The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!-Chapter 323 - 320: He Made Me Lose You

Gu Fuju lifted the cloth curtain.

Yu Tingwan looked over, it was an academy.

Her gaze went up, and the signboard above the door had bold and vigorous characters.

—Huaqing Academy.

The handwriting was not unfamiliar.

Yu Tingwan had seen it in Wei Zhao’s study before.

Huaqing Academy was founded by Grand Tutor Gu after returning to the Capital to take office back in the days.

The tuition was cheap, and the Gu family contributed a substantial amount of silver each year to improve the students’ meals, only enrolling impoverished students.

Yu Tingwan had heard people mention that his daughter was weak, and Grand Tutor Gu did this, firstly, to support the children of humble origins, and secondly, out of personal desire to bring blessings to his daughter for a smooth life.

No great emotions stirred in her heart, and she followed Gu Fuju off the carriage.

Seeing her constantly looking at the characters on the signboard, Gu Fuju spoke.

"It was written by Duke Shun."

For impoverished families, it’s hard to produce nobles. First, it’s costly, and few persist to the end. Second, they lack resources, resulting in few even qualifying for the imperial exam rankings.

Families living in poverty deeply understood the principle that all trades are inferior, only studying is superior. But due to the rarity, not many families were willing to take the risk of losing their investment and tighten their belts to support a scholar.

Such a vicious cycle meant even fewer impoverished families pursued education.

Gu Fuju deeply understood the hardships involved.

At that time, he had not yet assumed the position of Grand Tutor, and Huaqing Academy was not as large as it was now, merely a small school. Many officials threw cold water, saying he was young and impetuous, thinking himself lofty for marrying Princess Jiasan with his handful of talents, and questioned how a small school could cultivate scholars.

Until the plaque personally written by Duke Shun, Wei Fengxing, was delivered to show support, which shut everyone up completely.

"His father’s character was noble, and he and I were on good terms. His son..."

Gu Fuju didn’t want to continue and led her inside.

Huaqing Academy was very large.

Inside, towering green trees and fairy vines wrapped around rocks and eaves, full of elegance.

Students coming and going all wore green robes, holding books, and seeing them from afar, they didn’t particularly come over to pay respects but bowed with reverence and solemnity.

Following the winding corridors, they took a few more steps along the path. Gradually moving northward, they reached the study room. Gu Fuju pushed the door open. He invited Yu Tingwan to sit down at the tea table by the window.

On top of the tea table, there was a genealogy.

It was open.

Yu Tingwan had just sat down when her sharp eyes caught familiar names.

Gu Fuju and Jiasan.

Below their names.

Was Gu Wu, and under Gu Wu was a line of smaller characters, adopted daughter.

Yu Tingwan’s gaze paused for a moment, looking to the side, where there were names she didn’t recognize.

Underneath, smaller characters indicated legitimate daughter.

"Gu Qing Ying, is the name your mother and I had decided upon before you were born. Huaqing Academy was named after you."

Gu Fuju sat down, eyes gazing out, and he began to speak slowly.

"Back then, it was the time of the new emperor’s rise to the throne. The entire Prince Yan Mansion was exiled, and the noble families supporting the Prince Yan Mansion, led by Old Master Lu, were warned by flogging him to death to cement the emperor’s authority. In Shangjing City, all officials sought self-preservation, and your grandfather had supported King Yan. To avoid the brunt, added to my position in the Imperial Censorate sitting idle and offending many, rather than stiffly enduring, it was better to retreat. Sometimes retreating is also a form of attack. His elder discussed with me for many days."

"Later, I left for my post at the new capital. Your mother was pregnant with you at that time. It was a desolate place we were heading to, passing through Ze County but still a half month’s journey away. I couldn’t bear for her to suffer with me. Your uncle was sent elsewhere by your grandfather, and your mother was sent to the He family’s old home in Xianyang."

Though the new capital was desolate, it was full of opportunities, waiting for him to settle, waiting for the issue with King Yan to pass, and in due course, achieving merit would still allow him to return.

Yu Tingwan listened, a little confused.

"Why did the He family support King Yan? Why not support the current Holy Emperor?"

Wasn’t the Empress Dowager married from the He family?

