Chapter 199 - Illegitimate Child?

The rest of the way back to the inn was much different from before Luo Xiao received the information about Jiang Yao's arrival. Previously, he had resembled a rich and noble young master from an aristocratic family, but now, after knowing that his lover was waiting at home, he was suddenly no longer able to seem aloof.

The guards were, by now, quite familiar with how Luo Xiao would change whenever he was about to meet Jiang Yao, and they had long since realized that it was due to the feelings between the two.

Luo Xiao was actually a very calm young man who had great self-control. He was able to come up with the most suitable plans and was also very skilled at cultivating and socializing. Even so, anyone who met him would feel that this Young Master Gu Tianyu was very pleasant to be with on a surface level, but he refused to let anyone near his true thoughts and emotions.

Only when Jiang Yao came by would he reveal his true personality. Only with his lover by his side would he display his coquettishness and his sometimes childish temper. He would not act spoiled, but he would show his feelings vividly, which made the guards understand that only in front of his lover was he willing to show his weakness and genuine care.

"The city gates will close in a short while, so a long line of people has started to queue up. They are not willing to be left outside the city walls for a whole night." The guard who had been looking ahead quickly explained the current situation to Luo Xiao, who was eager to return as soon as possible. Even so, he could not let anyone know about his identity for now, as he was trying to lie low, so he had to wait in line.

As he and his guards stopped at the back of the line, a group of young people in front were speaking amongst themselves, and while their voices were not loud, they were not low either. Their words also managed to catch Luo Xiao's attention.

"Have you guys ever heard about this Gu Tianyu before?" The girl who asked looked at the other boys and girls around her with curious eyes.

"I know that the Patriarch's sister eloped with some man before, but I only heard about this from the Elders, and no one dares to really talk about it. If not for the Patriarch mentioning this nephew himself a few months back, I think none of the Gu family members would ever know about his existence.

"Don't you all find it weird that the Patriarch suddenly brings him back to the Gu family? He has been living outside for so many years, but now he suddenly returns, and the Patriarch even forced all of the family members to come back, unless they have something important to do that can't be put aside.

"I have never even seen the Patriarch show such care towards Brother Tianhu, even though he is the oldest son. Whenever the Patriarch speaks about Brother Tianhu, he always just seems to consider his achievements passable, but whenever this new cousin of ours is mentioned, his eyes show some pampering and kindness that he has never had before.

"Do you, perhaps, think that this Gu Tianyu is not the son of his eloped sister but actually an illegitimate son that he has been raising outside?"

The girl seemed excited as she was telling her theory to her companions. All of the other youths by her side were all deeply impressed by her guess, and for some reason, she seemed to have convinced her that what she said was the truth.

Luo Xiao, or Gu Tianyu as he was called now, was standing right behind the group, and felt somewhat helpless. He had already guessed his identity to be somewhat confusing for the rest of the Gu family, but he had not expected to be considered an illegitimate son before they even met him.

Luo Xiao already knew who this Brother Tianhu was. It was Gu Tianhu, the son of the current Patriarch, and he was the only other person who knew about his identity.

Initially, only the Patriarch should know his true origin, but due to the likelihood of conflicts appearing in the younger generation, Gu Tianhu was informed about the truth.

Gu Tianhu was a young man, only one year older than Luo Xiao, but he had been raised from childhood to be the next Patriarch of the Gu family.

The Gu family was loyal to the Seventh Demon Prince, and they were willing to risk their whole family to carry out his orders. Even the young Gu Tianhu was honored to know that their current task was given to them by Jiang Yao himself, and thus he was showing some eagerness for once.

However, it seemed that the rest of the younger generation of the Gu family was not as excited for his arrival, as many rumors were beginning to spread.

"Young Master, should we greet the group in front?" The guard by Luo Xiao's side was also feeling a bit perplexed with the current situation. Were they supposed to greet their relatives here, in the queue to enter the city, or should they pretend not to see them?

If they pretended not to see them, things would become awkward when they met at the Gu family, if any of the ones in front recognized them later. However, if they did make themselves known now, things would also become very uncomfortable due to the theories that this young woman had just shared with the others.

Once again, the guard began to feel helpless about the strange situations he had experienced after leaving the palace and becoming an ordinary guard for a young master.