Chapter 69: Gu Jingxuan

  I hate those who watch pirated versions and maliciously hurt the author's feelings, just like a beggar who steals a chef's pastries, eats them, and then complains that the chef didn't make them well. Their shamelessness is thicker than the city wall's corner, I know my words are a bit harsh, but I'm not usually a harsh person. Today, I suddenly have a bad mood, and it's only towards those who lack quality themselves. To those people, I think even saying "hello" to them is a waste of time. Okay, I've vented enough, now I'll retreat and continue writing, goodbye!

  However, Qingjin was reborn and learned from the lessons of her previous life. She rid herself of vanity and no longer sought quick success or profits. She stuck to her duties and did what she should do according to her identity, not overstepping her bounds or having feelings for someone she shouldn't.

  Between heaven and earth, all things are born and overcome each other. Although it is said to be balanced, they cannot avoid suppressing each other. The interaction between people is even more so, with one being strong and the other weak, if I become strong, the other will relatively become weaker.

  Two equally excellent people, who would be willing to yield to whom, as the ancient saying goes: one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers.

  Animals, which are inferior to humans and do not have the ability to think, do not easily bow their heads to opponents of equal strength. They know how to fight for dominance. Humans, who are countless times more advanced than animals, naturally also know how to fight for dominance.

  How can one sleep soundly with another by their side? The winner becomes the king, and the loser becomes a bandit.

  Just as Qingjin was thinking about these things, a faint sound came from the window of the ancestral hall. Qingjin and Yuanyang exchanged a glance, cautiously looking in the direction of the window. At the same time, Yuanyang quickly blocked Qingjin's front, and the two slowly moved towards the window.

  Just as Qingjin and Yuanyang had moved to the window, a small figure suddenly flipped in from outside the temple window and fell in front of them before they could react.

  "Xiao Qi, how is it you?" Qing Jin's eyebrows furrowed as she clearly saw the small figure that had flipped in, and she walked out from behind Yuanyang to ask Gu Ningxuan, who was currently lying on his back with all fours in the air.

  Gu Ningxuan originally came alone in secret. Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered, he saw two figures standing in front of him, and just as he was about to let out a loud shriek, he heard Gu Qingjin's voice and immediately calmed down. "Shh... Second Sister. I heard that you were punished by Grandmother, so I came to bring you some food." He said, pulling out the roasted chicken that he had secretly saved from dinner earlier, still sitting on the ground. His eyes shone brightly as he carefully handed over the wrapped roasted chicken to Qingjin, with an expression that seemed to say "Come and praise me".

  Qing Jin originally wanted to scold him a couple of sentences, but seeing the bright eyes he was looking at her with, she softened in her heart and walked up to help Gu Ning Xuan up, brushing off the dust on his body. She asked: "It's so late, why haven't you gone to sleep yet? You even came to flip through the ancestral hall's window, aren't you afraid that grandmother will find out and make you kneel in the ancestral hall too?"

  "That little seven is just in time to accompany second sister." Gu Ningxuan, who didn't resist Ren Qingjin's actions, brushed off the dust on his body and replied without thinking.

  Qing Jin heard his words and couldn't help but scold: "What nonsense are you talking about? Do you think the ancestral hall is a fun place? Now that it's so cold, I'll let you stay in the ancestral hall for a night, and guarantee that you'll drink a month's worth of your least favorite bitter medicine. By the way, where are the people around you? You came out alone, didn't anyone advise you?"

  "My father and mother had a fight, everyone around me went to persuade my mother, I took advantage of their absence to sneak out, Second sister, am I awesome?" Gu Ning Xuan looked like he was seeking praise.

  "Dad and Mom had a fight, why?" Qing Jin originally wanted to scold Gu Ning Xuan a bit more, but upon hearing his words, her hands paused in their movement, and she asked nonchalantly.

  "Who knows, I heard that Gu Jingxuan is back, and someone from Bai Niang's side came to call Father over. Father wanted to go, but Mother wouldn't let him, and in the end, the two of them started arguing." Gu Ningxuan said nonchalantly.

  "Gu Jingxuan?" Qingjin heard the unfamiliar three words in her brother Ningxuan's conversation, and was momentarily puzzled. However, she quickly reacted, Gu Jingxuan wasn't he her older half-brother, born to her father and his concubine, Bai Niangniang, and also the older brother of Gu Qingxia?

  After reacting, she immediately realized that Gu Ningxuan had just called out to Gu Jingxuan's name inappropriately and instructed him: "What Gu Jingxuan, you should call Big Brother, where did Mr. teach you the respect for elders?"

  Upon hearing Gu Qingjin's words, Gu Ningxuan subconsciously furrowed his brow. However, thinking that it was Gu Qingjin who said this, he suppressed his temper and reluctantly called out: "Second sister..."

  "What's wrong, don't you want to listen to what I have to say?" Qing Jin's face fell.

  "Don't be angry, Xiao Qi is listening to Er Jie's words." Seeing Qing Jin frowning, Ning Xuan immediately said in a conciliatory tone.

  Qing Jin heard him say that, and she no longer looked gloomy, but instead smiled and said: "Xiao Qi, you should know that you are the legitimate son of your father, and our Anji Hou Fu's title is also passed down to the eldest son of the main house. Although Big Brother is only our older half-brother, we still need to be mindful of etiquette and at least appear proper on the surface so that others can't find fault with us. Moreover, I currently have only you as a younger brother, and Big Brother is also from our main house. As a concubine's son cannot inherit the title, Big Brother and you don't have any conflicts of interest. If Big Brother is still a decent person, then show some respect to him, and in the future, there will be someone who can help support you. Even if not for that reason, being polite and courteous in our daily interactions won't bring us any harm. Nowadays, Anji Hou Fu's glory is not just because of Third Uncle's lifesaving contribution to the Emperor. As a young master of Anji Hou, you should conduct yourself in a way that others can't find fault with. Do you understand?"

