Within The Sound of Swallows - Chapter 3.2

Chapter 3: The Girl from Another World (2)

His words were awkward, and his expression was not good. He did not know that everyone in the room had already known about it. The people in the room were no longer surprised, only curious about the details behind it.

“I have no intention of shifting the blame. However, as a high-born daughter of a noble family, the Fifth Young Miss resorted to using an aphrodisiac drug, colluded with the innkeeper, and entrapped me in an immoral situation— such actions should not be condoned,” Gu Chaodong said slowly, enunciating each word with clarity. “My heart only belongs to the Third Young Miss. The sun and the moon can attest to my affection, and the heavens and the earth can bear witness to it. Although I have made a mistake in a moment of weakness, I sincerely ask for your family’s understanding and forgiveness.”

Everyone in the hall gasped in surprise and looked at Gu Chaodong in disbelief. Madam Shen’s face turned pale with anger, and she couldn’t help but retort, “Young Master Gu’s statement seems to contradict what Ya’er’s maidservant has said. Why not let Yushu come and confront the young master?”

If it was truly Shen Guiya who had drugged and seduced him, then not only would her reputation be ruined, but the Shen family’s reputation would be dragged through the dirt as well!

Gu Chaodaong nodded, and Yushu was brought over. Seeing him face to face, the maidservant trembled slightly.

They originally thought that once the deed was done, her young lady would be able to smoothly marry into their family without further obstruction. Who would have thought that this Young Master Gu was as stubborn as a rock, insisting that he would marry no one but Shen Guiyan, and even rejected the young lady? In a fit of anger, her young lady had intended to pretend to jump into the lotus pond to commit suicide, forcing him to marry her.

However, who would have known that pretending too much would actually lead her to not wake up even at this moment, and now, the other person had to come to clarify the facts.

“Yushu, repeat what you said to us yesterday,” Madam Shen said with a stern face.

Yushu had no idea what to do. She knelt next to Gu Chaodong, trembling and unable to speak. She repeatedly shook her head and bowed several times.

“What’s wrong?” Madam Shen grew anxious. “Didn’t you clearly explain everything to us yesterday? Why can’t you say anything now?”

“This servant deserves to die!” After hesitating for a while, Yushu finally managed to speak.

Young Master Gu let out a faint chuckle, which only made Madam Shen even more furious.

On the side of the room, there stood Shen Guiyan, who was quietly watching the scene unfold, feeling somewhat listless.

What a truly boring farce.

“It’s so lively here.”

A weak voice was suddenly heard from the side. Everyone was taken aback and turned around to look. There, they saw Shen Guiya, dressed only in her nightclothes with a cloak draped over her shoulders.

“Ya’er!” Madam Shen quickly stood up. “You’ve woken up?”

Shen Guiya looked somewhat in a daze as she stared at Madam Shen for a long time, and asked, “Am I really called Ya’er?”

Gu Chaodong, who was still kneeling on the ground, frowned slightly. What kind of trick is this woman going to use this time?

“I just woke up and I can’t seem to remember anything.” Shen Guiya murmured to herself as she approached. “Who are you? What is going on here? By the time I regained consciousness, a maid came over and called for me… Is this some kind of TV drama production?”

“Ya’er…” Madam Shen was flustered. “You don’t remember? This is your father, that is your brother, and I, I am your mother.”

Shen Guiya seemed startled by something, taking a moment to regain her composure. After a while, she let out a soft burst of laughter and said, “It seems that I have transmigrated.”

No one could understand what she was saying. Given that the Prime Minister was present, Lord Shen had no choice but to stand up and speak, “My daughter may have been traumatized and is a bit mentally unstable right now. I hope the Prime Minister will not take offense.” 

Prime Minister Gu glanced at Shen Guiya for a moment, then lowered his head and said, “It is indeed true that my son has wronged the Fifth Young Miss, however, the Gu family will only take one bride. If she is willing, the Fifth Young Miss may enter the household two years later. I assure you, she will not be treated unfairly.”

“Father!” Gu Chaodong shouted in a low voice, his face full of resistance.

Prime Minister Gu smiled faintly and turned to look at Shen Guiyan. “Does the Third Young Miss mind?”

Shen Guiyan responded with a standard bow as a sign of respect and politely replied, “Naturally, I do not mind. If Fifth Younger Sister truly became dim-witted, then, without a doubt, Young Master Gu and I will take care of her.”

If Shen Guiya really became retarded, then it’s her retribution. But if it wasn’t…

Shen Guiyan couldn’t help but glance again at the woman.

Shen Guiya was still giggling foolishly as she was surrounded and being led away by the others. She unintentionally gazed in Shen Guiyan’s direction with her eyes full of unfamiliarity.

“Young Miss, the Fifth Young Miss seems to be a bit strange.”

As the people in the hall began dispersing, Baoshan whispered behind Shen Guiyan’s ear: “I heard she’s been talking nonsense, but she’s widely awake now to be acting like a crazy person. I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Don’t worry about her,” Shen Guiyan said as she pressed her lips together. “Now that everyone knows she seduced Young Master Gu, pretending to be a fool is actually a smart move. It will allow her to escape the storm of accusations.”

Baoshan stamped her feet in anger. “With her shameless behavior, does she really  think everything can be brushed off so easily by just playing dumb?”

“What are you so angry about?” Shen Guiyan smiled faintly. “Just prepare for the marriage.”

Whether she was truly crazy or just pretending to be, it didn’t matter anymore— her marriage had already been decided, and that was enough.