CH 51

Chapter 51: Taking precautions

Could it be that she had always been generous to the maids, so this maid was getting more and more courageous?

When she had come back in rags, Chun Xing and Xia He, these two big maids did not ask any questions and had acted calmly.  They did not waste words on superfluous nonsense and they spoke in suitable tones.

Among the maids who followed her, Yan Zhi was straightforward. She was straightforward in everything and as long as Gu Yu Qi told her not to talk much, she would naturally not say a word. Ran Mo was taciturn and while she waited on the side, she practically made no movement nor would she meddle. It was only this Bai Fu.

Seeing Gu Yu Qi’s face sink, Bai Fu’s heart trembled slightly. In fact, her heart was very troubled.

A man in white clothes had come out of the peach blossom forest like a celestial being. Just one glance had stolen her heart and the girl’s first love had awakened. Love at first sight was something that happened. Moreover, that man’s identity was one of His Majesty the Emperor’s princes, His Highness Prince An. Bai Fu’s heart was completely thrown out.

Gu Yu Qi had clearly left with him and now had returned in an embarrassing state. How could she not have created some bad connections in her mind, just what had happened between His Highness Prince An and the young miss? If the young miss had really fallen, then what about His Highness Prince An?

She knelt down hurriedly, “Young Miss, please calm down, this servant was just… just…”

“Just what?” Gu Yu Qi looked at Bai Fu with a cold smile, “Could it be that I have been too nice to you, so now you’re getting carried away? His Highness Prince An is not like us. You best not mention him in front of me in the future. Not only in front of me, but you cannot mention him in front of anyone. As for what happened in the peach blossom forest today, no matter who asks, you have to say you don’t know. I will explain everything myself. As for His Highness Prince An, even I am not worrying about him, so what on earth are you worrying about? Bai Fu, I’m telling you very seriously here today, His Highness Prince An is not what you think. You better put away your shameful thoughts. Don’t say your young miss didn’t warn you.”

After she finished speaking, she held out the empty bowl she had finished drinking in front of Bai Fu’s face, “You may leave. You need not serve here. Think carefully about my words just now. Remember them.”

Bai Fu’s heart became heavier and heavier. She had been in the residence for four years and Gu Yu Qi had always treated them like sisters. They got along very well, eating, learning, living, and even having fun together. Bai Fu gradually regarded Gu Yu Qi as her own elder sister. She also knew it was wrong for her to suddenly ask about His Highness Prince An, but she really wanted to know. However, she had not expected Gu Yu Qi to suddenly stiffen up and scold her. Although there was no one else in the room except the two of them now, it still made Bai Fu’s face burn like it was on fire.

Gu Yu Qi could see through her mind at a glance, so how could she not feel ashamed and angry? Right now, it was like Gu Yu Qi had stripped off all her clothes. Gu Yu Qi’s words were so harsh that they did not save her any face.

Aggrieved tears rolled in Bai Fu’s eyes, but she still respectfully raised her hand and received Gu Yu Qi’s empty bowl, then took her leave.

Having left the room, the more Bai Fu thought about it, the more hopeless she felt. The tears that had been swirling in her eyes could not stop flowing down. Ran Mo, who came over with the food box, took a deep look at Bai Fu who was standing and sobbing at the door to the room. She frowned. Seeing Ran Mo’s clear eyes looking at her, Bai Fu hurriedly turned her head away then ran out of the courtyard.

“Bai Fu was crying outside just now?” After Ran Mo entered the room and put down the serving tray, she asked this as Gu Yu Qi gave a long sigh.

“Yes,” Ran Mo nodded, then helped Gu Yu Qi stand up.

She never spoke much, just usually answering what Gu Yu Qi asked.

“You should look after her more in the future,” Gu Yu Qi said helplessly. “If there’s anything wrong with her, you must tell me immediately.”

“Yes,” Ran Mo nodded again, then she opened the food box and took out the dinner that Dai Mei had just made. There was a bowl of shellfish congee and a few delicious side dishes.

