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The Unstoppable Lady: Fortune Meets Power (Web Novel) - Chapter 2005: Epilogue (Part 2)
Chapter 2005: Epilogue (Part 2)
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
Empress Dowager Zhuang pressed her lips together, thinking to say she was getting old too.She swallowed these words and asked, "Did you enter the palace the same year as me?"
Eunuch Qin smiled and said, "Yes, but in the first few years, I wasn’t fortunate enough to serve by your side."
Empress Dowager Zhuang sighed, "Haven’t you taken in a foster son or something? If I were gone, your pond of little turtles wouldn’t truly give you an old age and final send-off."
Eunuch Qin suddenly choked up, "Why have you been saying such nonsense lately?"
I’m just a lowly eunuch, unworthy of being remembered by you.
Empress Dowager Zhuang was never of a melancholy disposition; she was very calm, "How long has Xiaoshun been in Youzhou? He should be returning to the Capital City soon, right?"
Eunuch Qin wiped away his tears and said, "Counting the days, he should be back."
Empress Dowager Zhuang wanted to say more but hesitated.
...
Gu Xiaoshun went to Youzhou before the New Year. Three years ago, he married; his wife was chosen by his grand-aunt from a scholarly family. Her home is in the Capital City, with ancestral roots in Youzhou. This trip was both to accompany his wife to return home for ancestral rites and to assist, at the Ministry of Works’ request, in constructing a Royal Garden in Youzhou.
He took some time to visit Qingquan Village with his wife.
He had long severed ties with the Gu Family, so naturally, he wasn’t visiting them but rather paying respects at the graves of his Third Uncle and Third Aunt.
As soon as he entered the village, he unexpectedly encountered his mother, Liao Family.
Liao Family was fetching water at the village entrance; she had aged considerably, and at forty-something years of age, had quite a bit of gray hair. Beside her squatted a dirty little girl.
The little girl picked up something off the ground and put it in her mouth. Upon realizing, she immediately slapped the little girl’s hand, "Putting just anything in your mouth! It’ll kill you!"
The little girl started crying loudly, either from pain or fright!
"All you do is eat and cry! What else can you do?" Liao Family cursed a few times, and the little girl cried even harder, so Liao Family angrily hit her several times.
Gu Xiaoshun couldn’t help but recall his own childhood, also spent under the beatings and scoldings of Liao Family.
And because he was mischievous and argumentative, Liao Family hit him especially hard.
If a child misbehaves, getting hit a few times is normal; he doesn’t resent Liao Family because of this.
He is cold toward Liao Family because she never regarded him as her son.
Liao Family only valued Gu Ershun, who was smarter and knew how to please her.
"Husband, what’s wrong?" His wife, Chen Yunwen, asked.
"Nothing, let’s go," Gu Xiaoshun escorted his wife off the carriage.
Liao Family saw him at a glance.
"Ah! Is it Xiaoshun?" Aunt Zhao, who was carrying a basin of clothes over, recognized him and was surprised, "Oh my heavens! I almost didn’t recognize you!"
Gu Xiaoshun’s transformation was too great.
When he left the village, he was merely a thirteen or fourteen-year-old troublemaker with no proper gait, but now he wore a long robe of fine fabric, with clear eyes and handsome demeanor, unmistakably showing the airs of a noble young master.
Beside him was a veiled woman, elegant and poised, appearing to be the daughter of a wealthy family.
Who would dare recognize him?
The villagers gathered around to watch.
Liao Family stared blankly at Gu Xiaoshun, and with a splash, the bucket in her hand fell into the well.
She couldn’t believe her eyes.
This, this man, more majestic than the county magistrate’s son, was truly her worthless son?
"Ahem ahem ahem!" The accompanying guards were sent insistently by the prefect to ensure the careful protection of Master Gu and his wife’s safety on the road.
He cleared his throat and politely addressed the villagers, "Please don’t crowd. Master Gu has returned to pay respects to his family. We ask the villagers to make way out of courtesy."
"What did you call him?" Liao Family came up to ask.
The guard, not recognizing her, assuming she was just an ordinary villager, patiently explained, "Master Gu! Gu Dashun is favored by the court! He is here under decree to build the Residence in Youzhou!"
Court... under decree...
Liao Family nearly fainted.
If she had known Gu Xiaoshun would become so successful, she shouldn’t have sold him for twenty taels back then!
She should have sold him for two hundred taels... no, two thousand taels!
No, why was she selling him?
If he’s an official, she’s the mother of the official!
Indeed, she’s the mother of the official now...
She felt a sense of pride...
"You lousy child, you know how to come back! You went to the Capital City and ignored me and your father! Your conscience was eaten by dogs!"
She said this and lunged towards Gu Xiaoshun.
But Gu Xiaoshun was no longer the young son who endured her mistreatment; it was she who had severed their mother-son relationship by her own hand!
Gu Xiaoshun stepped back.
She lunged into empty space.
