Chapter 121: Not Worthy

  Thank you for the pink tickets from qingtian44329475, thank you to book friends 130424235635737 two, liqiyue007, yuxuefeifei each one for the reward of peace symbol... Tiger touch o(∩_∩)o~......

  As soon as she got into the carriage, Murong's expression changed from the cheerful look she had on her face when she was talking and laughing outside, to a dignified and elegant demeanor. She sat upright in the carriage, looking at Qingjin with a warm gaze that seemed to hold a hint of detachment and a superior condescending attitude.

  Qing Jin got on the carriage behind Murong, and saw that Murong's actions and expressions were completely different from what she had just seen outside the carriage. Qing Jin didn't show any surprise at all, which was normal for a wife, wasn't it? Which wife would be willing to see her husband have an affair with another woman, and even help him set up a tryst with that other woman?

  Although it was an era when women were required to be virtuous and obedient, and wives had to personally arrange for their husbands to take concubines and maidservants in order to have children, a wife who personally played matchmaker for her husband and other women was simply too virtuous.

  Qing Jin also thought of herself as a woman, if she hadn't married Long Han Yuan, Qing Jin would have married into a respectable family, and as a transmigrated woman, even if she didn't love him, Qing Jin absolutely wouldn't be so kind as to play matchmaker for her husband and another woman. Moreover, Qing Jin understood Murong Shi, and Murong Shi wouldn't be such a "kind" person either.

  So Qingjin got into the carriage and saw Murong's completely different expression, but she didn't show any surprise. Moreover, after seeing Murong's obvious difference, she wasn't surprised at all, instead, she treated it as normal to find a comfortable position to sit down, as if Murong's sudden change was nothing out of the ordinary in her eyes.

  Seeing Qingjin's expression as a matter of course without any unusual color, a hint of unusual color flashed in Mu Rong's eyes.

  Among the crowd of onlookers, the horse carriage slowly started moving. Qing Jin quietly pulled out a notebook from her sleeve and began to flip through it as if no one was around.

  Watching Qing Jin savoring the book in her hand, Murong's gaze never left Qing Jin. Qing Jin also knew that Murong had been staring at her, but being stared at a few more times wouldn't make her lose any flesh, so under Murong's gaze, Qing Jin didn't feel disturbed at all and continued to stare intently at the book in her hand.

  Looking at the calm and collected Gu Qingjin, who seemed to be ignoring everyone around her, a strong sense of crisis suddenly rose up in Mu Rong's heart. It seemed that she had underestimated Gu Qingjin before. If such a Gu Qingjin were to gain favor, then her position as the King's consort would definitely be precarious. But since she was already the King's consort, how could she allow such a thing to happen?

  Thinking of this, Murong's eyes flashed with a cold and fierce light, she made a silent decision. Absolutely cannot let Gu Qingjin gain favor.

  After a flash of thought in her mind, Murong raised her head and smiled warmly at Qingjin, saying: "Gu Ce Fei is really an interesting person!"

  Upon hearing Mu Rong's words, Qing Jin closed the book in her hand. According to Mu Rong's previous behavior, shouldn't she be ignoring her? Why did she suddenly start talking to her again? Did she misinterpret Mu Rong's intentions earlier? Qing Jin couldn't understand why Mu Rong was initiating a conversation with her now. She shifted her gaze to Mu Rong and replied in the same tone, "The princess is also a very interesting person."

  Murong's face stiffened, thinking that Qingjin was mocking her for having a completely different attitude outside the mansion gate and in the carriage earlier. However, seeing Qingjin's pure gaze and warm smile reappear, she looked at the book in Qingjin's hand and asked: "What kind of books does Consort Gu like to read?"

  Seeing Murong looking at the miscellaneous notes in her hand, Qing Jin smiled faintly and said to Murong: "It's probably going to make Wang Fei laugh, but I like some of the popular novels and miscellaneous notes."

  "What's this 'Miscellaneous Records'? I occasionally took a look at it before I married into the royal family, but after marrying in, there wasn't much free time, every day was spent dealing with miscellaneous matters in the back courtyard... Later on, I also gave birth to Qianyuan, and the amount of free time became even less. Now that Consort Gu is mentioning this, it makes me think of the past..." A nostalgic expression appeared on Muyong's face.

  Qing Jin heard these words from Murong Shi, but smiled and remained silent.

  Half a moment later, Murong returned to her senses from her reverie, adjusted her expression and continued speaking to Qingjin: "However, those were all things that happened before I got married. We women, after getting married, should focus our energy on supporting our husbands and teaching our children. Now that Consort Gu has entered our Quiet King's Manor and married the master, it's not me saying this, but Consort Gu's thoughts from now on should still be focused on the master, serving him well is the right thing to do. Does Consort Gu think what I'm saying makes sense?"

  "The princess taught is, Qing Jin has learned." Qing Jin heard Murong's words and nodded in response.

  Upon hearing Qingjin nod in agreement, Mu Rong's expression paused for a moment. According to what she had previously learned, shouldn't Qingjin dislike her father? Why would he nod in agreement? Could it be that the information she gathered was all false?

