Parents quarrel

  In the warm pavilion, Liang's smile still lingered on her face. Seeing Liu hastily leave without even stating her purpose, she felt that she had truly vented her anger.

  She warmly grasped her daughter's hand, and if it was indeed the doing of the Liu family that her daughter had fallen into the water, then she would not let them off scot-free. Her tolerance was only to give her daughter a stable and wealthy environment, but now that her daughter's safety was threatened, her tolerance had lost all meaning.

  "What you just said is very good, but remember not to show off too much." Liang reminded her daughter. "Don't worry, Ah Nuan, if someone really did push you into the water on purpose, I won't let them off easily."

  Gu Yuqiu nodded, her heart filled with warmth. The determination in her mother's eyes made her feel relieved, as the knot of frustration that had been between her eyebrows was now gone. "By the way, Mother, what was the name of that sword technique you used earlier?"

  "That sword technique was taught by your grandfather. It's our Liang family's traditional sword technique, called Wú Yǐng (No Shadow). If you like it, I'll teach it to you tomorrow. We also have a Thunderbolt Spear technique in the Liang family, would you like to learn it?" asked Mrs. Liang softly.

  "I want to learn, I naturally want to learn!" Gu Yuqie's face was filled with surprise and delight, she jumped up and hugged Liang's neck, giving her a forceful kiss on the cheek. This was like winning the lottery, Gu Yuqie was overjoyed, but in her past life, Liang Huaiyu had never mentioned anything about gunplay. Probably because of her own poor performance in her past life... Gu Yuqie felt a bit embarrassed again.

  The daughter's expression of joy from the bottom of her heart made Liang Shi stunned, looking at her daughter's innocent and delicate face, Liang Shi felt that her heart was about to melt away. No matter how much Gu Huai Zhong deceived or treated her coldly, she still had her daughter in this life, and for the sake of her daughter, she couldn't give up. This set of swordsmanship and archery were all passed down from the Liang family, when she married Gu Huai Zhong, she secretly taught him these skills, later discovered by her father who scolded her in a letter but didn't punish her.

  At that time, she thought Gu Huai Zhong would protect her for the rest of her life... But as soon as she thought about it, Liang Huai Yu's heart felt a pang of sourness. He had actually hidden from her for so many years the fact that he had taken concubines and had children in the border regions. If she hadn't moved to the capital, she might still be kept in the dark. Even his father, who was with him, hadn't noticed anything, which showed how much he was on guard against the Liang family.

  Gu Yuqie is so good, if she can't hold up a sky for her daughter, it's in vain to be a mother. Thinking of this, her mood opened up a bit more. Previously, she couldn't think it through, how could she compare with Liu Yue, the legitimate daughter of the Liu family, born into a noble family, well-versed in both literature and martial arts, with a gentle and open-minded personality? How could she not capture her husband's heart? Now it seems that being unable to capture her husband's heart might not be her fault.

  The mother and daughter had a conversation in their cozy boudoir, where Liang's family passed down the sword manual to Gu Yuqiu, who memorized it.

  Gu Yuqie learned things extremely quickly. The sword and gun techniques were a bit tricky, but after Liang taught them twice, Gu Yuqie remembered them firmly and recited them fluently. This made Liang Huaiyu even more overjoyed. With such a talented daughter, what more could he ask for?

  Just as the mother and daughter were teaching each other by heart, Zhang Ayi came again to pass on a message: Master Hou has arrived.

  Liang Huaiyu's smile slightly stagnated, usually he wouldn't enter the Wanyinzhai at this time. Liu Yue had just left, and he came soon after, wasn't it because of what Gu Yuqie scolded Liu Yue about earlier? She took a glance at Gu Yuqie, seeing that she was not affected in the slightest, her heart also slightly calmed down, anyway she would protect her daughter.

  Gu Huai Zhong pushed open the door curtain and walked in. Gu Yu Qie carefully sized up her cheap father, who was now thirty years old. He had a tall and robust build, and his skin had a healthy wheat color from years of military life. It had to be said that Gu Huai Zhong's face was very handsome and majestic, or else his mother wouldn't have fallen for him at first sight. His black robe with silver trim wrapped around his sturdy body, giving off an aura of sharpness and ruthlessness. The bloody battlefields he had been on for years had shaped his temperament. In any case, this cheap father's appearance was indeed extraordinary.

