone else could tell that there was something strange about the Old Marquis's memorial tablet.
But no one knew exactly what was strange...
Gu Yunrong stood there in a daze and looked at the dejected Madam Gu.
Her heart ached for Madam, but she had just been scolded by Madam in public and couldn't bring herself to go over.
Moreover, anyone could tell that Madam was still angry. If she was angered again... then it would be difficult for her to take a step in the Marquis Mansion.
At the thought of this, Gu Yunrong was stunned. A bitter smile appeared on her bright face, and her eyelashes lowered slightly to hide the ripples in her eyes. Since when did she have to rely on Madam's love to survive in the residence?
Gu Yunrong was immersed in her thoughts and fell into a daze.
'Mother," Gu Jian called out carefully, taking a step closer to Madam Gu..
Chapter 226: Still Alive
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
His movement affected the wound in his right shoulder and he grimaced.
Madam Gu, who had her eyes lowered, suddenly looked up. An intense shadow flashed across her turbid old eyes, as if there was a ferocious beast hiding inside that only needed to open its mouth to eat people. It was fierce and gloomy.
That gaze shocked Gu Jian.
Gu Jian couldn't continue. He closed his mouth in embarrassment and felt his shoulder hurt even more.
Madam Gu glanced at him from the corner of her eye and said calmly, "Go.'
These words were addressed to Granny Li.
'Yes, Madam," Granny Li mumbled. She bowed and hurried out.
Outside the ancestral hall, the old maid who had come to pass the message was waiting expectantly. When she saw Granny Li, she welcomed her with a smile and said, "Granny Li, the eldest son-in-law is already at the outer gate."
What?! Granny Li's expression changed slightly.
She had been counting on stopping the Murong family's bridal escort before they entered the Marquis Mansion. Now that they were all inside, it would be troublesome.
Granny Li suppressed the uneasiness in her heart and only said, "1'11 go take a look." Then, she walked straight in the direction of the outer gate against the cold wind.
The cold wind was bone-chilling. Granny Li's fingertips were numb from the cold, but Murong Yong wasn't afraid of the cold at all.
At this moment, Murong Yong was at the outer ceremonial gate. He was wearing a bright red groom's robe with a bright red embroidered ball tied to his chest.
The white horse under him was also tied with a big red hydrangea ball. A big red bridal sedan chair was parked beside him. Beside him were two Murong family disciples who had come to welcome the bride and a few servants who were in charge of blowing and carrying the sedan chair. This bridal escort team of less than ten people looked a little shabby.
The groom should have invited his relatives and friends to help him welcome the bride. Along the way, they played and beat the drums. They couldn't wait for the entire capital to know that the two families were getting married.
When a daughter married in the Marquis Mansion, her brother-in-law should first block the door and the groom would have to undergo a "test" before he could enter.
However, because it was a blessing and time was tight, the Murong family and Madam Gu had already agreed that the wedding ceremony would be simple.
Murong Yong tugged at his slightly tight collar and waited patiently. His sword-like eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his handsome face was flushed without any joy.
He had been told at the last minute by his parents an hour ago that his grandmother was in a bad state. The wedding had to be brought forward, and then he had put on the groom's wedding suit and gone out with the bridal escort team to welcome the bride.
Even now, he was still a little stunned as he stood in the Marquis Mansion. The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder after the firecrackers exploded, along with a few strands of hazy smoke.
The cold wind blew, and the fine red paper of firecrackers scattered on the ground, mixed with the fallen leaves of the branches.
Murong Yong, who was on the white horse, pulled the reins and made the horse turn half a circle in place. He raised his well-defined chin slightly and looked at the blue sky with a slightly fierce gaze.
He actually didn't believe in the so-called rushing of joy.
The point was, he didn't want his grandmother to die at this time either.
Therefore, even if there was only a 30% chance, he didn't want to give up.
