Carrying the little lucky star, leading the villain on the road to exile

Chapter 313. Household Registration
The Gu family certainly didn't like this news. They had received it two days ago, but they had been silently processing and accepting it over the past two days.

Gu Baijiang sighed. This was not what he had expected. He was supposed to return to the capital in glory, but now his face was ruined and his career was ruined.

What bothered him most was that their identities had not been restored.

Even if his face is disfigured, he was still a scholar who passed the imperial examination; now he's just a commoner.

"Dad, shall we pack our things and go back?" Gu Kaiping could sense the old man's resentment, but he had no choice but to ask.

"Go back? How are we supposed to go back?" Gu Baijiang said. "Wouldn't we just become a laughingstock if we went back?"

He's always been concerned about his reputation and doesn't want to go back in such a humiliating way.

As for how the Third Prince handles things, he certainly won't hand over what he has until he's satisfied with it.

"Shall we go to the county town and take a look?"

"Take your second brother over there, and while you're at it, buy me some wine."

Gu Kaiping looked at him disapprovingly, "Dad, have you forgotten what the doctor said before? After all that trouble, everyone's constitution is weak, and they can't eat spicy food or drink alcohol for several months."

"Then buy more meat," Gu Baijiang was still afraid of dying, and he also felt that his body had been a bit weak lately, so he decided to nourish himself properly.

Gu Kaiping did not refuse. In this damned place, it was difficult to get meat unless you bought some vegetables from the village.

Gu Kaiyuan would lead people into the mountains every day. The aroma of meat would waft through the air from their area, but with so many people there, not only they, but even the villagers dared not approach.

Gu Kaiping went outside for some fresh air; it was just too oppressive.

“Husband,” Liu Yun had been lowering her status and trying to please him these past few days, and Gu Kaiping now preferred to discuss things with her. Their relationship seemed to have warmed up a bit, but they both knew in their hearts that there was still a barrier between them.

"You've had a tough time these past few days," Gu Kaiping said, thinking of how the old man's mood had been so unpredictable these past few days, always finding fault with things, with Liu Yun, the head of the household, being the first target.

"This is all I should do," Liu Yun forced a smile. "I heard about what happened in the village just now. I didn't expect the news to come so quickly. I guess Father is not satisfied with the result. Husband, it's best not to go out and cause trouble these days."

“There’s no other way, I still have to discuss many things with him,” Gu Kaiping said, feeling wronged that someone understood him. “I will try my best to let the second son take the lead in the future.”

Liu Yun said, "Although it's a bit tiring, I think it's better for my husband to step in."

This woman didn't say that before, Gu Kaiping thought, this was far too fickle.

Liu Yun said, "With a bright future just around the corner, we still need Father's help to regain our footing in the capital. Our Tong'er also needs Father's support..."

Gu Kaiping said, "...What Madam said makes sense. We are all family after all, so it is only right for me, as the son, to suffer a little."

"My husband, do you think we can go back to the capital?"

“Going back is inevitable sooner or later,” Gu Kaiping knew his father wouldn’t be content to stay in this small place; this was just a game of strategy.

However, he felt that his father should not go too far. If he really angered the Third Prince, it would lead to a fight to the death, which would be a catastrophe for the Gu family.

Even without this money, the Third Prince still has the ability to compete for the throne. If Father goes too far, and the Third Prince ascends the throne one day, that will be the day of reckoning.

He had tried to persuade his father with these words, but his father said he was waiting and that he shouldn't meddle in things that weren't his business.

Gu Kaiping was very displeased when he heard this. He was the eldest son, and his father had actually held back something for him. "It would be good if we could go back a day earlier, but my husband needs to plan carefully. Even if we go back, we can't be in such a sorry state."

How could Gu Kaiping not understand this principle? If it was an imperial decree to clear their name, then they should return in glory.

But now they are just ordinary people, and if they go back they won't even have a place to stay, which will definitely make them a laughing stock.

Over the years, he has been aloof at the Hanlin Academy, relying on Gu Baijiang's influence, and has offended many people. If he were to return in such a disgraceful manner, he would be met with countless taunts.

"Actually, I think you could go and find your third brother."

"Find him?" Gu Kaiping looked at Liu Yun as if she were an idiot. "The two sides are already so at odds, why would he help us?"

Every time, he swallowed his pride and took the first step, but what was the result?

Gu Kaiyuan is completely impervious to reason. In fact, when a family is together, there are bound to be some disagreements, but those two are the most vengeful.

They would even rather be adopted than lose all contact with them.

He had been thinking that once the imperial edict was issued, he would definitely show off in front of Gu Kaiyuan. But after all the twists and turns, they were still in the same position, and he was even less willing to go and embarrass himself.

"What I mean is the Bai family. As long as the Bai family is willing to continue to help us, our start won't be so difficult."

Moreover, relying solely on Lord Ming and his group for escort along the way doesn't seem very reliable.

No one forgot that the escorts had actually done a lot of work along the way; otherwise, Ming Peifeng and his men would have lost their lives several times over.

"The Bai family? Then you should go and have a good talk with her. I promise her that as long as I return to the court, I will protect the Bai family."

"I've already told him, but Bai Suihe is still completely unyielding, even saying that the Bai family doesn't need to rely on the Gu family." Liu Yun couldn't help but add fuel to the fire. "I think you should have a good talk with Gu Kaiyuan about this. After all, you are brothers from the same mother. If you get better, he won't have to be subservient to the Bai family."

Everyone knows he's a kept man now, and I don't believe Gu Kaiyuan doesn't want to get rid of this reputation.

"If we could utilize Gu Kaiyuan's martial arts skills, you would gain a great asset in the future."

Gu Kaiping knew the reasons, but it was impossible for him to back down; he didn't want to continue humiliating himself.

"Did you go to see him before?" Gu Kaiping asked with certainty.

Liu Yun didn't hide anything and embellished the story of that day, saying, "It's impossible to get through to Bai Suihe. Now we can only see if Gu Kaiyuan can be persuaded."

I think he might be tempted; after all, the title of "son of an official" sounds much better than "son of a merchant."

Gu Kaiping hesitated for a moment, but nodded in agreement. "I'll take the second son with me later."

This benefit isn't just for their house; Gu Kaichen has been playing dead for so many days, it's time for him to do his part.

Liu Yun breathed a sigh of relief; she was really afraid she wouldn't be able to persuade Gu Kaiping.

Turning back to the kitchen, he saw Xu Yulan busy there and couldn't help but sigh. He had previously handed these tasks over to Xu Yulan and her mother, but now that his father had officially married her, the situation had changed again.

(End of this chapter)