The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 379: 197 Real Versus Fake Missy (two updates combined into one)

Gu Jiao had no interest in the flower hairpin, even less in the rumors about Gu Jinyu; she turned and left.

In Qingfeng Building, Gu Jinyu was completely flustered due to Zhuang Mengdie’s words. The looks on several young ladies’ faces in the private room immediately changed.

Today was a break day from the girls’ school. Everyone, with nothing better to do, had gathered at Qingfeng Building to place bets on the Imperial Examination and the Sanhua List.

Gu Jinyu was a strong contender for the Sanhua List. Born to the Marquis Residence, she was the cherished pearl in Gu Marquis’s palm. She was also deeply doted on by the Empress Dowager, and was given the title “lady of Hui County” by the Emperor on her coming-of-age day when she turned fifteen.

Her talents and reputation were well-known in the Capital City. After entering the girls’ school, she excelled, garnering numerous first prizes, equally dividing the attention with Zhuang Yuexi.

And who was Zhuang Yuexi? She was the legitimate granddaughter of Grand Tutor Zhuang, the niece of the renowned scholar Zhuang Xianzhi, and the biological sister of Prince An. It wasn’t surprising that she was outstanding.

But it was truly unexpected that Gu Jinyu could rival her in reputation.

However, the Capital city was a place that paid great attention to one’s birth and status. This was true for both men and women.

“Jin Yu, is what she said true?” Miss Xu, who used to get along well with Gu Jinyu, asked.

A Miss Yang at the side asked: “Yes, Jin Yu, was Miss Zhuang just talking nonsense? How could you not be the biological daughter of Marquis Ding An? Marquis Ding An clearly loves you so much!”

Although she said this, the gaze of several ladies in the room inevitably held a touch of suspicion.

Gu Jinyu clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

She felt her cheeks burning, as if she had been slapped, or stripped naked. All her humiliation surged to the surface at this moment.

If someone else said such a thing, she would have denied it long ago. After all, who would go to the Marquis Residence to verify it? Even if they did, Marquis Gu would protect her by stating she was his biological daughter.

But it was Zhuang Mengdie who said it!

Zhuang Mengdie had already confirmed her true identity, and it was useless for her to deny it. It would only escalate the problem further.

Even if Marquis Gu stepped in, it wouldn’t help. Zhuang Mengdie would definitely push the issue to the Emperor or Dowager Empress, forcing Marquis Gu to swear to the Heavens that she, Gu Jinyu, was his biological daughter, otherwise it would be a crime of deceiving the Emperor!

This sounded ridiculous, yet it was something Zhuang Mengdie would definitely do.

Zhuang Mengdie, arm in arm with her sister, gave a triumphant smile to the private room opposite: “Hehehe, speechless now, aren’t you? A fake rich lady parading around under the name of a real rich lady, if I were you, I would have run back to my rural hometown long ago! To those inside who are trying to curry favor, please wipe your eyes clean. Not every bird can become a phoenix just by flying onto a branch!”

“Say less, let’s go.” Zhuang Yuexi coldly led her boastful sister away.

“I just remembered I have something to do at home, Miss Gu, let’s gather another time.” Miss Xu stood up and excused herself.

“I do too. I promised to accompany my mother to pay respects at the temple. Miss Gu, I’ll take my leave first.” Miss Yang exchanged glances with her companions and also stood up and left the room.

The rest of the wealthy ladies also left one after another. Those with thinner skin who felt too embarrassed to leave directly simply stopped placing bets on Gu Jinyu.

Gu Jinyu felt as if she was sitting on pins and needles, experiencing such embarrassment for the first time.

What made her even more embarrassed was that those ladies who had already placed bets on her went downstairs and changed their bets to Zhuang Yuexi.

The balance between the two main contenders in the Sanhua List suddenly shifted, with Zhuang Yuexi forcefully surpassing Gu Jinyu to become the most supported lady.

Gu Jinyu left Qingfeng Building humiliated.

“Miss, should we go back to the residence?” The coachman asked.

“To the Ministry of Industry.” She instructed.

“Yes!”

The coachman drove the carriage to the Ministry of Industry.

Marquis Gu had just returned from studying the wind bellows technique at the Ministry of War. Seeing a familiar carriage at the entrance, he walked over and opened the curtain. “Jin Yu?”

Gu Jinyu’s eyes were red-rimmed, and tears were swirling around.

Marquis Gu’s heart ached all of a sudden. He got into the carriage and asked, “What happened? Did someone bully you?”

Gu Jinyu was in tears and unable to speak. The little maid beside her spoke up: “Marquis, you have to stand up for Miss! Miss has been humiliated today!”

Marquis Gu’s face darkened: “Who dares to humiliate the young lady of Marquis Ding An’s residence?”

The little maid replied: “It was Miss Zhuang. She called our Miss a chicken from the countryside!”

This maid was really remarkable. She summarized Zhuang Mengdie’s long rant in one sentence, and even managed to enhance its destructive power tenfold.