Chapter Ten: The Jun Clan

  Long HanYuan became increasingly indifferent to her, and his responses to her requests grew fewer. Gu QingJin finally realized the change in Long HanYuan, but it was already too late. He even became reluctant to talk to her, and started making strict demands on her, requiring her to follow all the old rules. He wanted to thoroughly reform Gu QingJin, but she was unwilling. However, this unwillingness was futile, as she also understood that Long HanYuan had never loved her in the first place. Her heart grew cold, and the two began a cold war.

  Now thinking about it, Long Han had probably already set his sights on Gu Qingyao back then. Although she was in the backyard of the Third Prince's residence, news about Gu Qingyao could still be obtained. How could he not know? The princess often took her to attend banquets with the princes and their consorts, Gu Qingyao was held up as a model, everyone was talking about Gu Qingyao's goodness, Gu Qingyao's kindness and magnanimity, and her harmonious relationship with the Sixth Prince. Gu Qingyao's intelligence and cleverness, Gu Qingyao's elegant demeanor, gentle and dignified, not disappointing as an imperial family member.

  Then came her gradual estrangement from Long Han, until he blurted out that name on her bed, and she finally saw her own foolishness and utter defeat. In the end, it was her resolute self-immolation by fire.

  Memories of this finally came to an end, Gu Qingjin took a deep breath. Before, she was too silly and naive, unable to see things clearly, unable to see the bigger picture, thinking she was the female lead. Now looking back, it seems that in reality, it was actually a battle between the transmigrated female and the local female, with the local female emerging victorious in the end.

  It turned out that her transmigration was just to be a beautiful cannon fodder, a female supporting character. Thinking about it, wasn't she also a female supporting character in her previous life?

  The real female lead is her fourth sister, Gu Qingyao. She was the daughter of an unknown minor official who married the sixth prince of the current dynasty. After marriage, she and the sixth prince were equal in status, and he did not even take a concubine or a secondary wife. No matter how hard she tried, she could not get what Gu Qingyao had - a lifelong partner, and Gu Qingyao also gained the admiration of her husband, Long Han Yuan.

  As the legitimate second son who inherited the title of Marquis Anji, his gentle mother, considerate elder brother, devoted partner, and the admiration of excellent men around him - all these were what Gu Qingyao possessed in her past life.

  Apart from her, Qing Jin couldn't care less about others, but as for her father's title, now that it has been restored, she must definitely protect it. Also, there was her mother who had been wronged and abandoned because of her; this time, she couldn't let her own foolishness implicate the person closest to her in this life again.

  If waking up was a blessing, she was now grateful to the gods and Buddhas who allowed her to be reborn, thanking them for giving her another chance to start anew. This strengthened Qingjin's determination to visit the temple and worship.

  Qing Jin used to be an atheist, but due to this lucky rebirth, Qing Jin is willing to believe in the gods she once despised.

  Qing Jin was thinking about going to the temple for worship, when the door was pushed open and a noblewoman wearing a large red pomegranate skirt came in first, followed by several maidservants. The maids in the house quickly paid their respects to the incoming noblewoman.

  Qing Jin looked at the noblewoman who walked in, and for a moment, she felt a mix of emotions. The noblewoman glanced around the room, waved her hand at the maid who was paying respects, and then walked towards Qing Jin with a big smile on her face, saying loudly, "Jin'er, you're finally better! I've been worried to death these past two days. You were sick, and your brother hasn't been eating well either. Your mother has been telling the nanny to cook all sorts of dishes for him, but he just won't eat properly. It's like he's going to worry me to death! And your father... these past few days, I don't know what's gotten into him. He keeps running off to that woman Bai's room every day..."

  "Madam Bai said, with a hint of resentment in her heart, wanting to say a few more words. She turned around and saw that her daughter, Gu Qingjin, was quietly not saying a word, looking at her with an expression that made her realize that this daughter usually couldn't bear to listen to these things. Thinking about what she was going to say next wasn't suitable for her unmarried status, she wisely stopped herself and changed the subject: 'I know you're always impatient when I talk about these things, so let's not mention anything else. But Xuan is your own brother after all... You two are like natural enemies, looking at each other with disdain. I don't know what sins I committed in my past life to give birth to such a pair of sworn enemies...'"

  Turning back to see that Gu Qingjin still didn't say a word, quietly staring at her with an expressionless face, Jun Shi finally realized something was off about her daughter. Her hand unconsciously reached out to touch Qingjin's forehead. Seeing Qingjin still staring blankly at her, Jun Shi couldn't help but be shocked and lose her composure. "Oh dear, my Qingjin! What's wrong with you? Have you been possessed by an evil spirit?! Yuyang, how did you take care of her?! And all of you maids, the Anji Hou Manor has wasted its resources on raising you all. You didn't even know that the young lady was acting strangely and didn't report it immediately. After this incident passes, I will definitely send someone to summon the toothless old woman, and sell all of you useless maids out of the manor. What's the point of the Hou Manor supporting all of you idle maids?!"

  The maids around heard what Junshi said and couldn't help but change color, Qingjin quickly grabbed Junshi's wildly waving hand and opened her mouth: "Mother, I didn't go crazy, I was just listening to mother's words seriously!"

  But to her surprise, Jun Shi not only didn't relax but became even more tense. "Nonsense! You're usually the most impatient with me talking about these things. As soon as I bring them up, you either can't wait to get rid of me or would rather plug your ears. Why are you sitting there so obediently listening to me now?"

  Qing Jin heard Jun Shi's words and couldn't help but laugh and cry, standing up to press Jun Shi back into her seat. She looked at Jun Shi with a stubborn expression and opened her mouth, "Look, Mother, you're my birth mother, I'm your birth daughter. As long as you're willing to talk, I'll listen obediently, no matter how long."

  After hearing her words, Jun's expression became even more astonished, with a look that said "you must be possessed". Qing Jin couldn't help but smile wryly in her heart, wanting to say something, but before she could, Jun spoke up first. "I know you don't like listening to me ramble on, but don't suddenly become so gloomy and eerie. There are some things that aren't suitable for a young lady like you to hear. Just don't scare me like this, I was just frightened out of my wits!"

  It was unexpected that her change would be said by Jun to be frightening, Gu Qingjin didn't know what to do for a while, and then heard Jun say: "I know you don't like listening to me talk about this, so I'll say less in front of you from now on. You've been careful since childhood, with many thoughts, and after having Xuaner, I didn't have the energy to worry about you as much. Fortunately, you also didn't give me much to worry about. Today you just recovered from illness, I shouldn't be pulling you into conversations like this, okay, I'll go back first, you rest well. Also, don't rush to go to Old Lady's place to ask for gifts and pay respects, wait until you're fully recovered before going, Old Lady's side should have sent someone to tell you already, I'm leaving, Yuanyang take good care of our young lady, got it?"