The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 63

Gu Qingjia let out a genuine laugh at his brother’s remark.

“We may share a father, but certainly not a mother. Who knows how Consort Ling raised her son? She actually agreed to let Old Six rush into marriage like this—even went as far as personally petitioning for the imperial decree.”

Gu Qingjia harbored no warm feelings toward Consort Ling. She was a woman who “cooked the dish according to the guest,” treating people based entirely on their status. Though they rarely met, she had never missed an opportunity to dig at him with sarcasm. Now that he was an adult, he could brush it off, but as a child, those cold words had left their mark. He was not a particularly magnanimous man; he remembered every slight.

“You aren’t wrong,” Gu Qingzhe, the Second Prince, nodded. “Though, as juniors, it isn’t quite proper for us to sit here gossiping about Consort Ling.” He said the words for propriety’s sake, but in his heart, he knew the mother was just as much to blame for this mess as the son. “Old Six’s affairs are his own. As long as he doesn’t interfere with us, it’s none of our business.”

The Second Prince didn’t care who his brothers married. His future lay at the borders; he had no designs on the throne.

“Have you seen Old Seven since you returned?” Gu Qingjia asked, shifting the focus. “He’s a different person now—much more spirited.”

“Not yet. I saw Father yesterday and came straight to you today,” Gu Qingzhe replied. Since they were several years apart, they had never been close. “But it’s good that he’s lively. He was sickly for so many years; being energetic is a sign he’s finally recovering.”

Though Gu Qingzhe wasn’t the eldest, he and the First Prince were close in age, giving him a naturally protective, elder-brotherly air.

“Old Seven loves a good crowd these days,” Gu Qingjia noted with a hint of amusement. “Third Brother is too busy chasing Miss Wei, and Fourth Brother won’t give him the time of day. Once he hears you’re here, he’ll likely—”

Before he could finish, a servant announced the arrival of the Seventh Prince.

“See? I told you,” Gu Qingjia said.

Old Seven practically bounded into the room. “Second Brother! You’re far too biased! You’ve only been back two days and you come to see Fifth Brother without even sending word to me!”

His tone was playful, almost sulky—a side of him he never would have shown in the past. “And you, Fifth Brother! Why didn’t you send for me? Are you all leaving me out because you find me annoying?”

Gu Qingjia was momentarily dazed. He marveled at how harmonious their dynamic had become. They had always maintained a “surface peace” where a sudden betrayal wouldn’t have been surprising. Now, they were actually sitting around like a real family, chatting about trifles.

“Old Five and I were just talking about you,” Gu Qingzhe explained with a laugh. “Your complexion looks much better. You’re like a completely different person.” He patted Old Seven’s shoulder, genuinely pleased.

Old Seven beamed. “You see it too, Second Brother? In years past, I couldn’t even step outside in this weather. This year, I’ve been running all over the city and I feel fine!”

“He isn’t just spirited,” Gu Qingjia interjected, dryly teasing him. “He’s become quite the talker. Even Fourth Brother—who has the patience of a saint—is starting to look frayed when Old Seven starts in on him.”

“Fifth Brother! We are brothers by blood! How can you say that?” Old Seven huffed. “I’m just ‘vibrant,’ not talkative!”

“Fine, fine,” Gu Qingjia conceded, not wanting to argue. “You’re vibrant.”

Old Seven didn’t linger on the teasing; he had fresh news to share. “Fifth Brother, you haven’t been out lately, so you might not know… Sixth Brother’s wedding is in a few days, but word is the Xie girl isn’t exactly happy about it.”

“How do you know that?” Gu Qingzhe asked, curious. This was an imperial decree; even if she were miserable, it shouldn’t be common gossip.

“Well, nobody else knows,” Old Seven said, dropping his voice. “But I was bored and happened to overhear something at a tavern. It seems Miss Xie already had someone in her heart. Old Six didn’t care and demanded the decree anyway. The Xie family is powerless to resist. I happen to recognize the maid who carries their secret messages, so I pieced it together.”

He looked satisfied to finally dump this secret. “She won’t flee, of course. That would destroy the Xie clan. Fleeing from an imperial marriage is a slap to the Emperor’s face—it’s far worse than a simple broken engagement.”

“If that’s the case,” Gu Qingzhe sighed, “this marriage is a disaster before it’s even begun.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Old Seven said. “I was dying to tell someone! But don’t let this leave the room; if Consort Ling or Old Six found out, they’d never let us hear the end of it.”

“Old Six is not a broad-minded man,” Gu Qingzhe agreed. “If he hears we’re gossiping about his bride’s former lover, there will be hell to pay.”

“Just a rumor with no proof,” Gu Qingjia added dismissively. “Let his mother worry about it. Since Old Seven is here, stay for dinner. My cook is excellent.”

“I won’t say no to that!” Old Seven chirped.

Meanwhile, in another part of the manor, Ren Songyan and Liu Qingyue were having their own conversation.

“Doctor Ren, I’m glad you’ve decided to stop hiding,” Liu Qingyue said. “Even in women’s clothing, you can still practice medicine alongside the Second Prince. Dressing as a man was far too dangerous.”

Ren Songyan was, after all, technically an Imperial Physician; hiding her gender was a crime of deceiving the Emperor.

“The Second Prince is a reliable man,” Ren Songyan replied softly. “I’m willing to trust him for now.”

Liu Qingyue didn’t pry into the specifics. “That’s all that matters. In the future, we’ll work as women—show the world that we are just as capable. It’s a slow process, but if you were brave enough to risk your head by deceiving the throne, what else could possibly stop you?”

She smiled warmly. “You know I’m not one for grand speeches. I just say what I think. If it sounds right, listen. If not, just treat it like a passing breeze.”

“The Princess is very kind,” Ren Songyan said earnestly. “The Prince and Princess have helped us immensely. If there is ever anything you need in the future, I will do my utmost to assist.”

“Oh, don’t be so formal! I haven’t done much,” Liu Qingyue waved her hand. “I don’t have any grand ambitions or great talents. I just want to live well and enjoy every single day.”

Having suffered through a lifetime of illness in her past, Liu Qingyue considered a healthy body and a peaceful life to be the ultimate treasures.