The Emperor looked at him helplessly. Despite the slight rudeness in his words, he could not bring himself to reprimand him.
“You have a daughter now, you should be more mindful of your words…” the Emperor reminded.
Gu Ruanci understood that the Emperor was willing to publicly acknowledge their father-daughter relationship.
“If they have no shame, I will simply and directly make them lose face. My time is precious. I have finally waited for my daughter to return and have no time to waste on that family of unscrupulous people.”
Gu Congyun, of course, also understood but insisted on expressing his stance.
“When is the Renqin Yan scheduled?”
The Empress, knowing how intensely Gu Congyun had longed for his daughter all these years, did not take his attitude to heart and proactively asked.
“In five days,” Zhuang Hefeng answered first, worried that Gu Congyun might say something improper again.
“Good. The return of the Gu Family’s legitimate daughter is a joyous occasion. I will naturally prepare a generous gift.”
“Thank you, Empress…”
After bowing, Gu Congyun gave the Emperor a meaningful glance.
The Emperor smiled helplessly. “The Empress’s meaning is also my meaning.”
As they were speaking, a eunuch entered to announce that Jing’an Hou requested an audience.
Gu Congyun snorted coldly. “I truly did not misjudge this despicable man.”
This time, Zhuang Hefeng did not stop him. She had long disliked Zhou Zhili as well.
In contrast, Gu Ruanci remained composed and unperturbed, her expression unchanged.
“Let him in…”
The Emperor sighed again. He had wanted to wait until the Gu Family left before allowing Zhou Zhili to enter, but he worried they might encounter each other outside and start arguing directly.
Before long, Zhou Zhili entered the hall, led by a eunuch.
“Your humble servant pays respects—”
He was about to bow when he caught sight of the Gu Family.
Gu Congyun and Zhuang Hefeng wore haughty expressions, not even sparing him a glance.
He had grown accustomed to such attitudes over the years. What mattered most was the woman standing behind them. Just as Yuzhi had described, her appearance was indeed identical to that of Ye Hesheng from years past, though her demeanor was entirely different.
“Your humble servant pays respects to the Emperor and Empress…”
He still insisted on observing proper etiquette, though his mind was racing with questions. Why had the Gu Family brought their daughter into the palace?
“Rise…” The Emperor already felt a headache coming on, anticipating what might unfold next.
“Qingran, since you have returned, why did you pass by our home without entering?”
Zhou Zhili’s first words immediately chilled the atmosphere in the hall once more.
Gu Ruanci paid no heed, standing quietly beside Zhuang Hefeng, serene and undisturbed.
Zhou Zhili’s anger, which he had suppressed in the Emperor’s presence, began to seep out.
“Just as your brother said, what kind of manners have you learned all these years?”
Only then did Gu Ruanci nod slightly and look at him.
“Is Jing’an Hou speaking to me? Which of my brothers said that? I am unaware.”
Zhou Zhili’s expression stiffened momentarily before he replied irritably, “Of course, it was your Second Brother. Now, what are you doing entering the palace with the Duke of Shou and his wife? And where is Lady Ye?”
Gu Ruanci let out a light laugh. “Just before I entered the palace, Second Brother had just gifted me the southern pearls bestowed upon him by the Emperor last year. How is it that he turned around and told the Marquis that I lack propriety? I recall there being no interaction between the two of you. As for my mother, you won’t be seeing her again. After all, the words ‘once separated, never to meet again’ were not spoken lightly by her back then.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhili grew even more agitated.
“What nonsense is this? You appeared before the gates of Jing’an Houfu—wasn’t it to return home? Yuzhi merely admonished you a few words, yet you dared to suggest that our entire family kneel before you. Such audacity is utterly treasonous.”
As he spoke, he glanced toward the Emperor and Empress.
He deliberately left his words ambiguous, hoping to tarnish Gu Ruanci’s image in the eyes of the Emperor and Empress.
“Why are you so harsh toward my daughter? Don’t you have your own wretched girl at home to discipline? Coming all the way to the palace to make a spectacle of yourself and slander my daughter—if that mouth of yours is no longer wanted, I can help you with it.”
Gu Congyun could no longer hold back. Even in the presence of the Emperor and Empress, he boldly defended Gu Ruanci.
“Her Second Brother said she lacks propriety? I haven’t heard Yuting utter such suicidal words.”
“You couldn’t possibly be referring to that Zhou Yuzhi, could you? What kind of Second Brother is he to my daughter?”
Zhou Zhili suddenly realized: “Your daughter? Since when did Zhou Qingran become your daughter?”
“None of your damn business.”
Gu Congyun had no patience for hypocrites like Zhou Zhili.
Seeing Gu Congyun’s attitude, the Emperor understood that he had no intention of reasoning with Zhou Zhili and stepped in to mediate.
“Jing’an Hou, when Lady Ye divorced you back then, she took nothing from Houfu except her daughter. Later, she entrusted her daughter to the Duke of Shou and his wife. From that moment on, this daughter was renamed Gu Ruanci and entered the Gu family registry. Over the years, the Duke of Shou and his wife have rarely stayed in the capital, so this was never publicly announced. Now that Ruanci has returned, it is time to make her identity known to all.”
The Emperor’s tone carried an unmistakable warning.
“Your Majesty, I am Zhou Qingran’s biological father!” Zhou Zhili protested anxiously.
Once this matter was made public, he would lose all face.
“Hmm, rest assured, no one is competing with you. My daughter is named Gu Ruanci. If someone surnamed Zhou were to enter my family registry and call me father, what if your sons decided to join in? After all, they still have you as their living father.”
Gu Congyun struck another blow, leaving Zhou Zhili powerless to retaliate.
“Your Majesty, I must return to prepare for Ruanci’s Renqin Yan. I shall take my leave now.”
Having secured the Emperor’s approval, Gu Congyun had no desire to waste words on someone as sanctimonious as Zhou Zhili.
Zhou Zhili grew frantic. He looked at Gu Ruanci, struggling to contain his fury but unable to control his expression.
“Ungrateful daughter, have you nothing to say?”
Gu Ruanci’s voice was clear and crisp: “Marquis Zhou, let me remind you once more—you have only one daughter. I hear she’s at home studying how to hang herself. On the verge of her Ji-ji, she’s seeking death—perhaps trying to pave the way for the critically ill Laofuren. You shouldn’t call her ungrateful; she is truly filial, living up to the schemes and betrayals you orchestrated to secure a name for her and her mother.”
Her words left even the Empress slightly shaken, for they were spoken with such biting shame and indignation.
Zhou Zhili’s face indeed changed dramatically. Flushing red, he could only emphasize one fact: “Don’t forget, you are of my bloodline!”
Gu Congyun and Zhuang Hefeng were both disgusted, their expressions clearly showing they had expected him to say exactly that. The Emperor and Empress were also particularly disappointed.
Gu Ruanci, however, remained calm and composed, replying directly: “So what? Aren’t those three foolish sons of yours also of my mother’s bloodline? Yet didn’t you still help them choose a lowly woman to call mother? They looked down on my mother, and I look down on you—isn’t that fair? At least my mother had better judgment than you, choosing such wonderful parents for me.”
Taking advantage of Zhou Zhili’s livid, speechless expression, Gu Ruanci added another line: “In the future, don’t go around talking about this bloodline matter—I find it embarrassing. If you have the time, you’d be better off thinking about whether Laofuren, who also shares a bloodline with you, can still wait for Little Medical Immortal.”