Memories surged, and Song Ci finally remembered who this person was: Gu Mingyuan, her never-before-met fiancé.
In her previous life, once Gu Mingyuan learned that the original owner was not the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's Mansion, he immediately turned around and fawned over Song Qianqian, while gaslighting the original owner, saying she was ignorant and didn't know how to yield to her younger sister.
He constantly spoke of propriety and morality, yet willingly acted as Song Qianqian's sycophant, ceaselessly putting down the original owner.
That two-faced, duplicitous demeanor was truly disgusting.
In the end, he even publicly broke off the engagement, becoming the final straw that drove the original owner to her death.
She still remembered how Song Qianqian had mocked the original owner.
"Dear elder sister, you're such a failure in life. Mother despises you, your brothers are annoyed with you, and even your fiancé doesn't want you. How can someone like you still have the face to live in this world?"
The original owner was forced to take her own life.
Seeing Song Ci silent and only staring coldly at him, Gu Mingyuan felt a surge of anger at being scorned. He straightened his back, put on airs, and began to lecture.
"Miss Song, as a woman, virtue and chastity are of utmost importance. Your current words and actions are hardly fitting for a good match. The Gu family's conduct is upright and honest. If you still wish to continue our engagement, you should watch your words and deeds and keep your distance from people like Young Master Shen."
"Are you done?"
Song Ci's voice turned cold.
Stunned by her reaction, Gu Mingyuan frowned and said, "Miss Song, I'm saying this for your own good. Why are you so obstinate?"
Song Ci laughed in anger.
"Gu Mingyuan, you keep saying it's for my own good? I merely exchanged a few words with Young Master Shen in public. How does that become 'lost virtue' or 'unworthiness' in your mouth?
Always using chastity to oppress others—is that what you call 'good'? Truly too much to bear."
Song Ci was not one of the ancient people; she had no intention of being devoted to one person for life and hanging herself from a single tree, let alone on a crooked tree like Gu Mingyuan.
Gu Mingyuan's face flushed red from being rebutted.
"You... you're being unreasonable and quibbling! It's clearly your conduct that's flawed!"
"My affairs are none of your business."
Song Ci's tone turned icy: "Young Master Gu, you keep talking about virtue and family conduct. Let me ask you: since you and I are engaged, why did you come to this Flower Appreciation Banquet? Don't you know its purpose? Is this your so-called Qingliu standard?"
"I... Song Ci, don't be so aggressive. I remember you used to be gentle and polite. How have you become like this?" Struck in a sore spot, Gu Mingyuan's face flushed red.
Song Ci sneered.
"The past is the past, the present is the present. Young Master Gu can't even control himself, yet you still reach out your claws at others. Be careful they get chopped off!"
"You..."
"Little Sister, why waste words with him!"
Shen Huaizhou shielded Song Ci behind him and pointed at Gu Mingyuan's nose, letting loose a torrent of abuse.
"Someone, throw this sour cucumber out! He keeps talking about propriety, honor, and shame, but he's the most shameless one. He really thinks he's something. I hate this kind of person the most."
The guards hurried forward and clamped down on Gu Mingyuan's shoulders.
Gu Mingyuan struggled.
"Shen Huaizhou, how dare you! I am a court official, you cannot..."
"Throw him out! Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up!"
Shen Huaizhou didn't bother wasting words.
The guards showed no mercy; they grabbed Gu Mingyuan by the collar and flung him out.
Gu Mingyuan wailed.
"Let me go! Song Ci, I am your fiancé! How can you let an outsider treat me like this? Do you have no shame... mmm!"
His curses were muffled by the guard's hand as he was thrown out of the Lake-center Pavilion in disgrace.
Song Ci watched that pitiful figure with an indifferent gaze.
Shen Huaizhou frowned.
"Little Sister, that scumbag is your fiancé? You're not really thinking of spending your life with someone like him, are you?"
"I'm not stupid. I wouldn't jump into a fire pit knowingly. For him to come here, someone must have pointed him in this direction."
"What do you mean?"
