Chapter 11: Sunny Light

After the carriage entered the Gu residence, the vermilion gates closed with a heavy thud.

The entire Gu residence was thrown into a stir by the arrival of Old Madam Gu. The servants, having been stationed in Danyang City for many years, had never seen this matriarch of the Marquis’s mansion before and were, to some extent, filled with trepidation.

Surrounded by the crowd, Old Madam Gu reached the main hall and sat down, while the maidservants hurriedly served her tea and refreshments.

Old Madam Gu sipped her tea slowly. By the time she had finished half the cup, a slender figure appeared outside the hall, walking toward them.

Gu Yanfei was dressed in a casual, sky-blue *ruqun*. Her slender waist was so narrow it seemed it could be spanned by a single hand, and her dark hair was casually pinned into a simple bun. Aside from the ribbon holding her hair, she wore no jewelry at all.

As the beautiful and moving young girl walked in, her every gesture carried a leisurely grace, as if she were strolling through a quiet garden—composed, elegant, and spirited.

Old Madam Gu nodded inwardly, thinking: *It seems Nanny Xu’s three months of training have yielded some results. Although this girl is a hollow reed on the inside, at least her manners and bearing are not as unbearable as I had imagined.*

The "Second Miss Gu" was to be married into the Duke of England’s mansion. If her conduct were too crude, the Duke’s family would likely be unwilling to accept such a daughter-in-law, and the alliance between the two families would turn into a feud.

However, this girl’s temperament was far too wild; she would need to be properly reined in.

Gu Yanfei lifted her skirt and stepped into the main hall.

After two hundred years, seeing her biological grandmother again, Gu Yanfei felt remarkably calm.

Once, she had held expectations for this grandmother. After disappointment upon disappointment, she finally understood a cruel truth: in Old Madam Gu’s heart, she would never compare to Gu Yunrong.

It was Old Madam Gu herself who had fanned the flames, turning her into a stepping stone for Gu Yunrong, helping her rise higher and higher, step by step.

In the end, Gu Yunrong became the Empress, while she, Gu Yanfei, perished in the prime of her youth, meeting a tragic end.

The pain of those years seemed still carved into her marrow. Gu Yanfei gazed deeply at Old Madam Gu, a flicker of mockery passing through her calm, ripple-less eyes.

Look, for the sake of her precious granddaughter’s future, even if she was reluctant, she had still come to Danyang City, lowering her status to retrieve this granddaughter she never wanted.

Gu Yanfei stopped a few paces away. Before she could speak, she heard the other woman command in an unquestionable tone: "Pack your things immediately; we are departing for the capital at once."

Old Madam Gu’s expression was cold and distant, carrying an air of superiority.

Gu Yanfei did not care at all about the other’s coldness and stood there leisurely.

She would return to the capital, of course, but not right now.

She could not leave yet.

Gu Yanfei spoke indifferently: "Madam, you must be exhausted from your long journey. There is no rush to return to the capital today; why not discuss it tomorrow?"

She did not call her "Grandmother," but rather "Madam."

Old Madam Gu raised an eyebrow imperceptibly, thinking the girl was at least sensible; before having been officially acknowledged and returned to the family, she hadn't shamelessly tried to cling to them.

Old Madam Gu hesitated, glancing sideways at the water clock.

It was already nearly the hour of *Shen* (3:00 PM to 5:00 PM). It was neither early nor late; even if they departed within the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they would be rushing, and it was unlikely they would reach the post station before dark.

Furthermore, having traveled for several days, Old Madam Gu was indeed tired.

The girl in blue standing to the side noticed Old Madam Gu’s fatigue and hesitation, and gently persuaded: "Grandmother, Second Sister is right. Perhaps we should rest for the night before leaving. We aren't in any particular hurry, after all."

The young girl wore a light blue *beizi* embroidered with plum, orchid, and bamboo patterns, over a bamboo-green pleated skirt with trimmed edges. Her thick, dark hair was styled in a *chuihuan fen-shao* bun. With long brows, almond eyes, a delicate nose, and pink lips, she looked elegant and gentle.

Gu Yanfei offered her a kind smile, her eyes curving.

Her eldest cousin, Gu Yunzhen, should have always been like this—bright-eyed and radiant, with a graceful bearing—rather than the thin, pale figure in her memories.

Old Madam Gu had intended to give Gu Yanfei the cold shoulder, so she took the step down that Gu Yunzhen had provided: "Zhen-jie'er, we have to travel tomorrow, so you should rest early tonight."

The implication was that she agreed to stay one more night.

A round-faced old nanny hurriedly said: "Madam, this servant has already had the rooms prepared. Why don't you go and rest in your room first?"

Old Madam Gu rubbed her temples wearily and let the nanny lead the way.

In the empty hall, only Gu Yanfei remained, as if she had been forgotten.

Outside the window, a faint cat’s meow drifted into her ears.

"Meow..."

The sound was elusive. Gu Yanfei looked toward the window in the direction of the sound. There wasn't a breath of wind in the courtyard, and the trees were perfectly still.

"I thought I heard a cat..." Gu Yanfei raised an eyebrow.

"A cat?" Juanbi stretched her neck to look out the window as well.

No sooner had she spoken than a fluffy, soft ball of fur leaped through the window with a "whoosh," landing steadily on the windowsill.

It was a calico kitten, no more than two months old.

Its nose was pink, and its body was covered in soft fur. The black, orange, and white long hairs were blended perfectly together. Its small, round face was embedded with a pair of perfectly round green eyes, like a pair of top-quality emeralds, sparkling in the sunlight.

Gu Yanfei met the kitten’s gaze. Those emerald pupils were brimming with light, clear and spirited, giving Gu Yanfei a strangely familiar feeling.

"Meow!"

The fur-ball let out a happy cry. The sound was soft and sweet, and its green eyes were filled with surprise, as if to say, *I found you!*

It kicked its hind legs hard and pounced toward Gu Yanfei, with the momentum of a fledgling bird returning to its nest.

The little creature was fast, but if Gu Yanfei had truly wanted to dodge, it would have been easy.

She didn't move. For some reason, she found those clear, emerald cat eyes familiar, and the way it pounced at her also brought a sense of familiarity.

"Little kitty!"

Amidst Juanbi’s exclamation, the calico kitten pounced enthusiastically into Gu Yanfei’s arms. Gu Yanfei supported its soft belly with one hand and reached out to stroke its chin with the other, only for it to bite down on the tip of her index finger.

Bright red blood welled up, forming a bead the size of a grain of rice.

The kitten eagerly licked away the drop of blood with its rough little tongue, its fluffy tail wagging happily behind it.

Gu Yanfei narrowed her eyes, feeling as if an invisible string of the heart had connected her to the kitten in her arms.

She lifted the kitten higher, bringing its emerald eyes level with her own, and raised an eyebrow as she asked: "Qingguang? Why are you here too?"

"How... did you turn into a cat?"