Gu Xin sought Lin Rou's hand in marriage.

After speaking, her gaze involuntarily flickered toward Lin Rou on the ground.

Lin Rou’s body stiffened, realizing these words were meant for her. Her heart churned with unwillingness as she clenched her fists tightly.

Madam Gu had been in high spirits, but catching sight of the marks on Lin Rou’s neck from kneeling, she compared her to Jiang Shuwan’s poised and graceful demeanor—a stark contrast akin to clouds and mud—and her eyes brimmed with disdain. She turned to Grand Madam Jiang and said, “Grand Madam, you heard what the eldest miss just said. Regarding the eldest miss marrying into our Gu family, we hope you can consent.”

Though her tone seemed a request, it carried an unpleasant edge. Grand Madam Jiang’s expression darkened, and she outright opposed, “My Wan’er is in the prime of her youth. How could she marry a dead man? I do not agree.”

Jiang Shuwan understood that Grand Madam Jiang’s objection wasn’t because she pitied her marrying Gu Yunting, a man considered dead, but because the benefits were far greater if she married Gu Xin.

Approaching Grand Madam Jiang, Jiang Shuwan reasoned gently, “Grandmother, if I enter a posthumous marriage with the Marquis, the Gu family will owe our Gu family a great debt—one that is significant and binding.”

Grand Madam Jiang was somewhat swayed, reflecting on how over the years, although her son inherited the marquisate from the elder uncle, his mediocre talents had left him lukewarm in the imperial court, never favored by the emperor.

With the Wanbo Marquisate on the brink of decline, she truly did not wish to see it fade away.

After some thought, Grand Madam Jiang consented.

Yet, her face bore reluctant sorrow. “Since Wan’er herself agrees, I shall say no more. Poor my granddaughter.”

She then raised her hand to pat Jiang Shuwan’s hand and tucked away a silk handkerchief beneath her tearless eyes.

Where Grand Madam Jiang touched, Jiang Shuwan felt nothing but revulsion, yet she endured and did not pull her hand away.

Seeing Grand Madam Jiang relent, Madam Gu’s expression softened considerably as she promised, “Dear elder sister, rest assured, once the eldest miss marries into our Gu family, the Gu family will indeed owe your Jiang family.”

Hearing Madam Gu agree to Jiang Shuwan’s proposal, Lin Rou sneered coldly in her heart.

What a fool—to eagerly want to marry a dead man.

If that was the case, she would soon become the future lady of the Gu family.

Knowing Madam Gu’s words sealed the matter, Gu Xin realized everything was settled.

Since he could not marry Jiang Shuwan in this lifetime, he thought of Lin Rou, who had always been gentle and by his side, and stepped forward, “Grandmother, since that is so, your grandson wishes to marry Sister Rou.”

Lin Rou was stunned, then her face brightened with joy.

She had known Brother Xin would never dislike her or abandon her.

She looked triumphantly at Jiang Shuwan.

A cold smile curled on Jiang Shuwan’s lips.

Madam Gu slammed her staff forcefully on the ground.

“You’re dreaming. Our Gu family will never let such a woman enter our home.” Then she ordered a nearby servant, “Take the young master back to the mansion and have him reflect at the ancestral hall.”

Two servants entered; one grabbed Gu Xin’s hand and began pulling him away.

Gu Xin cried out resentfully, “If I can’t marry Sister Rou, I’d rather die like my father.”

Jiang Shuwan hadn’t expected the man who just spoke of marrying her and taking Lin Rou as a concubine to suddenly become desperate over another woman.

How had she been so blind last life to fail to see this hypocritical scoundrel clearly?

Gu Xin struggled, banging his head against a nearby pillar.

Madam Gu’s face changed drastically as she shouted, “Stop him! Stop him!”

Before they could reach him, Gu Xin crashed headfirst into the round wooden table.

Madam Gu panicked, shouting, “Quick, summon the doctor!”

Grand Madam Jiang hadn’t anticipated things escalating to this extent and to show her stance said, “Bring the young lady to the ancestral hall to reflect on her conduct.”

Lin Rou hurried forward, clutching Grand Madam Jiang’s robe, her voice trembling with tears, “Grand Madam, please grant us this.”

Grand Madam Jiang looked at her with disgust and stepped aside.

Lin Rou was dragged away by the servants, pleading as she went, “No, no, I beg you to grant us this.”

Watching them all being taken away, Jiang Shuwan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

At last, she was free from the fate of her past life.

Grand Madam Jiang turned to Jiang Shuwan and said, “Wan’er, you may go now. I need to discuss the marriage with Madam Gu. You should return.”

“Yes,” Jiang Shuwan replied.

“You all may leave as well,” Grand Madam Jiang said to Li and the others.

“Yes.”

After Jiang Shuwan had walked some distance, Jiang Xueyu’s voice came from behind, “I wonder who’s lost their mind, refusing such a fine heir and choosing to marry a dead man.”

Jiang Shuwan stopped, smiling sweetly as she turned, “Sister, if the heir is so wonderful, why don’t you marry him yourself?”

“You...” Jiang Xueyu angrily pointed at her.

“Why so angry, sister? Weren’t you the one who said Gu Xin was so good?” Jiang Shuwan said innocently.

“Jiang Shuwan, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Your life is miserable, and you want to drag others down with you.”

“Why so angry, sister? Actually, I don’t mind if you marry Gu Xin.”

“Jiang Shuwan, don’t push your luck.” Jiang Xueyu’s face darkened with fury.

Li tugged her sleeve, smiling as she looked at Jiang Shuwan. “Wan’er, your sister is young and immature. Don’t take her words to heart.”

Jiang Shuwan found her smile piercingly false.

In the past life, she had been deceived by Li’s fake smile.

Whenever she quarreled with Jiang Xueyu, Li would mediate, seemingly on her side, but she always ended up compromising.

She had been foolish to trust her.

“Oh? Since you admit she’s immature, Second Madam should properly discipline her. Otherwise, if she continues speaking recklessly outside and offends important people, it would be a minor disgrace for our household, but it could bring us great trouble.”

Li’s smile faltered, surprised by the change in Jiang Shuwan—no longer the meek girl easily manipulated.

“Second Madam, what’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?” Jiang Shuwan smiled sweetly.

Li clenched the handkerchief tightly at her side, forcing a smile. “Wan’er, I appreciate your reminder. I will discipline Xue’er well.”

Jiang Xueyu looked at Li in disbelief, puzzled, “Mother, why are you doing this...”

“Enough,” Li cut her off abruptly.

Jiang Xueyu, dissatisfied, glared fiercely at Jiang Shuwan before turning and walking away.

Jiang Shuwan’s lips curved slightly as she glanced at Jiang Xueyu, then at Li. “Second Madam, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

“Very well.” Li smiled and nodded.

After Jiang Shuwan left, Li’s previously smiling face darkened ominously as she stared at her retreating figure.

That wretched woman seems to have changed completely in these past few days. I’ll have to be cautious in dealing with her from now on.

After walking a considerable distance, Liusu couldn’t help but praise, “Miss, you were absolutely brilliant just now. As the legitimate eldest daughter of this household, you must act like this. Otherwise, they’d all be trampling over you.”