Chapter 1874: Chapter 930: Face-Slapping (Part 1)
Where is that glaring red birthmark?
Why has it vanished without a trace?
Gu Jinyu was no less shocked than Gu Jiao. Chun Liu had only seen Gu Jiao once, but Gu Jinyu had witnessed her up close countless times.
She had even personally painted a portrait of Gu Jiao.
“No… impossible… impossible…”
She looked incredulously at this flawless face, unable to accept Gu Jiao’s transformation from an ugly girl to a celestial beauty.
She had already lost everything to Gu Jiao, and her only pride was her own appearance.
But now, even in appearance, she was utterly outshone!
To say compared would be an exaggeration.
Before Gu Jiao removed the veil, her face was still passable; without the veil, she instantly lost her luster.
All the light in the world seemed to gather on Gu Jiao’s face.
Gu Jinyu was utterly withered!
“No… that’s not… it’s not like this… you’re not my sister… you’re not! You’re not…”
“Enough! Say less!” The Third Young Master Quan couldn’t endure it any longer. With everyone around pointing and gossiping, how could he face the world having married such an oblivious woman?
He gritted his teeth, glared at Gu Jinyu, and cupped his hands toward Xiao Hen, saying, “Brother-in-law…”
Xiao Hen said flatly, “Don’t call me brother-in-law, we’re not close.”
After saying this, he led Gu Jiao into the Duke Residence by hand.
The others were still immersed in the astonishment brought by Gu Jiao’s beauty, unable to snap back to reality for a long time.
Who spread the damned rumor that the Little Marquis married an ugly wife?
Did they deliberately want to ruin the reputation of the Little Marquis and his wife?
If they had actually seen her, they must be blind! If they hadn’t seen her and still spread this talk, they’re just malicious! Both stupid and malicious!
“It’s her! It was also her last time!”
“Yes, yes, she made a scene in front of the Duke Residence, all sarcastic! She was scolded badly by the steward of the Duke Residence!”
“Even the Old Marquis ignored her! Told her not to call him grandfather!”
“How did the Marquis Changping Residence marry such a woman?”
The crowd buzzed with criticism of Gu Jinyu.
The Third Young Master Quan only felt disgrace brought to his grandmother’s, desperately wishing to find a hole to crawl into: “This is all your doing!”
After saying this, any trace of pity he had for Gu Jinyu vanished from his eyes. He cast a last disdainful glance at Gu Jinyu, flung his sleeves, and boarded the carriage, leaving!
Chun Liu hurried to chase after: “Sir! Sir! Miss has not gotten on the carriage yet!”
On the day of returning to her maiden home, Gu Jinyu was left on the avenue by her newlywed husband.
What truly brought her despair was the disappearance of the last shred of superiority she had over Gu Jiao.
She was completely defeated.
But in reality, she hadn’t lost.
Because, Gu Jiao never competed with her in the first place.
…
Steward Zheng had been tinkering with the new wheelchair for the Duke in the backyard. By the time he heard the commotion and came to showcase his skills, the battle was already over.
“Oh!”
He lamented!
Feeling like he missed out on something worth a fortune!
In the backyard, the Duke was teaching Xuanyuan Qi to play chess.
Liao Chen was being chased by the Taoist priest Qingfeng, unable to take his father to stroll the Capital City, so Xuanyuan Qi could only keep the Duke company.
“You can place this move here…”
The Duke had just spoken when Xuanyuan Qi’s chess piece dropped with a ‘plop’ onto the board.
“Why did you…” He looked at Xuanyuan Qi and followed Xuanyuan Qi’s astonished gaze toward the entrance of the Garden.
The young girl in a long, slender skirt, hand in hand with Xiao Hen, strolled gracefully in, like a pair of jade lovers walking out from under the Stone of Three Lives.
They matched perfectly, as if destined for each other in this life.
Of course, Xuanyuan Qi and the Duke weren’t focused on this, but on Gu Jiao’s face.
No veil, no birthmark.
She had regained her beauty.
Gu Jiao approached the Duke, bent over, placing her face close to his, and smiling like a playful child: “Surprised, unexpected?”
The Duke raised his hand to touch her cheek: “Surprised, very surprised.”
Xuanyuan Qi looked at the childlike Gu Jiao, a touch of emotion flickered in his eyes.
Compared to her appearance, it was her change in temperament that surprised him more.
Big brother, if you were still alive, seeing her like this today, you would certainly be gratified, wouldn’t you?
…
The Duke and Xuanyuan Qi did not know about the matter of the unforeseen birthmark, but having learned of it now, they were at a loss for words.
This misunderstanding… was enormous!
Xuanyuan Qi secretly added the plan to beat the head monk onto the agenda.
Xiao Hen replaced the Duke, continuing to teach Xuanyuan Qi chess.
Father and daughter went into the Courtyard to open gifts; each return gift was carefully chosen by Xiao Hen, and to express regard for his son-in-law, the Duke wanted to examine each one.
After examining, he had someone bring in a large chest.
“What’s this?” Gu Jiao asked.
Sitting in the wheelchair, the Duke smiled and said, “It’s a wedding gift promised by the National Master.”
Gu Jiao immediately recalled: “Ah, weapons tributed from Jin Country! Is this big chest all for me?”
The Duke was amused by her eagerness: “There are two more chests.”
“Here they come! Here they come!” Steward Zheng directed the servants to carry in two more large chests of weapons, opening the lids.
Gu Jiao began selecting seriously.
This time Jin Country indeed spent lavishly; everything tributed was of high quality.
Suddenly, Gu Jiao’s gaze fell on a slender peachwood box.
“Miss wants to see this?” Steward Zheng deftly stepped forward, opened the peachwood box, and presented it to Gu Jiao with both hands.
Inside was a black iron longsword with a peacock plume, gleaming coldly.
As Gu Jiao looked at it, she inexplicably felt a strange sensation rising in her heart.
She picked up the sword, inspected it carefully, drew the longsword from its sheath, and the cold light reflected in her eyes made an image flash in her mind.
“Is it this one?”
In that warring dream, she had seen her own end — dying by this very sword.