He put a piece of candy into Gu Jingchun's mouth.
"Mommy will be happy if she eats candy."
As she spoke, she pouted and kissed Gu Jingchun on the cheek.
The sweet candy melted in his mouth, and Gu Jingchun's heart melted. The slight unpleasantness he felt because of the Gu family completely dissipated.
After that day, everything remained calm, as if her words had some effect, and no one bothered her anymore.
Gu Jingchun heard that Gu Nansheng had been furious and had punished several servants.
But this action not only did not change anything, but it also made the rumors more and more intense. After all, the more you try to silence people, the more people will be unable to resist asking questions.
In those corners unknown to Gu Nansheng, the news was spreading secretly and rapidly.
His seemingly ordinary actions with Gu Yunjin were also observed by those with ulterior motives, and then continuously processed and fermented, eventually causing a huge uproar.
Of course, that's a story for another time.
But this was something Gu Jingchun could have foreseen.
But you can't make promises you can't keep.
That evening, Chu Qianlan arrived at Gu Jingchun's courtyard.
This was the first time she had come to Gu Jingchun's courtyard since he returned.
She remembered that the courtyard had been abandoned for many years and was rumored to be haunted, so much so that even the servants in the mansion were unwilling to go near it.
She had expected it to be a desolate and gloomy place, but when she opened the door, she was surprised to find a place filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers.
The courtyard is filled with various plants, flowers, rockeries, and pavilions, arranged in a pleasing and harmonious manner.
The courtyard is exquisitely designed, with every corner a delight to behold.
Chu Qianlan was a person who liked to indulge in refined pursuits, and once she stepped into this courtyard, she couldn't tear herself away.
She dared to say that of all the banquets she had attended at high-society gatherings, none of the courtyards could compare to the exquisite beauty of Gu Jingchun's.
She wandered around the courtyard for a while, until a maid reminded her, then she reluctantly turned her gaze away and went into the room.
The room's decorations were even more exquisite than I expected.
The furnishings above seem to be no different from those in other parts of the mansion.
However, Gu Jingchun's swaying added a touch of artistic conception, making people's eyes light up and giving off a sense of sophistication.
Gu Jingchun was sitting on the soft couch in front of her. When she saw Chu Qianlan coming over, she did not get up, but just asked a question casually.
"What brings you here today, Mother?"
Chu Qianlan was displeased with Gu Jingchun's attitude and wanted to lash out, but she held back because she remembered the purpose of her visit.
"Nothing much, I just came to keep you company."
She sat down beside Gu Jingchun, took her hand, and whispered:
“I have investigated the matter that day and found that your mother wronged you. I hope you will not blame your mother.”
Hmph, bullshit!
If the truth were truly known, why would she be so calm? It's probably just a way to appease her.
Gu Jingchun knew perfectly well what was going on. She withdrew her hand and replied calmly:
"Mother, you're exaggerating. You and I are only related by blood, and we don't really know each other. It's better to keep our distance, so there's nothing to complain about."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qianlan sobbed softly for a few moments, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief, and said, "Mother knows that you are still resentful towards me."
“I blame myself for neglecting you all these years, making you suffer so much in that remote mountain village.”
"But I... but how could I have known that Yun Jin was not my biological child?"
Chu Qianlan burst into tears.
"I know you resent her, but how is this her fault?"
"Eighteen years! Jingchun, your mother has raised Yunjin as you for eighteen years! After all, it's been eighteen years of being together, how could your mother easily let go of her?"
She said this and grasped Gu Jingchun's hand again.
Gu Jingchun quickly withdrew his hand and said coldly, "Mother, you might as well just tell me what you want me to do. I don't have time to listen to your mother-daughter sentimentality."
Chu Qianlan paused, her expression turning rather unpleasant.
"I didn't expect you to do anything. Mother just feels indebted to you and wants to make amends."
"Oh?" Gu Jingchun smiled smugly.
"Since that's the case, I'm currently short of money and need ten thousand taels of silver. I wonder if Mother can help me with that?"
Chu Qianlan was shocked.
What do you need so many silver notes for?
"I'm not doing anything. I've been poor for so long and haven't seen so much money before. I'm just keeping it for myself."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qianlan breathed a sigh of relief and began to earnestly persuade him.
“Jingchun, you are still young. Let’s not even talk about whether you can handle so much money. You’ve just arrived in Tiandu and are unfamiliar with the place. If you take so much money, it will definitely attract some people with ulterior motives.”
Gu Jingchun gave a mocking smile.
“My mother even said she wanted to make it up to me, but you wouldn’t give her any money when she asked for it.”
If she remembered correctly, the last time she went to Gu Yunjin's room, there was a blue jade inkstone from Nantian on her bookshelf.
That inkstone alone is worth more than ten thousand taels of silver, not to mention the other various valuable ornaments.
Chu Qianlan blushed at what was said and changed her words:
"Your mother is also worried about you."
If you are truly short of money, your mother will send you three thousand taels tomorrow to take first. If it's not enough later, just let your mother know, and she will naturally send you more.
"Okay." Gu Jingchun nodded.
Free money is free, so why not take it?
Seeing that the groundwork had been laid, Chu Qianlan finally revealed the purpose of her visit.
“Jingchun, look at Yunjin, she’s in poor health and has been living a life of luxury all these years. It would definitely not be right for her to marry into the Third Prince’s household.”
But you, with the resilience you've developed over the years, will surely be able to…”
Gu Jingchun sneered upon hearing this, directly interrupting Chu Qianlan.
"Mrs. Gu just said that I grew up in the countryside all these years and don't know the rules."
Now what's happened? She's suddenly become someone with a resilient nature, raised outside the palace. Isn't Mother afraid I'll be unruly and offend the Third Prince, thus bringing trouble to the Marquis's mansion?"
Chu Qianlan shook her head.
"The Third Prince..."
Chu Qianlan paused for a moment, then, realizing that Gu Jingchun was unaware of the Third Prince's true situation, she quickly changed her story.
"No, the Third Prince is gentle and kind. You'll be living a life of luxury if you marry into his family. How could you possibly offend him?"
Gu Jingchun sneered, her mind involuntarily recalling the Third Prince's tyrannical appearance. His obese body was like a balloon, and the whip that kept flying down on her body.
His狰狞 smile and the cold eyes of his servants are still her nightmares.
Thinking of this, Gu Jingchun's tone became colder.
"Mother's words are so contradictory. Just now you said that Yun Jin's health was not good and she couldn't endure this hardship, but how come it's considered a blessing for me?"
Chu Qianlan felt awkward for a moment, then stopped explaining, stood up abruptly, and said angrily:
"Why are you still so stubborn, child? Would your mother ever harm you?"
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