Murong Yong slowly lowered his gaze and landed on the vermilion door of the Marquis Mansion. There were a total of 30 golden nails nailed to the door.
This was the symbol of the Marquis Mansion.
In the Great Jin Dynasty, there were less than 50 to 25 nails on the door of ordinary officials' residences.
The Murong family was one of them.
Compared to the Dingyuan Marquis Household, the Murong family's foundation was much weaker. From his grandfather to his father, Murong Hao's generation, they had fought back the Xirong people with Imperial Duke Wei in the northwest more than ten years ago and made countless contributions. Only then did they get conferred the title of fourth-grade official by the late Emperor and enter the capital.
The Murong family took this one step further, but it stopped there.
Ever since he became sensible, he had been thinking about improving the Murong family, and had also been working hard for this.
If her grandmother went at this time, the Murong family would have to observe mourning for three years. After three years, who would still recognize the Murong family? There were many hot- blooded men in the army who were desperate for fame and fortune.
He admitted that he wasn't inferior to others and was willing to shed blood and sweat for the Imperial Court. However, he needed opportunities and time. The next three years were too precious!
Murong Yong's eyes burned with heat. The sharpness in his eyes made people afraid to look straight at him.
After driving the white horse in another direction, he looked in the direction of the inner courtyard again. A gentle and dignified figure appeared in his mind. She was as beautiful as a lotus in the wind.
Initially, he thought that he was just marrying a "rich lady", but Gu Yunzhen yesterday surprised him.
Murong Yong's gaze burned even more. It was so bright and burning, with a hint of interest.
The gatekeeper of the Marquis Mansion greeted Murong Yong and said politely, "Eldest Young Master, the Marquis Mansion is paying respects to their ancestors this morning. I'm afraid it will take a while."
Murong Yong was clearly the main character today, but the guard couldn't help but glance at Shangqing Spiritual Master, who was wearing a yellow robe not far away.
Shangqing Spiritual Master held a silver horsetail whisk in his hand and stood against the wind. His eyes were like the morning stars, and he stood like a pine tree facing the wind with an extraordinary bearing.
The gatekeeper looked reverent.
Shangqing Spiritual Master suddenly moved and looked up at the sun in the sky. He calculated with his fingers and said indifferently, 'Second Young Master Murong, it's getting late."
"It's not good to miss the auspicious hour."
His voice was neither hurried nor slow, detached from the mortal world.
Murong Yong frowned and glanced at the doorkeeper with a dignified gaze.
'Eldest Young Master..." The gatekeeper smiled apologetically. He was about to say that he would send someone to the ancestral hall to take a look when he saw a familiar voice coming from the northwest.
"It's Granny Li." The gatekeeper was delighted and hurriedly introduced her to Murong Yong. "That's Granny Li, Madam Gu ts personal servant."
On the other side of the external door, Granny Li walked over with a few old women.
She didn't walk fast. Her usually smiling face was now a little solemn, startling the gatekeeper.
Granny Li stopped about seven or eight steps away from Murong Yong. She bowed politely and said,
'Second Young Master Murong, our Madam said that this marriage is over.."
Chapter 227: Annulment
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
As soon as she said this, there was a sudden silence.
Even the cold wind in the courtyard seemed to have become colder.
Murong Yong and the two young masters of the Murong family who accompanied him to welcome the bride were stunned.
If the Marquis Household was unwilling to remedy the situation, they could have rejected Madam Murong in the morning. Now that they had reached the stage of welcoming her personally, and the bridal sedan chair had already arrived, the Marquis Mansion said the marriage was over?!
Were they trying to become enemies!
Shangqing Spiritual Master frowned and a hint of displeasure flashed in his untainted eyes.
The white horse under Murong Yong quickly paced a few times, breathing heavily through its nose and mouth. Granny Li took a step back in shock.
Murong Yong's expression was a little solemn. He tightened his right hand on the reins and asked politely, "Why?"
'But what did the Murong family do to make Madam unhappy?
