Within The Sound of Swallows - Chapter 2.2

Snatching a Good Man (2)

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?”

Baoshan only pursed her lips and shook her head, “Young Miss is sick, so she can only send a poem to the Young Master. I hope the Young Master won’t blame her.”

Gu Chaodong pressed his lips together and unfolded the poetry note to read it. On it was a line written: “You shall be the rock; I shall be the reed.¹“

With a faint smile, Gu Chaodong slipped the poetry note into his sleeve pouch. He casually tucked some reward money into Baoshan’s hand and said softly, “Please take good care of this young master’s reed. When the time comes, I’ll come for it myself.”

Baoshan’s face went red. Delighted on behalf of her young lady, she cheerfully turned and ran off.

Yushu, the maid serving Shen Guiya, had been waiting nearby. As soon as all the formalities of the betrothal ceremony were completed, she stepped forward to Gu Chaodong, who was about to leave, and said, “Young Master, my young miss invites you to meet her outside the residence, at the Sanqing Inn.”

Gu Chaodong had never been to the Shen residence before, and apart from Baoshan, he did not recognize any other maids. However, before he could even ask, Yushu had already finished speaking and left. After thinking for a moment, although he did not know which young lady it was, Gu Chaodong still decided to go to avoid appearing rude.

Contrary to his expectations, the person waiting for him was Shen Guiya. As soon as the door closed, the room was immediately filled with fragrant incense. Gu Chaodong felt something was off and wanted to leave, but Shen Guiya hurriedly spoke, “Sister Yan is in trouble, and I took a great risk to come here and tell you. Are you really going to leave without listening first?”

Gu Chaodong paused his steps and frowned as he looked at her. “It’s quite inappropriate for a man and a woman to be alone in one space. Moreover, the Young Miss is still unmarried.”

“This is a matter of Sister Yan’s life and death, and you’re getting worked up about that thing?” Shen Guiya lightly groaned in dissatisfaction and quickly pulled him back. “Listen to me…”

At this moment, the fragrant incense and the feelings of love filled Gu Chaodong’s senses, leaving no room for further thoughts.

***

On the third day after the betrothal formalities, Shen Guiyan’s face finally improved enough to go out with a veil and meet some people.

“Young Miss, Young Master Gu has sent a letter. “ Baoshan smiled ambiguously and came closer to whisper, “You are about to get married in a few days, and yet this kind of longing for each other is still impossible to hide. Young Master Gu has arranged to meet you beneath the third willow tree by the Qing River at nightfall— Oh, such a good time.”

Shen Guiyan’s face flushed. She nodded and said. “I’ll get ready now. Baoshan, choose a dress for me.”

Since she was about to get married, she still had some of her clothes. She chose the newest one and styled her hair again. She also put on some hair accessories.

She took advantage of the fact that no one was in the backyard to sneak out through the side gate. By the time they slipped out, the sky had already turned orange.

Shen Guiyan walked to their meeting place with a visible hint of joy in her steps. Meanwhile, Baoshan could barely even keep up with her. When they reached the Qing River, she slowed her pace and walked over gracefully like a true noble lady.

Gu Chaodong had been standing by the river for quite a while, and his body was starting to feel somewhat stiff. Dressed in an ink-colored long gown, he suddenly looked much thinner.

When he saw her, he called her softly, “Yan’er”

Shen Guiyan stood three steps away from him and responded, “Young Master, why did you call for me? Is there something wrong?”

Gu Chaodong’s expression was not good. He hesitated for a long time,  and then finally spoke, “If… if ever I have been physically intimate with another woman, would you blame me?”

Shen Guiyan was slightly taken aback and looked at him in confusion.

“Your fifth sister… I had been physically intimate with her.” Gu Chaodng closed his eyes and frankly confessed. “But it was she who crossed the line first. Without a proper matchmaker or betrothal letter, I absolutely cannot agree to it. However, I still do feel somewhat guilty about this… thus, I have politely rejected her affections.”

Hearing this, Shen Guiyan felt like her body was suddenly drenched with cold water, bone-wrenching cold. Shen Guiyan couldn’t help but think that Shen Guiya threw all caution to the wind and really went all out. She did something of this scale, and yet she still had the nerve to call her shameless!

Without her parents’ consent or a matchmaker’s arrangement, she actually dared to give herself to Gu Chaodong in secret? Didn’t she know there’s a saying, ‘If formally engaged, she would be a wife; if she eloped, she would be nothing but a concubine’? Had Shen Guiya read so few books that she didn’t even know this popular phrase?

Moreover, Gu Chaodong was soon to be her brother-in-law.

She let out a light chuckle, losing interest in talking further with Gu Chaodong. She simply bowed to him and turned to make her way back.

“Yan’er, you mustn’t hate me.” Gu Chaodong furrowed his brows and tried to reason out, “I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Unintentional indeed, yet a proper and dignified man like him could still be led astray by a young girl. Shen Guiyan let out a long sigh, thinking it would be better to just return and check things out.

Thinking that giving herself would allow her to marry into the Gu family, this arrogant sister of hers was actually as foolish as a tofu pudding². Now that she had been rejected, how would she ever get married in the future?

Upon returning to the residence, she was just about to head to Qingya Hall, but had only gotten halfway there when she saw Yushu hurrying inside with a doctor in tow.

“What’s going on?” Baoshan quickly grabbed Yushu and asked, “Who’s sick? Why in such a hurry?”

Yushu shook off Baoshan’s hand and angrily snapped, “Get out of the way! I cannot afford to delay. My young lady’s life is at stake, otherwise, no one will be able to bear the consequences!”