Rebirth of the Excellent Daughter of the Marquis Household (REDMH) - Chapter 101

After hurriedly washing up and getting dressed, Gu Huai Zhong remembered that he had been feigning illness, so he hastily touched up his face and painted it a waxy yellow. Assisted by Liu Yue, he trembled his way to the parlour.

Liu Yue had never seen the Eldest Princess before. Upon learning that Princess Ping Hu was visiting, she wanted to dress up a bit more splendidly to show some face in front of Princess Ping Hu and leave a lasting impression.

With Liang Huai Yu no longer around, the title of the legitimate madam of the Ding Yuan Marquis’s residence would inevitably fall on her sooner or later. Now, this was practically her first appearance as a prominent woman. So, while Gu Huai Zhong was preoccupied with grooming himself, she was not idle either. She changed into several outfits in succession, wearing the most impressive accessories she had for the occasion.

Assisting Gu Huai Zhong along the way, she was focused on how to walk more gracefully to leave a favourable impression on Princess Ping Hu.

When they arrived at the parlour, she followed Gu Huai Zhong in bowing.

Princess Ping Hu had been waiting in the parlour for quite some time, so she felt a bit displeased. Combined with what Yun Ke had said earlier, she was somewhat doubtful, so she did not show a pleasant expression to Gu Huai Zhong.

“Rise,” she said. Just as she had called them to straighten up, she glanced behind Gu Huai Zhong and noticed the elaborately dressed woman. She frowned slightly.

Today, she was wearing a cerulean blue long dress. The woman behind Gu Huai Zhong was actually also dressed in a dress of the same colour as hers. Princess Ping Hu’s cloak was blue with scattered gold patterns, while the woman’s cloak was completely golden. This displeased Princess Ping Hu even more.

“Thank you, Eldest Princess,” Gu Huai Zhong pretended to stand up slowly.

Liu Yue was also about to rise when the Eldest Princess glanced at her. “Wait,” she said slowly. “Who is this?” She pointed lightly at Liu Yue with her finger wearing a golden nail guard and asked Gu Huai Zhong.

“She is this minister’s concubine,” Gu Huai Zhong replied with a bow.

“Oh?” Princess Ping Hu picked up the tea cup from the side table and gently used the lid to skim the surface of the tea, dispersing the floating tea leaves. After taking a sip, she spoke slowly, “This princess sees how she’s dressed, she must think of herself as the new Ding Yuan Marquis’ Madam?”

Gu Huai Zhong’s heart trembled. He could not help but cast a subtle glance at Liu Yue, then he discreetly observed Princess Ping Hu sitting in the grand wooden armchair. His heart skipped a beat. This wretched woman, she could wear anything but she actually wore a dress with the same cerulean blue as Princess Ping Hu! Was she just asking for trouble? He took another look at the radiant rose gold phoenix hairpin with seven gems on Liu Yue’s head and his heart sank even further.

Today, Princess Ping Hu was not wearing a luxurious headdress. How could she, a mere concubine, show off in front of the Eldest Princess?

Gu Huai Zhong suddenly broke out in cold sweat. He quickly eyed Liu Yue, trying to signal her to retreat immediately.

However, Liu Yue was still bowing towards the ground and could not see Gu Huai Zhong’s signalling. She was also feeling uneasy. Why did she feel a malicious intent in the Eldest Princess’ words?

“Come, raise your head and show this princess,” the Eldest Princess turned her gaze, speaking slowly.

Unsuspecting, Liu Yue followed Princess Ping Hu’s order and lifted her head. Her makeup was carefully done, meticulous with rosy cheeks and charming eyes.

Princess Ping Hu glanced at her and snorted coldly, “So, this princess has been sitting here for so long just waiting for you to finish your makeup.” After speaking, she looked at Gu Huai Zhong, “Your concubine is indeed beautiful, but you are unwell, and she isn’t even serving tea by your bedside. Instead, she wears such heavy makeup. Who is she trying to impress?”

Even the stupid Liu Yue could sense the blatant disdain in Princess Ping Hu’s words. Her petite face turned slightly pale, and she hurriedly explained, “This concubine wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, this princess didn’t realise that the concubine in the Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence held such a high position,” Princess Ping Hu sneered and said to Gu Huai Zhong, “Did this princess permit her to speak? She called herself a concubine in front of this princess, but can’t even see whether she is worthy or not. She’s just a concubine.”

Since Liu Yue had beat Liang Huaiyu away from the marquis’ residence, no one had dared to look down on her. She often glared at others instead. Today, being rebuked by Princess Ping Hu several times, she felt really aggrieved and she cried uncontrollably.

