As a mere庶女 of average talent, she could only feel anger but dared not resist too much.
For a family woman like her, her ultimate fate was always to be married off to another family for alliance.
Only in this way could she fulfill her greatest value.
And her family members were the bargaining chips the clan used to control her.
Of course, if she possessed extraordinary cultivation talent, the family might respect her wishes.
And this so-called respect would only entail finding a more outstanding marriage prospect for her.
Perhaps this was the sorrow of being born into a prominent family.
Gou Jieran was the daughter of a concubine of the Gou family's patriarch. Although her appearance was outstanding, due to her mother Li Furong's humble origins and her own lack of exceptional cultivation talent, she had been disfavored by the Gou family patriarch since childhood.
The other members of the family, seeing the patriarch's indifference towards the three of them, also looked down on them.
While they did not openly antagonize them, constant difficulties and cold stares were unavoidable.
If not for her mother Li Furong's selfless protection, Gou Jieran and her younger sister Gou Anran might not have survived to grow up safely.
This time, Gou Jieran was ordered by the Gou family patriarch, Gou Shiren, and under the supervision of the young master Gou Fugui, to try and win over the young master of the Cao family, Cao Chunyu.
Gou Shiren's exact words were: If she failed to please Cao Chunyu and secure the Gou family's position in Chixue City, her mother would be expelled from the Gou family, and her younger sister Gou Anran would be packed off to Cao Chunyu's bed.
Gou Jieran knew that her father, the scoundrel Gou Shiren, would do exactly as he said.
In Gou Shiren's eyes, the three of them were merely pawns for profit.
With no other choice, Gou Jieran decided to sacrifice herself to protect her mother and sister.
Although she knew this protection was temporary, she would protect them for as long as she could.
And those guards were specifically sent by Gou Shiren to escort her, to prevent her from escaping midway.
As for the two women, they were Gou Fugui's attempt to gauge Cao Chunyu's attitude.
If he could easily please Cao Chunyu without using Gou Jieran, the trump card, then so much the better.
After all, Gou Jieran's beauty and demeanor had long made him covet his half-sister.
Therefore, despite his father Gou Shiren's orders, if he could impress the monk without offering a golden Buddha, then Gou Jieran would be within his grasp, wouldn't she?
Unfortunately, Cao Chunyu had also been coveting Gou Jieran for a long time, and had no intention of letting Gou Fugui pull a fast one.
Let alone two charming women, even ten or eight of them could not compare to Gou Jieran.
Seeing Cao Chunyu's anger, Gou Fugui knew his little scheme had been seen through.
Thus, he had no choice but to quickly reprimand Gou Jieran to come over.
But Gou Jieran, unappreciative of his efforts, sat so far away from Cao Chunyu, which led to Gou Fugui threatening her.
Moreover, his threats to Gou Jieran were not made discreetly.
Therefore, not only Cao Chunyu, who was seated at the same table, but also Zi Linling and the others sitting beside them, overheard it.
Zi Linling frowned, a trace of coldness flashing in her eyes.
Although she disliked such tactics of coercing someone by threatening their loved ones, this was an internal family matter, and she had no right to interfere.
Furthermore, before the situation became clear, it was not advisable for her to get involved in the muddy waters.
Gou Jieran was filled with rage but had no choice but to sit closer to Cao Chunyu as per Gou Fugui's instructions.
As the young master of the Cao family, Cao Chunyu was well aware of the intricate dealings within wealthy households.
However, with a hint of perverse amusement, he watched this drama unfold, making no move to stop it.
He also knew that even if he were to rescue Gou Jieran, she would not be grateful to him, nor would she willingly submit to him.
Therefore, it was better to let Gou Jieran become completely disillusioned with the Gou family, and ideally, to sever ties with them.
Once she was without the backing of the Gou family, Gou Jieran would have no choice but to obey him, wouldn't she?
As for the Gou family, after breaking ties with Gou Jieran, they would no longer be able to use her as a bargaining chip to demand excessively.
Cao Chunyu did not care whether a forcefully plucked melon tasted sweet or not.
Seeing Gou Jieran obediently sit close to him under Gou Fugui's threats, Cao Chunyu's perverse desires were instantly satisfied.
He placed his lecherous hand on Gou Jieran's eye corner and laughed, "Brother Gou, this is wrong of you!"
"Jieran is supposed to marry into our Cao family. If you threaten her like this, aren't you telling everyone that I, Cao Chunyu, am forcing her?"
"Moreover, by threatening her with her aunt and sister, aren't you essentially threatening me?"
Although Cao Chunyu spoke eloquently, there was no hint of displeasure in his words, but rather a sense of exhilarated satisfaction.
Gou Fugui, being sharp, naturally sensed Cao Chunyu's slight thrill.
He cursed Cao Chunyu as a pervert inwardly but feigned a submissive demeanor outwardly, saying, "Young Master Cao is right, it was my oversight!"
Then, he turned to reprimand Gou Jieran, "Sister Jieran, look how well Young Master Cao treats you. He's already protecting you before you're even married. You must cherish this opportunity!"
Gou Jieran frowned, a deep hatred flickering in her eyes.
Cao Chunyu's lecherous hand slid down her waist, slowly moving towards her rounded chest.
"You!"
Gou Jieran suddenly stood up, about to unleash her anger, when she heard Gou Fugui cough.
"Cough cough! Sister Jieran, only if you live well, can your aunt and sister live well."
Gou Fugui's words were laced with a threat that everyone could understand. How could Gou Jieran not?
Despite being harassed by Cao Chunyu in such a public manner, her heart seething with resentment, she ultimately resigned herself and sat down.
Gou Fugui said with satisfaction, "That's more like it, Sister Jieran! If you win Young Master Cao's favor, he naturally won't mistreat the Gou family, and your aunt and sister will be well taken care of!"
Cao Chunyu also smiled and said, "Exactly! Jieran, you can rest assured, I will definitely look after the Gou family and take good care of your aunt and sister!"
Threatened by both of them, Gou Jieran instantly calmed down.
She knew she couldn't act impulsively, or the price would be paid by her mother and sister.
Therefore, she had to endure the humiliation.
Her slender hands, hidden beneath the table, clenched tightly, her knuckles turning white, each bone clearly defined.
At the same time, a dangerous plan began to take shape in Gou Jieran's mind.
"Shameless!"
Shangguan Yulin could no longer bear it and muttered under his breath.
He was inherently intelligent, merely accustomed to not overthinking, not devoid of thought.
From the snippets of conversation between Gou Fugui and Cao Chunyu, he had already deduced the entire situation.