“I had forgotten that Lady Zhuang, the wife of Shouguogong, is Lady Ye’s closest friend. When Lady Ye left, the Shouguogong family was still stationed at the border. Over the years, because of the matters concerning Lady Ye and her daughter, they have never treated me kindly. Now that they have returned, Shouguo Gongfu is naturally the best place for them.” Zhou Zhili’s face was layered with displeasure.
Laofuren closed her eyes, rotating her prayer beads as she spoke coldly, “No matter what, this is the family affair of our Jing’an Houfu. It is not for Shouguo Gongfu to interfere.”
“But…” Zhou Zhili wanted to say more.
“Are you going to say that you have already Heli? Don’t forget, Zhou Qingran is still a descendant of our Zhou family. Back then, considering her young age and the uncultured words she spoke, we did not hold it against her. Now that she has passed the age of Ji-ji, she remains just as disrespectful. As her father, you have the right to discipline her.”
“Otherwise, in the future, people will say that the discipline in our Jing’an Houfu is lax, and the young ladies lack propriety. If it ends up tarnishing Qinzhu’s reputation, that would be unfortunate.”
These words struck a nerve in Zhou Zhili, and even Zhou Yuzhi grew tense.
“If she harms my younger sister, I will make sure she suffers.”
“Now that she has been taken away by the people from Shouguo Gongfu, and our two families have never had much interaction, if we rashly go to demand her return, I fear they will not give us that face.” Zhou Zhili found himself in a dilemma again.
But Laofuren said, “This is Dizhou Cheng, where the Emperor resides. No matter how arrogant Shouguo Gongfu may be, they must still obey the Emperor. Taking our Zhou family’s daughter by force in broad daylight is already a serious crime. I refuse to believe that the Emperor would openly favor them in this matter!”
Zhou Zhili suddenly saw the light and said, “I understand, Mother. I will enter the palace this afternoon to seek the Emperor’s judgment.”
Only then did Laofuren appear satisfied. “You must bring that rebellious girl back and teach her a proper lesson…”
Zhou Zhili listened, feeling both a headache and a sense of relief. As long as they could bring her back, things would be much easier to handle.
He then went to visit Zhou Qinzhu, who was still recuperating, and informed Ye Lanxin about his plan to enter the palace in the afternoon.
“Master, although Sister has already Heli with you, Qingran is, after all, a daughter of our Houfu. We must bring her back. Because of what happened back then, the people of Shouguo Gongfu have never looked kindly upon me. I fear this incident will only deepen the conflict between our two families. Ah, this Qingran… no matter what, she is still a member of Jing’an Houfu. She should not put you in such a difficult position…”
Zhou Zhili listened to Ye Lanxin’s words with a furrowed brow, feeling even more agitated.
“Enough. You don’t need to worry about this matter. They are the ones who have gone too far…”
“Mother, why do we have to bring Zhou Qingran back? What if she really returns to compete with us for Father and Brother?”
After Zhou Zhili left, Zhou Qinzhu asked with a gloomy expression.
Ye Lanxin gently smoothed her hair and said with a smile, “They were no match for us back then. After ten years of lost affection, even if she returns now, she still won’t win. Keeping the enemy within sight makes it easier to wear her down.”
“But what if Father and Brother end up unable to bear parting with her?” Zhou Qinzhu asked worriedly.
“Have we not spent all these years trying to persuade them to bring your aunt and her daughter back? It’s their own hatred that keeps them from wanting anything to do with that mother and daughter pair—it has nothing to do with us… Look at today. You threatened to die to make way for Zhou Qingran, but did they agree? It’s just like before—they only hate that mother and daughter more.”
Ye Lanxin’s words carried undisguised smugness.
Zhou Qinzhu suddenly understood, her eyes lighting up with a different gleam.
“Back then, Aunt didn’t take any dowry with her. They must have suffered greatly all these years, enduring hardships. She never had the chance to receive proper upbringing. Even if someone like that really returns to the Houfu, how could she ever compare to me…”
Ye Lanxin gently tapped her forehead. “That’s right. Her life is already laid out before her, with no surprises. In a few days, it will be your Ji-ji ceremony. We absolutely cannot let someone like her cause any trouble. Back then, your aunt was too proud to accept us mother and daughter into the household. Now that her daughter is returning, let her become nothing but your foil…”
While Jing’an Houfu prepared to enter the palace in the afternoon, Shouguo Gongfu had the same intention.
After the siblings met for the first time,
Zhuang Hefeng gently patted Gu Ruanci’s hand and then said to Gu Congyun, “Master, for the sake of caution, we should still go to the palace. Although Ruanci has already been added to the Gu family register, she will inevitably meet the people from Jing’an Houfu in the future. This matter must be clarified before His Majesty to avoid any future entanglements.”
Gu Congyun not only nodded but also made arrangements right after lunch.
Together with Zhuang Hefeng, he took Gu Ruanci into the palace.
“Your subject’s daughter, Gu Ruanci, pays respects to His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress.”
Gu Ruanci’s demeanor after entering the palace surprised Empress Li Yingxi. Despite having been away for ten years, her etiquette had not deteriorated; instead, she carried an air of transcendence.
“Rise, all of you…”
The Empress examined Gu Ruanci once more. Apart from her appearance being identical to Ye Hesheng’s, her temperament was even more aloof.
Ye Hesheng was vibrant and full of life, while the Gu Ruanci before her was like a flower reflected in water—delicate and serene.
“Your Majesty, this is my family register, and this is the handwritten letter Ye Hesheng entrusted to me when she entrusted her child to me. Ruanci has no connection to the Zhou family. There is no issue with her becoming my daughter, Gu Congyun.”
Gu Congyun spoke seriously, presenting the prepared documents.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor seemed somewhat puzzled.
The Empress glanced at Zhuang Hefeng beside her, feeling envious of the late Ye Hesheng. To have such a lifelong friend made one’s journey through life worthwhile.
She, too, had once had close confidantes, but as their statuses diverged and interests clashed, they gradually drifted apart.
“Congyun, I have no objection to Ruanci becoming the daughter of your Shouguo Gongfu. But why have you brought these things to the palace today?”
Gu Congyun replied directly, “Your subject wishes to seek dignity for my daughter…”
“What kind of dignity?”
Both the Emperor and the Empress were taken aback.
“The Zhou family is shamelessly boasting. Today, upon learning of Ruanci’s return, they actually dared to arrest her in the streets and even intended to force her back to apologize to that shameless widow. In a few days, it will be the Ji-ji ceremony for that illegitimate girl of unknown origins at Jing’an Houfu. Our Gu family plans to hold a recognition banquet for Ruanci on the same day. We humbly request that Your Majesty issue an imperial decree on that day, proclaiming to the world that Ruanci has no ties to the Zhou family, so they will not dare to meddle.”