Rebirth of the Excellent Daughter of the Marquis Household (REDMH) - Chapter 168

Gu Si Yu could not stop sizing up Gu Yu Qi’s attire, her eyes darting slyly.

As she sat there, she suddenly heard the servant outside announce that County Princess Jia Min and County Princess Jia Xi had arrived.

Jia Min was Yan Zhi’s title. Ever since Yan Zhi had entered Imperial Princess Ping Hu’s palace, Gu Yu Qi had not seen her again. As soon as she heard this news, she rose immediately and went out to welcome them.

Gu Si Yu also brought her maid and followed behind Gu Yu Qi.

From afar, the two girls in palace attire approached together. In the sunlight, the jewelled hair pins atop their heads shimmered brilliantly, their pendants and jewellery ringing softly with their steps. Behind them followed a grand procession of palace maids and eunuchs, truly an impressive sight.

Standing behind Gu Yu Qi, Dai Mei could not help but whisper with a smile, “Yan Zhi is really quite impressive now.”

“Indeed. She is a county princess now. Of course it’s different from before,” Run Ying replied with a grin. Even Ran Mo, though characteristically quiet, had a hint of joy in her eyes.

Only Bai Fu’s face had grown gloomy.

She knew Yan Zhi was now a county princess, but it had only been a little over a month since they last met and Yan Zhi had already changed, growing more beautiful. Looking at her county princess’ attire and then at her own plain maid’s uniform, Bai Fu’s teeth ached with resentment.

What kind of ridiculous luck did this idiot have to suddenly rise so high with one leap?

As soon as Gu Yu Qi met Jia Xi and Jia Min, there was no need for formalities. They grasped each other’s hands and began chatting at once, leaving Gu Si Yu awkwardly off to the side, feeling increasingly out of place.

Yan Zhi had not seen Gu Yu Qi in quite some time. When she saw Gu Yu Qi, she grabbed her hand and would not let go, chattering incessantly about everything she had seen and heard at the princess’ palace. She also thanked County Princess Jia Xi over and over again.

Jia Xi could only laugh helplessly, clearly both amused and a little embarrassed.

After Yan Zhi had gone to live in the princess’ palace, though she bore the title of county princess, her nature remained simple and straightforward, with little ambition. Gu Yu Qi had told her to serve the Imperial Princess diligently and wholeheartedly, and she had done just that, behaving as though she were still a maid. No matter the task, she would take it upon herself, running about tirelessly. The Imperial Princess was both pleased and worried.

She liked Yan Zhi precisely because of that earnest temperament, but she was too honest. The princess’ palace would one day be handed over to her. If Yan Zhi still carried herself like a maid, how would she ever command the necessary authority over the other people in the princess’ palace?

Just as the Imperial Princess had feared, at first the household servants treated Yan Zhi with reverence, but later they realised she was just a naturally servile girl. Even though she wore the robes of a county princess, she lacked the bearing of one, so they began slacking, showing surface-level respect but secretly mocking and looking down on her.

The Imperial Princess grew anxious when she saw this. She truly liked Yan Zhi’s open and sincere nature so she invited County Princess Jia Xi to move in and accompany her.

Jia Xi had a lively personality and a good temperament. With her present, the servants no longer dared to bully Yan Zhi outright.

The Princess also hired tutors to teach Yan Zhi to read and write. Though a little naive, Yan Zhi was not a fool. After one month of focused lessons, she had made clear progress. She was always obedient. Gu Yu Qi had told her to obey the Princess, and so she obeyed the Princess. The Princess told her to study seriously, so she studied seriously. The princess had even invited etiquette instructors from the palace, brought in to teach her courtly conduct. She learned diligently and never complained. Even the palace maids would all give a thumbs-up when County Princess Jia Min’s name was mentioned, saying they had never seen such a hard-working member of the imperial family.

After a month of intensive training, Yan Zhi’s bearing and demeanor had undergone a complete transformation. Coupled with County Princess Jia Xi’s constant reminders, Yan Zhi now walked and behaved just like any proper imperial noblewoman. From a distance, one could hardly tell the difference anymore.

Gu Yu Qi could not help but laugh as she listened to Yan Zhi chatter on. She could almost picture Yan Zhi’s stiff and serious manner in her mind.

The three of them sat chatting and laughing in the garden, the lively and familiar atmosphere enough to stir envy.

After finishing his conversation with the Ding Yuan Marquis, Yun Ke came looking for Gu Yu Qi. From a distance, he caught sight of her with the two county princesses and could only stop in his tracks.

Beneath the sunlight, Gu Yu Qi’s expression was bright and lively, her eyes glimmering as they darted playfully. Her smile was radiant and her features seemed like they had been painted with a brush. She was indescribably enchanting and elegant. The more Yun Ke looked, the more his heart stirred, and yet, a smile like this was now reserved only for Yan Zhi and the others. When she faced him, it was always that calm, business-like expression.

The very thought left Yun Ke feeling powerless.

Still, if Yan Zhi and Jia Xi could bring such laughter out of Gu Yu Qi, he would not mind inviting them to the prince’s palace more often to keep Gu Yu Qi company.

Just then, he heard footsteps behind him and turned around only to see Prince Fu Yun Ling approaching slowly in a light blue brocade robe. His face was covered by a thin veil, and his bearing was elegant and graceful, gentle and noble in every way.

“Sixth Brother seems to be in a good mood. What brings you to the Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence today?” Yun Ke greeted him politely.

“I knew you would be here today, so I came as well.” Yun Ling never referred to himself as “this prince” in front of Yun Ke, and Yun Ke, likewise, did not refer to himself formally and simply used “I”.