How could Granny Li know? Since the Marquis Household didn't allow servants to be present in the ancestral hall, she had only entered to spread the news of the Murong family's arrival. She only heard Madam say that the Murong family was pushing their luck and didn't take the Marquis Household seriously.
She didn't know what else was going on, nor did she dare to guess.
Granny Li forced a polite smile and braced herself. "This is Madam's intention."
'Second Young Master Murong, please leave."
As soon as she finished speaking, Granny Li turned around and left. She felt like she was fleeing and couldn't wait to return to the Benevolent Harmony Hall to report.
The gatekeeper also had a headache and politely extended his hand to Murong Yong.
The atmosphere around them was colder and stiffer.
Initially, the Murong family had a favor to ask of them to rush joy. It was their family who was in the weaker position. However, at this point, the Marquis Mansion broke off the engagement on the spot without giving any reason. It was simply a slap to the man's face!
As the saying went, killing was no more than nodding one's head. There was no greater humiliation than this.
Since the Marquis Household was so ruthless, there was no need for him to be polite. He had to get an explanation.
Murong Yong's expression darkened. His expression was cold as he leaped off his horse and strode into the door. He said, "I want to see Madam Gu!"
How could the gatekeeper sit back and watch him barge into the Marquis
Mansion? He hurriedly shouted, Second Young Master Murong, please wait!"
The guards of the Marquis Mansion hurriedly went forward to stop Murong Yong.
However , Murong Yong wasn't alone. The people from the Murong family who came to welcome the bride naturally couldn't take this lying down and followed him in.
One side wanted to stop them, and the other wanted to barge in. The two sides faced each other, ready to fight.
There was a commotion at the outer gate and it was getting more and more noisy. Only Shangqing Spiritual Master stood calmly near the gate, his clothes fluttering. He looked like he was uninvolved.
The servants of the Marquis Mansion didn't know what to do, so they went to report to Butler Zhou and asked if they should ask the Marquis to come out.
Butler Zhou was also confused. He could only send more guards and servants to the outer gate.
Although the servants of the Marquis Mansion had taken their weapons and clubs, they were still restrained and didn't dare to be heavy-handed with the Murong family. After all, without their master's instructions, they couldn't afford to hurt anyone.
There was chaos at the gate.
Regarding this, Madam Gu pretended to be deaf and mute. Even Gu Jian and Madam Wang didn't appear.
After all, Third Madam was a widow and it wasn't convenient for her to show her face.
In the end, it was still Butler Zhou's wife who personally made a trip to the main courtyard to ask the Marquis and Madam for instructions.
However, she couldn't even enter the main courtyard and was stopped by a maidservant.
'Since the Eldest Lady doesn't want to marry, deal with it yourself," Madam Wang said with a cold smile. "Marquis, don't interfere in this matter.'
Madam Wang had already made up her mind not to appear. As for how to discuss the annulment with the Murong family, she would let the third and eldest branches handle it themselves.
This matter has really embarrassed the whole family!
As she thought about it, all kinds of emotions flashed across Madam Wang's face.
Gu Jian replied absent-mindedly.
The maid who had come to report retreated obediently, her footsteps silent.
Madam Wang picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. She still felt uneasy, so she waved away the other servants in the house.
'Marquis." Madam Wang grabbed Gu Jian's sleeve and stared into his eyes.
"What's wrong with Mother today?"
'How would I know?" Gu Jian said impatiently. His right shoulder was still throbbing, making him unable to calm down.
He had never seen his mother like this since he was young..
Chapter 228: Annulment
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Gu Jian rubbed one of his temples with his left hand. His temples were throbbing, and he had a bad feeling.
'Then what's a substitute?" Madam Wang asked again in a low voice.
There was something wrong with the word "substitute". Moreover, from Gu Yanfei's words, this matter seemed to involve the art of "borrowing luck'
"1f you ask me, who should I ask?" Gu Jian became even more impatient and frowned.
