In the following time, Yang Big Miss and Xie Yan spent half a day together before returning to Xie Manor. Second Miss treated her quite well, and Gu Qingtong’s three days at Yang Manor went smoothly.
On the third evening, Gu Qingtong returned to the Flower and Moon Pavilion.
Ruan Niang brought many things after dinner and smiled, saying: “I heard from the Yang family that you performed well, and the Big Miss and Second Miss praised you highly.”
Gu Qingtong smiled modestly.
Ruan Niang touched her forehead, feeling somewhat unaccustomed: “After being beaten, your temperament has indeed become much more restrained.”
“Ah?” Gu Qingtong was surprised.
“This is good.”
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Your previous temperament was too easy to offend people, and even with the Pavilion Master’s protection, you would still be criticized.”
Gu Qingtong guessed that the previous Gu Qingniang was probably proud and aloof, and not good at socializing, and nodded.
“I came this time not just to bring you some food and clothing, but also to tell you more about the Jiang family.”
“Please speak, Ruan Niang.”
“This time’s marriage candidate is Jiang Family’s Third Young Master, Jiang Youping. He is the second son of the main branch, and because his mother is a cousin of the Zhen Yuan Marquis’s wife, his status is more noble than ordinary people. But I heard that Third Young Master Jiang has a mild temperament and is easy to get along with. However, recently the Jiang Madam’s nephew is staying at the Jiang household, who is dissolute and loves to ruin innocent girls, so you must be careful.”
“Understood.”
“Master Jiang is away, and only Madam Jiang is managing the household. If anything happens, find Madam Jiang, do you understand?” Ruan Niang’s expression was unprecedented in its worry.
Gu Qingtong thought that no matter how dangerous it was, she still had to go, so she calmed her heart and carefully noted down all the precautions.
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Although both were wealthy families with five-courtyard mansions, the Jiang household was more spacious.
As soon as Gu Qingtong entered, she saw rows of evergreen cypresses on both sides, like majestic warriors guarding their homeland.
Madam Jiang, hearing that the maiden selected by the Yang family had arrived, personally came out to welcome her. However, upon hearing she was the one who had bewitched the Hua family’s Second Young Master, her expression became more warning.
Gu Qingtong pretended not to notice, maintaining a frank expression. She smiled slightly and curtsied.
Madam Jiang saw her straightforward manner and her expression softened: “Gu Qingniang, the Yang family girl is called Mingyi, right?”
“Yes.”
“Since you’re here in her place, these three days you will be Mingyi.”
“Yes, Mingyi greets Madam Jiang.”
Madam Jiang was satisfied and held her hand: “Youping is still reading early, go send him some bird’s nest soup.”
“Yes.” As soon as Gu Qingtong agreed, a maid handed her the tray.
The trial marriage was very different, with no clear beginning or end. One could say that during these three days, every moment, she had to present herself as Yang Mingyi.
Jiang Youping saw her shyness and laughed even more heartily: “Are you really acting like Yang family’s second young miss?”
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Gu Qingtong was caught off guard, feeling embarrassed, and could only steel herself to help him undress. However, she struggled for a long time to undo his decorative buttons.
“How did you serve people before? How come you can’t even undo a simple button?” Jiang Youping teased, then undid the buttons himself.
Gu Qingtong, afraid of being exposed, quickly said: “As the Yang family’s second young miss, it’s natural to be nervous during the first time undressing one’s husband.”
“The most authentic personality?” Jiang Youping’s personality was more relaxed, and he spoke to Gu Qingtong more casually.
“Yes.” Gu Qingtong thought he was just an eighteen-year-old young man, wondering how he had intimidated her so much.
Jiang Youping looked at her lowering her head, sensed her unease, and stopped teasing her: “Go sleep on the bed in the outer room.”
“Ah?” Gu Qingtong looked up in surprise.
“I really don’t know how you interacted with young masters before, being so hesitant about sharing a bed.”
“Go ahead. You’re not going to fight me for the bed, are you? I’m particular about my sleeping arrangements and can’t sleep elsewhere.”
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“But the madam and the Yang family…” Gu Qingtong naturally wanted to sleep in the outer room, but as a trial bride, she couldn’t explain her actions.
“You’re not Li’niang who needs to test my capabilities. Don’t you know my character by now? Just say it directly when the time comes.”
Gu Qingtong then realized he had already thought this through for her, and she bowed in gratitude: “Thank you, Third Young Master.”
“Go.”
Gu Qingtong obediently went to the outer room and rested on the small bed.
Her interactions with Jiang Youping were even more comfortable than her days in the Yang family. Facing Madam Jiang, Gu Qingtong only needed to present herself with Yang Mengyi’s personality, without any other concerns. Until the third day, nothing happened that would make Ruan Niang feel so terrible.
After lunch, Jiang Youping suddenly dressed neatly and went out: “Mengyi, I need to go out. Stay home and play for a while.”
“Mm, come back soon.” Gu Qingtong watched him walk away, then secretly ran to the pond behind his courtyard to look at the fish.
Gu Qingtong was frustrated and wanted to see where the fish was hiding today. Jiang Youping might not have seen it, but she needed to put her mind at ease.
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“Miss, come closer to the edge. Be careful not to fall into the water.” Lüguo watched nervously as her embroidered shoes were half-exposed at the pond’s edge and tugged at her sleeve.
“Lüguo, go ask if there’s a small fishing net to catch fish.”
“Miss…”
“Go quickly!”
Lüguo had no choice but to go and ask.
“What are you looking at?” Suddenly, a pleasant male voice sounded behind Gu Qingtong.
She turned around and met a pair of phoenix eyes, with a mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth.
Fan Xifeng discovered that his charming eyes had no effect on Gu Qingniang, and instead, he felt embarrassed under her ambiguous gaze. He cleared his throat: “I’m asking you, what are you looking at?”
“I’m looking at the shadows in the water.”
“Shadows?” Fan Xifeng clearly didn’t expect such an answer.
“Yes.”
Fan Xifeng had tried his best to seduce her with his eyes, but she remained unmoved, which frustrated him. However, he was Fan Xifeng – a charming, handsome man who had seduced countless married women and confused hundreds of young girls. Would he be deterred by her cold gaze? Impossible! Fan Xifeng traced his most confident smile and lifted her chin: “Why look at shadows by the water? Aren’t there copper mirrors inside?”
Gu Qingtong glanced down at his fair, slender fingers and felt disgusted.
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She stepped back: “I’m just imitating someone.”
“Imitating whom?”
“I heard a story about a man so extraordinarily beautiful that he admired himself in the water, fell in love with his own reflection, and jumped in to embrace his shadow.”
“Isn’t that suicide? How could such a self-absorbed person exist, especially a man!” Fan Xifeng had no idea he had fallen into Gu Qingtong’s trap.
