The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 75: 75 True or False

“Dashun’s father, would you actually say something? What should we do now?” In distress, Zhou’s was like an ant on a hot pan. When asked who in the Gu family had treated Gu Jiao the worst, the answer would either be from the Wu Family or her.

Of course, the Liao Family wasn’t all roses but Gu Xiaoshun often drew away half of the ire intended for the Liao Family. Liu was the one who punished Gu Xiaoshun the harshest.

There’s a saying, “Anger gives rise to evil thoughts, plunging one into extreme despair.” When a person is pushed to their limit by anger or fear, they can do anything to protect themselves.

At that moment, Gu Changhai made a bold decision: “Let Yue’e go.”

“What?” Zhou’s was stunned.

Both the Wu Family and Gu Changlu couple was stunned too.

Did they hear this incorrectly? Gu Changhai, the master of the first house, wants to substitute his daughter for Jiao’s mother?

“Big brother, that’s unacceptable!” Gu Changlu was the first to object.

Ignoring the guilt that came with betraying the third house, he lacked the courage to make such a ruthless move.

Liu wasn’t thrilled either. It was not her daughter who would become the marquis’ daughter. She would gain no benefits but would have to live in fear because of the first house, which she would rather not do!

Neither Wu’s nor Zhou’s said a word. One was Yue’e’s wet nurse, and the other was her mother; both stood to benefit directly from this.

Furthermore, neither of them lacked courage.

Gu Changhai began to persuade the second house: “Brother, sister-in-law, if you’re not considering for yourselves, won’t you think for Ershun? Ershun is also a smart child, it’s just that Dashun was born first, and our family couldn’t afford to educate two children at once, hence Ershun was put on hold. If Yue’e goes to the Marquis House, I’ll definitely have her bring Ershun to the Capital City to study! Given Ershun’s intelligence, wouldn’t he make a name for himself there?”

This statement struck a chord with Liu.

Liu had always dreamed of riding on Ershun’s coat-tails. She was confident that Ershun could make it big; it was just that the opportunities had all been taken by Gu Dashun!

Gu Changhai continued, “Jinyu, the daughter of the third house, is not related to us and we can’t rely on her. Moreover, she might be sent back by the Marquis’ Residence! Don’t expect the Marquis’ Residence to compensate us with a sum of money. They’ve also raised a daughter for the third house, so we don’t owe each other anything! If any debt exists, it’s what we owe them! Every year, how much does the Marquis’ Residence spend on the third house’s daughter, and how much do we spend on Jiaoniang? If we really calculate, don’t we still have to pay them?”

Hearing this, the change on the faces of the couple from the second house was immediate.

Gu Changhai continued, “But as long as Yue’e is over there, and says good things about us, wouldn’t the Marquis’ Residence be willing to accommodate us? Yue’e is the child that you watched grow up; don’t you understand her temperament? She’s the closest to her second aunt!”

Liu straightened her back.

Truth be told, the relationship between Yue’e and Liu wasn’t particularly intimate, but because Yue’e was obedient, diligent, and gentle, Liu didn’t dislike her, and they had never argued before.

Zhou’s quickly chimed in, “Yes, she always tells me that she likes her second aunt the most! She even says that her second aunt is beautiful! Much better than me!”

Under normal circumstances, Zhou’s would never admit that Liu was better looking than her. But right now, wasn’t her task to coax Liu?

Beguiled successfully, Liu smiled shyly, “Who wouldn’t like Yue’e?”

With Liu convinced, Gu Changhai turned his attention to Gu Changlu, “Second brother, I know that you dislike farming and prefer doing business. Therefore, once Yue’e reaches the Marquis Residence, let her buy you the best shop in the town. You can sell whatever you want!”

Suddenly, Gu Changlu could no longer find the words.

It was true that he felt guilty towards the third house but … he truly wished to have his business.

“What about father’s…” Liu began weakly.

