Within The Sound of Swallows - Chapter 2.1

Snatching a Good Man (1)

She wasn’t naturally the type to be tolerant, but a long time ago, she kicked Shen Guiya once. That time, her Second Brother was far away in Jingzhou, and Qin Yiniang was asleep in the middle of the night when all of a sudden, someone carried her away and threw her into the lotus pond in the manor. It was the middle of winter, she fell ill and almost died.

Ironically, no one in her courtyard even knew who did it.

Smiling wickedly, Shen Guiya cornered her by the entrance of the Swallow Pavilion and asked, “Would you still dare to try and kick me again?”

After that, Shen Guiyan knelt outside Shen Shiqing’s study, asking him to pass judgment on Shen Guiya’s actions. However, Master Shen only helped her up, saying that Ya’er wouldn’t do such an outrageous thing. When she reported this incident to the madam, she ended up receiving two slaps instead.

The Madam said, “If you continue to slander Ya’er’s reputation like this, don’t blame me for not sparing you.”

Shen Guiyan finally came to realize that in this estate, she could not compete with Shen Guiya.

Therefore, she decided to endure until she was married off.

However, unexpectedly, just as she was about to get married, Shen Guiya still had no intention of letting her go.

Her cheeks were already swollen red when Shen Guiya finally decided to release her with satisfaction. She turned to hug her sixth younger brother and laughed heartily, “Guiwen, look! Don’t you think your third sister’s face looks like a pig’s now?”

Shen Guiwen looked quietly without a trace of a smile on his face. Upon hearing his sister’s question, he only nodded and said softly, “She does look quite like one. But Fifth Sister, what will you do if Father learns about this?”

“What can he do?” Shen Guiya laughed once again. “What can Father do to me? With Mother backing me up, what else is there to be afraid of? Shen Guiyan definitely won’t be able to meet anyone tomorrow. Let’s see if she still dares to complain…”

Shen Guiya paused as she shivered slightly. She hugged her arms and made a subtle threat, “The autumn breeze is crisp and refreshing. I wonder, will falling into the lotus pond now still make one sick? Hmm?”

Baoshan’s eyes turned red in anguish. She broke free from the servants’ restraint and stepped forward to support her young lady. Shen Guiya only smiled and left with Shen Guiwen. Shen Guiyan touched her face and sucked a breath of cold air as she winced in pain. “Baoshan, let’s go back.”

“Young Miss…” Baoshan couldn’t help but cry, “I thought we had finally waited long enough to see better days, but who would have thought the Fifth Miss would still be so vicious. What should we do tomorrow? If Young Master Gu comes in person and can’t see you…”

“Then there’s nothing that we can do about it.” Thinking of Gu Chaodong, Shen Guiyan felt a slight tightening in her chest. “I can only ask you to help me pass on a poem to him.”

It had been a long time since she had last seen him. Although they would meet up once a year, it had already been more than half a year since the last time they met. Shen Guiya must have encountered him somewhere before— otherwise, she wouldn’t have suddenly become so attracted to him, as though she were under a spell, so determined to marry him.

Chaodong was indeed a person worthy of entrusting her life to. Unlike the pampered and frivolous young masters of other families, he was well-read, and his poetry always seemed to resonate with her. She had long since given her heart to him and was grateful to the heavens that by some coincidence, Prime Minister Gu had chosen her as his daughter-in-law, making such a fortunate match possible.

Just thinking of him seemed to make the pain in her face fade away. Shen Guiyan smiled as she silently returned to her Swallow Pavilion. Baoshan brought over some ointment and gently applied it for her. After doing so, Shen Guiyan lay down to rest.

***

“What a beautiful poem of a beauty smiling as she leans against the tower. May I ask this young master’s esteemed name?”

“My name is Gu Chaodong.”

As she rested her chin in her hand, Shen Guiya recalled the ink wash painting of a building she had seen today. While grinning so widely, she couldn’t help but daydream.

That man was truly exceptional, elegant, and charismatic. Even when greeting others with a polite gesture, he carried himself with remarkable grace. Even if the person in front of him was a poor and shabby scholar, he would still respond kindly and courteously, drawing hushed admiration and whispers from countless young ladies nearby.

Whoever could marry the eldest young master of the Gu family would be truly blessed for eight lifetimes.

However, when the thought that Shen Guiyan, whom she had always hated, was the lucky girl,  Shen Guiya’s smile immediately faded.

She couldn’t let this marriage happen. She had to do something.

***

The day of the Gu family’s formal betrothal visit had arrived. Gu Chaodong really did come with the matchmaker. He first paid his respects to the head of the Shen family, Lord Shen, and Madam Shen. His graceful demeanor and sense of humor in conversation earned him praise and nods of approval from anyone who witnessed it.

Meanwhile, the swelling in Shen Guiyan’s face still hadn’t completely faded, so naturally, she couldn’t come to see him. When Baoshan brought him a poetry note, Gu Chaodong slightly frowned and asked in a low voice, “Where is Yan’er?”