I will definitely marry you.

Lin Rou felt a surge of joy, but she kept her expression neutral, instead consoling Gu Xin, "Brother Xin, please don't be angry. I believe my cousin didn't mean any harm."

Hearing this, Gu Xin’s anger only intensified. Thinking of the slights he had endured from Jiang Shuwan over the past few days, his fury boiled over. "That wretch wants to destroy our family—not a chance. A jinx like her has no place in my home; she is trying to bring ruin upon us. No, I must ask Grandmother to call off the engagement."

Gu Xin turned and headed toward the door.

Lin Rou caught his sleeve. "Wait, Brother Xin. If you go now, Grandmother likes her so much, she surely won't believe you."

Gu Xin recalled how the Old Madam had been preoccupied with thoughts of Jiang Shuwan during their visit to the Jiang residence two days ago. He conceded that Lin Rou was right.

"Then what should I do?" Gu Xin looked at her, completely at a loss.

"I have a plan, but I dare not say it," Lin Rou said, feigning hesitation.

Gu Xin, feeling as though his brows were singed by fire, felt a spark of hope at her words. He took her hands and said softly, "My dear Rou'er, please tell me. This concerns our Marquis Mansion. You will be the mistress of this house in the future, so this is your home as well."

Hearing him call her the mistress of the Marquis Mansion, Lin Rou’s eyes brightened. "Brother Xin, are you serious?"

After Jiang Shuwan had rejected him, he had indeed spoken of marrying Lin Rou, but his greed for the fortune behind Jiang Shuwan kept him sending her gifts to curry favor. Now that he knew she was a jinx, his desire to marry her had vanished. The tender and devoted Lin Rou was, after all, better suited for him.

"I am serious. Rest assured, Rou'er, I will definitely marry you." Particularly when he thought of his past life—where Lin Rou had remained by his side throughout—he became even more certain of his choice.

Lin Rou beamed. "Brother Xin, I am so happy. I have always loved you; marrying you is the only thing I have ever wanted in this life."

Gu Xin remembered their past life, after Jiang Shuwan had died, when the four of them lived happily together. "Rou'er," he said with tenderness, "once we resolve the matter of that jinx, Jiang Shuwan, I will marry you."

"Good," Lin Rou nodded with a smile.

She whispered into his ear. As he listened, Gu Xin’s eyes lit up. "This is truly a brilliant idea." Not only would it bring retribution upon Jiang Shuwan, but he would also have his revenge.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, and he furrowed his brows. "But what about the Jiang family? How do we persuade them?" Tomorrow was the day of his father's burial, and convincing the Jiang family in such a short time would be difficult.

"Don't worry, Brother Xin. The Jiang family has the same intention. It was they who sent me to pass on the message."

"That is truly wonderful." Gu Xin laughed heartily. He swept Lin Rou up and carried her toward the bedroom.

Lin Rou giggled, "Brother Xin, you are in a period of mourning; it wouldn't be good if people found out."

"My dear Rou'er, no one here knows. Besides, that old man didn't even leave a body; we are only making an empty coffin for the sake of appearances. There is nothing to fear." With that, he strode toward the bed. Soon, blush-inducing sounds drifted from within the room.

**

As the weather warmed slightly, Jiang Shuwan, knowing today was the funeral of the Marquis of Pingning, rose early and dressed in elegant, plain attire.

Just as she finished tying a butterfly knot in her sash, Liusu ran in, breathless. "My Lady, it’s terrible!"

"Don't rush, tell me slowly."

Jiang Shuwan poured her a cup of tea. After Liusu gulped it down, she gasped, "My Lady, everyone outside is saying you are the reincarnation of a baleful jinx."

Jiang Shuwan, thinking it was nothing of great consequence, smiled. "It's fine. Let them talk if they want to. I do not believe in fate; I only believe that everything is in my own hands."

Jiang Shuwan’s gaze grew increasingly profound. Having experienced life and death in her previous life, what was there to fear from mere rumors?

"But My Lady, they are also saying that it was your intent to marry into the Marquis of Pingning’s house that caused the Marquis’s death." Liusu’s voice was laced with tears. "My Lady, if the Marquis’s house believes these rumors and calls off the wedding, what will you do? And if His Majesty believes them, will he hold you accountable?"

"If it is a blessing, it won't be a disaster; if it is a disaster, it cannot be avoided. Let's go. We must head to the funeral."

Jiang Shuwan walked toward the gate. When she arrived, three carriages were already waiting. The entire Jiang family was there, waiting for her.

"Sister, you are truly grand, making the whole family wait for you," Jiang Xueyu said with a sneer as she saw her approach.

Jiang Shuwan cast her a side-long glance. "Sister, you are so full of fire this early in the morning. Perhaps you shouldn't go. If you lose your temper in front of the guests at the Marquis’s house, it won't be your face that is shamed, but our own Marquis of Yongbo Mansion."

"You..." Jiang Xueyu pointed at her in fury.

"Enough. Today we are going to pay our respects at the Gu house; let's have less talk," the Old Madam of the Jiang family commanded.

With that, she headed straight for the lead carriage. Lin Rou followed close behind. Jiang Xueyu wanted to argue further, but Lady Li tugged her sleeve gently and shook her head. Jiang Xueyu suppressed her anger, but thinking of the show she expected to see later, she shot Jiang Shuwan a fierce glare before walking to the third carriage with Lady Li. Jiang Xunian sat in the second.

Watching the carriages drive away, Liusu felt a sense of injustice. "My Lady, they all have carriages; this is bullying."

Jiang Shuwan knew they were holding a grudge because she had retrieved the items Shen Zhiluo had sent her two days ago, and they were trying to intimidate her. In her past life, she would have panicked, feeling as though the sky were falling, and would have cried alone.

Looking at the empty street, Jiang Shuwan comforted Liusu, "Don't worry. We will just rent one. Your mistress is wealthy now, unlike before." She gave Liusu a playful smile.

Seeing her still in the mood to smile under such circumstances, Liusu was torn between laughter and tears, but seeing her mistress so optimistic, she felt a weight lift from her heart.

"You are right, My Lady," Liusu said with a smile. "We have our own money now; we don't need to ride with them."

Liusu went to find a carriage, and Jiang Shuwan returned to the courtyard to wait.

**

In a meditation room at Cien Temple.

The table was spread with various pastries. Gu Yunting sat bolt upright, drinking from a celadon wine cup.

Fengye rushed in, flustered. "My Lord, this is a disaster! The Old Madam is holding a funeral for you."

Disturbed, Gu Yunting furrowed his brows, but once Fengye finished speaking, he looked up sharply. "What did you say? Did His Majesty not explain the situation to my mother?"

"There was a sudden flood in Nanping County, and His Majesty assumed we had gone there. He believes you perished in the flood, so he gave his tacit approval for the funeral," Fengye summarized the information he had gathered.