Chapter 4: A Daughter-in-Law Delivered to the Door

I had heard of the Gu family from Liu Ruyin. The Gu family was as renowned locally as our Lin family, both being generations-old clans specializing in feng shui. Especially over the past century, the Gu family produced one prodigy after another, rising to fame and even overshadowing our Lin family in the region.

Therefore, forming a marital alliance with the Gu family was something the Lin family eagerly desired. But for such a lucky break to fall to me? I didn’t believe it.

Then, recalling what Lin Yulang said when I first returned home—he mentioned needing a scapegoat to take the blame and asked me to bear the misfortune for him—and connecting that with Liu Ruyin’s words about the Gu family initially wanting Lin Yulang but now wanting me instead, everything suddenly made sense.

Liu Ruyin clearly had ulterior motives. This marriage was no prize.

Yet, since I was living under the Lin family’s roof, I dared not defy the lady of the house. I could only reluctantly agree: “Marriage is traditionally arranged by parents and matchmakers. If you want me to marry the Gu family’s heiress, then so be it.”

Seeing my consent, Liu Ruyin’s fox-like eyes curved in delight as she smiled, “Good son, so obedient! Don’t worry, your parents will make sure this wedding is grand and splendid, letting you enjoy the spotlight for once!”

Though I outwardly accepted cheerfully, inwardly I began to investigate. What kind of marriage was this, that the entire Lin family avoided it and pushed me forward as the scapegoat?

Having lived secluded in a burial ground for twenty years, I knew little about the Gu family. Fortunately, as a prominent local clan, gossip about them was easy to come by.

The current head of the Gu family was Gu Tingjun, a prodigy since childhood. At eight, he could recite the Tang Dynasty feng shui classic "Hanlong Jing" by Yang Yun Song backward; by ten, he had memorized “Yilong Jing” and “Thirty-six Dragons,” making him the talk of the town. As an adult, he brilliantly solved the “Trapped Dragon Formation,” fixing the low-lying lotus pond outside Yan City’s northern suburbs that suffered frequent river backflows, earning great renown—and the Gu family’s reputation soared alongside his.

He later married one of the most beautiful women locally and seemed destined for a fairy-tale life. Yet, over twenty years ago, when I was two, his wife became pregnant with a daughter, and from that moment, the Gu family’s fortunes began to decline.

First, his wife suffered a sudden premature labor with severe hemorrhaging, nearly dying at childbirth. Then, just days after their daughter’s birth, Gu Tingjun inexplicably fell ill and fainted on their balcony, slipping into a vegetative state.

To this day, the once-celebrated feng shui master lies bedridden, unable to open his eyes or speak, cared for around the clock by nurses. It was truly tragic.

The more I pondered, the more I sensed something was wrong. Why would such a distinguished feng shui family suddenly fall into ruin?

My gaze happened to fall on the birth details on the marriage certificate of the Gu family’s daughter—Gu Qianxi—and there it was: her destiny classified as “Fate Master,” a niche term meaning a fortune teller.

Years ago, while living amidst a burial ground, I had met a fortune teller from the Republic era who came from Beijing’s Tianqiao district. This elder devoted his life to studying the Four Pillars and destiny, generously sharing his knowledge with me.

So, upon seeing Gu Qianxi’s birth chart, I effortlessly calculated her fate like solving a formula.

At that moment, my pupils contracted and a chill ran down my spine.

Gu Qianxi’s chart was extraordinarily rare, summarized in one phrase: “Heavy rivalry and destruction, cursing her close kin.”

“Heavy rivalry and destruction” is a technical term in fate studies—“rivalry” meaning equals, “destruction” meaning financial loss to others; interested readers can look it up themselves.

But the latter four words—“cursing her close kin”—were the key.

Close kin meant ancestors, parents, siblings, spouse, and children.

This meant Gu Qianxi would bring harm to every one of them.

No wonder her mother nearly died giving birth, and her father fell into a coma soon after.

Clearly, Gu Qianxi was a genuine harbinger of misfortune.

And if Lin Yulang married her, becoming her husband, he too would fall within the “close kin” circle and be cursed.

No wonder Liu Ruyin wanted me to take this on—to marry Gu Qianxi and be the scapegoat.

Lin Yulang was right: I was being used as a shield to absorb disaster.

Moreover, it was said Gu Qianxi was blind.

At age five, she suddenly lost her sight. After visits to hospitals nationwide, doctors were helpless and declared she would live her life blind.

As the bride-to-be, I was burdened with nothing but bad luck.

“Well, well, I knew the good fortune wasn’t for me. They handed me a blind bride who’s a walking curse—couldn’t have found a worse one even if they tried. What a brilliant scheme...” I sneered bitterly.

Understanding it all, I realized marrying Gu Qianxi was crueler than death.

Perhaps fearing my refusal, the Lin family was unusually proactive. The day after I agreed, Liu Ruyin booked the wedding venue and printed invitations, sending them out house by house.

The wedding was set for the following week at the most luxurious hotel locally.

After all, this was a union between two great feng shui families, so appearances had to be maintained.

With time so short, I didn’t even get to meet Gu Qianxi beforehand.

It wasn’t until the wedding day, backstage at the banquet, that I finally saw her.

I had assumed the bride scorned by the Lin family wouldn’t be attractive—especially since she was blind, I expected the worst.

But the moment I saw her, I was stunned.

I had never seen such a beautiful girl.

She sat quietly on a wooden chair, serene as a white rose. Her pure white wedding gown enveloped her delicate, slender frame like a cloud.

Her long black hair was elegantly pinned high, her features sharp and refined—as if carved by a master sculptor.

Her deep eyes gazed calmly ahead, her black pupils shimmering with lively light.

Had I not researched her beforehand, I wouldn’t have believed she was blind.

Staring at her astonishingly beautiful face, only one thought echoed in my mind:

“If this is the woman I’m marrying, then even if fate kills me, I’d accept it without complaint.”