129 Secret
Madam Gu felt as if her heart had been whipped hard by a whip. It was painful, numb, and stuffy.
Madam Gu lowered her eyes and hunched over to cover her left chest. She grabbed it slightly hard and felt her heart throbbing even more.
“Madam, are you alright?” Granny Li asked with concern. She raised her hand to stroke her back, but Madam Gu did not hear her.
One moment, she was thinking about Gu Yuan, the next moment, she was thinking about Gu Ce, who had died young. The next moment, she overlapped these two figures with another elegant figure.
First, it was Gu Ce, then Gu Yuan.
She originally thought that even if Gu Yuan insisted on abandoning literature and entering the military camp, he would probably only stop at being a soldier. How could the king tolerate a son who represented humiliation?
Unexpectedly, first it was the Divine Arms Battalion. Now, Gu Yuan was actually going to be transferred to the imperial guard again. In just a few days, he had advanced three levels from the sixth-grade company commander.
Moreover, he was the Emperor’s imperial guard!
He had reached the heavens in a single step.
“Yuan’er’s success is a joyous occasion,” Madam Gu said in a low voice. “My eldest sister will be happy in heaven.”
As she spoke, Madam Gu clenched her left fist tighter, her manicured nails digging into her soft palm. Her heart felt as if it had been stabbed repeatedly by an invisible thorn.
“That person” was like a thorn embedded in her heart…
A thick haze quickly surged in Madam Gu’s eyes, but it was quickly suppressed.
She took two deep breaths and told herself that it was the Old Marquis’s hope that Gu Yuan would recover. If Gu Yuan could rise to the top from now on, it would also be beneficial to the Marquis Mansion.
After a while, Madam Gu calmed down a lot. She looked up and instructed indifferently, “Call the Eldest Young Master… and the Second Young Master to the outer courtyard hall.”
“Yes, Madam.” The green-robed maidservant bowed and left quickly.
At the same time, the old servant who had come to report retreated.
The room was silent again, except for a faint sigh.
Soon, Madam Gu left the Benevolent Harmony Hall with Granny Li.
Today, an esteemed guest had come to visit, and her second son, Gu Jian, was injured. Madam Gu could only decide to treat the guest personally to show her seriousness.
The doors of the hall were all open, making it look vast, open, and transparent.
Gu Yuan arrived very quickly. Madam Gu had just sat down on the armchair at the head of the table when she saw Gu Yuan walking towards her in a crimson official robe.
A strange glint flashed across Madam Gu’s eyes.
“Grandma.” Gu Yuan bowed to Madam Gu. His etiquette was flawless.
“Yuan’er.” Madam Gu frowned and sighed. She said helplessly, “It’s a joyous occasion for you to be transferred to the imperial guard. Why didn’t you tell your family about such a big matter?”
“Are you estranged from your family?”
As she spoke, Madam Gu pulled Gu Yuan to her side and patted the back of his hand lovingly, as if yesterday’s disagreement had never existed.
Gu Yuan neither nodded nor shook his head.
Madam Gu was already used to Gu Yuan’s quiet personality. She sighed again and said, “Forget it, time will tell. In the future, you’ll know that Grandma is doing this for your own good.”
“In the future, when you become a royal guard, you must do your best and continue to work hard. Don’t let Grandma and your father down.”
“There are many esteemed guests here to congratulate you today. Your second cousin will also be here later. You brothers, treat your guests well.”
The corners of Madam Gu’s lips curled up, and even the wrinkles at the corner of her mouth were tinged with joy.
Gu Yuan’s eyes darted around, and he clenched his fists, still silent.
In Madam Gu’s eyes, Gu Yuan’s silence was a silent agreement.
Madam Gu was in a better mood. With a smile, she instructed the maidservant to serve a few plates of Gu Yuan’s favorite snacks and fruits.
At first glance, the grandfather and grandson were harmonious.
