Destined

Liu Yu Ru recognized Jiang Rou. After a brief hesitation, she ultimately rose to pay respects to her. Jiang Rou quickly stopped her, saying, "If you're unwell, just lie down. Our family doesn't stand on ceremony. I'll have a physician examine you."

Though Liu Yu Ru was physically fine, she felt emotionally numb and made no effort to conceal it. She lay on the bed as Jiang Rou summoned a physician to take her pulse.

After a careful examination, the physician didn't comment on her current condition but mentioned some past health issues that required recuperation.

Jiang Rou simply nodded without further inquiry, had the physician write a prescription, arranged for food to be brought, then turned to quietly observe Liu Yu Ru.

Noticing this, Jiang Rou's chief maid led everyone out of the room, leaving only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Jiang Rou studied Liu Yu Ru, whose appearance was far from ideal - having cried all night, her makeup was smeared, eyes swollen, and she looked utterly lifeless, completely unlike a bride.

Jiang Rou sighed, tucked Liu Yu Ru's quilt, and asked gently, "What happened between you and Jiusi last night?"

Liu Yu Ru lowered her eyes without responding. Jiang Rou ventured a guess, "Did Jiusi say something inappropriate to you?"

Still receiving no answer, Jiang Rou looked at Liu Yu Ru and suddenly smiled. "Before I came to propose marriage, everyone I asked described you as a well-bred young lady who strictly observes etiquette. Why don't you seem that way now that you've married into our family?"

"Madam Gu," Liu Yu Ru finally spoke calmly, "I never wanted to marry in the first place."

Jiang Rou was taken aback, not expecting this response. After a long pause, she collected herself and asked hesitantly, "But... when I proposed, your mother told me you admired Jiusi."

Liu Yu Ru curled her lips mockingly. "Surely you know about my family situation, Madam Jiang. How could you believe what my mother says?"

"But your father was right there," Jiang Rou felt completely bewildered. "Your family... you..."

She struggled to continue. While aware of the discord in the Liu household, she had always known Liu Xuan to be reasonable. According to her information, though Liu Xuan favored Zhang Yue'er somewhat, he never neglected his children. At the very least, Liu Yu Ru had received all the upbringing and resources due to a legitimate daughter. How could any parent treat their firstborn daughter this way? Just as she cherished Gu Jiusi above all else, she couldn't comprehend how Liu Xuan could allow such things - permitting a concubine to spread falsehoods about his daughter's marriage without intervention!

Suppressing her anger to avoid frightening Liu Yu Ru, Jiang Rou asked gently, "Then tell me, was there really a marriage arrangement between your family and the Ye Family?"

"There was intended to be," Liu Yu Ru answered truthfully with numb expression. "Old Madame Ye personally came to propose the match. My family had already agreed, waiting only for Young Master Ye to return from the provincial examinations before formalizing the engagement."

"This is utterly absurd!"

Jiang Rou couldn't contain her fury upon hearing this.

Liu Yu Ru glanced up at her. Jiang Rou stood and began pacing back and forth across the room.After going through such great efforts to arrange this marriage, the son is unwilling, the girl is unhappy, and they have thoroughly offended the Ye Family in the process.

Jiang Rou closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she finally understood Liu Yu Ru's current attitude. She tried her best to calm herself, restraining her emotions as she took a sip of water.

After a long while, she finally regained her composure. The matter had already happened, and the younger generation was likely even more panicked than they were. She glanced up at Liu Yu Ru's numb expression and felt a pang of pity. Hesitating for a moment, she returned to stand before Liu Yu Ru, carefully weighing her words. After a long pause, she looked at Liu Yu Ru and slowly said, "Miss Liu, this matter is our Gu Family's fault for not being cautious enough and failing to investigate your engagement with the Ye Family in time. I apologize for this mistake and hope for your understanding."

Liu Yu Ru remained silent. She was actually somewhat surprised, but the feeling was so faint that it couldn't stir any waves within her. Lowering her eyes, she replied calmly, "Such private matters are not something to be shared with outsiders. Even if you had the intention, it would have been difficult for you to know the truth. It should have been my family who informed you about the situation. I don't blame you for this."

