Hearing this, Lady Jiang felt heart - broken. She always knew that Liyue was a good girl. However, she always thought that Gu Liyue merely resembled Yue'er but wasn't really her. Moreover, Liyue hadn't grown up by her side like Yingyue. She always believed that as long as Liyue behaved herself and didn't cause any trouble, she would surely treat her well.
Gu Boxian was stunned. "Could it be that all of her uncle's family are gone too?"
Lady Jiang shook her head. "It's not like that. When she first came to the Jiang family, I sent people to Yangxin Town to investigate her background. Her parents died when she was five, and it was her uncle who raised her. But I heard that her uncle ignored her, while her aunt treated her like a servant and tormented her terribly. Even when she was seriously ill, they didn't spend money to hire a doctor for her. It was her aunt who worked hard to earn a little money to buy medicine for her, which saved her..."
Master Gu felt his temples throbbing. He gritted his teeth tightly. After a long while, he punched the armrest of the chair. The chair shattered instantly. Master Gu stood up, his face full of sorrow. "So my granddaughter has been living such a life since childhood."
Duke Jiang looked at his set of tables and chairs with heartache. Everything in the Duke's Mansion was of the best quality, including this set of furniture. Now it was smashed by Master Gu. But since he was in the wrong, it was impossible to ask the Gu family to compensate.
Fearing further losses, he quickly stepped forward to console Master Gu. "Uncle, don't be angry. Everything is fine now. Liyue has been eating and dressing well in the past six months, and she has clearly grown much better. This also shows that she is fated to be in the capital."
Master Gu stared at him sharply and said unhappily, "She should have lived a peaceful life. The Gu family should have owed your Jiang family a great debt of gratitude. But unfortunately, you and your wife are blind - both physically and mentally, and you've made my granddaughter suffer so much. If not for this, why would she have fled? If Liyue returns safely, it'll be fine. But if she suffers the slightest harm, I'm used to the weapons in my mansion. Even if I risk the emperor's blame, I will surely seek justice!"
After saying that, he took his eldest son and daughter - in - law and rushed out the door in a hurry to search for Gu Liyue.
Jiang turned around and looked at her elder brother and sister - in - law helplessly. She reminded them, "Although sister - in - law recognized Liyue as her daughter on the surface, she didn't protect her at all. You know the temperaments of my father - in - law and mother - in - law. They will surely investigate everything one by one and won't easily let it go. You... elder brother and sister - in - law, think it over carefully."
Lady Jiang watched them leave, feeling lost and at a loss. When did Liyue become a girl from the Gu family? But it seemed that she should be.
Yes, the embroidery that Liyue sent at that time showed a girl lying on the table reading while her mother was sewing beside her. She used to think it was herself and Yue'er, and later she thought it was Liyue and Yunniang. She thought that with Liyue's background, she shouldn't be literate or so well - educated. But if she was the lost girl from the Gu family, it would make sense.
Her father was the former Third Master Gu, a man of such elegance. How could his daughter be bad?
Duke Jiang clenched his fists. After Jiang left, he whispered, "Send Yingyue... to the Gu family."
Lady Jiang came to her senses and exclaimed, "What are you trying to do?"
Duke Jiang said impatiently, "Didn't you understand what Yingying said? All these things were caused by Yingyue. You didn't discipline her on weekdays, which has led to such a big disaster. Do you think it's easy to deal with the old Marquis Gu? If Gu Liyue is really his granddaughter, this matter will surely not end well."
"But what about Yingyue? I've long heard that the old Marquis Gu is very strict. If Yingyue is sent there, won't she be at their mercy? My lord, Yingyue has grown up by my side. You've always regarded her as your own daughter. Even if she has made some mistakes, it's just a matter of girls vying for favor, isn't it?"
"Our Jiang family has been cautious in words and deeds for generations. We just don't have anyone in the palace, and there are so many eyes on us. If it's revealed that our family's girl is not well - disciplined and has done something to harm her sister, in just a few days, there will be a mountain of impeachment memorials against me in front of the emperor. Yingyue is a girl from the Jiang family. Since she enjoys the wealth of the Jiang family, she should also bear these for the family. Moreover, all these things were caused by herself."
Lady Jiang stood up. "I disagree!"
"I will never agree. My Yue'er suffered for the princess in the palace because of your mistake and died so miserably. Now you want to send Yingyue away to buy the Jiang family's temporary peace? You are the head of the family. Are our daughters' lives so worthless?"
Duke Jiang sneered. "Worthless? As a girl from the Jiang family, it's her duty to bear everything for the family. Besides, we don't know Gu Liyue's current situation yet. If something happens to her, given the old Marquis Gu's character, he will surely do what he says. How can our Jiang family bear it? Even if Gu Liyue is safe, according to the old Marquis Gu's temperament, he will dig out all the previous things one by one. It was a good thing that you took care of Gu Liyue, but all the disputes between her and Yingyue will be counted on the Jiang family. We have to sacrifice something."
He paced back and forth restlessly in the hall. After thinking for a while, he said, "If only we had known earlier that Gu Liyue was from the Gu family. We could have registered her under your name earlier. When the truth came out, for the sake of your kindness in raising her..."
Lady Jiang stared at him blankly. She felt her lips were dry, so she licked them. The stinging pain extended from her lips to her heart.
Duke Jiang stopped walking and turned back. "The Jiang family and the Gu family are in - laws. If it weren't for Boxian being so stubborn, how could things have gotten like this? I tried to be friendly with him before, but he ignored me. And Yingying, she is my own sister, but she didn't even try to mediate for us."
Lady Jiang laughed sarcastically. "You really think it's just a difference in political views?"
Duke Jiang was angry. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean."
Duke Jiang flung his sleeve and said dissatisfiedly, "Don't talk to me in this attitude. I'm the head of the family! Also, that Gu Liyue looks very scheming. Maybe she deliberately didn't tell you her background, and that's why..."
Lady Jiang couldn't bear it anymore. She turned around and was about to walk out. But then she felt a bit reluctant and argued, "I know Liyue. She is definitely not such a person. If she knew her own background, why would she come to my side and live a life of having to watch others' faces?"
Duke Jiang was even more angry after being retorted by Lady Jiang several times. "It's all your fault for spoiling Yingyue and causing all these problems. I brought her back to pave the way for the Jiang family. Look at what she has become now!"
Lady Jiang looked at Duke Jiang coldly, with a hint of a smile on her lips and a much darker look in her eyes. After a long while, she turned around and walked away without saying a word.