Chapter 017: The Fake Heiress’s True Yandere (Part 1)

Chapter 017: The Fake Heiress’s True Yandere (Part 1)

Gu Qingcheng opened her personal panel, where the transparent interface displayed updated data:

Executor: Gu Qingcheng (Gu Qing)

Beauty: 47 points

IQ: 96 points

Character: 57 points

Stamina: 75 points

Gu Qingcheng’s eyes finally landed on the beauty stat, which had increased from the initial 46 points to 47 points.

A single point increase didn’t seem to make any noticeable difference to Gu Qingcheng.

However, perhaps it was psychological, but Gu Qingcheng felt that her skin didn’t seem as dark as before.

"Third Miss, the ice cream is here!"

Just as Gu Qingcheng was secretly examining her dark hands, the voice of a maid could be heard from not far away.

Gu Qingcheng didn’t need to look to know that it was her maid, Lüqi, who had returned.

She lowered her hands and turned her head towards Lüqi.

Lüqi was holding a tray, on which was a cup made of white jade. Inside the cup was ice cream giving off a faint coolness.

Gu Qingcheng took the cup and began to eat slowly with a small silver spoon.

The cold cheese slid into her mouth, dispelling the summer heat.

"Third Miss, the Princess is still waiting for you," Lüqi reminded carefully, watching Gu Qingcheng’s expression cautiously.

"Mm! I know!"

After a few bites, Gu Qingcheng lost interest.

She placed the cup back on the tray and stood up, slowly making her way to her parents’ courtyard.

As soon as she entered the gate, she saw the maids and older women bustling about.

Some were rummaging through boxes, some packing luggage, and others hurrying off to handle various tasks…

Princess Jiangling sat in the main room of the house, directing everything in an orderly manner.

When she saw Gu Qingcheng enter, Princess Jiangling dismissed the older woman beside her and smiled as she waved to her daughter.

Gu Qingcheng didn’t follow the usual formalities of a proper greeting but instead sat directly next to her mother.

Princess Jiangling was slightly surprised, but she didn’t mind, thinking that although her daughter was mindful of etiquette, she still preferred to be close to her own mother.

Sigh, her daughter was perfect in every way, except—

A trace of sadness flashed in Princess Jiangling’s beautiful phoenix eyes.

She didn’t look at her daughter’s nearly ugly appearance.

Princess Jiangling wasn’t disgusted, of course.

They say a child doesn’t despise their mother’s ugliness, but in reality, it’s the mother who doesn’t despise their child’s ugliness!

As a mother, no matter what her child looks like, whether ugly or stupid, she will never despise them.

Princess Jiangling felt only heartache and self-reproach—it was her fault for not giving her daughter a good appearance.

Clearly, both she and the prince consort were good-looking, and their other children were also very handsome or beautiful.

Only this youngest daughter—

She and the prince consort had wronged their daughter.

So, Princess Jiangling wouldn’t despise her, but would instead cherish her even more.

However, she didn’t know that it was precisely this pity and guilt that placed an unnecessary psychological burden on Gu Qingcheng.

"I heard Lüqi asked for ice cream just now, are you feeling hot?"

Princess Jiangling reached out and touched Gu Qingcheng’s forehead.

There was a bit of sweat, but no signs of heatstroke yet.

Princess Jiangling felt relieved.

Gu Qingcheng smiled and said, "I’m fine, just a bit affected by the summer heat."

"That’s good!"

After making sure her daughter was alright, Princess Jiangling broached the main topic. "...Your father and I have discussed it. We’re moving the entire family to the Northern Dynasty."

To be honest, Princess Jiangling didn’t want to leave the Southern Dynasty.

She was the princess of the Southern Dynasty; this was the Xiao family’s realm.

After going to the Northern Dynasty, she went from being a high-ranking imperial lady to a fugitive noblewoman.

The disparity was akin to falling from heaven to hell.

But she had to leave.

The Southern Dynasty was now controlled by the treacherous Chen Jing, and her emperor nephew had become a puppet.

