The vermilion gate and jade door, marriage is decided by fate.

  Gu Yunxi followed behind Rouran as they walked towards the courtyard of Madame Liu, the sky was about to darken but hadn't yet. The servants they met on the way were very respectful to Rouran, but when they saw Gu Yunxi following behind, they couldn't help but whisper a few words to each other.

  Gu Yunxi's eyes narrowed, her face calm, as she walked, but soon discovered a faint red color on the ground beneath her feet. Just as she was filled with doubts, the pomegranate leaves in front of her opened their mouths.

  "Early in the morning, Jiang Sheng and Jin Se were executed at Renshi Hall, and when their bodies were carried away, blood dripped all along the way."

  Although Gu Yunxi didn't believe in ghosts and monsters, at this moment she couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine. The remaining snow on the ground had been swept clean, except for that blood stain which seemed to have merged with the bluestone slab and wouldn't come off no matter what. Her footsteps unchanged, her expression indifferent, she followed him, and before long they arrived at a large courtyard with a tall gate.

  Orchard

  With a creak, the courtyard gate opened. Although night had not yet fallen, the lanterns in the courtyard were already lit. Yu Ye walked ahead, leading her straight into the main hall.

  As soon as she lifted the threshold of the door, warm air greeted her face. Gu Yunxi stepped inside and instantly two pairs of eyes fell on her body. She lowered her head and walked over, bowing slightly, "Yunxi greets Madam Ce and Madame Zhen."

  In the grand hall, Liu wore a plain white long shirt with intricate cloud patterns embroidered on the collar. Her pale face still showed a few hints of her youthful beauty. At this moment, she had a string of Buddhist beads in her hand and nodded slightly, "Get up."

  "My goodness, Second Miss has grown up so much! It's been ages since I've seen you out and about. Now that I take a look, you're really a beautiful young lady!"

  The speaker was Zhen Yiniang, who had given birth to a son for Gu Zhongzheng and therefore held a high position in the mansion. Unfortunately, she came from a merchant family and it was temporarily impossible for her to be promoted to the status of legitimate wife.

  At this time, she was wearing a deep purple robe, with a blood-red gemstone pendant hanging from her neck, exuding an even more noble aura. She walked over with a smile in her eyes, sizing up Gu Yunxi from head to toe before saying, "How come you're so thin? I don't know which personal attendants are taking care of you, but later on, I'll definitely give them a good scolding!"

  Gu Yunxi's heart was slightly chilled. This Zhen Niang had always been proud of having a son, so why was she being so enthusiastic towards her today? Her gaze swept to Xu Damao standing in the corner, whose eyes were extremely heavy.

  "Thank you for your concern, Auntie. It's not that the servants are not serving well, it's just that Yun Xi has been frail since childhood, and I suppose she was born with a lack of good fortune."

  Madam Zhen shook her head and smiled lightly, "Don't talk nonsense, the second miss of the Xiang family is not someone with a poor fate. I think you're quite clever and likable. I heard that she's already turned sixteen two months ago?"

  Gu Yunxi's heart went "thud", but she could only softly reply, "Yes."

  "That's just perfect——"

  Zhen Niangniang seemed to glance back at Liu Shi, seeing the latter's pale face and then turned around with a smile, "Niangniang pities you as Xiang Ye's biological daughter, now that you're sixteen, if you can find a good family during this age, it would be considered letting Xiang Ye have one less worry in his heart. Niangniang has a distant relative from a wealthy and noble family, with Xiang Ye and Ce Furen as your matchmakers, marrying into their household would make you the mistress of the house, and future wealth and glory would naturally not be lacking for you. What do you think?"

  Gu Yunxi's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she lowered her head with a seemingly shy expression. "Since it's a wealthy family, I'm afraid Gu Yunxi won't be able to enter their eyes."

