Chapter 184: Envious of the Zhan Family Again
"I don’t know the specifics of what happened either, but that little girl is incredibly impressive right now." Zhan Yi sounded as if he had received the reward himself.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhan immediately pulled on Zhan Chi. "Son, let’s go to the General’s Manor to see our granddaughter."
"Don’t go." Zhan Yi held the carriage steady. "The little girl has been up for a day and a night. She’s definitely going to be sleeping like a log when she gets back. If you go now, you’ll just be disturbing her. Go tomorrow instead."
Mrs. Zhan thought about it and agreed. "Then let’s let our granddaughter get some good rest. We’ll go tomorrow."
"By the way, where were you two yesterday? You’re only just getting back?" Zhan Yi asked.
"Sigh, don’t even mention it. We went to pay a visit early yesterday morning. Husband, you have no idea how infuriating that Madam Xiang is. She mistreated our granddaughter, calling her a ’little bastard’ over and over. They simply don’t treat our granddaughter like a human being..." Mrs. Zhan’s eyes reddened as she spoke.
"That happened?"
"Husband, we absolutely have to bring our granddaughter home. We can’t let her suffer anymore."
"That goes without saying. Where else would a child of the Zhan family go if not back to the Zhan family? Don’t worry. I’ll go with you tomorrow. We’ll definitely bring her home." Zhan Yi knew Madam Xiang was not a person of good character.
’To think she couldn’t even tolerate a child and would mistreat my granddaughter... Tomorrow, I’ll show her what real power is!’
Mrs. Zhan sniffled and nodded.
Zhan Yi jumped onto the carriage and looked back to see Old Man Gu standing there with a dazed expression. "Old Man Gu? Aren’t you heading back to your estate?"
"Huh? Right, right... I’m going now."
"It’s still quite a ways from the palace gates to the main street. Get in, Old Man Gu. We’ll give you a ride," Zhan Yi offered.
"No, thank you. You all go on ahead. This old man still has some business to attend to," Old Man Gu declined.
"Alright then. See you later, Old Man Gu." Zhan Yi lowered the curtain.
Zhan Chi flicked the reins, and the horses broke into a run.
Old Man Gu watched the carriage disappear into the distance, then took a bright red apple from his sleeve. His heart was heavy. ’Why is it so difficult for me to acknowledge a great-granddaughter?’
’The Zhan family is going to pick her up tomorrow. How wonderful would it be if the little girl were part of my family instead?’
’Sigh, what great deeds did the Zhan family’s ancestors perform to be blessed with such a granddaughter?’
Old Man Gu walked step by step toward the main street, his spirits low. ’Why can’t the Gu family produce any girls? Sigh!’
Upon reaching the street, Old Man Gu gloomily found some steps to sit on. He stared at the apple in his hand, lost in thought for a long time. ’The little girl is so loyal and clever. If she were my great-granddaughter, I would absolutely spoil her to the heavens.’
’Although there’s nothing stopping me from doting on her now, I always feel like she’s still a bit guarded around me. It feels like there’s some kind of barrier between us.’
"Grandfather."
A carriage stopped in front of him.
Old Man Gu looked up and saw his eldest grandson, Gu Shuo. He shook his head and sighed. ’This face may be handsome, but right now, it’s not as appealing to me as the big apple in my hand!’
"Grandfather, what are you doing sitting here?" Gu Shuo asked as he dismounted from the carriage.
"Sigh," Old Man Gu sighed.
"Grandfather, what happened?" Gu Shuo asked, crouching down.
"What happened? Something earth-shattering happened! You’re nowhere to be found when I need you, and now you show up after everything’s been resolved. Go on, get out of here. Stop annoying me."
"Grandfather, are you saying the matter with the little fatty hitting Prime Minister Gao has been resolved? How was it resolved? Did the Emperor punish her severely?" Gu Shuo’s tone was urgent.
"Not only was there no punishment, but she was given many rewards." Old Man Gu had nowhere to vent his frustration, so he looked up and snapped, "Where the hell have you been? You’re only just hearing about this now?"
’Just as I thought. He doesn’t really care since she’s not his real kin.’
’Even if I go through all this trouble to acknowledge the little girl as my great-granddaughter, my family is full of so many schemers. What if they don’t accept her and bully her?’