Three days later, Gu Lin had Gu Zhan bring people to the Marquis Household to deliver the betrothal gifts. It was also Gu Zhan’s first time meeting Marquis Yong’an.
Marquis Yong’an welcomed Gu Zhan into the main hall and said with a smile, “Forgive me for failing to welcome the Second Young Master personally.”
Gu Zhan’s expression was somewhat cold. “Marquis, you are too courteous.”
Gu Zhan noticed that Wen Yunyue resembled Marquis Yong’an more. At a glance, one could tell they looked alike. They were clearly father and daughter by blood.
Marquis Yong’an had a decent appearance and looked every bit the respectable nobleman. Unfortunately, his heart was rotten.
Gu Zhan had read the novel before. Whether it was Marquis Yong’an breaking off an engagement to curry favor with powerful people or later using Wen Yunyue for his own benefit, all of it made Gu Zhan dislike him deeply.
Gu Zhan was simple-minded. If he disliked someone, it showed plainly on his face without the slightest attempt to hide it.
Seeing this, Marquis Yong’an did not react much. After all, Gu Zhan had always treated him this way, so he was already used to it.
“Someone, go invite Eldest Miss.”
After inviting Gu Zhan to sit, Marquis Yong’an ordered someone to summon Wen Yunyue.
Gu Zhan frowned. “I only came today to deliver the betrothal gifts. Meeting Miss Wen would inevitably be improper.”
In truth, he did not want to see Wen Yunyue at all.
“Ah—” Marquis Yong’an shook his head. “With this marquis present, no one would dare gossip. Second, the Young Master may rest assured.”
Gu Zhan felt helpless inside. He simply did not want to see Wen Yunyue and had only used propriety as an excuse, yet Marquis Yong’an misunderstood his meaning.
While waiting, Marquis Yong’an chatted casually with Gu Zhan. “The Second Young Master will soon reach adulthood. Have you thought about what official position you wish to take?”
As a member of the imperial clan, Gu Zhan did not need to take the imperial examinations, nor did he need to study at the Imperial Academy for prestige. As long as he wished, he could step directly into the Imperial Court. What others struggled for through ten years of hard study was within Gu Zhan’s reach.
Gu Zhan shook his head. “I have no intention of entering the Imperial Court.”
Marquis Yong’an paused. “Then what does the Second Young Master wish to do?”
Gu Zhan sat lazily in his chair, fiddling with the teacup lid as he replied casually, “Play cuju. Being an official isn’t nearly as interesting as cuju.”
He had no desire to scheme and fight with those people. Besides, he knew he could never outmaneuver them.
Marquis Yong’an: “…”
He knew Gu Zhan only cared about eating, drinking, and entertainment and was every bit the useless playboy people claimed him to be. Yet he had not expected him to be this lacking in ambition.
Still, Marquis Yong’an had never truly valued Gu Zhan in the first place. Since Gu Zhan already disliked him, trying to persuade him might only anger him and create unnecessary trouble.
Thinking this, Marquis Yong’an smiled and said, “The Second Young Master is indifferent to fame and fortune. Few can compare. This marquis admires you greatly.”
The moment Wen Yunyue entered, she heard those words. Turning toward Gu Zhan, she saw the corner of his mouth twitch slightly. Clearly, he did not appreciate Marquis Yong’an’s flattery.
A subtle smile curved Wen Yunyue’s lips before she stepped forward and bowed. “This young lady greets the Second Young Master.”
Gu Zhan’s feelings were complicated. He had tried so hard to cancel the engagement, yet in the end he still failed. “Miss Wen is too courteous.”
Seeing that Wen Yunyue had arrived, Marquis Yong’an stood and smiled. “This marquis still has matters to attend to. Yue’er, accompany Second Young Master around the estate.”
As for propriety, Marquis Yong’an had long thrown it aside. What mattered most to him was whether Wen Yunyue could firmly secure Gu Zhan’s heart.
After Marquis Yong’an left, Wen Yunyue said softly, “Second Young Master, please.”
Gu Zhan turned to look at her. Today, Wen Yunyue wore an apricot-yellow dress that made her appear gentle and graceful. In Gu Zhan’s impression, her style had always leaned toward this soft elegance.
It would be awkward for Gu Zhan to leave immediately, so he instructed the Prince’s Estate servants to wait there while he followed Wen Yunyue around the Marquis Household.
The inner residence belonged to the female members of the household, so naturally Gu Zhan could not enter. They could only stroll through the front courtyard.
There was a lotus lake within the Marquis Household. After walking for a while, they arrived there. It was currently the season when lotuses bloomed, and the entire lake was filled with blossoming lotus flowers. The sight was beautiful.
Gu Zhan stopped to admire them for a moment when Wen Yunyue asked, “Does the Second Young Master like lotus flowers?”
Gu Zhan shook his head. “It’s not really a matter of liking or disliking them. I just think they look nice.”
Hearing that, Wen Yunyue did not ask further and simply stood beside him quietly.
“Elder Sister?”
At that moment, a voice sounded from not far away.