  Gu Ningxuan heard Qingjin's warm and gentle words, somewhat understanding but not quite. However, since the last time Qingjin brought him back from the streets, he listened more to what Qingjin said than to his mother, Junshi. Although he didn't fully understand what Qingjin was saying this time, he vaguely grasped a bit of it. Most importantly, he believed that Second Sister was always looking out for his best interests, so he nodded heavily in response: "Second Sister, I know."

  Qing Jin saw his obedient appearance, stroked his soft hair and said: "That's good, now let Yuanyang sister take you back to your mother. You've been out for a while, maybe your mother has already discovered that you're gone and is sending people everywhere to look for you! It's so late, you should go to sleep too." After saying this, she wanted Yuanyang to take him away.

  Gu Ningxuan heard Qingjin's words and immediately raised his head, wanting to say he wouldn't leave, but thinking of what Qingjin had just said to him, he finally couldn't help but speak up under Qingjin's gaze: "Then second sister, I'll come see you early tomorrow!"

  "Hmm. Hurry back! Otherwise, if Mother can't find you and Grandmother gets worried, it won't be good." Qing Jin watched as Yuanyang and Gu Ningxuan left.

  One night later, Yuanyang took advantage of the fact that everyone had not yet woken up and secretly came to the ancestral hall. After quietly collecting the clothes and bedding that were secretly sent in last night, she quietly left the ancestral hall.

  Not long after the Mandarin ducks left, Qingjin heard footsteps and conversations outside the ancestral hall. Before long, a voice came from outside: "Second Miss, the old lady said you can go back now."

  Then I heard the voices of the Mandarin ducks and the person who had been sent to deliver the message returning at some unknown time.

  Qing Jin pretended to be weak and frail, trembling as she opened the door of the ancestral hall. Yuanyang quickly stepped forward to support Qing Jin, bidding farewell to the people sent by her grandmother, Shen Shi.

  Two people walked together all the way back to Qingjin's courtyard, and after entering the courtyard, Qingjin put away her weak and haggard appearance. Yuanyang had already arranged for hot water to be prepared.

  Qing Jin comfortably soaked in a hot bath under the service of Yuanyang, and after having some congee, she directly collapsed onto the high soft bed in her room.

  Qing Jin slept until the sun was setting in the west, then got up and dressed. After having some food, Qing Jin took Yuanyang to pay respects to her grandmother, Shen Shi.

  Qing Jin and Yuanyang had just walked onto the garden path when they saw a young man approaching from the other side. He wore a blue robe, with his black hair combed into a neat bun on top of his head, secured by an exquisite white jade hairpin, with a refined face and a scholarly demeanor.

  When Qingjin and Yuanyang saw him, he also happened to see Qingjin and Yuanyang. He didn't avoid suspicion or slow down his pace. Yuanyang looked at the person in front of her, clearly seeing the girl, yet still walked straight over. She immediately wanted to block Qingjin's path but was stopped by Qingjin's silent movement.

  Seeing Qingjin's actions, Yuanyang was somewhat puzzled. Just as she was about to ask questions, the man had already walked in front of them. His eyes stared at Qingjin without blinking or avoiding her gaze. Yuanyang wanted to scold him, but thinking of Qingjin's silent restraint earlier, she couldn't help but look at her own daughter's expression. She saw Qingjin take a step forward and bow slightly to the man in blue, saying: "Brother is polite!"

  The man opposite saw Qing Jin bowing and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, unable to help but ask: "You are... Second Sister Qing Jin?"

  "Big brother has a good memory, I am Qing Jin." Qing Jin smiled lightly and replied.

  Upon hearing Qingjin's response, Gu Jingxuan could no longer contain his astonishment. In his memory, Gu Qingjin always wore bright red clothes, looking delicate and refined, high above him, and would often ignore him, her elder brother. Let alone seeing her take the initiative to greet him. He had just walked over because he saw the blue clothes on the woman's body, in his memory, his second sister would never wear such plain clothes, so he thought it was Liu Yuxiang, the fourth sister of his third uncle's family, and that's why he took the initiative to walk over.

  He didn't expect that it was actually his second sister, Gu Qingjin. What surprised him even more was that this usually high and mighty second sister would actually take the initiative to pay her respects to him.

  He had just asked tentatively, and upon hearing the person in front of him acknowledge that she was his second sister Gu Qingjin, Gu Jingxuan still couldn't quite believe it. He carefully scrutinized the woman opposite him, seeing that her expression was very natural, her face calm and serene, with her unbound long hair flowing behind her like a waterfall, smooth and silky, occasionally blown by the wind, her hair fluttering about.

  The sunset's afterglow shrouded Qingjin all around, she stood against the light, and the dazzling light made Gu Jingxuan momentarily stunned. He tried to recall the appearance of this second sister in the past, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't connect it with the person in front of him. So he couldn't help but ask again: "Are you really Second Sister Qingjin?"

  "I'm really Second Sister Qing Jin of Big Brother's, doesn't Big Brother believe in his sister's identity?"

  “……No, it's the big brother who is being rude. Second sister is completely different from usual, no wonder big brother couldn't recognize her for a moment. Big brother remembers that second sister used to love wearing bright red clothes the most!” Gu Jingxuan said, looking into Qingjin's eyes.

  Thank you for the sparkling pink votes, thank you to Yǔhòu Tíngyuàn for 3 votes, Hóngdòu Nī and Ruǎn Wēnyù each for one anniversary cake vote, thank you to Perfect Little Fish for three updated votes...