Seeing her demeanor, Jiang Rou understood that she was a reasonable young woman. Although she resented Liu Xuan, she couldn't direct that anger toward Liu Yu Ru.

She looked at Liu Yu Ru and sighed before continuing, "But since things have come to this, what are your plans, Miss Liu?"

"What plans can I possibly have?"

Liu Yu Ru smiled bitterly. "The engagement is settled, the marriage is done. Could I possibly ask Gu Jiusi to actually divorce me? I came to the Gu Family hoping to live a proper life. What other choices do I have?"

Jiang Rou remained silent as she listened to Liu Yu Ru take a deep breath, as if speaking was extremely difficult for her. "But it's not that I'm unwilling to make it work—it's Gu Jiusi who refuses to!"

"Madam Gu," Liu Yu Ru's eyes reddened, "On our wedding night, he said he would divorce me, and now he's disappeared without a trace. How do you expect me to carry on like this?"

"I had already resigned myself to fate. Marrying someone like him, I didn't have many expectations for this life. But at the very least, I need to be able to live my life. If he really divorces me, it would be forcing me to death!"

Jiang Rou listened quietly, contemplating Liu Yu Ru's words.

The girl was only in her teens, yet her words carried undisguised resentment. Jiang Rou couldn't help but smile bitterly. "So, Yu Ru, are you asking us to help you find Gu Jiusi and bring him back?"

"What would be the point of bringing him back?" Liu Yu Ru said helplessly. "Bring him back, only for him to run away again? Find him again, he runs again. After a few rounds of this, would I become the laughingstock of Yangzhou City with him?"

"Then what do you plan to do now?" Jiang Rou pressed on. Liu Yu Ru shook her head.

She didn't know what to do either.

She didn't want to think about anything anymore.

"Let it be," she said hoarsely, "I accept my fate. This is just the kind of person he is—let him go wherever he wants, do whatever he pleases. Madam Gu, please just let me stay with the Gu Family and have a meal to eat. That's enough. I don't want to calculate anymore, don't want to bother with it anymore..."

"I can't take it anymore..." she sobbed quietly, "I just can't take it anymore..."

Time and again, fate played tricks on her. Time and again, everything was unpredictable.

She had thought a broad, smooth road lay before her, only to suddenly plunge into an abyss.

She had lived so carefully and cautiously all these years, yet in the end, she still came to this point. She didn't want to fight anymore, didn't dare to fight anymore.Jiang Rou looked at the young woman sobbing by the bedside and couldn't help but sigh. She reached out to gently pat Liu Yu Ru's back without speaking.

This silent comfort gradually quieted Liu Yu Ru's weeping. She slowly stifled her sobs until, after a long while, she heard Jiang Rou say, "Miss Liu, you should stop once you've cried enough. After crying, one must stand up again."

Liu Yu Ru remained silent. Jiang Rou helped her up and signaled for a servant to hand her a handkerchief. Watching her wipe away tears, Jiang Rou spoke slowly, "I know your heart aches, but when one falls, they must either stand up or lie down. Standing is difficult, but once you're up, you can keep walking. Lying down is easy, but if you stay down, the road ends there."Who doesn't know such reasoning?"" Liu Yu Ru mocked herself. "But Madam Gu, I can't see this path ahead."

Jiang Rou fell silent for a long moment before responding slowly, "I know you're dissatisfied with Jiu Si, thinking him a spoiled nobleman good for nothing. Compared to Ye Shi'an, he indeed doesn't seem like a good husband candidate."

"I'm not saying this to defend my son, but you can't turn back, and the Gu Family can't either. Life must go on. I hope this marriage becomes a union of families, not a feud. So if you're willing, I'd like to share my thoughts."

"Please speak, Madam."

