161 Best Plan
Emperor Taizu's handwritten letter was important. It would be best if they could get it, but it was not pertinent.
To them, the throne was of utmost importance.
"Cousin, I understand."
Chu You stood against the wind with a long sword at his waist. His long green eyelashes were covered, and there was a faint shadow in his pupils that spread bit by bit.
"T-t-t-t…"
There was a rush of hooves in the forest on the other side. At least eight or nine people were galloping this way.
The hunting stage was located high above, and Chu You could see it clearly at a glance.
The people who had gone hunting in the forest had returned!
The sun was already setting, showering the forest with golden light. The evening light filled the sky.
The young masters who had gone out to hunt returned from the hunting ground one after another and gathered in this empty space.
Their return made the surroundings even livelier.
The others gathered around to see their catch. More game was piled on the ground, and a few of the imperial guards began to count and record it.
The champion of the day was finally won by Fifth Young Master Yu of the Jianwei General's Manor, attracting countless envious gazes and a wave of enthusiastic applause.
Under the burning gazes of the young masters, Chu Yi bestowed the pocket watch and encouraged him.
Immediately after, Baili Yin instructed the middle-aged State of Yue man with a missing eyebrow to hand the Persian scimitar to Fifth Young Master Yu and said a few polite words.
"Thank you, Third Prince Baili, for the scimitar." After the Fifth Young Master Yu took the curved scimitar with both hands, and cupped his hands at Baili Yin.
His etiquette was appropriate. He did not lose his poise, nor did he show any signs of being flattered.
Originally, this Persian scimitar was considered a rare item. The blade could blow fur and cut hair. There were many precious gems embedded in the scabbard, but it was inferior to the pocket watch given by Chu Yi.
After all, although scimitars were rare, they were not hard to obtain. It was just a matter of spending some money.
Fifth Young Master Yu casually played with the scimitar twice before putting it on his waist and retreating.
His right hand held the enamel silver pocket watch solemnly, and his eyes sparkled.
This pocket watch was different. There were only so many people who owned one in the entire Great Jin, not even his father!
As soon as Fifth Young Master Yu walked out of the shed, the young masters waiting outside surged towards him like a tide and surrounded him.
"Fifth Brother Yu, show me your pocket watch."
"Show me first, Fifth Brother Yu. The last time I got a century-old good wine, you were the first person I thought of."
"Go away. I'm still his biological cousin."
"…"
The young masters all squeezed over and fought to talk non-stop, wanting to broaden their horizons.
Looking at these noisy youths, the smile on Baili Yin's lips froze for a moment.
Then, he returned to normal and revealed a curious smile. He said to Chu Yi with emotion, "Young Master Yi, I heard that you're a god from the heavens and have made many good things. It's rare for me to come to your country. I wonder if I will be lucky enough to see the pocket watch?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a State of Yue person in his 20s quickly entered the shed and bent down to whisper to Baili Yin.
The middle-aged man beside him pricked up his ears and vaguely heard the words "Xia Houqing" floating over.
Xia Houqing?! The middle-aged man looked terrified and could not help but look at Baili Yin.
"…" Baili Yin pursed his thin lips tightly, and his expression gradually became solemn.
Even when he had lost to Chu Yi in public during the tiger hunt, he had never lost his composure like this.
The young masters were still playing and pushing each other. Lu Shi seemed to be smiling as he went to talk to Chu Yi. "Your Highness, let's come for the spring hunt next year, okay? I'll definitely be the champion next time."
Lu Shi looked at Chu Yi eagerly. He was just short of asking if the Eldest Prince could take out another pocket watch as a prize next time.
Hearing this, the other young masters also looked expectant.
Chu Yi did not agree or object. He said meaningfully, "Emperor Taizu said that opportunities are reserved for the prepared."
He smiled gently and elegantly without looking at Baili Yin.
Baili Yin clenched his fists and quickly suppressed the emotions in his heart. He looked at Chu Yi with a smile and said in a clear voice as if nothing had happened, "Young Master Yi, it's getting late today…"
"Indeed." Only then did Chu Yi look at Baili Yin and follow his words. "It's getting late. We should return to the capital."
Hence, Chu Yi waved, and everyone stood up to send him off.
Once they left, the descendants of the aristocratic families could not stay any longer. They could not wait to get into the carriages, and the huge convoy set off majestically.
Wei Jiaoniang and Lu Qin did not want to go with the women of the aristocratic families, so they shouted for Gu Yanfei to stay behind and play with the shuttlecock for a while.
At dusk, the sky suddenly became gloomy. Dark clouds filled the sky, and the sky was as dark as if night had arrived early.
"God, the weather changed so quickly."
Afraid that it would snow, Wei Jiaoniang called for the girls to set off quickly.
They were all worried about being drenched by the rain, so they rode as fast as they could.
Even so, they did not manage to dodge it. On the way, it did not rain but it snowed.
In an instant, the goose feather-like snowflakes floated down densely, covering the sky and earth. The sky turned silver…
The wind was strong, and the snow was heavy.
They had only traveled a few miles when a thin layer of snow accumulated on the way.
Worst of all, the snow was still getting heavier.
...
Gu Yanfei stroked Hongyu's neck comfortingly. Hongyu raised its neck confidently and called out twice, as if to say, "Don't worry."
Good horse! Gu Yanfei stroked it again.
She frowned slightly and looked around. The snow was too heavy…
It was too dark, and the snow would block their vision. Furthermore, they were all riding horses. If they were not careful and their hooves skidded on the snow, the consequences would be unimaginable!
They could not continue on their way.
162 Old Friend
Gu Yanfei's eyebrows twitched. She remembered that the eldest branch had a farm nearby, so she suggested, "Jiaoniang, I think the snow will fall for at least a few more hours. My family has a farm two miles away. Let's go there to hide from the snow first."
The girls perked up and agreed.
Although they were all wearing cloaks and hoods to block the snow, the wind and snow were too strong now. Everyone's faces, bodies, and hands were more or less stained with snow. Their bangs were also messed up by the wind, and they looked slightly disheveled.
Everyone immediately changed course and took a path to the left. The hooves left clear hoof prints in the soft snow.
!
Suddenly, Gu Yanfei, who was leading the way, stopped her horse without any warning. She looked at the wild grass by the roadside and raised her hand to make a "stop" gesture.
