Chapter 68 [VIP]

"No way."

Mrs. Xu said with a forced smile.

“Ying’er is my own daughter, how could I mistreat her? I found her the best marriage possible, with Gong Hai, the Left Admiral of the Five Armies Commandery, Lord Gong.”

Gu Zhiwei's face puffed up, her cheeks flushed with anger: "He's over fifty!"

"So what if he's over fifty?" Mrs. Xu laughed. "Lord Gong is a devoted man. After his first wife died, he didn't even have a concubine in the house. Our Ying'er can take charge of the household immediately after marrying into the family. What's wrong with that?"

She couldn't resist adding a sarcastic remark: "Zhiwei, you're young and don't understand. Even if you don't like this marriage, it's still better than your mother being a widow for so many years. At least you'll have someone who cares about you, right?"

The wet nurse Jing Niang, who was standing next to Gu Zhiwei, frowned as she listened: "My dear in-law, watch your words!"

Her two daughters are not yet married; the second daughter is only eleven years old. What kind of filthy things is this aunt saying? How can she say such things in front of the girls?

Gu Zhiwei was both angry and annoyed. If this wasn't her aunt, she would have slapped her.

“My dear in-laws,” Gu Zhizhuo curtsied politely, his face cold and stern, “Ying’er is a guest. She can leave if she wants. If she doesn’t want to leave, no one can take her away. My dear in-laws, this is the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion, not some insignificant household. You are not allowed to act so recklessly here.”

"The Gu family set up a mourning hall, not a wedding hall."

"If my in-laws say anything strange again, don't blame me for assuming that the Xu family wants to sever ties with our Gu family."

The spirit medium came to someone else's house to talk about marriage and such. If it weren't for the fact that she couldn't afford to embarrass her second aunt, Madam Xu, and Weiwei, she would have thrown them out long ago.

Mrs. Xu choked for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly, "Young lady, what are you saying? My Ying'er..."

Okay.

A man with a protruding belly strode out from the other side of the floral curtain. Judging from his appearance, it was impossible to tell how long he had been eavesdropping there; at least when Gu Zhizhuo arrived, he noticed the boots peeking out from under the curtain.

As soon as he arrived, he first scolded, "If you keep talking nonsense, you can go home now." Then he smiled ingratiatingly at Gu Zhizhuo, "If the young lady likes Ying'er, let Ying'er stay here for a while longer."

"But."

"Stop nagging." The man tugged at Mrs. Xu's arm and shouted, "If our eldest daughter likes it, it's Ying'er's good fortune. Besides, what's wrong with staying at her aunt's house?"

He turned his back, winked at her, and said in a loud voice, "Hurry up and leave."

"Uncle," Gu Zhiwei greeted him, suppressing her anger, but showing little respect, neither in words nor on her face.

He was Xu Xian, Xu's biological elder brother, the kind who shared the same mother.

Gu Zhizhuo also said, "My in-laws."

"Don't be so polite, young lady," Xu Xian said, adopting the demeanor of a kind elder. "We haven't even offered incense to the Duke yet..."

"We just saw that one from the palace come," he explained, to show that he hadn't meant to be disrespectful. "We just avoided her for a bit. Your aunt misses Ying'er so much that she thought she might as well go and see her."

"You really are something else," he snapped at Madam Xu. "Can't you see the Duke's mansion is busy? If you miss Ying'er, you can come see her in a few days."

As he spoke, he tugged at Mrs. Xu's arm again.

Seeing Gu Baibai arrive in a wheelchair, he quickly said with a smile, "Third Master, we'll go ahead first."

Mrs. Xu was unwilling, but she didn't dare to say no, and was dragged away reluctantly.

After walking for a while, Xu Xian looked around and, seeing that there were no servants nearby, quickly pulled Madam Xu behind a rockery and whispered, "Don't mess with that Miss Gu. She's very fierce. I heard that she even dared to hit Prince Jin in court today, and Prince Jin didn't dare to say a word after being hit."

"Your sister..."

Mrs. Xu wanted to say that, considering how many years Mrs. Xu had kept the Gu family a widow, she wouldn't really drive her away.

Xu Xian sneered, "Wouldn't she just gag you and throw you outside? You won't listen to me. This is the Duke's mansion. Even a little bit of what we've said is enough for our family to eat and drink for a lifetime. Do you want to completely offend us? Don't you even think about our son?"

When the topic of her son came up, Mrs. Xu fell silent.

"I'm just anxious, our Abao is almost thirteen," Mrs. Xu said, then added angrily, "Your sister is useless too. She's been married into the Gu family for so many years, and she still has no say in the household. Before, she could at least have the Duchess's help, but now the Duchess has been demoted to a concubine, and she still can't even get a position in managing the household. If she had any ability, if she were willing to ask the Gu family to step in, our Abao could at least be a deputy commander in the Imperial Guard! Why would she need to ask Admiral Gong for help?"