The couple looked at each other face to face. At this moment, when they recalled the scenes in the ancestral hall, they felt a little terrified.
'Creak!"
A cold wind suddenly blew open the window, startling Madam Wang so much that she almost jumped up.
The wind was especially strong today, making the trees in the courtyard look like they were about to break in half. It also made Butler Zhou's wife's face turn red from the cold.
Despite not receiving an answer, she didn't dare to ask anyone to rush Madam Gu again. She was so anxious that she paced around outside.
'Aunt Zhou." An old woman ran over, panting. She was out of breath as she ran and reported intermittently, "Second Young Master Murong has already...
broken into the mansion..."
Before the old woman could finish speaking, the maidservant in the main courtyard arrived and relayed Madam Wang's words truthfully.
These words were like adding fuel to the fire. The anger in Zhou Li's heart surged to the top of her head. She said to the old woman with some anger, "You heard it too. If there's anything, report it to the Eldest Lady at Jiahui Courtyard."
The old woman had a headache and was at a loss. She could only turn around and run to Jiahui Courtyard again.
Not only was this old woman at a loss, but the other servants were also at a loss.
Murong Yong had already broken through the outer door and entered the inner door. His expression was solemn and his gaze was sharp.
After taking off his groom's hat and the big red hydrangeas on his red groom's robe, he felt much lighter.
It was also much more convenient to beat people up.
He suddenly kicked a guard with his right leg and punched a servant in the abdomen with lightning speed. The servant staggered back a few steps, and even the other servant behind him fell to the ground. The two of them fell into a heap.
Then, without looking, he dislocated the other guard's right arm. His scream shot into the sky like a pig being slaughtered.
Murong Yong's every move was very rough. There was no hesitation, and there was a hint of catharsis and irresistible force.
Murong Yong had never been treated so coldly in his life.
In his opinion, if the Gu family was unwilling to rush joy, they could have just said it. There was no need to embarrass the Murong family like this.
He had to get the Gu family to give the Murong family an explanation today.
Murong Yong led his men and charged forward aggressively. Like an unsheathed sword, he stabbed forward with a murderous aura.
He was a martial artist who had killed countless enemies and exterminated bandits. Be it his skills or his aura, he was far from what the guards of the Gu family could compare to. It was impossible for them to stop him.
The guards wailed, fell to the ground, and crashed against each other. Some of the surrounding flowers and trees were damaged like a typhoon had gone past them.
Wherever Murong Yong passed, it was a mess.
Shangqing Spiritual Master silently followed behind Murong Yong, maintaining a distance of five or six steps.
After circling around a tall stone wall, Murong Yong saw a blue figure standing in the cold winter in front of the main hall.
The winter sun cast a golden halo over the slender young man.
The young man stood with his hands behind his back. His expression was cold, and there was a hint of arrogance between his eyebrows. He called Murong Yong by his name angrily, "Murong Yong, we've already said that our family doesn't agree to this marriage. Don't pester us."
'Now, get out!"
Gu Yuan said the last five words firmly. His entire body was like a red tassel spear that was overflowing with cold air and flashed with killing intent.
The cold wind blew Gu Yuan's robe, making it flutter.
Gu Yuan's appearance made the guards of the Marquis Mansion feel as if they had been pardoned. They looked at him as if they were looking up to their savior. Their hearts, which had been shattered by Murong Yong, finally regained their backbone.
Everyone in the Marquis Mansion was overjoyed, but Murong Yong was completely angered by Gu Yuan's disrespectful attitude.
'IIS the Gu family trying to become enemies?" Murong Yong's eyes burned with flames as he questioned coldly. His voice was even colder than the biting cold wind.
'Our families have long had a marriage contract, and your Gu family has also accepted the betrothal gifts. Are you trying to cheat us out of our marriage?!"
His every word was powerful and not blown away by the cold wind at all. It was clearly transmitted to Gu Yuan's ears.