Hence, Wei Jiaoniang, Lu Qin, and the others also stopped their horses.
A few feet ahead, lying motionless on the side of the road, was a rust-colored figure. This person was slightly bloated, and her body was covered in snow.
"There's someone there!"
Lu Qin was the first to point over and shout.
The girls were in an uproar. They quickly urged their horses forward and surrounded the person on the ground.
The accompanying maidservants dismounted to investigate. Two of them worked together to flip the prone figure over and gently pat the snow off her face, body, and head.
It was an old woman in her 50s. She was wearing a rust-colored dark-striped cotton jacket. Her pale face was slightly green from the cold, her face was wrinkled, and her eyes were closed.
There was a pool of blinding blood on her white hair.
"It's an old woman," a maidservant reported in bewilderment. Her face was pale, and her palm was stained with the old woman's blood. "She's unconscious and has an injury to her head."
Gu Yanfei got off the horse and carefully checked the wound on the old woman's head. When she touched it, she felt a sticky sensation unique to blood. The back of the old woman's head was slightly swollen, and there was a wound the size of a baby's fist where blood was oozing out.
The other girls were talking at once.
"Why would this old lady fall here alone? Did she encounter robbers on the way?"
"Definitely not. Look at the silver hairpin on her head. If this was a robbery, they would have looted her."
"That's true."
"…"
The few of them were discussing heatedly. Wei Jiaoniang and Lu Qin quietly looked at each other with thoughtful eyes.
The old woman's clothes were neither new nor old. They were clean and without patches. She did not look like a poor commoner, but she was definitely not from a rich family.
Looking at the silver hairpin in her bun, the silver ring on her finger, and the clean handkerchief peeking out of one cuff, she did not look like an old lady from a small family. Instead, she looked more like a servant from a large family.
The two of them exchanged a look. Lu Qin leaned over and glanced at the old woman's wound. "She's quite seriously injured…" she asserted.
Whoever it was had been clearly trying to kill her!
Now that the weather was cold and it was snowing, if they left her alone, it could be imagined that if this old woman lay here for a night, she would definitely be dead.
"Let's bring her to the manor first." Gu Yanfei stood up and wiped the blood from her hand with a handkerchief.
"Then let her ride with me." Wei Jiaoniang couldn't wait to volunteer herself. She patted her chest confidently and said, "My riding skills are good, so it won't be a problem to bring another person."
Receiving Wei Jiaoniang's gaze, Gu Yanfei smiled and instructed Juan Bi to carry the old woman onto Wei Jiaoniang's horse.
Juan Bi had always been nimble. She easily carried the old woman off the ground and onto Wei Jiaoniang's horse.
Everyone quickly got back on their horses and continued on their way against the cold wind and snow.
Along the way, they finally arrived at their destination before the sky turned completely dark.
"That's it!"
Gu Yanfei pointed at the manor path in front of her from afar. Her small face hidden in the hood was filled with nostalgia.
In her previous life, she had been to this farmstead in the suburbs of the capital.
She had originally thought that after they split up, she could bring her brother to stay here. For this, she had even personally come to decorate the place.
At that time, because of her brother's leg injury, it was not convenient for him to walk, so she removed all the thresholds in this farmstead. There were also slopes added to the stone steps to make it easier for the wheelchair to pass.
She had set up a study and workshop for her eldest brother and herself. Her eldest brother was very skilled and even knew how to make a wheelchair.
She also got someone to draw the hot spring water over and made a hot spring pool. She also dug a pond beside the field behind the manor and planned to plant lotuses. Not only could she admire the lotuses, but she could also eat lotus seeds and dig lotus roots…
163 Old Friend
The farmstead was large and open. There were fields, rivers, and mountains that made it self-sufficient.
After 200 years, when she was in this familiar and unfamiliar environment, memories rushed back.
She had planned it well, but in the end…
Things didn't go as planned.
The girls reined in their horses in front of the farmstead. The horses neighed with a cold breath of air.
Juan Bi was the first to dismount and knock on the door.
When the steward of the manor heard that it was his lady, he was overjoyed. He quickly brought people to welcome her, and the manor door opened.
This area was remote, and not many people usually came. Today, so many delicate guests came at once, shocking the entire manor.
Gu Yanfei instructed the steward of the manor to send people to the various prefectures in the capital to inform them so that Wei Jiaoniang and the others' families would not worry.
Then, she got someone to move the old woman to the east wing.
Lu Qin and the other girls were summoned to the hall to sit down. The maidservants accompanying them also went to help boil water.
Only Wei Jiaoniang followed Gu Yanfei to the inner room of the east wing. The unconscious old woman was moved to a couch by a few servants.
When she first discovered the old woman on the way, Gu Yanfei had only roughly checked her injuries. Now that there was a place to settle down, she carefully checked her pulse and asked Juan Bi to check her limbs and torso.
The other parts of the old woman's body were uninjured. Only the back of her head had been struck by something hard enough to cause this fatal wound.
By now, the scalp wound had stopped bleeding and was even showing signs of healing.
"Not bad." Gu Yanfei smiled and looked at Wei Jiaoniang.
Wei Jiaoniang raised her chin proudly and winked at Gu Yanfei.
After Gu Yanfei taught her the Disease Removal Talisman, Wei Jiaoniang had long wanted to find an opportunity to give it a try, but she could not cut herself before treating it… This was too stupid.
Just now, when she was on the road with the old woman, she had been drawing Disease Removal Talismans repeatedly.
Even if it only succeeded once out of 10, the effect was not bad, and the bleeding had stopped.
Gu Yanfei looked at her and smiled. The two of them exchanged a tacit secret.
Yes, I'm amazing! Wei Jiaoniang was so happy that her tail was about to curl up.
As long as the bleeding stopped, the wound would not be a problem. Gu Yanfei instructed, "Juan Bi, get someone to get some cold water to clean the wound, and get some clean white cloth."
Juan Bi left, and a moment later, she led a delicate-looking servant in her 30s. Juan Bi carried a rough cloth and scissors, while the other servant carried a basin of water.
The servant approached the bed with a basin of water. When she saw the person on the bed, she was suddenly stunned and blurted out, "It's Granny Pang!"
"You know her?" Gu Yanfei raised her eyebrows.
