Rebirth of the Excellent Daughter of the Marquis Household (REDMH) - Chapter 107

“Hm. I do want to, but even if I’m willing to, I’m afraid it won’t solve the current problem,” Gu Yu Qi said softly. Though her delicate face remained calm, ripples had formed in her heart because of Lou Xiao’s words.

Lou Xiao seemed to have opened a door to another world right before her eyes, a realm she had never considered before and never ventured into.

“Thank you, Young Master,” Gu Yu Qi stood up. Then she bowed to Lou Xiao and turned to leave.

“No need to thank me,” Lou Xiao said with a faint smile that reflected the sunlight on the lake’s surface, gentle and bright.

Gu Yu Qi walked a few steps and reached for the door. Just as she was about to lift her hand to open the door, she heard Lou Xiao’s voice behind her, “If you really want to go to Daliang, I can help.”

Gu Yu Qi’s steps faltered. Her hand rested on the doorframe, frozen in place.

She turned and looked back. Lou Xiao stood by the railing, his clothes fluttering and his black hair flowing. His fair face was adorned with a gentle smile. “What? Don’t believe me?”

“Who exactly are you?” Gu Yu Qi’s voice gradually turned cold as she stared at Lou Xiao with burning eyes.

Observing his outstanding demeanour, though he was dressed simply in white, he exuded an extraordinary aura. Leaning against the railing, he emitted a different vibe from usual, as if he had hidden his usual gentle demeanour and now radiated with a more intense presence.

How could an ordinary man from a middle-class family possess such drastically different energies at the same time?

The icy glint in his eyes now sparked a sense of familiarity in Gu Yu Qi.

“Where have I seen you before?” Gu Yu Qi asked suspiciously.

Lou Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. Gradually, his eyes narrowed while maintaining a warm smile on his face, “Of course we’ve met before. Wasn’t it that night when you saw me?”

Gu Yu Qi furrowed her brows slightly. That night? Oh, right, he was probably talking about the night she drove away Du Xia. However, she was quite upset that day and only glanced at him briefly without delving further.

“It seems like Young Master is also someone with stories,” Gu Yu Qi’s voice turned colder as she spoke, “I’m just a humble girl, not as ambitious as you think. While what Young Master said sounds good, that kind of life is too distant for me,” she paused for a moment, “If Young Master is not willing to reveal his identity, I won’t force it. As long as Young Master remains my tutor, I’ll continue to respect Young Master.”

“Do you really want to return to the Qi dynasty’s capital and live an ordinary life of a noble lady?” Lou Xiao asked gently, “Although we’ve only known each other for less than a month, I can tell that you have ambitions, but nowhere to fulfil them. I can offer you an opportunity to do what you want. How about it? Am I seeing you as a heroine of our time, only for you to retreat when opportunity knocks?”

Gu Yu Qi looked at Lou Xiao coldly, “Provocation won’t work on me. It doesn’t matter what I think. Still, I appreciate your high regard for me.”

Gu Yu Qi quickly walked out of the pavilion, feeling suffocated. She found a secluded corner, stopped, took a deep breath, and let the fresh air fill her lungs. It took her a long time before she could calm down.

She dreaded the thought of returning to the life in the Qi dynasty’s capital. Her mother would undoubtedly arrange a marriage for her, and Yun Ke had long made it clear that if she were to marry in this life, it could only be him.

Was it not enough that he had humiliated her in the previous life? Did she have to endure it again in this life? Did she have to go Prince An’s palace as a concubine again? What about her mother?

She knew Yun Ke the best. He always followed through on his words. Who knew if Gu Huai Zhong’s visit to Kuizhou was orchestrated by him? After all, he had left a guard to monitor her every move from afar in the capital, regardless of where she went or whom she met.

While Lou Xiao’s words stirred something in her and she could see that Lou Xiao had the power to take her to Daliang and even recommend her for a position as a female official, but would Yun Ke really let go?

Gu Yu Qi was genuinely afraid that if she showed any hint of defiance in front of others, Yun Ke would find a way to kill her mother.

After all, she had obtained her mother’s life through lies, and Yun Ke knew she was her weakness. That was the terrifying thing about Yun Ke, he always knew how to exploit your deepest fears.

Winter was approaching so the chaos of the Gengzi Year Rebellion would erupt in a matter of days. The Crown Prince would be deposed due to mishandling the riots and Yun Ke would eventually rise to the pinnacle of power. All of this was inevitable. Therefore, Gu Yu Qi’s greatest concern was that something unexpected would happen, pushing her mother towards death.

After Gu Yu Qi left, Lou Xiao’s smile faded and a dark tide surged in his eyes.

He had thought Gu Yu Qi would readily agree to go to Daliang with him, but she had unexpectedly refused without looking back.

He genuinely did not want to use any other means on Gu Yu Qi, but time waited for no one.

He had received urgent letters urging him to return to Daliang. If he still did not act, there might be other variables in the capital. He had been away for too long, and his excuse of claiming to be ill would not hold up much longer.

