There was another person who couldn’t sleep this night.
At Guangping Hou Estate, Song Zhengyi gazed at the woman sleeping on the bed, thinking about the young Madam Gu he had seen during the day.
Countless questions swirled in his mind, and he was eager to find answers.
Yet he didn’t know who could provide them.
“Elder brother, mother has fallen asleep. You should go rest too!”
A gentle, delicate voice pulled Song Zhengyi back from his thoughts.
He looked at the young girl before him – graceful and beautiful as a flower, yet lacking in spirit and carrying a touch of vulgarity.
Moreover, she bore no resemblance to their mother.
In contrast, the young Madam Gu was like a perfect replica of their mother in her youth.
“Elder brother, what’s wrong?”
Song Yanwu took a puzzled step forward. “Why are you staring at me like that? Did you think of something?”
“Nothing, I’m just tired.”
“Then go rest. I’ll watch over mother here.”
“No, you’ve worked hard enough during the day. I’ll keep watch tonight.”
After sending his younger sister away, Song Zhengyi lay down on the daybed in the outer room without undressing.
His mind flashed back to that brief glimpse he had caught during the day.
He had gone to Taiyuan Hospital early to arrange for Lin Taiyi to come to the estate the next day to examine their mother’s pulse.
After leaving the hospital, he had been blocked at the alley entrance by people intercepting Young Master Gu.
When the Gu family’s carriage passed the alley entrance, he caught sight of the young Madam Gu through the carriage window and was instantly stunned.
It was as if he had returned to his childhood, seeing their mother young and healthy again.
To get another look, he unconsciously followed the crowd to Star Plucking Tower and managed to enter the fifth floor relying on his status.
When he heard that the young Madam Gu’s maiden name was Song, his shock was beyond words.
When the young Madam Gu met his gaze, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity within.
Years of suspicion suddenly found an explanation.
No one knew why he insisted on personally watching over their mother.
It was because her illness stemmed entirely from her worries.
And those worries were related to his sister.
The day after his sister was born, for some unknown reason, their mother insisted that this wasn’t the same child.
Without any evidence, no one could believe her!
Instead, the imperial physician diagnosed that their mother had caught a chill after childbirth, which disturbed her mind and caused madness.
This madness had lasted fifteen years.
In reality, their mother spent most of her time asleep, and during her rare moments of clarity, she would repeatedly say the child had been switched.
To prevent their father from growing to resent their mother, he could only keep watch himself, ensuring only he heard these claims.
After seeing the young Madam Gu today, he suddenly felt that their mother might have been right all along.
Perhaps the current sister wasn’t his real sister.
Thinking this, Song Zhengyi sat up.
“Zhao Kai.”
A figure landed outside the window. “Young Master, your orders.”
“Send a message to our eldest maternal uncle. Have him investigate the young Madam Gu.”
“Yes!”
After Zhao Kai departed with the order, Song Zhengyi lay back down.
This matter couldn’t be rushed. If it was truly as their mother said, then who had switched his sister?
In this estate, who would do such a thing? Had their father ever doubted their mother’s words?
Thinking of his father, Song Zhengyi couldn’t help but sigh.
Before a long-sick bed, there are no filial sons, nor loving partners.
For this matter, the only people he could consult were his maternal grandfather and uncles, and even that couldn’t happen now.
The dark night was pierced by the light of dawn.
Early in the morning, the Gu family’s main gate was knocked open, and Uncle Da hurried to Ruifeng Courtyard.
Song Shiyue was already organizing the medicine shelf, while Gu Yu Chen was practicing his martial arts.
“Young Master, Li Gonggong has arrived with an imperial decree.”
“Oh? Only coming now? The old emperor really knows how to bide his time.”
Gu Yu Chen put away his moves, quickly washed up, changed clothes, and went to the front courtyard to receive the decree.
“Li Gonggong, sorry to keep you waiting.”
As Gu Yu Chen spoke, he slipped a silver note into Li Gonggong’s hand.
“Young Master Gu, it is I who arrived early.”
Li Gonggong’s eyes curved into a smile, showing great respect for this favorite of the Emperor.
