Chapter 92 My Background (First Update)
Gu Jinyu felt as if she had fallen from heaven to hell overnight. Shock, fear, sadness, and the resentment of losing her parents intertwined in her heart, like a vast net trapping her completely. "Mother wants to find a time to arrange for you to meet with the Gu family..."
Yao said a lot more after that, but Gu Jinyu didn't hear a single word.
Yao gently took her hand and told her to rest well.
That night, Gu Jinyu lay on the luxurious and soft bed, experiencing sleeplessness for the first time.
A strong wind blew outside, making the branches and leaves rustle.
Gu Jinyu threw off the covers and got out of bed. She opened the door, and a gust of wind rushed in, blowing her robes and black hair.
"Oh dear! Miss, why are you out here? It's so windy! Be careful not to catch a cold!"
The maid on night duty hurriedly stepped forward to help Gu Jinyu into the house.
Gu Jinyu said calmly, "I can't sleep, I want to go for a walk."
"Ah...but it's so late..." the maid said, but seeing that Gu Jinyu had no intention of returning to her room, she swallowed her words of advice. "Then wait a moment, Miss, let me get you a cloak!"
"Mm." Gu Jinyu nodded.
The maid found a soft cloak in the wardrobe and had Gu Jinyu put it on.
Gu Jinyu looked down at the cloak she was wearing and suddenly murmured, "A dappled horse, a thousand pieces of gold, call the boy to exchange them for fine wine."
The maidservant asked in a daze, "Miss, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly reciting poetry? Are you trying to compose a poem?"
The young maid didn't understand poetry, but Yu Ru did. Unfortunately, Yu Ru was driven away by Gu Yan.
Gu Jinyu lifted a corner of the cloak and murmured, "Do you know what a thousand-gold fur coat is? This is it. Some people could not afford such a garment even if they didn't eat or drink for several lifetimes."
The young maid understood, and she said with a grin, "Of course, Miss is the daughter of a marquis! She's not comparable to those commoners outside!"
"What's your name?" Gu Jinyu asked.
“This servant is Xiaoli,” the maid replied.
After Yu Ru left, Lord Gu selected a batch of servants around Gu Jinyu, and the ones recently transferred were all unfamiliar faces.
"Are you from a nearby village?" Gu Jinyu asked again.
"Yes!" the little maid answered, her bright eyes wide.
Gu Jinyu looked her up and down: "You look younger than me. How could your family bear to let you come out and work as a maid?"
The young maid chuckled, "Miss is too kind. Being able to work as a maid in the manor is a coveted job that many people in our village would kill for! I have four sisters, and my job is the best of all!"
Gu Jinyu was taken aback: "Four sisters...do they all have to work? There are no brothers in the family?"
The maid nodded and said, "There is an older brother and a younger brother. The older brother is getting married, and we are currently earning the dowry for him. The younger brother will also get married in the future, and we will earn his share as well. However, if we both marry well, the dowry money we receive should be enough for their weddings."
There was not a trace of complaint in her tone, as if she was born to live for her brothers.
Gu Jinyu felt that her worldview had been turned upside down.
She was raised in the Marquis's mansion from a young age. She had three older brothers and one younger brother. Although her younger brother was mischievous, he only bullied her and never exploited her. All three older brothers were young and promising. Even if they didn't like their branch of the family, they never thought of sacrificing their stepsister to pave the way for them.
After listening to the maid talk about things at home, Gu Jinyu realized even more that Lord Gu and Madam Yao were the best parents in the world.
She couldn't bear to part with such good parents, nor could she give up everything in the Marquis's mansion.
The next day, Lord Gu and Madam Yao came to see her. Her eyes were swollen like two walnuts.
The maid explained, "Miss cried all night last night..."
"You may leave," said Madam Yao.
"Yes." The little maid retreated in a panic. She was worried that she had not served her mistress well and had made her sad. She didn't want to be kicked out of the manor.
Lord Gu and Madam Yao came to the bedside. Lord Gu stood by the bed, while Madam Yao sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Mother—" Gu Jinyu threw herself into Yao's arms, large tears dripping onto Yao's chest. "Don't abandon your daughter... I can't bear to leave you... I can't bear to leave Father... I don't want to leave you—"
Gu Jinyu's crying was so heartbreaking that it completely disturbed Lord Gu's peace of mind.