“Admiral Gong has taken a liking to Ying’er and has agreed to let our A’bao go to the Five Armies Commandery as an assistant. If we don’t marry Ying’er off to him, this matter is hopeless! Look, it’s almost June. If Admiral Gong takes a fancy to someone else’s daughter, and you try to send Ying’er over then, they might not want her anymore.”

That's true. Xu Xian nodded silently.

A man like Admiral Gong could have any girl he wanted, so he wouldn't be so infatuated as to wait for Ying'er.

"Besides, our A-Bao always says he won't marry anyone but his cousin. We need A-Bao to have a proper job first before we can ask the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion for his hand in marriage." She said disdainfully, "Although Zhiwei has a bad temper and loves to fight with knives and guns, she is not a good match for A-Bao. She is still a daughter of the Duke's mansion."

"Okay, okay." Xu pulled her aside and looked around. "Stop talking."

The Xu family was incredibly lucky to have connected with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion through marriage back then.

Ah Bao keeps talking about marrying Zhiwei, but that's just something to listen to. If he actually dared to bring it up, the Gu family would definitely—no, not even the Gu family—his younger sister would kick him out.

Xu cleared his throat and changed the subject: "If you really can't wait, we can get engaged first and get the marriage certificate. We can come to pick her up before the wedding. With the marriage certificate, even if the Gu family is unreasonable, they can't just not let her go after the wedding. If they still don't let her go, we can have Admiral Gong come to the Gu family to pick her up."

"I'm really in a hurry..."

Xu Xian impatiently interrupted her: "Alright, alright, that's settled then. Just don't offend that Miss Gu. She likes Ying'er, so have Ying'er flatter her more and make her happy. A little bit of money slipping through her fingers will be enough for our A Bao to live comfortably. As for you, spend more time talking with the Grand Madam..."

Mrs. Xu muttered, "Your niece won't even let me into the inner courtyard."

I can't be there for you even if I want to.

"You..." You're really useless! Xu Xian was furious. "If I don't let you in, then you'd better stay put."

As he spoke, he straightened his clothes again.

He had just seen the Left Vice Minister of Works arrive and needed to hurry over to recognize him. He'd heard the Ministry of Works was planning to purchase a large quantity of raw materials this year, and if he could secure the order, he could earn at least ten thousand taels of silver.

Mr. Xu left in a hurry, leaving Mrs. Xu standing there, pacing around in frustration.

She knew perfectly well that they could get engaged first, but...

Granny Sun, who was by Xu's side, secretly told her that Xu had suddenly asked whether the child she gave birth to had a birthmark.

Xu was clearly unconscious back then.

With Xu Ying'er not by her side, she couldn't feel at ease. She still needed to marry her off as soon as possible, so that she would have less contact with the Gu family in the future. Mrs. Xu stamped her foot and came out from behind the rockery.

Unable to enter the inner quarters, she could only call her maid to lead her to the waterside pavilion for a short rest.

After the maid led her there, she returned and reported to Gu Zhizhuo, adding, "Uncle Xu took Madam Xu behind the rockery and talked for quite a while, but I didn't go with them." The servants of the Gu family did not have the habit of eavesdropping on guests' conversations.

Gu Zhizhuo was hiding behind a screen in the main hall with Gu Zhiwei and Gu Zhinan.

She quietly told them the identities of the people who had come, and whether they were friends, enemies, or neutral with the Gu family. Upon hearing this, she raised an eyebrow.

"They're definitely not giving up," Gu Zhiwei said indignantly. "They're probably hiding behind the artificial hill, plotting how to take Cousin Ying'er away. You should go and listen in." The last sentence was directed at the maid.

The Xu family was originally a small merchant family in the border region.

When Gu Weiwei, the second master of the Gu family, was young, he was ambushed while chasing a group of Di people and was seriously injured. He was rescued by Xu Shi, and the two fell in love.

The Gu family is a Duke's mansion, but they don't care about social status. In the words of the old Duke Gu Xie, he used to be a little beggar on the street, so who would look down on whom?

At that time, the Xu family was pressuring Xu Shi to become the second wife of a county magistrate in his fifties for a wool deal. —In her previous life, after the Gu family suffered misfortune, her grandmother offered Xu Shi a divorce decree, telling her not to stay and die. Xu Shi refused; she told the story herself. She said that her life and death belonged to the Gu family, and she was Gu Weiwei's wife.

Therefore, when the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion went to propose marriage, it was like a windfall for the Xu family.

