Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Recognizing Relatives I

“Why must you be so submissive? It’s unappealing.”

Ms. Li took her words to heart. The second time she came, her attitude was much calmer, and she talked more.

She also put more effort into taking care of the children and was more careful.

These days, Xiao Yunjing would come to the Gu residence as soon as he finished dealing with state affairs, attracting the attention of the people in the residence. Especially the two concubine-born sons and the son-in-law, Zhang Chunsheng. As soon as Xiao Yunjing arrived, the three would greet him at the entrance. Xiao Yunjing didn’t make them lose face and took the opportunity to assess the three of them. After doing so, he found that none of them were of much use, so he stopped seeing them.

「Early in the morning on the third day,」 the Gu residence became lively, with lanterns hanging high and a festive atmosphere. Even Old Master Gu and Old Madam Gu came out to greet the guests.

Gu Qingli also got up early to dress and do her makeup. After breakfast, she waited in the Azure Glass Residence’s living room with the three little ones for the banquet in the front hall to begin.

It was time for the recognition ceremony.

Ms. Su said that the recognition ceremony should have a sense of ritual. It needed to be grand and lively so that everyone in Capital City would know her daughter had returned.

Since she had never appeared in public before, her courtyard was empty and quiet.

「By noon,」 Xiao Yunjing also arrived.

“Yunjing, will you show yourself later?” Gu Qingli asked Xiao Yunjing. She hoped he wouldn’t reveal himself at this time.

Xiao Yunjing shook his head. “No need. The coronation ceremony will take place in five days. It’s better not to cause unnecessary trouble right now.”

The main reason was not to cause trouble for the Gu residence. If he appeared here, wouldn’t it expose the fact that the Gu residence would become the residence of the Emperor’s father-in-law in the future? People would trample the entrance of the Gu residence.

“Alright, then you watch the children later. I’ll go out to show my face, then go to the Ancestral Hall to pay homage to my ancestors and be added to the family record.”

“Alright, take Wuqing with you,” Xiao Yunjing reminded her. “It’s safer to have Wuqing by your side.”

“Alright, I understand.”

「Before long,」 Mrs. Zhang, who was with Ms. Su, came to call her. Mrs. Zhang respectfully said, “Third Miss, Madam has summoned you.”

Gu Qingli ranked third among the daughters in the Gu family.

“Alright, Mrs. Zhang, please lead the way.” Gu Qingli stood up, nodded to Xiao Yunjing, then followed Mrs. Zhang with Wuqing.

「Soon,」 the three of them arrived at the front hall. The hall was huge, with forty tables set up—twenty for male guests and twenty for female guests, separated by a screen.

At that moment, the guest area was full, lively, and bustling.

A table was set up on the main stage, with some beverages on it. Ms. Su, Gu Qingping, Old Master Gu, and Old Madam Gu were sitting there, waiting, as Mrs. Zhang led Gu Qingli onto the stage.

“Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, Big Brother,” Gu Qingli greeted them and then stood beside Ms. Su.

Seeing that Gu Qingli had arrived, Gu Qingping nodded to her and then walked to the front of the stage.

“AHEM…” He cleared his throat. When the guests below heard him, they all fell silent and looked at him.

Gu Qingping continued, “Dear elders, distinguished guests, relatives, and friends, today is the day my Gu family’s daughter, Gu Qingli, who was missing for twenty years, returns to recognize her ancestors. I invite you all to bear witness.”

After Gu Qingping spoke, Ms. Su led Gu Qingli to his side. Gu Qingping said to Gu Qingli, “Little Sister, come and pay respects to the elders and all our relatives and friends.”

Gu Qingli bowed gracefully to the guests below and said, “Gu Qingli of the Gu family pays her respects to all the elders, distinguished guests, relatives, and friends. Please look after me in the future.”

The originally calm scene suddenly erupted with excitement. It was incredible that the Gu family’s daughter, rumored to have died, could return safely! Many people were already whispering to each other.

“Miss Gu looks a lot like Ms. Su. It must be true,” a lady said.

“Indeed, she looks very much like Lord Gu and Ms. Su. If she were an imposter, it would be too incredible. Could such a marvelous coincidence exist in the world?” another woman said, shaking her head. Apparently, she wasn’t quite convinced that this was the real Gu Qingli who had been missing.

Her words implied she thought Gu Qingli was just a look-alike, an imposter.

“HUMPH, mind your own business. Even the Gu family hasn’t said she’s a fake.” Another woman shot the previous speaker a disdainful glance. “The Gu family has organized this recognition banquet. Would they let an imposter into their house?”

What a joke! Lord Gu, after all, was a former Senior Grand Secretary with many connections. Would they acknowledge her without confirmation?

“Ms. Su is right. Even if Lord Gu is missing, the Gu family hasn’t fallen. There’s no way they would acknowledge a fake. And look, her hairstyle is that of a married woman, which means she’s already married. They wouldn’t go to such lengths for nothing. Hey! Why haven’t we seen her husband? Who did she marry?”

Another lady noticed and spoke up, successfully diverting the topic.

“I don’t know. We haven’t seen her husband appear. He’s probably not from Capital City.”

Meaning, he’s not a high-ranking official or noble from Capital City. Otherwise, they would definitely be showing him off.

Gu Qingli watched the whispering guests below and smiled faintly. She then turned, poured herself a cup of tea, and the official recognition ceremony began.

She picked up the teacup, walked to Old Master Gu, kowtowed, and said, “Grandfather, your granddaughter has returned.”

Old Master Gu smiled, drank the tea in one gulp, and said, “Good, good, good! From today on, you are my Gu family’s legitimate daughter, my own granddaughter.”

After Old Master Gu finished his tea, he took a rosewood box from a nearby servant, handed it to Gu Qingli, and said, “Grandfather doesn’t have anything valuable for you. This is just a little trinket I came across by chance. Li’er, please accept it.”

Gu Qingli respectfully took the box. “Thank you, Grandfather.”

Next was Old Madam Gu. Gu Qingli offered her the recognition tea in the same manner and also received a gift.

Then it was Ms. Su’s turn.

“Mother!” Gu Qingli called out loudly.

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“Ah!” Ms. Su exclaimed, wiping her tears. She was overcome with emotion. Today, her daughter had truly returned. Ms. Su’s heart ached with a bittersweet warmth.

“You’ve grown so much, and I haven’t fulfilled my duties as a mother to you. Li’er, I’ve wronged you,” Ms. Su said, choking back sobs.

“Mother.” Gu Qingli stood up and hugged her.

“Hmm?” Suddenly, Gu Qingli felt a wave of dizziness. She immediately bit her tongue tip, frowning. That feeling again.

This was the Original Host, fighting with her. Today’s recognition ceremony should have been hers.

After biting her tongue, Gu Qingli’s head cleared. She immediately knelt again, sinking by Ms. Su’s legs.

To outsiders, it looked like the mother and daughter were embracing and weeping.

In reality, Gu Qingli was dizzy.

Seeing Gu Qingli kneel again, Ms. Su pulled her up and said, “Today, Mother will give you your dowry.”

Saying this, she had Mrs. Zhang bring over a box. It was not small, at least a foot long, half a foot wide, and half a foot high. It looked heavy and seemed to contain many things.

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