He said with heartache, "Silly child, when did your father and mother ever say we didn't want you? Your mother and I have already discussed it, and the decision is yours. If you want to go back—"
Gu Jinyu interrupted him, crying, "I won't go back. I want to be filial to my mother and father for the rest of my life!"
The poor child would be an orphan if she went back. Madam Yao couldn't bear it, especially after learning how much Gu Sanlang and his wife had doted on Jiaojiao. She couldn't let Jinyu suffer.
She stroked Gu Jinyu's face and said, "But even if you don't go back to the Gu family, you should still go and offer incense to your biological parents."
"Yes!" Gu Jinyu agreed with tears in her eyes.
Madam Yao nodded with relief and got up to go see Gu Yan with Lord Gu. Suddenly, Gu Jinyu grabbed her sleeve and choked up, saying, "It's all my fault. I've been taking over my sister's identity for so many years and even stole the best mother and father in the world. When my sister comes back, I will definitely treat her well and give her all the love that our parents have given me over the years!"
Mrs. Yao patted her head.
The couple then went to see Gu Yan.
Gu Yan didn't sleep a wink all night, he was as excited as a little bullfrog, croaking all night long, and Yu Ya'er was almost driven crazy by him!
The quiet, aloof young master is the cutest!
Gu Yan was so happy that he even forgot to roll his eyes at his own father.
Gu Yan said, "She likes me!"
Madam Yao looked at her son with affection: "Mother knows."
Gu Yan added, "I like her too!"
Yao smiled and nodded: "Yes."
Gu Yan sat up straight: "I'm going to find her!"
Madam Yao held her son's hand and said softly, "Give her some time to process this."
Gu Yan suppressed the turmoil churning inside him: "Hmm, okay."
The village.
Gu Jiao didn't hide her background from her family, and Xue Ningxiang was also there.
Because Gu Jiao was injured and ill, and the old lady really couldn't eat the food Xiao Liulang cooked, she called Xue Ningxiang over to help cook.
After she finished cooking, the old lady invited her to eat with Gouwa.
At the dinner table, the old lady asked about Yao Shi and Lord Gu, and Gu Jiao casually explained their identities and how she had been switched at birth.
Everyone in the room except Gouwa understood: Gu Jiao was actually Gu Jinyu, and Gu Jinyu was actually Gu Jiao; their identities had been switched.
But Gu Jiao's tone was too calm; anyone who didn't know better would think she was just saying something like, "We're having cabbage for dinner tonight."
Xue Ningxiang's jaw nearly dropped in shock. Her neighbor, whom she had known for so long, was actually the daughter of a marquis?! She was having dinner at the marquis's daughter's house?!
Xue Ningxiang felt like she could barely hold her chopsticks.
She looked at the old lady, Xiao Liulang, and Xiao Jingkong, and noticed that apart from being surprised when they heard that Gu Jiao had been switched at birth, they remained calm throughout.
Don't you all think that Jiao Niang's identity is amazing? Her father is a marquis!
The old lady said: "I once beat up the most powerful man in the entire Zhao Kingdom. What is a mere marquis compared to me!"
Xiao Liulang: A marquis of the second rank, holding only the title but no real power.
Xiao Jingkong: What kind of great guy is he who only bullies women and children? Humph!
Xue Ningxiang stared dumbfounded at the table of calm and collected neighbors: "..."
It seems she has discovered something extraordinary?
After dinner, Xue Ningxiang told Gu Jiao to go back to her room and lie down while she tidied up.
Gu Jiao was indeed still a bit weak, so she didn't argue with her, thanked her, and went back to her room.
Xue Ningxiang went to wash the dishes, Xiao Jingkong went to walk the chickens, and Xiao Liulang brewed the medicine he had caught from Huichuntang and brought it to Gu Jiao.
The door was open.
He hesitated for a moment, then gently knocked.
Gu Jiao closed the small medicine box and looked up: "What is it?"
Xiao Liulang's gaze swept over her small medicine box imperceptibly, and he said seriously, "The medicine is ready. It's for reducing fever."
