Mrs. Liu's eyes lit up, and she quickly laughed, "Mother, rest assured, your daughter-in-law will definitely arrange Young Miss Ying's marriage properly."
Madam Ye left behind a very generous dowry, which she had coveted for many years. Now she finally had a chance to embezzle it openly and legally.
She also needed to plan well for her beloved daughter Jia's future.
Gu Ying smiled ambiguously. "Thank you, Grandmother. Thank you, Auntie."
Gu Jia scoffed. "Congratulations, Second Sister. Congratulations, Second Sister. Second Sister is really lucky to have gained the favor of the Prince. You're about to fly up to become a phoenix. In the future when Second Sister becomes the Prince's Consort, you must not forget to give your sisters a hand up too."
Deliberately stirring up trouble was Gu Jia's specialty.
Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, Gu Wan was unhappy.
"Big sister is speaking too soon."
Gu Jia pretended to be confused. "Oh? What do you mean, Third Sister?"
Gu Wan said with a cold laugh, "Does Eldest Sister not know? The daughter-in-laws of prestigious families have it the hardest. It looks glamorous, but who knows how bitter their life is behind the scenes. Take the Prince's Consort, Miss Huo for example. When she first married into the Duke's Residence gloriously, what is said of her now? Not only is she despised by the Prince, but she is also ordered around like a servant by her mother-in-law every day. When our Second Sister marries in, who's to say, in a few days after the Prince's passion fades, she won't be discarded as well?"
Gu Jia said, "Ah, such unlucky words, Third Sister. Don't say any more. It will make Second Sister upset. She hasn't even married in yet and you're already saying she'll be discarded."
"It's only because the Prince has someone else in his heart. With Second Sister marrying in and occupying that position, how could things go well?"
When she heard the words "someone else in his heart", Gu Ying's expression remained calm, with a politely awkward smile still on her lips.
Gu Wan turned her head and blinked. "Second Sister, my words may have been harsh, but good medicine tastes bitter. I'm just worried that you'll have a difficult time at Zhenguo Duke Manor in the future."
Gu Shuang said impatiently, "What's it to you? If you're really worried, you shouldn't say things to embarrass Second Sister."
Gu Wan sneered coldly, "What's it to you? Don't think you can put on airs just because she got lucky marrying into a prestigious family. Don't forget, they have a real brother. You're not his real sister."
Gu Shuang closed her mouth, looking wronged. She glanced at Gu Ying, who was sitting silently in her chair. She was anxious for her, it was obvious Gu Wan was jealous.
Grandmother didn't manage things, just letting Gu Wan and Gu Jia make snide remarks. She couldn't bear to hear it.
Gu Ying gave her a reassuring look, poured a cup of hot tea, and looked at the steaming water in the teacup. After thinking for a bit, she still didn't drink it.
Gu Jia had thought that ridiculing Gu Ying a bit would make Gu Ying furious with shame.
But she didn't expect Gu Ying to be unmoved, like punching cotton. It wasn't satisfying at all.
"Second Sister, don't worry. If the Prince abandons you, just come back to our manor. Eldest Sister will support you for life."
Such an explicit curse that she wouldn't gain happiness, Gu Ying's smile grew wider, but her eyes grew colder.
"In my opinion, if Second Sister really gets discarded and driven out of Zhenguo Duke Manor, she might as well become a nun——"
Gu Wan didn't get to finish her sentence.
Just then, a servant rushed in from the front yard, nervously swallowing his saliva. "Old Madam! An imperial decree has arrived from the palace!"
Gu Old Madam was startled. Her old eyes became sharp. She hurriedly stood up, supported by Granny Li, and angrily said, "What are you still dawdling for? Quickly go to the front hall and prepare the incense table to receive the decree!"
The servants scrambled around busily.
Soon, the incense table was set up, and the eunuch delivering the decree arrived at the front hall too.
The Gu family quickly went to the front hall. Seeing the visitor was actually Tianqi Emperor's most trusted Eunuch Guo, they were all shocked.
Gu Old Madam quickly led everyone to kneel down in trepidation. Ever since Gu Boqing went to the border, and Gu Boyan idled away his time pointlessly striking the bell at the Ministry of Ceremonies, the manor hadn't received an imperial decree in a long time.
She didn't know why the Emperor had suddenly issued a decree today...
Eunuch Guo announced the marriage decree, smiling meaningfully as he helped the stunned Gu Old Madam and Gu Ying to their feet. "Congratulations Old Madam, congratulations Young Lady. This decree was personally requested by the Prince from the palace."
Gu Ying was surprised. He personally went to request it?
The Gu family members all had different reactions.
Gu Ying suddenly felt an indescribable emotion well up in her heart... It was just a political marriage alliance, yet he had made it so ceremonious. What exactly was he trying to do...
Gu Old Madam gave thanks for the imperial grace, took out a money pouch, and stuffed it into Eunuch Guo's hand, smiling. "Thanks for taking the trouble to come, Eunuch Guo."
Eunuch Guo weighed the bag and gave a small laugh. To Gu Ying, he said, "Young Lady is so fortunate."
It was hard to say if it was genuine blessing or meaningful implication.
Gu Ying smiled and returned the courtesy fully, thinking this Eunuch Guo was not a good person in his past life, so she politely wished him well and upheld etiquette.
Eunuch Guo smiled satisfactorily and left with several young eunuchs.
Gu Old Madam held the decree with both hands. Only now did she truly realize the Prince was serious.
She looked heavily at Gu Ying. Though reluctant to admit it, the facts were laid bare - the daughter of the second wife was indeed superior to those of the first wife.
She sighed, took off the jade bangle on her wrist, and placed it in Gu Ying's palm. "Ying'er, this bangle has been passed down in our Gu family. Now Grandmother is giving it to you. You must serve the Prince well and bring honor to our Gu family."
For a moment, Gu Ying felt like Grandmother had placed great expectations on her.
That jade bangle lay quietly in her palm, as if Grandmother's lifelong bias had finally come to an end.
She didn't know what to say. Closing her fingers, she put away the bangle carefully. "Grandmother..."
"I'm tired." Gu Old Madam seemed to suddenly age a few years. She leaned on Granny Li's hand wearily. "I'll go rest first. You should all go back too. Liu Shi, don't be negligent about Ying'er's wedding. You must personally oversee it yourself. I'm too old to handle these things anymore. From now on, leave all these matters to you."
Mrs. Liu said, "Mother, don't worry."
Gu Old Madam left. Gu Ying watched her hunched figure disappear, her eyes sinking.
She tucked the bangle into her sleeve, unwilling to stay any longer. After exchanging brief pleasantries with Gu Shuang and Auntie Zhao, she went straight to Breeze Pavilion to see her brother.
...
Gu Wan was already unhappy to begin with. Hearing that the Prince had personally requested a marriage decree for Gu Ying made her even more furious.
No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't understand why Prince was so taken with Gu Ying!
Other than her looks, what did she have?
She was inferior to Gu Wan in every aspect like zither, chess, calligraphy and painting. Just because she had the status of legitimate daughter, did that make her a cut above?
The more Gu Wan thought about it, the more upset she felt. She was so aggrieved that her eyes turned red.
Wang Shi glanced at her daughter. "Why are you crying?"
