Resplendent – Chapter 443

Chapter 443 – The Son Was Found

Hong Jiao’s mouth kept opening wider and wider, her expression full of nothing but shock. She stammered, “Your Highness, a-are you saying that all of this is really the work of Miss Gu?”

Princess Anya slowly exhaled the frustration in her chest and nodded firmly. No matter what others thought, if Miss Gu said she could cure her brother, she believed it!

“No way! Could Miss Gu be a reincarnated immortal healer?” Lu Rui couldn’t help but exclaim.

Princess Anya glanced at her and said, “No matter what you learn, talent is required. Gan Luo became a prime minister at eight years old, while some spend their whole lives and only reach the level of a scholar. The principle is the same!”

Lu Rui thought for a moment and said, “So Miss Gu must have come to the capital for this Great Pharmacists Convention, right? After the assembly, she’s bound to rise to the top. Wait, Miss Gu said she wants us to wait outside the Duke of Zhen’s residence. Could it be that His Grace has taken a liking to her and invited her to stay temporarily to establish a good relationship? His Grace always seems upright, but who would have thought he’s actually so calculating!” 

Princess Anya thought for a moment, then shook her head and smiled: “The Chu and the Gu family have quite a history. Not to mention, the head of the Gu family served under Old General Chu. When they were at the border town, Miss Gu and her master once saved the life of the Eldest Young Master Chu. Young Master Chu’s maternal family, the Jun family, also has a close relationship with the Gu family. During the hunting grounds incident, the Jun family even brought Miss Gu’s brother along to broaden his horizons. So it makes sense that on her first visit to the capital, she would stay temporarily at the Duke of Zhen’s residence.” 

Princess Anya thought of something else and smiled lightly: “The Duke treats her with courtesy and will not let her suffer any loss. Perhaps there will even be a turning point for the health of the Duchess!” 

Princess Anya considered herself fairly perceptive when it came to judging people. Although Miss Gu could be a bit sharp-tempered and held grudges, her heart was essentially kind. She had a straightforward nature, returning kindness for kindness, and vengeance for enmity, which made her far more likable than those young ladies who flattered and fawned over others.

After returning from Jimin Pharmacy, Gu Ye went straight to Rong’an Garden. Lady Jun was eagerly waiting for her daughter to come and have a meal with her.

“Bao’er, you’ve worked hard. Are you tired? Next time you go out, take more money with you. If you see something you like, just buy it. Don’t shortchange yourself!” Lady Jun waved for her daughter to sit beside her. To have some alone time with her daughter, she had sent all her sons, along with her husband, to the outer courtyard to dine. She didn’t like that group of young men constantly competing with her for her daughter’s attention.

“All right, thank you, Mother. They say children with mothers are like treasures, and it’s truly so. I feel so happy!” Gu Ye’s sweet words poured out as if they were free, coaxing her to the point where she felt like she wanted to give her heart entirely to her daughter.

“Sister…” A series of hurried footsteps approached, making Lady Jun’s expression change. Weren’t those brats told not to come during dinner? Did they really take her words as wind blowing by?

The one who came in was Chu Xiaoliu. The moment he stepped through the door, he was met with his mother’s stern face. 

Uh… in his memory, his mother had always been gentle and virtuous. Even when Xiaowu caused countless troubles, she always responded with patience and never said a harsh word. What was going on today?

“Sister, did you make Mother angry?” Chu Xiaoliu whispered into his sister’s ear. Before she could answer, he began to plead with their mother: “Mother, Sister surely didn’t mean it. Don’t be mad at her. If you’re angry, take it out on me. I’ve got thick skin and a strong body. Let me take a couple of hits to vent your anger!” 

Lady Jun couldn’t help but laugh. She snorted, “I’m not mad at your sister, but at you! Now tell me, what are you doing here?” 

“Me? I bought some candied fruit from ‘Daoxiang Village’ for Sister! The last time I saw her, I got so excited that I knocked the candied fruit out of her hands onto the ground. So, I bought another portion to make up for it. Sister, here you go…” Chu Xiaoliu shoved both large bags of candied fruit into Gu Ye’s hands in one go.

Gu Ye picked a piece of fruit about the size of her fingernail and fed it to her mother, then grabbed her favorite dried apricot for herself, savoring it with delight. Truly worthy of a century-old shop. The dried apricots were translucent, like the finest beeswax. They were rich and sweet, neither too soft nor too hard, with a satisfying chew.

Gu Ye’s expression was like a cat in winter, full and basking in the sun, utterly content. She sweetly said, “Thank you, Sixth Brother.”

Having taken medicine for years, Lady Jun had eaten candied and preserved fruits often enough that they no longer seemed special to her. But seeing her daughter enjoy them, she couldn’t help but praise, “You’re finally showing some sense of being a brother—doing the right thing. Alright, leave the candied fruit here and go have your meal in the front courtyard!”

“Mother, wasn’t Sixth Brother your favorite little cutie? How come now that Sister is back, my place in your heart has been tossed to the farthest corner?” Chu Xiaoliu pouted comically, his eyebrows twisted into a knot.

Lady Jun replied mercilessly, “I doted on you because when you were little, you looked most like a girl. Now that my daughter is back, who needs an impostor like you? Go on, leave, don’t ruin this warm mother-daughter moment!”

“Mother, do you still remember that you don’t just have one daughter, but six sons too?” Chu Xiaoliu whined, puffing out his cheeks to act cute.

Gu Ye covered her mouth, laughing quietly on the side. Her maid, Yue Yuan, whispered in her ear, “Sixth Young Master is really like you, Miss. Even the way he acts spoiled and throws tantrums is exactly the same.”

Lady Jun’s ears perked up. Hearing Yue Yuan’s words, she asked with interest, “I’ve seen how my Bao’er acts spoiled, but what does she look like when she throws a tantrum? I’m curious.”

Gu Ye puffed out her cheeks and said stubbornly, “Mother, don’t listen to her. Your daughter is so adorable and obedient. How could I ever throw a tantrum?!” 

Lady Jun looked at her son, still puffing out his cheeks to act cute, then at her daughter, who looked like a little green frog, and laughed until her whole body shook: “Dear me, you really do look alike. When did I give birth to two little angry toads? So ugly! Quick, catch these two and put them in the rice field. They can help catch insects too!” 

“Mother—” Gu Ye dragged out her voice, hugging her mother’s arm and twisting it like a braid, “Toads have big mouths, bulging eyes, and short, fat bodies—so outrageously ugly! How can you compare your daughter to such a creature? If I must be compared, it should be to a beautiful and elegant swan, don’t you agree?”

“Yes, my daughter is the most beautiful. Swan doesn’t even compare!” Lady Jun hugged her delicate little daughter in her arms, her face filled with a radiant, happy smile.

Chu Xiaoliu still wanted to linger beside his mother and sister to get some dinner, but Lady Jun eventually chased him out. Chu Xiao Liu mumbled as he left, “Am I really your biological child? There’s so much food on the table that one more won’t make a difference. I’m definitely a child you picked up!”