Chapter 125 Siblings (Second Update)
Gu Changqing was injured, but after returning to the manor, he did not disturb anyone. He first had a servant call the manor doctor to his courtyard.
The imperial physician was already used to Gu Changqing's injuries; the young master was a man who was willing to risk his life, and it would be abnormal if he didn't come back with some kind of injury one day.
However, after examining the wound, the royal physician was surprised: "Your Highness, may I ask who stitched it up for you?"
Gu Changqing asked, "What happened? The military camp's medic stitched it up once, and then the doctor outside stitched it up again. Is there a problem?"
The physician said, "No, it's stitched up very well. I've never seen anyone treat a laceration so well. May I ask which doctor it is?"
Hearing the physician's words, Gu Changqing understood: "You may leave now. Do not let anyone know that I am injured."
"I understand."
He had been the physician in the Marquis of Ding'an's residence for quite some time and knew the young master's habits: he didn't like to make a big fuss and cause panic throughout the household.
After the physician left, a servant brought over a basin of hot water and a set of clean clothes.
He had covered his wound with his cloak to avoid attracting attention, and now even the cloak was stained with blood.
As the servant helped Gu Changqing undress, he muttered, "Young Master, how did you get injured this time? Ever since you were transferred to General Ran's command, you've been injured much more often than before. Is General Ran particularly terrifying?"
"How can one practice martial arts without getting injured? General Ran's strict rule is a good thing and a blessing for Zhao Kingdom. Don't say such things again."
"Oh." The servant mumbled in response, putting the blood-stained cloak into the clothing basket, and then began to help him remove his outer robe and inner garment. "By the way, young master, did you call the royal physician over because you were worried? You never let the royal physician see you a second time after you were treated for injuries in the military camp. If you don't trust that person's medical skills, why did you let him treat you?"
Yes, why did you let her treat it?
Gu Changqing couldn't answer either.
She didn't look very old, probably around the same age as Gu Jinyu. A girl that age would be lucky not to cry out in fear at the sight of such a gruesome injury, but she was able to calmly stitch him up.
Not only that, she also killed an assassin.
After killing him, she acted as if nothing had happened and continued stitching him up.
In my twenty years of life, this is the first time I've ever seen such a strange woman.
Its small body seems to contain immense power.
"Your Highness, Consort Ling requests an audience," a maidservant announced from outside the door.
The servant looked at him and said, "The young master is injured. Perhaps I should go and inform her."
"No need." Gu Changqing changed into clean clothes and went to the flower hall to see Aunt Ling.
Aunt Ling was Xiao Ling's half-sister. She didn't look much like Xiao Ling, but she was more beautiful than Xiao Ling. Unfortunately, neither she nor Xiao Ling could compare to Yao.
Perhaps it wasn't just because Aunt Ling shared the same family bloodline as Madam Ling, but also because Aunt Ling bore a resemblance to Madam Ling's tragic past, that Gu Changqing treated her with relative politeness.
Gu Changqing said, "It's so late, Auntie, haven't you rested yet?"
Aunt Ling smiled and said, "I'm getting old, and I'm not as sleepy as I used to be. I only need two or three hours of sleep a day. These days you've been leaving early and coming home late. I haven't seen you in a long time, so I wanted to come and see you."
Gu Changqing said, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Aunt."
Aunt Ling said earnestly, "Don't overwork yourself. You should take better care of yourself. Things in the manor can be dealt with in time, but you must not have any health problems."
"I know."
Despite saying this, Gu Changqing dared not forget the old Marquis's dying wish. He was the eldest grandson and the eldest brother, with an old lady above him, younger brothers and sisters below him, and the Marquis's family business that had stood for centuries. He had to support the entire Marquis's family even if he had to kneel down.
After exchanging pleasantries, Aunt Ling showed no sign of leaving.
Gu Changqing asked, "Is there anything else, Aunt?"
Aunt Ling twirled the handkerchief in her hand and smiled awkwardly: "It's like this, Madam has returned to the manor, and you must have heard about what happened to her."
Gu Changqing looked at Aunt Ling: "Aunt, are you referring to the matter of the two children being switched at birth?"
Aunt Ling was slightly taken aback: "You knew?"
Gu Changqing said, "I just found out."
Aunt Ling glanced at the servant standing behind Gu Changqing and understood. She said, "Although Jinyu is not your father's biological daughter, she has been raised in our mansion for many years and we have developed feelings for her. Sending her away will be difficult for your father and madam, and even the old madam will be reluctant."
