SGEIRS -Chapter 4 Already a Done Deal

“First bow—to Heaven and Earth!”

“Second bow—to the elders!”

“Third bow—husband and wife bow to each other!”

“The ceremony is complete! Send them to the bridal chamber!”

An absurd marriage that should never have happened had somehow become reality.

Meng Jinyao did not become the heir’s wife as expected. Instead, she became the Marchioness of Changxing.

The guests were completely stunned. Having attended countless weddings, they felt this one was by far the most dramatic. It would certainly become fresh gossip for tea-time conversations. After all, they had witnessed everything with their own eyes.

It had to be said that Meng Jinyao had good taste.

Gu Jingxi was outstanding in both ability and appearance. He now held the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. If he had not injured his body while saving the emperor—leaving behind hidden ailments—and if his fiancée had not broken off their engagement, causing him to lose interest in marriage, this “bargain” would never have fallen into Meng Jinyao’s hands.

Members of the first and second branches of the Gu family were equally dumbfounded. Everything had happened too suddenly. They had never expected Old Madam Gu to agree to such an absurd arrangement. Nor had they imagined that Gu Jingxi—always known for his strict and proper conduct—would marry his nephew’s former fiancée.

By tomorrow, their family would surely become the laughingstock of the entire capital.

Before they could fully recover from the shock, the newlyweds had already proceeded to the next step of the ceremony—entering the bridal chamber.

Originally, the bridal chamber was meant to be in Gu Xiuming’s courtyard, where everything had already been prepared. Now that the groom had changed, the couple was naturally sent to Gu Jingxi’s residence instead.

After lifting the red bridal veil, the couple followed tradition and drank the ceremonial wine together.

Gu Jingxi glanced at his new wife and saw that she appeared calm and composed. If not for her tightly clasped hands, one might have believed she was truly unperturbed. After all, she was only a young girl of around ten-plus years old. He did not wish to make things difficult for her.

“I’ll go attend to the guests first,” he said. “If you’re hungry, have the maids bring you some food.”

Meng Jinyao nodded. “Alright.”

After Gu Jingxi left, she finally let out a long breath.

Her palms were drenched in sweat from nervousness, and her heart was still pounding wildly. It had been a disastrous beginning, yet she had managed to turn the tide and obtain a relatively satisfactory outcome. The terrible hand she had been dealt was finally showing some hope.

The road ahead was uncertain, but she would do her best to live well and cherish each day. Her mother had given her life at the cost of her own—she had to live in a way that would bring peace to her mother’s spirit in heaven.

She looked around at her surroundings.

Gu Jingxi’s bedroom was exactly what one would expect of a man’s quarters—plain and simple. The curtains were light blue, and even the neatly folded brocade quilt was the same color.

Ningdong and Qingqiu were called in to attend her.

Seeing their young mistress sitting stiffly and absent-mindedly, they assumed she had been deeply shaken by today’s events. Not even storybooks would dare write something so outrageous.

Ningdong’s eyes reddened with sympathy, tears shimmering as she choked out, “Miss, you’ve suffered so much. What kind of mess is this? The heir used to look so gentle and refined. Who knew he’d turn out to be so unreliable and irresponsible?”

Meng Jinyao gently shook her head and let out a long sigh.

Unhurriedly, she said, “It’s not suffering. I’ve actually gained a blessing in disguise. If the engagement had been broken and I returned to the Meng family, my so-called kind stepmother and my father would never have let me off easily. If I had followed the Gu family’s original plan and married Gu Xiuming, I would never have gained my husband’s affection. And choosing between the Second Young Master and Fourth Young Master wouldn’t have been any better. Being forced to marry a brother’s former fiancée—none of them would have treated me well. Marrying Marquis Gu is just right. He is upright and noble in character. I’ve also become Gu Xiuming’s elder. In the future, he’ll have to call me ‘Mother.’”

Qingqiu nodded in agreement. “Miss is right. Compared to everything else, this is the best outcome. Marquis Gu is an upright man and won’t mistreat you. At the very least, he’ll give you the respect a proper wife deserves. Both the first and second branches are born of concubines. In the Gu family, aside from Old Madam, you are now the most honored woman.”

Meng Jinyao reminded them softly, “I’m married now. I’m no longer a young lady. You should change how you address me.”

Ningdong and Qingqiu responded in unison, “Yes, Madam.”