Chapter 251: Not a Pure Person
At a distance, the maids and old servants of the Gu Family hurriedly knelt and bowed. The servants who had come with the Lin family, though utterly bewildered, followed suit.
Her chaperone quietly warned Lin Jixue not to raise her head and look directly at the Noble.
’What kind of distinguished guest is this that I can’t even take a peek?’
Lin Jixue was born and raised in Shu. Her family’s estate would occasionally have nobles visit, but there was never anyone they weren’t allowed to even glance at.
Lin Jixue thought to herself, ’People in the Capital City are so obsessed with rules.’
She kept her head down, feigning a docile and obedient appearance. But her eyes flickered, and she discreetly peeked at the newcomer from the corner of her eye.
That one glance made her heart tremble.
She had thought Gu Xun was already the pinnacle of good looks, with an air of nobility about him. She never imagined someone could so completely overshadow him.
The moment he appeared, all other men in her sight faded into insignificance.
The man’s expression was calm, a faint smile playing on his lips. His pace was unhurried, yet he exuded a commanding presence, an authority that needed no anger to be felt.
Lin Jixue’s heart raced as she wondered about the man’s identity.
’He’s treated as a distinguished guest by the Gu family, who don’t even dare to look at him. Could he be one of the Imperial Relatives?’
’It’s a real possibility.’
’This is the foot of the Imperial City, after all. Imperial Relatives are a dime a dozen here!’
Lin Jixue’s heart beat even faster. ’If I could latch onto an even higher branch, my family would be ecstatic.’
And she herself would have a more brilliant life.
Just as she was about to pull her old tricks and cause a commotion to attract the man’s attention, she saw him walk toward that bewitching woman.
He bent down to pick up the small child, then took the woman’s hand.
Their intimacy suggested they were even more affectionate than an ordinary married couple.
Lin Jixue froze.
She realized she had misunderstood Gu Xun. He didn’t have a concubine, nor had he fathered an illegitimate child with another woman.
’Then why was he playing with someone else’s child?’
’And it wasn’t just playing. He was so protective of the child, so attentive and considerate. Anyone who didn’t know better would think he was the child’s real father.’
Jealousy began to fester in the depths of her heart. ’Just what is that woman’s background, that she can have two outstanding men revolving around her?’
’It can’t just be because of her pretty face. That would make those men far too shallow!’
Ling clung to her daddy’s neck and pointed at someone in the distance. "Daddy, that older sister is telling Ling to go over. It looks like she wants to see me about something."
Following his daughter’s finger, Pei Yan lifted his gaze and looked over.
’Not someone I know.’
He withdrew his gaze and said flatly, "That’s not your sister."
Only a child born of Ah Yin could be Lingling’s true sister.
The man’s gaze swept over Mei Wanying’s stomach. When he was with Ah Yin, he had served her diligently.
He hadn’t missed a single night.
’There might not be an older sister, but a younger one is a possibility.’
Ling, unaware that her father’s thoughts had gone astray, asked again, "So, should I go over?"
’That person said she wanted to give me a welcome gift. Mommy said not to take things from strangers, but this is my grand-uncle’s home. I wonder if she counts as a stranger...’
Countless thoughts flashed through Ling’s mind, nearly tying her in knots.
Pei Yan, not knowing what had happened, turned his head and asked Mei Wanying, "What’s going on?"
If Ah Yin nodded, he would let Ling go over.
If she didn’t, he wouldn’t let her.
Mei Wanying shook her head, signaling for him to leave first. They could talk about it later.
But Lin Jixue saw this as an opportunity. She shifted her feet, intending to step forward and strike up a conversation with the man.
Her chaperone grabbed her by the wrist and hissed in a low voice, "If you offend the Emperor and the Little Prince, even the Gu Family won’t be able to protect you."
The Emperor...
The Little Prince...
Lin Jixue’s pupils dilated, her eyes wide with shock.
On second thought, this was the home of the Emperor’s maternal family. It wasn’t strange for him to be here.
In an instant, Lin Jixue was drenched in a cold sweat.