The Eldest Princess’ words were cutting, targeting all her sore spots, leaving her with resentment but also with no choice but to endure. She was a princess, so even if she scolded her to her face, she could only endure it.

“Why haven’t you left yet?” Gu Huai Zhong sternly ordered Liu Yue, momentarily forgetting that he was supposed to be unwell. His order was full of energy.

Liu Yue trembled in fright, then hastily kowtowed before retreating from the parlour. Once outside, she could not stop her tears from pouring out. This damn princess was going too far! She had been trying to flatter her, and now she was treated like dirt. It made her heart feel cold.

Princess Ping Hu looked at Gu Huai Zhong with wide eyes. She patted her chest with her delicate and pale hand, saying, “Is the Ding Yuan Marquis scaring someone? Why does this princess feel that the Ding Yuan Marquis has a vigorous voice? Isn’t the Ding Yuan Marquis supposed to be unwell?”

Although she was joking like this, her heart sank. Most of what Yun Ke said had been true. The Ding Yuan Marquis’ illness was fake.

Only then did Gu Huai Zhong realise that he had been too harsh. He quickly coughed as if trying to cover it up and, with a forced smile, raised cupped fists to Princess Ping Hu, “This minister was just anxious for a moment. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

“No harm done,” the Eldest Princess waved her hand dismissively, “She’s just a servant. Even if this princess wanted to relieve anger, this princess would not do it with a servant.”

Gu Huai Zhong did not even know how to respond. He blamed Liu Yue in his heart for overstepping, but had to put a smile on his face.

“Right. This princess came here today specifically to check on you,” the Eldest Princess said, glancing at the palace maid standing beside her. The palace maid understood and promptly took out the gift she had brought, and presented it to her.

Gu Huai Zhong looked at it and saw it was an old wild ginseng, appearing to be several hundred years old.

“Your Highness is too kind. This minister is unworthy of such a gift,” he immediately bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude.

“You have a good daughter. She found a prescription for the plague and saved the people of the Qi dynasty. This is just wild ginseng, there’s nothing you should feel unworthy of,” Princess Ping Hu commented while seizing the opportunity to strike.

Gu Huai Zhong lowered his head, his expression slightly changing. Fortunately, he was still bowing, so the Eldest Princess could not see it. However, Princess Ping Hu still noticed the Gu Huai Zhong’s obvious stiffness when she mentioned Gu Yu Qi.

Princess Ping Hu sighed silently in her heart. She had been sceptical of Yun Ke’s story from the beginning, but now she believed almost all of it.

If Gu Huai Zhong had nothing to hide, then as a father, why would he not wish for his daughter’s return? Why did he seem so uneasy whenever Gu Yu Qi was mentioned?

Princess Ping Hu felt a bit of pity for Gu Yu Qi and Liang Huai Yu. As a woman, she understood the hardships that women faced. Initially, she had some complaints about Gu Yu Qi and her mother for using the jade pendant she gave her to force her way out of the city gates and escape from the capital. However, now it seemed that things were not as simple as she had thought. There really might be something hidden.

“This minister dares not,” Gu Huai Zhong finally managed to say after holding back for a while, still bowing and not daring to meet the gaze of the Eldest Princess.

“Don’t be so formal,” Princess Ping Hu suppressed her thoughts, and smiled gently, “After all, this is your residence. By the way, you’ve been ill for so many days, His Majesty has already mentioned your daughter several times. How could a father and daughter have an overnight grudge? Your daughter has made great contributions, and the Emperor is thinking of rewarding her. However, you insisted on expelling her from your family. What do you think should be done? She hasn’t committed any heinous crimes. After wandering and living outside for so many days, it can be considered punishment enough. What do you think about bringing her back?”

Gu Huai Zhong’s heart suddenly lurched up to his throat.

He could not help but feel anxious. If the Reincarnation Pavilion had been more reliable, Gu Yu Qi and Liang Huai Yu would be dead already. Even if he had pretended to recover the mother’s and daughter’s remains, there would be nothing wrong with it if he had erected tombstones for them according to customary procedures. After all, nothing suspicious would be found. But now, Princess Ping Hu had openly brought up the matter. What could he do?

Pretending ignorance was no longer an option. Gu Huai Zhong could not figure out whether Princess Ping Hu’s visit today was of her own initiative or from His Majesty’s. Usually, Princess Ping Hu was aligned with His Majesty, so she likely represented his intentions.

Now he was in trouble!

That night, Gu Yu Qi had left the marquis’ residence because of Liang Huai Yu. If he wanted to bring Gu Yu Qi back, he would have to appeal to Liang Huai Yu.

How could he face that now?