"Oh." Gu Jiao pushed the small medicine box aside and reached out to take the medicine he handed her.
She didn't like drinking bitter medicine, but considering that he had personally brewed it, she gritted her teeth and drank it all.
She returned the medicine bowl to him, saying, "Thank you."
Xiao Liulang said calmly, "It's nothing."
Gu Jiao watched his retreating figure and smiled, saying, "I was referring to the medicine you applied for me last night."
Xiao Liulang's back stiffened.
When Gu Jiao woke up, she found that her wounds had been treated and that her whole body smelled of wound medicine. Not to mention, there was a strip of cloth covering her wounds on her back.
Someone who could do something so meticulously could not possibly be an old lady.
Xiao Liulang did not turn around, but he could feel her gaze, which seemed to be real, falling on his back. He couldn't help but think of her bare back and the rounded shape pressed out by her body.
Seeing these things when you're young and full of vigor is really maddening.
Xiao Liulang's throat went dry for a moment. He composed himself and said in a serious tone, "It's nothing."
Having said that, he took the empty medicine bowl and went out clumsily!
Watching his hasty retreating figure, Gu Jiao murmured, "Looks like I saw quite a lot."
Today, Xue Ningxiang applied the medicine for Gu Jiao.
The door was actually closed, but Xiao Liulang still felt uneasy looking at the tightly closed door, so he simply grabbed a bucket and went to the village entrance to fetch water.
Gu Jiao was halfway through applying the medicine when someone knocked on the door.
"I'll go see." Xue Ningxiang put down the wound medicine, walked out of Gu Jiao's room, closed the door for Gu Jiao, and then opened the main room door. She looked at the middle-aged man with a refined air in front of her and asked, "Who are you?"
Dean Li smiled and said, "I am the dean of Tianxiang Academy. My surname is Li. May I ask if this is Xiao Liulang's home?"
Upon hearing that this was where Xiao Liulang studied, Xue Ningxiang quickly and politely said, "Oh, it's the headmaster! Are you looking for Liulang? He went to fetch water! Oh? Didn't you see him when you came from the village entrance?"
Dean Li's carriage stopped at the village entrance, but he walked over. It was getting dark, so he didn't pay much attention.
Xue Ningxiang said, "Wait a minute, I'll go find him!"
Dean Li suddenly stopped Xue Ningxiang: "Um... excuse me, is Jiaoniang here?"
Xue Ningxiang tilted her head: "Hmm?"
Gu Jiao invited Dean Li into the main room and poured him a bowl of brewed herbal tea.
These past few days, Xiao Jingkong has been suffering from a bit of internal heat, so Gu Jiao picked some houttuynia cordata from the mountains that she had bought, boiled it in water, and gave it to him to drink.
Dean Li had never tasted such terrible tea before, but he still forced himself to finish the whole bowl.
Seeing how much he liked it, Gu Jiao poured him another big bowl.
Dean Li, unable to refuse such a kind offer: "..."
After downing three large bowls in a row, Gu Jiao shook the teapot and said, "Hmm? That's all."
Dean Li, who almost vomited from drinking: Thank goodness, it's all over now!
Gu Jiao asked politely, "Did the Dean come here today for some special reason?"
“You’ve visited my mother many times, and I haven’t had a chance to properly thank you.” Dean Li said, handing the bundle in his hand to Gu Jiao. “The peach tree in the backyard has fruit, and my mother asked me to bring some for you.”
Gu Jiao took the bundle: "Thank you, Madam."
Dean Li said gently, "My mother is getting old and sometimes doesn't even know how many sons she has, but she always remembers you."
"How many?" Gu Jiao looked at him strangely.
"Ah." Dean Li blurted out his family affairs in a moment of carelessness. He smiled awkwardly, "I have four older brothers. I am my mother's youngest child."
No wonder Dean Li is not yet forty, while Madam Li is already in her eighties.
“My brothers are all in the capital; I haven’t seen them for many years.” Dean Li didn’t say anything more.
Gu Jiao didn't ask any more questions.
Dean Li said, "There's another matter I've come to discuss today, concerning Liu Lang."
