Chapter 3: Surrender the Identity of a Self Inherited Disciple

Gu Jianyan didn't know what Duke Jing was thinking.

In her heart, she calculated that this regent prince was incredibly wealthy. Not to mention the gold, silver, and jewels, he also had plenty of other valuable items hidden in the manor.

In her previous life, she had seen a lot and swindled quite a few, all of which were hidden in the manor.

In this life, she suffered heavy losses. Would she slowly regain what she had lost?

Thinking about this, Gu Jianyan, with a cunning look, calculated, "Your Highness, your calamity is indeed dangerous. However, if the regent prince is not stingy and offers up that eastern pearl of yours, I can disregard life and death and accompany Your Highness through the calamity!"

Upon hearing this, Duke Jing was not pleased and said, "You really know how to choose. There's only one eastern pearl, and it was even snatched from the emperor. You're asking for it with such a big appetite!"

Disregard life and death!

Just the calamity of Duke Jing, she made it up!

It seemed that she had long been eyeing that eastern pearl!

"Guards, take her..."

Xiao Yuheng and Gu Jianyan's gazes both fell on Duke Jing.

Duke Jing pursed his lips and didn't dare to continue.

Miss Gu Jianyan, the legitimate daughter of the current Minister of Revenue, and the legitimate niece of the Marquis of Zhenbei. Setting aside the Marquis of Zhenbei, that Minister is both corrupt and protective. If he gets wind of his daughter being wronged, it might not end well. If someone reports it, even the emperor won't be able to stop him from giving someone a beating.

Xiao Yuheng looked at Gu Jianyan. The current regent prince was still a handsome young man. Being stared at by him like this, Gu Jianyan felt a different sensation compared to her previous life.

He spoke, "It's a pleasure to meet Miss Gu Jianyan. It's a rare honor to meet someone as worldly as you."

"Even more so than the Minister of Revenue."

Father?

She's more formidable than her father?

Her father is quite capable, relying on his strength to bully the weak, corrupt and greedy, doing all sorts of bad things, yet still firmly holding the position of Minister of Revenue.

"Go on," Gu Jianyan said curiously.

In her previous life, she never heard the regent prince praise her until his death.

Rare.

Xiao Yuheng turned and left.

Gu Jianyan was dumbfounded. Did he just stop halfway through?

"Quite greedy!" Xiao Yuheng's voice faded as he left.

Duke Jing nodded in agreement.

This Miss Gu Jianyan is really composed.

In the past, she seemed timid and easy to bully, even being bullied by the daughters of merchants without a word.

But here in front of the regent prince, she's showing her teeth. I've never seen His Highness being so formidable!

Hmph!

Thinking about the regent prince's eastern pearl?

At such a young age, she should at least be thinking about the person of the regent prince.

The regent prince has been of age for many years and is still unmarried!

Gu Jianyan looked at Xiao Yuheng's retreating figure, feeling a headache and toothache!

She lightly bumped into him, telling him such a big secret. What a loss, a huge loss!

In her previous life, when he came to the manor, he needed real gold and silver for her advice and medical treatment.

Forget it.

Considering that she swindled him out of a room full of gold, silver, and jewels in her previous life, this time, let's consider it a gift.

-

Pearl Pavilion.

Gu Jianyan was attended by four first-class maids and several second-class maids in the courtyard. Although the Marquis of Zhenbei's East Manor was the most magnificent, the Minister of Revenue always regarded Gu Jianyan as a precious treasure, so she lived in the largest courtyard in the East Manor.

From her childhood, Lady Zheng had been dissatisfied with this, but it had no effect.

Her father always treated her well, even if she grew up not knowing anything, unable to read, and lacking in manners, he still looked at her with joy.

The living environment was good, and Gu Jianyan felt very comfortable.

Having been used to a hard life in the manor, now with maids attending to her, Gu Jianyan lay down and fell asleep.

When she woke up, she was still in the Pearl Pavilion, and Gu Jianyan finally felt at ease.

As the maids were doing her hair and makeup, she carefully looked at herself in the mirror, smiling charmingly, with clear, large eyes, flawless fair skin, and delicate cheeks, stunningly beautiful.

If it were based on appearance alone, she outshone Gu Jinyu by far.

But apart from appearance, at this moment, she was only embarrassed.

Having a good appearance was useless. Gu Jinyu's current status as the Phoenix Lady meant that she would shine brightly in the capital, and everyone would only see the Phoenix Lady.

How could she regain the identity of the Phoenix Lady?

While pondering this, Xiaochun came in and said, "Second Miss, Madam is here."

Before she could finish speaking, Lady Zheng's figure appeared in the room. She was so angry that her face turned red, and she slapped Gu Jianyan.

Gu Jianyan remained indifferent, able to dodge but chose not to.

Lady Zheng, in her anger, didn't notice that Gu Jianyan was different from her usual submissive self. She scolded, "What happened yesterday? I went to prepare sobering soup for you, but you plotted against me? You're so young, why are you so scheming? Even if you're not happy with me favoring Jinyu a bit more, have you ever thought that Jinyu is the destined Phoenix Lady with a noble status? Even if it's not for you, even I have to kneel and show respect to her."

"You're both Miss Gu of the Gu family, but she is the sky, and you are the earth. If you don't try to please her, do you think you'll have a good life?"

"I heard you even spoke ill of her yesterday? You're truly foolish!"

Gu Jianyan remained indifferent to these words, as if she hadn't heard them. Although she didn't care, she also felt a deep aversion to Lady Zheng.

In her previous life, their schemes succeeded, and she lost her innocence. But she was not willing to be a concubine, so Lady Zheng scolded her like this, even taking a stick and hitting her, several times even on her face, leaving a scar.

As Lady Zheng continued speaking, she went to get a stick.

Sure enough, she didn't hold back and struck Gu Jianyan's face with the stick.

Gu Jinyan didn't indulge her too much. He snatched the stick and threw it far away.

"Mother, what's the matter?" Gu Jinyan asked, trying to contain his anger.

"It's about the marriage with Zhou Huaiyu. It cannot be called off," Mrs. Zheng stated her purpose directly.

"It's impossible," Gu Jinyan didn't budge.

Mrs. Zheng looked at her, feeling that Gu Jinyan was not as obedient as before. But she was her daughter, and this was a predetermined matter. Her marriage and her future were in her hands.

If she didn't want it now, the marriage could be discussed later. But there was a more important matter to attend to at the moment.

"Mother has been strict with you for your own good. Yesterday, when you spoke to Jinyu like that, she might have been angry. She is the destined Phoenix Lady. If she doesn't protect you in the future, what will you do?" Mrs. Zheng used both soft and hard tactics. "Now there's a way to remedy this. The renowned master Lu Yan is looking for a personal disciple. Due to your father's connections, he wants to take you as his disciple. This is a perfect opportunity for you to give way to Jinyu. She is the destined Phoenix Lady, and it's only right for her to be the personal disciple. If you give up this chance today, Jinyu will remember your kindness, and in the future, if you encounter any difficulties, she will help you."