"I suspect someone instigated him."
Song Ci's gaze turned cold: "Song Qianqian is the most likely suspect. My dear little sister can't stand seeing me well off. She probably saw us siblings together and wanted to use Gu Mingyuan's hand against me."
"That wretched girl is really vile. Not satisfied with administering drugs, she also dragged that sour cucumber here to disgust people. She's no good."
Shen Huaizhou's eyes sharpened: "I'll go take care of that pair of bastards."
"Eldest Brother, don't rush."
"Since Song Qianqian wants to use a borrowed knife to kill, why don't we play along with the plan..."
Shen Huaizhou leaned in to listen.
Outside the Lake-center Pavilion, Gu Mingyuan lay on the ground, humiliated and wanting to die. The pointing and staring from the people around made him even more ashamed, and he could only flee in disgrace.
In his haste, he bumped into someone.
Ouch!
Song Qianqian let out a shrill cry and fell to the ground.
Realizing he had collided with someone, Gu Mingyuan quickly apologized: "I'm sorry, Miss, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Are you... Gu the Tanhua?"
"Miss knows me?"
Gu Mingyuan hurriedly straightened his clothes.
Song Qianqian smiled shyly.
"I am the Second Young Lady of Yong'an Marquis Manor, Song Qianqian. Song Ci is my eldest sister. Young Master Gu, why are you in such a disheveled state? Could it be that you saw my elder sister..."
Song Qianqian trailed off, perfectly conveying concern and worry.
Gu Mingyuan felt like he had found a kindred spirit and poured out all his grievances and disappointment with Song Ci.
Song Qianqian comforted him with soft words.
Comparing the two sisters, Gu Mingyuan regretted more and more that he was engaged to Song Ci, the fake heiress. He should have been engaged to Song Qianqian, the true heiress. What a pity things had gone wrong.
Gu Mingyuan regretted it to the bone.
Song Qianqian kept watching Gu Mingyuan's expression. Seeing that her 'persuasion' had reached the right point, she tactfully took her leave.
"Young Master Gu, don't overthink. My sister... perhaps she just had a momentary lapse. You two have been engaged for a long time; you should clear things up soon. As her younger sister, I still hope you two can grow old together."
"Second Young Lady, you are truly kind-hearted. Your sister... ah! It's a long story."
Gu Mingyuan was very disappointed in Song Ci. She had a pretty face but no brains.
The two chatted more and more congenially. Song Qianqian showed Gu Mingyuan respect and admiration at every turn.
Her etiquette and sense of proportion were perfectly handled. Gu Mingyuan increasingly felt that Song Qianqian was the model of a good wife in his heart.
He resolved to go talk to Song Ci again. If she remained incorrigible, he would break off the engagement and pursue Song Qianqian.
Once this thought arose, it grew wildly in Gu Mingyuan's mind. He could no longer suppress the urge, so he took his leave.
Watching Gu Mingyuan leave, Granny Hua sidled up and whispered.
"Second Young Lady, if it weren't for the obstacle of the Eldest Miss, you would be the perfect match for Gu the Tanhua."
"Shut your mouth!
A poor Hanlin academician? He's not worthy of me. Only someone as short-sighted as Song Ci would fancy such a impoverished scholar."
The tenderness on Song Qianqian's face vanished.
"What I want is to rise to the top, marry into the imperial family, and leap through the dragon's gate. As for Gu Mingyuan, he's just a dog I use to deal with Song Ci.
You've seen it too. Gu Mingyuan always prides himself on being Qingliu, stubborn and dull. The more he dislikes Song Ci, the more dissatisfied he is with this marriage. Using him against Song Ci is the most fitting.
I must make Song Ci taste what it's like to be stabbed in the back by someone she loves."
A trace of malice flashed in Song Qianqian's eyes.
Little did she know, Song Ci had already joined forces with Shen Huaizhou. They had sent someone to silently deliver the drugged teacup—originally brought by Granny Hua—to where Gu Mingyuan could take it, and watched as he drank it without suspicion...
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