NOVEL WEB
Chapter 35
"There is nothing to be afraid of," Gu Shuang thought openly, smiling indifferently, "My sister is my only family. They are all outsiders, so what does it matter what they say or think? Besides, I don't think my sister is as incompetent as they say. On the contrary, my sister is very smart and open-minded, not at all like a coward."
She is no fool.
When the second sister was close to the eldest sister in the past, she was taken out to attend banquets a few times. Afterwards, rumours spread in social circles that the second sister was as stupid as a pig, simple-minded and weak.
It is obvious whose doing this is.
"You are..." There was some feeling and regret in Gu Ying's heart, "Even though you are younger than me, you are more sensible than anyone."
What a good girl she was in her previous life, designed by Lady Liu in the end, and met such a tragic fate at the hands of that uncultured bandit leader.
Gu Ying smiled kindly, reaching out and stroking the hair ornament at her temple.
"Don't worry, Shuang'er."
"Sister will protect you well."
Gu Shuang's cheeks flushed slightly. She always felt her second sister's gaze scorching her heart.
However, since she had chosen to stand by her second sister's side, breaking through the awkwardness, the guilt in her heart dissipated like smoke, and now her smile was also open.
...
Outside the palace gates, a line of six young palace maids lowered their heads and entered the Queen's tent.
The ladies respectfully gave way, making room for them to pass.
After a while, a palace maid drew open the curtains and announced for the ladies to enter and pay their respects to the Queen.
The women filed in, Gu Ying and Gu Shuang followed behind, keeping a low profile.
Once inside the Queen’s large tent, a heat wave swept over their faces. Everyone held their breath and stood solemnly in their proper places, not daring to make a sound.
Gu Ying was squeezed to stand at the very end of the line. Together with the others, following the eunuch's prompting, she performed the grand bow to the Queen.
The Queen wore a phoenix crown and phoenix robes, sitting on a throne inlaid with phoenix and unicorn treasures.
She was very far from the ladies below, from a distance, cutting a shocking and majestic figure.
Gu Ying had never seen such a scene in her previous life. In this life, she was not afraid at all, and glanced up slightly to look over.
Although she could not see the Queen's appearance clearly, in her previous life, this Queen did not end well either. It was a pity that she almost could not be buried in the imperial tomb when she died.
"Second sister..." Gu Shuang said nervously, holding her hand. "Don't be nervous, second sister..."
It was unclear whether she was comforting Gu Ying or comforting herself.
Gu Ying smiled lightly. "Alright, I'm not nervous."
When the Queen gently called for them to rise, Gu Ying finally heard the sounds of the ladies chatting with Her Majesty in the tent.
She had been raised in the rear courtyard of the Marquis Fu since she was young. Apart from attending a few small banquets with Gu Jia, she rarely went out to meet people from outside.
As a result, she was somewhat unfamiliar with these noblewomen and young ladies of the capital, and did not know many of their names. She also did not know much about the court news they talked about.
Gu Shuang's birth mother was a favored concubine. She had seen more people than Gu Ying, and was now quietly explaining and introducing them to her.
"That one seems to be Lady Ning from the household of the Minister of Personnel. Her mother is an old acquaintance of the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother only has Prince Duan as a son, and has not taken a wife for him yet. She intends to make that Lady Ning the Princess Consort for Prince Duan."
"Prince Duan is of good moral character and benevolent. Many people in court hope that he can become the Crown Prince. But no one knows what the Emperor is thinking. He still hesitates between Prince Duan and Prince Shu, who is the son of Consort Wan."
"Concubine Wan is a favored concubine, and Prince Shu is the eldest illegitimate son. The Queen Mother has the legitimacy as the Mother of the Nation, and Prince Duan is the legitimate son. No one knows whether the legitimate or illegitimate son will be chosen. Ah, court affairs are too complicated. I occasionally heard my father mention a few words, but I don't know much else..."
As an illegitimate daughter, she knew even less.
The Marquisate of Dongping did not take sides. Gu Ying was also not interested in currying favor with either side. In the end, neither Prince Shu nor Prince Duan succeeded to the throne anyway.
In the year she died, Prince Shu was still alive, but Prince Duan had already died from illness.
The factions in the palace changed unpredictably. As she lay in a pile of grass in the dilapidated temple, listening to gossip from the countryside, those in power had already become the Zhao Family.
However, in this life, she would no longer be confined in the Jiang manor in the future. She also had to learn to socialize, for the sake of the Second Branch of the Gu Family, and for the sake of her younger brother.
For example, that Lady Huo Qiyan from the Huo Family will become an Empress in the future.
In any case, she had to think of a way not to offend her, and it would be best if she could owe Lady Huo a favor during this winter hunt.
The palace attendant called out their names, and the young ladies came forward one by one to pay their respects to the Queen, after which the Queen would reward each with a pearl.
While listening, Gu Ying silently took note of the names of the ladies and madams in the tent, roughly observing their attire and dressing, getting a sense of them.
Strangely, there was not a single young lady from Madam Ye's side. She wondered if the men of the Ye Family had come or not.
She was still puzzled when the calling of names reached the Gu Family's side.
"Eldest Young Lady Gu Jia of the Marquisate of Dongping, Second Young Lady Gu Ying, Third Young Lady Gu Wan, Fourth Young Lady Gu Shuang, come forth to greet the Queen."
The three Gu sisters stepped forward and knelt in the hall.
The Queen asked, "Where is Gu Jia?"
Gu Ying bowed her head and carefully explained, "Replying to Your Majesty, my eldest sister is indisposed and unable to meet Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will forgive us."
The looks around were mostly mocking and disdainful.
Some had clearly seen Gu Jia lively and active before. How could she suddenly fall ill now? Her illness was suspicious, she must have deliberately not come.
The Queen Mother was obviously not very interested in the few young ladies of the Gu Family. She casually let them sit down. Her dazzling eyes still lingered on Gu Ying's face for a while.
Gu Ying lowered her brows and eyes as she sat down.
She then heard the Queen weakly say, "This palace has seen the young ladies of various families tonight. The girls of my Dong Li are clusters of flowers, each of them a startling beauty. Seeing them has delighted this palace greatly. Tomorrow is the official start of the winter hunt. It is late now. This palace is ill and tired. You may all withdraw to rest."
The Queen had always been in poor health, so no one dared to overstay. They all bowed and took their leave.
Coming out of the large tent, the heat dissipated and they were met with a bone-chilling cold and a gust of wind like knives.
The ladies crowded outside the tent, and Gu Ying was also trapped in the middle, unable to move.
She did not know what was happening. But she saw a wealthy noblewoman in the snowy mist hurriedly leading a young lady of marriageable age with her head lowered to walk over.
The snow was too heavy. That young lady was dressed in a light tea-colored brocade robe. Her shoulders were slender and bony. Not seeing where she stepped, she suddenly slipped.
Unable to stand firmly, her delicate body fell messily into the snow in front of everyone.
"Mother!"
She raised her pale little face, her eyes misty, pitiful.
Seeing that she had embarrassed herself, the noblewoman turned around with a frown, and angrily said, "With so many eyes watching, you have failed me like this? Get up quickly! The Queen Mother is still waiting to see us! If you offend Her Majesty with your impropriety in front of her tent, I will not let you off when we return!"