  "Ah, you don't have to worry about this," said the aunt with a smile, covering her mouth. "Let's not talk about other things for now, but just say that as the second miss of the Xiang family, they would be more than happy to have you. The old master of that house is someone who knows how to treat people well, and once you're married in, he won't mistreat you. I've already discussed this with Master Xiang, and he's agreed. There are a few auspicious days in the twelfth lunar month, and I've had someone calculate them already. You can just wait for your wedding day with peace of mind."

  Gu Yunxi's mouth curved up slightly, and she nodded obediently, "As for the matter of marriage, Yunxi will naturally follow Father and Aunt's decision."

  Madam Zhen patted her shoulder in satisfaction, then looked at her single dress in surprise. "How can you wear so little on such a cold day? The color is also too plain. Later, the lady will order someone to send some good things to your courtyard. You still have more than a month, and you must take good care of yourself. At that time, you will be a beautiful bride!"

  Here is the translation:

  "Now, Madam Zhen turned around and took an object from her maid's hand. It was a sapphire and jade hairpin. 'Come, Auntie, I'm afraid we've been neglecting you for so many years. This gift will serve as compensation. Since you agreed to this marriage arrangement, it seems that your mother still needs to be persuaded by you. Although Master has already settled the matter, if Losister doesn't agree, it would seem incomplete.'"

  Miss Zhen spoke in a soft and gentle tone, Gu Yunxi smiled and nodded frequently, looking very receptive. She took the hairpin from Zhu with both hands, not forgetting to bow her head in thanks.

  "Sister, now that everything has been arranged like this, can we consider this marriage settled?"

  Zhen said to Liu, who looked at Gu Yunxi with a deep gaze, "Since it's settled, let's make preparations. Although it's a remarriage, we can't be careless."

  Gu Yunxi heard the words "continue the marriage" in her ear, and a mocking color flashed in her eyes, but her expression was not a bit different. On this side, Zhen Shi responded with a good voice, and then a few more sentences of reminder, no more than letting her take good care of herself before getting married, and don't worry about the wedding affairs.

  Gu Yunxue walked out of the Lan Garden with a cold smile already playing on her lips, her hand clutching the icy zither pick so tightly it seemed as if she might snap it in two.

  From Lan Garden to Mei Garden, one has to pass through the inner courtyard's gate. When Gu Yunxi arrived at this place, he casually glanced outside and saw that more than a dozen young servants in green clothes were working together to slowly move a large wooden trunk that was over two people high. Despite their combined efforts, they were struggling with great difficulty. Gu Cheng, who was in charge of the outer courtyard, was directing them from the side, his eyes fixed intently on the trunk, as if it contained something extremely important.

  Gu Yunxi furrowed her brow and walked to the flower wall in the inner courtyard. She looked through the hole in the wall, but the box was nailed shut so tightly that she couldn't see anything inside. Gu Yunxi felt a wave of disappointment and was about to turn around and leave when a gust of cold wind blew over. Her footsteps paused as she sniffed hard at the scent carried by the wind, and her eyes lit up slightly.

  When she returned to Mei Garden, many servants had already gathered at the garden gate, their eyes unexpectedly scanning the courtyard, and a wave of whispers spread out, even unaware that Gu Yunxi had returned.

  "Second Miss"

  It wasn't clear who had called out, but everyone turned around and saw that it was Gu Yunxi who had just bowed, "Second Miss."

  Gu Yunxi's eyebrows rose in surprise. These people had previously seen her without even batting an eyelid, but now they were so polite?

  She hastened her steps into the courtyard, and after a few strides, she saw several trunks placed at the entrance of the hall, filled with satin, silk, and jewelry, all of which were typical high-end items found in wealthy households. However, at this moment, they seemed somewhat out of place in this humble courtyard.

  Luo Qingyi stood at the door with a worried expression, lost in thought. When she saw her return, her eyes became even more serious. "Why did you bring so many things after I called you over? These are not ordinary items, Xier, what's going on?"

