Chapter 249: They Each Take What They Need
The butler and maids quickly brought a litter of Little Raccoons to the front courtyard, including the mother, for Ling to admire.
This time, Ling didn’t hold them. She crouched to the side, watching with a grin.
’Just a few glances. I won’t hold them or pet them. Little Mei Hua probably won’t get mad.’
’If he does get mad, I’ll let him scratch Daddy.’
’It’s Daddy’s fault for not leaving. That’s why I’m stuck here looking at someone else’s Raccoons.’
With that thought, Ling’s guilt vanished. She took some dried fish from a maid and fed it to the mother Raccoon.
The Raccoons raised in the household were very docile, but Mrs. Gu still reminded the servants, "Watch them carefully. Don’t let them hurt the Little Prince."
This was the Emperor’s most cherished treasure. If she were injured in the Gu Family’s home, the consequences would be dire.
Gu Xun walked over, crouched down beside Ling, and asked her, "You like them that much?"
To Ling, Gu Xun was a stranger. She kept her little mouth shut and didn’t answer his question.
She looked up at Mei Wanying. "Mother?"
A smile played on Mei Wanying’s lips. "This is your uncle."
Uncle...
A dull ache pierced Gu Xun’s heart. He had almost been Ling’s father.
A sour feeling welled up inside him.
And a touch of disappointment.
But he couldn’t let it show, or it would put Mei Wanying in a difficult position.
Gu Xun ruffled the little girl’s fine, soft hair, his face holding a gentle smile, as if he had let everything go.
"When you were little, your uncle held you before."
Following Mei Wanying’s lead, he too referred to himself with that title.
Ling asked him, "Did I cry?"
Gu Xun replied, "You were very good. You didn’t cry."
Ling’s chubby little face was full of sincerity. "Uncle is a good person. I only don’t cry when good people hold me."
’Mother said that when relatives at home used to hold me, I would WAIL and not let anyone touch me.’
’She also said those people were all bad guys, and I shouldn’t listen to their lies.’
Compared to her peers, Ling was exceptional in all aspects, and her memory was better than others.
She had taken most of Mei Wanying’s repeated warnings to heart.
Gu Xun, having been judged a "good person," couldn’t help but chuckle.
He didn’t say anything else, simply remaining crouched by Ling’s side, feeding the Raccoons with her.
When he occasionally met Mei Wanying’s gaze, he wouldn’t look away.
He was completely composed.
It was as if... he truly had let go of the past.
...
「After an arduous journey, Lin Jixue finally arrived in the Capital City and was escorted to the Gu residence by people sent from the Gu Family.」
The Gu Family had produced an Empress Dowager, and the one now sitting securely in a high position was Mr. Gu’s own maternal nephew.
A family of such standing was utterly beyond the reach of an ordinary official’s daughter.
Even if... the subject of the marriage proposal was not the eldest son of the main wife.
The Lin family had some prestige in Shu, but compared to the noble houses of the Capital City, the difference was like that between clouds and mud.
If not for her mother and Mrs. Gu being sworn sisters, this marriage match would never have fallen to a daughter of the Lin family.
She was the only girl of suitable age in her family, so this excellent match naturally fell to her.
Lin Jixue was incredibly excited; even after all this time, she still couldn’t calm her racing heart.
Looking at the Gu Family’s vermilion gates, the imposing guardian stone lions at the entrance—everything seemed so majestic and powerful.
Before she had even stepped through the Gu Family’s gates, the overwhelming feeling of immense power washed over her.
Lin Jixue dug her nails into her palm.
’I must stay in the Capital City. I must become wealthy and powerful, and make everyone envy me.’
’Gu Xun is old, and I am young. As long as the Gu family elders don’t object, this marriage is a sure thing!’
"Miss Lin, you’ve finally arrived! Mrs. Gu estimated you would be here by now and grew anxious waiting, so she ordered me to come out and welcome you."
The speaker was the matron who served Mrs. Gu.
She had come out personally to greet them, afraid that Lin Jixue’s party might disturb the honored guest in the residence.
