Birthday Gifts

"Did you have someone tell Qin Lie that his First Concubine didn't want to marry him and even threatened to kill herself?"

Xu Weibei felt very embarrassed.

Gu Wanning remained composed and did not speak.

Xu Weibei snorted coldly, taking it as her admitting her mistake. He sat down on the edge of the bed, took off his boots, and put on soft-soled shoes. "Fortunately, Qin Lie only mentioned it casually and didn't take it to heart. You don't need to be so petty in the future. Qin Lie said that since she's unwilling, then forget it."

Is that all?

Gu Wanning couldn't help but wonder, is this really the same Qin Lie who was so devoted in her past life?

Are you just going to give up after encountering such a small difficulty?

But if things are going this way, why did she still detect a hint of pleasure in Xu Weibei's voice?

What is he happy about?

Xu Weibei, who had drunk too much, was more talkative than usual and soon began to speak on his own.

"Qin Lie said that although he did have his eye on that woman, his desire to come to me wasn't entirely because of her. So even if the marriage didn't happen, he was still willing to follow me."

Gu Wanning turned her back to him and silently rolled her eyes.

Xu Weibei must be feeling incredibly charismatic right now, and he's gotten a little arrogant.

"As soon as I heard him explain the whole story, I knew you were behind it all."

That kind of person, First Concubine, only knows how to contemplate suicide.

Even those who intend to help prioritize self-preservation above all else.

Only Gu Wanning, ignorant and fearless, always dared to outwardly comply while inwardly defying him and provoking him.

Oh no, she wasn't just paying lip service; she was utterly unscrupulous, both to her face and behind her back.

Gu Wanning: Don't tell me you have no evidence. Even if you had evidence, I wouldn't admit it.

However, Qin Lie's retreat left her with much regret.

The next day, she told her First Concubine about it.

Then, just as she expected, her First Concubine breathed a sigh of relief, but she was clearly not very happy.

Gu Wanning sighed inwardly.

Women caught in the throes of love are often conflicted.

The First Concubine inquired again about Jiaoniang's arrival at the manor, saying, "This servant has already prepared new bedding for the eldest young lady, and also made her some handkerchiefs and other small items. I wonder if she likes them..."

Gu Wanning knew that she still hoped to spend her remaining years in the Marquis's Residence with her child, so she said, "The Marquis asked me to take care of her. If you like, you can come here often to play with her."

Gu Wanning was unsure whether she could get along well with Jiaoniang.

If possible, that would be best; if not, she wouldn't waste time internally, but would simply hand over the important task to someone else, such as her First Concubine.

The First Concubine's eyes dimmed slightly, but she obediently agreed and did not try to persuade her further.

A few days later, Gao Lan brought Jiaoniang to the Marquis's Residence.

The little girl, who was a little over five years old, was much taller than her peers, seemingly inheriting Xu Weibei's height.

She was timid, her eyes like those of a frightened fawn, innocent and fearful, tightly clutching the hand of her wet nurse, Li Shi, a stark contrast to her father's arrogant and domineering nature.

She probably saw herself as a wicked stepmother?

Gu Wanning wasn't one to be overly enthusiastic, so upon seeing this, she instructed Er Ya to take her and the wet nurse downstairs to settle them in.

She was initially worried that a copy of Xu Weibei would appear, deliberately going against her, perhaps even provoking her in front of her while feigning helplessness in front of Xu Weibei...

The result was that he was such a pitiful little thing.

Yes, a little girl without a mother and without a father by her side is actually very pitiful.

Because the servants around her were no longer under her supervision, who would be devoted to her?

My greatest conscience is probably not to mistreat her, but I almost always yell at her.

When Er Ya returned, she lamented to Gu Wanning, "Madam, children without mothers are truly pitiful. There's that saying again: 'Better to follow a beggar's mother than an official's father. 'The Marquis is no good; he hasn't cared much for this child."

"She's young and new here," Gu Wanning said. "She needs some time to adjust. Just look after her and see what she needs. I won't bother to check on her, so she doesn't get too nervous or anxious."

"Yes, I know. I've already told her that Madam has the best personality imaginable. You are now like her mother; she'll come to you if she needs anything."

Gu Wanning recalled the faint cry of "Mother" uttered by Jiaoniang when she came in and kowtowed to her, and felt a pang of pity.

But she was going to leave eventually, so she didn't want to get too close to the child, lest she create any entanglements.

After Xu Weibei returned, it was Gu Wanning who brought up the matter of Jiaoniang entering the mansion, and he waved his hand and said, "I know, you'll have to take care of her in the future."

"Then shall I take her to kowtow to the Grand Princess tomorrow?"

"No need, Grandmother has gone to the Mountain Resort and won't be back until September. You can go then."

"Good."

"There's another bad news today, would you like to hear it?"

Gu Wanning: "How about we just not listen?"

Chapter 60 Birthday Gift Giving

However, Xu Weibei's tone did not suggest that he was seeking Gu Wanning's opinion.

So he still spoke up.

"Your older brother contacted me today, saying that it's your father's birthday in three days, and he wants to take you home to celebrate."

Gu Wanning: "Oh."

She had absolutely no recollection of this matter.

"Do you want to go?" Xu Weibei asked.

"Go."

Although she hadn't figured out how to bring up the calligraphy and painting, she still had to find a way.

She also wanted to know the progress of the divorce proceedings.

To be honest, she is living a very comfortable life in the Marquis's Marquis's Residence now.

But Gu Wanning understood that this comfort was only temporary.

Xu Weibei is like a time bomb that could explode at any moment.

Moreover, he talks way too much nonsense.

One minute it's the white moonlight, the next it's the illegitimate daughter, then it's the person in the house... nothing good ever comes of it.

Even if she sees herself as a secretary, she can't stand her boss's constant antics.