Peerless Physician: The Path of a Foolish Eldest Daughter's Rise to Power

Gu Sicheng said gently, "I've given you the indenture. Go back with your mother and take good care of your younger brother. In the future, speak nicely to your aunt. She works very hard to support the Marquis's mansion. If she is not considerate in any way, you should understand her."

Gu Xinyue achieved her goal. Looking at her handsome uncle with his striking features, she saw that he possessed a refined, scholarly air, yet was also resolute. He was both dignified and approachable.

Gu Xinyue couldn't understand how such a good uncle could marry such a vicious woman.

She felt ashamed of using her uncle, but using him once was still using him, and using him twice wouldn't hurt. Her aunt might know she was uneasy about remembering the past and would take action against her. She didn't want to be foolish again. She wanted everyone in the Marquis's mansion to know that she and her aunt were at odds, so that if anything happened to her, everyone would first think that her aunt had harmed her.

After a moment of thought, Gu Xinyue said, "My aunt doesn't like me, and I can't understand her."

“Yesterday your aunt opened the storeroom to prepare clothes, fabric, and jewelry for you. How could she not like you?”

Upon hearing this, Xia He ran away quickly.

“I knew my aunt didn’t like me when I was a child.”

"How could that be? Your aunt liked you a lot back then, and your uncle knew all of that."

When Gu Xinyue looked at her aunt, she found that Gu Xinyao had arrived at some point. She was dressed very elegantly and stood behind her aunt, looking at her with disdain. She was the eldest daughter of the Marquis's family and the apple of her aunt's eye.

Both being legitimate daughters of marquises, she was the most talented woman in the capital, while she was indeed a jinx.

She said slowly, "You just don't like me. I knew that when I was six years old."

Wang, the old woman beside Zhu, became nervous. It was probably this old woman who pushed her, causing her to fall off the artificial hill and become an idiot.

Then, she told me about what happened when she was six years old.

That day, I went to my aunt's courtyard to look for my older brother. I heard my aunt say to someone, "You should keep a close eye on the third young lady from now on and not let her play with Hao'er." I was very angry when I heard that.

I think my aunt doesn't like me, so she won't let me play with my brother. I picked some chrysanthemums that my aunt likes in the yard and wanted to give them to her so that she would like me.

But when I picked the chrysanthemums, I heard my aunt say, "Gu Xinyue is so annoying, I don't want to see her."

I angrily threw the flowers away and left. In the garden, I climbed the artificial hill, and I don't know what I bumped into, but I slipped and fell down.

After she finished speaking, she saw her aunt take a deep breath and then exhale. Granny Wang's expression returned to normal. If her uncle hadn't been there today, she probably wouldn't have been able to see the expressions on these people's faces.

She was right. Her aunt was wary of her and afraid that she would know things she shouldn't know, which meant that there was something wrong with her. She would find out slowly.

"Xinyue, you misheard. Your aunt didn't say anything about you."

"OK then."

Xia He brought over a plate containing the clothes that Zhu had prepared yesterday. The fabric was bright red, and the headdress was made of rubies.

"Uncle, Aunt, do you think this red color suits me now?"

My grandmother's mourning period is not over yet; there are still more than three months left in the three-year mourning period.

Gu Sicheng's face darkened. Suddenly, he noticed that Zhu was wearing a dark red dress and Gu Xinyao was wearing a bright pink dress. He said angrily, "Do you two have any filial piety? Xinyao, change your clothes."

Gu Xinyao was incredulous. Was this her father? He always called her Yao'er. This was the first time her father had called her Xinyao. If it weren't for Gu Xinyue, this wouldn't have happened. She hated Gu Xinyue even more.

"It's all my fault. Next time, let Xinyue choose for herself."

Gu Xinyue said with satisfaction, "Okay."

Yang Ziwei was very anxious when she learned what had happened in the front yard. "Xinyue, don't you care about your reputation? Good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast."

Gu Xinyue comforted Yang Ziwei, telling her not to let her reputation be a burden.