Gu Yu Qi was a little surprised herself by how she had scolded Bai Fu so severely just now.

She knew that she had reacted so much because Bai Fu had fallen in love with Yun Ke at first sight. The current Bai Fu was like her previous self, fascinated by the man’s appearance. However, she at least had the support of her status, but what did Bai Fu have? If Bai Fu really followed Yun Ke in the future, she was afraid she would end up worse than herself. This girl did not have an clever heart at all. Let alone Zhang Wan Yi, if any concubine around Yun Ke moved a finger, this girl would die a graveless death.

She only hoped that she could wake Bai Fu up so that she would not just look at a person’s appearance and jump over, unaware of her own limitations.

Bai Fu and these maids could be considered to have grown up with her. She really did not want to see with her own eyes Bai Fu walk down the path her old self had gone and be doomed eternally. She had always felt that these four maids had been chosen by her personally. After following her for so long, they were all as beautiful as flowers, were quick witted, and dexterous. They would be able to marry a good husband in the future.

In this life, she wanted to live a different life and the people around her could not live any worse.

“In a while, ask Run Ying to come in. I have something to ask her,” Gu Yu Qi put down the bowl and chopsticks and said this to Ran Mo. She felt full after eating a bowl of congee. 

“Yes,” Ran Mo silently put away the tableware and chopsticks, then went out. It did not take long for Run Ying to come in.

“Young Miss, Sister Ran Mo said you were looking for me,” Run Ying came over and curtseyed. Then she raised her eyes and looked at Gu Yu Qi. She had a round face and a pair of smart big eyes. She looked very cute. The corners of her mouth angled naturally slightly upward and even when she was not smiling, she made people very happy.

“Yes. How much money do we have now?” Gu Yu Qi asked her to sit beside her and then asked.

“Why did Young Miss suddenly recall the accounts?” Run Ying was taken aback. Then she smiled, “But the ledgers are all in the residence, I didn’t bring them out.”

“Just the rough numbers are fine. I’m not checking the accounts, just wanted to ask about the situation suddenly.” Gu Yu Qi smiled.

“Of the three shops that Young Miss invested in three years ago, two of them are starting to become profitable. Another family will begin to recover all the money that was invested from next month,” Run Ying said. “According to Young Miss’ instructions, this servant also sent someone to Kuizhou to buy a big house. The shops there have also been opened. During tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, the spices shipped from Kuizhou will reach the capital. When that time comes, they will be sold in our spice shop. This servant did as Young Miss said and carried out a pre-sale first. The effect was good and many families and noble families ordered goods. This first batch of spices is actually already sold out and the second batch has also been shipped out, and will arrive in about half a month. The combined income of the three shops in the past two months is about 30,000 taels of silver.” When Run Ying said that, her eyes were full of smiles. Those eyes were like ingots. She was always smiling to begin with, but this mention of silver made her eyes light up and Gu Yu Qi could not help but raise her hand and pinch her cheek.

“Little moneygrubber,” Gu Yu Qi smiled.

“Young Miss! You’re so mean!” Run Ying covered her cheeks that had been pinched red by Gu Yu Qi and said with an angry smile, “It’s because of Young Miss that this servant became a moneygrubber, yet Young Miss scolded this servant.” The way she pouted made her even more cute. She was complaining about Gu Yu Qi but her eyes were full of bright stars and she was also a little proud.

It must be known that these shops had been managed by her and her master. Even experienced shopkeepers in the capital would not be able to compare to the two of them.

With an income of 30,000 taels in two months, even Gu Yu Qi herself was a little surprised.

Three years ago, she had thought of investing in her own store. She was completely preparing to leave the Marquis residence with her mother in the future. Life was impermanent and if they did not have money by their side, their life would not be good. She had pondered over it and came up with a few ideas, so she quietly asked Yan Zhi and Run Ying to sell a few pieces of her own jewellery. Unexpectedly, that frank Yan Zhi had been caught by her mother in action. Gu Yu Qi originally wanted to do this privately without telling Liang-shi. Now, she had to explain that she actually wanted to make money.

