The Prime Minister's Darling

Gu Jiao returned to her room with the bronze plate in hand.

She was certain that Xiao Liulang had rummaged through her first aid kit, likely last night.

Usually, outsiders couldn’t open her first aid kit, but she was confused by her fever last night and seemed to have forgotten to lock it.

Those strange supplements and family planning items, did they appear after Xiao Liulang had touched the kit?

With a fierce look, Gu Jiao glared at the small first aid kit, “If you dare produce these useless items again, I’ll burn you with a fire!”

A chill wind blew by, leaving the first aid kit as quiet as a chicken.

—

After breakfast, Gu Jinyu started packing for her journey. She had promised the Yao Family that she would pay her respects to Gu Sanlang’s grave.

Before she left, she went to see Lady Yao and Marquis Gu, “I should be able to run into my sister in the village, right? I want to see her.”

Lady Yao did not object.

But Marquis Gu was worried that Gu Jiao’s temper was too fierce and that she might bully Gu Jinyu. After all, the two girls had had disputes before.

Marquis Gu had Huang Zhong and an experienced nanny accompany them.

Due to the excitement from the previous night, Gu Yan fell asleep during breakfast and was now snoozing in the bedchamber, completely oblivious that he had missed the opportunity to go to the countryside.

Gu Jinyu climbed into the carriage. The young maid and nanny sat in another carriage, while Huang Zhong led a few guards to escort them on both sides.

Halfway through the trip, Gu Jinyu lifted the curtain of the carriage window and looked at Huang Zhong who was riding beside the carriage. She asked kindly, “Sir Huang, you’ve met my sister. What kind of person is she?”

“Ah… This…” Huang Zhong was at a loss for words.

An unruly woman who physically confronts her father?

Huang Zhong cleared his throat and said, “I have met Miss Gu, but I have not had a conversation with her.”

Gu Jinyu regretfully smiled, “Same for me. I didn’t have a proper conversation with her. If I knew she was my sister, I wouldn’t have treated her like that. I’m so stupid, I didn’t even recognize my own sister.”

Huang Zhong thought to himself, you wouldn’t recognize her because she’s not your birth sister. Look at young master Gu Yan, he bonded with her immediately. There’s a difference between blood-related and not!

But he didn’t dare to say that out loud.

The truth about the two daughters is not yet known in the Marquis Residence, only he and a few young master who know the truth. But secrets can’t be concealed forever, it’s up to the Marquis and his wife how they choose to disclose it.

Huang Zhong has visited the village several times, and has thoroughly investigated the information, including the graves of Gu Sanlang and his wife.

Gu Sanlang died a dishonorable death and according to village customs, couldn’t be buried in the family graveyard. His grave was quite far from the Gu family’s auspicious burial ground. Madame Xun was buried next to him, supposedly at her own request before death.

The carriages stopped at the entrance of the village. Their arrival, especially that of Gu Jinyu who looked like an angel, couldn’t help but attract the attention of the villagers.

Gu Jinyu wore a veil, and beside her were well-dressed maids and a nanny.

The villagers had never seen a city miss and were taken aback.

“Miss, watch your step!” The village roads are rough, and Huang Zhong was concerned that the delicate Miss Gu could fall.

Gu Jinyu, clinging to the arm of the maid, found the uneven dirt road rather troublesome for her delicate feet.

Once the group moved away, the villagers started chatting.

“Hey? Who are they?”

I don’t recognize them. That man seems to have been to our village a few times, asking a lot about the Gu family.”

“Hey! Look, they are going towards Gu Sanlang’s graveyard!”

“Could they be from the Xun family?”

There were no such grand relatives in the Gu family, so the villagers could only guess that they were from the Xun family.

The Xun family was not from the village and was better off than the Gu family, considered half city folk. But after Madame Xun’s death, the Xun family cut off contact with the Gu family.

When Gu Jinyu reached the graveyard, she saw a figure in simple hemp clothing, thin and standing by the grave with a coolie hat on his head and a small basket on his back.

“Sister… is that you?”

As Gu Jinyu said this hesitantly, Gu Jiao who was bent over weeding the gravesite paused her movements. She straightened up and looked over at Gu Jinyu nonchalantly.

