"Baby, is that what Mother thinks it is?" Bai Suihe could quickly assume the role of the mother, but she really didn't know how to face that opportunistic husband. Now, another layer of mystery had been added, leaving her somewhat alarmed.
"Father has also returned, but I can't communicate with him right now. I have to wait until he's home."
The unborn child in her belly was very joyful, seemingly having a good feeling towards the yet-to-be-seen father, Gu Kaiyuan.
"You mean your father can also hear you speak?" Bai Suihe felt a bit lost, thinking it was a secret between her and the baby, but now there was another involved.
"Of course, Father, Mother, and I are connected by blood, so our family is inherently linked."
"What about the other people in the Gu Mansion?" Bai Suihe felt a bit anxious. If too many people knew about the secret, could it still be called a secret?
"That's certainly not possible," Perhaps it was truly because Bai Suihe was well-rested, the baby seemed awake longer, "I can only communicate this way with Mother and Father."
Bai Suihe let out a sigh of relief, "Does the baby have a name?"
"… Mother, you and Father haven't had the chance to give me one yet." The baby's voice was a bit excited, also wanting to have its own name.
Bai Suihe said softly, "I may not have a say in your formal name, but the nickname can be one you like most."
Bai Suihe was aware that in this house, the rules dictated names be assigned based on the family tree order, like the sons from the first and second branches, one named Anliang, the other An Wei.
Although it's strange, the female protagonist also follows this generational order, which is usually against the rules.
"Mother, I don't know either, why don't you help me pick one?"
Bai Suihe, "… Then Mother will think carefully and come up with a few, so the baby can choose."
Noticing the baby was getting a bit tired, Bai Suihe didn't dare to talk much longer, soothing the baby to rest well before instructing the servants to get food from the main kitchen.
She wondered whether the Gu Mansion was genuinely doing so poorly, as the meals were not very plentiful.
Though given ready-made meals, Bai Suihe wasn't picky. After eating, she claimed to be sleepy again, dismissing everyone.
She turned around and entered the space, which hadn't changed much, but something seemed amiss. Why did it feel like the rice plants seemed slightly shorter?
She fetched an apple, wiped it casually on her clothes, then munched on it while strolling through the space.
She glanced at the scattered boiled water around earlier. The room maintained its initial temperature, but outside the courtyard, the water had already turned cool.
"It seems only inside this courtyard can things stay fresh," Bai Suihe walked to the courtyard and also noticed the lychee shells she tossed in the corner yesterday had disappeared, suggesting this space had a self-cleaning feature.
Such a treasure, Bai Suihe felt even more grateful to the child in her belly.
☆
A fast-moving carriage raced down the main road. Inside, Gu Kaiyuan stared blankly at the carriage roof, having been poisoned by the venomous Gu Antong, leading to his untimely death. Upon waking, he found himself in the villa.
He remembered that during the confiscation, these villas were taken back, later rewarded by the Emperor to newfound favorites.
Now seeing his younger self, he understood it was a serendipitous encounter.
He couldn't bother handling the harvests from the villa and had rushed a carriage back to the capital overnight.
The disasters had yet to begin; he wanted to return to see his wife and daughter.
Sitting in the carriage, he felt perplexed again.
Fueled by revenge, he had opposed the Third Prince and Gu Antong, hoping one day to take revenge personally.
But now recalling, his little wife's face seemed already blurred in memory.
He lifted the curtain, looked at the moonlight spilling over the road, and felt somewhat surreal.
"Third Young Master, the post station is just ahead. Should we stop to rest?" Lin Wei, driving the carriage, knew at such speed, his master couldn't possibly sleep.
"Let's rest at the post station for the night," Lin Kaiyuan had been hurrying back since he woke up, but he also realized en route that rushing back wouldn't solve anything now.
If people don't rest, at least the horse needs to.
Lin Wei quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Though he was the Third Young Master's guard, traveling at night wasn't wise. If they encountered bandits, he couldn't handle it alone.
The carriage pulled into the post station, attendants immediately helped settle the carriage.
Not just anyone could afford a carriage, especially one pulled by two fine horses, indicating individuals of status whom they couldn't afford to offend.
"Bring one superior room and two standard rooms," Gu Kaiyuan certainly wouldn't mistreat his people. After a good rest, they would have to continue traveling tomorrow, "Serve the best wine and food."
He couldn't prevent the house confiscations. After experiencing so much in his past life, he only wanted to protect his wife and children in this life. As for parents and brothers…
After dining, Gu Kaiyuan didn't return to his room but instead untethered a horse, leaving Lin Hua and Lin Wei to rest at the post station. He sprinted to the foot of a mountain.
Once alone, he drew the sword from his waist and practiced each move diligently.
When his wife and child suffered, although he knew who the enemy was, he endured silently under the suppression of his parents and brothers.
Once vindicated, he ventured alone into the camp, fueled by an inner zeal, climbing step by step until he finally had military power to aim his sword at the Third Prince.
He only regretted being one step too late, losing everything, unable to avenge his grievances.
All blamed on being too hasty. If only he'd waited a little longer...
But this time, having been reborn, he wouldn't watch helplessly as tragedy repeated itself.
The main culprit, Gu Antong, since awakening, he refused to acknowledge this niece. The grace of parents, the bond of brothers had been repaid in the previous life, hoping they wouldn't make the same mistakes again.
The sharp sword sliced through the air, and the wild trees in front fell neatly.
Looking at the sword in his hand, he felt a little regret. It wasn't the Qingfeng he later acquired by chance, with less than half the power. If possible in the future, he might seek it out.
After venting, he returned to the post station, and seeing him safely back, Lin Hua and Lin Wei, who had been waiting, finally went to rest.
Lin Hua and Lin Wei had grown up with him, serving as his constant companions and bodyguards.
The house confiscation happened too abruptly, not giving them a chance to react. All these household servants, including Lin Hua and Lin Wei, were taken by the authorities and sold. He later searched for them, finding their fates had been rather tragic.
While house confiscation was unavoidable, he had to make arrangements for these trusted followers in advance.
But all those contract papers were still in public hands; a way had to be found.
With these thoughts, Gu Kaiyuan tossed and turned, eventually falling asleep, though his sleep was restless, waking several times during the night.
Lin Hua and Lin Wei were worried about his restlessness, but without the ability to share their master's burdens, they could only tend to him diligently.