The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1683 - 1677: Unnoticed

In the evening, Gu Changqing spoke with Lady Gu about the letter he received during the day, along with his conversation with Gu Zikai.

The Lady of the Gu Family was silent for a moment. She knew, of course, that this matter was almost settled.

She also knew that this younger son of hers, who appeared gentle and easygoing, actually had a somewhat stubborn nature.

This was also caused by the Gu Family’s circumstances.

Gu Zikai was her youngest child, unexpectedly born late in her life.

Thus, he was not as healthy as ordinary children when he was born. A lot of effort and a significant amount of money were spent on precious herbs to make him look just like any ordinary child.

But when there’s a minor wind or grass movement, he would fall seriously ill.

Later, they encountered a great master lodging at Huguo Temple, who was said to possess great abilities.

The Lady of the Gu Family was at her wits’ end; for the sake of her child, she was willing to try anything.

But this master was not an ordinary person to meet; he insisted that only with fate and sincerity would he offer his help.

In order for the master to help regulate Gu Zikai’s health, for three months, every day before dawn, the Lady of the Gu Family climbed from the bottom of the mountain to the Huguo Temple at the top, offering the first flower and lighting the first incense before Buddha.

At that time, the Lady of the Gu Family was also not young. Although well-maintained, she was accustomed to a life of luxury, and climbing the mountain every day required a mother’s kind heart to persevere.

In the Capital City, many people sought to meet the master, but only the Lady of the Gu Family succeeded in the end.

The master kept his promise and indeed provided a prescription and divined Gu Zikai’s fate.

That prescription was administered for a year, utilizing countless herbs, and truly adjusted Gu Zikai’s health to be like that of a normal person.

The Lady of the Gu Family thus had great trust in the master’s divination.

The master said little else, only that there was a noble patron in Gu Zikai’s destiny, but he was not to marry early, otherwise, it would be harmful to his life.

As to how late this should be, the master did not elaborate, only saying that until fate arrived, everything else was futile, and only when fate arrived would it be known.

Due to this, everyone especially favored Gu Zikai, feeling compassion for his poor health since childhood, and the uncertainty of his marriage.

Perhaps because Gu Zikai was weak from an early age, unlike other children who were mischievous, he was consistently gentle and refined.

Therefore, not only the entire Gu Family but also the madams of families allied with the Gu Family especially liked this gentle and courteous child.

The old madam also particularly doted on him, treating him like a treasure.

Anything good was given to this young grandson; others did not even consider.

The Third Wife of the Gu Family, in particular, was envious of this, gossiping behind their backs.

Before Gu Zikai met the master, the previous family of the Third Wife often made sarcastic remarks, saying things like how Gu Zikai was merely a child who would not grow up, why waste so much effort and money?

Later, when the master improved Gu Zikai’s health, they said that his fate was not to marry early, but the Third Wife gossiped again, questioning whether it was indeed fate or merely that his body was weak from childhood, now seemingly healthy but actually weak internally.

Gu Zikai was an extremely proud person and inherently sensitive.

These words of slander came not from outsiders but from his own relatives; how could he not be angry?

He truly despised the Third Wife, scarcely concealing his contempt.

Moreover, when Gu Zidong and Gu Zikai studied at the same Academy, yet with Zidong’s poor aptitude, his inability to excel made him seem like dust compared to Gu Zikai.

The Third Wife further resented Gu Zikai and often set traps to hinder him.

Though the Third Wife of the Gu Family had separated from the family at the time, she maintained people who had been with the old grand master’s brother and were given by the old grand master.

Even though the Lady of the Gu Family had married in for many years and took control, these people were still old members of the Gu family, deeply rooted; even she could not unravel their entanglements.

Thus, the Third Wife’s actions were unchecked, and the traps, some Gu Zikai managed to resolve himself, while others his mother thwarted for him, each time uncovering old servants.

Yet sometimes there were misses, and they fell for schemes.

Gu Zikai increasingly turned hostile towards the Third Wife, until when Gu Zidong was unhappy for not besting Gu Zikai who ranked first in a minor exam, he drugged Gu Zikai intending to disgrace him.

Fortunately, Gu Zikai noticed and avoided a mistake.

As a younger member, he sought justice but the Third Wife and her husband stirred up trouble, saying because Gu Zikai wasn’t hurt, it wasn’t a major issue! Also, that Zidong was merely teasing his brother, forcing the matter to be quelled.

Although Lady of the Gu Family was furious and managed to expose and beat those helping the Third Wife, even selling them, she couldn’t truly take harsh action against the Third Wife.

After that incident, not only did Gu Zikai bear deep hatred towards the Third Wife, he also grew estranged from Gu Changqing, his father, and grandmother.

He knew they all had their reasons, considering familial bonds, but he was the one hurt! He was also their offspring, must he endure forever? Was he not important enough, less so than the Third Wife’s influence?

The previous favoritism now seemed so false!

Disheartened, he felt unsafe at home, hence moved to Jing County.

Through that incident, Gu Changqing grew thoroughly disappointed in the Third Wife and felt guilty towards his youngest son.

He reprimanded the Third Wife, restraining them significantly.

But Gu Zikai, owing to these incidents, had truly separated himself from the family emotionally.

Later, while seeking the family’s long-lost youngest sister, it uncovered connections to the real Third Master of the Gu Family.

The former Third Wife was ousted from the Gu Family, while the real Third Master had a rather amicable relationship with Gu Zikai.

The Gu Family seemed to have restored its prior harmony, yet the Lady of the Gu Family knew deeply.

Her youngest son’s wounds from the past had not healed.

This child, while gentle in demeanor, was truly vengeful and calculating.

Yet adept at concealing it, appearing calm and refined to outsiders.

The Lady of the Gu Family understood her son’s nature and indeed knew the family had failed him; she herself harbored grievance over past events.

Thus, regarding Gu Zikai’s intentions, she neither exposed nor forced him to be forgiving or to let it go.

On hearing Gu Changqing’s words, she knew her youngest son was understandably eager to leave the family.

Looking at Gu Changqing’s oblivious face, the Lady of the Gu Family didn’t know what to say.

Should she tell her child’s father that their son was not eager to serve as a small county magistrate in Saibei for glory, but to leave the Gu Family, to leave him?

Seeing Gu Changqing looking unconcerned yet pleased, the Lady of the Gu Family decided to swallow her words.

Let him be happy for a few days!