Chapter 379: Separate Residence
Chapter 379: Chapter 379: Separate Residence
Gu Xingyang wasn’t trying to claim credit. If given the choice, she would gladly live an uneventful, peaceful life.
"Suihe," Gu Kaiyuan said, placing the child next to Bai Suihe and tightly grasping her hands. "It’s my fault for being so useless. I failed to protect you both."
Bai Suihe had finally remembered him, but why was there a hint of distance in her eyes? She must still be blaming him.
"No. If we ever clash with the Gu Family again, whose side will you take?"
Thinking of everything she had recalled, Bai Suihe couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of resentment.
Before, she was merely an observer—what happened to others was just a story. But when it happened to her, it was a tragedy.
"After all this time, can you still not see where I stand?
"From now on, I have absolutely nothing to do with the Gu Family. Whether they live or die is none of my concern."
"But what if Gu Baijiang—"
"I’ve already repaid everything I owed," Gu Kaiyuan answered decisively. He didn’t dare show even the slightest hesitation, terrified that this mother-and-daughter pair would hold another grudge against him. "From now on, I will only guard our little family. Whatever you want to do, I’ll be right by your side."
"Don’t you want to know why I fainted?" Bai Suihe asked.
Gu Kaiyuan blinked. Wasn’t it because her memories were recovering? Then he remembered they had been talking about her maiden family earlier. "Is it because of the Bai Family?"
Bai Suihe recounted the tragic end of the Bai Family from her memories. Gu Kaiyuan’s face turned pale. This truly was something the Third Prince and the Gu Family were capable of doing.
The Silver Gu Baijiang had hidden away seemed like a massive fortune, but if one needed to win people’s loyalty and secretly hoard a private army, it wasn’t nearly enough.
The Bai Family was a fat sheep ripe for the slaughter—one they also had a grudge against. How could those people possibly let them off?
Looking at it that way, both he and Bai Suihe carried the burden of a blood feud.
"This time, we have the upper hand. We definitely won’t let them get what they want," Gu Kaiyuan said solemnly. "The Third Prince isn’t having as smooth a time now as he did in our previous life. I’ll make sure to add fuel to the fire later."
"If you want to completely eliminate this hidden danger, the main key still lies with the Gu Family," Bai Suihe said. "It all depends on whether you have the heart to do it."
"Tell me. There is nothing I can’t let go of," Gu Kaiyuan replied.
"The Gu Family cannot be tied to the Third Prince," Bai Suihe said in a sharp, cold voice. "And Gu Antong cannot be allowed to rely on the power of the imperial family."
She remembered seeing Gu Antong leading people into the Bai Family’s storehouse. Aside from the gold and Silver that became the Third Prince’s capital, everything else had fallen into Gu Antong’s hands. She then used those precious items to buy people’s loyalty everywhere. How could Bai Suihe not hate her?
"I’ll find someone to handle it," Gu Kaiyuan promised.
Upon hearing of the Bai Family’s fate, Gu Kaiyuan knew that Gu Antong’s days were numbered.
Previously, he had intended to just let her keep jumping around like a clown. Without the Silver Gu Baijiang had stashed away, he wanted to see what she could possibly achieve.
He had even planned to wait until they returned to the capital to watch the good show of their internal fighting. But now, the plan had to change.
"My head doesn’t hurt anymore. Help me up; I need to write a letter to send back home."
In the past, she had only wanted to repay the Bai Family for raising the original owner of her body. But now that she was the true Bai Suihe, she could not just sit back and watch the Bai Family fall into danger.
Every single Prince in the capital was up to no good. For the sake of the throne and absolute power, they would eventually set their sights on the Bai Family. Therefore, it was best to quickly figure out an escape route for her family before those people could make a move.
Although Gu Kaiyuan was a little worried, he obediently helped her up. "Why don’t you dictate, and I’ll write it?"
Bai Suihe’s memories were back, so naturally, her handwriting wouldn’t look like chicken scratch anymore. She was no longer a semi-illiterate person, so she didn’t have to fear exposing any flaws or relying on Gu Kaiyuan to write for her.
"Just prepare the brush and ink for me. I need to write a letter to my mother."
Thinking about the rest of the Bai Family still in the capital gave Bai Suihe an intense sense of urgency.
The Bai Family was already very conspicuous in the entire Rong Country. This was especially dangerous when it came to the emperors—they might lack capability themselves, but they loved nothing more than reaping the fruits of others’ labor.
"Mother, don’t worry. Everything is different now," Gu Xingyang said.
"The Third Prince is currently too busy fending for himself. Grandfather’s family is safe for the time being..."
"I can’t risk that gamble," Bai Suihe said. "Who knows if Rong Ruiyuan, having failed to find that Silver, will be driven by desperation and strike at the Bai Family first?"
By this time, Gu Kaiyuan had already prepared the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Bai Suihe felt a momentary wave of dizziness when she sat up, but she quickly overcame it.
Gu Kaiyuan picked the child back up. "Take your time writing. I’ll hand the baby over to the nannies to look after for now."
Without looking up, Bai Suihe said, "Go ahead."
The father and daughter were left speechless...
***
Just when Gu Antong felt like her body was about to fall apart, they finally arrived at the capital.
Looking at the towering city walls before them, the Gu Family felt a bitter taste in their mouths. Back then, they had left this place in disgrace. Now, although they were returning in a carriage with guards by their sides, it still felt fundamentally different.
The Third Prince didn’t bring them to his own manor. Instead, he ordered his men to escort the family to a small courtyard under his name.
Watching Rong Ruiyuan ride away on a fast horse, the Gu Family knew he was rushing to defend himself before the emperor. He was likely in for a severe reprimand.
However, the Gu Family wasn’t worried. After all, they were father and son. If there was any blame to go around, it would only fall on outsiders.
They just didn’t know who would be unfortunate enough to be used as a human shield this time.
Gu Baijiang glanced at Ming Peifeng and noticed his face was deathly pale. Unable to help himself, he walked over to comfort him. "Perhaps things will still take a turn for the better."
Ming Peifeng nodded with a bitter smile. "That’s all we can hope for now.
"Mr. Gu, you haven’t been to this private estate before. Allow me to show you inside."
He was only saying this to make himself look good. The Third Prince would certainly never allow him to run around freely now.
Couldn’t they see that those guards, while ostensibly there for protection, were actually just keeping them under surveillance? They weren’t just guarding against the Gu Family; they were guarding against him, too.
Gu Baijiang saw through it but didn’t point it out. He simply made a gesture of invitation, and the group finally proceeded into the estate.
It was unclear what the Third Prince used this estate for. It was located quite close to the south city gate. Though it wasn’t large—featuring only two courtyards—it was kept exceptionally clean and tidy.
However, the decorations inside were very ordinary. They probably couldn’t even compare to the furnishings of a wealthy rural landlord. They couldn’t tell if this was just a façade meant for others to see, or if the Third Prince was genuinely this poor.
Even randomly displaying a single imperially bestowed item from the palace would have elevated the place’s class, but there was nothing of the sort.
"This is the place the Third Prince previously prepared for discussing official matters," Ming Peifeng said. Thinking about his likely fate, he only wanted to cling to Gu Baijiang as his final lifeline. At a crucial moment, he might still need to rely on him to beg for mercy.
Along the way, Ming Peifeng gave them an extremely detailed introduction, even briefly explaining the situations of their neighbors.
The Gu Family’s original residence had long since been confiscated and rewarded by the emperor to another official. Returning there was out of the question.
The Third Prince had brought them here to settle because he truly had no other choice.
Although the Third Prince was born into the imperial family, his mother’s maiden family lacked prominence. Besides his meager official stipend, he could only rely on the Noble Consort’s subsidies.