Chapter 75: 75 True or False
The Prime Minister's Darling
âDashunâs father, would you actually say something? What should we do now?â In distress, Zhouâs was like an ant on a hot pan. When asked who in the Gu family had treated Gu Jiao the worst, the answer would either be from the Wu Family or her.
Of course, the Liao Family wasnât all roses but Gu Xiaoshun often drew away half of the ire intended for the Liao Family. Liu was the one who punished Gu Xiaoshun the harshest.
Thereâs a saying, âAnger gives rise to evil thoughts, plunging one into extreme despair.â When a person is pushed to their limit by anger or fear, they can do anything to protect themselves.
At that moment, Gu Changhai made a bold decision: âLet Yueâe go.â
âWhat?â Zhouâs was stunned.
Both the Wu Family and Gu Changlu couple was stunned too.
Did they hear this incorrectly? Gu Changhai, the master of the first house, wants to substitute his daughter for Jiaoâs mother?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âBig brother, thatâs unacceptable!â Gu Changlu was the first to object.
Ignoring the guilt that came with betraying the third house, he lacked the courage to make such a ruthless move.
Liu wasnât thrilled either. It was not her daughter who would become the marquisâ daughter. She would gain no benefits but would have to live in fear because of the first house, which she would rather not do!
Neither Wuâs nor Zhouâs said a word. One was Yueâeâs wet nurse, and the other was her mother; both stood to benefit directly from this.
Furthermore, neither of them lacked courage.
Gu Changhai began to persuade the second house: âBrother, sister-in-law, if youâre not considering for yourselves, wonât you think for Ershun? Ershun is also a smart child, itâs just that Dashun was born first, and our family couldnât afford to educate two children at once, hence Ershun was put on hold. If Yueâe goes to the Marquis House, Iâll definitely have her bring Ershun to the Capital City to study! Given Ershunâs intelligence, wouldnât he make a name for himself there?â
This statement struck a chord with Liu.
Liu had always dreamed of riding on Ershunâs coat-tails. She was confident that Ershun could make it big; it was just that the opportunities had all been taken by Gu Dashun!
Gu Changhai continued, âJinyu, the daughter of the third house, is not related to us and we canât rely on her. Moreover, she might be sent back by the Marquisâ Residence! Donât expect the Marquisâ Residence to compensate us with a sum of money. Theyâve also raised a daughter for the third house, so we donât owe each other anything! If any debt exists, itâs what we owe them! Every year, how much does the Marquisâ Residence spend on the third houseâs daughter, and how much do we spend on Jiaoniang? If we really calculate, donât we still have to pay them?â
Hearing this, the change on the faces of the couple from the second house was immediate.
Gu Changhai continued, âBut as long as Yueâe is over there, and says good things about us, wouldnât the Marquisâ Residence be willing to accommodate us? Yueâe is the child that you watched grow up; donât you understand her temperament? Sheâs the closest to her second aunt!â
Liu straightened her back.
Truth be told, the relationship between Yueâe and Liu wasnât particularly intimate, but because Yueâe was obedient, diligent, and gentle, Liu didnât dislike her, and they had never argued before.
Zhouâs quickly chimed in, âYes, she always tells me that she likes her second aunt the most! She even says that her second aunt is beautiful! Much better than me!â
Under normal circumstances, Zhouâs would never admit that Liu was better looking than her. But right now, wasnât her task to coax Liu?
Beguiled successfully, Liu smiled shyly, âWho wouldnât like Yueâe?â
With Liu convinced, Gu Changhai turned his attention to Gu Changlu, âSecond brother, I know that you dislike farming and prefer doing business. Therefore, once Yueâe reaches the Marquis Residence, let her buy you the best shop in the town. You can sell whatever you want!â
Suddenly, Gu Changlu could no longer find the words.
It was true that he felt guilty towards the third house but ⦠he truly wished to have his business.
âWhat about fatherâsâ¦â Liu began weakly.