"My son is indeed a pampered nobleman, not as driven as Young Master Ye. But he's inherently kind-hearted and has never committed any heinous acts. Aside from his gambling habit, he exercises restraint in other matters. He never involves himself with women—the rumors of him splurging on courtesans were actually for his friend's sake. Though only eighteen, he's utterly pure in matters of the heart. The wife he wants is one for a lifetime partnership. Compared to many men today, at least in emotional matters, he won't mistreat his wife."Sincere feelings are honey for those who are loved, but poison for those who aren't," Liu Yu Ru said bitterly. "Isn't his wanting to divorce me now precisely because of his sincere feelings?" Then I'd rather he were more fickle, at least leaving me a way out."But when it comes to feelings, how can one like or dislike someone immediately?"

Jiang Rou smiled faintly. "Most marriages in this world are arranged by parents and matchmakers. Even I only saw what my husband looked like when the wedding veil was lifted. Those who know and commit before marriage either have destined encounters or transgress propriety. Many couples develop affection after marrying, through day-to-day interaction over time."

"Jiu Si has never liked any woman before—he's hardly even spoken with any. The reason we thought he liked you was because you were the only girl he ever said he wanted to marry. Even if it was a misunderstanding, in matters of feelings, you're already a step ahead of other girls."

Liu Yu Ru lowered her gaze. Seeing her reluctance, Jiang Rou said, "I'm not asking you to curry his favor. I'm hoping you won't make things harder for yourself. First, try to see this child for who he is. You need to recognize that he's not entirely without merit—only then can you find a path forward. If you've already decided he's hopeless, if you detest and resent him, then what do you plan to do? Truly shut yourself in this room for the rest of your life?""If you truly do this, you're only making things difficult for yourself." Jiang Rou sighed. "If you go down this path, your grievances won't end, and your entire life will be wasted like this."

Liu Yuru's tears fell silently. Jiang Rou felt somewhat helpless and continued: "I don't expect you to necessarily like my son. I can understand if you don't. But I hope that since you've come to the Gu residence, you'll put your heart into living here. I'll help you however I can. Today Jiusi went to the Brothel - this is your first conflict with him. How you choose and act today will determine the future path of your marriage. You can tell me what you plan to do."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuru began trembling all over.

The Brothel...

On the very first day of their marriage, he actually went to the Brothel! Where did he place her dignity? He wanted to make her the laughingstock of Yangzhou!

"You said you would help me, Madam Gu. How will you help?"

"That depends on how you want me to help."

"What if I want you to go bring Gu Jiusi back right now and punish him severely?"

"That can be done." Jiang Rou showed no hesitation in her expression. Liu Yuru's lips trembled slightly. Jiang Rou looked up at her: "What else?"

"Madam Gu," Liu Yuru's voice was hoarse, "he's your son. I don't understand why you're helping me like this."

"Yuru," Jiang Rou tucked her hair behind her ear, "I've said before - I want to form a marriage alliance, not create enemies. Jiusi is in the wrong in this matter, and I won't take his side. Since the Gu residence has made you the young madam, regardless of the circumstances - whether it was a misunderstanding or deception in marriage - now that you've been carried into our home in the bridal sedan, I'll do everything I can to make this marriage work well. Everyone encounters difficulties in life. The only thing we can do is try to move toward better outcomes when we face them."

"To be honest, speaking from my personal perspective, marrying into the Gu family will only be better for you than the Ye Family, not worse. As long as you're willing to make it work. Your father-in-law and I are easygoing - you don't need to follow strict rules. If you want to learn household management, business, or studies in the future, I can teach you. As for Jiusi's nature, if he doesn't divorce you, he would never take a concubine - the inner courtyard will definitely be stable. And though he's pure-hearted, the reason he went to the Brothel after marriage is partly because he doesn't understand your situation and thinks you conspired with his father to deceive him, and partly because he wants to cause trouble for his father, but he doesn't understand your suffering. However, if you just tell him about your difficulties, he'll take responsibility and find solutions for you."

"Don't outright reject this marriage," Jiang Rou said calmly. "At least try to understand what kind of person Jiusi is."