Rebirth of the Excellent Daughter of the Marquis Household (REDMH) - Chapter 76

Liang Huai Yu waited anxiously outside the door. She had already sent a letter asking to see His Highness Prince An. Gu Yu Qi was an innocent young girl, how could she stay with His Highness Prince An for half a month? What would her reputation be like in the future? The more Liang Huai Yu thought about it, the more unpleasant she felt. If His Highness Prince An refused to see her, she had thought over and over again that she would fight against His Highness Prince An’s anger and force her way in, even if she had to break in. If this place had really turned into a restricted area, then she would be in there too. Even if it was spread out like this, it would be easier.

The guard at the door was delivering Liang Huai Yu’s letter. He had told her to wait quietly at the door.

How could Liang Huai Yu calm down? She had sent requests three times in a row. She thought that if she had to send it five times, she would really break the door. She looked around, then ordered Qiu Yue who had followed her to call Chun Xing, Xia He, and Zhao Wu, and to bring her silver spear as well.

After a while, Qiu Yue hurriedly brought Chun Xing, Xia He, and Zhao Wu over. Liang Huai Yu spun her long spear, shaking off the holster nimbly and the bright and shiny long spear was revealed.

All the outrageous things she had done in her life were for Gu Yu Qi. Since she had already made a commotion in the capital, she was not afraid of causing chaos a second time here.

When the guards at the gate saw this situation, they were surprised but they could not help feeling a little admiration in their hearts.

The Qi dynasty had no female generals yet. The lady standing before them looked delicate but with the spear in her hand, an impressive dignity arose spontaneously. The guards Yun Ke brought out were all personal guards and they knew the affairs of the capital like the backs of their hands. Naturally, they were aware of Liang Huai Yu’s background. Seeing her standing majestically at the door, they could not help but give her a thumbs up in their hearts. As expected of the god of war’s only daughter, she really had a determination and heroism that the noble ladies at the capital lacked.

Behind her was a beautiful maid who also held a spear and she was also indescribably heroic.

“Guard, please report to His Highness that if this little madam is not allowed in, then this little madam will break in no matter what.” Liang Huai Yu handed over her last letter, then cupped her hands towards the guard at the gate.

The guard looked deeply at Liang Huai Yu. He had seen many noble ladies at the capital but never had he seen a noble lady force her way into the prince’s residence.

Still, he nodded, then passed on Liang Huai Yu’s words and letter.

After a while, the black gate of the back courtyard was opened on both sides, “Madam, His Highness says that if Madam comes in, then Madam must stay for a few days.” The guard stepped towards the door and spoke respectfully to Liang Huai Yu.

“Thank you.” Liang Huai Yu turned around and said a few words to Chun Xing, then made her stay with Xia He and Zhao Wu. Then she walked in with only Yan Zhi and a few sets of Gu Yu Qi’s clothes.

Yun Ke looked at the five letters side by side on the table in his room. He could not help but shake his head. Now he knew where Gu Yu Qi’s recklessness came from. Did it run in the family? This Ding Yuan Marquis’ Madam was exactly like her daughter.

He really wanted to use these few days to get to know Gu Yu Qi better, but now it seemed like the Ding Yuan Marquis’ Madam was interjecting. However, it was alright, Gu Yu Qi’s resistance to being alone with him was so strong. Her mother being here would appease her somewhat.

Thinking about everything in the previous life, Yun Ke let out a long sigh. For the past two days, all he could think about were the moments he faced Gu Yu Qi in the previous life. The more he thought about it, the more frightened he felt.

If he really had been wrong, how would he compensate?

It would be verified whether the prescription was what Gu Yu Qi was looking for after waiting a few more days.

The poem, Memories of Jiangnan, the cure for the plague, if they were verified one by one, then he… Nevermind. Yun Ke let out a long sigh. Coming to his senses, he leaned on the edge of the table and stood up. A piece of flesh had been gouged out from the back of his waist. As long as he moved, it hurt as if it was being torn apart. His mild fever continued at all times and he needed more rest.

Gu Yu Qi saw her mother come in with Yan Zhi and a bundle. She was surprised and delighted, her heart full of gratitude. In the previous life, she really had been blinded, leaving such a good mother instead of defending her and devoting all her attention to that indifferent person.

Liang Huai Yu pulled Gu Yu Qi aside hastily. Seeing there was no one around, she asked her daughter in a low voice, “Is it true or false that His Highness has been infected with the plague?”

“Of course it’s false!” Gu Yu Qi pouted. He had been staying here since he arrived in Jiangxia City and had no chance to be in contact with the outside world. How could he get the plague, unless the plague was airborne.

“Oh.” Liang Huai Yu breathed a sigh of relief, but her brows were still deeply furrowed, “Since it’s false, why is this place under lockdown?”