Seeing the servants unloading the luggage, she instructed them to be careful, take the long way to the guest courtyard, and not to disturb the Noble in the residence.
Lin Jixue’s eyes flickered. "There’s another guest in the residence? Have I come at an inconvenient time? Perhaps I should stay at an inn for a couple of days?"
The matron shot her a reproachful glance. "It’s a huge estate. You think there isn’t room for one more?"
’Just as I thought,’ she mused, ’from a minor family. So petty.’
’If Mrs. Gu weren’t so sentimental, she would never have set foot in the Gu Family’s home.’
She said with a smile, "You must be tired from your journey. Miss Lin, please follow me to the guest courtyard. You should rest well. There will be a family banquet tonight to welcome you."
This was the daughter-in-law chosen by the Gu Family, so the matron’s attitude was very respectful.
Lin Jixue looked overwhelmed by the favor.
A family banquet?
’Such a grand affair, they’re taking me so seriously... Does this mean everyone in the Gu Family has already agreed to the marriage?’
The thought that she’d had a stroke of dumb luck and successfully latched onto a powerful family like the Gu made Lin Jixue want to laugh out loud.
But she couldn’t let it show, lest the Gu family think she was unrefined.
She stopped dwelling on the matter of the other guest.
’In any case, the Gu Family is giving me plenty of face. No matter who the other guest is, I’m the one the Gu Family values most!’
Lin Jixue bowed to the matron. "I am at your disposal. Thank you for leading the way, Matron."
Thinking that she was still young and unsophisticated, and that her somewhat ungraceful words and actions were to be expected, the matron composed herself and led Lin Jixue into the residence.
Past the vermilion gates was a spirit screen painted with a landscape.
Lin Jixue didn’t dare to look too closely, afraid of leaving the impression that she was provincial.
The guest courtyard was some distance from the main gate. Although the matron tried her best to lead Lin Jixue’s party on a detour, they still ran into Mei Wanying and Ling.
Ling was chasing a Little Raccoon, with Mei Wanying and her maids following leisurely behind.
Gu Xun was there too, playing with Ling and teasing the Little Raccoon.
Before coming to the Capital City, Lin Jixue had seen a portrait of Gu Xun. Although he was a bit old, his looks were flawless.
She had also heard that he was a man of noble character, a perfect gentleman, who held an important post in the Ministry of War.
Even before meeting Gu Xun, Lin Jixue was already smitten.
She never imagined that her first sight of him at the Gu Family residence would be a scene like this.
A grown man, lowering himself to play with a child, with a bewitching woman by his side.
She wasn’t completely ignorant about the affairs of the inner quarters.
’No wonder Gu Xun has never married and even chose someone of a slightly lower status like me. It turns out he already has a woman in his home.’
’He’s even fathered an illegitimate child!’
’The noble ladies of the Capital City must know the details, so of course they wouldn’t marry him.’
A flash of irritation crossed Lin Jixue’s eyes. Feigning ignorance, she asked, "Is that Mr. Gu over there?"
The matron nodded. "Miss Lin, please hurry and follow me."
The Little Prince was having fun. If her good mood was ruined, her decisive, ruthless father would not be so easy to deal with.
In Lin Jixue’s eyes, the matron’s behavior was a clear sign of a guilty conscience.
’She’s trying to hide the truth that Gu Xun had a woman before he even married!’
It was normal for Noble Children to have women on the side, but Gu Xun’s reputation was too good for him to be caught up in such a scandalous affair.
Originally, Lin Jixue had felt her family background wasn’t good enough for Gu Xun, and she was very anxious.
But seeing this scene, she suddenly felt relieved.
’My family background isn’t great, but I am pure and innocent. In that respect, I’m far superior to Gu Xun.’
’Besides, the only reason Gu Xun is willing to marry down is so he can control his wife, isn’t it?’
’We’re both just getting what we need.’
’I’m not the one who’s not good enough for him!’
Lin Jixue couldn’t help but straighten her back. "Mr. Gu is right there. Wouldn’t it be a breach of etiquette if I don’t go and greet him?"