The marriage went smoothly, and Ms. Xu entered the Gu family.

Thanks to their marriage alliance with the Gu family, the Xu family's business grew bigger and bigger, and they moved the whole family to the capital.

Gu Zhiwei was furious: "Big sister, you don't know, the man they arranged for Cousin Ying'er, this Commander Gong, he's had two wives, and both of them died. I asked my wet nurse brother to help me find out, they were both abused to death by him."

Gu Zhiwei urged Jingniang, "What did my wet nurse say? None of you will talk to me properly. Now that my eldest sister is here, you should speak up!"

Jingniang looked troubled.

With the eldest daughter also present, things become even more complicated.

If the second madam found out that she had said in front of the three young ladies that Master Gong liked young girls and that the two women he had married before were both under fourteen years old, and that they had been beaten black and blue and died from ruptured anuses, she would definitely be beaten to death! No, the Gu family doesn't beat or kill servants casually, but she would definitely be beaten and thrown to the estate.

She shouldn't have listened to the second daughter and let her son inquire about these sordid matters.

The Xu family is a wealthy family, so why do they act like those impoverished families who rely on women for advancement, casually sending their daughters to be abused by such men?

Ying'er is only thirteen years old! Jingniang was absolutely disgusted.

“Young lady,” Jingniang said with an awkward smile, “that’s right. This Master Gong loves to beat people. The two before him were both tortured to death by him. He doesn’t actually have any concubines, but he has a lot of maids in his room, none of them have any official status.”

To put it bluntly, without a proper status, once they're dead, they can just be wrapped in a tattered mat and thrown into a mass grave. It's not only convenient but also avoids gossip.

She certainly didn't say everything, but even without listening, Gu Zhizhuo knew that her stammering couldn't possibly be anything good.

"Big sister," Gu Zhiwei said, hugging her arm, "please help my cousin, don't drive her away."

Gu Zhiwei also knew that there had been many things going on in her household recently.

After her third brother returned from Xinjiang, he told her about his experiences along the way, including his time in Aur City. She cried all night.

The eldest sister is currently focused on ensuring the family's survival; she shouldn't bother her with these trivial matters.

However, if we don't do anything about it, Cousin Ying'er will definitely be forcibly taken away, and then, for the sake of Xu Yaobao's future, she will be casually betrothed by the Xu family, and might even die.

My cousin was also born to my aunt, how could she treat her like this?

"I see."

Gu Zhizhu patted her cheek.

"Tell Ying'er not to leave the Zhenguo Duke's mansion. No one can take her away."

She has already taken care of both the inner and outer courtyards of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Now it is impossible to take people away from the Duke's mansion as easily as Aman did.

"Just because she saved you, we have to get involved in this."

"Big sister, you're so kind!" Gu Zhiwei buried her head in her arm and began to whine and coax.

Gu Zhinan tilted his head to look at his two older sisters, then hugged her other arm and shook it, saying, "Cousin Ying'er is very kind; she even helped me feed the little rabbits."

"Weiwei, you..."

Gu Zhizhuo was just about to ask Xu Ying'er for her thoughts when a servant rushed over and reported, "Young Miss, the young master has returned."

Wow, it's still pretty early.

Gu Zhizhuo glanced at the sky; it had been less than two hours.

"Let's go over there first."

Gu Zhizhuo led his two younger sisters around the screen and out, while Gu Yican strode over and crossed the threshold.

The main hall became even quieter, with only the sound of his military boots hitting the ground.

His steps grew heavier and heavier, as if each step weighed a ton.

Gu Zhizhuo stood still, silently watching him walk from the doorway to the center of the main hall.

He knelt down and kowtowed heavily.

Three kneelings and nine kowtows.

When he stood up, his forehead was covered in blood, and fresh blood was seeping out from the cut and sliding down his temple.

He stared at the coffin, stood silently for a long time, and when he turned around, he had his usual unrestrained and flamboyant smile.

He first winked at Gu Zhizhuo, then greeted her respectfully.

"Third Uncle, Aunt."

The younger siblings also called out "Big Brother" repeatedly.

After greeting everyone, Gu Baibai said with relief, "It's good that you're back. You seem to have grown taller and darker this time."

Gu Yican smiled brightly: "My sister said so too."

With guests present, Gu Baibai didn't say much.

"Go to the back and say hello to your grandmother; she's been thinking of you."

"I'll go later." Gu Yican took off his armor and handed it to the steward, then waved to Gu Zhizhuo, "Sister, let's go."

Where to?

Gu Yican's smile remained unchanged. He raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes sweeping over the guests inside and outside the main hall, and said in a voice that did not lower his voice at all, "Go find someone to cause trouble."