When Earl Yan’an, Marquis Pingjin, Count Changxing, and the others arrived at the hall, they saw such a scene. Hence, they all congratulated Madam Gu on her good fortune for having children and grandchildren that surpass their masters. They also praised Gu Yuan for his young talent.
Gu Yuan generously entertained these old friends of the Gu family, chatting and catching up.
Madam Gu also praised Gu Yuan from time to time and asked these uncles to take good care of Gu Yuan in the future. From time to time, she would glance out of the hall.
The hall was very lively.
Gu Yuan was smiling, but his smile did not reach his eyes. He looked at the people around him distantly.
He was like a traveler trudging alone, out of place in the joyful atmosphere.
For a moment, he felt as if he had returned to eight years ago. Before he was nine years old, his grandmother and these uncles had treated him like this. They had been kind, warm, amiable, and tolerant.
However, after her father’s accident, those uncles all distanced themselves from the eldest branch…
After swallowing the sweet tea, there was only a strong bitterness in his mouth.
“Xiao’er, you’re finally here.” Madam Gu’s slightly excited voice woke Gu Yuan up from his enlightenment.
Gu Yuan looked up and saw a young man about 13 years old in a royal blue robe walking into the hall. He was the legitimate son of Gu Jian and Madam Wang, Gu Xiao.
Gu Xiao bowed to Madam Gu first and reluctantly called out to Gu Yuan, “Big Brother.”
Gu Xiao had also heard about what happened yesterday. He more or less suspected that Gu Yuan had hurt his father, Gu Jian, so he looked at Gu Yuan with hostility.
The 13 or 14-year-old was at an age full of thorns.
The smile on Madam Gu’s face deepened. She was about to let Gu Xiao greet the guests.
Although Gu Xiao was not the heir yet, the Marquis Mansion would be his sooner or later. It was a good opportunity for him to accumulate some connections.
Unexpectedly, Gu Yuan suddenly stood up, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave without a word.
Silence filled the hall.
129 Secret
Madam Gu felt as if her heart had been whipped hard by a whip. It was painful, numb, and stuffy.
Madam Gu lowered her eyes and hunched over to cover her left chest. She grabbed it slightly hard and felt her heart throbbing even more.
“Madam, are you alright?” Granny Li asked with concern. She raised her hand to stroke her back, but Madam Gu did not hear her.
One moment, she was thinking about Gu Yuan, the next moment, she was thinking about Gu Ce, who had died young. The next moment, she overlapped these two figures with another elegant figure.
First, it was Gu Ce, then Gu Yuan.
She originally thought that even if Gu Yuan insisted on abandoning literature and entering the military camp, he would probably only stop at being a soldier. How could the king tolerate a son who represented humiliation?
Unexpectedly, first it was the Divine Arms Battalion. Now, Gu Yuan was actually going to be transferred to the imperial guard again. In just a few days, he had advanced three levels from the sixth-grade company commander.
Moreover, he was the Emperor’s imperial guard!
He had reached the heavens in a single step.
“Yuan’er’s success is a joyous occasion,” Madam Gu said in a low voice. “My eldest sister will be happy in heaven.”
As she spoke, Madam Gu clenched her left fist tighter, her manicured nails digging into her soft palm. Her heart felt as if it had been stabbed repeatedly by an invisible thorn.
“That person” was like a thorn embedded in her heart…
A thick haze quickly surged in Madam Gu’s eyes, but it was quickly suppressed.
She took two deep breaths and told herself that it was the Old Marquis’s hope that Gu Yuan would recover. If Gu Yuan could rise to the top from now on, it would also be beneficial to the Marquis Mansion.
After a while, Madam Gu calmed down a lot. She looked up and instructed indifferently, “Call the Eldest Young Master… and the Second Young Master to the outer courtyard hall.”
“Yes, Madam.” The green-robed maidservant bowed and left quickly.
At the same time, the old servant who had come to report retreated.
