The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 396: 202 Unmasking (Two Updates Combined Into One)_3

Gu Yan glanced at her, ignoring her.

Gu Yan despised her.

He had not liked her even before knowing her background, his disdain only intensified after finding out.

Gu Jiao also ignored her, continuing with her gluey rice mortar.

She had not spoken to Gu Xiaoshun, thus naturally, Xiaoshun wouldn’t interact with her either.

Looking at her over her shoulder, Madam Yao asked, “Is that you, Jinyu? What brings you here?”

Softly, Gu Jinyu replied, “I couldn’t find you in our marquis residence, and I have brought something for my siblings.”

Gu Yan, however, rolled his eyes in disdain. “Who cares?”

Soon, the mortar was ready, and Gu Jiao filled a large bucket.

“I’ll take it!” Xiaoshun carried the bucket off towards Aunt Zhang’s house.

Yan also wanted to carry it but couldn’t, so he settled for holding a small scoop instead.

The three siblings headed to Aunt Zhang’s house to repair the wall.

Madam Yao sighed.

Gu Jinyu looked at the dirty mortar on the ground and the pot of unfinished sticky rice gruel, her brows furrowed in disgust. She turned to Madam Yao and made a snide remark, “Mother, how could sister let our little brother do such hard work? He is so frail.”

“It is precisely because he is weak that he needs to work more. Haven’t you noticed how much livelier he is compared to before?” If Gu Yan was not still taking medicine every day, she would almost believe that he was normal.

Jinyu pouted, “But the imperial physician said that our brother should avoid excessive work and get adequate rest.”

Madam Yao replied firmly. “Your sister is a physician. She knows what is best for Yanyan!”

Jinyu was speechless — just a trainee and already called a physician?

She glanced at the sticky rice porridge and the mortar on the ground. It was a ridiculous mess. The rice gruel was food, and yet Gu Jiao used it to mix mortar. A perfect display of countryside ignorance.

Jinyu wanted to scorn her, but she held her tongue. Instead, she addressed Madam Yao: “Mother.”

“What is it?” Madam Yao asked.

Jinyu smiled and pulled out a gold seal and a treasured edict from her sleeve, presenting them to her mother.

Madam Yao was perplexed, “What is this…?”

“Just take a look.” Jinyu said with pride.

Opening the seal, Madam Yao turned it around to observe it and found, to her surprise, that it was the seal of a county princess.

Jinyu awaited her mother’s praise.

Having heard about the matter of the bellows, Madam Yao may not have thoroughly understand the subtleties of the monarchical system, but a county princess was undoubtedly an honor.

Madam Yao nodded approvingly, “My Jinyu is indeed very capable.”

With her mother’s affirmation, Jinyu was filled with delight.

Not long after, the three siblings returned, all dirty from the wall plastering, and dust covering their hair.

Carrying a jar of pickles, Aunt Zhang came in and complimented Madam Yao, “Ayao, your children are so capable! They fixed my wall so quickly!”

Madam Yao’s eyes brimmed with joy and pride, more satisfied than when she saw Gu Jinyu’s county princess seal. “Indeed, they are all very good.” she responded.

What’s so impressive about plastering a wall?

Jinyu sneered.

Gu Jinyu brought numerous gifts from the imperial court to show everyone her joy of becoming a county princess. However, other than Madam Yao’s initial praise, the three siblings treated her and her luxurious gifts as mere air.

Jinyu didn’t feel any satisfaction from showing off.

In her eyes, the priceless treasures she brought were less valued than a jar of common pickles.

Typical country bumpkins, unable to appreciate true value!

By night, Gu Jinyu returned to the Marquis Residence.

Her maid informed her that many wealthy ladies had come to visit during the two hours she was away, and they had left gifts, all congratulating her on becoming a county princess.

Jinyu felt a bit better.

When the Marquis returned home, Jinyu told him about her visit to Bishui Alley, and specifically praised Gu Jiao’s masonry skills, “Actually, my sister is quite capable too.”

If the Marquis had been present at the time, he would probably have praised the capability of all three. However, alone with Jinyu, who had invented the bellows, his comments took on a marked contrast.

The Marquis snorted disdainfully, “What’s so great about plastering a wall? That’s the only thing she can do! Day after day, she won’t study! She just keeps doing these things of no value. Why can’t she learn from you? Read more, play the zither well, and behave like a proper young lady of the Marquis Residence!”

Jinyu gently responded, “What matters is if sister is happy.”

The Marquis grumbled, “She indeed is happy!”

She’s luring my son away!

There’s a saying: one takes on the color of one’s company. I worry Yan will become a little bumpkin by spending too much time with her.”

The aforementioned Gu Yan, who was being worried over for potentially becoming a ‘bumpkin,’ was engaged in a game of checkers with the number one child prodigy of Zhan Country, Xiaojingkong, and had successfully lost his eighteenth match of the night.