Chapter 308: Never Mind, It’s Definitely the Gu Family’s

"General Xiang, this matter concerns four families. There has to be some kind of explanation. Since the Gu family and the Zhan family are also here today, why don’t the four of us sit down and have a proper discussion? We can ask for the child’s opinion as well."

"There’s nothing to talk about! Go on, all of you, get out! Someone, see our guests out," Xiang Minghou said, suppressing his anger.

The butler hurried into the room. "Everyone, if you please."

None of the group moved. When Old Master Gu heard Qian Fu mention the Gu family, he jolted. ’The fourth family is ours? The Gu family?’

Oh, this was a big deal...

"The little girl belongs to the Gu family! She belongs to the Gu family!" Old Master Gu started shouting.

He was completely baffled and didn’t know what was going on, only that everyone was fighting over the little girl.

"..."

"..."

"The child belongs to the Gu family! Xiang Minghou, if you don’t hand her over today, this old man isn’t leaving! You can beat me to death, but I’m not leaving!" Old Master Gu plopped himself right onto the floor. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Zhan Yi’s expression was complicated. He turned and stared at his son. ’How did this turn into four families?’

Zhan Chi was embarrassed, but his determination to claim his daughter was unshaken. "Father, the little fatty is definitely from our Zhan family."

"She must be. There’s no mistaking her looks," Mrs. Zhan stated, completely convinced.

With their confirmation, Zhan Yi took two steps and sat down in a chair. "We’re not leaving today without an explanation either."

"Old Master Gu, Brother Zhan, didn’t you hear me? The child’s blood merged with my son’s. She has nothing to do with either of you." Qian Fu turned and also sat in a chair.

"Brother Qian, everyone knows you’re full of schemes. We don’t believe a word you say. Not unless we perform a blood-paternity test on the spot," Zhan Yi said, distrustful.

"This old man doesn’t believe it either! What Qian family, what Zhan family? She belongs to my Gu family!" Old Master Gu raised a hand.

Seeing this, the butler immediately helped the old master up.

"Anyway, we’re not leaving without an explanation. Xiang Minghou, you figure it out." Old Master Gu was the most imposing of them all.

He might have been confused, but that didn’t stop him from trying to snatch the child.

Xiang Minghou felt a splitting headache coming on. "Go, go, go! All of you, just go! You didn’t want her back then, and now you all come running? Not a chance!"

"General Xiang, things have come to this point. It’s not for you to decide alone anymore. Besides, the little girl is Qian Fu’s granddaughter."

"What do you mean, Qian Fu’s? She’s clearly my granddaughter, Zhan Yi’s!"

"Enough, both of you. She’s from the Gu family." Old Master Gu didn’t know which member of the Gu family they were talking about, but if the Gu name was mentioned, then she definitely belonged to them.

"Who doesn’t know that the Gu family hasn’t produced a girl in three generations? Old Master Gu, you might as well excuse yourself." Qian Fu hadn’t expected claiming a granddaughter to be this difficult.

"Who says? Just a few days ago, this old man was praying to the Bodhisattva, and Guanyin, the deliverer of children, sent me a child in a dream! And that child was Ye Qianning!" When it came to arguing, Old Master Gu had never lost.

"..."

’Wow, impressive. An old man praying to the Guanyin who brings children?’

"Since it has come to this, why don’t we summon all the concerned parties? This matter needs a conclusion, after all." As he spoke, Qian Fu called out the door, "Butler, send someone to the Minister Mansion to fetch my son, Qian Fanji."

"Yes, yes."

"Right, it’s better to call them. The matter of the child must be settled today. Whoever’s family she belongs to gets to take her home." Zhan Yi agreed, and his family of three sat in a row.

"Yes, call them all! Who from my Gu family should we call?" Old Master Gu chimed in enthusiastically.

"..."

Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Old Master Gu. ’So he really has no idea?’

’Shouting his head off demanding the child without even knowing?’

"Who is it? Who from the Gu family?" Old Master Gu asked again.

