Rebirth of the Excellent Daughter of the Marquis Household (REDMH) - Chapter 126

Seeing that Gu Si Yang was still hesitating, Gu Yu Qi lifted the brim of her hat that had been shading her face, then said to Gu Si Yang, “Look into my eyes!”

Gu Si Yang glanced up blankly. In the golden autumn sunlight, the girl’s face was vivid and striking, her black hair gently stirred by the breeze. Her eyes were firm but filled with warmth.

“Si Yang, if you let this evil person off today because you fear for your reputation, then he will harm many more youths like you in the future. Besides, he merely teased you, no real harm was done. But if you let it go, he will only grow bolder. You have read so many books of wisdom. Do you not understand the principle of eradicating evil at its root? And besides, you need something to protect yourself. This evil person has a powerful background. If he accuses you first, will you not suffer even greater losses?” Gu Yu Qi spoke slowly.

Gu Si Yang felt both ashamed and humbled after hearing what his eldest sister said. Yes, how could he be so timid, simply because he had been teased in public? If he shrank back in the face of such evil, would that not be as his sister said, tolerating and allowing evil to thrive?

For all the years he had studied the classics, he had always admired the righteous and benevolent heroes who eradicated evil and defended justice. Yet now, when he was confronted with it himself, he became timid. Even if he was physically weak, what did it matter? As long as he was truthful in his heart, then it was righteous.

With that thought, Gu Si Yang straightened his back and walked toward the nearby shop. “Sir, may I borrow some paper and a brush?”

The shopkeeper, who had been watching the scene while hiding inside his store, had long been impressed by Gu Yu Qi’s handling of Xia Shuang Cheng. Seeing Gu Si Yang come over to borrow paper and ink, he was delighted and quickly retrieved them for him. The shopkeeper even bowed silently to Gu Si Yang and gave him a thumbs up. He was just a commoner so there was no way he could act against these aristocrats, but it was clear to him where justice lay.

Gu Si Yang was momentarily startled by the shopkeeper’s gesture but then felt a surge of unprecedented pride. His sister was right! Even ordinary people were grateful when evil was eradicated. What was there to fear? Gu Si Yang strode back confidently.

“Write down what he said earlier,” Gu Yu Qi said to Gu Si Yang.

“Yes.” This time, without any hesitation, Gu Si Yang nodded firmly and began writing furiously on a stone drum by the roadside.

Who said scholars were useless? Gu Si Yang felt as if inspiration was guiding his hand, and the words came to him with ease, his pen flowing effortlessly across the page.

“It’s done,” Gu Si Yang said, looking up at Gu Yu Qi with bright, clear eyes.

“Do you have any objections to what I just said?” Gu Yu Qi twisted his arm and Xia Shuang Cheng wanted to roll around on the ground in pain. How could he dare resist Gu Yu Qi? All he could do was nod repeatedly in submission.

“If you have no objections, then press your fingerprint on the paper. And that so-called jade, was it really brought back from the frontier, or, as my brother claimed, was it simply purchased from this very shop? Were you trying to blackmail him?” Gu Yu Qi asked coldly.

Xia Shuang Cheng nodded repeatedly. My god, if he dared to shake his head, he was certain his arm would be snapped.

“Write it down,” Gu Yu Qi said to Gu Si Yang.

“Mhmm,” Gu Si Yang dutifully copied down every word.

“Give him the paper and have him sign it,” Gu Yu Qi instructed Gu Si Yang.

“Yes,” Gu Si Yang placed the paper on the ground and handed the brush to Xia Shuang Cheng’s only movable hand.

“Sign it, write that all the above statements are true, then write your full name!” Gu Yu Qi pinched one his pinky finger hard and Xia Shuang Cheng felt searing pain radiating up his arm. The ten fingers were connected to the heart, this woman was so cruel! “If you make a single mistake, I will break one of your fingers. You only have five on this hand, so watch yourself.”

Does she even leave a man a way out?! Xia Shuang Cheng was fully convinced that this woman was more ruthless than him!

The rumours in the capital turned out to be all true. The Ding Yuan Marquis’ daughter was really a big tyrant! Help!

Trembling, Xia Shuang Cheng scrawled down the statement and signed his name exactly as Gu Yu Qi had ordered.

“Give me the paper.” Gu Yu Qi was worried about leaving such a critical document with Gu Si Yang. If it was stolen, all their efforts would be wasted.

Gu Si Yang carefully dried the ink, folded the paper, and handed it to Gu Yu Qi. Gu Yu Qi put the paper away, and only then did she ease up her grip on Xia Shuang Cheng, giving him a slight reprieve.

“Head home first,” Gu Yu Qi told Gu Si Yang.

“I will wait for Eldest Sister,” Gu Si Yang responded, shaking his head.

This kid… How could he be so naive? Could he not see that some of Xia Shuang Cheng’s lackeys had already slipped away to fetch reinforcements? Gu Si Yang might have been oblivious, but Gu Yu Qi had been on guard the entire time.

The Xia family was used to running rampant. Once their reinforcements arrived, it would be too late for them to escape.

While Gu Yu Qi herself could easily make a quick escape, Gu Si Yang could not. How fast could a frail scholar possibly run? Gu Yu Qi wanted to stall for time and let Gu Si Yang make it back home first. No matter how powerful the Xia family was, if they went to the Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence, Gu Huai Zhong would have no choice but to protect his only son. When the situation escalated, the paper Xia Shuang Cheng had signed earlier would prove invaluable.

“Don’t be silly. Hurry and leave first,” Gu Yu Qi looked at Gu Si Yang sharply.

But Gu Si Yang, still confused, remained stubborn. “I’m going together with Eldest Sister.”

Together my foot, I can run fast, can you keep up with me?

Gu Yu Qi was speechless and tried to signal him to leave with a wink, but Gu Si Yang did not catch on to what Gu Yu Qi meant at all. Instead, he asked stupidly, “Eldest Sister, do you have sand in your eye?”

What sand, you big headed idiot.

How could this kid be so earnest…

Just as Gu Yu Qi was about to speak again, the sound of hoofbeats echoed from the end of the street. A group of men dressed in black uniforms on black horses galloped towards them.

The leader was a man in his forties with a commanding presence and dressed in luxurious robes.

Xia Shuang Cheng looked up and upon seeing this, he stretched out his hand excitedly to the man. His saviour had arrived!

The horses stopped abruptly just before Gu Yu Qi. The men dismounted in unison, their movements sharp and orderly.

“You, girl, how dare you attack someone in broad daylight! Is there no law left in this world?” The middle-aged man shouted at Gu Yu Qi as soon as he stepped off his horse, catching sight of Xia Shuang Cheng’s pitiful state.

It was Xia Yan. Gu Yu Qi knew him. He was Xia Shuang Cheng’s father, the An Le Marquis.

“Then may I ask the Marquis, is there any law that allows this scum to harass my brother in the middle of the street?” Gu Yu Qi lowered her face and asked in a serious tone.

This disobedient son! The An Le Marquis’ expression darkened. He knew immediately that his son had caused trouble again. Yet, he still loved his son dearly. Seeing the tears streaking down his son’s face, his face covered with shoe prints and mud, the Marquis’ heart filled with pain. No matter how much his son misbehaved, only he had the right to scold and punish him, no one else could!

“You could take my son to court, but attacking him on the streets is an abuse of justice!” An Le Marquis growled furiously, “Let go of my son at once! It’s fine if my son is alright, but if anything happens to him, I will see your entire family buried with him!”

“Oh?” A cold voice echoed from the other side of the street. A figure dressed in white robes turned the corner of the street. He must have come in a hurry for his clothes were slightly sullied with dust, though it did not diminish his noble bearing. His eyes were cold and filled with a quiet fury. He glanced over at Xia Shuang Cheng sprawled on the ground.

“This prince was unaware that the An Le Marquis could have such an uproarious tone in public,” Yun Ke briskly approached, stopping just behind Gu Yu Qi. His icy eyes met those of the An Le Marquis, Xia Yan.

The An Le Marquis’ heart sank. What was going on today? Why was His Highness Prince An, who usually never meddled with other people’s business, suddenly involved in this matter?

Judging by his stance and his tone, it seemed as though he knew this young woman.

The servants who had stumbled home to report the incident only mentioned that the young master had been attacked on the street. They had not said who had beat him.

Xia Yan had rushed over and had not bothered to ask about Gu Yu Qi’s identity. Gu Yu Qi had recently returned to the capital, and even when she had lived here before, she had kept a low profile and rarely showed herself in public. Not many people had seen her face, so it was no wonder that Xia Yan had not recognised her.

All he had noticed upon arriving was the girl’s striking beauty and her young, delicate brother, who had a cherubic face. He had assumed that his mongrel of a son had flirted with them because of her beauty. Normally, when noble girls ventured out, they were accompanied by maids or older women. However, this young woman in a red dress was alone, and the boy beside her had no attendants either. So he concluded that, despite their fine clothes, they must merely be the children of wealthy families with good looks.

In the capital, most nobles and officials treated the Xia family with a degree of caution, showing deference even when there were disputes. None of them would dare to be as cruel as Gu Yu Qi.

Yet, in truth, Gu Yu Qi’s actions had not been all that severe. Xia Shuang Cheng had felt pain, but no real injury had been inflicted. The force that Gu Yu Qi exerted had been executed with calculated precision. It was Xia Shuang Cheng himself who had been frightened of Gu Yu Qi’s reputation and her fierce demeanour, along with the jar of wine that Gu Si Yang had poured, making his throat burn.

Gu Yu Qi naturally recognised Yun Ke’s voice. Even without turning around, she knew Yun Ke had arrived.

Gu Si Yang had never met Yun Ke in person, but he knew that his eldest sister was soon to be wed to Yun Ke as a concubine. When he heard the An Le Marquis bowing and addressing Yun Ke as “Prince An,” Gu Si Yang’s heart lifted. He quickly turned and greeted Yun Ke with a deep bow, “Greetings, Your Highness Prince An.”

“You can rise,” Yun Ke responded gently to Gu Si Yang. Then, turning to Gu Yu Qi, he added, “Let him go.”

He had only just returned to his residence when he passed by the guardhouse and overheard some of the resting guards joking around inside. At first, he had paid no mind, but then the mention of “Kuizhou” caught his attention. His heart stirred and he entered the guardhouse to inquire further. Only then did he learn that a woman claiming to have come from Kuizhou had came to see him.

He had been shocked. In this lifetime, Gu Yu Qi had always maintained distance from him, so for her to personally come looking for him today meant something important must have happened.

He immediately asked how Gu Yu Qi had arrived and how she had left, before swiftly setting off in pursuit.