The room was silent again, except for a faint sigh.
Soon, Madam Gu left the Benevolent Harmony Hall with Granny Li.
Today, an esteemed guest had come to visit, and her second son, Gu Jian, was injured. Madam Gu could only decide to treat the guest personally to show her seriousness.
The doors of the hall were all open, making it look vast, open, and transparent.
Gu Yuan arrived very quickly. Madam Gu had just sat down on the armchair at the head of the table when she saw Gu Yuan walking towards her in a crimson official robe.
A strange glint flashed across Madam Gu’s eyes.
“Grandma.” Gu Yuan bowed to Madam Gu. His etiquette was flawless.
“Yuan’er.” Madam Gu frowned and sighed. She said helplessly, “It’s a joyous occasion for you to be transferred to the imperial guard. Why didn’t you tell your family about such a big matter?”
“Are you estranged from your family?”
As she spoke, Madam Gu pulled Gu Yuan to her side and patted the back of his hand lovingly, as if yesterday’s disagreement had never existed.
Gu Yuan neither nodded nor shook his head.
Madam Gu was already used to Gu Yuan’s quiet personality. She sighed again and said, “Forget it, time will tell. In the future, you’ll know that Grandma is doing this for your own good.”
“In the future, when you become a royal guard, you must do your best and continue to work hard. Don’t let Grandma and your father down.”
“There are many esteemed guests here to congratulate you today. Your second cousin will also be here later. You brothers, treat your guests well.”
The corners of Madam Gu’s lips curled up, and even the wrinkles at the corner of her mouth were tinged with joy.
Gu Yuan’s eyes darted around, and he clenched his fists, still silent.
In Madam Gu’s eyes, Gu Yuan’s silence was a silent agreement.
Madam Gu was in a better mood. With a smile, she instructed the maidservant to serve a few plates of Gu Yuan’s favorite snacks and fruits.
At first glance, the grandfather and grandson were harmonious.
When Earl Yan’an, Marquis Pingjin, Count Changxing, and the others arrived at the hall, they saw such a scene. Hence, they all congratulated Madam Gu on her good fortune for having children and grandchildren that surpass their masters. They also praised Gu Yuan for his young talent.
Gu Yuan generously entertained these old friends of the Gu family, chatting and catching up.
Madam Gu also praised Gu Yuan from time to time and asked these uncles to take good care of Gu Yuan in the future. From time to time, she would glance out of the hall.
The hall was very lively.
Gu Yuan was smiling, but his smile did not reach his eyes. He looked at the people around him distantly.
He was like a traveler trudging alone, out of place in the joyful atmosphere.
For a moment, he felt as if he had returned to eight years ago. Before he was nine years old, his grandmother and these uncles had treated him like this. They had been kind, warm, amiable, and tolerant.
However, after her father’s accident, those uncles all distanced themselves from the eldest branch…
After swallowing the sweet tea, there was only a strong bitterness in his mouth.
“Xiao’er, you’re finally here.” Madam Gu’s slightly excited voice woke Gu Yuan up from his enlightenment.
Gu Yuan looked up and saw a young man about 13 years old in a royal blue robe walking into the hall. He was the legitimate son of Gu Jian and Madam Wang, Gu Xiao.
Gu Xiao bowed to Madam Gu first and reluctantly called out to Gu Yuan, “Big Brother.”
Gu Xiao had also heard about what happened yesterday. He more or less suspected that Gu Yuan had hurt his father, Gu Jian, so he looked at Gu Yuan with hostility.
The 13 or 14-year-old was at an age full of thorns.
The smile on Madam Gu’s face deepened. She was about to let Gu Xiao greet the guests.
Although Gu Xiao was not the heir yet, the Marquis Mansion would be his sooner or later. It was a good opportunity for him to accumulate some connections.
Unexpectedly, Gu Yuan suddenly stood up, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave without a word.
Silence filled the hall.