  Gu Yunxi let out a soft sigh, thinking to herself that Madam Zhen's hands and feet were quick. "Mother, Madam Zhen wants to betroth me to her distant cousin, these are for me to use while waiting to get married!"

  Lu Qingyi was taken aback, her pale face gradually tinged with a hint of resentment. Her hands slowly clenched into fists on her sleeves, and her entire body trembled slightly. "How can this be? How can this be! They actually dare to marry you off, Xi'er. As your mother, I won't let you get married like this. You originally were..."

  "Mother." Gu Yunxi's voice was calm, holding Luo Qingyi's hands and saying in a low tone, "Don't worry, Mother. This mansion can't accommodate me, and I won't let them have their way. Don't be anxious, I have my own plan. Just take these silks and satins, and pretend to prepare for your daughter's marriage."

  Luo Qingyi's face was slightly pale, her lips trembling as she looked at Gu Yunxue, with tears shining in her eyes. "Yunxue, you're already 16 years old, and it's only a matter of time before you get married. But did Gu Mingshuo really think they could just marry you off casually after taking credit for your auspicious birth all those years ago?"

  Gu Yunxi only felt a pain in her back, ten years ago on that cold and biting winter day, her sister who had never appeared in Mei Garden brought her hot food with a smile, she was still silly enough to think that this sister really liked her, but unexpectedly, when she was close to her, she pushed her onto the stove, the scorching charcoal burned the phoenix mark on her back since birth, and it wasn't until much later that they heard the legend of "Phoenix mark on the back, a lifetime of honor and prosperity".

  Gu Yunxi sighed and comforted her with a smile, "Mother, don't worry, I've never believed in those fortune-telling words. I only believe in myself. Just watch me, they won't get what they want!"

  The night was dark and deep, with no lights on in the Xiang family compound. Under the faint moonlight, a black figure flashed from the entrance of the plum garden and headed straight south.

  Mrs. Xu had been waiting in the house for a long time, and when she heard the light knock on the door, she hurried to open it. There was only one dim oil lamp lit in the house. Gu Yunxi came in, took off his wind hat and asked, "Auntie, when did this marriage arrangement come about?"

  Madam Xü hastily told them everything she knew, "I also found it strange, I was on duty tonight and as soon as I entered the house, I heard Madam Zhēn tell Concubine Cè that Master had already agreed to Miss's marriage, then Yè went to invite you over!"

  Gu Yun Xi's eyebrows sank, "If it's like this, then it must be these two days. Has Aunt Zhen seen anyone during these few days?"

  "Over the past few days, Young Master hasn't returned to the manor. As for others, Furen has also not seen them. However, a few days ago, Eldest Miss was in a hurry to make a new dress. Since Furen's family is skilled in making clothes and accessories, Ce Furen asked her to assist on the side. It seems that among everyone, it would be Eldest Miss who saw her the most."

  "Is that so." Gu Yun Xue's eyes sank coldly, "I suppose the person I'm going to marry isn't much better either?"

  Mrs. Xu's face suddenly turned solemn, "Speaking of this, Miss must not marry into that family. Although they have some property, the old master you are marrying is a deadly old lecher. He is now over 40 years old and likes young children. I don't know how many children have died in his hands."

  "He then married three wives, but none of them bore him a son or daughter. His first wife had recently drowned herself in a lake because of this, which is why he has taken another wife today. He is already over fifty years old and is only seeking to have an heir as soon as possible—"

  "Damn it!" Gu Yunxue's lips were pursed, and her hands hanging at her sides also gradually clenched into fists. After a long while, she said coldly, "You say, none of his three wives and concubines have given birth to even one son or daughter?"

  Xu Danni nodded, and saw that Gu Yunxie's eyes were shining with a fierce light. After a moment, Gu Yunxie said in a cold voice, "You think of a way, I want to see that beastly thing!"

  ……