"Yes." As the servant placed the basin on the bedside table, her gaze kept drifting to Granny Pang. After a while, she came back to her senses and nodded. "Miss, Granny Pang is the late Madam's wet nurse."
This farmstead was Madam Xie's dowry. The people inside were all attendants brought over by Madam Xie, so they naturally recognized her wet nurse.
The servant hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Granny Pang made a mistake a few years ago and was chased out of the Marquis Mansion. It was said that… she treated the Third Lady poorly."
Thinking of Gu Yunrong's identity, she looked a little hesitant.
"…" Gu Yanfei blinked and was slightly stunned.
Mother's wet nurse?
Now that she said it, she had a vague impression.
In her previous life, around the Spring Festival, a person who claimed to be her mother's wet nurse came to the Marquis Mansion to pay her respects. However, by the time she found out, it was already too late, and she had long been sent away.
By the way, at that time, the servants called her Granny Pang.
But later, she never heard from Granny Pang again.
Counting the days in her previous life, Granny Pang seemed to have only come to the Marquis Mansion in these few days.
Gu Yanfei's black eyes were so deep that they could not be seen. She stared fixedly at the unconscious Granny Pang and felt a complicated feeling in her heart. She could not tell if she was disappointed or sad.
After sitting quietly for two breaths, she asked the servant to cook some ginger soup for Lu Qin and the others.
The servant responded repeatedly. After bowing a little restrainedly, she hurriedly retreated.
Juan Bi followed Gu Yanfei's instructions and cleaned the area around Granny Pang's wound with cold water. She applied some ointment and finally bandaged it with a white cloth.
"Juan Bi, find someone to take good care of her first. She…" Gu Yanfei glanced at the pot. "She'll wake up at about a quarter past eight."
After saying this, she affectionately took Wei Jiaoniang's arm and went to the hall in the front courtyard.
At this moment, Gu Yanfei's emotions had already returned to normal. She smiled as if nothing had happened.
Outside, the snow fluttered. All she could see was whiteness and thickening snow.
Lu Qin and the other girls had already drunk the ginger soup. They looked satisfied and smiled.
With a place to shelter them from the wind and snow, they were all at ease. They drank tea and ate snacks. The worst case scenario was that they would spend the night on this farmstead.
Seeing Gu Yanfei and Wei Jiaoniang come hand in hand, the girls put down their cups and asked with concern,
"How are the old lady's injuries?"
"Did you hire a doctor?"
Wei Jiaoniang tugged at Gu Yanfei's sleeve and replied evasively, "She's fine. This time, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-floor pagoda."
She hurriedly changed the subject in the next sentence. "I'm hungry. What's good?"
When the girls heard that the injured person was fine, they were relieved. Lu Qin was the first to say, "This plum blossom cake is not bad. It's soft and delicious!"
"And this pine nut is also very sweet."
...
"…"
The girls chatted and laughed, filling the hall with bustling activity. Even the howling snow outside the hall was suppressed.
The snow finally showed signs of easing.
The carriages of the various manors arrived at the manor one after another. Only the Dingyuan Marquis Household had not arrived.
164 Retribution
Juan Bi frowned and sent someone to the entrance of the manor to check on the situation. She muttered angrily, "I clearly sent someone to pass a message to the Marquis Mansion."
She said it very softly, but Wei Jiaoniang still heard her.
Wei Jiaoniang frowned and suggested, "Yanfei, come with me."
This time, they had to use a special carriage on a snowy day. Otherwise, they would easily slip on the road. Wei Jiaoniang was worried about Gu Yanfei taking an ordinary carriage back to the capital.
"No." Gu Yanfei refused. She looked in the direction of the east wing and said faintly, "My mother's wet nurse was injured for some reason. I'm a little worried…"
She stopped there.
Although Wei Jiaoniang was carefree, she still understood at a glance that Granny Pang's injury was most likely related to some shameful private matters.
Thinking that this was the Gu family's manor, Wei Jiaoniang did not force her. She stood up and said, "Yanfei, I'll leave first then."
Not long after Wei Jiaoniang left, the snow began to fall again.
Snowflakes fell in large patches with the cold wind, like willow catkins. The red plum trees in the courtyard were not afraid of the wind and snow and bloomed proudly.
After washing up, Gu Yanfei rested her chin on one hand and sat by the window to look at the snow. Her black hair was casually tied up with a ribbon, and she looked relaxed.
"Second Lady, this is the longan and red date soup that has just been brewed in the kitchen." The servant smiled and brought over a bowl of steaming soup. "There are also honey dates in it. Madam used to like it too."
As Madam Xie's companion, the people in the manor were naturally close to Gu Yanfei. After spending nearly two hours together and seeing that the girl had a good personality, this servant also completely relaxed.
Gu Yanfei slowly drank the sugar water. She had only drank half a bowl when the servant, who had just gone out, returned and respectfully reported, "Miss, Granny Pang is awake."
Juan Bi looked at the pot beside her and smiled brightly. Previously, her lady had said that Granny Pang would wake up at a quarter to eight. She had indeed woken up at this time. Her lady was really amazing!
Gu Yanfei wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and stood up.
Juan Bi was afraid that she would catch a cold, so she quickly draped a cloak over her.
The snow was still falling outside. Gu Yanfei went to the east wing from the corridor.
A yellow oil lamp was lit in the east wing. The light was dim, and the servant reminded her cautiously, "Miss, watch your step."
Granny Pang was sitting on the couch with a large welcome pillow stuffed into her lower back. Her head was still wrapped in several circles of white cloth, making her look haggard and weak.
She had just woken up and was still in a daze as she looked in Gu Yanfei's direction.
Her eyes suddenly widened, as if she had been struck by lightning. She was stunned and stared fixedly at Gu Yanfei, as if she was missing someone through her. She muttered, "Yes, they really look alike…"
There was nostalgia in her turbid, old eyes. There was sadness, grief, and sorrow.
Tears quickly flowed from Granny Pang's eyes as she asked carefully, "You… you're the girl Madam gave birth to?"
Her voice was weak and trembling.
Actually, she knew without asking. She could tell at a glance that the girl in front of her looked too much like the late Madam.
She subconsciously raised her right hand and wanted to touch Gu Yanfei's face, but she was afraid that it was too rash, so she quickly lowered her hand.
Gu Yanfei sat down on a chair by the couch and nodded with a smile.
"Miss…" Granny Pang tried to get up and kowtow, but Gu Yanfei pressed her back to the bed.
"Don't move." Gu Yanfei's voice was neither loud or soft, but it was unquestionable.
Granny Pang was still staring at Gu Yanfei with a burning gaze. Her eyes were red as she grabbed the thin blanket tightly and cursed angrily, "How dare Mother Su?!"
"Madam has never treated Mother Su badly… Mother Su actually dared to violate her master as a slave and do such a heartless thing! What a heartless woman!"
When she was angry, the back of her head ached. She frowned and took several deep breaths before she recovered.
After scolding Mother Su, Granny Pang began to blame herself again. Her voice became even hoarser and weaker. "It's all my fault for being careless!"
"Back then, Yangzhou was in chaos. When Mother Su brought the child back to the capital, Second… Gu Yunrong was only a few months old and looked sallow and thin. At that time, the Marquis Mansion had held two funerals in just a few months. The residence was filled with sorrow. Everyone was overjoyed that she could return to the capital alive. No one suspected anything and even thought that Mother Su had worked hard."
165 Retribution
"Moreover, Gu Yunrong has been close to Mother Su since she was a baby. As long as she leaves her, she will cry non-stop. Therefore, Madam has always kept Mother Su to continue serving Gu Yunrong."
"Who would have thought!"
Getting more agitated, Granny Pang grabbed Gu Yanfei's small hand and said hatefully, "When I see Mother Su, I'll definitely tear off her face… No, it won't be an exaggeration to cut her into pieces."
She was trembling with anger, her face was flushed, and the back of her head hurt even more, but she heard a light voice enter her ears. "Mother Su has been sent to the authorities."
Ah?! Granny Pang was stunned. Tears stopped in her eyes, and she did not react for a moment.
Gu Yanfei patted the back of Granny Pang's old and thick hand comfortingly. "As far as I know, she has already been sent to the border."
A cold glint flashed across Gu Yanfei's eyes.
She did not want Mother Su to die on the path of exile, so Gu Yuan entrusted his scoundrel friends to send her to the place of exile alive. Only by living could the wrong person know what it meant to live a life worse than death!
"Serves her right!" Granny Pang reprimanded indignantly. "Mother Su deserves this retribution long ago!"
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and her face was as pale as paper from blood loss. Tears finally fell from her eyes.
"Granny's injuries haven't healed yet. Don't be angry," Gu Yanfei advised as she quietly took Granny Pang's pulse.
Her pulse was fast and hollow, as if she was pressing on a green onion tube. Her liver was stagnant, and her blood and qi circulated in reverse.
It was not a big problem. She had lost too much blood and was too agitated.
Gu Yanfei quickly drew a Calming Talisman on the back of Granny Pang's hand. Her fingertips moved quickly, and before the other party realized what was going on, she had already retracted her hand.
Granny Pang felt a cooling sensation flowing rapidly through her body from the back of her right hand. The heat in her body seemed to have been extinguished in an instant.
Gu Yanfei instructed Juan Bi to pour a cup of warm tea for Granny Pang and handed it to her. At the same time, she asked, "Granny, do you still remember why you fell on the road?"
Granny Pang slowly took two sips of warm tea. After calming down, memories surged.
She sorted out her thoughts and started from the beginning. Her voice was still a little weak. "At the beginning of the month, I received a letter from the Eldest Young Master in my hometown in Qingzhou. In the letter, the Eldest Young Master said that you were swapped by Mother Su 14 years ago. He also said that it was your first time in the capital, and he was afraid that you wouldn't be used to it, so he wanted me to come over and help."
When Granny Pang received the letter, she was almost dumbfounded and furious.
At the thought that her lady had suffered since she was young and was now alone and helpless in the Marquis Mansion, she was afraid that she would be bullied by Gu Yunrong. Burning with anxiety, Granny Pang had rushed to the road.
She finally saw her lady!
Granny Pang stared fixedly at Gu Yanfei, who was less than two feet away from her, and her heart ached.
Their girl was the biological daughter of Madam and the late Marquis. She was precious and should have grown up in a noble place, but she had been humiliated by others for more than ten years. The heavens were really unfair!
"Creak!"
A window beside them had been blown open by the wind. Outside, the wind and snow were blowing harder. A few scattered snowflakes drifted in through the window.
Granny Pang came back to her senses and wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief. Her voice was hoarse as she continued.
"I just arrived in the capital today. I went to the Marquis Mansion early in the morning, but I was sent away by Tong Erlang."
"She told me that the Second Lady personally said that she didn't need me."
When Granny Pang heard this, she was very sad. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head.
Even so, Granny Pang did not leave the capital.
Even if her lady did not need her, she still wanted to stay by her side.
"I thought that I had to see you no matter what and pay my respects to you, so I planned to rent a residence in the capital first. As long as I wait at the Marquis Mansion every day, I might have a chance to wait to meet you when you head out."
"In the afternoon, when I went to look for a residence, an unfamiliar woman approached me and said that there was an empty residence that could be rented to me. I saw that she looked kind, so I went to take a look. I didn't expect…"
Granny Pang touched the back of her head, which was wrapped in a thick white cloth, and said slowly, "I didn't expect to be knocked unconscious."
When she touched her wound, the back of her head began to hurt again, and she gasped in pain.
She shuddered and only reacted now. She looked around in a daze and asked, "Miss, why am I here?"
"I picked you up from the roadside." Gu Yanfei first answered the other party's doubts before explaining, "I went to the hunting ground at Upper Forest Park early this morning. I set off early in the morning and haven't returned to the Marquis Mansion today."
"Tong Erlang is serving at the Benevolent Harmony Hall now."
Gu Yanfei's last sentence made Granny Pang tremble violently, her eyes filled with surprise.
Tong Erlang was also the late Madam's dowry, which was why Granny Pang believed her that the lady did not need her anymore.
She did not expect Tong Erlang to go to the Benevolent Harmony Hall in just a few years. Granny Pang could not help but feel that things had changed.
Gu Yanfei's gaze fixed on Granny Pang's haggard face, and she said seriously, "I didn't know that Granny Pang was here."
Whether it was in her previous life or now.
In her previous life, when she found out, Granny Pang had already left.
No, Granny Pang might have been dead!
In her previous life, Granny Pang had probably fallen by the roadside like today and died silently…
Gu Yanfei's big black eyes were as deep as the night sky, but there was no starlight.
At this moment, Granny Pang also reacted. She grabbed the thin blanket on her body again and blurted out in shock, "Madam!"
"But why?!"
Granny Pang kept the last three words low and murmured them out of her mouth, both in question and in confusion.
"Yes, why?" Gu Yanfei's voice was clear and cold, like a cold wind sweeping across the water.
The room was lit by oil lamps. The dim yellow light was occasionally swayed by the wisps of wind from the window.
166 The Truth
v
Granny Pang really could not understand and muttered inaudibly, "That shouldn't be the case… I'm just a servant."
She frowned deeply. When she frowned, it affected the wound in the back of her head again. It hurt, and her mind was in a mess.
There was nothing she could do about it.
Gu Yanfei reached out and gently pressed the acupuncture points on Granny Pang's palm twice. She changed the topic. "Granny, why did you leave the Marquis Mansion back then?"
Her voice was clear and melodious, with a soothing rhythm. It was like a spring breeze blowing across one's face, or a clear spring flowing through one's heart.
Granny Pang calmed down a little and sighed. "This was 11 years ago."
Gu Yanfei looked at her quietly, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
In her previous life, Gu Yanfei had also asked around in the Marquis Mansion. Those servants only vaguely said that Granny Pang seemed to have been chased out of the Marquis Mansion because of some mistake.
And today, the people in the manor said that this matter seemed to be related to Gu Yunrong.
Speaking of this, Granny Pang was a little hesitant. "That year, Gu Yunrong was only three years old. One day, she was playing in the garden with Mother Su and happened to meet me. Mother Su said that she wanted to relieve herself, so she asked me to take care of Gu Yunrong."
"I played with Gu Yunrong for a while. Unexpectedly, the railing by the lake had decayed, and Gu Yunrong accidentally fell into the water. Although I saved her in time, she still choked on a few mouthfuls of water."
"When Madam found out about this, she flew into a rage. She blamed me for not taking good care of Gu Yunrong and even sold me…"
"Eldest Young Master was still young at that time, so Madam didn't listen to him at all. However, later on, Eldest Young Master asked a family friend to buy me back and let me return to Qingzhou."
Granny Pang's frown deepened, and a few deep wrinkles appeared between her eyebrows.
She was both afraid and puzzled. She muttered to herself, "Could it be that Madam knows that I'm back and is still angry about what happened back then?"
"Madam has always liked Gu Yunrong the most…"
Thinking of this, Granny Pang's expression changed again. She grabbed Gu Yanfei's hand and hurriedly asked, "Madam didn't mistreat you, right?"
"Has Madam ever helped Gu Yunrong bully you?"
Granny Pang's pale and haggard face was filled with worry and concern as she stared at Gu Yanfei without blinking.
It was as if as long as Gu Yanfei said "yes", she would immediately jump through fire for her.
Gu Yanfei smiled gently.
Initially, she only had a rough impression of Granny Pang. She had heard that she was loyal to her mother and that she had taken care of her brother for several years… At this moment, Gu Yanfei truly felt the other party's sincerity.
Granny Pang had clearly just escaped death today, but she was still thinking about the siblings.
Granny Pang was sincerely thinking for herself, for her eldest brother, and caring about them.
It was no wonder that after so many years, Big Brother still thought of writing to Granny Pang to ask her to come back. It could be seen that Big Brother trusted her.
A warm current flowed through Gu Yanfei's heart. She smiled and said meaningfully, "Madam… wouldn't dare."
There was a hint of casualness, cunning, confidence, and unruliness between her eyebrows.
The light of the oil lamp gently outlined the girl's beautiful outline. Snowflakes fell sporadically on her black hair, flickering like fireflies in the light, making the girl look elegant and otherworldly.
Granny Pang's eyes stung slightly as the immortal couple in her memory appeared in front of her.
Their little master looked like Madam and had a temperament similar to the previous Marquis. It could be seen that dragons gave birth to dragons and phoenixes gave birth to phoenixes. They were like father and son, like mother and daughter.
Now that the truth about the real and fake daughters' backgrounds had been revealed, Gu Yunrong was still shamelessly staying in the Marquis Mansion. It could be seen that they were all black-hearted!
Granny Pang let out a long sigh, feeling worried. She felt that since Gu Yanfei had just arrived, she probably did not know how much Gu Yunrong was spoiled in the Marquis Mansion.
She said worriedly, "Miss, you don't know, but Madam treats Gu Yunrong as a lucky star!"
"Gu Yunrong has been very lucky since she was young. She can even pick up banknotes on the road. If she accidentally falls, she can meet a nobleman to help her. She can casually order a maidservant to buy a teapot on the street, but it turns out to be an antique that's hundreds of years old…"
"Ever since Gu Yunrong came, even Madam's luck has improved."
"I remember that when Gu Yunrong was one year old, Madam brought her back to her family. When she returned, the Third Uncle personally escorted her back to the residence."
167 The Truth
"After that, Madam treated Gu Yunrong even better. She treated her like her darling and kept saying that she would bring good luck to the Gu family."
"Madam even scolded the Eldest Young Master for Gu Yunrong!"
In the past, Granny Pang only felt sorry for the Eldest Young Master and did not blame Gu Yunrong. She only blamed Madam Gu for being too ruthless.
But it was different now. Gu Yunrong was no longer Madam's daughter and was now just the child of a servant.
!
The more Granny Pang thought about it, the angrier she became. The more she spoke, the more her heart ached. "The Eldest Young Master was only six years old, but he was punished by the family law. He was beaten until his back was lacerated. Later, he was ordered by Madam to kneel in the ancestral hall for a few days. His body couldn't take it, and he had to lay in bed for half a month."
"Eldest Young Master is the only son of the late Marquis and Madam, but in Madam's heart, I'm afraid even Eldest Young Master can't compare to Gu Yunrong!"
At the thought that Madam Gu had actually mistreated the Eldest Young Master for a mere child of a servant, Granny Pang was furious.
At this moment, she had almost forgotten that she had just escaped death. All she cared about was her little master. She gritted her teeth and said angrily, "… I wonder if the late Marquis is Madam's biological son."
After she said this, even she was stunned and had goosebumps on her arm.
The house was silent for a moment, making the howling wind outside sound even more violent.
The wind and snow blew wildly. The courtyard outside was completely covered in silver, endless snow.
There was a rough and harsh creak as branches snapped under the weight of snow in the courtyard.
A silent sigh escaped Gu Yanfei's lips. There was a faint smile on her lips as she thought to herself self-deprecatingly, 'So I'm not the only one who thought so!'
Since her previous life, she had never understood.
Even if Madam Gu liked Gu Yunrong, whom she had personally raised, and did not like her, what about her eldest brother, Gu Yuan?!
Gu Yuan had grown up under Madam Gu's care. He was her biological grandson and was related by blood. Why was she so heartless to Gu Yuan?!
Why would Madam abandon Gu Yuan for Gu Yunrong?!
In this life, just to help Gu Yunrong marry into Prince Kang's Manor, she had to "force" her eldest brother to give up the position of battalion commander of the Divine Arms Battalion to Murong Yong. She did not hesitate to ruin her eldest brother's future.
"Granny, you don't think my father was born ny Madam Gu?" Gu Yanfei looked at Granny Pang steadily with a deep gaze.
Granny Pang had only blurted it out in a moment of righteous anger. At this moment, her expression became embarrassed, and she blushed. "Miss, I shouldn't have sprouted nonsense."
"Madam has always been quite good to the late Marquis and Madam."
"Back then, when the late Marquis wanted to marry Madam, it was still Madam who persuaded the old Marquis to agree."
Hearing Granny Pang's words, Gu Yanfei also remembered that, in her previous life, she seemed to have heard her brother mention it.
She said that her parents had not married blind and mute. They had fallen in love with each other.
It was said that his father had entered the military camp incognito since he was 13 years old. At the age of 16, he was the Deputy Commander of the Yuzhou Guards. It was also that year that he met her mother.
It was said that at that time, the Xie family's boat had encountered water bandits on the river. Most of the servants and guards had died. Her mother, who was only 15 years old, had jumped into the water and escaped. Her father had fished her out of the water.
The Xie family was a merchant family. The Xie and Gu families were not comparable in the first place. Later, it was her father who used his battle achievements to persuade the previous Emperor to allow him to marry her mother in a grand manner, making all the women in the world envious.
Thinking of her eldest brother's longing expression when he mentioned her parents, Gu Yanfei's lips curled up.
Granny Pang was still talking. "… After the late Madam married into the family, Madam Gu treated her quite well. She never let her set rules."
"15 years ago, the late Marquis went to Yangzhou to be the head of the military on behalf of the old Marquis who had an attack. Madam Gu also asked Madam to go with him. She said that the young couple had a good relationship and couldn't be separated for several years."
"The late Marquis and Madam were very close. They've always had a good relationship and have never been red-eyed."
"If not for the accident eight years ago, the late Marquis and Madam would have been an immortal couple…"
Granny Pang's eyes began to redden again and were already swollen from crying.
Gu Yanfei gestured for Juan Bi to hand Granny Pang a clean handkerchief.
Granny Pang wiped her tears again and took a while to calm herself down. As if she was convincing herself, she said incoherently, "Miss, it's clearly written in the Gu family's genealogy that the late Marquis was the eldest son of the Old Marquis and Madam. Madam was the Old Marquis's first wife."
"Even when the Eldest Young Master got smallpox back then, Madam took care of him personally."
"How can it not be!"
Yes, smallpox could be passed on to others. If she wasn't his biological grandmother, Madam wouldn't have taken such a risk to take care of the Eldest Young Master!
"I must have been possessed for me to say that…"
Smallpox?!
When she heard this word, Gu Yanfei's pupils constricted. She suddenly interrupted Granny Pang, "Big Brother had smallpox? When did this happen?"
Granny Pang's complicated gaze landed on Gu Yanfei's small face, which was 40 to 50% similar to Madam Xie's. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "14 years ago."
"14 years ago, the Old Marquis suddenly fell ill. Coincidentally, the State of Yue army gathered at the other end of the river. The war was urgent, so the late Emperor issued a decree to seize his love and told the late Marquis to stay in Yangzhou and not return to the capital."
"At that time, the Eldest Young Master had smallpox and was about to die. He wanted to see his parents, so Madam sent a pigeon to Yangzhou."
"I waited and waited in the capital, but Madam did not come. Three months later, Mother Su carried the swaddled Gu Yunrong to the capital. She even brought bad news that Madam had a difficult labor."
As she spoke, Granny Pang's voice became even more hoarse.
Madam was only 20 years old when she left. She was so young and in her prime. Who would have thought…
For a moment, the atmosphere was a little heavy and oppressive.
This was impossible!
These words clearly appeared in Gu Yanfei's heart, and her eyes gradually turned cold.
168 Unveiling
Gu Yanfei suddenly grabbed the armrest of the armchair. Her fingertips were slightly white from the force, and a chill rose in her heart. Her eyes gradually turned cold.
Her eldest brother's skin had turned a wheat color from being exposed to the sun for a long time, and his face was smooth. At least, there were no scars visible to the naked eye. Only his palm had calluses from practicing martial arts, and there were a few thin scars on his wrist and the back of his hand.
She had also taken Gu Yuan's pulse. From his pulse, Gu Yuan was healthy and didn't show any signs of loss.
Most importantly…
!
In her previous life, Gu Yuan would die of smallpox two years later.
At that time, Big Brother had broken his legs and lost his job. The eldest branch no longer had any status in the Marquis Mansion.
However, even so, Madam still refused to split up and let the eldest branch be tramped on. Big Brother did his best to protect her until he was infected by smallpox. Even until his death, he was worried about her.
Smallpox was scary, but as long as one had it once, they would not get it again!
The wind roared, bringing waves of cold air from the window. It almost blew out the oil lamp, which shrank into a dot.
The room darkened, making Gu Yanfei's expression dark.
After a while, Gu Yanfei asked calmly, "Granny, back then, you took care of Big Brother. Did Big Brother really get smallpox?"
As she asked, she already had an answer.
Madam Gu had spent so much effort to chase Granny Pang away from her brother. Now, she was even willing to kill someone.
There was only one possibility—
To silence her.
Granny Pang was stunned by Gu Yanfei's question. She looked at her in a daze and said slowly, "Yes, he got smallpox. How can it not be?!"
"At that time, there were many doctors in the residence and Qingjing Spiritual Master of the Wuliang Temple. They all said that it was smallpox."
"The Eldest Young Master was dying of illness…"
The events of 14 years ago vividly appeared in Granny Pang's mind. She still remembered that she had been worried and terrified during that period. She could not sleep well and prayed to the gods every day, hoping that the gods would bless the Eldest Young Master to survive this calamity safely.
When no one spoke, the house was exceptionally quiet, making the wind outside seem especially sharp. The trees in the courtyard creaked from the strong wind.
"Did Granny see Big Brother at that time?" Gu Yanfei asked again.
In her previous life, she could not understand that even if there was war in Qiushui County at that time, they were far from losing the war.
Her father had gone to defend the city. As long as her mother stayed in Huling City at the back, it would be safer than her, a pregnant woman, running out to "take refuge"!
So she was doing this for Big Brother…
Gu Yanfei felt her heart ache, and her fingertips were so pale that they were almost transparent.
Granny Pang's throat was dry and bitter, and she shook her head weakly. "No. Because smallpox is contagious, Madam sent me and the servants of the Benevolent Harmony Hall out of the house."
"During that period, only Madam personally guarded the Eldest Young Master."
Smallpox was a plague, even more terrifying than the Black Death. Those who had smallpox had a slim chance of survival. Once the infection spread, it was common to destroy a village.
Back then, Granny Pang was more or less touched when she saw Madam taking care of the sick Eldest Young Master.
But now, after talking to Gu Yanfei, Granny Pang thought back and felt that something had changed, as if she had neglected something.
Another gust of cold wind suddenly blew in through the window, completely extinguishing the light of the oil lamp. The house instantly fell into darkness.
Juan Bi saw the oil lamp go out and fumbled in the darkness to light it again.
The fire lit up bit by bit, illuminating Gu Yanfei's eyes.
In the dim yellow light, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes were unusually bright, shining like swords.
In a daze, Granny Pang felt as if she had seen the late Marquis, Gu Ce, again.
Gu Yanfei's cold voice cut through the silence. "Back then, when Granny was chased away, it was before my father returned to the capital, right?"
As far as she knew, after her mother died, her father guarded Yangzhou for three years and did not leave for a moment. It was only in the sixth year that he was summoned back to the capital by the late Emperor.
"Yes." Granny Pang nodded with difficulty.
She still remembered that at that time, everyone in the Marquis Mansion was overjoyed. They were all saying that the Marquis was about to return triumphantly. She also told the Eldest Young Master this.
"I understand," Gu Yanfei said meaningfully.
Smallpox.
The word pierced her heart like a sharp blade, twisting it repeatedly.
A miserable red color flashed across Gu Yanfei's eyes.
169 Unveiling
There seemed to be violent waves surging in her heart, each wave higher than the previous.
She could not help but think that if her eldest brother had not been "in critical condition" 14 years ago, her mother would not have rushed back to the capital from Qiushui County and died prematurely on the way.
Everything would not have turned out like this…
If Mother's death was not an accident but a conspiracy by someone else…
Then how aggrieved was her short life in her previous life…
Gu Yanfei got up with her heart surging. She only said, "Granny, rest well and recuperate first. Your health is the most important."
Granny Pang looked at Gu Yanfei's slender back and wanted to call out to her. In the end, she did not say anything, and her mind became even more confused.
Gu Yanfei strode out of the east wing and only stopped when she reached the porch. She looked up at the snowy night sky in front of her, in the direction of the capital, at someone she could not see now…
Dense snowflakes blew towards her with the wind, but Gu Yanfei did not care at all, as if she did not feel the cold at all.
The memories of her previous life surfaced in front of her again, along with the pain, regret, bitterness, and grief… All of these emotions surged toward her, almost engulfing her.
Her mental demons grew crazy again. The blood in her eyes thickened, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws in her dark pupils.
A voice in her heart roared at the top of its lungs.
Why?!
What was her life for?!
She felt as if a raging beast wanted to be released from her body. The blood in her pupils surged, almost completely encroaching on her eyes…
Her eyes were red.
Suddenly, a cool feeling seeped into her brain from the pores on her scalp. The coolness washed over her brain.
Instantly, as if someone had poured cold water on her head, her thoughts cleared.
Gu Yanfei raised her hand and stroked the white jade plum blossom hairpin that tied her hair. The touch under her finger was cool and delicate.
Her uncontrollable emotions slowly calmed down…
She was still standing against the wind, her clothes flying as she danced, as if she were going to blow away with the wind.
"My Lady, be careful not to catch a cold."
Juan Bi hurried after her and draped a thick cloak over her worriedly.
Thinking of what Granny Pang had said about the late Marquis and Madam, Juan Bi guessed that she was sad about this.
The dead could not be revived. Juan Bi did not know how to comfort her lady and could only accompany her silently.
Gu Yanfei stood there motionless.
The coldness of the hairpin kept attacking her manic mood, and the blood in her eyes gradually faded…
Her master had said that her cultivation of the heart wasn't enough, so she was always disturbed by her mental demons.
Heaven's Will had its own arrangements for everyone's fate.
The heavens of this small world doted on Gu Yunrong. This was something she had known in her previous life.
In her previous life, it had only been more than ten years. In the end, she was just a stepping stone arranged by the heavens for Gu Yunrong.
Her misfortune had made Gu Yunrong lucky.
Gu Yanfei's lips curled into a mocking smile. Her fingers rubbed the plum blossom hairpin repeatedly, feeling the shape and patterns of the hairpin under her hand, and a figure in white appeared in her mind.
She couldn't help but think of Chu Yi.
After all, she was the stepping stone of the daughter of destiny, but Chu Yi was in a much worse state…
"Pfft."
Gu Yanfei smiled happily, her laughter like the soft cry of a yellow oriole.
Fortunately, Chu Yi was still in this world. Both of them had been abandoned by the heavens, so she was not alone.
Gu Yanfei's emotions had completely calmed down, and her eyes had returned to normal.
Seeing that she was finally smiling, Juan Bi heaved a sigh of relief. She pointed ahead and said, "My Lady, look at how well the red plums bloom here. They're not inferior to the ones in the residence at all."
The two red plum trees in the courtyard were covered in a layer of snow. Red plum blossoms bloomed in the wind, energetic in the cold wind, and the fragrance of plum blossoms filled the air with the wind…
"How fragrant." The tip of Juan Bi's petite nose twitched as she narrowed her eyes in ecstasy. "Why don't I put some in a vase for you?"
Juan Bi was about to walk out of the corridor when she felt her sleeve tighten as Gu Yanfei grabbed it.
"Wait!"
Hearing Gu Yanfei's words, Juan Bi stopped and turned around to look at her.
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, a strong wind suddenly blew in the courtyard, producing a mournful sound.
The strong wind cut through the two red plum trees in the courtyard with destructive force, instantly turning the courtyard into a mess.
Broken branches and leaves were swept up by the wind. Thousands of red petals flew up and caught in the snow in a mess, like snowflakes in the air stained with blood.
The terrifying wind came and went as quickly as it had come. The howling of the wind in the courtyard subsided in an instant.
"Caw, caw, caw…"
A dozen black crows seemed to have been blown over by the wind. One by one, they flapped their wings and circled in the snow, flying and howling.
The rough crow's cry was terrifying.
Juan Bi was dumbfounded as she stared at the scene in front of her.
If her lady had not stopped her just now, would the plum tree that had been broken at the waist have fallen on her?
...
"My Lady, the demonic wind just now was too terrifying!" Juan Bi patted her chest in fear.
Something big must have happened. Gu Yanfei thought to herself and habitually counted with her fingers…
As soon as her thumb touched the knuckle of her ring finger, she felt a dull pain in her chest.
Her fingers stopped calculating, and her lips twitched.
This feeling was a little familiar, which meant that the "big event" that was about to happen would most likely involve her.
"My Lady, you saved me again." Juan Bi was a big-hearted person, so she quickly smiled happily.
Gu Yanfei pretended not to hear her and looked at Juan Bi's face in a daze.
It was clearly the same face, but in an instant, Juan Bi's face actually looked dead.
170 Demonic
Gu Yanfei was certain that this was not the death scene of a serious illness.
"Second Lady." The servant hurried over and greeted her carefully. "The wind was a little strong just now. Are you frightened?"
Behind her was a little girl in her teens, a big smile on her delicate, round face.
"I'm fine," Gu Yanfei said calmly. Her pupils constricted as she glanced at the two of them.
Both mother and daughter looked like they were about to die.
The wind swept up the snow and landed on Gu Yanfei's black hair, which was half tied and half draped. It was like crystals decorated her hair.
The servant took a few steps forward and came to Juan Bi's side. She squeezed out an unnatural smile and reported, "Miss, there's a family who wants to stay overnight because of the heavy snow on the road. My husband agreed and arranged for them to stay in the guest courtyard in the west."
Her husband was Steward Huang of the manor.
Coming to stay at this time?! Juan Bi could not help but frown. She thought to herself, 'My lady is still here. How can Steward Huang let outsiders stay at this time?!'
Gu Yanfei looked at the servant steadily, her gaze circling between her eyebrows a few times.
Juan Bi would die, as would this mother and daughter.
Even though Gu Yanfei had never seen the others in the manor, at this moment, she had a faint intuition that most of the others in the manor looked like they were about to die.
Many people would die here soon!
Even—
And possibly herself!
Gu Yanfei's gaze was calm and deep. She swept her gaze across everyone's faces and looked at the snowy night sky outside the window. Dark, dark clouds continued to rise like mountains, covering the stars and moon.
She had never thought that after experiencing 200 years in the Bright Spirit Realm, she would be above all living beings.
After all, in this small world, she was just cannon fodder that Heaven's Will did not like.
Of course, she would be in mortal danger.
She also knew that life and death crises would not be easily overcome.
The servant sensed that something was wrong from the subtle change in the atmosphere, and her round face was a little embarrassed.
She hurriedly explained, "It's snowing heavily tonight. The snow is too heavy and thick. It's almost impossible to move. My husband saw that this family was frozen and looked really pitiful."
In the past, when the late Madam Xie was still alive, she often did good deeds. She also instructed the farmstead to often give porridge and medicine to the poor. Even when the late Madam went, the farmstead still did good deeds according to the old rules and wanted to accumulate merit for its masters.
It was common for them to take in passersby for the night on a rainy and snowy day.
Just now, when Steward Huang saw that the family was pitiful, he agreed immediately. For a moment, he forgot that the lady was also at the manor. He should have come to report first.
The servant rubbed her rough hands uneasily, worried that her husband had done something wrong. She was also afraid that Gu Yanfei would blame him for taking in outsiders.
Gu Yanfei gently twisted her index finger and thumb and looked down thoughtfully.
In the snow, two plum trees that had been cut in half lay quietly. Bright red plum petals fell to the ground, like specks of blood on the snow.
Gu Yanfei narrowed her almond-shaped eyes, as if an invisible string had been touched in her heart.
She clearly realized that this catastrophe that was about to bring countless deaths was probably brought about by the family who had come to stay.
"How many people came?" Gu Yanfei stroked her sleeve and asked.
The servant was still a little nervous and said hesitantly, "My husband said that a large family came from Yuzhou to visit. They look travel-worn and have old and young women. Even young people can't withstand this cold, let alone old people in their 70s and 80s."
Steward Huang also saw that there was an old man in the other party's family and thought that this family should be kind, so he agreed to let them stay over.
As they spoke, the snow fell harder outside. The goose-feather-like snowflakes were dense, like a sandstorm.
A bone-chilling northwest wind blew. From the direction of the guest courtyard to the west came the faint sounds of voices and footsteps.
"Caw, caw, caw…"
There were even more crows above the manor. Dozens of them lingered, either perched on the walls, landing on the treetops, or flying in midair.
In the howling snow, the figures were blurry, and they only heard voices approaching. About seven or eight people were walking towards the courtyard.
"Second Lady." An old servant in a rough cloth jacket ran quickly from the entrance of the courtyard and panted. "The family who came to stay heard that you're here and want to thank you."