Chapter 11

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After the carriage entered the Gu residence, the large vermillion gates were firmly shut.

The entire Gu household stirred with the arrival of the Old Madam Gu. The servants, who had guarded the Dan Yang City estate for many years, had never seen this elderly lady from the marquisate before and were understandably a bit nervous.

Surrounded by attendants, the Old Madam Gu made her way to the main hall and took a seat. The maids quickly served her tea and snacks. The Old Madam sipped her tea slowly, and when she had finished about half the cup, a slender figure appeared at the entrance of the hall and started walking toward her.

Gu Yan Fei was dressed in a simple, sky-blue cotton robe. Her delicate waist was slender enough to be encircled with one hand, and her long black hair was casually tied into a bun, with no accessories save for a silk ribbon holding her hair in place.

As the graceful young lady approached, her every movement carried a sense of relaxed elegance, poised yet effortlessly calm.

The Old Madam nodded to herself in approval, thinking, “After three months of training under Xu Momo, there’s finally some progress. Although this girl might be a bit of an airhead, at least her manners and demeanor aren’t as terrible as I had feared.”

After all, this “Second Miss Gu” was destined to marry into the Duke of Ying’s household. If her conduct were too crude, the duke’s family would likely refuse to accept her as their daughter-in-law, turning what was supposed to be a marriage alliance into a source of enmity. However, this girl’s temperament was too unruly; she must be properly disciplined.

Gu Yan Fei lifted her skirt slightly as she stepped into the main hall.

After two hundred years, seeing her biological grandmother again, Gu Yan Fei felt surprisingly calm. Once, she had expectations for this grandmother, but repeated disappointments had taught her a harsh truth: in Old Madam Gu’s heart, she would never measure up to Gu Yun Rong.

It was Old Madam Gu herself who had pushed her down, making her a stepping stone for Gu Yun Rong to rise higher and higher. In the end, Gu Yun Rong became the Empress of the nation, while she, Gu Yan Fei, perished tragically in the prime of her youth.

The pain of those years seemed etched into her very bones. Gu Yan Fei looked deeply at Old Madam Gu, a flash of mockery flickering in her otherwise calm eyes. Look, for the sake of her precious granddaughter’s future, even though she was reluctant, she still came to Dan Yang City, lowering herself to fetch the granddaughter she never wanted.

Gu Yan Fei stopped a few steps away. Before she could speak, she heard the other party command in an unmistakably authoritative tone, “Get yourself ready; we’re leaving for the capital immediately.”

Old Madam Gu’s expression was cold and distant, carrying an air of superiority.

Gu Yan Fei remained completely unbothered by the other’s indifference, standing there calmly. Of course, she would return to the capital, but not just yet. Now was not the time to leave.

Gu Yan Fei spoke calmly, “The journey must have been exhausting for you, Madam. There’s no rush to return to the capital today. Why not wait until tomorrow?”

She didn’t address her as “Grandmother,” but rather as “Madam.”

Old Madam Gu subtly raised her eyebrow, thinking this girl was at least tactful—she hadn’t shamelessly tried to cozy up before officially being recognized as family.

Old Madam Gu hesitated, glancing sideways at the water clock. It was already approaching the hour of Shen, not too early nor too late. Even if they left within the time it took for an incense stick to burn, they likely wouldn’t reach the inn before nightfall, no matter how fast they hurried.

Moreover, after several days on the road, Old Madam Gu was indeed tired.

The young girl in blue, seated lower down, noticed Old Madam Gu’s fatigue and hesitation. She gently suggested, “Grandmother, Second Sister is right. Why don’t we rest for the night before leaving? After all, we’re not in a hurry.”

The girl was dressed in a light blue silk robe embroidered with plum blossoms, orchids, and bamboo, paired with a bamboo-green pleated skirt. Her thick, jet-black hair was styled into a flowing bun, with long eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, a delicate nose, and pink lips, exuding a graceful and gentle beauty.

Gu Yan Fei gave her a kind smile, her eyes curving softly. Her elder cousin, Gu Yun Zhen, was meant to look just as she did now—bright-eyed, charming, and radiant, not the gaunt, pale figure she remembered.

Old Madam Gu intended to keep her distance from Gu Yan Fei, so she took the easy way out offered by Gu Yun Zhen, saying, “Zhen’er, we have a long journey tomorrow, so rest early tonight.”

The implication was that she agreed to stay another night. A round-faced old maid quickly added, “Madam, the room has already been prepared. Why don’t you rest there for a while?”

Old Madam Gu tiredly rubbed her temples and gestured for the old maid to lead the way.

The now empty hall left only Gu Yan Fei behind, as if she had been forgotten.

A faint meow from outside the window reached her ears. The meow was faint and distant. Gu Yan Fei looked out the window in search of the sound, but the courtyard was still, with not a breeze in the air and the trees standing motionless.

“I think I heard a cat meow…” Gu Yan Fei raised an eyebrow.

“A cat?” Juan Bi stretched her neck to look out the window as well.

As soon as the words left her mouth, a fluffy, soft little ball of fur suddenly leaped through the window and landed steadily on the windowsill.

It was a tiny calico kitten, no more than two months old. Its nose was pink, and its body was covered in soft fur, with black, orange, and white long hairs blending together perfectly. On its small, round face were a pair of large, round green eyes, like exquisite emeralds, gleaming brightly in the sunlight.

Gu Yan Fei locked eyes with the kitten. Those emerald green pupils were vibrant and lively, giving her an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

“Meow!”

The little furball let out a joyful meow, its soft voice filled with excitement. Its green eyes sparkled with delight, as if saying, “I found you!” With a sudden push of its hind legs, it leaped toward Gu Yan Fei, almost like a baby swallow returning to its nest.

The little creature moved swiftly, but if Gu Yan Fei wanted to dodge, it would have been easy. She didn’t move. For some reason, those clear green cat eyes seemed familiar to her, and the way it leaped toward her also stirred a vague sense of recognition.

“Little kitty!”

With Juan Bi’s exclamation, the calico kitten enthusiastically leaped into Gu Yan Fei’s arms. She supported its soft belly with one hand and reached to stroke its chin with the other, but the kitten suddenly bit the tip of her index finger. Bright red blood welled up from her fingertip, forming a bead the size of a grain of rice.

The kitten eagerly licked away the drop of blood with its rough little tongue, its fluffy tail wagging happily behind it.

Gu Yan Fei narrowed her eyes slightly, feeling as if an invisible string had connected her heart to the little kitten in her arms. She lifted the kitten higher, aligning its emerald eyes with her own, and raised an eyebrow as she asked, “Qing Guang? How did you come here too? You… how did you turn into a cat?”

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