Murong Yong felt that his attitude was already very good. The Gu family had really gone too far. They were playing with their Murong family like monkeys! Gu Yuan calmly welcomed Murong Yong with a disdainful sneer on his lips.
Clap! Clap!
Gu Yuan casually raised his hand and clapped twice.
Wu Tong immediately understood and ordered a few rough servants to carry over heavy red-painted wooden boxes and throw them on the empty space between Gu Yuan and Murong Yong.
The betrothal gift boxes hit the limestone floor with a bang.
Each bang was louder than the last. Some of the boxes even fell sideways. Even the lids were thrown open, and the jewelry and decorative utensils inside fell out.
This collision was no different from slapping Murong Yong's face several times in a row.
Murong Yong's expression darkened slightly. His eyes were cold as he flew into a rage out of humiliation.
The cold wind was like a knife, piercing through the bones.
Everyone's sleeves and robes fluttered with the cold wind. Even their breaths were frozen.
Murong Yong kept a straight face, but Gu Yuan was still sneering casually. He moved his knuckles casually, making cracking sounds.
'Why? Do you want to fight? Come on." Gu Yuan hooked his index finger at Murong Yong provocatively. "Who's afraid of who!"
"1f you want to fight, fight early. Otherwise, your family will have to observe mourning and won't be able to fight for the next three years."
Gu Yuan's words were cold and he didn't hide the provocation in his words..
Chapter 229: See Through
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The anger in Murong Yong's heart rose steadily. Veins popped up on his forehead, and his breathing was heavy. He gritted his teeth so hard that the muscles on both sides of his face tightened, as if he was a volcano that was about to erupt at any moment.
Murong Yong clenched his fists tightly. His anger calmed down.
He had been in the military for many years and was no longer the brat who had rushed forward with his fists in a fit of anger after being provoked by a few veterans when he first entered the military camp at the age of 14 or 15.
The blood and killing on the battlefield had taught him a lot.
Murong Yong tried his best to calm down. At this moment, a yellow shadow flashed in the corner of his eye. Shangqing Spiritual Master slowly walked to his side.
'The heavenly lord's blessing is immeasurable." Shang Qing continued to approach Gu Yuan. He bowed and asked slowly, 'IIS the Dingyuan Marquis
Household really going to break off the engagement?"
When the silver horsetail whisk in his hand swung, it gently brushed past Gu Yuan's left chest.
The horsetail whisk swayed and danced with the cold wind, shimmering in the sunlight like clouds and smoke beside him.
'Your family broke off the engagement at the last minute and went back on your word, but it will cause Old Madam Murong to die. Not only will the Murong family lose their loved one, but your family will also be implicated by this karma and it will affect your future generations."
Shangqing Spiritual Master's expression and voice were still as calm as ever, making it impossible to tell if he was happy or angry. His indifferent and ethereal gaze seemed to ignore all living beings.
All the servants in the Marquis Mansion knew of Shangqing Spiritual Master's reputation. Hearing his words, they couldn't help but feel uneasy, and a few of them even gasped.
'Are you sure you want to break off the engagement?!" Shangqing Spiritual Master's voice echoed in the air.
As soon as he finished speaking, continuous dark clouds covered the warm sun in the sky, as if a cold wind was blowing in their faces. The courtyard darkened significantly, casting a faint shadow on everyone's hearts.
It was like an ominous omen.
The servants of the Marquis Mansion looked at Shangqing Spiritual Master with even more reverence. They thought to themselves, 'Shangqing Spiritual Master is indeed a divine person!'
According to Shangqing Spiritual Master, if Old Madam Murong died, someone in the Gu family would pay the price. Then, would they be seriously ill or would they pay with their lives?!
This was no longer just a marriage, nor was it about whether the two families were enemies. Instead, it involved the lives of the Gu and Murong families.
