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Yao Shi was furious. Fortunately, her daughter had taken care of her health in recent days, otherwise the anger brought about by He shi's words might have harmed her unborn child. "I don't care where you heard it from, but let me tell you clearly, my son-in-law got into the Imperial Academy on his own merits! He was the top scorer in the provincial examination in You Province!"
He shi was taken aback by Yao Shi's wrath. She had never seen Yao Shi get so angry before. Her arrogance involuntarily diminished, "That, that’s also you pulling some strings..."
There was no point in reasoning with someone like He shi. Some people were oblivious to the truth, like blind fungi or cicadas ignorant of the seasons. He shi, with her shallow perception and self-righteousness, would never believe in Xiao Liulang's excellence!
She could only make baseless speculations and believe that her speculations made perfect sense!
"That’s the truth whether you believe it or not!" Yao Shi didn't want to waste any more time arguing with He shi. She stood up and turned to leave.
He shi hurriedly said, "Hey, Yao’er! I haven't finished speaking!"
Gu Jinyu saw that Yao Shi was truly angry. At this moment, she couldn't care less about He shi’s side as she followed Yao Shi's footsteps
He shi also wanted to catch up, but her collar was suddenly firmly grasped by someone.
It was Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao directly dragged He shi out of the main room, paying no attention to the collar choking He shi's neck.
He shi was choked to the point of rolling her eyes, trying to grab Gu Jiao's hands but failing to do so. "What... What are you doing?"
"Cousin!" Yao Xin stood up anxiously.
Gu Jiao threw He shi out of the front gate.
"Ouch—" He shi lost her balance and fell to the ground, landing in an undignified manner.
"Mother!" Yao Xin lifted her skirt and crossed the threshold to help He shi up from the ground.
He shi was furious. She got up and dusted off her clothes, then glared fiercely at Gu Jiao. "You little brat——"
Before she could finish her sentence, she met Gu Jiao's deadly gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, and suddenly her scalp felt numb.
Gu Jiao tapped the gate panel, not hiding the coldness in her eyes, "You're not allowed to come here anymore. Otherwise, I'll break your bones."
He shi wanted to retort, but when she faced that icy stare, she couldn't utter a single word.
He shi could brazenly stir up trouble in front of Yao Shi because she understood that at most, Yao Shi would only ignore her but not harm her. But He shi inexplicably felt that this girl before her could really do her harm...
He shi's face turned pale as she said, "Aren't you afraid... of the news spreading... tarnishing your reputation..."
She said this with extreme uncertainty.
"Is that so?" Gu Jiao suddenly raised her hand.
"Ah!" He shi was scared out of her wits and ran away, forgetting about Yao Xin!
However, Yao Xin saw that Gu Jiao only brushed her sleeve and did nothing else.
With her own mother running away, Yao Xin didn't have the face to continue staying there. "Mother, wait for me!"
Inside the room, Gu Jinyu was apologizing to Yao Shi, "Mother, I'm sorry. I didn't expect it to escalate like this. Aunt told me that she was just worried about you and also felt guilty for not treating sister well last time, so she had to come and make it up to you guys this time. I thought since she wants to make amends to sister, I... took the liberty of bringing her and cousin along."
Yao Shi closed her eyes with a headache, "Don't do this kind of thing again in the future."
Gu Jinyu softly replied, "I understand, mother."
Yao Shi frowned and asked, "How did they find out about Liulang?"
Gu Jinyu pondered for a moment and said, "Aunt asked me about brother-in-law. I only mentioned that brother-in-law and sister got married in the countryside, that he studied at the Imperial Academy and now holds a position at the Hanlin Academy. I didn't say anything else."
Yao Shi looked at Gu Jinyu and asked, "Did you mention his leg?"
Gu Jinyu lowered her head, "Aunt asked, and I mentioned it briefly, but I didn't say that brother-in-law is a cripple. I wouldn't say such things about brother-in-law... He's just having difficulty walking normally."
Gu Jinyu didn't speak in such a crude manner. She wouldn't casually mention the word ‘cripple’, however she couldn't stop He shi from speaking such harsh words.
Yao Shi felt suffocated in her heart. She didn't know if she was angry at He shi or at Gu Jinyu. All she knew was that she didn't want to see any of them right now.
She pressed her forehead and let out a sigh, "You should go back earlier too. The person who's about to get married should stop running around all the time."
