System Exercise 16

  Xia He got the words of the hostess and told everything she saw and heard to Liang Shi without missing a single point.

  Liu Shi was familiar with that man, which was what Gu Yuqie had guessed. Liu Shi viewed her own status, although she was only a concubine, but she had long considered herself the true mistress of this marquis's estate behind the scenes. Gu Yuqie knew it in her past life, let alone in this one. So unless there was something important, Liu Shi wouldn't privately meet with a strange man. This kind of thing that would lose her dignity. Liu Shi must have weighed it repeatedly before doing so.

  That man was actually the cousin of the Liu family. This was something that Gu Yuqie had not expected. In her previous life, she clearly remembered that the Liu woman was an orphan, and now a cousin suddenly appeared out of nowhere? Why couldn't her own cousin come to their house openly and honestly, but instead had to be so secretive? However, in her previous life, she hadn't even cared much about her own mother, let alone some distant relative like the Liu family's cousin.

  Two people just exchanged pleasantries, and Chun Xing also heard these words. The man sat for a while before getting up and leaving, still carried by that servant girl out of the Hou Mansion. Chun Xing went so far because she carefully followed the man all the way to find where he was staying, only then did she return to report to Madame.

  Not only did Yu Xiu feel that there was a problem, but Liang Shi also felt that it was very problematic. After she came to the capital, in addition to being heartbroken and disheartened, she hadn't even sent someone to investigate the background of that Madame Liu. Gu Huai Zhong had also been evasive about Madame Liu's affairs, so she didn't really understand her either.

  "Tell Zhao Wu to pay attention to that person." Liang said to Chun Xing after a moment of contemplation. "Also, investigate the past of Madame Liu. Although I don't want to interfere too much, we can't let just anyone tarnish this household either."

  Gu Yuqian covered her mouth and smiled secretly, what her mother said was already very serious.

  Zhao Wu was a guard commander brought by the Liang family from Jiangnan. Chun Xing and Xia He heard this, and their faces also showed a few more shades of joy.

  When they were in Jiangnan, they followed the young lady without any constraints, and their life was carefree and happy. As soon as they arrived in Beijing, they encountered the fact that the master had taken a concubine but kept it secret, and the young lady suddenly became dispirited and fell ill for a long time, which also made them lose interest. They had always disliked Madam Liu, but since the young lady was not confrontational, Madam Liu flattered her with sweet words, and the young lady couldn't get angry. Since the young lady didn't speak up, they, as servants, couldn't say anything either, and could only let things be. Now that the young lady has finally spoken out, each of them is clenching their fists and itching to throw that woman out of the house immediately!

  Spring apricot went down, Liang's family also drove out the other two big girls in the house, and she pulled up Gu Yuqiu's hand to carefully examine her own daughter.

  This girl is really beautiful, with curved eyebrows like distant mountains and misty clouds. She has a pair of peach blossom eyes that are slightly upturned at the corners, forming an enchanting arc. Her eyes are as clean as a clear stream, shining with a hint of starlight. Her skin is flawless, without any blemishes, and her lips are as red as lotus flowers. Not to mention her thick and luscious black hair. She's only ten years old and already has such a stunning appearance; who knows what she'll look like in a few more years?

  Gu Yuqie felt a bit uneasy in her heart as she was stared at by her mother, and softly called out "Mother."

  "Ah-Niang is still young now, but in a few years she will have to choose a husband." Liang Shi couldn't help but let out a long sigh. No matter how good her daughter was, she would eventually marry someone, and all she hoped for was that she wouldn't end up like herself, thinking she had found a good husband only to discover he was an ungrateful and treacherous scoundrel.

  "What do you want to think about, daughter?" Gu Yuqie knew that Liang Shi was thinking of something she shouldn't be thinking of again, and comforted her. "If you marry someone who is not good, it's better to stay with your mother. Anyway, this Marquis' manor will not lack a day's three meals for me."

  Daughter said that if she really married a bad one, it's better not to marry. This Marquis' manor can afford to raise a daughter, even if Gu Huai Zhong doesn't support her, she can support herself.

  Ms. Liang suddenly had this idea in her heart, and even she herself was shocked, hurriedly waving away the thought. Her daughter would eventually marry, and now she should start to open her eyes wide, carefully examining each of those princes and young masters from aristocratic families in the capital, making sure to find a few honest and reliable candidates so that in the future she wouldn't be at a loss.

  Li family did not know that his daughter had already set a goal in her heart, but instead gave a good word to this idea of hers, and after excitement also ignited a few points of fighting spirit.

  Although the Dingyuan Marquis Manor was a new noble family in the current dynasty, it didn't count for much in the eyes of those aristocratic families. However, Gu Yuqie was after all the eldest daughter of the manor, and those aristocratic families had to take notice of her no matter what. Her own background was also good, being the only legitimate daughter of the former General Town's family, which further increased Gu Yuqie's value. On the other hand, that Liu woman's two children were of lower status.

  "Nonsense!" Mr. Liang scolded his daughter with his mouth, but he hugged her tightly into his arms, holding her even tighter. He wished he could give the best in the world to his daughter.

  She thought that her daughter was now ten years old, and it would be better to take her to socialize in the circle of noblewomen in the capital first. Letting her see the world would also be good. In the past, when they were in Jiangnan, she had been too lenient with her, allowing her to develop a tomboyish personality, which made Madame Liang afraid to take her out and scare others. But after being flooded once in the capital, her temperament had changed and become more subdued, and she had also become unusually sensible and knowledgeable about books and reason, so it was okay to bring her out now.