Gu Jiao: "What's wrong with my husband?"
Dean Li: "You must have heard that he passed the imperial examination, but there is another matter that I don't know if you know—he originally had the opportunity to become a top scholar, but someone bribed the examiner to change his exam paper, causing him to submit a blank paper in the third exam."
Gu Jiao's gaze turned cold.
This is the ancient imperial examination, and people still cheated.
Dean Li continued, "The matter of retaking the exam is of great importance. I don't know why he didn't retake it. Perhaps he was unwilling, or perhaps the government intervened."
He had a student working at the Imperial Examination Hall in Heijō Prefecture, which allowed him to find out some information, but not all of it.
Dean Li asked, "Did he mention this to you?"
Gu Jiao shook her head: "No."
“His personality isn’t strange; he keeps everything to himself,” Dean Li said. “I asked him about it afterward, but he wouldn’t say. Not passing the minor three-crown exam isn’t really a big deal. As long as you pass the county-level exam, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in the provincial-level exam, and that’s when the real test begins.”
Gu Jiao: "But?"
With the atmosphere built up to this point, it would be outrageous not to do something special.
Dean Li sighed and said, "He doesn't seem very willing to take the provincial examination."
After thinking for a moment, he corrected himself, "No, he didn't react much when I mentioned the provincial examination, but his face darkened when I mentioned that he would have to go to the capital for the imperial examination after the provincial examination. I don't know if this is accurate, but it seems that he didn't study hard in the past just to avoid having to go to the capital for the imperial examination."
Don't you want to go to Beijing?
Gu Jiao stroked her chin, lost in thought.
Dean Li went to Gu Jiao's house to find out what was going on, but he didn't get much out of her and left disappointed.
He truly didn't want such a promising talent to be wasted in a small village.
Lost in thought, Dean Li bumped into Gouwa, who had rolled out of the yard.
Gouwa rolled down from the haystack, and it was lucky that he hit someone and stopped, otherwise he would have rolled into the puddle.
Dean Li quickly scooped the little guy up from the ground and patted the dust off him: "Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?"
Gouwa stared at him with his big, dark eyes wide open.
Gouwa is teething lately, and he's drooling a lot. While drooling, he looked at Dean Li with a bewildered expression, then suddenly opened his little mouth and called out in a clear voice, "Dad!"
Dean Li shuddered!
Xue Ningxiang, who had just come out of Gu Jiao's courtyard, also trembled!
Gouwa is learning to talk; he calls any woman he sees "mother," but he hasn't called her "father" yet, since he doesn't have one.
Xue Ningxiang felt so embarrassed that she wished she could find a hole to bury Gouwa and herself in!
She quickly walked over, picked up the puppy, and said awkwardly, "I'm sorry, the child is just being silly, please don't take offense."
Dean Li smiled and said, "Oh, it's nothing."
Xue Ningxiang hurriedly picked up Gouwa and took him away, but Gouwa turned his head and called out "Dad" to Dean Li.
Xue Ningxiang was so ashamed and indignant that she almost cried.
Kid, even if your dad isn't dead, he couldn't possibly be the dean!
What are they and what are you?
Where did this ability to blindly claim any father come from?
Calling you "Dog Boy" really gives you the guts of a dog!
Xue Ningxiang carried her son and fled back to the house as if she were running away. She closed the door, bolted it, and went all out!
Dean Li shook his head with amusement.
father?
He'll probably never be a father in his lifetime...
After Xue Ningxiang carried her son back to the house, she put him on the bed and sternly corrected him: "Gouwa, you don't have a father."
Gouwa: "Dad."
Xue Ningxiang: "Not my father!"
"father."
Xue Ningxiang: "I told you I don't have a father! Don't call me father! I don't have one!"
The puppy crawled out, calling out, "Dad."
Xue Ningxiang is going crazy because of her son!
If you keep blindly claiming fathers, I'm turning your father in the sand!
Xue Ningxiang was so angry that she shook the pillow. As she shook it, something hard fell out and hit the stool with a thud.
Xue Ningxiang picked up the object, initially unable to recall it, and after pondering for a long time, she frowned: "Huh? Isn't this..."
(End of this chapter)
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