“His Majesty heard that Young Master Gu was severely injured and had not summoned you. Just yesterday, he heard you had recovered and could go out, but this morning he learned of your assassination attempt and was very concerned.”
“It is all Yu Chen’s fault for worrying His Majesty.”
Li Gonggong smiled, “Indeed! Upon hearing the news early this morning, His Majesty ordered this servant to come and check. If all is well, he requests Young Master Gu to enter the palace.”
“Very well, let His Majesty see for himself that I am perfectly fine. We must not let His Majesty worry.”
“That is the reasoning.”
Li Gonggong added further, “As for Young Mistress Gu, she may wait until Master Gu returns to Jing City before entering the palace together.”
The Emperor was indeed the Emperor, handling matters with great experience.
He did not deny the fact of Gu Yu Chen’s marriage, but he would only acknowledge Yue girl’s status in the Gu family after the old master gave his approval.
Without needing Song Shiyue to enter the palace, Gu Yu Chen had Uncle Da relay the message to Song Shiyue and entered the palace together with Li Gonggong.
After finishing breakfast, Song Shiyue thought about taking a walk on the streets to see if anyone would step forward to recognize her.
Additionally, to find her master, she needed to find a way to earn silver to buy information.
Uncle Da only knew her first idea and did not try to dissuade her, only requesting that maids accompany her.
Song Shiyue knew he meant well and did not refuse.
Having just survived an assassination attempt last night, she was carefreely going shopping; she had to let Uncle Da feel at ease.
The two maids were a pair of biological sisters specially selected by Gu Yu Chen back at the farmstead.
The elder sister was called Da Mei, indeed petite and slender; the younger sister was called Xiao Mei, taller and sturdier.
The sisters were not twins but looked very similar, both delicate and pleasant to the eye.
Not only were they good at taking care of others, diligent and quiet, but they also knew some martial arts and could protect themselves if needed.
This was also why Song Shiyue was willing to have them accompany her.
Emperor Jingren was considered a capable and wise ruler, having governed the Da Chu Kingdom in relative peace.
All the streets of Jing City were bustling with traffic and prosperous scenes.
Song Shiyue entered every shop she saw, and after walking several streets, she was astonished.
“Da Mei, which street doesn’t have a Gu family shop?”
It was truly terrifying; openly and covertly, the Gu family actually dominated nearly half of Jing City’s commerce.
She had seen the account books and knew the Gu family had numerous shops.
But numbers written on paper were far less stimulating than seeing them in reality.
Da Mei, though petite, had a loud voice, “Reply, Madam, I’m afraid you won’t find one. Wherever a shop can be opened, there is bound to be a Gu family business.”
Alright then! If she really wanted to do business, it would be more profitable to help manage the Gu family’s businesses and have Gu Yu Chen pay her wages.
The sturdy Xiao Mei, however, spoke quite elegantly, “Madam, are you thinking of acquiring shops to do business?”
“What a clever girl.”
Song Shiyue did not hold back her praise, “It’s just that all possible businesses have been ventured into by the Gu family. What can I do?”
“Seems like there isn’t any.”
Da Mei thought hard for a long time, puzzled, “Madam, why do you want to open a shop? If you need money, just say the word to the young master, and it will be delivered to your hands.”
“Sister, Madam wants to have her own property.”
“But didn’t Uncle Da say that the young master gave all his assets to the young mistress as dowry? Then aren’t all the Gu family shops the young mistress’s?”
Song Shiyue smiled, “Da Mei is right, it’s all mine.”
She sighed inwardly—with such a reputation, it seemed odd for her to seek work.
Song Shiyue dismissed the idea of opening a shop, pondering what she could do to have freedom of movement without Gu Yu Chen finding out.
She wanted to earn money through her own efforts and spend it with a clear conscience.
Lost in thought as she walked, she unknowingly arrived at a quiet alley.
“Where have we ended up?”
“It seems to be the front street of a wealthy residence.”
Da Mei pointed at the grand mansion ahead. Song Shiyue looked over and happened to see Song Zhengyi seeing off a guest.
Song Zhengyi was bidding farewell to Lin Taiyi and spotted Song Shiyue from a distance.
What a coincidence!