Gu Changhai was deeply familiar with the old master. The old master might indeed be indifferent towards Gu Jiao and might disregard his daughters, but he might not be able to do such an immoral thing.
âIâll tell him later.â
Liu sneered, âYou better! And donât involve us!â
Gu Changhai grinned, âDonât worry, sister-in-law, itâs my idea. If the old master wants to blame someone, let him blame me alone.â
âWonât the Marquisâ Residence suspect anything?â asked Gu Changlu suddenly.
Gu Changhai grinned, âHow could they? Who could guess that we were so bold? Moreover, once the Marquis asked in the village that day, he wonât ask again.â
Zhouâs asked, âWhat about blood relationship analysis? Iâve heard of such a thing.â
Gu Changhai chuckled, âThatâs even easier! Yueâe is a kinswoman to the third house. At the time, let her find a way to replace the blood from the Marquis Residence with the blood of the third houseâs daughter. This would naturally fool them.â
And just like that, the family decided the fates of both Gu Jiao and Gu Yueâe, just like they had decided on Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulangâs fates long ago, without considering the will of those involved.
Gu Yueâe, sobbing, didnât want to go and become someone elseâs daughter. But no matter how Zhouâs and Liu tried to persuade her, she wouldnât listen. Gu Changhai had to slap her to subdue her.
Zhouâs changed Yueâe into decent clothes. Liu brought out the most prized jewelry she had seized from the Xun Family to adorn Gu Yueâe.
Just now, Gu Changhaiâs slap landed on Yueâeâs head, leaving no traces on her face. However, she had cried, and her eyes were swollen red.
The Gu Familyâs explanation was that the young girl was struggling to accept the fact and was a little upset.
Huang Zhong felt that this was understandable. The kindness of upbringing is always greater than the kindness of birth, and it was normal to have forged deep connections over so many years.
However, Huang Zhong didnât expect the girl who had opened the door for him to be his young mistress. Just a while ago, she was dressed even more shabbily and appeared more timid, exuding an aura of modesty.
Huang Zhong then thought of the dignified and elegant Gu Jinyu, and he couldnât help sighing.
Gu Yueâe kept crying.
Unwilling to see her in distress, Huang Zhong said, âThe Marquis is not asking you to return immediately. He only wishes to meet you today. If you really canât bear to leaveâ¦â
Wu Family quickly interrupted, âNo, no! Itâs perfectly natural for a family to reunite! Thereâs absolutely nothing that could be hard to let go. The Marquis is her biological father!â
Huang Zhong personally drew the curtains of the carriage, âMiss, please get on the carriage.â
Gu Yueâe didnât move. Wu Family urges, âGo, Yueâe⦠Uh, Jiaoniang.â
Zhouâs and Liu supported Gu Yueâe onto the carriage.
This was probably the time when Gu Yueâe received the greatest respect from her family since her birth. The whole family treated her like a Bodhisattva, yet Gu Yueâe failed to rejoice.
She didnât want to go to a strange place, and she didnât want to leave her home.
Regardless of Gu Yueâeâs feelings, her family all began to fantasise their blissful futures.
Gu Changhai urged, âItâs getting late, the sooner the better.â
If they didnât leave soon, the old master would return, and then Yueâe wouldnât be able to leave.
Unexpectedly, Huang Zhong and Gu Yueâe didnât run into the old master, but Gu Xiaoshun who was returning from the academy!
Living his carefree life, Gu Xiaoshun was on his way back, swinging his book bag as he walked.
Gu Changhai exclaimed, âWhy has Xiaoshun returned so early?â
Xiao Liulang had went to the provincial city for the examination, so Gu Xiaoshun didnât have to ride Uncle Luoâs oxcart. Walking back on his own, he was much quicker than the oxcart!
At this point, Huang Zhongâs carriage was nearly out of the village, hence Zhouâs comforted them, âItâs okay, he canât see.â
As Gu Yueâe sat in the carriage, would Xiaoshun actually have the gall to open the curtains?