  In the capital city, gatherings among noblewomen were not uncommon. Every now and then, she would receive invitations, but previously, due to her depression and poor physical health, she had declined them all with excuses. Now, she couldn't help but think about which ones she could attend with her daughter.

  Although her husband had already been enfeoffed as a marquis, this new noble was still inferior to the aristocratic families. In the eyes of those clans with hundreds of years of family history, they were nothing but nouveau riche. She came from a high-ranking birth, but since she was a daughter of the Gu family, she would naturally be classified as a rustic and unsophisticated person.

  This is also one of the reasons why Gu Yuqiu worked so hard in her previous life. She clearly understood the difference between aristocratic families and nouveau riche, so she doubled her efforts, determined to make a name for herself and surpass those so-called aristocratic ladies, making them dare not look down on her again.

  Although the Liang family also came from a wealthy background and could have stayed in Jiangnan, she had never even attended gatherings in the capital. She knew that the rules in the capital were much stricter than those in Jiangnan, so she had to be careful herself. Thinking of this, she called Chun Xing to take her daughter back, and also called Xia He to give her some reminders.

  The following days, Gu Yuqie found herself getting busier and busier.

  Her mother didn't know where to find a large pile of titles and connections between the nobles in the capital, and she had to memorize them by heart. Gu Yuqie had done such things in her previous life, but at that time it was not arranged by her mother, but secretly collected by herself. This life, what her mother collected was more detailed than what she had collected in her previous life. With the foundation of the previous generation laid down, this time Gu Yuqie didn't spend much effort to sort out those relationships again.

  Her mother even specially invited a palace etiquette teacher to teach her etiquette, and also had someone make clothes for her and create jewelry.

  Gu Yuqiu understood, her mother was going to push her out.

  In her past life, she had done all these things by herself. Her mother was always in a bad mood, but this time around, she didn't take it to heart, yet her mother was like a chicken on steroids, constantly sending people over to her place every now and then. Every day when she went to pay respects and practice martial arts, her mother would nag her nonstop in her ear. This made Gu Yuqiu feel a mix of laughter and tears.

  However, her mother thought it was good, so she went to do it. In her previous life, she was a prodigal daughter, and in this life, she wanted to make up for some of it. She wanted to take her to attend gatherings among the nobles, so she went, only not to show off like she did in her previous life, just hoping to pass through safely.

  Liu's eyes and ears were everywhere in the mansion, so she naturally saw Liang's and Gu Yuqiu's movements, and understood Liang's intentions. She whispered some pillow talk to Gu Huaizhong, and surprisingly, he also called for Gu Siyu to come with Gu Yuqiu to learn etiquette from the teacher.

  According to Liu's idea, Gu Yuqiu is nothing! She has been relying on her mother to occupy the position of Houfu's legitimate daughter for a few years, anyway, whatever Gu Yuqiu has, her daughter must not be less, just wait a few more years and see who can still dominate in this mansion.

  Gu Siyu was one year younger than Gu Yuqie, and at this age, she was still in the midst of her playful nature. However, she was forced to come and learn etiquette, and naturally, she was unwilling in her heart. The teacher, a strict palace maid, would slap her with a small bamboo board if her movements were slightly incorrect. According to her words, not only the young ladies of the marquis's residence but also the imperial concubines who entered the palace would be beaten by her if they did not behave well, and those concubines would become their future masters.

  Bi Yuqiu was still a reborn, everything was already familiar to her, as if she had an external hanging existence. In her previous life, she had also entered the palace, and etiquette was not something that needed to be taught, it came naturally. Compared to this, her younger sister seemed stupid and clumsy, even walking was not done well, from time to time being slapped by the teaching aunt's small board with a loud slapping sound.

  That's... how can a 9-year-old kid compare with an old demon who has mixed for several lifetimes?

  Gu Yuqie looked at the illegitimate sister eating alone, with a bitter and resentful expression all day, and couldn't describe her own feelings. This younger sister hasn't provoked her yet, but now being scolded into this pitiful state is also quite sad. But why did she feel an indescribable delight in her heart?

  Gu Yuqie was entangled for a while, and then came up with an answer. It seemed that she had crossed over again, self-immolated, and then reborn, and had already been forced by Yun Ke into a changed (harmonious) state.

  Gu Yuqie's mundane days were spent watching little Loli being trained miserably, she worked hard to practice martial arts, and quietly passed away in Chen Hanlin's teaching and discussion.

  Gu Yuqie stayed within the Hou Mansion and never stepped out, but her reputation outside grew louder by the day. Not only would Chen Hanlin mention Gu Yuqie to his fellow scholars, but even the imperial tutor's nanny would praise Gu Yuqie to the heavens after returning to the palace, saying she was unmatched in all the land. It was true that Gu Yuqie had done well on one hand, but on the other hand, it was also thanks to the red envelopes from Marquis Gu and his whispered instructions to the imperial tutor's nanny. Speaking of which, this lifetime's Gu Huai Zhong had indeed put in a lot of effort to marry Gu Yuqie into the royal family, investing quite a bit of capital.

  All of this was done behind Gu Yuqie's back, and she was still in the dark, not even Liang knew that Gu Huai had the idea of marrying Gu Yuqie into the imperial family.

  About a month later, Gu Yuqie was dressed up by her mother and put into a horse-drawn carriage, embarking on her first public appearance in her life.