Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Big Brother, Did You Offend Shinian?

Fu Mingzhu was speaking and suddenly stopped.

She furrowed her brows and said decisively, “Absolutely impossible!”

Madam Fu: “…”

Fu Shinian: “…”

“Today, when you were playing polo in the field, Mrs. Gu specifically came to find me and apologized,” Madam Fu said. “Previously, before you broke off the engagement, she didn’t consider you as a match and thought Shinian’s temperament was quite compatible with Gu Yunze, so she wanted them to spend more time together to see. But her thoughts, Gu Yunze wasn’t aware.”

Regarding this, Madam Fu couldn’t be bothered to delve too deeply.

If Gu Yunze truly didn’t know, then he shouldn’t be leading troops to war.

However, according to what Fu Mingzhu said, right from the start, Gu Yunze approached with intentions towards Fu Mingzhu.

“Later, I found out from Gu Yunze that he has always been fond of you,” Madam Fu explained. “But you had just broken off your engagement not long ago, and Gu Yunze was worried you were still upset, so he didn’t tell you.”

Fu Shinian: “…”

She suddenly realized something.

It seemed that was when Gu Yunze began to show more enthusiasm when he saw her than before.

“Recently, seeing how you’ve been growing colder towards him, Gu Yunze didn’t understand why, but Mrs. Gu guessed it slightly,” Madam Fu said. “She knew you misunderstood, thinking Gu Yunze was a man who looks around carelessly.”

“That’s why she hurried to explain to me today,” Madam Fu said.

Fu Mingzhu frowned, “Is it really not that they were picking and choosing between me and Shinian? First liking Shinian, then liking me?”

Madam Fu: “…”

In this matter, after the engagement was broken off, Fu Mingzhu was indeed smarter than Fu Shinian.

Fu Shinian didn’t notice it at all.

“I initially thought the same, but Mrs. Gu sincerely and meticulously explained,” Madam Fu said. “Given the status of the Gu Mansion, Mrs. Gu really humbled herself today, speaking very cautiously with me.”

“It’s commendable for Mrs. Gu to act like this,” Madam Fu said. “It also shows her sincerity. Otherwise, with the status of the Gu family, there was no need to be so courteous to our family.”

“Gu Yunze is the youngest in the Gu family. If you marry him, you won’t have to manage the household, just keep your dowry safe and live simple days with Gu Yunze,” Madam Fu said, stroking Fu Mingzhu’s hair as she would Fu Shinian’s. “If there’s any trouble, the eldest sister-in-law will handle it, and it won’t bother you at all.”

“The Gu family has a strict family tradition, where men must not take concubines and women do not marry into families with concubines, which they are famous for, and they practice what they preach. Even if a lifetime goes by without children, men still aren’t allowed to take concubines,” Madam Fu sighed and said, “Mingzhu, you don’t need to consider Shinian and my opinions, just think about your own heart. How do you find Gu Yunze?”

“You initially thought he looked around carelessly, but now that is proven to be a misunderstanding. Just look at him as a person, how do you find him?”

“In this sense, Little General Gu is indeed not bad,” Fu Mingzhu said softly. “If you really think about it, he is also a loyal and upright person, who has even saved my life…”

Madam Fu, though upset with Mrs. Gu’s behavior, upon calming down, thought of how her own small grievances were insignificant compared to the happiness of her children.

The marriage proposal from the Gu family, not to mention its value to Fu Mingzhu, is an excellent match for any family across the capital.

Many people were inquiring about Gu Yunze’s marriage proposal.

The old lady from the Zhao Master’s Mansion, who is on good terms with Grand Madam Xiao, also had the idea of introducing her granddaughter to Gu Yunze.

Unfortunately, Miss Dong ultimately did not catch Mrs. Gu’s eye.

There were also families from the Yongning Earl’s Mansion and Assistant Minister of Rites Mr. Zheng’s family that had expressed some interest to the Gu Mansion.

“The only downside is that Little General Gu will eventually have to return to the military. By then, you’ll either have to go with him or stay in the capital,” Madam Fu said. “If you go to the frontier with him, life won’t be as comfortable as in the capital, and we’d be too far to take care of you.”

“However, the benefit of that is living alone with Gu Yunze, without the many restrictions present in the Gu Mansion,” Madam Fu sighed. “You don’t have to rush to answer me. I’ll also discuss with your aunt later to see her opinion. In the end, not every marriage is perfect.”

Fu Mingzhu, her mind in a whirl, could only nod silently.

“Mother, I’ll head back to think quietly for a while,” Fu Mingzhu said.

“Very well.”

Madam Fu also got up and said to Fu Shinian, “You should think about it, too.”

Madam Fu left the courtyard, looked at Fu Mingzhu’s departing figure, then turned to look at Fu Shinian’s courtyard, wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

“Madam,” Nanny Yu said, “even if Miss eventually leaves with Little General Gu, she will still be in the capital for a few years.”

“Second Miss will always be in the capital, closer to our place.”

“But that’s different; even if closer, it wouldn’t be the same as before. It’s not like being at home, and she wouldn’t be able to come back frequently,” Madam Fu wiped her eyes again. “Time just feels like it’s passed too quickly. In the blink of an eye, the children are all about to leave.”

“Oh, Madam, don’t you still have the eldest son? Once the young ladies’ marriages are settled, we’ll arrange a good marriage for the eldest son as well. Our eldest son is eagerly waiting. Moreover, when they give birth to chubby grandchildren for you, you’ll be so busy just looking after the little ones that you won’t even remember the eldest or second misses,”

“You know how to speak,” Madam Fu chuckled.

Fu Shinian still hadn’t figured things out on her end when an invitation arrived from the Marquis Changping’s residence.

Though the invitation was sent by Xiao Yingyue, Fu Shinian had a gut feeling it was the handiwork of Xiao Chengyu.

Fu Shinian was hesitating about whether to go when Chunyu came rushing in, “Miss, Madam said, your uncle’s family sent someone ahead to report, Mrs. Yan’s carriage is almost at the capital, and she’ll arrive tomorrow morning.”

“Madam instructed you to keep the next few days free and not to go anywhere,” Chunyu said.

Fu Shinian breathed a sigh of relief. Now she didn’t have to overthink it.

Since her aunt was bringing her cousins over, she had to stay to host them; how could she then go to the Marquis’s residence for leisure?

So Fu Shinian sent a reply, asking a servant to deliver it to the Marquis Changping’s residence, declining Xiao Yingyue’s invitation.

At the Marquis Changping’s residence.

Xiao Yingyue held the letter and ran to Xiao Chengyu’s study, waving it in front of him, saying, “Brother, did you upset Shinian?”

“What makes you say that?” Xiao Chengyu asked upon seeing the letter in Xiao Yingyue’s hand, “Shinian replied?”

“Yes, you asked me to invite her to the Marquis’s residence tomorrow.” Xiao Yingyue said, “But she wrote back saying she’ll be busy tomorrow.”

“Did she mention a reason?” Xiao Chengyu frowned and asked.

“She said her aunt, along with her cousins, will be arriving at the Fu Mansion tomorrow.” Xiao Yingyue frowned, “How could that happen to be?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep