My Dearest Sister-In-Law, I've Been Waiting For You To Get A Divorce For A Long Time - Chapter 27

Chapter 27

◎ “Ayao, your brother is still watching.” ◎

Mo Shuqing never imagined that Madam Gu, the dignified First Lady of the Marquis’s manor, would publicly try to slap the Second Young Lady at the back gate of the estate.

Not only was this a complete disregard for Gu Wenyao’s dignity, but it also showed a total lack of concern for her own status and reputation as a senior family member.

Seeing the slap about to land, Mo Shuqing only had time to grab Gu Wenyao’s arm, pull her back into her embrace, and turn a cold face toward Madam Gu. “First Lady,” she said.

Mo Shuqing asked, “What fault has the Second Young Lady of the Gu family committed that gives the First Lady the right to bypass the Marquis’s wife and strike her?”

It was the first time Gu Wenyao had heard Mo Shuqing speak with such an aggressive tone, or in such a cold, questioning voice. Even during their strained reunion when Gu Wenyao had been sarcastic and bitter, Mo Shuqing had never been so distant.

For a moment, Gu Wenyao felt her heart’s shell was cracking. Every word Mo Shuqing spoke to Madam Gu was like a gentle hammer, tapping on her chest, making her heart feel a soft, tender numbness.

Mo Shuqing stood right behind her, like her rock, protecting her as she had when they were young, allowing her to lean on her.

Relying on Mo Shuqing’s presence, Gu Wenyao leaned weakly into her arms. Though she hadn’t been hit, she raised a hand to her cheek, looking incredibly wronged.

Mo Shuqing saw her delicate and pitiful act from the corner of her eye. She pursed her lips, pulled Gu Wenyao behind her to shield her completely, and her face grew even colder.

“She… I… I didn’t even hit her!” Madam Gu was disgusted by Gu Wenyao’s feigned fragility. She was so angry she almost stomped her foot and fainted.

Madam Gu argued, “Besides, she was talking back to her elder. I am her aunt. Even if I were to teach her a lesson, she should have accepted it.”

Mo Shuqing looked Madam Gu straight in the eye and said coldly, “Only those who act with dignity can have authority. If you, an elder, have no dignity, what right do you have to speak of rank in front of a junior?”

Mo Shuqing’s gaze swept toward the carriage behind Madam Gu, a pointed hint in her eyes. “Has the First Lady forgotten why you are being sent back to your hometown? Do you want to ensure the Wu family and your son, Wu Mingchun, can never hold their heads high in the capital again?”

She was aiming for the fatal weak spot. She only spoke of what Madam Gu cared about most, making Madam Gu so rattled she didn’t dare to argue back. She simply lowered her head, muttering as she rubbed her waist.

How could Mo Shuqing not know how to hit someone where it hurts? She didn’t need Gu Wenyao to teach her.

“Mother!” Seeing Madam Gu defeated, Wu Jingchun quickly walked over. She pointed at Gu Wenyao and said to Mo Shuqing, “She deserved to be hit! Otherwise, why would my mother hit her and not anyone else? Her status is low to begin with. She’s only living on the Marquis family’s bloodline—”

Wu Jingchun’s words were cut off. Liu Mama, acting on a signal from Mo Shuqing, stepped forward and slapped Wu Jingchun.

After the slap, all of Wu Jingchun’s unspoken words turned into a scream.

Wu Jingchun had never imagined that Mo Shuqing would dare to order a servant to hit her. She was so angry that her finger, which was pointing at Mo Shuqing and Gu Wenyao, trembled.

Madam Gu was also stunned. She hugged Wu Jingchun, checked her face, and then turned to yell at Mo Shuqing. “How dare you have my daughter hit?!”

Mo Shuqing’s expression was calm. She countered, “Why wouldn’t I dare? The young lady from the Wu family dares to speak disrespectfully to the Second Young Lady of the Marquis’s manor, so why wouldn’t Liu Mama dare to hit her? This matter would stand up even if we brought it to the Marquis.”

At the mention of the Marquis, and recalling Wu Jingchun’s words, Madam Gu instantly felt a pang of guilt.

Mo Shuqing subtly glanced at the other carriage behind them. “If I hear anyone say such a thing again, I will have their tongue cut out.”

The words were meant for Gu Shufeng. In the entire Gu manor, only he and Wu Jingchun considered themselves to have a superior bloodline and were critical of Gu Wenyao, whose birth mother was a merchant’s daughter.

It was a classic case of biting the hand that feeds you. They enjoyed the benefits of the Ming family’s wealth, yet they looked down on the Ming family’s merchant origins. This was why Gu Wenyao had to hold on to the authority over the household. If she had been timid, she and the entire Ming family behind her would have been completely devoured, without a single bone left.

Gu Shufeng had been watching the spectacle until Liu Mama slapped Wu Jingchun. He immediately thought of his own slap, and his face started to feel a hot, stinging pain.

Seeing Mo Shuqing’s gaze sweep over, Gu Shufeng inexplicably took a deep breath. His eyes toward Mo Shuqing were now a mix of hostility and wariness.

This woman looks so dignified, but she’s actually petty and holds a grudge.

The sun was scorching hot, especially in the afternoon.

Mo Shuqing saw Gu Wenyao shift her feet slightly behind her. She knew the sun was making her uncomfortable, and she was suddenly too lazy to waste more words on Madam Gu and her daughter.

Mo Shuqing brushed her sleeves, looked away, and said in a light voice, “It’s getting late. The First Lady and the young lady should be on their way. The countryside is not as refined as the capital. The young lady should remember to mind her tongue to avoid more beatings.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she didn’t give Madam Gu and Wu Jingchun a chance to stay. Servants came over to “invite” them to begin their journey.

Madam Gu and Wu Jingchun were half-pushed and half-carried into the carriage. The driver drove the carriage away.

To make sure the two of them really returned to their hometown and didn’t try to sneak back to the capital halfway, the Marquis also sent a troop of soldiers to “escort” them under the guise of “protection” until they arrived at their family’s home.

In the moving carriage, Wu Jingchun stuck her head out the window, crying and screaming that she didn’t want to leave the capital. She even reached out to Madam Yu and Gu Shufeng at the gate, calling out, “Cousin, save me! Cousin, save me!”

Gu Shufeng looked on as if watching a play, completely unconcerned. “I thought my aunt was wholeheartedly looking out for me, fighting against Gu Wenyao and even promising to marry Jingchun to me. Who knew she’d actually side with an outsider?”

Gu Shufeng laughed coldly. “She eats the Gu family’s food and uses the Gu family’s things. My Gu family even raised her daughter for her, yet she betrayed us and sent money to the Wu family. She deserves this. She should never come back to the capital. She should just die in the countryside.”

As for his cousin Jingchun, Gu Shufeng didn’t care for her at all. With his status, what kind of woman couldn’t he find? He didn’t need one like her.

After seeing Madam Gu off, Mo Shuqing turned to look at Gu Wenyao.

She lowered her gaze and looked closely at Gu Wenyao’s face.

To cooperate, Gu Wenyao squinted and raised her chin. Her soft voice slowly asked Mo Shuqing, “Sister-in-law, am I pretty?”

Mo Shuqing subconsciously looked over.

The sun shone on Gu Wenyao’s face, making her fair skin glow like white porcelain. Her eyelashes were dark, and her lips were pink. Even the tiny downy hairs on her face were alluring.

Gu Wenyao watched Mo Shuqing’s gaze. She slowly moved closer, with her head held high and her back straight, her chest almost touching Mo Shuqing’s.

Mo Shuqing stood still, allowing Gu Wenyao to test her and move closer.

She felt that Gu Wenyao was like a seductive spirit right now. She kept calling out “sister-in-law” to muddle her mind, but in reality, she wanted nothing more than to press herself into her arms and have her wrap her arms tightly around her waist.

Even though she knew Gu Wenyao was doing it on purpose, as her pink lips got closer and closer to her cheek, Mo Shuqing’s breath grew a little softer.

Just a little more. Gu Wenyao’s lips were about to touch Mo Shuqing’s cheek, but she suddenly stopped.

Gu Wenyao opened her eyes and looked at Mo Shuqing. Deep in her eyes was a hint of a test.

Mo Shuqing seemed to pause. She slowly lowered her eyes and head. Her lips almost brushed against Gu Wenyao’s cheek and were practically touching her ear.

Gu Wenyao was shocked.

Gu Wenyao suddenly turned her head to look at Mo Shuqing, unable to tell if she had done it on purpose or by accident. Her heavy heart felt like it was being pulled by a thin thread, struggling between breaking and holding on.

Did Mo Shuqing go into my secret room? Does she know that my feelings for her are not just sisterly love?

Before Gu Wenyao could react, she heard Mo Shuqing’s voice softly whisper in her ear.

She said, “Ayao, your brother is still watching.”

Gu Wenyao was speechless.

The most effective words in the world to ruin a mood are “your brother.”

Gu Wenyao instantly lost interest in her little game. She put her feet back on the ground, and all the extra emotions on her face disappeared. She lowered her head and angrily tugged at the tassels on her belt, as if to vent her frustration.

Mo Shuqing saw her small action. A bright smile flashed in her eyes. She raised her hand and gently patted Gu Wenyao’s head, saying a single, meaningful word, “You.”

Her voice was soft, and she didn’t intend for anyone else to hear.

Gu Wenyao looked up at her in confusion, but Mo Shuqing was already walking toward the other carriage at the gate.

Even with her back to Gu Wenyao, Mo Shuqing could feel Gu Wenyao’s eyes on her.

She couldn’t help but think of the things in Gu Wenyao’s secret room. For a moment, she felt a sense of confusion. She might not have been certain before, but now she was sure:

Gu Wenyao liked her.

Mo Shuqing pursed her lips and frowned. As she approached Madam Yu, she collected her emotions.

“Mother.” Mo Shuqing bowed to Madam Yu.

Madam Yu reached out to help her up, smiling awkwardly. “Why did Shuqing come out?”

The scene of Mo Shuqing confronting Madam Gu had been clearly visible to them. Seeing Mo Shuqing approach, Madam Yu was a little intimidated by her.

Mo Shuqing’s attitude was distant. “I came to see the young marquis off.”

Hearing that she had come to see him off, Gu Shufeng almost rolled his eyes to the heavens. All his arrogant and disdainful feelings were written all over his face. “I don’t need you to see me off. Chunshui will see me off.”

Chunshui was a concubine, while Mo Shuqing was the principal wife. Gu Shufeng’s words were purely intentional. As a person who would use Gu Wenyao’s mother’s status against her, how could he not know that saying this was a direct insult to Mo Shuqing?

Gu Shufeng was basically saying, “Chunshui is my true wife, not you.”

Mo Shuqing truly wished she weren’t the Marquis’s wife right now. She turned her head and looked back. Gu Wenyao was still standing there, basking in the sun. She wasn’t going back, nor was she coming closer. She was clearly waiting for her.

Mo Shuqing’s emotions were a bit complex, but she didn’t feel any rejection or disgust. In fact, her voice became a little gentler as she spoke to Gu Shufeng because of Gu Wenyao.

“Dr. Li is a strict teacher. He was once a famous and respected teacher at the Imperial Academy. I hope the young marquis will be able to succeed in his studies and not let the Marquis’s expectations down.”

As for Chunshui, Mo Shuqing had noticed her a long time ago. As soon as she spoke, Chunshui secretly looked at her, her eyes filled with confusion and surprise.