The sight sent shivers down many people's spines.

The Gu family had been observing mourning for three years, and they had almost forgotten that Gu Yican was different from the good-tempered Gu Taotao. Back then, he led a group of spoiled young men from the capital, running rampant and causing trouble.

"Third Uncle, Aunt, we'll be right back. Wait for us to come back for dinner!"

He pulled Gu Zhizhuo along, and the siblings disappeared in no time.

Gu Baibai: ...

One Yaoyao was already enough to startle him, and now there's Cancan... He rubbed his throbbing forehead, looked up and smiled gently, as if nothing had happened.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Gu Zhizhuo's skirt disappear through the hanging flower gate.

Gu Zhizhuo, holding Gu Yican's arm, skipped along and casually asked, "Gu Yican, he didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"

He was referring to the emperor.

"without."

Gu Yican shook his head. He was actually prepared to be made to stand or kneel as punishment.

Upon arriving, he waited a short while in the audience area before being summoned; the entire process was uneventful. Gu Yican returned the token of the Fifth Army Camp, the emperor offered a few words of encouragement, and then dismissed him.

Gu Yican knew that, given the emperor's temperament, he would never tolerate his sister threatening him with military power today.

The more peaceful it is, the more something seems off.

Gu Yican flicked his high ponytail, raised his arm and put it on her shoulder, lowering his voice and saying, "Sister, I think we should put the matter of Xi Jue aside for now, and let him vent his anger first."

Gu Zhizhuo: "...You're right."

First the Ji family, then the Ziji Pavilion—she's been moving too fast.

Gu Zhizhuo's eyelids drooped.

When the emperor was still a prince, he was inferior to the deposed crown prince in every way, whether in front of the late emperor or the officials. He was not as intelligent as the deposed crown prince, nor as popular, nor as virtuous... Therefore, after ascending the throne, he constantly praised the late emperor, wanting to surpass him and become a wise ruler.

Gu Zhizhuo took advantage of his emphasis on reputation to buy the Gu family a chance to breathe.

However, when the emperor is angry, millions of corpses will fall.

The current Zhenguo Duke's Mansion does not have the strength to contend with the entire Daqi Dynasty.

On the surface, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion did indeed have 200,000 troops in the northern frontier, but in reality, due to years of war, the soldiers were exhausted and the horses were worn out. The imperial court had also not allocated provisions for a long time, so the northern frontier had to be self-sufficient. Last year's battle greatly reduced the strength of the army, leaving a large number of old, weak, sick and disabled soldiers. My third uncle even risked his life to drive out the northern barbarians.

To put it bluntly, even if they raised the banner of rebellion, this kind of Northern Frontier Army could not stand against the well-equipped and powerful Imperial Guards.

Gu Yican went to report back. If the emperor had made things difficult for him, that would have been fine, but now it seemed like he was holding something back.

Let him vent his anger first!

The two exchanged a glance and reached a tacit agreement.

Smoke and clouds waited at the door, and without anyone pulling the reins, they followed behind and went out.

Gu Zhizhuo asked with great interest, "Whose bad luck are we going to find?"

Gu Yican grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth.

"Prince of Jin".

Back then, he only brought back his father's armor. It was his incompetence that caused his father to be restless after death, and his body to suffer all these years.

Gu Yican pulled her onto the horse, and the two of them rode straight to the Prince of Jin's residence.

The Prince of Jin's residence was not far from the Duke of Zhenguo's residence, both located within the inner city. Yan Yunzhao ran quickly and steadily, turning through the streets and alleys. At the end of the Left Bank Bridge was the Prince of Jin's residence. From afar, Gu Zhizhuo could see a large crowd gathered in front of the Prince of Jin's residence gate.

A faint smell of blood lingered in the air.

Who's fighting outside the Prince of Jin's residence?

The thought had barely crossed their minds when the richly dressed young men at the door heard the sound of horses' hooves, turned around, and shouted in unison, "Brother Can!"

Gu Zhizhuo: ?

Upon seeing Gu Zhizhuo, Zhou Liulang added eagerly, "Sister."

As soon as he shouted, the others looked at each other and exclaimed all at once, "Sister!"

Gu Zhizhuo: ? ?

Haven't they forgotten about that?

Gu Yican sat on horseback, tossing his black hair, and arrogantly asked, "Where are the things I told you to prepare?"

"I brought it with me!"

Zhou Liulang shook the wooden bucket in his hand, and the dark red liquid inside swayed with his movements.

Gu Yican nodded in satisfaction and praised him. He glanced at the "Prince Jin's Mansion" plaque hanging above the vermilion gate and waved his hand.

"Knock on the door!"

A note from the author: