Chương 8: Mental Demon
Biên tập viên: Atlas Studios
Dou Family's Pawnshop?! Granny Xu's expression darkened and she almost jumped out of her chair.
"Go quickly to the pawnshop and redeem the earrings."
After instructing Granny Feng, Granny Xu brought four to five old women to look for Gu Yanfei in a fit of fury.
The sun was high in the sky, and the courtyard was covered in fallen leaves. From time to time, they would be swept up by the autumn wind. It was as lonely and desolate as yesterday.
Juan Bi, who had gone out, had yet to return. There was no one else in the courtyard. Granny Xu barged into Gu Yanfei's boudoir angrily.
Gu Yanfei sat leisurely by the window, her right arm leaning lazily against the window frame.
"Second Lady, are you crazy? You actually let Juan Bi pawn things at a pawnshop!" As soon as Granny Xu saw Gu Yanfei, she questioned her.
She looked imposing on the surface, but she was actually afraid.
The Dou Family's Pawnshop was one of the most famous pawnshops in the Great Jin Dynasty. It opened branches all over the country and also had branches in the capital. If the news of the Second Lady selling her jewelry spread to the capital, the entire Marquis Mansion would be embarrassed!
If things got to this point, Madam would definitely vent her anger on her. Then, her fate would be obvious.
Thinking of this, Granny Xu felt suffocated and clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly.
Compared to the outwardly strong but inwardly weak Granny Xu, Gu Yanfei was so calm and relaxed. She casually grabbed a handful of fish food from the box and sprinkled it on the pond outside the window.
As the fish food rained down, the goldfish in the pond caught the scent and swam over. The clear water rippled and sparkled in the sunlight.
In Granny Xu's eyes, this was equivalent to adding fuel to the fire.
She said angrily, "Second Lady, don't be ungrateful. I'm doing this for your own good."
"Our Dingyuan Marquis Household is a century-old noble household. The rules of the Marquis Mansion are strict. All the young masters and ladies are knowledgeable and prudent."
As she spoke, Granny Xu's eyes swept disdainfully across the stack of paper in the corner of the desk.
On the paper was a copy of 'Female Training'. Every stroke was stiff and rigid. This handwriting could only barely be considered proper.
A country girl who could not read was not presentable at all.
"How are you going to return to the Marquis Mansion in this state?!" Granny Xu raised her voice and looked down at Gu Yanfei.
Gu Yanfei grabbed some fish food from the box and scattered it into the pond. She finally gave Granny Xu a look and said casually, "Didn't I say that I'm not going back?"
The sunlight from the window gave her a pale golden glow and a dreamlike quality.
Granny Xu was speechless.
Granny Xu seemed to have choked on something. Her face turned green, and she could not continue with the excuse she had thought of.
Indeed, the Second Lady had said in public that she would not return to the Marquis Mansion last night, but Granny Xu did not take her words seriously. She felt that the Second Lady was just being spiteful.
What she did not expect was that she was still being stubborn after the night had passed.
The veins on Granny Xu's forehead twitched. She instinctively wanted to flare up, but she suppressed it.
Since the hard way didn't work, she had to do it the easy way.
Granny Xu took a deep breath and raised her hand to gesture to the old women behind her.
The old women behind her tactfully left, leaving Gu Yanfei and Granny Xu alone in the room.
The surroundings became much quieter. Occasionally, a few goldfish would jump out of the pond and fall back into the water. Only the sound of splashing water could be heard.
Granny Xu revealed a seemingly amiable smile. Her smile did not reach her eyes as she said patiently, "Second Lady, you grew up outside and there are many things you don't know. Originally, Madam should have told you about this. Today, I'll overstep my boundaries to tell you."
"Second Lady, your grandfather is an old friend of the British Monarchy. As early as when you were born, the two of them had made an agreement to betroth the girl to the eldest grandson of the British Mansion. The two families became even closer."
As Granny Xu spoke, she observed the change in Gu Yanfei's expression. Gu Yanfei took a plain white handkerchief and slowly wiped her fair fingers.
Seeing that Gu Yanfei was listening, the corners of Granny Xu's lips curled up smugly. She thought to herself, 'This wild girl has become a phoenix by marrying into a family like the British Monarchy.'
A girl's life was nothing more than a good marriage. As long as she wanted something, she would naturally be subject to herself.
The smile on Granny Xu's face deepened as she continued, "Second Lady, the Crown Prince, Fang Mingfeng, is 17 years old this year. He's a famous young talent in the capital. Not only is he from a noble background, but he's also talented in martial arts. Even the current emperor has praised him personally."
"When you go to the capital in the future and see Crown Prince Fang with your own eyes, you will definitely…"
"We've already met." Gu Yanfei suddenly interrupted Granny Xu.
Granny Xu was speechless.
She was stunned and her first reaction was that it was impossible!
Gu Yanfei raised her eyebrows and commented calmly, "He's just so-so, not a very good match."
A few words summed up her evaluation of Fang Mingfeng.
Granny Xu's old eyes suddenly widened and she scolded angrily, "Second Lady, don't talk nonsense! If this matter spreads to the British public…"
This time, there was no need for Gu Yanfei to speak. Another clear female voice interrupted.
"What My Lady said is true!"
Juan Bi hurried in, sweating from the run and unable to hide her weariness.
Yesterday evening, after she went to the Dou Family's Pawnshop to pawn jewelry, she immediately hired someone to go out of the city to collect the corpses of the coachman, Old Wang and Old Madam Zhang. She had been busy until now before returning to the residence.
Juan Bi strode to Gu Yanfei's side and stood with her head held high. Then, she roughly explained how they had met Fang Mingfeng at the city gate yesterday.
Granny Xu listened to Juan Bi's explanation and felt that given Juan Bi's half-witted personality, she could not make up such a story. Thinking of this, her heart was in chaos.
Her mouth opened and closed without making a single sound. She wanted to say that the Second Lady must have hit her head. It was impossible to find such a good marriage. No matter how many young ladies in the capital begged for it, they could not get it. However, the Second Lady actually shamelessly said that she did not like the heir!
Mad. This country girl must be mad!
Granny Xu's chest heaved a few times before she recovered after a while. She said stiffly, "So, Second Lady, are you determined not to return to the capital?"
"If you want me to go back, fine." Gu Yanfei raised her hand and caught a red maple that flew into the house. She said casually, "Get Madam to pick me up personally."
"Second Lady, do you know what you're saying?" Granny Xu's voice forced its way through her teeth.
The Second Lady actually dared to put on airs in front of Madam. Wasn't she afraid of hurting her back?
How could Madam lower herself to pick her up in Danyang City!!
"Granny, remember, it's not me who wants to go back. It's the Marquis Household who begged me to go back." Gu Yanfei gently waved her hand and ordered her to leave. "Granny still has to hurry, so I won't keep you back."
Gu Yanfei smiled faintly, her eyes as cold as ice.
Of course she would return to the capital and face all the causes of her mental demons in her previous life.
Only then could she break through her mental demons and be reborn.
Chương 9: Yunrong
Biên tập viên: Atlas Studios
"…" Granny Xu flicked her sleeve fiercely. She really couldn't stay in this damn place for a moment longer.
Just as she turned around, she heard Gu Yanfei say slowly, "By the way, Granny, remember to leave your monthly salary before leaving."
Granny Xu paused and turned back. She met Gu Yanfei's eyes and said sarcastically, "Didn't you refuse to return to the Marquis Mansion? I thought you wanted to cut ties with the Marquis Mansion!"
A country girl was indeed a country girl. She was simply greedy for money and was still thinking about the money in the Marquis Mansion!
Gu Yanfei took off a jade bracelet with a carved swallow pattern on it and stuffed it into Juan Bi's hands. "Take it and pawn it."
Of course, Granny Xu recognized this bracelet. All of the Second Lady's jewelry had been prepared by Madam, and every piece had the mark of the Dingyuan Marquis Household.
She had yet to redeem the pair of earrings that had been pawned. If he were to pawn this bracelet again, wouldn't it confirm the rumor that the Marquis Household had declined?!
Granny Xu gritted her teeth indignantly. "I'll get someone to get the monthly payment now."
"Juan Bi, accompany Granny Xu and withdraw my monthly salary for the next three months," Gu Yanfei instructed her with a smile.
Granny Xu's face was ashen, and veins appeared on her neck.
She'd thought a month's pay would be enough, but the country girl was greedy enough to ask for three months.
Those silver taels should have been hers!
Granny Xu's heart was bleeding as if a piece of her heart had been gouged out. She huffed and left in frustration.
She had to return to the capital as soon as possible to report to Madam. Otherwise, if anything really happened to the marriage between the Gu and Fang families, she would be finished!!
An hour later, Granny Xu's carriage left Danyang City. They traveled at full speed, day and night.
As soon as she returned to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion in the capital, she did not bother to wash up. The first thing she did was rush to the Benevolent Harmony Hall and cry aggrievedly.
"Madam, although I don't dare to say that I've racked my brains recently, I've really done my best to teach the Second Lady. However, the Second Lady misunderstood me and thought that I was deliberately making things difficult for her!"
"…"
"The Second Lady grew up outside and is used to the old days. She always likes to go out and not come home. That day, the carriage met with an accident. I only persuaded her a little, but the Second Lady attacked me…"
"This is how I lost my front tooth."
Granny Xu vividly described Gu Yanfei as a vulgar, ignorant, and ill-bred wild girl.
A cloisonné enamel incense burner stood in the east corner of the room, quietly belching smoke.
A graceful old woman in her 50s was sitting on a rosewood bed with a swastika pattern on it. She was wearing a purple brocade floral jacket and twisting a string of prayer beads in her hand. Her gaze swept across the black hole in Granny Xu's front teeth with an unreadable expression.
At the side, an old granny with silver hair advised gently, "Madam, calm down. The Second Lady is still young."
"Young? She's almost of age." Madam Gu sighed softly. "What an evildoer."
There was silence for a moment.
This matter was a scandal in the Marquis Household.
The Dingyuan Marquis Household had been martial artists for generations. The former Marquis, Gu Ce, was the eldest son of Madam Gu.
In the sixth year of the Reign of Ren and Xuan, Gu Ce and his wife, Madam Xie, guarded Qiushui County in Yangzhou. They did not want to be ambushed by the State of Yue. Madam Xie, who was seven months pregnant, was arranged by Gu Ce to leave Qiushui County.
It was unknown where the State of Yue got the news from, but they sent people to chase after Madam Xie and tried to threaten Gu Ce to surrender.
Madam Xie was frightened and gave birth prematurely. After giving birth to a baby girl, she died. The wet nurse, Mother Su, carried the baby girl and fled all the way back to the capital.
No one expected Mother Su to secretly pretend that her biological daughter was the legitimate daughter of the Gu family and exchange the fake for the real one. This secret lasted for 14 years.
It was not until half a year ago when Mother Su's gambling addict husband came looking for her and secretly blackmailed her that the truth was revealed.
"Madam." Granny Xu pretended to wipe the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief as she glanced at Madam Gu from the corner of her eye. She said uneasily, "There's something else about Crown Prince Fang…"
"Mingfeng?" Madam Gu stopped twirling the prayer beads and frowned.
"Yes, the British Crown Prince." Granny Xu swallowed her saliva and dropped the last bomb at the right time. "The Second Lady bumped into Crown Prince Fang in Danyang City. She… She actually went to tell Crown Prince Fang privately that the marriage between the two families is over!"
"The Second Lady also said that she won't be returning to the capital. Unless… unless you personally go to Danyang City to pick her up."
Granny Xu avoided the main point and pushed all the blame to Gu Yanfei. She lowered her head and clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly.
"Slam!"
Madam Gu slammed her palm on the coffee table and pursed her lips. Her entire body was shrouded in a thick dark cloud.
Madam Gu could not say that she liked or disliked this second granddaughter whom she had never met.
To her, Gu Yunrong was the granddaughter she had personally raised and was proud of.
Gu Yunrong was good at everything. From her appearance, temperament, and talent, she was top-notch. She was praised by everyone in the capital and was even favored by Kang Wang.
Kang Wang was the son of the current Empress Dowager. After he ascended the throne, he would be conferred the title of Prince. If Gu Yunrong could become Princess Consort Kang, it would naturally be the icing on the cake for the Dingyuan Marquis Household.
However, the Gu family and the Fang family had long been engaged. When the Old Marquis was still alive, he had betrothed his eldest daughter to the British Crown Prince, Fang Mingfeng.
Once the engagement was broken off, the Gu family would inevitably be said to be treacherous for clinging to the powerful.
After thinking about it, Madam Gu decided to find the "real" eldest daughter of the eldest branch.
In this way, she could fulfill the marriage between the Gu and Fang families and also not implicate the reputation of the Gu family and Gu Yunrong.
Madam Gu had already thought about the pros and cons repeatedly and was mentally prepared. This second granddaughter of hers had grown up in the countryside. If she did not train her carefully for half a year or a year, she would probably not be able to meet anyone. She did not expect this second granddaughter of hers to be so vulgar!
It was fine if she was vulgar and stupid, but the problem was that this girl still did not know her limits. She actually dared to run to Fang Mingfeng and spout nonsense. She was simply an embarrassment to the Gu family!
Madam Gu looked up and said slowly, "I told you to take good care of the Second Lady. Is this how you do things?!"
Her voice was as cold as ice.
Granny Xu cursed Gu Yanfei a thousand times in her heart. She quickly knelt down and apologized, "I'm ashamed. The Second Lady is beyond my reach."
After that, there was an oppressive silence in the room. The air seemed to be frozen still.
The servants at the side all lowered their heads in silence.
At this moment, a servant girl's clear voice broke the silence. "Third… Third Lady!"
The air in the room suddenly relaxed.
In the next moment, the curtain was drawn from the outside and a beautiful, slender young woman entered from the main room outside, carrying a tray of tea.
The gentle lines outlined a well-defined oval face. Her skin was as fair as jade, her eyebrows and lips were pink, and even her eyes were as bright as stars. When she smiled, a pair of cute dimples appeared on both cheeks. Her temperament was smart and amiable, making people like her at a glance.
The girl's hair was combed into a double bun, and she wore a pair of ruby-embedded gold-threaded butterfly-pearl flowers on her head. She wore a red dress embroidered with branches of begonia. When she walked, her figure was slender and graceful, and her steps were light and elegant.
Her arrival was like a warm spring breeze blowing into the house that was originally as cold as the wind.
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