The Princess Concubine was surprised. She was aware that the Princess Consort was planning something. She knew this woman well.
She had always thought that the Princess Consort was a very traditional woman, so she never expected that she would do something beyond convention. The Princess Concubine, though surprised, smiled.
“Nothing.” The Princess Consort regained her steadiness, showing no expression on her face.
“Okay then.” The Princess Concubine answered, then started to serve herself tea.
They sat and exchanged no words. On this occasion, the Princess Consort did not drive her away.
In the following days, it was very quiet at Lord Ling’s Mansion.
Since Gu Ruxue was the Equal Princess Consort, she did not have to greet the Princess Consort. So Zhou Huailing asked her to stay in her own yard, otherwise he would become totally messy having to deal with what happened in his backyard.
Gu Ruxue had not met Zhou Huailing after the wedding. Three days later when she was supposed to go back to her mother’s home for a banquet, Zhou Huailing finally appeared. He looked very gentle. Gu Ruxue had been anxious for three days so her heart was finally assured at the sight of Zhou Huailing.
“Lord, you haven’t seen me for three days. I thought you had forgotten about the trip back to my mother’s home.” Gu Ruxue said with a displeased expression.
She did look quite pitiful with that pretty face of hers.
Zhou Huailing said gently, “I have been very busy these days, I will definitely keep you company when I have time, so don’t overthink.”
Gu Ruxue nodded. She looked about and saw that Zhou Huailing was alone.
She asked quietly, “Why haven’t I met the Princess Consort till now?”
Zhou Huailing frowned.
What was wrong with this girl? Didn’t she know that she was married for the sake of the whole Lord Ling’s Mansion?
Despite the hidden anger, Zhou Huailing said nothing.
He was worried about the Princess Consort and needed her family to help him.
“She can’t get through the reality at this moment, but don’t worry about her. You can meet in the future. She is conventional, but she is not that hard to hang out with.” Zhou Huailing answered briefly.
Then they left the mansion together.
It was not a very magnificent march home. Only a few guards and pageboys followed along.
As the wagon came to the Gu Mansion, Gu Zhenkang let out a sigh of relief as he was waiting at the doorstep.
He had been worried that Lord Ling would be dissatisfied with Ruxue and skip the whole trip back to her mother’s home. If that had happened, the Gu Mansion would be totally humiliated.
“Greetings, Lord, and Equal Princess Consort.” Gu Zhenkang and Gu Yunhe greeted him politely.
“Okay.” Zhou Huailing nodded and stopped looking at them, as he led the way.
Gu Yunhe had a very weird look on his face. He was okay with Lord Ling not recognizing his father and him as the family, but now he was already married… Why wasn’t Lord Ling calling him Elder Brother?
Lord Huai called Gu Yunxuan Second Brother! In this way, he would be totally humiliated in public.
Gu Yunhe found that everything was very strange. He threw a look at Gu Ruxue, trying to speak with her.
Gu Ruxue, however, was very proud. She walked with her chin raised in the air, looking very much like a Princess Consort to some degree.
As they came to the front yard, the whole mansion was waiting and greeting them.
Zhou Huailing instantly started to search for Gu Chaoyan. She was still dressed in a white blouse, standing among the crowd of concubine’s children.