Chapter 123.1: To Return the Favor
Chapter 123.1: To Return the Favor
After sending Little Jing Kong home, the man turned and left, his speed so fast that Gu Jiao didn’t even have time to thank him.
Gu Jiao asked Little Jing Kong about the incident, and when she learned that he threw himself forward to save a chicken regardless of his safety, Gu Jiao also felt that he shouldn’t have done so.
However, Gu Jiao wasn’t in a hurry to express her opinion.
Little Jing Kong furrowed his brows deeply and said, “Big brother said I shouldn’t have acted that way. Does JiaoJiao also think I did something wrong?”
Gu Jiao replied, “What do you think?”
Little Jing Kong puffed out his chest and said, “I think I did the right thing! If ever I were in any danger, I‘m sure JiaoJiao would dash on bravely with no thought of personal safety!”
This little guy, he even used idioms now.[1]
Gu Jiao said, “But have you ever thought that maybe Little Seven doesn’t need your help?”
“Hm?” Little Jing Kong obviously didn’t understand.
Gu Jiao patiently explained, “Little Seven is very agile and it’s smaller compared to you. It can’t be easily stepped on by a horse, but it’s not the same for you.”
Little Jing Kong suddenly realized one thing: It’s true, he wasn’t as agile as a chicken!
Little Jing Kong secretly vowed that he would train more diligently, so that he could be more agile and protect his little chickens!
A few days later, Marquis Gu and his party also arrived in the capital.
More than a month of bumpy ride really made the three people suffer. Gu Jinyu had never ridden such a bad carriage in her life. Her whole body ached so much as though it was no longer her own body.
Yao shi didn’t utter a word of complaint. She was very glad that she took this carriage instead. Otherwise, JiaoJiao and Yan’er would have been the one to suffer this kind of hardship. She would be distressed then.
“It’s been hard on you.” Yao shi held Gu Jinyu’s hand and said guiltily.
Gu Jinyu said softly, “I’m fine, my younger brother is in poor health, he wouldn’t have been able to stand such a bumpy ride. I’m only glad that Mom gave the carriage to my sister and brother instead.”
Yao shi patted Gu Jinyu’s hand, saying, “You are still the sensible one.”
Marquis Gu helped Yao shi and Gu Jinyu out of the carriage.
The servants in the estate were delighted to see Marquis Gu and Gu Jinyu, but they were surprised to see Yao shi around their Lord Marquis.
Yao shi had lived in the villa for ten years, and she hadn’t been back to the estate once, so several gatekeepers didn’t recognize her at all.
Marquis Gu coldly spoke, “What are you staring blankly for? Are you not going to greet your Madame yet?”
A few people looked at each other and then went forward to perform a salute in a daze, “Greetings to Madame?”
What Madame?
Did Lord Marquis raise a woman outside?
Yao shi was no longer young to be embarrassed by this little offense. Besides, she had been taking the antidepressant prescribed by JiaoJiao for the last six months, and she was in good mood and health.
Marquis Gu took Yao shi and Gu Jinyu into the estate.
People had already passed on the news of their arrival to the Pine Crane Courtyard of Old Madame Gu early.
Having not seen her son for more than half a year, Old Madame Gu was quite worried and asked someone to ask Marquis Gu to come to the Pine Crane Courtyard immediately.
Marquis Gu originally planned to take Yao shi to pay their respects to Old Madame Gu tomorrow, but since the Old Madame had already urged him to come, he had to change their route to Pine Crane Courtyard halfway.
Old Madame Gu was unable to contain her joy as she waited patiently to meet her son again. As a result, she saw Yao shi next to her son, making the smile on her face stiff.
“Why is she back?” Old Madame Gu asked with cold derision.
Gu Jinyu was embarrassed for her mother.
“Mother!” Marquis Gu took a look at Old Madame Gu and motioned her not to embarrass Yao shi like this.
Old Madame Gu pretended not to see it.
“Greetings to Mother.” Yao shi gave a proper salute.
Gu Jinyu also saluted, “Greetings to grandmother.”
Old Madame Gu used to see Gu Jinyu pleasing to the eye, but now that Yao shi was here and because she was related to Yao shi, Old Madame Gu only looked at Gu Jinyu in disgust.
Yao shi lived in the Hot Spring Villa with Gu Yan. Now Yao shi had returned, but Gu Yan was nowhere to be seen, and yet Old Madame Gu didn’t even think to ask about it.
Marquis Gu spoke to mediate the situation, “Mother, this son is exhausted after the constant and long journey. I’ll come back tomorrow to pay respects to Mother.”
He did not mention Yao shi and Gu Jinyu being tired, only that he was tired. Could Old Madame Gu not let his own son take a rest?
This was also why Old Madame Gu didn’t like Yao shi. It wasn’t entirely due to her inferior background. There was also the fact that as long as Yao shi was here, her son would always follow her as though he had been bewitched by a devil and wouldn’t pay attention to anyone else!
Marquis Gu pretended not to see Old Madame Gu’s displeasure as he said smilingly, “This son will take his leave first.” Then he took Yao shi and Gu Jinyu out of Pine Crane Courtyard.
As soon as the three people crossed the threshold, they ran into a woman dressed in gorgeous attire and bedecked with glittering jewelry.
The woman took a look at them and a trace of surprise flitted across her eyes, but soon she bowed down and greeted, “My Lord! Madame! Young Miss!”
Marquis Gu said with a frown, “Concubine Ling, what are you doing here?”
The woman called Concubine Ling said with a smile, “I’m here to bring ginseng soup to Mother.”
Would one normally dress up like this just to send ginseng soup to the Old Madame? Gu Jinyu could tell that she deliberately bumped into Marquis Gu here.
Old Madame Gu’s surname was Ling. The former Marchioness was the blood related niece of Old Madame Gu, and Concubine Ling was the concubine-born younger sister of the former Marchioness, so she could also be regarded as the niece of Old Madame Gu.
After the young Ling shi died of illness, Marquis Gu married Yao shi. Old Madame Gu was worried that Marquis Gu would not care about his three sons with his ex-wife after he found a new love, so he decided to take in Concubine Ling as Marquis Gu’s concubine.
Marquis Gu didn’t like Concubine Ling, but she had the support of Old Madame Gu, so her life in the estate was quite comfortable.
Especially after Yao shi moved to the villa with Gu Yan, Concubine Ling’s position was almost no different from a proper Madame of the Marquis Estate.
Moreover, she was the aunt of the other three sons, so the three sons were much closer to her than to Yao shi.
“Go ahead then.” Marquis Gu said faintly, held Yao shi’s hand and turned away.
The next day, Yao shi didn’t pay her respects to Old Madame Gu on the pretext of being ill.
Grannie Fang advised Yao shi, “Madame, why must you do this? You should instead maintain proper etiquette, so as to save your position from declining.”
Yao shi let out a wry smile and said, “No matter how thorough I am, there will always be people who will find fault with me. If I don’t go, at least the Old Madame will have peace of mind since I’m out of her sight.”
Marquis Gu and Gu Jinyu went to Pine Crane Courtyard.
When Old Madame Gu heard that Yao shi was ill, she grunted coldly, “She just doesn’t want to see me!”
Marquis Gu hurriedly spoke, “Look at what Mother is saying, how could Yao’er not want to see you? Look, she personally prepared all these gifts just for Mother! She respects you most in her heart!”
1. ↑ — Chengyu: a type of traditional Chinese idiomatic expression, most of which consist of four characters. // 奋不顾身[fèn bú gù shēn] Dash on bravely with no thought of personal safety. //