Raising Another You (continued)

On the day of the full moon, Xu Weibei.

Gu Wanning was also worried that Gu Yuanshi would be unhappy.

Xu Weibei said that as long as he's happy, that's all that matters Gu Yuanshi doesn't have to pay for it, so why should he care whether Gu Yuanshi is happy or not?

However, Gu Yuanshi was not unhappy.

He actually showed up and joined in the fun.

He gifted Xu Zi a set of rare and unique ancient books.

Gu Wanning felt a headache coming on.

This thing is very precious, but it's also difficult to store; it has to be treated like an ancestral treasure.

It would be so much better to just give it to A Zi when she's older.

Now I have to keep it safe myself, which is a huge responsibility.

Moreover, this is Gu Yuanshi's most treasured possession. Why not leave it to his grandson instead of someone from another family?

Later, Gu Wanning learned the answer.

Xu Zi was Gu Yuanshi's favorite child, without exception.

Gu Yuanshi was always serious and principled, and had little affinity with children.

But A Zi wasn't afraid of him. Whenever she saw him, she would reach out and ask him to hug her, and she would reach out and pull his neatly groomed beard into a mess.

She even dared to urinate on Gu Yuanshi's desk when she was unhappy.

Gu Wanning didn't tolerate this behavior of hers, so she held her down and slapped her on the bottom.

As a result, Gu Yuanshi was so angry that his eyes turned red. He didn't speak to her and carried A Zi out.

Gu Wanning: I've made something of myself! I made my own father, the Chief Grand Secretary, cry.

Knowing that his daughter was not close to him, Gu Yuanshi went to Xu Weibei and asked him to persuade Gu Wanning.

"The child is still young, we need to teach her slowly and gently, we can't hit her. Especially A Zi is a girl, what's wrong with being a little pampered?"

Gu Wanqing said to Gu Wanning, "When I was little, my father was also very serious and never smiled. I worked very hard to learn all sorts of things, just to make him happy. Now, seeing how much he dotes on A Zi, I realize that my father is probably really getting old."

An-ge is already the heir apparent. Gu Wanqing has money, leisure, and a son. There are no men to cause her trouble. She lives a peaceful and enviable life.

Gu Wanning thought that since the Prince of Qin died young, Gu Wanqing probably had little motivation to make her son fight for the throne.

You should know that in her previous life, it was the Prince of Qin who ascended the throne first, and that's when Gu Wanqing killed him.

But this is good too.

To live a life of wealth and leisure, free from worries about food and clothing, is a truly happy existence.

Gu Wanning said with distress, "I'm just afraid they'll spoil A Zi."

"No, it won't happen," Gu Wanqing comforted her. "Look how polite A Zi, and how kind-hearted she is. She can't stand injustice and can't stand seeing things go wrong. She's like a female knight-errant, so likable."

That's true.

When Xu Zi was three years old, she could "judge" quarreling maids and old women, and she could do so with reason, evidence, and authority.

This made the maternal grandfather and biological father extremely happy.

Gu Yuanshi, a man who rarely smiled, couldn't stop smiling when talking about his granddaughter with his colleagues, and he showed no modesty whatsoever.

"Although A Zi is a woman, she is destined for great things."

What can colleagues do?

I had no choice but to agree.

There's nothing we can do; this family is just too popular right now.

Gu Wanning subsequently found high-yield crops such as sweet potatoes for the emperor, and was revered by the people as a god-like figure.

Gu Yuanshi and Xu Weibei, one a scholar and the other a warrior, were deeply favored by the emperor and were free from suspicion, thus securing their positions.

In this situation, who would be foolish enough to provoke A Zi?

Gu Wanqing said something that made Gu Wanning's eyes well up with tears.

She said, "Your father made up for all the guilt he felt towards you by raising A Zi all over again, like you were when you were little."

Gu Wanning thought, "Probably."

Thank you for his love for A Zi. As a mother, Gu Wanning is grateful and appreciates it.

Let bygones be bygones.

When Gu Wanning saw Linglong again, A Zi was already four years old.

She had almost forgotten about this person and instinctively wanted to turn her away.

However, upon hearing that Linglong had something important to report to A Zi, she reluctantly agreed to meet her.

Linglong looked much more haggard.

Although she has no worries about food and clothing, it's clear that she hasn't been doing well these past few years.

"Now that you're a mother yourself, you probably understand why I insisted on giving A Yi a proper status back then," she said softly, her eyes filled with resentment at her unsatisfactory life.

Gu Wanning said with a half-smile, "Now that I'm a mother, I truly understand the love parents have for their children. They plan far ahead for their children, rather than using their children's name to satisfy their own selfish desires and completely disregard their children's future."

She only felt more disgusted with Linglong's actions back then after becoming a mother herself.

It's clear that Xu Weibei wouldn't abandon A Yi; no one understands Xu Weibei's thoughts better than Linglong, who has always served him.

But Linglong just had to jump out and cause trouble.

"Ask yourself honestly, back then, were you making a scene for A Yi, or to tell the world that Xue Fengxian had a confidante like you? Linglong, you are a selfish, ungrateful wretch. Stop making excuses for yourself."

She betrayed Xu Weibei, repaying kindness with enmity, and in the end, she did not receive the respect she desired.

Now, nobody remembers her and her daughter anymore, and nobody cares whether she lives or dies.

Linglong was unwilling to give up, and this was another attempt to make her presence known to herself.

Sorry, Gu Wanning isn't her mother, she won't spoil her.

A person who has betrayed their master should not be trusted again after just one act of unfaithfulness.

If she thinks she'll soften her heart, then she's misjudged her.

Linglong replied, "I'm here to help you today. Noble Lady Xie still holds a grudge about what happened back then, so she instructed me to kidnap A Zi... I'm here to warn you to be careful. Although..."

"Although what?" Gu Wanning sneered.

"Although the Marquis initially treated me very well, after I came into contact with you, Marquis became increasingly distant from me, and now we've reached the point where we don't even recognize each other..."

Overwhelmed with grief, Linglong burst into tears.