Exchange Fate! She Saved the whole family and the Short-Lived Marquis!-Chapter 102: Rarely as Dense as You

"Moreover, Xiao Fengxing was never a good person to begin with. From the start, he harbored thoughts of inheriting the Marquis’s mansion, just as the rumors in the capital suggested."

"Initially, he might have endured for a year or two," Fu Shinian said, "But if after two years and then another two years, he realizes that waiting any longer would be futile, he might directly find a way to eliminate you."

"In fact, two years might already be his limit. He may not be willing to wait any longer," Fu Shinian continued. "Therefore, Marquis, you must be extra cautious."

"I will be," Xiao Chengyu nodded. "I never thought I would cause you such worry."

"Naturally, I hope for your well-being, Marquis," Fu Shinian replied.

Xiao Chengyu opened his mouth, but the cold mountain wind swallowed his words.

He only felt a stifling sensation in his chest.

"Shinian," Fu Changqin called out to Fu Shinian from not far away.

Xiao Chengyu asked, "Why were you the only one in the hall earlier?"

"My brothers had finished praying. They were worried that too many people crowding the hall would disturb the peace of the Bodhisattva, so they waited outside for me," Fu Shinian explained, understanding Xiao Chengyu’s inquiry. "They did not abandon me."

Descending from the mountain, Fu Shinian didn’t even pass by their home before being directly taken to the Marquis’s mansion by Xiao Yingyue.

Gu Yunze and Gu Lingyi returned to their residence, and Gu Lingyi angrily told Mrs. Gu, "Brother is really useless. Today, Shinian was sitting with Xiao Yingyue on one side and Marquis Changping on the other. Those siblings watch over the second Miss Fu so closely that I had no chance to get close."

"And brother doesn’t even know how to fight for himself," Gu Lingyi huffed.

"How is that my fault?" Gu Yunze was surprised. "I was also a bit puzzled today as to why you always clash with Miss Xiao."

"Brother, don’t tell me you don’t know," Gu Lingyi said.

Mrs. Gu shook her head helplessly, "Yunze, what do you think of the second Miss Fu?"

"She’s a good girl, kind and..." Gu Yunze suddenly paused. "Mother, are you trying to pair me with the second Miss Fu?"

"I find the second Miss Fu to be gentle, approachable, well-mannered, and adorable," Mrs. Gu said. "It’s not just because the current Emperor values the Fu family. I liked that second girl even before; I think she’s perfectly suitable for you."

"Mother, why didn’t you tell me earlier?" Gu Yunze frowned. "I have no interest in the second Miss Fu."

"If you’re not interested, then why do you always gladly agree when you guys go out?" Mrs. Gu asked.

"Exactly," Gu Lingyi added, "Ordinarily, when I ask you to accompany me out, you don’t behave like this."

Gu Yunze blushed and stuttered for once, "I... I just think... Miss Fu..."

Mrs. Gu was shocked, "You like Miss Fu?"

Had she been pairing the wrong people all along?

"Mother, it would have been better if you had told me clearly earlier," Gu Yunze suddenly changed his expression, "Miss Fu must also know you wanted to pair me with the second Miss, right?"

"There are few as slow-witted as you," Gu Lingyi said, "Miss Fu surely knows."

Gu Lingyi turned, completely disregarding the expression on Gu Yunze’s face after hearing her next words, and said to Mrs. Gu with a look of despair, "Mother, if we now switch to pairing second brother with Miss Fu, wouldn’t Miss Fu think that second brother is too frivolous? That it’s just because the second Miss didn’t fancy him that he’s settling for Miss Fu?"

"I see that the second Miss Fu indeed has no interest in second brother either."

Gu Yunze felt like his heart sank to the bottom, saying sadly, "Would Miss Fu really think that way?"

Mrs. Gu hesitated, "Perhaps..."

"But if you’re sincere, maybe... maybe you can explain clearly to Miss Fu," Mrs. Gu consoled.

"Would she believe it?" Gu Lingyi said another statement that dashed the rising hope in Gu Yunze.

"You could say a few less words," Mrs. Gu said helplessly.

Gu Yunze was speechless, "If you hadn’t been so fervent toward the second Miss, it wouldn’t be like this."

"How was I supposed to know you were so slow-witted?" Gu Lingyi refused to take the blame, "Both mother and I have been showing it so clearly, and you never objected, so we thought you tacitly agreed."

"I... I never thought in that direction," Gu Yunze stood up and paced around. "What can I do now?"

Mrs. Gu: "..."

Gu Lingyi asked Mrs. Gu, "But mother, even if it’s Miss Fu, does it matter? I thought you would be opposed."

"Why would I be opposed? The only not-so-good aspect of Miss Fu is her status as a concubine’s daughter," Mrs. Gu replied, holding a view common among most people.

Gu Yunze, being the legitimate son, wouldn’t marry a concubine’s daughter unless absolutely necessary.

"But now that she’s been conferred the title of ’County Princess’, the matter of being a concubine’s daughter is no longer important," Mrs. Gu said. "As for the previous engagement with Master Xiao, I never cared about it."

"Now, in Great Xi, women are encouraged to remarry, so if women can remarry, what does it matter to cancel an engagement and negotiate anew? Moreover, this issue was not Miss Fu’s fault at all. Judging by the Fu family’s reaction, it shows that the Fu family is a family that respects rules and values Miss Fu highly."

It was also that Gu Yunze’s timing was indeed perfect.

If Gu Yunze had revealed his feelings before Fu Mingzhu was granted the title of ’County Princess’, even if Mrs. Gu had no objection to Fu Mingzhu and thought highly of her, she probably wouldn’t have agreed.

But now, with the conferral of the title, even if people remember that Fu Mingzhu is a concubine’s daughter, they wouldn’t dare to speak ill of her.

Given this, since Gu Yunze expressed his liking, Mrs. Gu saw no reason to oppose it and cause displeasure between herself and her son.

Gu Yunze breathed a sigh of relief. His greatest worry had been that Mrs. Gu would refuse because Fu Mingzhu was a concubine’s daughter.

Thus, he never dared to express his feelings, only daring to pay a bit more attention whenever he encountered Fu Mingzhu.

He gladly appeared whenever his mother and sister arranged a meeting with the sisters from the Gu family.

He wasn’t so dense as to not realize his mother and sister’s intentions.

But without feigning ignorance, he would have had no opportunity to meet Fu Mingzhu.

As for Fu Shinian, he naturally wouldn’t allow any real misunderstandings.

He never actively approached Fu Shinian nor made overtures.

Looking at it now, Fu Shinian never misunderstood him either.

He had been waiting for a chance for his mother to accept Fu Mingzhu.

Indeed, this affection was solely his own and he didn’t know if Fu Mingzhu liked him back.

However, he had to resolve matters at home first before seriously approaching Fu Mingzhu.

If his family didn’t agree, he couldn’t just disturb the heart of a young lady.

Until Fu Mingzhu was made ’County Princess’, Gu Yunze realized the opportunity had come.

But he couldn’t suddenly confess, so he seized the chance today to naturally express it.