Rebirth of the Excellent Daughter of the Marquis Household (REDMH) - Chapter 137

Gu Yu Qi waited outside the residence for about the time it would take to burn an incense stick. Seeing that they were still dawdling inside, she decided not to wait any longer. She called out to Yan Zhi to have the carriage prepared for departure.

Just as she had settled into the carriage, she saw Liu Yue running towards her in a hurry.

“Eldest Miss, wait a moment,” Liu Yue called out as she ran, silently cursing Gu Yu Qi for being so inconsiderate. She was really going to leave without saying anything.

“Since you are here, get in,” Gu Yu Qi said calmly, leaning slightly out of the carriage.

Liu Yue secretly let out a sigh of relief and grabbed the edge of the carriage, waving towards the courtyard. Only then did Gu Si Yu, surrounded by her maids, hurriedly emerge.

Gu Yu Qi gave Gu Si Yu a once-over. It was clear that Liu Yue had put a lot of thought into dressing her up.

She wore a newly tailored light pink silk skirt, paired with a pale white shawl. The hem of the skirt was embroidered with peach blossoms in matching thread, and as she walked, the flowers seemed to float gracefully around her feet. A rose-red silk ribbon was tied around her waist with a silver tassel from which a white jade pendant hung. In her hair, a golden hairpin shaped like a peach blossom and inlaid with rubies gleamed, with a red teardrop gemstone dangling from it. Her ears were adorned with delicate red coral earrings, perfectly matching the hairpin.

Gu Si Yu was born with a naturally good appearance. With this outfit, she looked like a lotus flower emerging from the water. Her fair face, rosy cheeks and shy, timid eyes gave her a charming, innocent appearance and made people pity her.

By comparison, her own outfit was simple, just a plain red robe. Her black hair was casually tied at the back with a jade hairpin, and the only other accessory she wore was the jade pendant she had kept with her since childhood. There was no other adornment.

Looking at the two of them, it was Gu Si Yu who appeared more like the dignified legitimate eldest daughter of a marquis’ household, while she looked more like the unloved and neglected concubine’s child.

However, Gu Yu Qi was unbothered by such things.

Gu Si Yu’s maid, Xiao Tao, helped her into the carriage. Liu Yue, still uneasy, pinched her daughter’s hand hard, reminding her, “Remember what Mother told you, and make sure you do it well!”

Gu Si Yu felt pain but, aware that Gu Yu Qi was sitting right behind her, she held back and only nodded lightly. “Yes.”

Liu Yue finally let go of her daughter and, with a smile, peeked her head into the carriage to address Gu Yu Qi, who was already seated inside, “Please take good care of Si Yu, Eldest Miss. After all, our Si Yu is promised to be the future princess consort of Prince Fu.”

Gu Yu Qi, fully aware of Liu Yue’s intentions, simply nodded slightly in response.

She knew that Liu Yue had said that deliberately to provoke her.

The curtain of the carriage was lowered, and it slowly started to move towards the princess’ residence.

Sitting beside Gu Yu Qi, Gu Si Yu could not help but steal glances at her eldest sister out of the corner of her eye.

The more she looked, the more inadequate she felt in comparison. Her eldest sister’s skin was flawless, smooth and pale like the finest ivory, without the need for powder. Her eyes were striking and when she smiled, they sparkled like a calm autumn lake. When she was serious, they held an intimidating sharpness. Even without any adornments, just sitting there, she radiated a grace and poise that was beyond comparison.

“What are you looking at?” Gu Yu Qi noticed Gu Si Yu’s furtive gaze and could not help but turn to look at her.

“Nothing,” Gu Si Yu, startled, quickly lowered her head.

“Your future husband is also at Princess Ping Hu’s residence,” Gu Yu Qi said suddenly.

“Ah?” Gu Si Yu’s head shot up in surprise, her eyes wide with confusion and anxiety as she looked at Gu Yu Qi.

If only she could remain this innocent and untouched by Liu Yue’s influence, perhaps things would turn out well for her. Prince Fu was a gentle soul and would treat her kindly. Gu Yu Qi looked at Gu Si Yu who was like a frightened little rabbit and sighed inwardly.

Some people were simply fortunate, like Gu Si Yu, blessed in both her past and present life. And then there were others, like herself, who spent their lives chasing after unattainable things, only to end up wounded and broken.

With a quiet sigh, Gu Yu Qi said, “When you meet Prince Fu, there’s no need to be afraid. He’s spent most of his life at Huguo Temple, immersed in Buddhist teachings. He is sure to be peaceful and kind. Just try to get along with him.”

“Mm,” Gu Si Yu softly replied, biting her lip gently as she nodded. How could her eldest sister possibly be as bad as Mother claimed? Look how good she was being to her right now.

However, her mother had always instructed her to be wary of her eldest sister, which made Gu Si Yu feel very conflicted and torn. She did not know whether she should believe her mother’s words.

The Eldest Princess’ residence appeared grand and magnificent under the bright autumn sun, its splendour rivalled only by the imperial palace in the capital.

Princess Ping Hu had been pampered all her life. The former emperor had showered her with affection, and after his passing, Emperor Jing, who ascended the throne, continued to protect this eldest sister. From its initial construction to its repeated renovations, the Eldest Princess’ residence had only grown more majestic and imposing. Unfortunately, all her blessings seemed to have been spent by the imperial family, for in matters of love and heirs, she had never been satisfied.

Gu Yu Qi’s carriage stopped at the entrance of the princess’ residence, and a servant from the residence came forward to place down a footstool. Yan Zhi and Xiao Tao stepped down, helping Gu Yu Qi and Gu Si Yu alight from the carriage respectively.