The instant Wen Yunyue heard the voice, her gaze darkened slightly with displeasure.
Gu Zhan turned toward the sound and saw a pretty young girl in a pink dress walking over.
The moment Wen Sixin saw Gu Zhan beside Wen Yunyue, she blinked and asked playfully, “You must be Second Young Master, right?”
Gu Zhan nodded. “Who are you?”
Wen Yunyue answered first, “This is my younger sister.”
Younger sister?
Gu Zhan remembered that Marquis Yong’an’s Wife only had one daughter, Wen Yunyue. That meant this younger sister was likely born to another concubine.
By modern standards, Wen Sixin would be considered the child of a mistress.
But in this era, where such arrangements were normalized, no one thought anything of it.
Gu Zhan’s expression cooled slightly. “I assume your younger sister has business with Miss Wen. It would be inconvenient for me to remain here, so I shall take my leave first.”
After saying that, he turned and left immediately without giving Wen Sixin the chance to continue speaking to him.
Wen Yunyue had been watching Gu Zhan’s expression the entire time. Seeing that he seemed to dislike Wen Sixin, her mood improved considerably. “Second Young Master, take care.”
Wen Sixin’s expression instantly stiffened. Watching Gu Zhan leave, she complained unhappily, “Elder Sister, why didn’t you ask the Second Young Master to stay longer?”
Wen Yunyue turned to watch the fish in the lake and said calmly, “If the Second Young Master wishes to leave, who could stop him?”
The sisters only appeared harmonious on the surface. Their so-called sisterly affection was nothing more than an act performed in front of Marquis Yong’an. Now that no one else was around, Wen Yunyue could not even be bothered to pretend.
“Second Young Master is the Elder Sister’s future husband. Surely he would listen to at least some of the Elder Sister’s words.”
Wen Yunyue raised a brow, mockery flickering faintly in her eyes. “So the Younger Sister also knows that the Second Young Master is my future husband?”
Hearing that, Wen Sixin’s expression became somewhat ugly, though she forced out a smile. “What is the Elder Sister saying? Everyone in the estate knows the Elder Sister and Second Young Master have already set a wedding date.”
Wen Sixin’s methods were far inferior to Jiang Yiniang’s. Wen Yunyue found her utterly boring and could not be bothered to deal with her further. “It was nothing. I only said it casually.”
With that, Wen Yunyue turned and left.
Wen Sixin remained standing in place with an unpredictable expression, her gaze toward Wen Yunyue filled with malice.
After they had gone far enough away, Qiu Lan could not help but spit disdainfully. “Miss, Second Miss is truly shameless. Does she really think others cannot see through her thoughts?”
Wen Yunyue merely laughed softly without speaking.
Jiang Yiniang had spent so much effort raising Wen Sixin, hoping she would not lose to Wen Yunyue. Yet Wen Sixin was still a concubine-born daughter. There was always a certain pettiness about her that prevented her from truly appearing refined. Even so, she especially loved comparing herself to Wen Yunyue.
Wen Sixin was already fourteen this year and would come of age next year. Jiang Yiniang had recently been searching for a marriage match for her, yet neither mother nor daughter was satisfied with any of the candidates.
To begin with, Marquis Yong’an’s reputation among the nobility was poor. Wen Sixin was also concubine-born. If she behaved properly and honestly chose a low-ranking official’s son or a talented scholar from a humble family, finding a marriage would not have been difficult.
But Wen Sixin could not accept marrying beneath Wen Yunyue. After learning that Gu Zhan and Wen Yunyue were engaged, she became determined to marry just as well as Wen Yunyue. Of course, that was impossible. Even Jiang Yiniang had advised her to give up.
Naturally, Wen Sixin refused to admit defeat. Since she could not find someone equal to Gu Zhan, she would simply steal Wen Yunyue’s instead.
Wen Sixin had not inherited even a trace of Jiang Yiniang’s scheming mind. She was foolish to the extreme, and Wen Yunyue saw through her thoughts at a glance.
She simply never bothered to respond to them.
“Miss, should we report this matter to the Marquis?”
Although Qiu Lan looked down on Wen Sixin, she still worried Wen Sixin might cause trouble.
Wen Yunyue shook her head. “There’s no need.”
Marquis Yong’an was far too selfish. Even though Wen Sixin was his most favored daughter, if she obstructed his path, he would absolutely be ruthless enough to send her to the family temple.
It was rare for Jiang Yiniang to have such an obvious weakness as Wen Sixin. Wen Yunyue did not want Wen Sixin ruined so quickly.
Moreover…
Thinking back to Gu Zhan’s expression earlier, Wen Yunyue curved her lips slightly.
If this had been the past, Wen Yunyue might still have been wary of Wen Sixin. But now, Gu Zhan very clearly disliked Wen Sixin. If Wen Sixin approached him, she would only humiliate herself.
Although Wen Yunyue did not fully understand the current Gu Zhan, she trusted him instinctively.
As for where that trust came from, Wen Yunyue thought about it for a moment. Perhaps it was because of those excessively pure eyes of his.