Liang-shi was very surprised at first and she kept asking Gu Yu Qi what she would do with so much money. Gu Yu qi had no choice but to tell Liang-shi what she was thinking. It was just that she had spoken tactfully and did not say that she planned to leave the Marquis residence, only that there was Liu-shi in the Marquis residence now. Liu Yue had Gu Si Yang and Gu Si Yu, so in the future, her father would definitely think more about them. Besides, now that they had money, it would be better than if they were unable to afford it when they wanted to spend money.

Liang-shi started to stare and said that as long as she was the madam of the Ding Yuan Marquis residence, how could she let her daughter suffer?

Gu Yu Qi comforted her and explained in every possible way. Liang-shi was not a heartless person. She was just angry that her daughter had to start planning for herself at such a young age, but she could not get angry and her daughter’s suggestion was right. She simply told Gu Yu Qi not to sell her own jewellery. She took out 5,000 taels of her own money and gave it to Gu Yu Qi.

She did not have any confidence in Gu Yu Qi at first and although she gave her daughter some money, she also secretly bought some farmland. In the future, if she really wanted to take her daughter and leave the Marquis residence in the future, whether they returned to Jiangnan or stayed in the capital, at least she would have some land. However, Gu Yu Qi surprised her greatly. She first opened a jewellery store and business boomed that year. Then she opened two grocery stores one after another. The things they sold were completely different from other grocery stores in the capital. Business was so good that even Liang-shi found it unbelievable.

She thought that her daughter had found someone to bring back those strange things, things that were too expensive and could not be sold in the capital at all.

Liang-shi really did not know how her daughter who did not leave the residence would know where to find people to buy goods… Although she did not go out herself, she told Dong Xue to bring Run Ying and go out. She had made lists with prices. However, in her heart, Gu Yu Qi was the best and if her daughter did not say, she was also too lazy to ask.

***

By the second year, Dong Xue and Run Ying knew their way around and were familiar with the shops. Gu Yu Qi actually threw the responsibility to them and let them both develop things freely.

Dong Xue and Run Ying were really born to do business. In three years, the three stores were in full swing. Gu Yu Qi just instilled a little modern marketing theory into them from time to time. Dong Xue and Run Ying were able to learn and apply them, and business was done well.

30,000 taels in two months. By the end of the year, she would be wealthy. Gu Yu Qi was happier the more she thought about it. In the future, even if she left the Marquis residence, she would not have to worry about money anymore.

“Oh right. I’ve thought of another idea these days. After listening to it, go and discuss with your master to see what you can do about it,” Gu Yu Qi was stimulated by the silver. Her brain suddenly opened wide and a light flashed in her mind.

“Please speak about it, Young Miss.” Run Ying was a standard moneygrubber. As long as she could earn money, she could stay awake all day. It was unknown whose fault it was that she was like this. Her master, Dong Xue, was an extremely stable person.

Gu Yu Qi had also asked her mother before. Why did Chun Xing and the others not marry after following her mother for so many years? They were not young anymore now, all of them were in their 30s. Her mother had smiled and said that a few years ago, they had already decided to follow her mother all their lives and never marry. No matter what Liang-shi had said, they would not leave Liang-shi. They were all orphans rescued by General Liang from the border town. The decision was due to the kindness of the Liang family.

So when Gu Yu Qi handed her four maids over to them and told them to formally take them as masters, Chun Xing and the others were overjoyed. An apprentice was akin to having a daughter. Each of them taught Dai Mei and the others their skills with heart and soul.

Gu Yu Qi briefly said that she wanted to establish an ancient logistics network. Run Ying was dazed while listening. Gu Yu Qi explained it several times and as intelligent as Run Ying was, she immediately understood.