The following day at noon, the Gu family held a family banquet, which was attended by everyone in the Gu household.

Gu Xinyue's eyes widened, her gaze fixed on the mouthwatering dishes on the table. The food emitted an enticing aroma, as if beckoning to her and tantalizing her taste buds.

Gu Yong glanced at the people at the table and said to Madam Zhu, "Since this is a family banquet, let those concubines come too. I have something to say."

Although Zhu was dissatisfied, she made the arrangements in a very amiable manner, and her concubines were not allowed to sit at the table during the Zhu family banquet.

This time, Gu Xinyue not only met her sisters, but also her uncle's concubines. These women were all dressed up in their finest attire, each vying for attention with their beauty.

Gu Sicheng looked at the exquisitely dressed women and felt angry. His mother's mourning period was not over, and they showed no filial piety at all. He hadn't noticed it before, but his niece had exposed it today, and now he found fault with everything they did.

Only Aunt Wu was decent; he held her in higher regard and respected her even more. Among this group of flamboyant women, Aunt Wu was dressed simply and elegantly, yet she exuded a unique charm.

Gu Yong said, "Today's family banquet is to welcome Madam Yang and her two children back to the mansion. Hui'er, come here."

Gu Hui walked up to Gu Yong and said, "Grandfather, I've come."

Gu Yong picked him up and said, "This is Gu Hui, the eldest son of your second uncle Gu Siming and Yang Shi. Tomorrow we will open the ancestral hall and let Gu Hui be included in the Gu family genealogy."

After saying that, he looked at everyone and said, "Don't drink alcohol during the mourning period."

After Gu Yong started eating, everyone gradually began to eat as well.

Gu Xinyue was quietly enjoying her food when she suddenly noticed that her mother was suppressing her emotions. She gently took her mother's hand and comforted her.

After the family dinner ended, Gu Xinyue helped her mother walk towards Meixiang Courtyard, without saying a word along the way.

Once inside the house, Yang Ziwei grabbed Gu Xinyue's hand. "Xinyue, I almost lost control at the family dinner today. It hurt me to see your grandmother and father not here."

Gu Hui asked, "Mom, are you feeling any better now?"

“Grandma and Father used to care about Mother a lot. Now that my sister and Hui’er care about Mother, she is very happy.”

Outside the Gu family ancestral hall, many people had come. Gu Xinyue didn't recognize any of the members of the collateral branch of the Gu family. The women of the Marquis's mansion were all dressed very simply today.

Gu Xinyue looked everyone over in the crowd; most of them were solemn and respectful.

Aunt Gu Xinyao was wearing a light blue dress today, with only a few hairpins in her hair. She looked completely different from yesterday. Gu Xinyao's appearance today was not as bright and beautiful as yesterday, but she was fresh and refined.

Gu Xinrou winked at her.

Gu Yong was chatting with the clan chief while Gu Hui was with him. The clan chief patted Gu Hui's head as he spoke, a scene that made Zhu Shi grit her teeth in anger. Yu Yiniang, who was once Zhu Shi's maid, smiled slightly when she saw Zhu Shi's mood, but quickly became solemn again.

Gu Xinyue felt she had discovered a big secret: their relationship had already cracked.

The men of the Gu family entered the ancestral hall. Gu Hui, holding his grandfather's hand, stepped inside with reverence.

They walked slowly toward the place where the family genealogy was enshrined, their eyes filled with respect for their family history.

Guided by the clan elder, Gu Hui lit incense and bowed respectfully to the ancestral tablets. His actions were solemn and humble, expressing his respect and gratitude to his ancestors.

Next, the clan chief personally and solemnly wrote Gu Hui's name next to Gu Siming's. With the stroke of the pen, Gu Hui was recognized by everyone as a descendant of the Gu family and the eldest grandson of Gu Yong.

After Gu Hui's inclusion in the family genealogy ceremony, Gu Yong invited everyone in to light incense and bow to their ancestors and wife.

Gu Xinrou came over, took her arm, and asked, "Want to go admire the plum blossoms?"