Chapter 33 Gongsun Feifei +
After getting up, Gu Yu performed his usual grooming routine and entered the space to water the chili seedlings.
Because the planting area was not large and the fountain was nearby, Gu Yu did not take much time to finish the watering task.
However, upon entering the space this time, Gu Yu was overjoyed to see that chili peppers had already appeared on the chili seedlings, thinking, “Are we finally going to have a bountiful harvest?”
For the past few days, he had been busy with matters on the battlefield, and traveling on the road did not leave him with much leisure time to take care of the chilies in the space. Gu Yu thought that since the space guaranteed a 100% survival rate, all he needed to do was water them daily.
He did not expect time to pass so quickly, and now even the chilies in the space were close to maturing.
However, it would likely take a few more days for the chilies to fully mature, so there was no need to rush.
After observing the pleasing growth of the chili peppers, Gu Yu did not stay in the space for long. When he emerged, Gu Mengyao had already finished getting ready, and they planned to head to the Gu Residence.
Since Gu Yu had told Gu Mengyao and her brother about transmigration and the space, he no longer had to sneak around to hide it from them. It was much more convenient and saved him from having to come up with various lies to deceive them.
Just like how Gu Mengyao showed no surprise when Gu Yu suddenly disappeared and reappeared. Having seen it frequently, she had become accustomed to it.
After all, her husband was no ordinary person.
“A Yu, you say… that woman, will she make things difficult for me?”
“Don’t overthink it. I heard from the soldiers in the military camp that Gongsun Feifei has a good personality, but I don’t know if it’s true. We’ll know when we see her… Besides, I’m right here with you! I am your legal husband, and no matter what difficult situation you face, you only need to rely on me.”
“Mmm, A Yu, I’ll be pestering you for a lifetime.”
“What a coincidence, I have the same thought.”
Sitting in a rented carriage, Gu Yu and Gu Mengyao were on their way to the Gu Residence. When Gu Mengyao, who had changed back into women’s clothing, spoke with some worry halfway, Gu Yu quickly comforted her.
He indicated that there was no need to worry and that she should treat it with a normal mindset.
Gu Mengyao, who could kill people on the battlefield without batting an eye, now seemed like an anxious child.
This stark contrast made Gu Yu feel that the difference was too great. However, the phrase “near the hometown, the heart is timid” could also be applied here.
It was precisely because the Gu Residence was where Gu Qing had lived for the past few years, and Gongsun Feifei was Gu Qing’s new wife, that Gu Mengyao felt nervous. If it were someone completely unknown, Gu Mengyao would not be so anxious.
Seeing Gu Mengyao’s worried appearance, Gu Yu could only comfort her. After meeting Gongsun Feifei, Gu Mengyao would no longer be afraid.
“I have come to pay my respects to Vice General Gu Qing.”
When the carriage stopped in front of the Gu Residence’s main gate, Gu Yu and Gu Mengyao alighted from the carriage. They then handed a calling card to the guards at the gate and were easily allowed entry.
Yesterday, when Gu Yu and Gu Mengyao parted ways with the army, Xing Zhi thoughtfully considered how to visit. To avoid conflict, he took it upon himself to give Gu Yu a completed calling card and had already instructed the guards in advance not to neglect their distinguished guests.
As a result, Gu Yu and Gu Mengyao were able to enter so easily, without even needing to wait for a reply to their calling card. They were directly led by a servant to the reception hall to await Gu Qing’s return from court.
Gongsun Jie had just returned from a victorious battle, and he had also captured the main general of Luoluo Kingdom. Naturally, he had to discuss with the Emperor and all civil and military officials on how to resolve the situation.
After all, Luoluo Kingdom had been so audacious this time, initiating war on its own, and must now pay the price.
As the Vice General, Gu Qing would certainly have to show his face at court at this time.
Therefore, upon arriving early in the morning, Gu Yu and Gu Mengyao found the place empty. However, Gu Yu treated the Gu Residence as his own home and felt no sense of estrangement. Instead, he instructed the surrounding servants to take him to the kitchen to prepare medicinal cuisine.
Also, thanks to Xing Zhi’s prior instructions, the servants and maids attending Gu Yu and Gu Mengyao knew that they were distinguished guests and could not be neglected in the slightest.
Even though Gu Yu and Gu Mengyao were dressed ordinarily, the kind of snobbery often depicted in novels did not occur at the Gu Residence.
Gu Yu’s purpose for coming was to have Gu Qing drink the medicinal cuisine to help him recover his health. Therefore, by preparing the medicinal cuisine promptly, he could save a considerable amount of time.
However, when Gu Yu wanted to bring Gu Mengyao to the kitchen with him, Gu Mengyao shook her head at him, indicating that she would wait in the reception hall.
Seeing this, Gu Yu did not force his little wife to accompany him. After carefully instructing Gu Mengyao to be safe, he went to the kitchen with the servant.
“You are Gu Mengyao?”
Not long after Gu Yu was led away by the servant, a woman in a dark green dress, surrounded by maids, entered the room.