  Liáng shì dài zhe Gù Yǔ Kuí gěi Gù Huái Zhōng jiàn guò lǐ hòu, mìng rén sòng lái le chá diǎn.

  Translation:

  After Liang accompanied Gu Yuqiu to pay respects to Gu Huaizhong, he ordered someone to bring tea and refreshments.

  "How come Master Hou is here at this hour?" Liang Shi asked lightly, seemingly making small talk on the surface, but with a hint of subtle mockery in her tone.

  It's been almost three months since he came to the capital, and except for the time when Gu Yuqiu fell into the water, he took the initiative to come over. At other times, unless it was the first or fifteenth day of the month, he would not take the initiative to enter the Wanxinzhai, even if he did come on the first and fifteenth days, it was only when the night was deep that he came late, and he didn't say two words with himself before going to bed. Intimate things were only done on the day she arrived in the capital, very perfunctorily, and afterwards, they were pushed away by saying that Liang's body was not good and needed rest. The rest of the time, he was staying at Liu's place, I don't know how Liu did it, Gu Huai Zhong was so devoted to Liu.

  The hearts of men! Thinking of this, a chill ran through Liang's heart.

  Gu Huaizhong looked at his wife's slightly indifferent face, and his heart was also surging with thoughts.

  Although Gu Huai Zhong had already been enfeoffed as a marquis, he still felt uneasy in his heart when facing the Liang family. Originally, she was the eldest sister of the General who Guards the Country, and she had married down to him back then. Although he had been favored and respected her, they had also lived a life of honey and oil for a period of time, but after all, he had still risen above his station.

  When he returned to the border, full of energy and momentum, he inadvertently overheard his former comrades' discussions behind his back, like a basin of cold water poured on his head. It turned out that all the military achievements he had made were in their eyes just because he had a father-in-law who was a general of the national army.

  Rumors and slanders, he could tolerate once or twice, but when they kept coming, it made him feel very resentful. Gradually, in his heart, he began to harbor some resentment towards Liang Huaiyu and General Zhen Guo. Once this kind of thing takes root in one's heart, it grows like a demon, uncontrollably.

  So many years have passed, and his father-in-law is dead, but he still can't shake off his shadow. Seeing Liang Huaiyu is like seeing his father-in-law standing behind her. He knows he owes Liang Huaiyu an apology, but he just can't go back to the way things were before, with that natural affection and adoration. On the other hand, Liu Yue has always been by his side, selflessly devoted to him, making him feel a pang of guilt.

  Anyway, he had made up his mind before Liang Huaiyu brought Gu Yuqie into the capital. If Liang Huaiyu could tolerate Liu Yue, then so be it. But if Liang Huaiyu couldn't tolerate Liu Yue, he would even risk being impeached by officials for being a doting husband who destroys his wife to fight for Liu Yue's dignity.

  Just now, Liu went to the study to find him, his face full of worry. He repeatedly asked and only then did he know that Liu had come to pay respects to Liang, but was scolded by the eldest sister, and Gu Siyang also suffered as a result. A ten-year-old girl can't understand anything, it's likely that the one who really needs to be taught a lesson is Liang behind Gu Yuqie. He felt angry in his heart and came to Wanhuxuan, but when he arrived at the door of Wanhuxuan, he heard Liang teaching Gu Yuqie sword and spear techniques inside, and his heart softened again.

  No matter what, he has today, in addition to his own efforts, he can't leave behind the support and teachings of his father-in-law. In the army, there are many poor scholars, and those with good martial arts skills are not few, so why did he stand out? Gu Huai's heart is filled with guilt, and his desire to give Liu Shi back her dignity has weakened a bit.