To say something that might invite curses, it was entirely possible that Chen Jing would one day kill the emperor and ascend the throne himself.

… In the current times of dynastic change, getting a new emperor was really not a rare occurrence.

Not to mention others, their very own Xiao family's empire was gained this way.

And married women follow their husbands.

Jiangling Princess was not just a royal princess; she was also a Gu family wife.

She had to consider the Gu family, her husband, and their children.

After a painful struggle, Jiangling Princess decided to flee to the Northern Dynasty with her husband!

Their son and daughter-in-law had already been notified and people were sent to help them pack.

There was still the youngest daughter, who was young but precocious and sensible.

Jiangling Princess did not treat Gu Qingcheng as a child but discussed the matter with her as an adult, “Ah Qing, what do you think about this?”

“Is Father not willing to leave?”

Gu Qingcheng did not rush to answer but asked a question in return.

Actually, even without memories of her previous life, based on her understanding of her grandfather,

Gu Qingcheng knew his choice, “Father should not want to leave, right?”

He was the most open-minded, and apart from the difficulty of leaving his homeland, he did not want to bow to the treacherous—

Being exiled, going to Lingnan, he, a son of the Wu County Gu family, had his own demeanor and pride!

“Yes, your Father wishes to stay in Jiankang!”

Jiangling Princess knew her youngest daughter was the wisest and it wasn't hard for her to guess the adults' decision.

A bad premonition suddenly arose in her heart, “Ah Qing, could it be that you—”

Want to stay in Jiankang too?

“I want to stay with Father!”

Gu Qingcheng said seriously.

In her previous life, she chose to go to the Northern Dynasty with her parents.

In this life, since she wanted to choose a different path, she might as well start from here.

Not going to the Northern Dynasty, staying in the Southern Dynasty, and being exiled to Lingnan with Father.

“…” Jiangling Princess's lips moved, wanting to say something to dissuade her.

But when the words reached her mouth, she swallowed them back.

Firstly, her youngest daughter was very independent, and once she made a decision, it was basically final.

Secondly, if the whole family fled to the Northern Dynasty, leaving only an old father behind, it really wouldn't look good.

Ah Qing was the granddaughter, and it was proper for her to stay behind and serve her grandfather in place of her parents.

If word got out, it could also help her daughter gain a good reputation.

If a woman had flaws in her appearance, she could only strive to excel in other areas.

Studying, learning rules, mastering various talents, and becoming a true talented lady was one way.

Serving one's parents with filial piety and becoming a dignified and purely filial person was another way.

Leaving aside the worries, just thinking from these perspectives, having Gu Qingcheng stay was actually the best all-around choice.

“Mother, I have already decided. I will not go to the Northern Dynasty; I will stay in Jiankang with Father!”

Gu Qingcheng's eyes were firm, her tone resolute.

After looking at her daughter for a long time, Jiangling Princess finally relented, “…Alright, leaving Father alone in Jiankang, your father and I won't be at ease either.”

…

Leaving the main courtyard, Gu Qingcheng returned to her own small courtyard.

Dismissing the maid, Gu Qingcheng called for the system—

“Last time you said I could give you a name?”

She didn't rush to take on a task but instead made a casual remark.

“…Yes!”

“Then you shall be named Misfortune Water. Let's be beautiful together!”

Gu Qingcheng said with a smile.

System of Misfortune Water: "Alright, naming successful."

From this moment on, it would be known as Misfortune Water!

The name was quite overwhelming.

"How long will the system need to cool down before taking on a new task?"

"Twelve hours!"

……

That night, Gu Qingcheng saw off her parents, uncle, aunt, older brother, cousin, and other family members.

The crowd bid farewell to Gu Qingcheng and her father Gu Heng, tears in their eyes as they waved and gave repeated instructions.

Among the crowd, a young girl around Gu Qingcheng's age looked at her with a complex expression.

Busy saying goodbye to her parents and brothers, Gu Qingcheng didn't notice at all.

After seeing off her family, Gu Qingcheng felt a little lost.

However, she quickly cheered up.

Once the system's cooldown period ended, she finally received her second task——