Chapter 396 What Does Other People’s Marriage Have to Do with Me?
Under Du Ruoling's "affectionate" offensive, Gu Cheng'an finally nodded and agreed to marry Du Ruoling.
Du Ruoling was overjoyed, child, I am the one who tied you up with chains!
"Since you've gotten what you wanted," Mother Gu said with a dry, expressionless face, "I don't plan to recognize Cheng'an again."
She stretched out her withered hand and said, "Give me five hundred taels of silver, and I'll find a quiet farm where I can retire. From now on, I'll have nothing to do with you any more."
Du Ruoling was ecstatic when she heard this.
This old hag finally got her bearings! She wished this crazy mother Gu would disappear from her sight immediately, lest she get in the way of her and Gu Chengan's "good life" in the future.
"What are you talking about?" Du Ruoling put on a false smile, took out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve, and stuffed it into Gu's mother's hand without hesitation. "Here are five hundred taels. I will arrange the affairs of Zhuangzi for you as soon as possible."
But she felt extremely contemptuous in her heart: What a greedy old man!
Mother Gu took the banknote, counted it roughly, and put it in her arms, but she had no intention of leaving immediately.
Her cloudy eyes stared at Du Ruoling and she lowered her voice: "It's been so long, is there any movement from the General's Mansion?"
Du Ruoling was startled, then shook her head: "No."
Mother Gu's face darkened: "Did you see her eat the food that was sent over?"
"Not really." Du Ruoling avoided Gu's mother's gaze with a guilty conscience.
"Waste!" Mother Gu's voice suddenly became sharp, pointing at Du Ruoling's nose and scolding, "You can't even handle such a small matter! You sent the food over, and you didn't even watch her eat it with your own eyes! Do you expect that bitch to die obediently?"
Du Ruoling's face turned pale and blue after being scolded, and she became angry.
"What are you yelling at me for! If you're capable, go watch her eat! It's already hard enough for me to coax Gu Cheng'an every day, so how could I have the energy to care about those things!"
The two were arguing when Du Ruoling inadvertently complained, "That bitch Chu Ruohan is so lucky. She's been looking for a midwife everywhere lately. I wonder if she's about to give birth."
The speaker may not mean it, but the listener may take it seriously.
The remaining anger in Gu's mother's eyes was instantly replaced by a more sinister light.
A strange smile spread across her lips, and her voice was as hoarse as sandpaper. "Midwife? Haha...Giving birth is like stepping into the gates of hell. If the midwife 'accidentally' did something..."
Mother Gu's eyes were filled with hatred, as if she had already witnessed Chu Ruohan's tragic end of hemorrhage and death.
Du Ruoling's heart suddenly moved when she heard Mother Gu's sinister words.
Naturally, she didn't want Gu Cheng'an to still have any thoughts about Chu Ruohan in his heart.
If Mother Gu could take this opportunity to get rid of Chu Ruohan, that would naturally be perfect.
Even if the matter is exposed, it will not be traced back to her.
This old hag is not completely useless.
She thought to herself that since this matter was handled by Gu's mother, she only needed to sit back and watch, and reap the benefits.
As soon as Mother Gu's figure disappeared outside the courtyard gate, the hypocritical smile on Du Ruoling's face quickly faded away, replaced by an irrepressible sense of pride.
She raised her hand and stroked her hair, as if she had already seen herself wearing a phoenix crown and a bridal gown and marrying Gu Cheng'an in a grand ceremony.
She couldn't wait to call Chunmei, her personal maid, and her voice was filled with unconcealed excitement: "Chunmei, go get the account books from the mansion. I want to start preparing for the wedding!"
"This princess's wedding must be grand and splendid, so that everyone knows that I, Du Ruoling, am no longer the same person I used to be!"
Chunmei lowered her head, looking somewhat embarrassed, and replied softly: "Princess, the account book is here. It's just... the mansion has been spending a lot recently, and I'm afraid the money is..."
Du Ruoling's joy froze on her face, and she suddenly raised her voice: "What are you afraid of? What's there to be afraid of! Do you think I'm short of money for my wedding?"
Chunmei's shoulders shrank in fear, and she trembled, "Princess, the income of the mansion... is really not much. Although the late emperor conferred the title of princess on you, he did not grant you any property or shops, and the monthly salary is only enough for daily living..."
Du Ruoling was very depressed. He had just returned five hundred taels to the crazy woman. If he had known earlier, he would have given her less.
She always thought that she was a high and mighty princess.
But she forgot that the title of princess was only given because of the weapon blueprints of the previous emperor. She had no fiefdom, no property, and even less the rich confidence and family property of the noble families in the capital.
All she had was a meager salary.
She bit her lower lip so hard that her nails almost dug into her palm. No! She couldn't let anyone look down on her!
She wanted to marry Gu Cheng'an and let everyone in the capital see that she, Du Ruoling, was no longer the little maid who could be ordered around by anyone!
"Go!" She pointed at Chunmei, "Go to the Imperial Household Department and get an advance on my salary! Then go get my jewelry box. Sell all the ones I don't use often!"
Chunmei was stunned: "Princess, this..."
"Hurry up and go!" Du Ruoling shouted.
Chunmei didn't dare to hesitate any longer and crawled away in response.
Within two days, Chu Ruohan received a wedding invitation sent by Du Ruoling.
At that time, she was walking in the garden with Gu Junze, and the warm spring sun shone on their bodies, making them feel warm.
The housekeeper hurried over and handed over a gold-embossed wedding invitation: "General, Madam, this is sent from the Anping Princess's residence."
Gu Junze frowned but did not extend his hand.
Chu Ruohan gestured for Yuling to take it.
Yuling took a look at it, then handed it to Chu Ruohan and said softly, "Madam, this is the wedding invitation of Du Ruoling and...Second Master Gu."
Chu Ruohan had long seen through Du Ruoling's character and only found it ridiculous.
She casually handed the wedding invitation to Gu Junze beside her, her tone calm, even with a hint of teasing.
"You can do whatever you want with your brother's good deeds."
Gu Junze took the wedding invitation without even looking at it, and threw it to the steward behind him as if he were throwing away something useless.
"Just send someone to deliver an ordinary gift."
The steward bowed and quickly withdrew.
Gu Junze turned his head and his eyes fell on Chu Ruohan, and instantly became gentle and firm.
He reached out his hand, gently held her slightly cold fingertips, and wrapped them with his palm, conveying warmth.
"In my heart," he stared into her eyes, his voice low and solemn, "only you and the child are the most important. What does other people's marriage have to do with me?"
Chu Ruohan smiled faintly and looked at Gu Junze, "The Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet will be held in a few days. This morning, Concubine Shu sent someone to deliver the palace costumes."
Gu Junze: "You are not feeling well now, so you don't need to go to the palace banquet."
Chu Ruohan shook her head. "Of course I can't not go. After all, this is the first Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet since the new emperor ascended the throne, so it has a special meaning."
"Besides, Concubine Shu is now assisting the six palaces and is a hot candidate for the position of Empress. She specially sent us palace clothes. We can't easily reject this kind gesture and lose her face."
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