The young woman in Xiao Fang’s eyes had a high nose, deep-set eyes, and vivid red lips.
Her features were striking and bold, nothing like the frail beauties currently in fashion.
In particular, her red dress made her skin look as white as snow. Yet the hint of heroism between her brows held its own against the vivid color, creating a beauty that was both contradictory and dazzling.
After staring for a moment, he finally started swinging the grass stalk in his mouth again. His voice was still lazy.
“Mm. Not bad.”
He paused, then turned and walked away, leaving only a few words to drift on the wind.
“We’re even.”
Yun Shuyao let out a long breath and raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead.
Though he was already far away, she still felt as if his figure were swaying before her eyes.
That dazzling red seemed even hotter than the blood that had splashed across her face just moments ago…
When the carriage reached the Marquis’s Residence, Yun Shuyao climbed down with a cold expression and gathered her skirt as she went up the steps.
The servant saw that the visitor was the future heir’s wife and respectfully led her toward the inner courtyard.
As soon as she entered the West Wing Courtyard and turned a corner, she sensed that something was wrong.
She had lived here for eighteen years. How could she not know her way around?
They were heading toward the guest courtyard where female visitors from outside the residence were received.
She had no idea what the Gu Family was planning, but since she had come at her father’s bidding, she figured they wouldn’t dare do anything out of line.
In an elegant pavilion in the guest courtyard, Yun Shuyao saw Gu Jinghuai—and…
Su Yuyan, standing beside him with a faint smile.
Su Yuyan was dressed far more elegantly than she was, in a fitted pink gown.
Though her figure was flat, her black hair was loosely pinned at the back of her head, giving her a look that was both gentle and alluring.
She seemed so delicate that one wanted to protect her—the sort of woman men liked best.
Su Yuyan was looking up at Gu Jinghuai as she spoke, her eyes curved in a smile, her charm effortless.
The look in Gu Jinghuai’s eyes was tender, utterly unlike the cold distance he showed Yun Shuyao.
Yun Shuyao could understand, in a way, why Gu Jinghuai liked her. Compared with the woman Yun Shuyao had been after marrying him in her previous life, Su Yuyan was far more lively and endearing.
What man wouldn’t like a woman like that?
But Yun Shuyao didn’t feel like saying a word. She turned to leave.
Su Yuyan seemed only then to notice Yun Shuyao and immediately called out,
“Sister Shuyao?”
At the sound of her voice, Gu Jinghuai turned. His gaze fell coolly on Yun Shuyao.
Yun Shuyao frowned, but turned back without fear. The first thing she noticed was the hairpin in Su Yuyan’s hair.
Su Yuyan hurried over to her.
“Sister, you’re here! Come in. It’s windy outside today.”
Yun Shuyao brushed Su Yuyan’s hand away, snatched the hairpin from her hair, and demanded coldly,
“Why is the dowry hairpin my maternal grandmother gave me in your hair?”
Su Yuyan’s hair came loose where Yun Shuyao had pulled at it. She immediately put on a pitiful expression and looked to Gu Jinghuai.
“Cousin… Sister says the hairpin you gave me belongs to her…”
Gu Jinghuai pressed his lips together and said nothing. Knowing Yun Shuyao, what she said was probably true.
Her maternal family was the richest in Kyoto, a family of imperial merchants for generations. They were wealthy enough to rival a nation; she had no reason to lie over a few pieces of jewelry.
Then the problem must have come from his mother.
“It’s all right, Cousin. Tomorrow, go to Linglong Pavilion and pick out a few more things. I’ll make it up to you.”
Gu Jinghuai couldn’t bear to see his sweet, well-behaved Yuyan wronged, so he hurried to comfort her.
Hearing him offer his own shop’s goods to his lover, Yun Shuyao was so angry she laughed.
She clearly needed to check the accounts and reclaim her shops as soon as possible.
If he kept using other people’s things, he really would start thinking they belonged to him!
“I have things to do. I don’t have time to chat with you.”
Yun Shuyao started to leave, but Su Yuyan smiled.
“Isn’t the reason you came today to tell me what you want for the wedding clothes, Sister?”
Yun Shuyao stopped. “What?”
Su Yuyan gave a light laugh, a trace of hidden emotion in her eyes. She glanced at Gu Jinghuai, then forced a smile.
“You didn’t know? I’m making the wedding clothes for you and Cousin. My needlework is passable, so the Duchess suggested I take care of it.”
Yun Shuyao thought the whole thing was absurd. Her wedding dress was to be sewn by her rival?
Was humiliating her not enough?
“No need.”
Yun Shuyao refused outright and turned to leave.
Gu Jinghuai came over just then.
“Mother said today that the Duchess asked Yuyan to finish the wedding clothes as soon as possible. Don’t waste time making trouble. Hurry up and let her take your measurements.”