She looked at her young miss with admiration on her face, “Young Miss, your idea is just…” She tried to come up with a word to describe it, “Too awesome! If we set up our own horse transportation team, not only would it transport our own goods, but it could bring goods and unload them along the way. Not only is our own cargo handling solved, you can make a fortune with this!”

She had run around with Dong Xue for the past three years and her vision had long been wider than that of girls of the same age. When she understood what Gu Yu Qi meant, her big eyes seemed to see silver falling from the sky and her eyes narrowed into the shape of ingots.

“Don’t get too happy too soon.” Gu Yu Qi touched her nose and smiled, “It’s just an idea but it’ll be very difficult in practice. We may have to find one or several escort establishments to cooperate with. Otherwise, how can we ensure the safety of the goods? Discuss with your master and let me see that plan first. If I think it’s alright, you can start implementing it.”

“Okay, okay, okay!” Run Ying hurriedly stood up and ran away in a hurry. She was so happy that she even forgot to curtsy. She only remembered when she reached the door. She hastily turned around to face Gu Yu Qi and curtsied, “Do you have any other orders, Young Miss? If not, this servant will retire.”

“Go, go.” Gu Yu Qi could not help but wave her hand with a smile. She knew that she would be forcing this girl to stay with her; Run Ying would have no mood to accompany her.

After Run Ying left, Gu Yu Qi stood up slowly by holding the table. Then she moved to the bed and lay down.

It was late at night and the mountain temple was especially ethereal and quiet, but Gu Yu Qi could not fall asleep.

Yun Ke’s actions today flashed through her mind like a movie. The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became.

She was afraid Yun Ke would not let her go…

She sat up suddenly. According to the current situation, the fastest way for her to leave the capital was to get married right away…

Yet, in such a hurry, where could she find someone to marry? Du Xia’s shadow could not even be seen and according to the timeline, he should still be Yun Ke’s secret guard. When Yun Ke came out today, he did not even bring his secret guard.

Gu Yu Qi was agonising over it to death. She really wished she could take Liang-shi out of the capital immediately, far, far away…

The next day, Liang-shi came to see Gu Yu Qi and was startled when she saw her. Gu Yu Qi had black eyebags. She had struggled all night without falling asleep and had gotten up with a pair of black eyebags comparable to a panda’s.

After Liang-shi asked the doctor to re-diagnose Gu Yu Qi’s foot and the mother and daughter had breakfast, Gu Yu Qi asked all the people in the room to retreat. Then she took Liang-shi’s hand.

“Mother, please save daughter.” She looked at Liang-shi pitifully and said. She had tossed and turned all night and in the end, she made a difficult decision, and that was to take her mother away. It was just that to take her mother away for no reason, she needed to ask her mother for permission first.

Her words made Liang-shi’s heart that had just settled leap into her throat again.

“What kind of nonsense is Ah Nan talking about?!” Liang-shi said with shock and anxiety, “Don’t say anything unlucky, you’ll be fine. Why would you need to be saved?”

“Mother, listen to daughter carefully,” Gu Yu Qi calmed down and said. “Daughter fell into the cave with His Highness Prince An yesterday. In fact, I offended His Highness Prince An.”

“What?” Liang-shi’s eyelids twitched and she asked hastily, “How did you, a little girl, offend His Highness Prince An?”

Gu Yu Qi told Liang-shi what happened when she and Yun Ke fell into the stone cave together. This straightforward speaking made Liang-shi’s eyelids twitch a little more. After Gu Yu Qi finished speaking, Liang-shi was lost in thought.

After a long moment, Liang-shi spoke to Gu Yu Qi in a serious tone, “Ah Nan, there is no one here now. You have to tell Mother honestly. What happened between you and His Highness Prince An in that cave?” Her daughter had come back in such an embarrassing state last night; how could a mother not be worried that her daughter had suffered?

