211 Breaking the Engagement

If it was the Gu Yunzhen of the past, it was impossible for her not to feel ashamed when she was caught sneaking away.

But now…

Gu Yunrong was speechless.

Gu Yunrong originally had a lot to say, but now those words were stuck in her throat, as if something was stuffed into her chest, making it difficult to describe her feelings.

It was as if something was off track, or something had been taken away.

“Grandma is very angry.” Gu Yunrong half-closed her eyes and quickly adjusted her emotions. She said gently, “I originally wanted to plead for mercy for Big Sister yesterday, but… Grandma is very angry.”

Her tone was perfectly controlled, revealing just the right amount of helplessness when she deliberately emphasized Madam’s anger.

The winter morning was silent. A hint of light appeared on the eastern horizon, soaking into the gloomy sky.

In the warm pavilion, Gu Yanfei and Gu Yunzhen were in the shadows of the pavilion, as if they were still drunk. Outside the warm pavilion, Gu Yunrong was draped in the halo of the morning sun, shining brightly.

Silence spread.

Seeing that Gu Yunzhen was silent, Gu Yunrong asked seriously, “Big Sister, do you have a lover?”

She stared at Gu Yunzhen without blinking.

Gu Yanfei, who was drinking tea, frowned slightly. Juan Bi immediately understood and raised her hand to clap twice. The round-faced maidservant and an old woman who was originally in the backyard retreated.

As if a cold wind had entered her collar, Gu Yunzhen’s eyes widened in shock. She immediately woke up from her hangover.

She quickly shook her head and looked straight into Gu Yunrong’s eyes. Her expression was slightly stiff as she said, “No.”

Gu Yunrong said sincerely, “Big Sister, if you have a lover, I’ll support you in pursuing your own happiness.”

“But if not…”

“Why are you breaking off the engagement at this point?!”

As she spoke, Gu Yunrong looked at the other person in the pavilion with a distant gaze.

She didn’t criticize Gu Yanfei directly. There was still a friendly smile on her lips, and her eyes flashed with understanding.

She quietly looked into Gu Yanfei’s eyes with certainty, as if to say that Gu Yanfei had instigated Gu Yunzhen to break off the engagement behind her back.

Gu Yunrong composed herself and continued, “Big Sister, I know that the Murong family was too hasty in ‘rushing joy’, and that the wedding date is a little rushed, but I’ve asked around. Murong Yong is young and talented. He’s still at his peak and has already made many military contributions. Although he’s not the eldest son of the first wife, he’s far better than his brother. No matter what, he’s a good match for you.”

“Big Sister shouldn’t have said no to the marriage.”

Gu Yunrong’s tone remained gentle without any reprimand.

“…” Gu Yunzhen remained silent, her cherry lips pursed even tighter.

Gu Yunrong sighed softly and helplessly. “I know Big Sister and I have been estranged recently, but I still have to say what needs to be said.”

“I don’t want you to regret it for the rest of your life.”

Gu Yunrong’s heart was filled with all kinds of emotions.

A brown sparrow spread its wings and flew past Gu Yunrong. It stopped briskly beside Gu Yunzhen and pecked at the remaining pastry on the stone table.

Seeing this scene, Gu Yunrong’s eyes glazed over.

Her eldest cousin, Gu Yunzhen, had been a gentle and virtuous person since she was young. Both the elders and her cousins liked her and even those small animals were willing to get close to her.

In Gu Yunrong’s heart, Gu Yunzhen was like the daughter of a wealthy family described in books. She was the “perfect” elder sister in the world.

However, ever since Gu Yanfei returned, Gu Yunzhen had quietly changed. She was no longer the person Gu Yunrong had known in the past.

Gu Yunrong took a step up the stone steps of the pavilion and took another step closer to Gu Yunzhen, as if she wanted to see the girl with a smudged face in the pavilion more clearly.

The sparrow on the stone table flapped away in shock, two broken feathers falling from its wings.

Looking at the two damaged feathers that were leaning against each other, Gu Yunrong felt a wave of emotions. After more than ten years of sisterhood, she couldn’t just watch Gu Yunzhen take a wrong turn.

She advised gently, “Big Sister, don’t be rash. You’re not such a person.”

Gu Yunrong was looking at Gu Yunzhen, but Gu Yanfei was looking at Gu Yunrong. Or rather, she was looking at Gu Yunrong’s luck.

The luck around her was still as vigorous as ever. The golden energy had a hint of gray in it. It bared its fangs and brandished its claws, spreading tentacles that slowly wrapped around Gu Yunzhen.

Gu Yanfei put down the teacup in her hand and her eyes narrowed.

“Not such a person?” Gu Yanfei smiled faintly, as if she was mocking her or finding it funny. She asked calmly, “Gu Yunrong, in your heart, what kind of person should Big Sister be?”

To Gu Yunrong, Gu Yanfei’s question sounded like a provocation or she was looking for trouble. She originally wanted to ignore it, but on second thought, she changed her mind.

“Big Sister.” Gu Yunrong was still staring at Gu Yunzhen. She wasn’t answering Gu Yanfei, but talking to Gu Yunzhen. “Big Sister is filial, quiet, knowledgeable, and understanding.”

With every word she said, the vigorous golden aura around her extended an additional thin tentacle and greedily intertwined with the white light on Gu Yunzhen’s body, as if it was absorbing nutrients.

However, only Gu Yanfei could see this scene.

This was… Gu Yanfei held her cheek with one hand and looked at the two of them leisurely, but an abnormally bright glint flashed across her eyes.

In an instant, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck her heart.

She suddenly felt enlightened and understood many things that she hadn’t understood in the past. This understanding gave her mixed feelings.

She had never realized that Gu Yunzhen was the most suitable elder sister the heavens had arranged for Gu Yunrong.

Gu Yanfei sighed in her heart, as if a fishbone was stuck in her throat.

Heaven’s Will really favored Gu Yunrong to the point of giving her everything: her family, her elders, her eldest brother and sister… and her future husband.

Gu Yunzhen seemed to exist for Gu Yunrong.

In her previous life, Gu Yunzhen was disfigured because of Gu Yunrong, causing her to wither prematurely and be depressed for the rest of her life.

Gu Yunzhen had never been lucky since she was young. If she didn’t want to protect Gu Yunrong, she would have her luck sucked away by Gu Yunrong.

In fact…

If Gu Yunzhen deviated from Gu Yunrong’s thoughts at all, Heaven’s Will would correct it.

The chain binding Gu Yunzhen not only came from the family, but also from Heaven’s Will!