Gu Changqing didn't think much of this matter because he didn't care and therefore didn't bother with it.
Aunt Ling said with a gentle smile, "Jinyu's birthday is coming soon. Should we prepare a birthday gift for her?"
Gu Changqing said, "Auntie, please make the arrangements as you have in previous years."
Although he didn't acknowledge Gu Jinyu as his sister, he wouldn't deliberately embarrass her; he didn't have a penchant for bullying a young girl.
Aunt Ling then said, "Yan'er has also come to the capital. Should we send a birthday gift to both Yan'er and that child?"
Gu Yan moved to the mountain villa when he was four or five years old. It had been ten years since they last saw each other, and Gu Changqing could no longer remember what Gu Yan looked like.
He nodded: "If it can be delivered, let's deliver it together."
It's all just for show.
Aunt Ling smiled and said, "Alright, I'll prepare the gifts and give them to your father so he can take them over."
Gu Changqing had no objection: "This is a small matter, so Auntie can make the decision."
Aunt Ling gave him a few more words of advice to take care of himself before leaving.
Gu Changqing knew how badly he was injured, and it would take three to five days for the pain to subside. However, after sleeping through the night, he woke up the next day and found that he could hardly feel any pain in his wound.
He applied some of the wound medicine Gu Jiao had given him; it felt cool, and the wound became less painful.
Gu Changqing found it very amazing.
Where did that girl learn her medical skills? She's truly more skilled than the army's medics.
There was no training these past two days, but Gu Changqing still decided to take a walk around the military camp.
As he passed by the hanging flower pavilion, he happened to run into Gu Jinyu accompanying Yao Shi for a walk in the garden.
He saw the other person, and the other person saw him too; the scene became somewhat awkward.
When Yao first married into the Marquis's mansion, Gu Changqing was still a young, unruly boy who had just lost his mother and harbored resentment, so he repeatedly hurled insults at Yao.
He even threatened to drive Yao out of the mansion, saying that it was a matter of him or Yao, and vice versa.
He had also badmouthed Yao to his grandparents.
Now that he's grown up, he's naturally not as immature as he was when he was a child.
However, he would never call Yao "mother".
Never in this lifetime.
Yao nodded from afar, and he returned the greeting with a slight bow, exchanging polite yet distant greetings.
Logically, this awkward encounter should have ended there, but Gu Jinyu suddenly stepped down from the pavilion, came to Gu Changqing, curtsied, and said, "Brother, good morning."
"Good morning." Gu Changqing replied indifferently.
Gu Jinyu seemed completely unconcerned, and with a sweet smile, she asked, "Big brother, my birthday is in a few days. Will you be back at the manor that day?"
Before Gu Changqing could speak, Gu Jinyu added, "The Empress said she would come too, and I hope my elder brother can come as well."
Looking into those eyes that were smiling but couldn't hide their unease, Gu Changqing didn't refuse outright as usual: "I'll come back when I have time."
Gu Jinyu smiled and said, "Thank you, brother!"
Gu Changqing said coldly, "Don't thank me too soon, I might not have time."
After saying that, he brushed past Gu Jinyu and left without looking back.
Gu Jinyu thought to herself, "It seems that not being my mother's child has actually made my elder brother less angry with me."
Before returning to Beijing, she was worried that her background would be exposed and she would be looked down upon by the world, but that was not the case.
Consort Shu liked her because of her talent, and the old lady liked her because Consort Shu also liked her. What does it matter whether she is her father's biological child?
Once she becomes a county princess and has her elder brother's doting affection, who will dare to look down on her in the future?
Oh, and Prince An.
Last time I went to the palace, I was so focused on helping the Fifth Prince with his questions that I forgot to mention Prince An.
This coming-of-age banquet is a perfect opportunity to meet Prince An!
After their walk, Gu Jinyu found Lord Gu and shared her thoughts with him.
Lord Gu was surprised: "What? Send an invitation to Prince An? Isn't that inappropriate? We're not familiar with Prince An."
He dared not try to establish a relationship with Prince An just because he had taken in Prince An and his sister for a few nights.
Putting aside the interests and relationships between the various powers, Prince An alone is someone he is not worthy of associating with.
The old Marquis might have that kind of influence, after all, he had military merits, but he wasn't his father.
Gu Jinyu said confidently, "Father, you believe in your daughter, the Prince will definitely come."
Marquis Gu couldn't resist his daughter's persistent pleading, and on a whim, he sent the invitation to Prince An!
(End of this chapter)
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