  Murong was somewhat suspicious, but she believed in her control over the Jing Wang Fu, and Gu Qingjin must be hiding something. Thinking of this, Murong pretended to be relieved and continued to say to Qingjin: "You can listen to it, by the way, I heard from the servants in the mansion that on the day when Concubine Gu entered the mansion, she seemed to have a dispute with Master in the new house because of something?" As soon as she said this, Murong frowned and her face turned serious.

  Looking at Murong's serious expression, if Qing Jin were just a girl in her early teens, she might have been intimidated by Murong's aura. Unfortunately, Qing Jin was not, and she asked Murong in surprise: "Which servant did the princess hear from, how could you say such an unreliable thing? How could I argue with the prince?"

  Watching Qing Jin's unhidden surprise, Mu Rong tightly stared at Qing Jin's eyes, not letting go of Qing Jin's current abnormality. Unfortunately, after staring for half a day, Qing Jin's face only showed surprise and no other expression. Mu Rong finally withdrew her gaze, but in her heart, she was even more wary of Qing Jin. However, on the surface, she didn't show any sign of it and instead revealed a hint of a smile as she said to Qing Jin: "It's good that you understand. I'm relieved now. I knew that Consort Gu is an intelligent person. No matter what happened in the past, once you entered the Jing Wang Fu, you became the master's person. I believe you must understand this."

  Qing Jin suddenly understood the deep meaning in Murong's words, reminding her that she had entered the Quiet King's mansion with a not-so-clean identity, warning her to be content with her current situation and not to covet things that didn't belong to her.

  Although Qing Jin's smile didn't change, she felt a bit resentful in her heart. In this life, she clearly didn't want to get entangled with Long Han Yuan, but fate was playing tricks on her.

  Upon hearing Mu Rong's words, Qing Jin couldn't help but think of her own helpless surrender to fate. If it weren't for Long Han Yuan, she might have been able to marry into a respectable family and live a peaceful life relying on the An Ji Hou Fu and Jun Jia.

  But because of Long Han's remoteness, she can no longer marry into a respectable family and live the life she wants. She will never be able to become the legitimate wife and will have to endure the ridicule and warnings from others' legitimate wives. What is all this for? Gu Qingjin had once made mistakes, liking someone she shouldn't have liked, and she paid the price with her life.

  If she had married Long Han Yuan as a concubine in her past life, ruining his marriage to Murong Xi, and owed Murong Xi an apology, that was also in the past. Moreover, in her past life, she had never actively framed Murong Xi, but rather passively accepted Murong Xi's provocations and accusations. Even if there were karmic retributions, she should not owe Murong Xi anything after ultimately bringing about her own downfall.

  If that's still not enough, what Murong did to her on the day she entered the palace, she thinks should have been repaid long ago, so she doesn't owe Murong anything anymore.

  In this life, the marriage to Long Han was not her choice, and entering the Jing Wang Fu was also not her choice. She didn't have the courage to defy imperial power, so she could only enter the Jing Wang Fu. She accepted it because there were people she needed to protect.

  But what qualifications do they have to repeatedly expose her scars and remind her that she is not worthy, she is not worthy, she hopes she is not worthy, she wishes she was not worthy.

  It's like someone destroyed what you wanted, forced something you didn't need on you, and then told you that you're not worthy of having such a thing, constantly reminding you of the fate you don't want but can't resist. What kind of heart-wrenching thing is this? Any good-tempered person wouldn't be calm in the face of such things, let alone Qingjin who didn't consider herself to be good-tempered.

  She smiled and opened her mouth to the puzzled Mu Rong, "Qing Jin's marriage was bestowed by the Emperor, Qing Jin naturally knew that she was the concubine of the Jing Wang Fu, but why did the Wang Fei need to tell her again? The last sentence was finished, Qing Jin looked at Mu Rong in confusion.

  Seeing Qing Jin's puzzled expression, Mu Rong Shi smiled elegantly and stared at Qing Jin's face without any trace of emotion. She didn't believe that Qing Jin really hadn't understood her words. Thinking back to what Qing Jin had just said, the engagement was bestowed by the Emperor himself, wasn't she telling her that the marriage between Gu Qing Jin and her master was personally bestowed by the Emperor? If Mu Rong Shi continued to say anything, it would be equivalent to questioning the Emperor, so she calmly refuted her words.

  Having understood the meaning of Qing Jin's words, Mu Rong's face was barely maintaining its dignity. Thinking that the Emperor had given this woman the title of "Chastity", one woman cannot serve two husbands. Gu Qing Jin was already engaged to be married, but the Emperor gave her to him in marriage, who would dare question it?

  This woman, indeed, was not a simple character. With a serious look at Qingjin in front of her, Murong was about to continue saying something when the carriage slowly came to a stop. They had arrived at the palace gate.

  "Second sister——" Qing Jin had just gotten off the carriage from the Jing Wang Fu when she heard a melodious voice, and upon hearing the familiar voice, Qing Jin turned around to see Gu Qing Yao's figure, and for an instant, she was dazed.