Gu Jinyu immediately broke into a joyful smile, “Sister, it is really you!”

Gu Jiao cast her a strange glance, ignored her, and continued bending over to weed.

Ever since she discovered the grave had an abundance of weeds on Gu Sanlang’s couple’s memorial day, Gu Jiao started coming here regularly to weed.

Gu Jinyu was ignored, but she didn’t back down. She let go of the young maid’s hand and walked towards Gu Jiao.

However, her delicate embroidered shoes weren’t made for the pathway of a graveyard. She nearly twisted her ankle.

“Miss! Watch out!” The young maid and the elderly maid both supported her in unison.

“I’m fine.” Gu Jinyu looked at Gu Jiao awkwardly, indicating the two women to let go, and then became more careful.

She lifted her clean skirt and came to Gu Jiao’s side. She reached out her hand to Gu Jiao, “Sister, let me do it.”

“I am not your sister,” Gu Jiao said, “And you can’t do it.”

Such dirty work wasn’t meant for a pampered young lady.

Gu Jiao used a shovel when necessary. For the tasks that didn’t need one, she used her hands.

Gu Jinyu mimicked her, reaching out to pull the weeds. The result was predictable.

The young maid and the elderly maid didn’t know the truth. But the servants at the Marquis Residence always followed the rules, and they never inquired about what they shouldn’t.

Though they didn’t ask openly, they were very curious internally.

This country girl sure had a high and mighty attitude. Their Miss lowered her dignity and kindly called her “sister,” yet not only did she reject the courtesy, she also showed a stiff face to their Miss.

“You may leave first,” Gu Jinyu instructed.

The young maid and the elderly maid stepped back about three paces.

“You may leave too,” Gu Jinyu said to Huang Zhong.

Huang Zhong, who was weeding, clapped his hands and stepped far back.

Now, only Gu Jiao and Gu Jinyu remained on the gravesite.

Gu Jiao was still weeding, as if no one else was there.

Gu Jinyu laid out the grass mats and ceremonial paper money she brought, lit the paper money on fire with a fire starter, and kowtowed three times to Gu Sanlang and Mrs. Xun on the grass mat.

Then, maintaining her kneeling position, she burned the paper money and whispered, “I heard that they were good people when they were alive and treated my sister very well.”

Gu Jiao finally reacted and spoke indifferently, “Does it scald your tongue to call them father and mother?”

Gu Jinyu was taken aback.

Gu Sanlang and Mrs. Xun were indeed good parents. If they knew they got the wrong child, they would be heartbroken, and they definitely would want to hear their biological daughter call them father and mother.

Gu Jiao glanced at her, “If you just came to burn paper money, you don’t need to. I can still afford to do this.”

Gu Jinyu lowered her head, saying in a low voice, “Sister, do you hate me? I know it’s my fault. I took your identity, took mom and dad, took everything that should have been yours. It’s only right for you to hate me, and I don’t blame you…”

Gu Jiao ignored her.

The person who had everything taken away was already deceased. Moreover, it wasn’t appropriate to call it robbing, Gu Jinyu was innocent. She was also the one who was swapped at birth.

She didn’t harbor hatred in her heart. Nor did she have any favorites.

This individual was irrelevant to her.

Gu Jinyu did not understand Gu Jiao’s thinking. She only felt that Gu Jiao was reproaching her. Such reproaching was justified, after all, she had gained the advantage.

She sincerely assured, “Don’t worry, sister. I won’t compete with you. You’re the real young lady of the Marquis Residence. Once you return to the Marquis Residence, I’ll relocate to give you back the courtyard. But, since father and mother have raised me for so many years, please allow me to stay by their side and carry out my filial duties.”

Gu Jiao was somewhat annoyed, “Are you done yet? If so, then hurry up and leave.”

Gu Jinyu pleaded, “Come back to the Marquis Residence with me, sister!”

“Not going back.”

“Sister! What do I have to do for you to come back with me? You tell me, I’ll agree to anything!”

Gu Jiao looked at her with an indifferent smile, “Including you leaving the Marquis Residence, never to appear there again?”

Gu Jinyu’s expression froze instantly!