freenovelworld Chapter 396 What Does Other People's Marriage Have to Do With Me?
Chapter 396 What Does Other People's Marriage Have to Do With Me?
Under Du Ruoling's "deeply affectionate" offensive, Gu Cheng'an finally nodded and agreed to marry Du Ruoling.
Du Ruoling was overjoyed. "My child, this is the chain that binds you!"
“Now that you have achieved your wish,” Mother Gu said expressionlessly, her voice hoarse, “I have no intention of acknowledging Cheng’an again.”
She stretched out her withered hand: "Give me five hundred taels of silver, and find me a secluded manor. I will live out my old age there and have nothing to do with you anymore."
Upon hearing this, Du Ruoling was overjoyed.
This old hag finally got the hint! She couldn't wait for this crazy Gu's mother to disappear from her sight so as not to get in the way of her and Gu Cheng'an's "wonderful life" in the future.
"What are you saying?" Du Ruoling put on a fake smile, took out a stack of silver notes from her sleeve, and stuffed them into Gu's mother's hand without hesitation. "This is five hundred taels. I will also arrange things for you on the estate as soon as possible."
In her heart, however, she felt utter contempt: What a greedy old man!
Madam Gu took the silver note, counted it roughly, and put it in her bosom, but showed no intention of leaving immediately.
Her cloudy eyes were fixed on Du Ruoling, and she lowered her voice: "So much time has passed, has there been any movement from the General's Mansion?"
Du Ruoling was taken aback, then shook her head: "No."
Mrs. Gu's face darkened: "Did you see her eat the things you sent over?"
"No, not at all." Du Ruoling avoided Gu's mother's gaze somewhat guiltily.
"Useless!" Mother Gu's voice suddenly turned shrill as she pointed at Du Ruoling's nose and cursed, "You can't even handle something this simple! The food has already been delivered, and you didn't even watch her eat it! Do you expect that bitch to obediently go and die?"
Du Ruoling's face turned pale and then red as she was scolded, and she also became angry.
"Why are you yelling at me! If you're so capable, go and watch her eat yourself! I'm already struggling to appease Gu Cheng'an every day, how can I have the energy to care about anything else!"
The two were arguing when Du Ruoling unintentionally complained, "That bitch Chu Ruohan is really lucky. She's been looking for midwives everywhere lately. I wonder if she's about to give birth."
He does not mean that.
The last vestiges of anger in Gu's mother's eyes were instantly replaced by a more sinister glint.
A strange smile crept across her lips, her voice hoarse like sandpaper scraping: "A midwife? Heh... Childbirth is already a life-or-death situation for a woman. What if that midwife 'accidentally' did something wrong..."
Gu's mother's eyes were filled with resentment, as if she could already see Chu Ruohan's tragic end of dying from postpartum hemorrhage.
Du Ruoling's heart skipped a beat as she listened to Gu's mother's sinister words.
She naturally didn't want Gu Cheng'an to still harbor any feelings for Chu Ruohan.
If Gu's mother could use this opportunity to get rid of Chu Ruohan, that would be ideal.
Even if the matter is exposed, it won't be traced back to her.
This old hag wasn't entirely useless.
She was thinking to herself that if Gu's mother took charge of this matter, she could simply stand by and watch, reaping the benefits without lifting a finger.
As soon as Gu's mother disappeared outside the courtyard gate, Du Ruoling's fake smile quickly faded, replaced by an uncontrollable smugness.
She raised her hand to smooth her hair, as if she could already see herself wearing a phoenix coronet and wedding robes, marrying Gu Cheng'an in grand style.
She couldn't wait to summon her personal maid, Chunmei, her voice brimming with barely concealed excitement: "Chunmei, go and fetch the household accounts. I'm about to start preparing for the wedding!"
"My wedding must be a grand and magnificent affair, so that everyone knows that I, Du Ruoling, am no longer the same as before!"
Chunmei lowered her head, her face showing some difficulty, and replied softly, "Princess, the account books are here. It's just... the household expenses have been high lately, and I'm afraid there might be some issues with the money..."
Du Ruoling's joy froze on her face, and she suddenly raised her voice: "What are you afraid of? What's there to be afraid of! Does this princess need money to get married?"
Chunmei shrank back in fright and said in a trembling voice, "Princess, the income of the manor... is really not much. Although the late emperor bestowed upon you the title of princess, he did not grant you any property or shops, and your monthly salary is only enough for daily expenses..."
Du Ruoling was extremely frustrated. He had just given the crazy woman five hundred taels of silver. He should have given her less.
She always thought of herself as a high and mighty princess.
But she forgot that this title of princess was only bestowed upon her by the late emperor based on the weapon blueprints. She had no fiefdom, no property, and none of the substantial wealth and fortune of the noble families in the capital.
All she had was that meager salary.
She bit her lower lip hard, her nails almost digging into her palms. No! She couldn't let anyone look down on her!
She was going to marry Gu Cheng'an and let everyone in the capital see that she, Du Ruoling, was no longer the little maid who could be ordered around by others!
"Go!" she pointed at Chunmei. "Go to the Imperial Household Department and get an advance on my salary! Also, go and get my jewelry box; sell all the pieces that aren't used often!"
Chunmei was stunned: "Princess, this..."
"Hurry up and go!" Du Ruoling shouted sternly.
Chunmei dared not hesitate any longer and scrambled away in response.
Two days later, Chu Ruohan received a wedding invitation sent by Du Ruoling.
At that moment, she was strolling in the garden with Gu Junze, the warm spring sun shining on them.
The steward of the manor hurried over and presented a gold-embossed wedding invitation: "General, Madam, this was sent by someone from Princess Anping's manor."
Gu Junze frowned slightly but did not reach out.
Chu Ruohan gestured for Yuling to take it.
Yu Ling opened the invitation, glanced at it, and handed it to Chu Ruohan, saying softly, "Madam, this is Du Ruoling's wedding invitation to...Young Master Gu."
Chu Ruohan had long seen through Du Ruoling's character and found it laughable.
She casually handed the wedding invitation to Gu Junze beside her, her tone calm, even carrying a hint of sarcasm.
"You can handle your brother's affairs yourself."
Gu Junze took the wedding invitation, but without even glancing at it, he tossed it to the steward behind him as if it were something useless.
"Send someone to deliver a simple congratulatory gift."
The steward bowed and agreed, then quickly withdrew.
Gu Junze turned his head, his gaze falling on Chu Ruohan, and instantly became gentle yet firm.
He reached out and gently grasped her slightly cool fingertips, wrapping them in his palm to convey warmth.
“In my heart,” he gazed into her eyes, his voice low and solemn, “only you and the child are the most important. What do other people’s marriages have to do with me?”
Chu Ruohan smiled faintly and looked at Gu Junze, "The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is in a few days. This morning, Consort Shu sent people to deliver the palace attire."
Gu Junze: "You're feeling unwell now, so you don't need to attend the palace banquet."
Chu Ruohan shook her head. "How could I not go? This is, after all, the first Mid-Autumn Festival banquet since the new emperor ascended the throne, so it has a different significance."
"Moreover, Consort Shu is now assisting in the management of the six palaces and is a hot favorite for the Empress's position. She specially sent us palace attire. We can't easily refuse such a thoughtful gesture and offend her."