When everyone paid their respects to Nangong Mo and Gu Qianying, their attitudes towards the two were worlds apart.
Nangong Mo was a prince with immense power, while Gu Qianying, though married into the Ninth Prince's manor and becoming the Ninth Princess, was known for her questionable origins as the Ninth Princess.
One person, clad in a wedding dress, had blocked the gates of the Ninth Prince's manor, forcing the Ninth Prince Nangong Mo to fulfill his promise from a few days prior, compelling him to marry her. Could such shamelessness be expected of a proper young lady?
Although Gu Qianying becoming the Ninth Princess was a good thing for their Gu family, Madam Han and some other women felt that Gu Qianying's actions were utterly shameless.
"My dear wife, today, your husband accompanies you for your return visit. Therefore, wherever we go, whatever we do, it is all up to you. Today, your husband will only be a supporting character."
Nangong Mo spoke to Gu Qianying, his eyes filled with undeniable affection.
The gazes of the crowd upon Gu Qianying immediately changed once more.
Disdain and scorn transformed into jealousy and envy.
Amidst the crowd,
Madam Han glanced at her own daughter, wishing it were her daughter who had climbed into the Ninth Prince's bed.
"You may all rise," Gu Qianying said.
Everyone stood up.
Just as Gu Kun was about to invite Nangong Mo into the manor, Gu Qianying suddenly walked up to him, acting like a doting daughter: "Father, I miss you so much!"
She half-crouched beside Gu Kun, acting coquettishly.
Her usual cold demeanor had transformed into such childishness.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Gu Kun's body stiffened abruptly.
Why would Gu Qianying's attitude towards him be like this?
Nangong Mo looked at Gu Qianying, his affection only growing.
As long as his wife was happy, that was all that mattered.
"Cough, cough, cough," Gu Wen, the second son of the Gu family, choked on his saliva from sheer shock.
Although Gu Yi behind him showed no outward reaction, he cast several more glances at Gu Qianying.
"Good, good, good. Father misses you too," Gu Kun finally replied, feigning affection while his gaze lingered on the chests of gold and silver jewelry behind Gu Qianying.
Madam Han and the others were the same.
A moment later,
Bai Qi pushed Nangong Mo into the manor.
Gu Qianying pushed aside the servant behind Gu Kun and personally pushed Gu Kun into the manor.
Madam Han and the others followed closely behind.
Gu Ziran, the third young lady of the Gu family, looked forward, seeming to want to say something to Gu Qianying. Madam Han, seeing this, quickly stopped her, dragging her into the manor.
Everyone entered the main hall.
The chests of gold and silver jewelry were before everyone, glittering with dazzling brilliance.
"Father, Grandfather and my elder brother will be back soon. Have you prepared the necessary items for them?" Gu Qianying asked Gu Kun with a questioning look.
Gu Kun glanced at Nangong Mo and stammered, "Yes, yes..."
Madam Han stepped forward at this moment, curtsied to Gu Qianying, and explained, "They are ready, but they will not be residing in the manor for the time being. They will be staying at the military camp for a few days."
The Ninth Prince had sent his personal guard, Bai Qi, to deliver the message. After her maid had quietly inquired, Madam Han learned that Gu Qianying was not truly unaware of the deaths of Old General Gu and Gu Yefeng, but rather suffered from delusional hysteria due to overwhelming grief. She had once heard a physician say that those with severe delusional hysteria would not only fantasize constantly but also suffer from intermittent memory loss, essentially making them no different from fools or madmen.
Deceiving a fool was too simple for her.
Everyone looked at Madam Han, their expressions somewhat unusual.
Gu Kun glanced at Madam Han, then turned and echoed, "Yes, yes, yes, that's right."
Gu Qianying nodded, "Oh, in that case, then take these chests of gold and silver jewelry to the military camp."
The expressions of the Gu clan members froze.
Madam Han's face, in particular, was like a palette of colors.
Nangong Mo glanced at Gu Qianying and then said, "Bai Qi, what are you waiting for? Hurry and follow the Princess's instructions and move all this gold and silver jewelry to the military camp."
Bai Qi blinked, looking at his master with disbelief. Seeing his master's serious tone, he quickly replied, "Yes, my Lord."
The chests of gold and silver jewelry were carried out of the Gu manor by the Ninth Prince's men under everyone's watchful eyes, and then, under everyone's watchful eyes, they were openly carried to the military camp by Bai Qi and his men.
Along the way, Bai Qi's men were insufficient, so he called for several Gu family guards, all of whom worked in the front courtyard of the Gu residence.
Watching the last chest of jewelry being carried out, leaving the hall almost empty, Gu Kun finally couldn't help but speak, "Qianying, the military camp is a place for soldiers to train, solemn and serious. How can you send these things there?"
Madam Han and the others chimed in, "Yes, yes, this is inappropriate. Qianying, it would be better to keep these things in the manor; moving them to the storeroom is the same."
"Exactly, exactly. The gifts for the return visit should remain with the maternal family!"
Madam Sun also persuaded them.
If they remained in the manor, even if they couldn't get much, taking a few items would be extremely good.
"What are you all talking about? I never said these things. These are the return visit gifts I brought back today?" Gu Qianying scanned everyone, feigning innocence and foolishness, "These were originally meant for Grandfather and my elder brother. Grandfather and my elder brother both unanimously decided to take these things to the military camp to reward the soldiers. Oh, that day, before they went to battle, they specifically visited the Ninth Prince's manor to see Qianying. When they were leaving, Qianying wanted to give them some gifts but didn't know what to give. Later, I heard the Prince say that recently, he heard that the soldiers in the military camp were working very hard and that the military provisions were insufficient. For this reason, the Prince gave these gold and silver jewelry on behalf of Qianying to Grandfather and my elder brother, so that they could reward the hardworking soldiers."
After speaking, Gu Qianying looked at Nangong Mo and asked, "Ninth Imperial Uncle, am I correct in what I said?"
Those suffering from delusional hysteria would naturally say whatever they pleased!
At this moment, she was a patient.
"Yes, my wife speaks the utmost truth," Nangong Mo said, looking at Gu Qianying dotingly.
Gu Qianying smiled at him, a genuine smile devoid of any ulterior motive.
Nangong Mo was momentarily stunned.
The Gu clan members looked at the dazzling gold and silver jewelry with heartache, but no one dared to persuade her further.
With Nangong Mo saying so, how could they dare to say anything more?
As the chests of jewelry passed before their eyes, it was as if Gu Qianying was telling them: I just love seeing you all covet them, yet feel the frustration of not being able to obtain them!
"Oh, and these medicinal herbs, take them along too. If Grandfather and my elder brother cannot use them, then give these precious medicinal herbs to the soldiers who need them. Do you understand?" Gu Qianying deliberately reminded Bai Qi and the others.
Bai Qi's mouth twitched, but he dared not say anything else, only replying, "Yes, Princess Consort, your subordinate obeys."
A moment later, Gu Qianying finally had Cai Xia bring out the return visit gifts she had brought.
They were some of the most ordinary, yet considered valuable, tonics, the kind commonly consumed in the residences of the powerful and wealthy.
Upon seeing this, everyone was disappointed.
Yet, no one dared to say more.
Gu Kun feigned praise for Gu Qianying a few times, then quickly ordered the servants to prepare lunch, thinking to quickly have the Ninth Prince Nangong Mo leave after the meal.
He was a man of the Crown Prince and absolutely could not be too close to the Ninth Prince's manor.
"Father, there's no need to trouble yourself. Today, Qianying and the Ninth Prince will be staying here and not leaving."
"What?"