’Are these people mute? Why didn’t they explain this to me sooner?’
’They let me think that mother and daughter were some shameful, lowly creatures!’
’Didn’t everything I just said and did offend the Royal Family?’
She was terrified, afraid the nobles would call her to account.
At the same time, a secret sliver of anticipation sparked within her.
’I must be blessed by fate to have met the most exalted man in the world on my very first day in the Capital City.’
’If I could catch the Emperor’s eye because of this, couldn’t I soar to the heavens?’
Fear and excitement warred within her, and Lin Jixue’s body began to tremble.
She kept her head lowered, not daring to meet anyone’s gaze.
She explained with a flustered expression, "I... I didn’t know. I grew up in Shu, I’m ignorant of the ways here... I just thought Her Highness was so adorable, and I liked her so much that I wanted to give her a welcome gift. I meant nothing else by it."
After speaking, she ignored the pain in her ankle and fell to her knees with a THUD.
She kowtowed heavily. "This subject was blind and offended the Princess. I beg the Emperor for his forgiveness!"
Pei Yan and Mei Wanying were about to leave, but Lin Jixue’s kneeling successfully made them stop.
Ling found it strange. ’Everything was fine, why did she suddenly kneel and apologize?’
The expressions on the faces of everyone present varied.
Gu Xun’s eyelid twitched. ’What kind of person did Mother pick? Another troublemaker!’
He already had no interest in the girl from the Lin family; now, he was simply disgusted.
’Does she think everyone else is an idiot, unable to see through her ploy?’
’How utterly ridiculous!’
Gu Xun let out a heavy breath, a wave of relief washing over him.
He no longer had to worry that his resistance to this marriage would hurt an innocent girl.
She was far from pure herself.
And that was for the best!
Pei Yan, holding Ling, his eyes calm and still, said, "If it is a crime, then there must be a punishment. Drag her away and administer twenty strokes of the cane."
This was the good wife his elders had chosen for Gu Xun. For his cousin’s sake, he couldn’t just have her beaten to death.
After his experience with women imitating Mei Wanying to deliberately get close to him, Pei Yan had become very sharp at reading people.
’Another schemer.’
’If you dare to have such ideas, you must pay the price.’
Pei Yan’s tone was cold. "The Gu Family has saved your life. Remember to be grateful."
With that, he took Mei Wanying’s hand and left.
Lin Jixue collapsed to the ground as if her spine had been removed, her face drenched in cold sweat. This was not how she had envisioned things unfolding.
’Ignorance is supposed to be a valid excuse! I just said the wrong thing. How could I be punished so severely for it?’
Twenty strokes... Would she even survive?
Even if she did survive, the Gu Family would be displeased. They might even send her back to Shu.
’What would I do then?’
Before she could even process it all, Lin Jixue was dragged away.
Gu Xun did not plead for her. He simply turned and walked away.
The maids and old servants who had come with the Lin family were all soaked in cold sweat.
Their young mistress had entered the estate as a distinguished guest, and in the blink of an eye, she had become a criminal.
And the one she offended was the Monarch who ruled the world.
’It’s over.’
’This marriage is over.’
’This might even bring ruin upon the Lin family!’
Mrs. Gu had only stepped away for a moment to arrange other matters. She never expected Lin Jixue to cause such a scene.
By the time she arrived, the caning was already over. Lin Jixue looked half-dead, weak and pathetic.
This was the daughter of her sworn sister. She was the one who had invited the girl to the Capital City; she couldn’t just stand by and watch Lin Jixue die.
Mrs. Gu had someone take her to the guest courtyard. "Go fetch the Household Doctor! Quickly!"
Lin Jixue was still conscious. Her body was in agony, but her heart was in even greater turmoil.
She was afraid the Gu family elders would be furious with her, that they would no longer want her as their daughter-in-law.
She grabbed Mrs. Gu’s hand, tears streaming down her face, and said weakly, "Madam Gu, I have failed to live up to your expectations, and I have no face to return to Shu. Don’t let me implicate the Gu Family... Please, just send me away..."