“Why would anything happen? Mother, don’t overthink.” Gu Yu Qi hurriedly shook her head and said, “He was hurt when he fell and daughter just bandaged him. He only hugged daughter when he sending daughter to the top of the cave and that was also a last resort. Apart from that, he did not even touch daughter’s fingers.” After Gu Yu Qi finished speaking, she added, “When daughter sprained her foot, His Highness Prince An wanted to help daughter, so Yan Zhi became anxious and wanted to separate His Highness Prince An. As a result, she was pushed into a tree and fainted.”

Gu Yu Qi basically spoke the truth, but she still hid some things.

Liang-shi pondered for a long time. Gu Yu Qi’s words just now matched what Yan Zhi had said. It seemed that her daughter was telling the truth and not lying.

She really had not expected that her daughter would be so bold as to kick a prince because of a maid.

When Xia He came back last night, she said that His Highness Prince An was injured. It was likely that when he healed, he would definitely find her daughter to settle accounts… No wonder Gu Yu Qi had two huge dark eyebags under her eyes. No matter who encountered this kind of thing, most of them would be unable to sleep.

“Then, Mother will send you to Jiangnan overnight,” Liang-shi thought for a while and said. “It’s expected that His Highness Prince An will not wake up for a while.”

“No,” Gu Yu Qi shook her head, “Jiangnan is Grandfather’s ancestral home. This will make it easy for His Highness to find.”

“Then what should we do?” Liang-shi said with a frown.

“How about Mother sends a letter back to Father and let Father help us hide this together, and Mother comes with me to Kuizhou?” Gu Yu Qi said, “Mother has to set up a marriage for daughter immediately. This will put a stop to all of His Highness Prince An’s thoughts.”

“Kuizhou? And get engaged immediately??” Liang-shi only felt that her head was hurting even more now.

What kind of place was Kuizhou? It was at the border between the Three Kingdoms of the Qi dynasty, the Rouran, and Daliang. All kinds of people lived there. How could they go to that kind of place?

She shook her head, “No, not Kuizhou!”

“Mother, listen to me, Kuizhou is the best place,” Gu Yu Qi hurriedly persuaded. “It’s at the border between the Three Kingdoms. If Prince An really pursues us, we can slip away wherever we want. No matter how long Prince An’s arms are, could he possibly reach Daliang and the Rouran? The Rouran was defeated by Father and they will not make any moves for at least a few years. Even if they want to fight, they will not fight at Kuizhou. After all, the other side of Kuizhou is Daliang. If they don’t handle it well, the Rouran may become the enemy of both sides. If the Rouran does anything, we will still have time to leave.” Gu Yu Qi had a cheat and naturally knew when there would be a war and when there would not be a war. Kuizhou had always been safe in her previous life.

“Give Mother some time, let Mother think about it,” Liang-shi’s mind was now muddled by Gu Yu Qi’s words.

Taking her daughter out of the capital was a big deal and they could not just do what Gu Yu Qi said.

She really needed to calm down and think about it.

Besides, for this kind of thing, it also involved the Marquis residence and Gu Huai Zhong, even though it seemed like just a matter for the mother and daughter.

“Ah Nan, you take a good rest first,” Liang-shi calmed down. “Mother will go back and think about it first, then give you an answer tomorrow morning at the latest.”

“But what if His Highness Prince An…” Gu Yu Qi also knew that it could not be hurried, but with the current situation, Yun Ke may use this excuse to tie her to his side at any time.

Gu Yu Qi could not afford to gamble.

“Mother will go visit His Highness Prince Fu,” Liang-shi thought for a while and said. “Ah Nan, rest assured and recover first.”

After speaking, she got up and left Gu Yu Qi’s room.

“Chun Xing, come with me.” As soon as she left the room, she immediately called Chun Xing who was waiting by the door. Then she hurriedly led her away from Gu Yu Qi’s door.

Liang-shi first wrote a letter for Chun Xing. Then she ordered her to deliver it to Gu Huai Zhong, the Ding Yuan Marquis, in the capital with her own hands. After Chun Xing left, she changed her outfit and ordered Xia He to follow her to the courtyard at the back of the mountain.