Gu Fuju said warmly, "King Yan was more suited for the throne and was the late Emperor’s most favored prince."

The He family was pragmatic, not overly ambitious.

"Moreover, the Holy Emperor was not the Empress Dowager’s biological child."

"His natural mother died early, and the late Emperor, seeing his youth, sent him to be raised under the Empress Dowager’s name."

In the Imperial Palace, princes of age were not the simple children from outside.

He long knew who his biological mother was.

Yu Tingwan: ...

Oh my.

Gu Fuju spoke in a deep tone, "Among those I offended was Duke Zhou."

Saying he offended was more about acting according to the law during the late Emperor’s reign, where he impeached Duke Zhou’s younger brother for his brutal nature and six murders in court.

Yet Duke Zhou wielded power unchecked, engaging in cover-ups, taking in the family’s complaints, only to wave them off into a mass grave for live burial.

Members of the Imperial Censorate, having been bribed, turned a blind eye, not daring to impeach.

He did impeach.

But the result was not life for life.

The life of a noble family was precious; commoners were cheap.

The late Emperor was informed of this and handled it leniently. Zhou’s family was given twenty lashes as a warning to others.

At that time, Gu Fuju realized the court he had struggled to enter was nothing more.

"I was then far off in the new capital, surrounded by martial guards sent by your grandfather for protection, yet still fell victim to a trap and was severely injured, with the news twisted with exaggeration and sent to Xianyang, reaching your mother’s ears."

How could Jiasan not be anxious? How could she not go? There wasn’t anyone around her who could make decisions for her.

Yet she was seven months pregnant, heavily burdened and inconvenient, she considered thoroughly, bringing along many servants, including a number of martial attendants.

"But the news was blocked, with the famine in the four cities near Ze County hidden from the public for a long while and finally erupting. Refugees caused trouble."

If they were all genuine refugees, it would have been better, but there were people from Duke Zhou among them.

Duke Zhou supported Emperor Ying. His daughter was the current Empress, and back then, the He family showed weakness to the new Emperor, so of course Duke Zhou was having a fine time.

This was a warning to Gu Fuju and the He family.

"Your mother was jostled, bleeding on the spot, giving premature birth to you in a dilapidated temple."

"But she was weak, fainted right after giving birth to you, and didn’t get to see you. The temple was broken into by refugees, and in the chaos, when she woke up, you were gone."

There were also Gu Fuju’s people in Xianyang, knowing Jiasan had left Xianyang felt uneasy, how could they not see the intricate plot underneath?

He, despite his injuries, hurried to Ze County, but the child was lost, and Jiasan nearly lost her mind.

Gu Fuju’s tone was heavy, "At that time, all around was chaos, and my abilities were limited; I couldn’t find you anywhere."

"In the end, it was in wolf-infested woods that a bloodstained piece of cloth was found."

A newborn was fragile, and that piece of cloth was ripped from Jiasan’s petticoat, wrapping the child.

The cloth was still covered with mud.

At that moment, Gu Fuju recognized it, his vision blackened, and with his severe injury, he forced out a mouthful of blood.

"But I don’t know why, I refused to believe you had died."

Hence, he went to Ze County every year to search.

Year after year, his influence strengthened.

He rose like a cloud, seated as the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty, capable of contending with Duke Zhou, possibly even crushing him.

Yet Gu Fuju did not.

"He made me lose you."

"So I ruined the person he valued most."

Gu Fuju also wanted Duke Zhou to taste the agony of loss and gradually bring the Zhou family to the brink.

"Thus Duke Zhou’s son, Zhou Xuan, fell from a high building while drunk, losing half a leg."

The offspring under the Zhou family were no match. Was it even necessary to say who Duke Zhou valued?

He valued power, valued his grandson, the Empress’s son, the deceased Crown Prince.

But at that time, the Crown Prince was not dead.

"The Crown Prince was weak since birth. If cared for properly, he wouldn’t have worsened as he grew."

Gu Fuju: "That was my doing."

In truth, he wasn’t so noble.

Bullying him was permissible, bullying his wife and daughter was not.

"Later, the Empress was pregnant again, but miscarried within five days, that too was my doing."

Yu Tingwan heard him mention quietly.

"But father, you still weren’t able to find my Qing Ying."