The person in the painting was a beautiful young girl, dressed in a light pink jacket and skirt, with her hair tied up in two neat buns.
She playfully clung to the edge of the lotus pond, frolicking with the carp in the water.
She completely ignored the surprised looks the adults beside her were giving her.
This person is Gu Qianluo as a child.
Seeing that Gu Qianluo was looking closely, Old Madam Gu said in a hoarse voice, "Young Master Junlan, the person in this painting is my eldest granddaughter, she is only ten years old."
Three months ago, she was leaning against me, fanning me. Now, I don't know who has kidnapped her.
She is the apple of my eye, and I hope the Hundred Flowers Sect can help me find her.
"If you find her, I'll give you my entire fortune as a reward, I'll do it willingly!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the old woman next to her took out a box made of golden nanmu wood and slowly handed it to Gu Qianluo.
"These six gold ingots are my sincere offering, and I hope Young Master Junlan will accept them."
Seeing the earnest look in her grandmother's eyes, Gu Qianluo felt a tearing pain in her heart, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Young Master Junlan? Are you confident you can find the person in the painting?"
Seeing that she remained silent, Old Madam Gu asked anxiously.
She had just come to her senses when she felt her grandmother's warmth on her hand.
Her large, rough, and aged hands were tightly clenching her own.
Seeing this, Gu Qianluo's gaze turned cold again. Forcing herself to recover from her grief, she cupped her hands and promised,
"Madam, our Hundred Flowers Sect has always been known for its ability to find missing persons."
"Having accepted this painting from the old lady today, I will certainly do my utmost to help her find her granddaughter in the future."
Gu Qianlu returned the gold ingot box to the old lady and smiled faintly.
"Madam, please keep this gold ingot for now! Come back and collect your reward after we've found the person for you."
Upon hearing this, the old lady's eyes widened in confusion, and her expression shifted from gentle to terrified.
"No! Young Master Junlan! You must accept my gold ingots!"
Old Madam Gu forcefully placed the golden nanmu box in Gu Qianluo's hands, and no matter how many times Gu Qianluo tried to refuse, she was forced to put it back.
As the two were struggling, Lu's stern rebuke came from behind them.
"Old woman Qiu! How could you do such a thing? Don't you know that the old lady suffers from a heart ailment?"
The old lady's memory is now regressing; she can only remember things from the past.
How could you let the old lady out like that? Do you want to be sold off like this?
"Please forgive me, Madam Gu! It was Old Madam Gu who insisted on coming out! This old servant couldn't stop her, so I followed behind her."
After being scolded by Madam Lu, Granny Qiu quickly helped Old Madam Gu walk towards the side room.
As she left, Old Madam Gu would occasionally turn back to look at Gu Qianluo, murmuring to herself,
"Luo'er... Luo'er, you will definitely come back."
The old lady Gu's murmurs reached Gu Qianluo's ears like the sound of a drum.
Her heart felt heavy and bitter, as if it were being pounded by drumsticks.
She silently swore to Old Madam Gu's retreating figure,
"Grandmother, when Luo'er returns after completing her studies, she will definitely drive all these unjust people out of the Gu family!"
Watching Madam Gu's departing figure, a fierce glint appeared in Madam Lu's eyes. She quickly walked up to Gu Qianluo and forced a smile.
"Young Master Junlan, please don't be angry!"
"My mother-in-law suffers from a heart condition, that's why she's making things difficult for you."
After saying this, Madam Lu snatched the scroll from Gu Qianlu's hands and sighed.
"Young Master Junlan, the person in the painting is merely an obsession in the old lady's heart."
Since receiving news of the death of the person in the painting, the old lady fell ill a few months ago and developed a serious heart ailment after waking up.
She's only recently started to recover a bit. Alas, the old lady's memory is getting worse and worse; she's even forgotten that Gu Qianluo is dead.
Her memory is still stuck in her childhood!
You needn't search anymore. He was just a man who died young!
Gu Qianluo's heart trembled, a surge of heat rose in her throat, and her eyes were already filled with coldness.
It turns out that my grandmother has Alzheimer's disease, which is why she misses me from her childhood.
Thinking this, Gu Qianluo's heart ached even more.
Madam Lu is truly wicked; she wouldn't even tell her grandmother a white lie.
"This painting is no longer needed!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Lu placed the scroll in her hand, about to tear it in half.
Seeing this, Gu Qianluo's eyes flashed with a cold light. She quickly snatched the scroll back from Lu's hands and said calmly,
"Mrs. Gu, although this is a misunderstanding."
But this painting is something the old lady cherishes. It wouldn't be right to destroy it like this, would it?
Moreover, this scroll is now a certificate of authorization from the Hundred Flowers Sect.
"Is Madam Gu doing this to cause trouble for the Hundred Flowers Sect?"
When Madam Lu met Gu Qianluo's cold gaze, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly withdrew her hand.
"Young Master Junlan, I am truly sorry, but this painting has already become an object of the Hundred Flowers Sect."
How could we possibly tear it apart? It's a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!
"It's alright, Cuiyu and I have important matters to attend to. Farewell!"
Under the arrangement of Butler Fang, Gu Qianluo and Zhu Ying returned safely to Zuixiang Pavilion.
As soon as Gu Qianluo stepped into Zuixiang Pavilion, her cold expression immediately darkened.
Zhu Ying sensed her displeasure and gently comforted her, "Miss Gu, don't worry, the old lady will be fine."
The old lady is her weakness. If she wants to maintain her image as a virtuous wife in the Gu family, she will definitely be filial to the old lady.
"I hope so! But I wonder how Father is doing now?"
Gu Qianlu hadn't seen her father for half a year, even though he felt indebted to her.
But in the Gu family mansion, apart from the old lady, Gu's father doted on her the most.
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