sjar Chapter 574 His daughter is always so unpredictable.
Chapter 574 His daughter is always so unpredictable.
Gu Junze's expression was indifferent, but his gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, as if he could see through people's hearts.
"You're too kind, Your Highness."
"Zhao Qingzhi's life or death is none of my business, Gu Junze."
He changed the subject, his tone turning colder, "But let me make this clear: if there is a next time, no matter who it is, if they implicate my wife and daughters, don't blame me, Gu Junze, for turning my back on them without mercy."
"Even the Prince Yong's mansion will be razed to the ground!"
These words were spoken without any politeness, and Lin Jingchuan knew that Gu Junze was not joking.
Gu Junze was always aloof and self-possessed, but he would lose his composure only around Chu Ruohan.
Lin Jingchuan gave a bitter smile. Ever since he was captured by Duan Qingye on the Pingzhou battlefield and suffered all kinds of humiliation, his pride had been completely worn away.
Upon returning to the capital, he felt utterly exhausted, faced with his father's disappointment, his mother's doting affection, and Lin Xingyao's increasingly obsessive entanglement.
"General Gu, rest assured, there will never be a next time."
Gu Junze looked at him for a moment, then softened his tone.
"Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war, so Your Highness need not take it too seriously."
Lin Jingchuan's bitterness deepened: "General Gu is right, but... sigh."
He was outmatched, and defeat was defeat, but what troubled him was more than just the loss on the battlefield.
Gu Junze said, "The current emperor is a wise ruler. Prince Yong is in charge of the imperial clan and holds a high position of power. He should be more mindful of the emperor's wishes and avoid making mistakes in order to ensure the long-term stability of Prince Yong's mansion."
This is already extremely straightforward.
Lin Jingchuan lowered his eyes: "Thank you for your advice, General Gu. I... will do my best to persuade my father."
Gu Junze nodded, said no more, turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the night.
Lin Jingchuan stood there for a long time. The night wind blew by, bringing a chill. He took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy gate of the Princess's mansion.
Inside the princess's mansion, the lights were dim.
Lin Xingyao was sitting by the window when she heard footsteps and turned around abruptly.
"Brother?"
Lin Jingchuan looked at her, his eyes filled with an unprecedented coldness and disappointment.
“You did very well today.” His tone was calm, yet it was like a knife chilled to the bone.
Lin Xingyao felt a pang of panic, but forced a calm expression: "What is brother saying? I don't understand."
"Don't you understand?" Lin Jingchuan approached step by step. "If I hadn't happened to be here today, do you think Gu Junze would have let you off so easily?"
Lin Xingyao's expression changed slightly, and her voice became a few degrees sharper: "I don't know what you're talking about! Chu Ruohan's accident was accidental! I never intended to hurt her! The carriage went out of control!"
Lin Jingchuan stopped in front of her, looking down at her with a faint, almost cruel smile on his lips.
"You admit it."
The three words, seemingly light and airy, weighed down on Lin Xingyao like three mountains, making it hard for her to breathe.
She opened her mouth, wanting to retort, but found that her throat was blocked and she couldn't say a word.
Looking at her like this, Lin Jingchuan felt all the last bit of warmth in his heart vanish.
“You are too violent now and are no longer suitable to raise You’er.”
He turned and walked toward the inner room.
Lin Xingyao was struck dumb. She lunged forward, trying to grab his sleeve, but he ruthlessly shook her off.
"What are you doing? You'er is my son! You can't take him away!" she screamed.
Lin Jingchuan didn't turn around, his voice cold and hard: "From today onwards, You'er will be raised by me personally, and you no longer need to concern yourself with him."
He quickly carried the already sleeping Lin Jiayou out.
Looking at her son's peaceful sleeping face, Lin Xingyao was overwhelmed by a wave of panic and despair.
"Brother!" she cried, her voice shrill, "You don't love Zhao Qingzhi at all! You and she are just husband and wife in name only, strangers! You..."
Lin Jingchuan paused, turned his head, and the candlelight cast flickering shadows on his face.
"She is already my wife."
Lin Xingyao laughed until tears streamed down her face, her laughter filled with a kind of frantic despair.
"It's all in name only! Don't think I don't know! You never even touched her!"
Lin Jingchuan took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently.
He turned his head and said clearly, word by word, "Isn't that all thanks to you?"
Lin Xingyao's face drained of color instantly, and she swayed precariously.
Lin Jingchuan looked at her pale face, his eyes filled with no pity, only endless weariness.
“I’ll go back and consummate our marriage.”
"No..." Lin Xingyao's voice trembled violently, as if someone was choking her, "Brother, please... please don't be so cruel to me..."
She reached out, trying to grasp something, but only grasped emptiness.
Lin Jingchuan, holding the child, strode away without looking back, his back view resolute.
With a loud bang, the gate of the Princess's mansion slammed shut behind him, separating the two worlds.
Lin Xingyao collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face, quickly soaking her clothes.
Her cries echoed through the empty princess's mansion, desolate and desperate.
The next morning, the main hall of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was brightly lit.
Chu Ruohan held her teacup, but her mind was elsewhere.
She barely slept a wink all night, repeatedly pondering how to bring up the private school with Gu Qingchen, anticipating her daughter's possible crying, arguing, or even a small tantrum.
Gu Junze walked in dressed casually and immediately noticed the worry on his wife's face.
"Still thinking about Qingchen?" he asked gently.
Chu Ruohan sighed softly, "I'm preparing for a tough battle. That kid, when he gets stubborn, not even ten oxen could pull him back."
“She’s also very intelligent,” Gu Junze reminded her. “Perhaps she will surprise you.”
"I hope so," Chu Ruohan replied, but her tone lacked confidence. "I've already sent someone to Bailu Private School to inquire. If all goes well, we can enroll in seven days."
Before long, Gu Qingchen skipped and hopped into the house, her braids swinging lively with her movements.
"Good morning, Mother! Father!" Her voice was clear and her eyes were bright.
Chu Ruohan took a deep breath: "Qingchen, come here, Mother has something to discuss with you."
Gu Qingchen jumped to his mother's side, his curiosity piqued: "What is it, Mother?"
Chu Ruohan looked at her daughter, trying to anticipate her reaction.
“Qingchen, ever since what happened at the Jingzhao Prefecture government office last time, your father and mother both feel that you’ve grown up and it’s time for you to learn more. Not only should you learn to read at home, but you should also learn manners and how to get along with others.”
Gu Qingchen's eyes widened slightly: "So?"
“So,” Chu Ruohan said slowly, carefully choosing her words, “we have decided to send you to a private school. The Bailu Private School in the south of the city, where there are proper teachers and classmates.”
She was prepared for the storm.
However, Gu Qingchen's face suddenly lit up, and a big, almost sly smile bloomed on her face.
"Go to a private school? Really?" Her voice was filled with unexpected excitement.
Chu Ruohan was stunned: "You... don't object?"
"Why should I object?" Gu Qingchen's eyes sparkled. "Then can I leave the manor every day? Aren't there lots of fun people at the private school? And won't there be any nannies nagging me about the rules all day long?"
A barrage of questions left Chu Ruohan speechless for a moment. This was not the reaction she had expected.
Seeing this, Gu Junze, who was standing to the side, hid a smile at the corner of his mouth.
His daughter is always so unpredictable.