Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Making Amends

The third day after returning to her family, Kong Tianru’s smile vanished as soon as she got into the carriage.

Gu Yixuan wore a gloomy expression, “On the day of returning to your family, who are you putting on this act for? Or did the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion wrong you in some way?”

Kong Tianru looked at the man in front of her in disbelief, tightly clutching the handkerchief and biting her lower lip until she tasted blood, then released it, “Second Brother, why do you say this to Tianru? You weren’t like this before. You said you would care for me all your life.”

Gu Yixuan, however, was unwilling to look at her in this state, “Alright, you wanted to marry in, and now you’ve got your wish. Who are you putting on this show for now?”

In the past, seeing that face with its mix of joy and vexation, Gu Yixuan only felt a tickle in his heart.

Now, he didn’t know if it was his heart that had changed, but looking at it again, he felt an indescribable irritation.

In a robe of teal satin with a white high-collar inner garment, Gu Xuanyi, who was already of a gentle and handsome appearance, looked even more refined in such attire.

Only the annoyance on his face made his appearance look a bit ugly.

The two maidservants sitting outside the carriage were startled upon hearing these words, but they didn’t dare to let out even a strong breath.

Kong Tianru, on the other hand, blushed with shame, her face alternately pale and flushed, “Is this how Second Brother sees Tianru? That day, when it happened, Tianru was scared to death and didn’t know whom to ask for help. Who knew such a thing would happen at the Pure Path Temple.”

“Now I don’t even know what rumors are being spread about me outside… the mother-in-law sent someone into the room on the very first day of the tea ceremony.”

What made her even more resentful was the man in front of her.

Married for three days, and he didn’t enter her room on the second day, leaving her humiliated in front of the servants.

Now, he was blaming her again.

Kong Tianru felt as if her teeth might shatter from the hatred, yet she couldn’t afford to fall out with the man before her, or she might truly be sent into the cold palace in the future.

Kong Tianru considered herself clever and didn’t voice all her grievances, only saying a few words, hoping the man in front of her would feel sorry for her.

But she overlooked one thing.

When a man has a preconceived notion about you, no matter what you do, even if it’s good, in his eyes, it’s still bad.

Gu Yixuan originally thought Kong Tianru was throwing a fit right when getting into the carriage. Gu Er, having been pampered since young, had never been treated with such attitude.

He already resented Kong Tianru for getting him into trouble with his mother, and now hearing her shift the blame elsewhere, he felt even more displeased.

“You’re a woman from a noble family; you should be well-versed in the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. How can you still push the blame elsewhere?” With this thought, Gu Er blurted out.

He didn’t realize the impact his words would have on Kong Tianru.

A woman whose husband criticizes her for failing in the Three Obediences and Four Virtues will be scorned, and her sisters at home will also suffer because of it.

Gu Er was a man, spoiled by his family.

He just said whatever he thought, never considering the consequences.

Outside, Yinchun and Pianqiu turned pale.

Kong Tianru, sitting inside the carriage, swayed, but fortunately, she leaned against the carriage for support, “Second Brother…”

With just a gentle call, tears started streaming down her face.

Kong Tianru felt as if her whole being had fallen into an ice cellar. This man she had been fond of since childhood was now giving her such a reputation. How was she supposed to face the world?

“Enough, all you do is cry day in and day out. Aren’t you tired?” Gu Er looked impatient and immediately called for the driver outside to stop the carriage.

As soon as the carriage stopped, without waiting for the maidservants outside to open the door, he pushed it open himself, catching them off guard. While the maidservants and nannies outside were flustered, Gu Er jumped off the carriage and walked off without a care.

Leaving all the maidservants and nannies exchanging looks in bewilderment, not knowing what to do for a moment.

Today was the day of returning to her family. Second Young Master had left like this; what were they to do?

Kong Tianru could no longer hold back and collapsed onto the small tea table in the carriage, crying aloud. Nanny Guan, hearing the sound outside, instructed the servant to continue the journey while getting into the carriage.

She scolded Yinchun and Pianqiu, “You are the senior maidservants by the lady’s side. At this time, you shouldn’t neglect Madam’s dignity, but you behave like the less experienced maidservants. What need is there for senior maidservants like you? Once we’re back at the Duke Mansion, I must report to Madam to have you replaced.”

Yinchun and Pianqiu were already terrified.

On the carriage, being watched by the people on the street, they dared not say much, only closing the door, while lamenting Madam’s anger in their hearts.

Inside the carriage, Nanny Guan tried to persuade for a long time to no avail, so she stopped saying more. Upon arriving at the Duke Mansion, she directly had the side door opened, allowing the young servants to drive the carriage into the Duke Mansion, avoiding the spectacle seen by outsiders.

Mrs. Gao had long heard from the servants sent by Nanny Guan about the situation on the road, and the Duke’s face looked displeased, only saying that Dingyuan Marquis Mansion was too outrageous, before being reprimanded by Mrs. Gao, he then shut his mouth.