"...Okay."
Gu Jinyu came out of Yao Shi's room and encountered Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang, who were feeding the chickens, Little Eight, and Little Nine.
Gu Jinyu looked at Gu Jiao first and said, "Sister."
Gu Jiao's attitude was cold, "Don't call me that. I'm not your sister."
Gu Jinyu bit her lip in distress and then looked at Xiao Liulang, "Brother-in-law."
Xiao Liulang didn't respond either.
He concentrated on feeding the bird and chickens, completely treating Gu Jinyu as if she didn't exist.
Gu Jinyu left Bishui Alley with a sense of grievance. Just as her carriage turned the corner, He shi, who was waiting on Chang'an Street, stopped her.
The coachman halted the carriage.
Gu Jinyu thought He shi had come to bid her farewell, but to her surprise, He shi was here to hold her accountable, "Jinyu, why didn't you speak up for your aunt just now?"
He shi's audacity completely stunned Gu Jinyu. Didn't she speak up for her earlier? She had been trying to smooth things over for her!
He shi sneered, "That’s wrong on your part. Look how much aunt cares about you. I give everything good to you and Yan'er. Your own mother's biological daughter doesn't even receive such favor from this aunt of yours!"
Gu Jinyu had run into a wall with Yao Shi, Gu Jiao, and Xiao Liulang earlier, and she was already feeling depressed. Now, with He shi adding fuel to the fire, she couldn't help but become a little angry, "Didn't Aunt say she came here today to make amends to sister? Why didn't I hear a single word about that from aunt from beginning to end?"
He shi's eyes flickered, and she awkwardly responded, "That... I didn't have the chance to say it, did I? Aiya, that girl indeed grew up in the countryside, she’s so uncouth!"
Gu Jinyu replied, displeased, "If Aunt has nothing else, I'll take my leave first!"
"Hey— Jinyu—" He shi grabbed the carriage window with her hand and smilingly said, "Um... can you help with your two cousins’ matters?"
"How can I possibly help?" Gu Jinyu's expression wasn't great.
He shi said, "Don't think Aunt doesn't know. Aren't you engaged to An Junwang? The Zhuang Family's power is even greater than the Marquis Ding’an Estate. Go and talk to your future husband, let him help your cousin brother!"
Gu Jinyu wasn't that foolish. This marriage proposal was already a way for her to climb up, if she involved unreliable relatives, it would only make the people from the Zhuang Family look down on her even more.
"I can't help." She refused outright.
He shi was infuriated. "You..."
Yao Xin said, "Sister Jinyu, don't be angry. Today, it's my mother who was in the wrong. My mother didn't have any ill intentions; she was just too worried about me and my brother. It's also my own fault for being foolish. If I had half the intelligence of cousin, my mother wouldn't have to worry so much."
He shi glared at her daughter. "What nonsense are you talking about? You're also very intelligent! You just didn't have the opportunity to attend that... that... the women's academy! Yes, the women's academy!"
Thinking of this, He shi's mind became active again, and she smiled at Gu Jinyu. "Alright, alright, let's not talk about your cousin Feng's matter for now. Just help your cousin Xin get into the women's academy! Look, you only managed to catch such a good match because you entered the women's academy. Your cousin Xin's qualifications are no worse than yours. You're an adopted daughter, while she's the legitimate daughter of the Yao Family..."
Gu Jinyu was so angry that her face turned green. This was exactly what it meant to pick up a stone and hit her own foot!
She clenched her handkerchief tightly and said to the coachman, "Let's go!"
The coachman received the order and didn't care about He shi still holding onto the carriage. He cracked the whip, causing the horse to feel the pain and sprint forward.
"Aiyo!" He shi stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.
"Mother, are you okay?" Yao Xin supported her.
He shi spat on the ground. "Bah! She’s just a countryside brat who was adopted by mistake, truly thinking highly of herself!"
"Mother——"
He shi said, "Xin'er, don't worry. Among your two cousin sisters, one is adopted, and the other has a birthmark on her face. Even they managed to find good marriages. I refuse to believe that you can't! Rest assured, I will find a suitable husband for you!"
When the topic of a suitable husband was brought up, Yao Xin suddenly had an image of a delicate and cold young man with exquisite countenance. His expression was indifferent and distant, yet he exuded an inexplicable charm and allure.
Yao Xin... Yao Xin's heart skipped a beat.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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