Chapter 711: Leaving

Gu Jin’an said these words and then said to Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui, "Dad, Mom, let’s go. Our daughter won’t worry about marriage; there are plenty of good young men to marry, we’re not lacking Luo Wu."

He was truly very angry, wishing he could grab a knife and chop Luo Wu. What on earth did he want to do? He had been dragging his feet at first, not wanting to marry my sister. A few days ago, they had just exposed Xia Gu’s conspiracy and settled the marriage. Today, he’s making a fuss about calling off the engagement. What does he take the Gu Family for? What does he take my sister for?

Although Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui felt sorry for Luo Wu, they felt even sorrier for their eldest daughter. Seeing Luo Wu’s repeated changes of heart, they too were angry and rose to leave with Gu Jin’an.

Ms. Chu, crying, caught up with them, grabbing Gu Jin’an’s hand and said, "Good Brother An, don’t be angry. Your Brother Luo Wu is just bewitched; once he’s better, he won’t talk such nonsense."

Luo Huiniang also said, "Good Brother An, won’t you give my brother another chance? He really, really likes Sister Xiu."

Gu Jin’an looked at her and said, "Is your brother’s ’liking’ meant to hurt my sister over and over again?"

Then he looked toward Ms. Chu and pried her hand off his arm, "Aunt Luo, our family is grateful for your past help, and we will remember the kindness. But we aren’t going to marry our sister to your family out of gratitude. The current Luo Wu won’t treat my sister well at all."

"If you want to salvage this marriage, please plead with Luo Wu. It’s up to him, not us."

After saying this, he no longer paid attention to Ms. Chu and left with his parents.

Third Grandpa and Third Grandma didn’t come back with them but stayed at the Luo Family, wanting to get to the bottom of why Luo Wu canceled the marriage.

Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui were very fond of Luo Wu. After all, he was a child they had watched grow up. They couldn’t believe Luo Wu would really reject Sister Xiu. They said to Gu Jin’an, "Good Brother An, Brother Wu changed only after he went out. He must have encountered some trouble outside. Shall we ask for the details before making a decision?"

Gu Jin’an said, "I certainly know that he’s changed his mind because of troubles he’s encountered outside. But Dad, Mom, we can’t coddle him as we would a child. He’s grown up and should take responsibility for his problems. If he really can’t bear it, he should speak up and we can solve it together. But he kept silent, making the most hurtful decision by himself. What I’m angry about is that he didn’t consider us as his closest family!"

Luo Wu didn’t consider them as non-family. In contrast, he regarded Sister Xiu too highly. His situation concerned the issue of progeny. In the Great Chu Dynasty, having no descendants was regarded as the greatest failure of filial piety; a disaster that neither the groom’s nor the bride’s family could afford to face.

Luo Wu didn’t want to tell the Gu Family or Sister Xiu, for fear that the Gu Family would feel guilty or that Sister Xiu might rather forgo having children to marry him.

It wasn’t about face; he only wanted everyone to be well. As for the suffering and misfortune, he would bear it himself.

After returning home, Gu Jin’an repeated to Gu Jinxiu what he had asked Luo Wu.

"Big sister, don’t blame me. We need to straighten his character out; otherwise, you’ll suffer if you marry him," he said.

Gu Jinli agreed, "Big brother is right. Big sister can’t pity Luo Wu; we need to teach him a lesson."

Then he promised, "Big sister, don’t worry. I will send Qiu Lang to investigate where he’s been these past few days, what trouble he’s encountered. We won’t let him call off this engagement without any clear reason."

Gu Jinxiu was silent for a long time and finally nodded, "I’ll wait for him. In a few days when he feels relieved, he will surely come and explain everything."

Regrettably, she didn’t wait for Luo Wu to come and explain everything; all she awaited was the news of Luo Wu’s departure.

Luo Wu didn’t want to drag things out, so he left without saying goodbye.

Upon hearing the news, Gu Jinxiu’s vision went dark, and she fainted.

The family was anxiously pacing around; it was only after Gu Jinli administered acupuncture that they were able to revive her.

But upon awakening, Gu Jinxiu did not cry; she had already cried her eyes out at the Luo Family. Instead, she smiled and said, "Dad, Mom, let’s call off the marriage with the Luo Family... We can’t force him to run away from his home because of this marriage."

Mrs. Cui, with tears streaming down her face, held her and said, "Sister Xiu, if you feel sad, just cry it out. Here, you are surrounded by your closest kin, no one will laugh at you."

Yet Gu Jinxiu replied, "Mom, I’m not sad; it’s enough... If this marriage is causing both our families to live in misery, then let’s forget about it."

She did like Brother Luo Wu, but as the eldest daughter, she couldn’t let her own marriage troubles disrupt the family’s peace.

"Big sister..." Gu Jinli felt immense sympathy for Gu Jinxiu and comforted her by holding her, saying, "It will get better. There’s nothing wrong with being without a man. Big sister is so rich; you can live a good life with Silver too."

Hearing that, Mrs. Cui quickly interjected, "Xiao Yu is talking nonsense again. How can one live a lifetime with just silver?"

Brother Cheng also said, "Mom is right. Even without Luo Wu, big sister can marry an even better man."

In the past, Gu Jinxiu would blush at these words, but now she only managed a forced smile before falling silent.

The Luo Family People dared not publicize the situation, for fear it would involve the Gu Family and tarnish Sister Xiu’s reputation; they could only quietly search for Luo Wu, but there was no sign of where he had hidden. They had searched for several days with no results.

A few days later, as if having lost all hope, Gu Jinxiu took out an invitation sent by Granny Li: "Granny Li sends me an invitation to the Winter Embroidery Meeting every year, for three years in a row now. I really should attend at least once or else I’d have no excuse."

Perhaps only after she had left would Brother Luo Wu return.

Gu Jinli asked, "What are you planning to do, big sister? When Granny Li sent the invitation, she already mentioned it was just customary to send one to all the embroidery masters; you don’t have to go."

Gu Jinxiu flipped through the invitation; it was unique, the writing inside was not done with a pen but embroidered with thread. She gently caressed the embroidered words and said, "But this time, big sister wants to go."

She pleaded with Gu Jinli, "Xiao Yu, please make arrangements for big sister; I want to go out and get some air. I’ll return after the Winter Embroidery Meeting is over."

The Winter Embroidery Meeting was to be held on the 29th day of Dongyue, spanning three days. She would make it in time if she set out now and could return home after the meeting to celebrate the New Year.

By that time, everything should come to an end, and both families could continue to live as before... Although the marriage was broken, she did not want the two families to become enemies.

Gu Jinli was troubled and did not immediately agree.

However, Gu Jin’an spoke up, "It’s good for big sister to go out for a walk. I’ll accompany her. Don’t worry."

Big sister was getting older, and it was not advisable for her to travel alone. As her brother, he would escort her.

Having heard this, and thinking of Gu Jinxiu’s tendency to be reserved and the magnitude of the recent events—if she kept cooped up at home, she might fall ill—Gu Jinli agreed, "Alright, big brother will accompany big sister. I will select a few more people to follow, ensuring absolute safety."

Although Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui were reluctant to let their eldest daughter travel far, seeing her growing more and more silent and worried she might harbor dark t...