  At that time, his martial arts skills were not bad, but they were all learned in the military and it was difficult for him to stand out. His martial arts skills only reached an unprecedented height after Liang's family taught him the Liang family's Wuying Swordsmanship and Benlei Gunfa. It can be seen that the subtlety of the Liang family's traditional martial arts is all thanks to this woman in his life, but he disappointed her.

  "Hmm..." Gu Huai Zhong hesitated for a moment, originally he was full of anger, but now he didn't know if he should speak up for the Liu family either.

  "Father." Seeing Gu Huai's hesitant expression, Gu Yuqie suppressed the discomfort in her heart and deliberately snuggled into his arms with a fake intimacy. She had never liked this cheap father of hers from the bottom of her heart. In her previous life, soon after Liang Shi died, he had already promoted Liu Shi to be his legitimate wife, showing no regard for Liang Shi's feelings, with all his thoughts focused on Liu Shi. What kind of father was worthy of her respect? It was just that in her previous life, she didn't bother with these matters, and these people were nothing more than passersby to the previous Gu Yuqie, not her relatives.

  Daughter pounced on him, Gu Huai Zhong subconsciously caught her daughter's small body, although he was quite unfamiliar with Gu Yuqiu this daughter, but after all, she was his own flesh and blood, seeing that she was willing to get close to him, he also had a little affection for her.

  "Father just came with Liu Yiniang and my younger brother, and you arrived." Gu Yuqie said innocently with her head tilted. "My younger brother doesn't want to call me sister." She opened wide her shiny black eyes, sparkling with tears she had squeezed out, "What did I do wrong? Why won't my younger brother acknowledge me?"

  Gu Yuqie came up with a preemptive strike, saying it with a face full of grievances. Her current advantage is that she's young... She just amplified this advantage a bit.

  As soon as Gu Yuqie finished speaking, the anger in Gu Huai's eyes dissipated a bit. Madame Liu only mentioned that Gu Yuqie had taught Gu Siyang a lesson and given her some discipline, but didn't mention anything about Gu Siyang refusing to acknowledge Gu Yuqie. Gu Siyang was being stubborn and refused to recognize Liang Shi and Gu Yuqie, but in reality, he knew the truth. He was just afraid of hurting Madame Liu and her son, so he pretended not to see it. Gu Siyang was born under his watchful eye and was a male heir, so he had always been biased towards him.

  "Si Yang is also my son." Seeing her daughter's words, Madame Liang thought to smile in her heart but restrained herself and helped her daughter say, "Since I came to the capital, Si Yang has never called me mother. This child has a stubborn temper, not recognizing me is nothing. But Ah Nuan is the child of mine and General Hou, she is that child's elder sister. If there is discord between them as siblings, it will be bad for both Ah Nuan and Si Yang if it gets out." She spoke tactfully, but having been in the military for a long time, he immediately understood the meaning behind Madame Liang's words.

  Although he is now the Marquis of Dingyuan, he is only a newcomer to the imperial court and cannot compare to those aristocratic families. He has only three children under his knee: Gu Yuqiu, Gu Siyang, and Gu Siyu. Gu Siyang is still a bastard child, and in the future, the Hou Mansion will have to rely on the mutual support of the three siblings. Because of his relatives by marriage, he rose to prominence overnight, and Gu Siyang may also have to take this path to solidify the position of the Hou Mansion and raise his own status. The help that Gu Yuqiu and Gu Siyu can provide for Gu Siyang's future is not to be underestimated either. In the imperial capital, aristocratic families are intertwined with each other, and their interests are connected by what? Is it not marriage?

  Now that he is in the imperial court, he cannot help but think about these things. The Liu family's background is too low, and it's likely that Gu Siyang will have a hard time marrying a daughter from a noble family in the future. However, Gu Yuqiu is different. Not only is she the legitimate daughter of the Marquis' manor, but her mother also comes from a prominent family in Jiangnan. Her status is high enough. If she can secure a good marriage in the future and is willing to help Gu Siyang, then his situation will be much better than it is now.

  Gu's expression eased a lot, and the questions he had been about to ask were swallowed back. He spoke in a soothing tone, "Madam is absolutely right, Siyang that child has also been spoiled by his mother." His careless remark ignited a surge of unnamed anger in Liang Shi's heart.

  "His mother?" Liang's family slammed the table and stood up, coldly looking at Gu Huai Zhong, "Is it that in the heart of the Marquis, Liu Shi is the only one who can be considered as the mistress of the Hou Mansion? I dare to ask, where does the Marquis put me?"

  Gu Huaizhong only then realized that he had said something he shouldn't have in front of Liang Shi, although in his heart, Liu Shi was the one who was truly Gu Siyang's mother. However, according to reason and law, Liang Shi was the one he had formally married and was his legitimate wife, the madam of the marquis' manor, and only she had the qualifications to be Gu Siyang's mother. As a concubine, Liu Shi was nothing more than a servant girl.

  He was momentarily at a loss for words, repeatedly comforting Liang Shi.

  Li's family, however, was unable to calm down again for more than three months! She brought Gu Yuqiu to the capital for more than three months. The grievances in her heart were suppressed and not mentioned, which made her fall ill. Her daughter also fell into the water without knowing why. On this side, everything was chaotic, while Liu's family was unaffected and continued to live a life of luxury. She even gave up her rights as the mistress of the house. Today, she only suffered some minor grievances in her own home, and the man in front of her came to help her regain her dignity. If she still endured now, then it would be better for her and her daughter to return to Jiangnan earlier!

  "Lord Hou, when you married me back then, I respected you. I waited for you in Jiangnan for ten years. When my father passed away and I returned to Jiangnan to mourn, it was fine that you didn't come back. But now that I've brought our daughter to the capital and discovered that you have a beautiful concubine by your side, with children of your own... You hid this from me for ten years, wasn't it all just to protect them? What am I in your eyes?" Liang's anger had all been unleashed, her face flushed with excitement. "If Lord Hou really thinks that my daughter and I are getting in the way, then fine! Tomorrow, I'll accompany you to the Temple of Great Justice and write a divorce agreement. From then on, whoever you want our daughter to call mother, I won't say another word!"

  According to the law of the Great Qi, a first-rank imperial edict cannot be abandoned or withdrawn, only harmonized and separated, and both parties must go to the Dalisi Temple Government Office to explain the reason for the separation.

  Li's sudden change of heart made Gu Huai Zhong instantly unable to hold on. He was originally in the wrong against Li, and if Li were to make a scene at the Temple of Great Justice again because of Liu's affair, he would truly be guilty of being a favored concubine who destroyed his wife. The Great Qi emphasized propriety and filial piety, General Li had shown him great kindness, kindness that was like a second chance at life, Gu Huai Zhong had no reason not to attend the funeral. He was now too proud, seemingly the leader of the new nobility, while many people in court pretended to be friendly with him on the surface, but there were not a few who envied him behind his back, if Li really made these things public, he would likely be used by others and become a weapon for attacking him.

  Gu Huaizhong's face turned bright red with rage, but he couldn't lash out, only enduring the humiliation to placate Liangshi. However, Liangshi seemed determined to vent all her grievances from the past three months, growing more and more vicious as she spoke, even rolling up her sleeves to start hitting Gu Huaizhong. Gu Huaizhong could only endure the beating in silence, still trying to console Liangshi without stopping.

  Gu Yuqie couldn't help but say that her delicate and sickly-looking mother was really scary when she got angry! She secretly gave a thumbs up, worthy of being the daughter of a general!

  Gu Yuqiu saw her parents quarreling to the point of no return, and quietly stood aside, pretending to be frightened. In reality, she was secretly overjoyed. Liang Shi had been harboring resentment in her heart, and if it didn't erupt, it wouldn't be a good thing. Gu Yuqiu also knew that even if Gu Huai Zhong was scolded by Liang Shi until he was covered in blood, he wouldn't dare to do anything to the mother-daughter duo, so she deliberately stirred things up. Her intention was also to make Liang Shi recognize her own status and stop being overly tolerant.

  In her past life, she was also proud and infatuated with that ruthless and cold-hearted person, so she tolerated him everywhere, only to end up in what kind of situation? A hint of desolation flashed across Gu Yuqiu's eyes.