Chapter 196 - 196 Noble Concubine

196 Noble Concubine

The housekeeper accompanying her hurriedly smiled apologetically and explained vaguely, “This is the Eldest Madam’s cousin. She has come to the residence to stay temporarily. She’s been talking nonsense with a fever these few days…”

“Cousin?” Gu Yanfei raised her eyebrows. “Could she be from the Zhao family in Bingzhou?”

Madam Murong was from the Zhao family of Bingzhou.

“My cousin’s surname is Liu,” Murong Hui retorted without thinking.

“You have the same surname.” Gu Yanfei smiled.

The other party’s surname was Liu, and she was related to the Murong family by blood.

These conditions were enough for her to read her fortune.

Gu Yanfei hid her fingers in her sleeve and casually calculated with her right hand. She pursed her lips thoughtfully.

The slender eyebrows are reminiscent of the imperial music office. It’s already time for the pipa to break.

Eh? This cousin surnamed Liu was from the imperial music office?!

Most of the musicians, dancers, and singers in the imperial music office were the wives and daughters of officials who had committed crimes. If they were implicated, not only would they be included in the lowly status, but they would also sit together for generations. It was equivalent to falling into the dust.

The imperial music office was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. The names of every prostitute were recorded in the Ministry of Rites. If one wanted to be removed from the imperial music office, they had to obtain the approval of the Ministry of Rites and not allow anyone to redeem themselves.

A gust of southeastern wind blew, causing a few white plum trees to sway gently in the cold wind. Bits of snow-white petals fell like fairies scattering flowers as Miss Liu rushed out of the plum trees with her hands holding her skirt.

Miss Liu rushed out of the pavilion in one breath. Her gaze swept between Gu Yunzhen and Gu Yanfei before landing on Gu Yunzhen’s face. She solemnly bowed and said gently,

“Eldest Miss Gu, please keep me by your side to serve you. I definitely won’t be disloyal to you!”

She spoke confidently, her expression firm and sincere, and a little pitiful.

Those watery eyes were clear and graceful, as if they could speak. A thousand words were gathered in them, as if the fate of her life was entrusted to Gu Yunzhen.

Gu Yanfei’s gaze froze on the gentle and beautiful Miss Liu. She stroked her chin with her index finger.

Something felt strange.

Why did this lady look familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before?

As Gu Yanfei pondered, she turned to look at Gu Yunzhen beside her.

Gu Yunzhen looked at Miss Liu thoughtfully, her eyes darkening. Her slender fingers gripped a handkerchief tightly.

The housekeeper looked embarrassed and quickly walked towards Miss Liu. She lowered her voice and advised, “Miss, don’t make things difficult for me.”

Murong Yong’s face had already turned cold. Coldness gradually surfaced in his sharp eyes as he looked at Miss Liu.

“Take her away,” Murong Yong ordered indifferently. “Stop fooling around.”

When he said the last two words, his voice was as cold as ice, and his thin lips pressed into a tight line.

Murong Yong’s words were like a bolt of lightning that flashed across Gu Yanfei’s heart.

It was her!

Gu Yanfei still stared at Miss Liu without blinking. Her eyes widened slightly as she finally remembered.

She had indeed seen Miss Liu before.

In her previous life.

She remembered that it was a month after Gu Yunzhen got married. She had visited the Murong family in September of the following year.

At that time, she was outside the house and heard a little commotion inside. Then, she heard Murong Yong say indifferently, “Take her away. Stop fooling around!”

Then, Gu Yanfei saw a beautiful woman being brought out by two old women. The woman was dressed plainly. In her memory, the young woman’s dressing and aura were different from the other maidservants and daughters-in-law.

That’s right, that young woman was the cousin of the Liu family in front of her!

At that time, Gu Yanfei did not know who the other party was. In that life, she was too solitary and weak. Although she had some guesses, she did not dare to ask Gu Yunzhen.

“Cousin?” Gu Yanfei said with a faint smile. “… Or a noble concubine?”

In her previous life, what Gu Yanfei could not understand was obvious at this moment.

Hearing this, Gu Yunzhen’s expression changed slightly.

She knew very well that it was rare for a family like the Murong family to have a concubine. However, the nature of a noble concubine was different. A noble concubine was disrespectful to a legitimate wife, not to mention that the Murong family had already decided on a candidate for a noble concubine before marriage…

At the thought of this, the last faint fire in Gu Yunzhen’s eyes dimmed and finally disappeared.

Her gaze became as calm as water, and her heart was like a calm lake.

Gu Yunzhen held the forbidden step by her waist with one hand and stood up elegantly. She walked towards Miss Liu, who was pushing the housekeeper outside the pavilion.