Even though Mrs. Gao was disappointed in her granddaughter, she didn’t want her to lose face in front of the family, and thus sent Mrs. Gao away, directly bringing the person back to Mrs. Gao’s courtyard.

Kong Tianru, treated in such a manner by Gu Er, looked like she had lost her soul after getting off the carriage, and even when seeing her mother, she had lost the fear she had in the past.

It felt like the pot was broken and smashed.

Mrs. Gao felt heartache for her daughter, yet also anger.

Isn’t the current situation because she didn’t cherish herself?

After all, the heartache for her daughter outweighed everything else, and she didn’t scold further, only comforting. Fortunately, on the other side, Gu Er was also sent to the Duke Mansion by Gu Yifeng’s Li Si.

Gu Er originally went to the teahouse in anger, but to his surprise, halfway there, he was stopped by his brother’s Li Si.

Seeing Li Si by his brother’s side here, Gu Er couldn’t help but shiver, and dared not ask further, letting Li Si ’escort’ him to the Duke Mansion, only then did Li Si return to report.

Thinking that his brother was watching, Gu Er dared not act recklessly anymore. He, not being the senseless wealthy youth, first went to the Duke to plead guilty, the Duke scolded him a few times, allowing him a step down, and thus the matter passed.

Mrs. Gao could only wish she had eight mouths to pass all her years of wisdom to her daughter: “If a man’s heart is not with you, then you must think of ways to make him happy, to win back his heart. Our mansion, your father also has concubines, but see who dares to surpass me? Those concubines and maids are just playthings; to a man, the most important is always the wife.”

“Right now, focus on taking care of your pregnancy, giving birth to a legitimate son is key. Stand firm, then slowly deal with those unruly ones; it’s never too late.”

“As for your mother-in-law, you’ve done such things, indirectly ruining her son’s reputation; his career might also be affected. How could she possibly not be annoyed with you? The colder she treats you now, the more you should humble yourself; do you remember all these words?” Mrs. Gao chattered a lot, then asked her daughter.

Kong Tianru, being told so much by her mother, her mind cleared up, she gently nodded, “It’s all my fault, letting mother down.”

“Whether I’m disappointed or not, what matters? The events have unfolded, the most important now is yourself. In the Marquis Mansion, you must treat Sister Lin well, absolutely cannot let anyone pick faults from you. I know your temper, do not act willfully in this matter. She’s just a shoulder-borne wife, still ten years from coming of age; in ten years, couldn’t my daughter capture a man’s heart?” Mrs. Gao was dignified and elegant, but her tone was extremely cold.

Kong Tianru bit her lip, “I understand mother’s reasoning, I will definitely not disappoint mother again.”

As they were returning, Gu Yixuan noticed that Kong Tianru was different from in the morning; no matter how cold his face was, Kong Tianru neither complained nor stopped apologizing cautiously.

“Second Brother, it was my mistake earlier. When we return to the mansion, let’s visit Sister Ning together, I want to apologize to her in person as well.” Kong Tianru seemed sincere, her eyes lightly flowing, like a glimmer.

She remembered her brother said her eyes were the most beautiful, as if alive.

Could most touch one’s heart.

Gu Yixuan, however, did not notice this, mentioning Sister Ning, he couldn’t help but think of her frail body, “Alright.”

Kong Tianru secretly breathed a sigh of relief, her expression became sweeter, “Look, I’m unable to attend to you right now, since mother has sent Wenxin over, why not promote her to concubine? After all, she’s someone by mother’s side, can’t be wronged.”

“Let’s see. She’s just a maid, nothing to be wronged about.” Gu Yixuan didn’t care much about a servant, but suddenly seeing Kong Tianru so generous, not acting capriciously, it was quite strange.

Though immediately understanding, it was merely changing tactics to show weakness.

He wanted to see if this was genuine reform or just a performance.

The commotion in the day was naturally spread among the noble families by those with intentions, and in Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Mrs. Gu Sr. listened to the report from Suyi, her brow tightened, finally waving her hand.

When Gu Yixuan and the others returned to the mansion to pay respects, Suyi stopped them outside, slightly bowed, “Second Young Master, the Madam has already rested, left a message for you and Second Madam, just return to rest, no need to come to pay respects.”

Gu Xuanyi looked disappointedly towards the main house, then instructed Suyi, “Take good care of the Madam.”

Kong Tianru obediently followed behind Gu Yixuan into Tingxue Hall; at this time, it had already entered Autumn, yet Tingxue Hall’s little garden looked splendid, red, yellow, and green complemented, along with the white-toothed stream, resembling a paradise.

Kong Tianru lowered her eyelids, a hint of gloom flashed in her eyes, it’s merely an outsider, yet treated as a treasure.

The Madam always talked about etiquette and manners, now where have those manners and etiquette gone?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep