24. Sacrificial Burial

Gu Yunting set his cup down on the table, his calm eyes barely showing a ripple. "In that case," he said coolly, "I shall inform His Majesty once I return."

"Young Master, this is not a matter for His Majesty alone. I have learned that they intend to force the eldest daughter of the Jiang household to be buried alive with you at your funeral."

Gu Yunting struck the table sharply. "Absurd! The practice of human sacrifice was abolished by our dynasty long ago. Even if I were to die in Nanping County, there is no need for an unwed woman to be sacrificed for my sake."

"Exactly, Young Master! You must go and see for yourself, or something truly terrible will happen."

Gu Yunting rose immediately and strode down the mountain.

***

The Marquis of Pingning’s estate was draped in white mourning curtains that swayed in the wind. A group of people dressed in coarse mourning garments stood within the courtyard, surrounding a purple-gold coffin with a spirit tablet placed before it.

As Jiang Shuwan stepped inside, the expressions of those present shifted. Whispers broke out instantly.

"That is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yongbo. They say she is a harbinger of disaster who cursed her own mother to death."

"The Jiang family is truly something, keeping a person like that alive all this time."

"They likely couldn't bring themselves to do it; she is their own flesh and blood, after all."

Hearing these words, Jiang Shuwan frowned slightly but remained silent. She straightened her back and stepped forward, intending to offer incense to Gu Yunting, only to be barked at by Jiang Xunian.

"Get away! You are not to offer incense."

"To have a jinx like you offer incense to the Marquis would be a disgrace to his memory," Lady Li added.

"I always wondered why our Marquis of Yongbo estate had fallen on hard times these past few years. So, it was because we were cursed by this jinx," Jiang Xueyu remarked.

"Thank goodness our engagement was dissolved, or I would have been forced to marry this disaster," Gu Xin said with a look of utter contempt.

Lin Rou watched as the crowd swarmed Jiang Shuwan, the frustration she had felt over the past two days finally dissipating. She spoke softly, "In our childhood, we both had our fates divined by a master, but who could have guessed that our destinies would be as different as heaven and earth? I am a bringer of fortune, while she is a vessel of calamity."

Jiang Shuwan looked at these sneering faces with cold indifference, saying nothing.

Gu Xin gazed at Lin Rou with tenderness. "Is that true? If so, you truly are my lucky star. I have always loved only you, Rou'er; I never intended to marry Jiang Shuwan. When she saw I wouldn't have her, she shamelessly claimed she wanted to marry my father. Her scheming runs deep indeed."

Old Madame Gu was shocked, but upon hearing Gu Xin and Lin Rou’s words, her rage peaked. "Hold your tongue!" she snapped at Gu Xin. She then turned to Jiang Xunian and demanded, "Jiang Xunian, if you knew all along that Jiang Shuwan was a harbinger of disaster, why did you proceed with the marriage alliance with my estate?"

Jiang Xunian defended himself, "Please calm yourself, Old Madame. When the Heir and Jiang Shuwan were betrothed, we did have someone examine her horoscope. The Heir’s destiny was said to perfectly suppress her calamitous nature, so out of selfishness, we did indeed hide the truth."

Gu Xin was stunned. His fate could suppress a jinx? Thinking of the humiliation he felt when Jiang Shuwan returned his gifts, Gu Xin glared at her with malice. *Jiang Shuwan, whether in this life or the next, you will never escape my grasp.*

"And what of now? What is your intent in having her marry my son, Gu Yunting?"

After hearing Jiang Xunian's explanation, Old Madame Gu’s anger did not subside; it only grew.

"Old Madame, my nephew would never harm the Marquis of Pingning’s estate. I have already made a decision."

"What decision?"

"To have Jiang Shuwan sacrificed to accompany the Marquis in death."

Jiang Xunian spoke these words with a cold, stony face. The crowd was stunned.

Jiang Shuwan’s face drained of color. She looked at Jiang Xunian in disbelief, her eyes reddening. "Jiang Xunian, do you realize what you are saying? I am your own daughter!" She had assumed he disliked her, but she never imagined he would be ruthless enough to send her to her death.

Jiang Xunian sneered, "What daughter? You are a jinx. My actions are for the greater good—for the sake of the realm, the Jiang family, and the Gu estate."

Lusu cried out in desperation, "No! My lady is no jinx! She is not—"

Before she could finish, Lin Rou slapped Lusu across the face, the pain causing tears to stream down the maid's face. Seeing the bright red handprint on Lusu’s cheek, Jiang Shuwan set aside her sorrow and angrily stepped forward, slapping Lin Rou hard. Taken by surprise, Lin Rou fell to the ground, clutching her face as tears flowed.

"You jinx! How dare you hit me!" Lin Rou looked up at Gu Xin with teary eyes. "Heir, save me!"

Gu Xin had not expected Jiang Shuwan to be so bold as to strike someone in public. He pulled Lin Rou to her feet. "You wretch! You are at death’s door, yet you still dare to fight back?" He shouted to his men, "Someone, seize this wretch!"

A dozen burly servants rushed in from the courtyard, charging toward Jiang Shuwan. Her face turned pale as she retreated. Lusu, ignoring her own pain, shielded Jiang Shuwan with her frail body. "D-don't come any closer!"

Gu Xin sneered, "Seize this wretch, beat her to death with sticks, and then bury her to keep my father company."

Two servants grabbed Jiang Shuwan’s arms. Feeling as though her bones were being crushed, she struggled in terror, but the tighter she fought, the harder they gripped.

"Let me go!" Jiang Shuwan screamed. "Is there no law in this land? You are committing murder in broad daylight! If His Majesty finds out, he will not let you go!"

The guests present were all influential figures, and a flurry of whispers erupted.

"Is the Heir of Gu going a bit too far? Regardless, she is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yongbo."

"Didn't the Marquis of Yongbo just say she’s a jinx and that they have abandoned her?"

"Alas, such a delicate young woman, and yet a jinx. How pitiful!"

"Do you think the Heir is abusing his power? Even if the Marquis of Yongbo has disowned her, by what right does the Heir have to dispose of Jiang Shuwan?"

Facing the conflicting criticisms, Gu Xin’s expression darkened. "Everyone, please serve as witnesses for the Marquis of Pingning’s estate today," he said, pointing at the struggling Jiang Shuwan. "She, Jiang Shuwan, claimed two days ago that she wanted to marry my father. Last night, my father appeared to me in a dream, saying he had no one to care for him in the afterlife and ordered me to send his bride-to-be down to accompany him. Since she is a jinx who wants to destroy our house, we have decided to excise this evil. It is merely a pity for my father that he chose such a vicious woman to be his companion."

Hearing Gu Xin’s nonsensical lies, Jiang Shuwan countered, "You are lying! Do not believe him!"