Yun Shuyao looked up at him and rejected the suggestion with scorn.
“Does the heir think your cousin is being put to too much trouble? Then don’t trouble her. We’re breaking off the engagement anyway. What’s the point of going through all this?”
Seeing Gu Jinghuai act as if his cousin were the one being wronged made her feel sick.
Gu Jinghuai sensed the sharpness in Yun Shuyao’s attitude.
So she still hadn’t let the broken engagement go.
He met her stubborn gaze and reproached her, irritated,
“If you didn’t want to trouble Cousin, you shouldn’t have told the Duchess to have Yuyan make the clothes.”
As far as Gu Jinghuai knew, only Yun Shuyao knew that Su Yuyan had come to Kyoto. The Duchess knew nothing about it.
So if Yun Shuyao hadn’t said anything, none of this would have happened.
Yun Shuyao stared at him in disbelief.
“I told Mother to find Su Yuyan?”
Gu Jinghuai thought she was deliberately making things difficult for his cousin.
Was that why Su Yuyan had looked so troubled just now?
“It’s all right. If I can help my future sister-in-law and Cousin, it’s worth staying up late.
Come in, Sister Shuyao. I’ll take your measurements. If there are any patterns you like, just tell me.”
Su Yuyan seemed unwilling to make an issue of it. She gently tugged Gu Jinghuai’s sleeve, signaling him to stop talking.
Yun Shuyao saw the little gesture and felt disgusted.
Gu Jinghuai was still technically her fiancé, yet Su Yuyan had to step in and mediate their quarrel.
What was worse, Gu Jinghuai was willing to take Su Yuyan’s advice.
She had thought they hadn’t gotten involved with each other yet. It seemed they had been carrying on together far longer than she’d imagined.
Gu Jinghuai did fall silent, but continued to watch Yun Shuyao.
There was a quiet warning in his expression, as if telling her not to make a scene.
After they faced off for a moment, Yun Shuyao was the first to turn away. Then someone suddenly seized her wrist.
“Yuyan was considerate enough to agree. What are you still making a fuss about? I won’t hold it against you for having the wedding date moved up. So stop saying hurtful things, or you’ll be going too far!”
Yun Shuyao wrenched herself free of Gu Jinghuai’s grip. She clenched her fists and fell silent for a long while before suddenly turning to Su Yuyan.
“You’re making the wedding clothes, right?
Then make them to your measurements and your cousin’s. Choose whatever style you two like. I’m not the one who’ll be getting married, anyway.”
At her words, Su Yuyan’s expression stiffened.
She hadn’t expected Yun Shuyao, after being set up by her and her aunt, to react like this.
“Yun Shuyao! How long are you going to keep sulking?
We’re already discussing marriage. What’s the point of saying things like that just to spite me?”
Su Yuyan stood to one side, looking troubled.
“Heir Cousin, it’s all my fault. Please don’t argue because of me.”
In an instant, she put on a pitiful expression. Her eyes reddened as she looked at Gu Jinghuai and said,
“Cousin, think about what patterns you like, too. Just tell me once you’ve decided. I’ll leave you two alone.”
With that, she turned to leave, looking aggrieved.
Gu Jinghuai pulled her back. Anger surfaced on his face as he turned to Yun Shuyao and demanded coldly,
“You want to break off the engagement? Why don’t you tell the elders? What’s the point of bullying Yuyan all the time?”
When Yun Shuyao was left speechless, he gave his verdict with a scornful look.
“Just another ploy to make me chase after you!”
Gu Jinghuai’s remark was dripping with mockery. Even without any expression on his face, anyone could see it.
Yun Shuyao didn’t want to watch them put on a show. She turned and left.
Behind her, Gu Jinghuai gave a cold laugh and said cruelly,
“You’re already a twenty-year-old spinster. If you break off your engagement to me, who do you think will want you?”
His words were like a knife driven straight into her heart. After all, the people who knew you best were the ones who knew exactly how to hurt you.
“Anyone has the right to mock me for being old—anyone but you!”
Yun Shuyao stopped and turned back to glare at him.
Gu Jinghuai’s expression remained cold, but he knew she was right.
They had planned to marry the year after Yun Shuyao came of age, but the old Marquis of Yongning had suddenly died.
As the eldest grandson, Gu Jinghuai naturally had to observe three years of mourning. The delay had brought Yun Shuyao to her current age.
Though he knew he was in the wrong, the resentment in his chest made him unwilling to let Yun Shuyao off easily. At the very least, Yuyan shouldn’t be the only one left upset.
“Since you won’t cooperate, let Cousin design them however she likes. I’m not looking forward to marrying you, anyway.”
After Gu Jinghuai said this, he saw the cold smile curve Yun Shuyao’s lips—and felt a sudden unease in his heart.