Chapter 55: The Worthless Hypocrite

Chapter 55: The Worthless Hypocrite

Finally, she cried and concluded, "Father, it's fine if my brother takes advantage of me. After all, I am foolish and dull, not as clever as my brother."

"But how can my brother's influence extend so far that even my personal maid obeys his every command?"

"Ah Qiu, I dare not use her nor keep her. Since my brother likes her, let him take her to Qishan Courtyard."

"Father, you don't know how awkward the situation was—a woman and two men spending the entire night together in the same room, and being caught by the Lu family. I’m too embarrassed to show my face."

As she spoke, Gu Zhen cried harder and harder, gradually becoming breathless.

The Duke pieced together the key details from Gu Zhen's intermittent sobs.

"Was the friend you visited Lu Mingchao?"

Gu Zhen's eyes were red and swollen from crying, nodding between hiccups.

"Gu Huai, what exactly are you trying to do?" The Duke slammed his hand on the table, the sound heavy and thunderous, as if the ground itself shook.

The gentle sunlight outside the window shone through the window lattice, casting Gu Huai's expression in shadow, his breath slightly panting, as if he was trying hard to suppress something.

Lu Mingchao got married?

And married a rustic villager?

For a moment, Gu Huai felt as if countless flies were buzzing around him, his mind buzzing with noise, unbearably irritating.

His fingers curled into his palms, tightly clenched into fists, but he felt no pain.

Complex and intense emotions surged in his chest.

It was anger.

It was jealousy.

Yes, it was jealousy.

He, the heir of the Duke's family, would actually be jealous of a rustic villager.

It would be laughable to say it out loud.

Gu Huai lowered his head, frowning, and remained silent for a long time.

When he looked up again, his expression was calm and composed, unhurried.

"Father, I don't think I did anything wrong."

"Even if Lu Mingchao is not the daughter of the Yongning Marquis family, we have been childhood friends for many years. Even if the marriage contract is no longer valid, there is still some sibling affection. Hearing that she left the capital for a desolate place, I couldn't help but worry about our past feelings. Considering the boundaries between men and women, and the reputation of both, I suggested Zhen Zhen to go, achieving two goals at once. What's wrong with that?"

"Or does father want me to be the kind of heartless villain?"

"If father still thinks I am wrong, I am willing to accept whatever punishment you deem fit."

Gu Zhen: ...

Gu Zhen widened her eyes in surprise, crystal tears hanging on her eyelashes, not falling for a long time.

She was very puzzled—how could her brother exonerate himself so easily?

The Duke's anger was stuck in his throat, neither able to be expressed nor suppressed. He frowned deeply, his gaze scanning Gu Huai suspiciously, trying to detect something.

Yet, Gu Huai's calm and composed demeanor made the father seem like he was throwing a pointless tantrum, and Gu Zhen, the sister, appeared to be making an unreasonable fuss.

The Duke sighed, "Then why did you instruct Gu Zhen's personal maid?"

Gu Huai replied indifferently, "Father is well aware of Gu Zhen's temperament; I choose not to elaborate further."

"Hoping that Gu Zhen would bring Lu Mingchao back to the capital was merely out of concern that Mingchao might not adapt to the harsh rural life and could perish."

"Father, I was unaware of the rural marriage arrangement beforehand; how could I have deliberately sabotaged Mingchao's marriage?"

If he had known, he would have gone there himself.

Gu Huai couldn't understand, what was wrong with Gu Zhen coming back?

He would naturally ensure Mingchao lived a life of luxury, free from any hardship.

The Duke's anger subsided slightly, "It had better be so!"

"Regardless of whether your feelings for Mingchao are fraternal or not, you must remember that she is now a married woman, and the Duke's family must not become a subject of ridicule."

"Later, I will arrange for a congratulatory gift to be sent."

"You are of age, and your marriage should have been arranged long before now. Previously, you delayed because you disliked Mingchao; now that the fiancée has changed, it should be to your liking. Do not delay any further."

"Yongning Marquis Madam has been probing repeatedly; in my opinion, it is better to act sooner rather than later."

To prevent any irreparable scandals!

Gu Huai frowned, "Father, it is not that I am unwilling to marry Miss Lu, but her manners are not yet refined enough to avoid ridicule, and she is temporarily unfit to be the heir's wife. Moreover, mother values manners greatly; it would be better to wait until she is properly trained before setting the wedding date. Otherwise, there might be discord between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, leading to unrest in the household."

The Duke's hand, which was stroking his beard, stiffened slightly, finding some logic in his words.

"Very well."

"At worst, I will swallow my pride and request another matron from the palace; as long as the Marquis's new daughter is not a blockhead, she will surely be transformed."

"I will follow your decision, Father," Gu Huai said indifferently.

The sudden turn of events left Gu Zhen unprepared. She stopped crying and pointed at herself, murmuring, "Father, what about me?"

"Should I just endure the grievance of being used by my brother?"

The Duke had a headache, "Gu Zhen, how do you wish to resolve this?"

Mainly because Gu Huai's argument was clear and logical, he couldn't just resort to the family rules.

This question stumped Gu Zhen.

How did she wish to resolve this?

Now she only hoped that her brother was truly as open and magnanimous as he appeared, and not harboring a beast within, waiting for the right moment to break free.

Lu Mingchao no longer had wealth and glory; she shouldn't lose her peaceful life as well.

Gu Zhen pursed her lips, her expression settling.

"First, brother takes Ah Qiu away; my courtyard will not harbor a traitor."

"Second, the guards who escorted your daughter to Changxi Village, I will leave their fate entirely to the conscience of my father and brother."

"Third, I want two guards who answer only to me, and I also want to be allowed to personally select my personal maids through a matchmaker, with the servant contracts held by myself."

"I do not wish to endure the same humiliation twice."

"If father does not agree, I will weep myself to death before you."

After a brief pause, the Duke of Zhen nodded in agreement.

These demands are not excessive, and it's better than Zhenzhen stubbornly clinging to Huai.

He had a vague sense that Zhenzhen had grown a bit wiser.

"Then I’ll take my leave."

Gu Huai also bowed his head, "Thank you for your trouble, father."

Gu Zhen and Gu Huai left the Songbai Courtyard one after the other.

"You hypocrite!" Gu Zhen suddenly spoke at the corner.

"That white fox fur cloak you’re wearing today is flawless—not a single stray hair."

At a glance, it was clear that he had dressed up deliberately, putting on that act of a cool, indifferent gentleman.

Gu Huai coldly lifted his eyelids, his thin lips parting slightly, "Useless!"

Gu Zhen: ???

Useless?

Her?

"Otherwise?" The sparse and mottled sunlight fell on Gu Huai's face through the bare branches, adding a bit of sharpness and intimidation.

Gu Zhen, angered, sneered, "My brother calls me useless, but I would like to ask what this hypocrite brother of mine is trying to do by scheming to bring Lu Mingchao back to the capital?"

"Do not use the same excuses you used in front of father to fob me off."

"Surely it's not just brotherly affection, is it?"

"Concubine?"

"Mistress?"

"Secondary wife?"

"In my brother's heart, is making Lu Mingchao a concubine considered a favor?"

"No wonder Lu Mingchao rejected you."