Seeing the towering gates of the mansion before her, Gu Si Yu felt a bit nervous. She hurried a step forward and gently tugged on the hem of Gu Yu Qi’s robe. “Eldest Sister…” she called Gu Yu Qi, her voice betraying her unease.

“Don’t be afraid. When you meet the Eldest Princess and Prince Fu, just remember to follow the proper etiquette. The training nannies have already taught you everything, you just need to do as you were instructed,” Gu Yu Qi said softly.

“Mm.” Reassured by Gu Yu Qi’s words, Gu Si Yu gathered her courage and followed Gu Yu Qi inside.

At this moment, the Eldest Princess was conversing with Prince Fu in the parlour. Despite the late autumn season, the courtyard of the princess’ residence was filled with the fragrance of sweet osmanthus and the full blooms of chrysanthemums, making the entire garden radiant with colour and fragrance.

“Greetings to the Eldest Princess, greetings to Prince Fu,” Gu Yu Qi knelt and greeted them upon being led into the parlour, and Gu Si Yu quickly followed suit, kneeling beside her.

The Eldest Princess smiled and allowed them to rise, then she carefully examined the two from head to toe, inwardly making some comparisons.

Prince Fu, sitting beside the Eldest Princess, also glanced over with curiosity. His face was covered by a light green veil that concealed his mouth and nose, but his exposed eyes were bright and gentle.

He had a tall and elegant figure, dressed in a plain green brocade robe with no embellishments, yet his innate noble aura was impossible to conceal. Among the scent of sweet osmanthus filling the courtyard, there seemed to be a faint whiff of sandalwood clinging to him, likely from spending a long time residing in a temple. His hands were extremely pale, almost translucent, suggesting that he seldom saw the sun.

It was also Gu Yu Qi’s first time meeting Prince Fu, so she could not help but glance at him a couple of times. When he noticed Gu Yu Qi looking at him, he offered her a gentle smile, his eyes as deep as the ocean. Gu Yu Qi was momentarily taken aback but quickly nodded in return, giving him a faint smile out of politeness.

Gu Si Yu had been watching Gu Yu Qi the entire time. The moment she had greeted them, she realised that the young man sitting in the position of honour was her future husband, Prince Fu. Unlike Gu Yu Qi, she did not dare to look at him directly and only focused on her eldest sister. However, she noticed Gu Yu Qi giving a soft smile toward her future husband.

Gu Si Yu instantly remembered her mother’s words, “Be wary of your eldest sister.”

“Your eldest sister was born with the appearance of a seductress.”

These words, combined with Gu Yu Qi’s smile just now, tangled in her thoughts like a spell, causing her complexion to pale. What was her eldest sister’s smile toward her future husband supposed to mean? Could her mother be right? Was she truly unwilling to be just a concubine to Prince An, and now intended to compete with her for Prince Fu?

The Eldest Princess observed the expressions of the two sisters and found the situation quite amusing.

Gu Yu Qi, as expected of a legitimate daughter, was composed and poised. Gu Si Yu, despite her elaborate and ornate appearance, looked like a beautifully dressed doll but lacked the calm and self-assured presence and her gaze was evasive. One could not deny that the daughters and sons of the Ding Yuan Marquis’ household were blessed with good looks.

Even Xia Shuang Cheng, who had seen many beauties, had been beaten up in the street by Gu Yu Qi over Gu Si Yang. Although she had never met Gu Si Yang, seeing Gu Si Yu’s appearance, it was evident that Gu Si Yang must be exceptionally handsome as well. They were twins after all.

The Eldest Princess invited the sisters to sit, and then exchanged a few words with Gu Yu Qi. Meanwhile, Gu Si Yu felt utterly foolish, unable to get a word into the conversation at all, sitting awkwardly on the side with her hands down. Her eldest sister, on the other hand, conversed easily with both the Eldest Princess and Prince Fu, which filled her heart with both envy and jealousy.

It felt as if there were only three people in the room, with her being the unnecessary extra one.

Prince Fu Yun Ling was aware that the girl behind Gu Yu Qi was to be his future princess.

When she lowered her head, he took the opportunity to glance at her a few times. She was indeed beautiful, possessing a delicate and pitiful charm. However, she seemed a bit too immature and shy, with her head always lowered. Still, he thought she might be a proper, dutiful woman.

In truth, his health had always fluctuated between good and bad. In the past, Emperor Jing had considered arranging a marriage for him, but as soon as the other party heard his name, they came up with various excuses to decline. Prince Fu was generous by nature and would never force anyone into anything. He had told Emperor Jing that unless a woman was willing, he would not marry. After all, which noble family in the capital would want their legitimate daughter to marry a man who might not live long? She might become a widow shortly after marriage, or even if she did not become a widow, Prince Fu’s body may not be strong enough to survive. It was not pleasant to be a widow, whether as a “living widow” or a widow to a dead husband.

Thus, Prince Fu’s marriage had been delayed day by day and had not been finalised until yesterday.

From his first impression of Gu Si Yu, Yun Ling was satisfied. He had no great expectations, only hoping that she would be honest and dutiful, staying by his side.

He understood his own condition well. If she were to marry him, he would treat her with all his heart. After all, she was a good young woman who would be tied to him, a chronically ill man, for the rest of her life. He felt a deep sense of guilt about this. He did not have the energy or strength to take multiple wives or concubines. All he wished for was a peaceful and simple marriage and he hoped his future wife would accompany him in leading a quiet, harmonious life.

Noticing that Yun Ling had glanced several times at Gu Si Yu, Princess Ping Hu realised she had been neglecting the younger illegitimate daughter. She then invited Gu Si Yu to join the conversation. However, Gu Si Yu was too nervous and accidentally knocked over a cup of tea, leaving her completely flustered and at a loss for what to do.