“He told the imperial court that he was infected with the plague.” Gu Yu Qi snorted coldly and said, “It’s up to them to settle such insignificant matters between themselves, why implicate us?” After speaking, her eyes were full of disdain and dissatisfaction.

It involved matters in the imperial court again. Liang Huai Yu was even more worried, “Didn’t you have a prescription that can cure this plague?” She had already written about this to the people in her hometown and they had also replied for the sake of this prescription. If the prescription did not work, she was afraid Gu Yu Qi would not only be unable to return to the Liang family in the future, but the Liang family would send someone to blame them.

“Mother, don’t worry. The prescription can cure the plague.” Gu Yu Qi said soothingly, “But, Mother, although I was angry just now, I thought of something. I’m afraid I must tell Mother.”

“Just say it.” Liang Huai Yu nodded. Her daughter had always been smart and in this situation, whatever she said must be important.

“Mother, I suddenly thought that if the prescription is given to our hometown in Jiangnan, then who will they send to dedicate it to His Majesty?” She looked into Liang Huai Yu’s eyes and asked slowly.

“This… They did not say.” Liang Huai Yu was slightly taken aback. She thought about the contents of the letter and shook her head.

“Mother, listen to me.” Gu Yu Qi said, “People from our hometown have lived in Jiangnan for a long time. Ever since grandfather passed away, they have not had much involvement with the imperial court. Isn’t this good? Why did they suddenly have the idea of sending people to the capital? This is one of the doubts. Nowadays, you can’t just see the emperor as you wish. Prime Minister Zhang has power in both the state and the opposition. All papers submitted from everywhere must pass through his hands. It’s hard to guarantee that he won’t keep the prescription for his own sake after seeing it.”

“Maybe our hometown has another way.” After hearing this, Liang Huai Yu was also surprised from the bottom of her heart. She hadn’t thought of this and spoke hesitantly.

“Alright, even if our hometown has another way, it would just be going through the Crown Prince, or through other princes.” Gu Yu Qi continued, “Mother, although the current imperial court seems peaceful on the surface, in fact, the undercurrents are surging. The Crown Prince is weakening and several of the princes are casting covetous eyes. The daughter of the prime minister has yet to be married because they are still considering which prince would most likely ascend to the throne in the future. Everyone is battling in secret and no one is conceding to anyone.”

“How did you find out this?” Liang Huai Yu was even more shocked. Gu Yu Qi thought too deeply, actually thinking about why Zhang Wan Yi had not married yet.

“Mother, if you can believe me, then just pretend I can calculate this.” Gu Yu Qi could not say that she had experienced all this, so could only change the subject, “Mother, fighting for the throne is no joke. For our hometown to make a move at this time, who are they pledging the treasure on? Do you know?”

How could she know this? She only knew that her hometown had sent a letter asking for the prescription and had promised her on all her conditions. No wonder her letter that was sent out had been like a stone sinking into the sea with no reply. Yet now, the reply had been sent 800 li in an expedited manner, anxious and urgent.

If the Liang family wanted to return to the imperial court, then now would be the best opportunity. No matter which prince got the prescription, he would still show brilliant results and the Liang family who contributed the prescription would naturally be the support behind his back.

To link interests, was marriage not the strongest method?

Liang Huai Yu felt a cold sweat break out faintly in her palms. She had just wanted to find a family for her daughter to rely on.

In fact, Gu Yu Qi had not thought about it at first. On the contrary, she had been angry at Yun Ke for mentioning it, but then thought about it carefully.

Yun Ke had obviously wanted to strike first by sending someone to contact the Jiangnan Liang family so that they would be held in his palm first. He was the one who had the last laugh in the previous life. However, they had to consider what the Jiangnan Liang family was planning. If the Liang family rejected Yun Ke, then it was obviously forming a relationship of conflict with the future emperor. If she was foolish enough to link herself by name to the Liang clan, then was she not just digging her own grave? At that time, if the Liang family sent some other clan daughter out to marry another prince and they became related by marriage, then they would just have a series of bad luck. Yun Ke would not show mercy to any of his brothers.

After Gu Yu Qi made such a point, Liang Huai Yu obviously thought about it too. She did not know that the future emperor was Yun Ke, but since ancient times, the battles for the throne had always been cruel and ruthless. If the Liang family was on the wrong side, then her own daughter would suffer in the future. At that time, good intentions would have just led to bad things.

Moreover, once her daughter was linked to the Liang name, she would have to go back to Jiangnan to meet the family patriarch. With her daughter’s beauty and being of the right age, it was hard to guarantee that the people in Jiangnan would not set their eyes on her daughter.

