Making Plans for Herself (continued)

"He really is your brother. He's willing to pay for the wedding procession, why won't you let him? I think you clearly want to ruin this marriage. Maybe you'll find a son-in-law to live with you, have children, and seize the family fortune."

"You're talking nonsense!" Second Concubine cursed, her face turning red with anger.

Gu Wanning gently patted her back to comfort her, "Why are you getting angry with someone like that? Don't pay any attention to her. Just think about it carefully, are you going to go through with the wedding today or not?"

In fact, Jin Huayu has already provided the answer.

Gu Wanning was not optimistic about the future relationship between her Second Concubine and her brother.

Jin Huayu is too easily influenced.

To put it even more bluntly, he has no heart.

Today, he was only thinking about not wronging his bride, making excuses for her in everything. However, he was stingy and did not offer any protection to his own sister when she was scolded, slandered, and had her face trampled on.

Hehe.

Don't say the husband is cold-hearted; isn't the younger brother just as cold-hearted?

This is probably the inherent weakness of men.

Well, except for Xu Weibei.

However, from the perspective of the Grand Princess, it's probably about the same.

However, Gu Wanning would not admit it; it was the Grand Princess's own absurdity and self-inflicted actions.

The Second Concubine, the eldest sister-in-law, showed the utmost sincerity in her brother's marriage.

But that doesn't mean she deserves to be manipulated and humiliated.

The Second Concubine almost burst into tears.

Gu Wanning noticed that her eyes were red.

However, the Second Concubine was clearly aware of her brother's attitude.

A woman with no one to rely on at this time still has to consider the bigger picture, save face, and take Gu family.

She said, "Huayu, it's your decision."

His voice carried an undeniable weariness.

On such a joyous occasion, people are usually in high spirits, and the fatigue from days of wedding preparations is washed away by the happy event.

But now that things have turned out this way, it's no longer a happy occasion, and all her weariness has returned.

Gu Wanning felt very sorry for her Second Concubine.

The Second Concubine clearly knew that, for her, "the tide had turned"—she couldn't stop her brother from being manipulated by a woman who was obviously not a kind person.

Her younger brother was no longer the boy who used to cling to her clothes, look up to her for everything, and rely on her.

He developed his own ideas and preferences, and... remained stubbornly unrepentant.

What can I do?

Could I possibly beat him up, yell at him, or throw a tantrum here and make a fool of myself?

Even though she had already been the butt of many jokes today, the Second Concubine still cherished her fragile dignity and hoped that today wouldn't be too embarrassing.

"Sister, let's leave it at that, the auspicious time is about to pass," Jin Huayu pleaded.

The Second Concubine seemed to have all her strength drained away at once, and nodded, saying, "Alright, you handle it."

After saying that, she took Gu Wanning's hand and said, "Sister, I'm not feeling well. Please come inside with me and sit down for a while."

"No, she has to stay with me today," Yiling said. "I've never seen a wedding banquet in the Central Plains before!"

The Third Concubine said, "If the princess doesn't mind, let me keep you company for now."

"What if I don't like it?" Yiling grumbled.

"Endure it!" Gu Wanning glared at her fiercely, and seeing that she was about to argue back, she lowered her voice and threatened, "The Marquis will beat people when he comes."

Yiling immediately shut up.

Gu Wanning: As expected, corporal punishment works best on little brats.

Gu Wanning accompanied her Second Concubine inside, ignoring the commotion outside.

As soon as she returned to her room, almost the moment she stepped inside, the Second Concubine could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face.

She sat on the daybed, head bowed, wiping away tears. "Sister, I'm so sorry you had to see this."

She herself is the biggest joke.

All those years of hard work, for whom did I toil and toil?

Today, while others are riding on his neck, the younger brother is only thinking about his bride who is about to enter the family.

What does her reputation matter?

"What's so funny?" Gu Wanning said, "Wipe away your tears, what's the use of crying?"

She sighed. "Now that things have come to this, I won't say anything nice. Save the nice things for others to say to comfort you. I'll just say one thing: you should start thinking about yourself."

"That's what I think too. But when I think about how my parents in the afterlife would be so sad if they knew I had this idea of separating from my brother."

The girl grew up pampered by her parents, never lacking love or money.

Unfortunately, this happy time didn't last long. Before she could grow up and repay her parents, they passed away.

So her parents' admonitions became her hope, as if fulfilling their last wishes would allow her to repay their love.

"If they knew in the afterlife, they would feel sorry for you. You are also their child, their first child, their most beloved child." Gu Wanning looked at her Second Concubine and said, "Rongrong, take care of yourself."

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.

The greatest suffering a woman endures in her life comes from having too much empathy.

But the man didn't know how to write those two characters.

Whether it's love or family, it's always women who suffer more!

The Second Concubine threw herself into Gu Wanning's arms and burst into tears.

Gu Wanning's words, "Feel sorry for yourself," made her heart ache terribly.

Even as she wept, she couldn't forget the joyous occasion her family was celebrating today, so she covered her mouth tightly, her sobs sounding like the mournful cry of a small animal, almost inaudible, yet filled with heartbreaking grief.

Her tears almost soaked the front of Gu Wanning's dress.

She cried for a full fifteen minutes. When the Second Concubine looked up again, her face was full of embarrassment.

"Sister, I--"

"It's okay to cry it out. We can deal with everything else later. Things have come to this, and we still need to clean up the mess. The wedding ceremony should be over by now, and the banquet outside will start soon. Freshen up, and I'll go out with you."

The Second Concubine nodded, and her personal maid brought water.

After Gu Wanning finished washing her face, she pulled her to sit down in front of the dressing table, picked up a comb and started to style her hair. Her hands moved deftly, and her voice was gentle.