When she came before Gu Mengyao, she asked with a hint of curiosity, her gentle tone complemented by a harmless face, making it impossible to feel any ill will.
The woman had a delicate and charming appearance, and her figure was also good. She did not look like a woman who had already had children, but Gu Mengyao knew that this was Gongsun Feifei.
General Gongsun Jie’s daughter, Gu Qing’s new wife, her stepmother…
“I am Gu Mengyao.”
“I heard your father mention this yesterday. I didn’t expect to meet you so soon. My name is Gongsun Feifei, and I am Gu Qing’s second wife.”
After Gu Mengyao replied, when Gongsun Feifei spoke again, Gu Mengyao’s expression suddenly froze. She wondered why Gongsun Feifei would introduce herself this way.
A stepmother should be someone who acts arrogant and hostile, viewing the children of the original wife as thorns in her side, wishing them dead!
Now Gongsun Feifei was acting the opposite, which was truly baffling.
However, after only a few seconds of confusion, Gu Mengyao quickly returned to normal.
Gongsun Feifei then smiled kindly at Gu Mengyao, and when Gongsun Feifei invited her to the back garden to admire flowers, Gu Mengyao did not refuse.
Afterward, surrounded by maids, the two of them toured the entire Gu Residence.
Along the way, as a gift for their first meeting, Gongsun Feifei directly took off a bracelet from her wrist and placed it on Gu Mengyao’s wrist.
Later, after Gu Yu finished preparing the medicinal cuisine, he handed it to Gongsun Feifei, asking her to supervise Gu Qing to drink it all. Then, he led his clueless little wife back.
“A Yu, I think this is completely different from what I imagined! It’s not written like this in storybooks, and families in the village with stepmothers are not like this.”
Sitting in the carriage on the way back, Gu Mengyao was dazed for half the journey. After she finally regained her senses, her small face was furrowed in confusion.
Then, as she spoke to Gu Yu, she cupped her face with both hands, her small mouth pouting slightly, looking very depressed, unsure of what she was dissatisfied with.
In fact, it was indeed quite different from what Gu Mengyao had imagined.
When she went to the Gu Residence, she was already prepared.
There were families in Yang Family Village that had remarried, but the wives who married later were not good to the children left by the original wife. Gu Mengyao had seen people who were beaten to a pulp by their stepmothers, so she was filled with anxiety about meeting Gongsun Feifei.
Although Gu Mengyao did not need to worry about abuse, she still had some fear and unease about the title of “stepmother.”
However, after actually meeting Gongsun Feifei, she discovered that she was not the wicked woman she had imagined. Instead, she was like a friendly older sister.
She did not put on airs or make things difficult for her; instead, she treated her very warmly.
Even in her introduction, she directly stated that she was Gu Qing’s second wife.
Was this an attempt to befriend her?
“There’s nothing to be conflicted about. After all, not all stepmothers like to abuse their stepchildren to assert their status in the family. It all depends on their personality. Although I heard that Gongsun Jie’s personality is not very good, his daughter Gongsun Feifei is completely the opposite.”
“I still feel a bit unreal…”
“It’s like the plots written in storybooks are all to advance the storyline. Think about it, if stepmothers weren’t written as wicked, how would the plot progress? As a driving force for the protagonist in the storybook, a wicked stepmother is also one of the reasons that makes the protagonist strive, making readers want to know what happens next! This way, the storybooks can sell more and earn more silver.”
Although there were many dark dealings in large households, Gu Yu did not want to tell Gu Mengyao about them.
Whether Gongsun Feifei was pretending or acting according to her true nature, Gu Yu did not want to investigate too deeply.
Since they would not be staying in the capital for long, there was no need to understand things too thoroughly. It was just that it was good that Gongsun Feifei was willing to befriend Gu Mengyao.
At least, it did not escalate the conflict between Gu Mengyao and Gu Qing.
However, Gongsun Feifei being different from what Gu Mengyao had imagined left her still conflicted.
Seeing this, Gu Yu couldn’t help but smile and shake his head, thinking that his little wife read too many storybooks and was quite prone to flights of fancy.
However, now they could only wait for Gu Mengyao to come to terms with it herself.
“No, I have a feeling Gongsun Feifei is pretending, A Yu! I’m going with you tomorrow, I don’t believe my stepmother can keep wearing her smiling mask forever.”
“Okay, we’ll go together tomorrow.”
Then, seeing Gu Mengyao suddenly show a look of defiance, Gu Yu did not stop her. After all, with his little wife’s skills, she was not afraid of being wronged.
If anyone dared to lay a hand on Gu Mengyao, they would be in for a terrible misfortune.
The tiger that Gu Mengyao had beaten to death with one hand was a prime example!
Moreover, this would also give Gu Mengyao something to do, preventing her from getting bored waiting at the Gu Residence while he prepared the medicinal cuisine.
Thinking of Gu Mengyao acting like a detective, observing her stepmother for any signs of pretense, Gu Yu couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking how young his wife was!
Gu Mengyao, at fourteen years old, was just too cute!
