Free Web NovelChapter 446: I Will Satisfy Whatever You Want in the Future
At the main entrance of the General’s Manor.
The various branches of the Gu family had arrived with their entire households. Counting the accompanying servants and maids, there were easily twenty to thirty people.
Gu Zhifeng of the Gu family’s first branch was there with his wife, three sons, and daughters-in-law. Servants followed behind them carrying gifts, making it look as though they were here for a formal visit.
"Eldest Brother, we’re here today to demand an explanation. What’s with all these gifts?" Gu Wenqing of the third branch asked sarcastically, eyeing the packages.
"The children prepared these. I had nothing to do with it," Gu Zhifeng said, washing his hands of the matter completely.
"Who doesn’t know your temper, Eldest Brother? My nieces-in-law are all obedient. They wouldn’t have dared to do this without your say-so." Gu Wenqing scoffed. "We all grew up in the same courtyard. We know each other inside and out. Is there any point in saying things like that?"
"Third Brother is right. And Eldest Brother, if you really wanted to give a gift, isn’t this a little... lacking? I heard our nephew Gu Shuo gave Nianyunjian to Miss Xiang." Gu Xichao of the fourth branch said this, then glanced at Gu Mingqiu of the second branch. "Isn’t that right, Second Brother?"
"I’m not sure," Gu Mingqiu replied, his expression sour.
"Not sure? Hah! If you weren’t sure, how did you manage to snag such a granddaughter for free? You didn’t seem too interested when the Old Master first brought it up. Who would have thought you’d let Gu Shuo handle the whole thing?" Gu Xichao’s tone was both mocking and indignant.
Gu Mingqiu snorted heavily through his nose.
Gu Zhifeng’s lips twitched as he looked at Gu Mingqiu. ’Second Brother always seems so passive and unambitious, but he’s actually the most cunning of us all. Otherwise, how would the Xiang family’s daughter have come to accept Gu Shuo as her godfather?’
The Old Master had always been fond of Miss Xiang. He had long said that whoever could get Miss Xiang to acknowledge him as her great-grandfather would inherit the family fortune. At first, they had all visited the General’s Manor and even gone to Lou Mountain Academy.
But they had been turned away by the masters at the academy. Later, when they learned the little girl was the personal disciple of Dean Chen, her status became too high for them to dare associate with her.
They had gradually put the matter out of their minds. But who would have known that just over half a month ago, the Old Master would suddenly bring up letting Gu Shuo rejoin the clan.
After some investigation, they discovered that not only was Gu Shuo in contact with Miss Xiang, but she had apparently accepted him as her godfather. The Old Master, overjoyed to gain a great-granddaughter, then mentioned Gu Shuo rejoining the clan. It wasn’t hard to connect the dots and conclude that the Old Master intended to hand the Gu family’s business empire over to him.
Gu Wenqing and his wife, Sun Shi, shot Gu Mingqiu a dark look. ’So much for being honest and simple. It’s always the quiet ones who are the deadliest!’
"I wonder what kind of spell that little wild child from the Xiang family cast on the Old Master to make him so obsessed," Gu Xichao muttered, glancing sideways at the closed gates of the General’s Manor.
Hearing this, Gu Zhifeng sighed. "Alas, if only the Gu family could produce a daughter, some other family’s girl wouldn’t be getting all this attention."
"The Old Master couldn’t even wait a little. My son Yuan’er is getting married in two days. Maybe he’ll have a daughter!" Gu Xichao dreamed of having a granddaughter day and night.
As long as his fourth branch produced a girl, the Gu family fortune would be as good as theirs.
"Fourth Brother, are you still banking on that marriage between the Gu family and Prime Minister Gao’s family? The Old Master might not even attend. And forget about not having a daughter—even if you did have one, the Old Master wouldn’t think much of her," Gu Wenqing sneered.
"Even if he looks down on her, she’d still be better than an outsider’s child." Gu Xichao had never met Ye Qianning; he had only heard that she was an extremely fat country bumpkin.
Gu Wenqing snorted but didn’t argue. He was right. At the very least, she’d be better than a child with a different surname.
An outsider could never be truly loyal. The Gu family had toiled for generations to build their business empire; they couldn’t let it fall into the hands of a child with a different surname. Not a single bit of it.
Every word of the Gu family’s squabbling reached Ye Qianning’s ears. ’It seems I’ll have to pay the Gu family a visit tomorrow.’
Old Man Gu had made that promise because he didn’t know about her relationship with Gu Shuo. Now, the old man was probably regretting it quite a bit.
Sometimes, fate truly works in mysterious ways. By a strange twist of fate, he had actually ended up becoming her great-grandfather.
The gates of the General’s Manor swung open, and the members of the Gu family immediately crowded around the entrance.
"How is it? Did Miss Xiang agree to see us?" Gu Zhifeng asked hurriedly.
Two servants blocked the crowd. "Don’t push! Our Young Miss is here."
As their voices faded, Ye Qianning stepped through the gateway.
A huge crowd from the Gu family’s direct lineage was gathered at the entrance. It was clear the Gu family was flourishing with many branches, but they were all men. The women present were all their wives and daughters-in-law.
The Gu family members all froze for a moment when they saw Ye Qianning. Many of them were seeing her for the first time. They had only heard the child was fat, but they hadn’t expected her to be quite so plump.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this sudden visit from everyone from the Gu family?" Ye Qianning’s voice was childish but loud and clear.
Her youthful voice snapped everyone back to their senses. Faced with a chubby little toddler, they were momentarily at a loss for words. The child looked so young; if they did anything, would people mistake them for kidnappers?
"Everyone from the Gu family should know that my father is not in the Capital City. The manor is not receiving guests. If there is nothing else, please leave," Ye Qianning said, her gaze sweeping over them.
Gu Zhifeng cleared his throat and nudged his wife, Li Shi, with his elbow.
"Hehe, calling us outsiders is so distant, Miss Xiang. You’ve acknowledged the Gu family’s Old Master as your great-grandfather, so we’re all family now." Li Shi’s smile was warm and friendly. She took a mahogany box from a maid and stepped forward. "Miss Xiang, this is a little welcoming gift from your grandma."
"Thank you, Grandma."
As the saying goes, you don’t slap a smiling face. Ye Qianning didn’t refuse. She reached out her small hand, took the box, and passed it to Qian Fanji, who was standing behind her.
Qian Fanji accepted it naturally and held it in his hand.
Only then did the Gu family members notice Qian Fanji, dressed in white and exuding an ethereal air. They were shocked. ’Why is Minister Qian’s son at the General’s Manor? We only heard that the Zhan family had been helping out recently. What’s going on with Minister Qian?’
Li Shi chuckled, her heart filled with joy as she looked at the chubby child before her. The girl looked just like one of those cherubic dolls said to bring good fortune, and Li Shi couldn’t resist reaching out to pat her head.
"Madam Gu, the child is shy around strangers," Qian Fanji said.
Li Shi, who had just extended her hand, froze at his words and awkwardly pulled it back with a stiff smile. "Miss Xiang looks so blessed."
"I’ll take that as a blessing, Grandma." Ye Qianning thought Li Shi seemed like a kind person.
Li Shi was overjoyed at being called "Grandma."
Just a moment ago, Gu Wenqing had been mocking his eldest brother for bringing gifts. Now, seeing this, he turned and glared at his wife, Sun Shi. They hadn’t prepared a gift, and now he couldn’t even get a word in.
Sun Shi felt wronged. ’I clearly told you that Eldest Brother and his wife were bringing gifts, but you were the one who looked down on the idea!’
The moment Gu Mingqiu saw Ye Qianning, his eyes lit up. ’No matter how you look at her, the child just feels so endearing. A child that Shuo’er would accept as his goddaughter must be special.’
Seeing that the time was right, Gu Zhifeng moved to Li Shi’s side and looked at the little girl. "Little one, you must have been cooped up in the manor for half a month. Your grandpa owns several fun shops in the Capital City. Would you like me to take you to see them?"
"I’m rather lazy. I don’t like to walk around."
"That’s alright, you can have your uncle carry you." Gu Zhifeng turned and called to his second son, Gu Chi.
Gu Chi walked over, first nodding to Qian Fanji in greeting. Then, he looked down at Ye Qianning with a faint smile. "Little girl, where would you like to go?"