Those present, whether they knew or not, all fell silent. Old Master Gu was really just making a scene. ’Who was it that brought up the Gu family in the first place?’

Qian Fu thought it over and decided he’d run his mouth too much.

"Huh? Who from the Gu family are we calling? Young Zhan, you tell me!" Old Master Gu looked at Zhan Yi.

Zhan Yi was just as lost. "I don’t know."

"Young Qian? You were the one who just mentioned the Gu family." Old Master Gu was getting anxious. ’They said she was from the Gu family, so why has everyone gone quiet?’

"So you just don’t want my Gu family to have the child! You’re all ganging up to trick this old man, aren’t you!" Old Master Gu stood up, hands on his hips, so angry at the seated crowd that his hands were shaking.

"Gu Shuo."

Xiang Minghou said, his face cold.

Things had escalated to this point. If they wanted to sit down and talk, then they might as well settle it all at once. In any case, he wouldn’t give up his daughter.

Old Master Gu was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. ’Gu Shuo? It’s actually that brat Gu Shuo!’

"Butler, quick, send someone to fetch my eldest grandson!" As long as there was a candidate, his great-granddaughter would soon be his.

The butler was just waiting for the order. His head was buzzing, but he managed to remember that he needed to summon Minister Qian and Boss Gu.

In the main hall, everyone sat in their own groups. The families of Qian Fu and Zhan Yi were glaring at each other, unable to stand the sight of one another. They still showed some deference to Xiang Minghou, however, since he was the one who had taken in the little girl.

Old Master Gu was different. He couldn’t stand the sight of anyone, including Xiang Minghou.

「Yuehua Small Building」

Ye Qianning paid no mind to the commotion in the main hall. She was focused on preparing the materials to treat Sang Zhi’s eyes. In this era, there were no modern instruments, so she could only use a method similar to cupping.

"This might hurt a lot. You’ll have to bear with it." Ye Qianning found a piece of gauze, folded it in half, and placed it over Sang Zhi’s eyes.

"Mm," Sang Zhi nodded.

On the table, a small tripod cauldron burned with medicinal herbs, and a small, exquisite glass cup was placed over its opening.

Smoke could be seen swirling inside the glass cup, the white vapor slowly turning a cyan color.

Ye Qianning picked up the cup. With a slight shake, the cyan smoke spiraled within it. She held the gauze down with one hand and placed the glass cup over it.

Even though the heat was buffered by two layers of gauze, Sang Zhi still trembled.

His small hands clenched into fists, but he made no sound.

A hint of admiration appeared in Ye Qianning’s eyes. The skin around the eyes is very delicate; even the steam from boiling water would be painful on it.

Though the gauze and the medicinal properties of the herbs prevented burns, the pain was not diminished in the slightest.

The cyan mist in the glass cup gradually seeped through the gauze and into Sang Zhi’s eyes. Only when the smoke had vanished did Ye Qianning remove the cup.

"Keep your eyes closed," Ye Qianning instructed, gently massaging the area around his eye sockets through the gauze.

At first, Sang Zhi’s eyes felt a burning, stinging heat. Slowly, it felt as if something was fumigating them, making them prickle. After a while, however, it started to feel comfortable, and his whole body relaxed.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Ye Qianning released her hands and removed the gauze from his eyes.

Sang Zhi’s eyes were completely bloodshot, as if he had been punched in both of them. The sight was quite amusing.

"Try to open your eyes slowly and get used to the light."

Sang Zhi blinked a few times but still couldn’t quite adjust to the bright light. He felt like he was seeing black rings float before his eyes.

"Don’t rush. If you can’t adjust, just wait a bit longer." Ye Qianning squeezed his hand. It was normal for his eyes to be sensitive after the high-heat treatment.

"Mm."

After another moment, Sang Zhi slowly opened his eyes. His pupils were no longer the gray they had been before but now held a faint golden sheen.

Ye Qianning held his eyelids open to observe them closely. The white film covering them was also very obvious. Judging from the color of his eyeballs, it had been formed by the medicine.