“This minister also wants to, but this minister’s body…” Gu Huai Zhong sighed, shaking his head, “This minister thinks about that rebellious girl, but this minister doesn’t know where she is now.”

“How about this, this princess will send someone to help you find her, alright?” Princess Ping Hu smiled, “Considering your health is not too good now, this princess will take care of this for you. Just wait for someone to find her and bring her back, and then you can accept her back into the family.”

Although she phrased it as a suggestion, her tone carried a firmness that left no room for Gu Huai Zhong to resist.

Gu Huai Zhong felt his scalp tingling but had no choice. He could only nod reluctantly, “Then this minister will trouble the Eldest Princess for this.”

Seeing she had achieved her goal, Princess Ping Hu stood up, “Alright, this princess won’t disturb your rest any longer. Take care of yourself. Once this princess brings your daughter back, you can await for the Emperor’s reward.” She deliberately emphasised the word “reward,” giving Gu Huai Zhong an inexplicable sense of unease.

After the Eldest Princess left, Gu Huai Zhong could no longer sit still. He stood up and paced back and forth in the parlour

Liu Yue walked in, “Marquis.” She had barely uttered a word when Gu Huai Zhong shouted at her, “Get out!”

Liu Yue stood dumbfounded. Gu Huai Zhong rarely lost his temper and yelled at her like this.

She had already endured Princess Ping Hu’s wrath, and now she found herself inexplicably scolded by Gu Huai Zhong. Her eyes welled up with tears.

“You’ve lost face in front of the princess, so why run here and make a scene?” Liu Yue cried,”I’ve been wronged enough today. Why yell at me? I’ll just leave. Since Liang Huai Yu has already been driven away by you, why not just drive me away too? Then you’ll be the only one left in the residence, all clean and tidy!”

“What nonsense are you talking about?!” Gu Huai Zhong, angered by Liu Yue’s words, felt a throbbing headache, “If you want to leave, go ahead. No one is stopping you!”

“If you tell me to leave, then I’ll leave!” Seeing the unfavourable situation, Liu Yue began to throw a tantrum. She sat down on the floor of the parlour, crying and cursing, “You heartless creature! I’ve followed you diligently for so many years, always prioritising you in everything, enduring humiliation and hardship for you without any status or recognition. And now, you treat me like this and tell me to get lost! Gu Huai Zhong, do you still have a conscience?”

Seeing the confrontation escalating, the servants attending on the side quickly stepped back, fearing that the couple’s quarrel would affect them.

Those with quick wits had already gone to the rear courtyard to summon Gu Si Yang.

When Gu Si Yang arrived, Liu Yue had already thrown herself onto Gu Huai Zhong, continuously hitting him while crying.

If Gu Huai Zhong wanted to retaliate, Liu Yue would have been reduced to minced meat long ago. He had been enduring it.

Liu Yue had followed him for so many years at the border so he had shown considerable patience with her. However, deep down, he was really annoyed by her. When Gu Si Yang arrived, Gu Huai Zhong immediately told him, “Hurry up and take your mother away! Look at what she has become!”

Gu Si Yang cast a deep glance at his mother, who was crying and making a scene without any semblance of composure. With a heavy sigh, he silently approached Liu Yue and gently pulled her away from Gu Huai Zhong, “Mother, let’s go back,” he said in a calm voice.

“Si Yang, you came at just the right time!” Seeing her son, Liu Yue gained more confidence. She cried as she clung to Gu Si Yang’s sleeve, wiping her nose and tears, “You judge things for your mother. The princess was angry at your father and he immediately vented it on me. What have I done wrong?!”

Gu Huai Zhong pressed his fingers against his throbbing and protruding temples, too angry to say anything.

This woman still did not realise where she went wrong.

He was claiming to be sick at home, and yet she, as a concubine, adorned herself heavily. Was she not practically slapping him in the face in front of the Eldest Princess?

Wearing clothes in the same colour as the Eldest Princess and even flaunting such a luxurious hairpin on her head, was this not a direct challenge to the Eldest Princess?

What kind of person was the Eldest Princess? She would not tolerate a concubine speaking out of turn in her presence. She had offended the Eldest Princess completely, and she did not even know it!

For the first time after Liang Huai Yu left, Gu Huai Zhong realised that Liang Huai Yu had been careful and prudent in handling such matters.

If Liang Huai Yu had been with him today instead of Liu Yue, such a low-level mistake would definitely not have occurred.

However, she was the one he brought back himself. What more could he say? He could only hope that his son would quickly get rid of his troublesome mother. His head felt like it was about to explode.

With a pile of vexing troubles right in front of him and her continuous crying and fussing, Gu Huai Zhong, who had felt smooth sailing since entering the capital, now found his life utterly miserable.