Chapter 90: Matters of the Family

Chapter 90

Standing in the distance, Qin Chuyuan watched as Gong Xiaohua bid farewell to the others.

The girl had become so much thinner, so very much thinner.

Her previously plump and rounded figure now looked frail and delicate.

Her chubby double chin had become a sharp chin.

Qin Chuyuan's heart ached. Just how much suffering had she endured during those days in Nanlong Prefecture?

After Gong Xiaohua finished saying goodbye, Qin Chuyuan approached her.

"Welcome back safely."

"What are you doing here?"

"I just happened to be passing by. What a coincidence to run into you." RêAd lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

The attendant at Qin Chuyuan's side as well as the guards in the distance said, "Young master, you're able to tell lies now without blushing or quickening your heartbeat."

"Oh, I'm heading back first. Let's chat another day."

"I'll walk you back."

"It's not on your way back!"

"It's fine."

Qin Chuyuan's clever attendant took the opportunity while Gong Xiaohua was distracted to take the reins of the horse she had been leading and stood to one side.

When Gong Xiaohua tried to take back the reins, the attendant retreated a step each time she advanced one step.

So she let him be and went along, as she also had some things to discuss with Qin Chuyuan.

The two walked silently on the road back to the Gong residence. The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

Gong Xiaohua broke the silence first, saying, "Um, sorry for returning late and missing our wedding day. I hope it didn't cause you any trouble?"

"No, no trouble at all."

Another stretch of road passed in silence.

By the time they reached Wuyi Alley, the passersby continuously stared at Gong Xiaohua and Qin Chuyuan.

Qin Chuyuan, the Gong family's son-in-law, Young Master of the Qin Chancellor's household, they'd heard he was also an official of high rank.

They had seen him once before at the Gong family's wedding celebration, and he left a deep impression. But still, no one dared to approach and converse.

As for the young woman by his side, she seemed vaguely familiar. Upon closer look, her silhouette closely resembled the Gong family's young miss.

Some bolder ones couldn't resist curiosity and went forward to ask, "Are you Xiaohua?"

Gong Xiaohua replied, "Uncle, long time no see. I'm Xiaohua. Have you been well lately?"

"Uncle's doing fine. So it really is you, Xiaohua!"

"Yes, Uncle, it's me."

Gong Xiaohua softly approached Gong Xiaonan's bedside. A crutch leaned against the bedhead, and his left leg was fixed in a splint.

He was currently deep asleep, brows tightly knitted. This was the first time Gong Xiaohua had seen worry etched on the face of this half-grown boy.

Gong Xiaohua gently tucked in his blankets and quietly left the room.

When Gong Xiaohua returned to the hall, her expression was overcast.

Qin Chuyuan immediately said, "I'm sorry. Before you left, you entrusted me to look after your family, yet I broke my word."

Hearing this, Dad Gong quickly spoke up in Qin Chuyuan's defense, afraid his daughter would become prejudiced against her husband. "Child, you mustn't talk like that. You've already done so much for us."

"Father, other than Xiaonan, what else has happened that I'm unaware of? Tell me everything clearly now, so I don't have to hear it from others afterwards."

Since it had come to this, Dad Gong no longer concealed anything. He recounted in full detail everything that had happened in the family during this time, including all the help Qin Chuyuan had provided.

With each matter Gong Xiaohua heard, her expression darkened once more.

When he spoke about the final incident, Madam Gong broke down in tears again, unable to restrain herself. "Xiaohua, your younger uncle said he made a mistake in the army and was reassigned to the frontier troops headed to garrison Xu Mountain. He was made a shock trooper on the frontlines. This trip, the chances of him making it back alive are slim. Wah...wah..."

"When did younger uncle's troops move out?" Gong Xiaohua asked after thinking for a bit.

"They left around ten days ago. It likely won't be long before they reach the frontier."

"Mother, Father, don't worry. I'll handle younger uncle's matter."

"What can you do? This is inextricably linked to the Lin family. They adamantly refuse to release him, even Qin Chuyuan will find it hard to intervene."

"Trust me, I've rendered meritorious service this time. His Majesty will grant me an audience tomorrow. I'll petition him for mercy, it shouldn't be difficult."

Only then were the worries in the Gong elders' hearts put to rest.

Their daughter's future could be fought for again, but younger uncle's safety was most crucial right now.

Younger uncle was the only son of his maternal Uncle's family. If anything happened to him due to the Gong family's involvement, how could they face his parents?

Gong Xiaohua said to Qin Chuyuan, "Thank you for all the help you've provided my family during this time. It's late now, there are many affairs at home to take care of, so I won't keep you any longer."

"I'll come to fetch you another day."

"Fetch me for what?"

These words were met by sudden silence in the room.

Looking left and right at the evasive expressions, Gong Xiaohua was baffled.

Finally, Madam Gong broke the awkwardness. "Xiaohua, your father and I didn't mention this earlier, but we held your wedding ceremony with the Qin family some time ago. You are now Madam Qin."

Gong Xiaohua: "???"

"Mother, while I was away you rashly married me off?"

"Child, sooner or later you'd have to marry, and this was by imperial edict from His Majesty himself."

Gong Xiaohua looked resentfully at Qin Chuyuan. If he didn't have a hand in this, she'd write her name backwards.

However, Qin Chuyuan acted as if he didn't notice Gong Xiaohua's resentment at all. "Don't worry, we'll redo the wedding ceremony for you in the future."

Gong Xiaohua: Thank you, but no need.