“Sixth Brother came at just the right time. The girls are talking amongst themselves, and I can’t exactly jump in. Why not come play a round with me instead?” Yun Ke patted Yun Ling on the shoulder. Yun Ling glanced at Gu Yu Qi from afar, smiled gently and nodded.

She seemed rather happy. It seemed like he had been overthinking things. His Seventh Brother was cold by nature and he was afraid it would not be easy being his consort.

Seeing his Seventh Brother today, he found the frown between his brows had loosened somewhat. He no longer seemed so sombre and tightly wound.

The two brothers set up a chessboard on one side of the garden beneath a pavilion and began their game.

A maid went to inform Gu Si Yu on the other side of the garden. She had been stewing in the background for some time and now finally let out a breath of relief. Rising slowly, she smoothed out the creases in her skirt, then gave a curtsey and said, “Eldest Sister, County Princesses, His Highness Prince Fu has arrived. This humble daughter must go and pay her respects.” As she spoke, her gaze swept toward the direction of Prince Fu and Prince An, her eyes gleaming with unconcealed pride.

“Sure,” Gu Yu Qi nodded, following her line of sight.

Under the shade of the red leaves, the two figures, one in blue and one in white, sat facing each other. With their wide sleeves and upright postures, both were strikingly refined and handsome.

Gu Si Yu made her way over with her personal maid. Meanwhile, County Princess Jia Xi tugged lightly at Gu Yu Qi’s sleeve, saying, “Shall we go over and watch too?”

“We shouldn’t,” Gu Yu Qi did not want to go and shook her head. “They’re playing chess.”

“It’s because they’re playing chess that we should go!” County Princess Jia Xi said, “Sixth Cousin’s chess skills are unmatched in the world. If Seventh Cousin can hold his own against him, it will surely be a thrilling match. How can we miss a duel between two masters?”

“His Highness Prince Fu is good at chess?” County Princess Jia Min Yan Zhi asked curiously.

“You might not have known. His Highness Prince Fu is famed for his mastery in both calligraphy and painting, but his greatest skill is in chess. He usually resides in Hu Guo Temple, so not many people are aware,” Jia Xi explained.

His reputation for calligraphy and painting was indeed renowned. Even in her past life, His Highness Prince Fu’s works had become timeless treasures handed down from generation to generation, priceless beyond measure.

As for his chess skills, Gu Yu Qi truly had no idea.

County Princess Jia Min Yan Zhi had just started to learn chess and was a hopeless amateur in truth. But as is often the case, the less skilled someone is, the more eager they are to play. Though her comprehension was not the best, Yan Zhi was incredibly persistent. She had diligently memorised the chess manual until she could recall nearly all of it, and now played in a thoroughly textbook manner. Every now and then she even managed to win a game or two, which made her all the more eager.

Jia Xi, being both Yan Zhi’s main rival and companion in chess, had a deep admiration for her earnestness.

Others, at the very least, harboured a sense of competitiveness and played chess with the goal of victory. But not Yan Zhi. She played simply for the sake of playing… Neither winning nor losing mattered not to her.

The moment Yan Zhi spoke, Gu Yu Qi could no longer hold back. So, with Jia Xi and Jia Min, she rose and made her way to the pavilion in the garden.

Gu Si Yu was already standing nearby, watching the game. Upon seeing that Yun Ling had the upper hand on the board, a sense of smugness welled up inside her. She cast a sideways glance at Gu Yu Qi, her eyes laced with provocation.

Gu Yu Qi noticed it of course, but she could not be bothered to respond. It was just a game, nothing worth fussing over. Besides, Jia Xi had already said Prince Fu was exceptional at chess. Yun Ke could not possibly excel at everything. Even if he lost to Yun Ling, it would not be surprising. She really did not understand what Gu Si Yu was trying to provoke.

While Gu Yu Qi focused on the game, Gu Si Yang waited alone in a secluded corner of the Marquis’ residence, standing there awkwardly, still and dumbstruck. He had sent a message to Ran Mo, asking her to meet him there but after what felt like forever, she still had not come.

His injured leg was starting to ache from standing too long.

“Are you sure the letter was delivered?” Gu Si Yang asked his personal servant.

“It was, it was,” the servant nodded, “I handed it straight to Sister Ran Mo and then left.”

“You’re sure it was Ran Mo and not someone else?” Gu Si Yang asked again.

“Positive. It was definitely her,” the servant nodded.

“Oh.” Gu Si Yang supposed perhaps she was busy in front of Gu Yu Qi and could not slip away. He would wait a bit longer, then.

Gu Si Yang waited for a long time, but there was still no sign of Ran Mo. So he asked the servant to send another note, this time asking her to meet him again in the same spot, later that evening.

He had so much he wanted to say to Ran Mo. She was busy during the day, but surely she would have time tonight.

According to Qi dynasty’s customs, after accompanying his wife back to her maternal home, the newlywed husband would remain there for two days to greet relatives and familiarise himself with the family. So for both tonight and the following evening, Yun Ke would be staying at the Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence with Gu Yu Qi.

Time was limited. Gu Si Yang wanted to take this chance to confess his feelings to Ran Mo.

Gu Si Yang had no experience in arranging such meetings. The sentiments of a young man, just beginning to stir, led to a rather clumsy attempt. In his note, he simply wrote the location with no name, no signature, no time. Ran Mo had indeed received the letter. She opened it, glanced at it briefly, could not make sense of it, and tossed it aside without a second thought.

A sincere young heart, dismissed without a trace.