An uneasy atmosphere filled the bleak cold wind and spread rapidly. There was a muddy smell in the air that lingered in everyone's noses.
'That's right." A clear female voice cut through the dead air, like a clear ice spring flowing through. "1f we don't rush joy, we'll be tainted by this karma."
'However..."
The female voice paused meaningfully, causing everyone to look at her.
Gu Yanfei, who was wearing a green dress, walked out of the main hall. Her footsteps were strong and agile.
Her eyes were brighter than the pure gold cat eyes and ears in her ears. Even the dark clouds that filled the sky couldn't suppress her brilliance, making her eyes light up.
The turbid, fishy air around her seemed to freshen with her appearance.
Gu Yanfei continued with a faint smile, 'However, the one affected by karma is not the Gu family, but you, Shangqing Spiritual Master."
When others mentioned Shangqing Spiritual Master, their expressions and tone were always filled with respect. They were either respectful or reverent, but from Gu Yanfei's mouth, there was only contempt.
Gu Yunzhen was a step behind Gu Yanfei and walked out of the house. Her temperament and expression were still gentle.
Although she had experienced a thrilling experience that she hadn't experienced in many years in just two days, and although she hadn't had a good rest last night, she was still in high spirits, like a plum blossom after frost.
The moment he saw Gu Yunzhen, Murong Yong's narrow eyes lit up and he stared at her with a burning gaze.
However, when he noticed that she was still wearing the dress from yesterday, his gaze changed again. He couldn't help but wonder what had happened in the Marquis Mansion yesterday.
Gu Yanfei walked to Gu Yuan's side and stared at the middle-aged Taoist priest in front of her without blinking.
Her tone was gentle but sharp as she said, "Shangqing Spiritual Master, you forced a dead person to stay in the world of the living."
'This karma naturally belongs to you."
As these two sentences were spoken, the dark clouds in the sky became thicker, as if they were about to fall.
Shangqing Spiritual Master's eyes widened and he was stunned for a moment. His eyes darkened, a stark contrast to his usual indifferent face.
He didn't expect Gu Yanfei to know this.. How did Second Miss Gu know?!
Chapter 230: See Through
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
His eyes flickered as all kinds of speculations flashed through his heart. Did someone from the Murong family leak the secret, or...
Murong Yong raised his eyebrows slightly and retracted his gaze from Gu Yunzhen. He turned to look at Gu Yanfei and Shangqing Spiritual Master. He glanced back and forth between the two of them, his eyes as dark as the night.
Although he didn't understand Gu Yanfei's words, he could tell that Shangqing Spiritual Master was shocked.
Shangqing Spiritual Master flicked his horsetail whisk, and the long silver threads of the whisk floated up and down. He regained his composure and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "1 don't understand what you mean. I'm just trying to save the seriously ill Old Madam Murong at the request of the Murong family."
'There's a saying that the immortal Tao is noble and unlimited."
He had a benevolent appearance. His face was as kind as the Three Pure Ones in the portrait, and his hair and beard fluttered.
Gu Yanfei sneered as if she had heard a joke. She stroked her sleeve and said leisurely,
'You also know that the living is immeasurable. But this only applies to a living person, not a dead person."
'There's no need to rush joy. The Old Madam passed away three years ago. If she has passed away, she's dead. She can't be brought back to life."
'Resurrection from the dead against destiny is against the will of the heavens."
"It's for the evil path.'
When she said the last words, the laziness in her voice was gone. She was as cold as if she had been soaked in cold water.
" The faint smile on Shangqing Spiritual Master's lips completely froze as he stared deeply at the daughter of the Marquis Mansion.
Second Lady Gu actually said that his grandmother was dead! Murong Yong frowned, and a storm of hostility appeared in his eyes. His gaze landed on Gu
Yanfei's face.
'Ridiculous!" Murong Yong reprimanded unhappily and sneered. His low voice couldn't hide his anger. "Second Lady Gu, your family first broke off the engagement for no reason, and now you're cursing my grandmother to die.