Gu Changhai was deeply familiar with the old master. The old master might indeed be indifferent towards Gu Jiao and might disregard his daughters, but he might not be able to do such an immoral thing.

“I’ll tell him later.”

Liu sneered, “You better! And don’t involve us!”

Gu Changhai grinned, “Don’t worry, sister-in-law, it’s my idea. If the old master wants to blame someone, let him blame me alone.”

“Won’t the Marquis’ Residence suspect anything?” asked Gu Changlu suddenly.

Gu Changhai grinned, “How could they? Who could guess that we were so bold? Moreover, once the Marquis asked in the village that day, he won’t ask again.”

Zhou’s asked, “What about blood relationship analysis? I’ve heard of such a thing.”

Gu Changhai chuckled, “That’s even easier! Yue’e is a kinswoman to the third house. At the time, let her find a way to replace the blood from the Marquis Residence with the blood of the third house’s daughter. This would naturally fool them.”

And just like that, the family decided the fates of both Gu Jiao and Gu Yue’e, just like they had decided on Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang’s fates long ago, without considering the will of those involved.

Gu Yue’e, sobbing, didn’t want to go and become someone else’s daughter. But no matter how Zhou’s and Liu tried to persuade her, she wouldn’t listen. Gu Changhai had to slap her to subdue her.

Zhou’s changed Yue’e into decent clothes. Liu brought out the most prized jewelry she had seized from the Xun Family to adorn Gu Yue’e.

Just now, Gu Changhai’s slap landed on Yue’e’s head, leaving no traces on her face. However, she had cried, and her eyes were swollen red.

The Gu Family’s explanation was that the young girl was struggling to accept the fact and was a little upset.

Huang Zhong felt that this was understandable. The kindness of upbringing is always greater than the kindness of birth, and it was normal to have forged deep connections over so many years.

However, Huang Zhong didn’t expect the girl who had opened the door for him to be his young mistress. Just a while ago, she was dressed even more shabbily and appeared more timid, exuding an aura of modesty.

Huang Zhong then thought of the dignified and elegant Gu Jinyu, and he couldn’t help sighing.

Gu Yue’e kept crying.

Unwilling to see her in distress, Huang Zhong said, “The Marquis is not asking you to return immediately. He only wishes to meet you today. If you really can’t bear to leave…”

Wu Family quickly interrupted, “No, no! It’s perfectly natural for a family to reunite! There’s absolutely nothing that could be hard to let go. The Marquis is her biological father!”

Huang Zhong personally drew the curtains of the carriage, “Miss, please get on the carriage.”

Gu Yue’e didn’t move. Wu Family urges, “Go, Yue’e… Uh, Jiaoniang.”

Zhou’s and Liu supported Gu Yue’e onto the carriage.

This was probably the time when Gu Yue’e received the greatest respect from her family since her birth. The whole family treated her like a Bodhisattva, yet Gu Yue’e failed to rejoice.

She didn’t want to go to a strange place, and she didn’t want to leave her home.

Regardless of Gu Yue’e’s feelings, her family all began to fantasise their blissful futures.

Gu Changhai urged, “It’s getting late, the sooner the better.”

If they didn’t leave soon, the old master would return, and then Yue’e wouldn’t be able to leave.

Unexpectedly, Huang Zhong and Gu Yue’e didn’t run into the old master, but Gu Xiaoshun who was returning from the academy!

Living his carefree life, Gu Xiaoshun was on his way back, swinging his book bag as he walked.

Gu Changhai exclaimed, “Why has Xiaoshun returned so early?”

Xiao Liulang had went to the provincial city for the examination, so Gu Xiaoshun didn’t have to ride Uncle Luo’s oxcart. Walking back on his own, he was much quicker than the oxcart!

At this point, Huang Zhong’s carriage was nearly out of the village, hence Zhou’s comforted them, “It’s okay, he can’t see.”

As Gu Yue’e sat in the carriage, would Xiaoshun actually have the gall to open the curtains?