While he could afford to wait longer, the situation in the capital did not allow him to continue enjoying his freedom outside.

Gu Huai Zhong had been kneeling in front of the Liang residence’s gate all this time. After years of living in luxury, he was no longer the young man who had weathered storms and hardships back then. Even with cushions beneath his knees, his legs trembled uncontrollably.

The early autumn sunlight was still scorchingly hot and intense, making Gu Huai Zhong dizzy.

One of his guards on the side, fearing that he would not be able to hold on, untied a water pouch and offered it to him, “Marquis, have a drink.”

Gu Huai Zhong glanced feebly at him and shook his head.

Liang Huai Yu, you really are something! I am already kneeling like this, and you still will not open the door! Gu Huai Zhong appeared exhausted on the surface, but deep down, he cursed Liang Huai Yu incessantly.

His feelings of resentment grew little by little with time. He really wanted to kick open the door of the Liang residence, then brutally grab Liang Huai Yu’s neck, forcing her to bring out her copy of the divorce letter, then destroy it in front of her and slowly choke her to death!

As long as she died, the things he had done in the past would vanish into thin air. No one would use this matter to impeach him again, nor would anyone mention that he climbed up step by step relying on the Liang family’s support.

Continuing to kneel like this was not a solution. Gu Huai Zhong pretended to be weak and swayed a few times.

With his swaying, the Kuizhou officials standing beside him were scared.

“What should we do?” a Kuizhou official whispered, “My lord, if we allow the Marquis to continue kneeling like this, it’s likely to cause trouble. How about…” He whispered a few words in the ear of the Garrison Commander, who immediately came to his senses, “Quick, go fetch the Madam,” he instructed his trusted aides nearby.

The Garrison Commander’s wife would come forward to persuade. Being heavily pregnant, would the Liang family still refuse to open the door again? Why had he not thought of this good idea before?! Seriously.

Before long, the Garrison Commander’s wife was carried over. After she got off the sedan chair and exchanged a few words with her husband, she was assisted by her maidservants to walk towards the gate of the Liang residence.

Zhang Lan recognized the Garrison Commander’s wife. Seeing her arrival, how could he dare to be negligent? He immediately went to call Liang Huai Yu out.

Liang Huai Yu was still in a dilemma, but when she heard that the Garrison Commander’s wife had come, she was also startled.

She had always had a delicate constitution and had barely managed to hold on until now. If something went wrong at her doorstep, she really could not bear the responsibility.

There was no other way. Liang Huai Yu had to hurry to the gate and open it.

“Madam Liang,” the Garrison Commander’s wife was about to curtsey with her protruding belly, which frightened Liang Huai Yu. She immediately reached out to support her, “Please don’t. Madam, please come in and talk.”

As soon as she finished speaking, there was a muffled thud. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Gu Huai Zhong, who had been kneeling to the side, falling unconscious on the steps of the Liang residence, motionless.

“Oh!” the Garrison Commander’s wife suddenly paled and she hurriedly said to Liang Huai Yu, “Madam Liang, the one who fell down is the Ding Yuan Marquis. If something happens to him here, I’m afraid my husband will be punished. Please, Madam Liang, show mercy and lend him a place to recuperate. I’ll go fetch a physician immediately.”

After speaking, she was afraid Liang Huai Yu would refuse, so she pushed Liang Huai Yu aside and walked down the stairs herself. A group of maids and servants followed closely, fearing she might trip or hurt herself, worried about any mishap.

Liang Huai Yu stood on the steps, watching Gu Huai Zhong lying motionless halfway down the stairs. She sighed deeply, “Zhang Lan, please bring the Marquis in. Find a good physician to examine him.”

As soon as she spoke, all the Kuizhou officials present breathed a sigh of relief. It should be fine now. The two of you had a disagreement, which made everyone stand and worry. What a mess!

Gu Huai Zhong lay on the ground, his heart full of hatred. If he had not cleverly pretended to faint immediately, who knew until when he would have to kneel down?!

As soon as he was admitted to the Liang residence, he would bring Gu Yu Qi back to the capital even if he had to kidnap her!

As for Liang Huai Yu, this annoying woman, he would definitely get rid of her!

Gu Yu Qi was also a troublemaker! These two were already major headaches for him. It would be a relief to get rid of them.

If His Majesty were to see the crazy and silly Gu Yu Qi, who knows what reward he would give her?

A hint of a sinister smile flashed across Gu Huai Zhong’s lips as he was lifted up by Zhang Lan and the guards behind him, then carried into the Liang residence.

Gu Yu Qi stood in the corridor and watched coldly as the guards brought by Gu Huai Zhong ran around her own residence. She called for Bai Fu, “Go tell Chun Xing to ensure Madam’s safety.”

“Yes, Young Miss.” Although Bai Fu did not understand why her young miss said that, she quickly went to convey Gu Yu Qi’s message to Chun Xing.