You're going too far."
'My grandmother is seriously ill, but she's alive and well."
Murong Yong punched a towering cypress tree beside him. The thick tree swayed and fell to the ground.
Murong Yong didn't believe Gu Yanfei, but Gu Yunzhen did. Her heart skipped a few beats, and she couldn't help but recall what Gu Yanfei had told her yesterday at the Murong family. 'The Murong family isn't a good place to go.
This marriage isn't good."
'Well?" Gu Yanfei clapped and smiled, but there was mockery in her smile.
'How often do you visit your grandmother?"
'IAS long as I'm in the capital, I'll go every three to five days," Murong Yong replied.
Now that his grandmother was bed-ridden, his parents, uncles, and aunties would naturally serve her. As her grandson, he had already done his etiquette by going back every three to five days.
Immediately after, Gu Yanfei threw out a second and third question. "Did you smell her?"
'Did you look at her face carefully?"
Without waiting for the other party to answer, Gu Yanfei continued, "Second Young Master Murong, you've also been on the battlefield. You must have seen the dead, smelled their scent, and touched their corpses, right?"
Gu Yanfei was quite direct and spoke the truth, unlike most people in the world who were often secretive about the dead.
Murong Yong stared fixedly at Gu Yanfei, his eyes filled with bewilderment. His entire body emitted a dangerous and fierce aura.
'Don't lie to yourself!" Gu Yanfei met his eyes without changing her expression. Her tone became sharper as she exposed the lie that he was trying to hide and deceive himself. 'She's long dead!"
Murong Yong's expression changed drastically. Under the shadow of the cypress tree, his angular eyebrows looked even sharper.
On the other hand, Shangqing Spiritual Master was expressionless and motionless. Only the horsetail whisk fluttered in the wind.
"Impossible!" Murong Yong squeezed out this word from between his sore teeth. His tone was low, and another crease appeared between his furrowed brows.
Although he said that it was impossible, his thoughts were involuntarily affected by Gu Yanfei's few words.
Some details that he had seen, smelled, and touched every time he went to his grandmother's place in the past two months flashed through Murong Yong's mind... It was as if the layer of gauze covering his eyes had been forcefully lifted.
His brow twitched violently, and his breathing grew heavier.
With Gu Yanfei's eyesight, she could naturally see that Murong Yong's heart was wavering.
She pursed her lower lip in understanding, her thoughts racing as she pressed on. 'You went to see your grandmother before you went out today, right? Did she already have livor mortis on her face and neck?"
'Did she smell more like a corpse?
Gu Yanfei was asking, but from her expression and tone, she clearly had an answer.
Those clear black eyes had long seen through everything and grasped the truth in her hands.
' Murong Yong's eyebrows trembled again, and his pupils constricted.
He got married to celebrate his grandmother's marriage. Before he went out to welcome the bride, he naturally went to his grandmother's residence. However, his father blocked him and didn't let him come close. At that time, his parents had urged him to come quickly to welcome the bride. He only thought that they were anxious.
But now...
Murong Yong thought about it from another angle and remembered some clues that he had overlooked just now.
When he entered his grandmother's inner room, the bed curtains were hanging down. He seemed to see his grandmother's face and neck through the gauze curtains...
Murong Yong almost didn't dare to think further. His tall and muscular body was tense, and his heart was in turmoil.
Gu Yanfei raised her hand to cover her nose and sighed mockingly. "You're covered in the stench of a corpse, but you don't even know it."
Murong Yong's hooked nose twitched involuntarily. His eyes were dark, and the veins on his fists were bulging.
He didn't lower his head to smell his clothes, but there was a faint stench of corpses lingering at the tip of his nose... Or perhaps this was the smell he had just smelled from his grandmother.
'There really is!'
Third Young Master Murong, who had come with him to welcome the bride, couldn't help but lean over and smell it. His face turned pale as he blurted out..