Chunshui seemed to be wondering why the woman who had always looked down on Gu Shufeng and refused to say a kind word to him had suddenly changed her attitude. Was she starting to think that Gu Shufeng would be successful, and was she now trying to steal him from her?

All of Chunshui’s thoughts were written on her face. Mo Shuqing could see them with a single glance. As expected, women understand women better, she thought. She’s so perceptive that she could even tell the difference in my voice when I spoke to Gu Shufeng.

Mo Shuqing decided to play along. She said on purpose, “Dr. Li’s private academy is different from others. Not only are there male students, but there are also some female students studying there. The young marquis should remember to mind your words and actions, so as not to cause any trouble and anger the Marquis.”

Hearing this, Chunshui couldn’t help but look at Gu Shufeng.

What? The academy has women? Doesn’t this mean they’ll try to seduce him? How can a man focus on his studies then?

Especially a handsome young master like the young marquis, who comes from a good family. If he goes to that academy, those young ladies from smaller families who don’t usually get to see him will surely pounce on him.

Chunshui twisted the handkerchief in her hand. She was filled with anxiety and worry.

She had only just managed to become a concubine. Relying on Madam Gu’s incompetence and the young marquis’s preference, she had gained some status in the Marquis manor. She didn’t even have to pay her respects to the principal wife, Mo Shuqing.

If… if the young marquis falls for someone new, and the number of women in the back courtyard increases, what would I do?

She wouldn’t have the excitement of a new woman, nor the family background and education of Mo Shuqing. She would just have to spend her days suffering, waiting for the young marquis to come and see her.

That kind of life would be too terrible.

Chunshui looked at Gu Shufeng and bit her lip. She would never meet a better man than Gu Shufeng.

She had to think of a way to follow Gu Shufeng herself, to hold him tightly and prevent him from meeting other women.

It was getting late. No matter how much he procrastinated, Gu Shufeng had to leave for the Li family’s manor.

Chunshui’s eyes were red, and she was on the verge of tears. Her look was what Gu Shufeng usually loved the most.

Unfortunately, Gu Shufeng was full of aversion to studying and had no interest in women right now. He didn’t bother to suppress his frustration and comfort her. He got into the carriage without even looking back.

Even though he didn’t want to go to school, he wanted to see Mo Shuqing even less.

But Gu Shufeng’s demeanor made Chunshui think he was eager to go to the academy to see the female students. After a moment of surprise and shock, she wanted to tear her handkerchief to shreds.

Men! This is how men are! They all get tired of old things and are all the same! They can never control their desires!

Chunshui gritted her teeth and forced a smile as she watched Gu Shufeng’s carriage leave.

She had to think of a way to win Gu Shufeng’s heart and control his body.

Only when the carriage was completely out of sight did Chunshui lower her head.

Chunshui’s reactions were all within Mo Shuqing’s sight.

Mo Shuqing didn’t care what Chunshui did to Gu Shufeng. After all, no matter what Chunshui did, she would benefit from it. If needed, she would even be willing to help Chunshui.

Mo Shuqing turned around and called out to the stubborn silhouette. “Ayao, let’s go back. You’ll faint if you keep standing in the sun.”

Gu Wenyao finally walked over. Her sarcastic tone returned. “How can I faint? If I did, wouldn’t I be interrupting my sister-in-law seeing my brother off?”

Mo Shuqing reached out and poked Gu Wenyao’s forehead with her index finger. She gave her a helpless look.

Gu Wenyao hummed and raised her hand to rub her forehead. A smile returned to her face.

Gu Wenyao looked at the sun. August was always the hottest time in the capital. She suggested to Madam Yu, “Mother, nothing’s going on in the capital, and Brother has gone to study. Why don’t we go to the villa in the suburbs to bathe in the hot springs and escape the heat this year?”

Gu Wenyao looked at Mo Shuqing with a smile, her eyes full of a clear test. “Sister-in-law, can I bathe in the same pool as you?”

Mo Shuqing was speechless.