She wanted her daughter to be rich all her life, but she did not want her daughter to marry into the imperial family, especially the imperial family with an uncertain future.

Thinking about it, she would have to reconsider having the Liang family recognise her daughter.

“No matter who the old family pledges the treasure on, as long as it does you harm, Mother will not do it.” Liang Huai Yu made up her mind immediately, “Don’t worry, Mother won’t make you return to the Liang family anymore. You don’t have to worry about the affairs of the Jiangnan Liang family, Mother will take care of everything.”

Gu Yu Qi opened her arms and embraced her mother vigorously. How could she not love such a mother who was always planning for her?

She had already begun to think about whether or not she should tell her mother that Yun Ke would be the one to ascend the throne in the future. However, in order not to frighten her mother, she felt that now was not the time. She would wait a little longer.

Having discussed such an important matter with her mother, Gu Yu Qi felt much more relaxed. Even the annoyance of being locked here by Yun Ke had subsided a lot. With her mother here, she was sure Yun Ke would think twice before doing anything. Thinking of this, Gu Yu Wi could not help but kiss her mother’s cheek which made Liang Huai Yu blush. Gu Yu Qi was not young anymore. As a 14 year old girl who was slim and slightly taller than her, making such an intimate, she could not help but feel very embarrassed even though she felt happy.

“You little girl!” She smiled and cried out at Gu Yu Qi. She raised her hand to smack her but Gu Yu Qi laughed and ran away.

Yun Ke was half lying down in his room when he heard Gu Yu Qi’s laughter like silver bells from outside. At first, he was slightly startled, then he smiled faintly. So her anger would dissipate when the Ding Yuan Madam came? If he had know the key to this woman’s happiness was so simple, he would long have let the Ding Yuan Madam enter.

“Your Highness, Madam Liang requests an audience.” Du Xia’s voice came from outside the door. Yun Ke hummed lightly, “Let her in.”

She had sent five letters in, she must want to see him.

The door was opened from outside and Liang Huai Yu stepped in. She stopped before the bed and curtseyed, “This little madam greets Your Highness Prince An. All blessings to Your Highness Prince An.”

“Madam is courteous. Someone bring a seat.” Yun Ke did not get up, still half leaning on the bed. “Forgive me, Madam, this prince’s body is unwell.” He said something slightly apologetic. After all, Gu Yu Qi’s mother was standing in front of him. Gu Yu Qi had not gotten along well with her mother in the previous life but in this life, she was very affectionate. Naturally, he could not be negligent. If he wanted to marry Gu Yu Qi, it was inevitable that the one standing in front of him was his future mother-in-law.

Du Xia brought in a stool. He also quietly took another look at Liang Huai Yu.

Of course, he remembered her too. After so many years, Liang Huai Yu’s body seemed to have frozen in time. Not only did she not grow old at all, her face was radiant and she was more beautiful than the last time he had seen her. At that time, there had been a faint unwellness between her eyebrows but now her starry eyes were bright. Standing with Gu Yu Qi, she did not look like her mother, but almost like her sister.

“Why did Madam wish to see this prince?” Yun Ke turned sideways slightly and asked softly.

“Is Your Highness comfortable living here?” Liang Huai Yu was obviously rambling.

“Madam’s place is quite nice.” She wanted to push and pull. Yun Ke had free time anyway so he just followed her lead.

“Your Highness, let us not beat around the bush.” Liang Huai Yu said suddenly, “Your Highness came from the capital so naturally, Your Highness would know the situation with this little madam and her daughter. Although my daughter was expelled from the Marquis family, she is still the child that this little madam treasures deeply in her heart. So, Your Highness please do not be contemptuous. This little madam is here to thank Your Highness.”

Yun Ke’s expression froze slightly. She had originally thought that he locked Gu Yu Qi in this courtyard because he had thoughts about her that he should not have?

Fine, it was true he was thinking about her. Ever since he saw her for the first time after being reborn, he had treated her with contempt and disdain. Yet now, he could not help but want to get closer to her and learn more about her. If this life was a repeat of the previous one, then Gu Yu Qi would definitely be his concubine. It was just that in the previous life, she had surrendered her status and refused to be a main princess, marrying him as a concubine. In this life, he had intended on proposing to her.

He would give her the main title instead of letting her follow him for so many years without one. It was not until he had ascended to the throne that he had granted her the small title of Talented Woman.

“Madam.” Yun Ke fixed his expression, “Don’t worry Madam. If this prince truly has intentions towards your daughter, this prince will follow the three letters and six etiquettes, and will never betray your daughter.”

Huh? With Yun Ke’s words, it was Liang Huai Yu’s turn to be petrified.

Had she heard things correctly? Prince An would ask her daughter to marry him by following the three letters and six etiquettes?