Chapter 324

Gu Ying spoke in a gentle and friendly tone, "The residence was arranged by the Crown Prince for Miss Shen. My aunt said that Miss Shen could just move in and live there."

However, Yu Gu calmly said, "There is no need. I will go out and live with A Xu so that we can take care of each other. My daughter and I will find our own place to rent. Thank you for your kind intentions, my lady."

Gu Ying tried to persuade her one last time, "Auntie, are you really leaving?"

"Yes, I have enjoyed the Crown Prince's hospitality at the Duke's Residence for some time now. Now that my poor adopted daughter has come to Bianjing, I have family by my side. This commoner will not disturb my lady and the Crown Prince anymore." Yu Gu spoke earnestly, and it was evident that she and Shen Ruxu had a deep mother-daughter bond.

Gu Ying's attitude also softened, "The Crown Prince said that he would arrange housing in Bianjing for auntie and Miss Shen. Just stay here without worries, auntie. Why leave?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Gu slowly raised her head, her eyes slightly aloof, and declined again, "There is no need. I cannot afford it." After speaking, she picked up her small bundle and walked out, looking somewhat desolate and pitiful from behind.

Although Gu Ying did not have much affection for her, Yu Gu had stayed at Changfeng Pavilion for such a long time after all, so Gu Ying still felt a little reluctant to part.

Yin Lan frowned, "My lady, should we ask her to stay?"

Gu Ying sighed, the corners of her lips slightly curving up, "No need. Since she wants to leave then let her go. She definitely cannot stay here, but I will talk to the Crown Prince about this. Don't worry, Yin Lan. Go get some silver for her." Yin Lan took a bag of silver from the cabinet and walked out.

Yanzhi pouted her lips and said, "This Yu Gu is quite strange. She does not seem close to anyone, yet she has a beloved adopted daughter that she cares so much about that she is leaving the Duke’s Residence. Where can she find a better place out there?"

Gu Ying patted the innocent little maid's head, "Alright, let's proceed as planned. Go chat with some of the maids around the Cheng residence."

Yanzhi smiled and said, "Yes, I will go now."

...

After Yu Gu left, the Crown Prince did not say much. He only asked about her address in Bianjing and sent more silver over. That was all, he did not ask further.

After all, she was just a doctor who had saved his life before. He brought her back from the border and gave her a period of affluent life, which was considered as repaying his life-saving grace. Since she chose to leave the residence, he would not force her to stay either.

These two days, the atmosphere in Baomo Hall had become strangely oppressive.

When Gu Ying got up early, she would deliberately go to the Cheng residence to say hello. Her temperament was not as obedient as the formerly abused Huo Qiyun. Naturally, she would not be deferential to Cheng.

When Huo Qiyan made sarcastic remarks, Gu Ying would retaliate ruthlessly, leaving not only Cheng unable to keep smiling, but also making Huo Qiyan stamp her feet in anger.

Now that the Crown Prince was promoted and Zhao Changxing had become useless, Cheng found it even harder to deal with Gu Ying in the residence.

Gu Ying had gone there twice, and Cheng was already struggling to keep smiling. She only stared blankly at Gu Ying’s belly, as it was the legitimate first grandson of the Duke’s Residence.

She hated Gu Ying in her heart, but had to keep up an amicable smile on the surface and ask warmly about the child in Gu Ying’s belly.

However, no matter how well Cheng could endure, she was still thinking of ways to upset Gu Ying. And here she had Huo Qiyan by her side, who was Zhao Rou’s daughter. Cheng had to make use of her no matter what.

Thinking of this, Cheng smiled and said, "A Ying is nearly four months pregnant. How can she still share a room with A Du every day? This is not good for the child. Many women miscarry this way. It's too dangerous." Cheng expressed her fake concern, and Gu Ying also reciprocated with fake gratitude, "Mother's teaching is right. A Ying understands now."

She understood, yet she did not change her ways, still smiling gently and virtuously so that no one could find any fault.

Cheng and Huo Qiyan looked at each other.

Huo Qiyan angrily twisted her handkerchief, her lips pursed tightly, and sarcastically scolded, "Sister-in-law, aren't you being too ignorant? Even when auntie has said so, you still pretend not to understand?"

Gu Ying raised her eyelids innocently and asked, "I do not know what other teachings little sister Huo has for me?"

Huo Qiyan had wanted Cheng to bring this up, but seeing Cheng's noncommittal attitude of not wanting to step up, she decided not to waste her breath with Gu Ying. She directly said, "Which respectable family in Bianjing does not have the rule of the principal wife properly serving the master? Yet sister-in-law wants to be the exception?"

Gu Ying did not feel like she had done anything wrong at all. She smiled, "Where did little sister Huo get this idea? In what way have I neglected my husband?"

Huo Qiyan blushed and said, "You... you are pregnant and can no longer... service cousin. According to the rules of respectable families, as the principal wife you should bring in some concubines for cousin, otherwise, do you expect cousin to... abstain with a pregnant woman like you who... who can't do anything for so many months?"

Some words were not meant to come out from the mouth of an unmarried young lady like her.

She flushed red, unable to continue.

Cheng took over with the air of a kind mother, teaching Gu Ying patiently with the stance of one who had been there before, "A Ying, you did handle this matter improperly as a wife. No matter what, you need to care more about your husband’s needs. A Du is young and vigorous. With you pregnant now, it is best for the couple to sleep separately. Even if you don't want to bring in a concubine for A Du from outside, you should pick a few presentable girls with good figures from within the residence to serve A Du, right? Otherwise, rumors will spread outside that you are unreasonably jealous and narrow-minded, which will be detrimental to you and A Du's reputation."

Gu Ying smiled faintly. Cheng knew that she was unwilling to bring in concubines for Zhao Changdu, so she sighed and said ruefully, “Besides, there are already too few offspring left in our Duke’s Residence. Changxing is useless, and A Du spent years defending the border. He may have to be sent to guard the frontier again in the future, being away from home for years. If he does not leave more descendants for the Zhao family, it would be considered unfilial. Even if Grandpa Duke knows about this, he will be angry."

Gu Ying stroked her belly, smiling more and more gently and amiably, and sarcastically said, "Mother is perfectly right, that's why I must give birth to a legitimate eldest son for the Crown Prince this time to fulfill his filial duty to the Zhao family on his behalf."

Cheng showed an almost imperceptible cold sneer as Gu Ying remained unaffected. Anger was evident in Cheng’s eyes. Huo Qiyan was even more irritated by Gu Ying's shamelessness and ignorance. She smiled derisively and ridiculed Gu Ying some more.

Cheng, on the other hand, played the nice guy, chiming in to smooth things over, though her words betrayed her intentions. She smiled and offered, "A Ying, do you have any concerns? Or should mother help pick a few sensible and thoughtful ones for you?"