Chapter 25

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That day, the Yuheng Courtyard was bustling with activity. Li Mama had just left when Gu Yuan sent someone over again. Not only did people arrive, but they also brought a pile of miscellaneous items. Gu Yuan seemed to have sent over everything he could think of all at once: tea leaves, incense, the Four Treasures of the Study, a chessboard, felt mats, rattan balls, glass beads, goat’s milk, jade pendants, jade thumb rings… Just sorting through these trivial little things put Gu Yan Fei in a cheerful mood.

Juan Bi checked each item one by one. “This is top-quality Maojian tea; I must personally store it away,” she said. “These jade pendants and the chessboard are for Miss. These few items should be for Qing Guang.”

“Meow!” The kitten expressed its satisfaction, batting at the rattan ball with a paw. The small rattan ball rolled back and forth under the kitten’s pursuit, the crisp sound of bells ringing incessantly.

Gu Yan Fei fell asleep to the sound of the bells and was awakened by them again. She leisurely finished her breakfast and was then led by Li Mama to the Gu family ancestral hall located on the west side of the marquis’s residence.

The white stone path leading to the ancestral hall was spotlessly clean, flanked by verdant pines and cypresses—solemn and serene. The weather was excellent today; the sky was clear and blue, and golden sunlight poured down. Hanging above the entrance of the front porch was a plaque inscribed with four large, flamboyant characters: [Gu Family Ancestral Hall]. The five main halls stood quietly under the blue sky and white clouds, with their flying eaves and upturned corners.

By the time Gu Yan Fei arrived, the front porch was already filled with elegantly dressed women; the female relatives from all branches of the marquis’s residence were present. Laughter filled the air, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

“Second Miss, this way please,” Li Mama said with a warm smile, walking ahead to lead Gu Yan Fei. She was friendly but not overly familiar.

The people inside the porch had also noticed Gu Yan Fei’s arrival. A dozen or so intense gazes swept over her like a tidal wave—some scrutinizing, some curious, some disdainful, and some indifferent.

Old Madam Gu also looked at Gu Yan Fei, her gaze sharp as a torch. The words Gu Yuan had said to her yesterday echoed in her ears: “Grandmother, since little sister has been found, shouldn’t we open the ancestral hall as soon as possible? I think there’s no time like the present; why not choose tomorrow?”

Old Madam Gu narrowed her eyes, her lips pressed tightly into a straight line. For the marriage between the Gu and Fang families, she had originally planned to open the ancestral hall and amend the family genealogy as soon as they returned to the capital. But it was different if she brought it up herself compared to Gu Yuan mentioning it first; the latter made her feel coerced. Old Madam Gu felt uneasy in her heart; clearly, before the Second Granddaughter returned, Gu Yuan had always been very filial to her.

Gu Yan Fei swept her gaze lightly over the people ahead; those familiar faces matched the names in her memory one by one. She stopped her steps outside the front porch, the sunlight coating her entire body with a faint golden halo. The morning light fell into her eyes, making her pupils shine brightly; her fair, jade-like skin glowed with a pearly luster. With a delicate and beautiful face and an elegant demeanor, she exuded an aura as bright as the sun and stars.

Several young ladies of the Gu family hid behind the madams, whispering quietly among themselves. Occasionally, words like “First Branch,” “Second Sister,” and “looks like Big Brother” drifted over intermittently.

“Second Sister,” Gu Yun Rong was the first to speak. She smiled sweetly, dimples appearing on her cheeks—gentle and gracious, making her seem very approachable.

“What a beautiful young lady!” A beautiful woman in her early thirties with an oval face warmly praised Gu Yan Fei, a gentle smile on her fair complexion. “This must be my Second Niece; you look so much like your eldest aunt… I am your Second Aunt.”

This elegant lady was Lady Wang, the wife of Marquis Dingyuan.

Gu Yan Fei bowed to Old Madam Gu and Lady Wang, saying, “Old Madam, Second Madam.”

This form of address made everyone’s expressions subtly shift; they exchanged glances quietly, unsure if this girl was dull-witted or overly well-versed in etiquette.

Old Madam Gu’s face was as cold as stone. She directly transferred her displeasure toward Gu Yuan onto Gu Yan Fei, speaking icily, “Next time, come earlier.”

As she spoke, her gaze swept over a few strands of yellow and white fur on Gu Yan Fei’s shoulder. Her brows furrowed, and she added, “Get rid of that cat of yours at once. That cat is strange; it must be a demon!”

Just thinking about having a cat in the residence made her feel entirely uncomfortable.

Gu Yan Fei smiled without speaking and sat down on her own.

“…” Old Madam Gu’s heart burned with anger; undercurrents surged in her eyes.

Amid the stiff atmosphere, a gray-clad old woman hurried in to report, “The Marquis and the clan patriarch have arrived.” As a result, the female relatives, including Old Madam Gu, all looked toward the front.

Ahead, the five large doors were wide open, and a group of men of various ages and appearances filed in from outside.

At the front walked an elderly man in black clothing, around sixty years old, with graying hair and beard, his steps vigorous and his spirits high.

“Today we have truly troubled Uncle,” said a blue-robed man in his thirties walking alongside the elder. He was tall, with handsome features, though his figure was somewhat plump. He was the current Marquis of Dingyuan, Gu Jian.

Gu Jian was very respectful in his words toward the Gu clan patriarch.

“It’s as it should be; we’re all family, no need for formalities,” the patriarch said, stroking his beard, his smile hearty.

The lords of the fourth and fifth branches of the marquis’s family followed closely behind, also conversing with the clan elders; the atmosphere was harmonious.

Gu Yuan followed silently behind. He was only seventeen years old; his handsome face still carried a hint of boyishness. However, his tall stature made him stand out among the crowd like a crane among chickens, and there was an air of pride in his every movement.

The female relatives clustered around Old Madam Gu, stepping forward a few paces and exchanging courteous and appropriate greetings.

Moments later, everyone took their seats in the front hall of the ancestral shrine. Gu Jian and the clan patriarch sat side by side at the head seats, with Old Madam Gu seated below them. The others also sat down one after another.

In such a grand setting, most people didn’t have the right to speak. They mostly remained silent—some fiddling with their handkerchiefs, some lost in thought, some stifling yawns, and some quietly observing Gu Yan Fei.

After some pleasantries, Old Madam Gu brought up the main topic, raising her hand to point at Gu Yan Fei, who was sitting beside her.

“Patriarch, this girl is Rong’er’s twin elder sister. Back then, their mother, Lady Xie, passed away due to difficult childbirth after giving birth to the two of them. You all know that back then, the border regions were ravaged by war. The wet nurse was taking care of the twin sisters by herself, and it was beyond her ability. She accidentally lost this girl and only brought Rong’er to the capital…”

Old Madam Gu had already prepared this explanation, and regardless of everyone’s reactions, she spoke at length. The patriarch and the clan elders exchanged silent glances.

This story about the twins was rather far-fetched and obviously fabricated, but no one raised any objections. Old Madam Gu had already reached an understanding with the patriarch and the others; yesterday, she even had a trusted aide hint at it. To be frank, the patriarch and the others were just going through the motions today.

The truth of the matter was unimportant; what mattered was that this was beneficial to the entire Gu clan.

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