Liu Zhao caught Gu Ting’s fist with ease.
Then, puzzled, he asked, “You’re angry? Did I provoke you somehow?”
Seeing that the punch he had thrown with all his strength was so easily stopped by Liu Zhao, Gu Ting felt unwilling to accept it.
He had been training in the army camp for several months now; how could he be weaker than a frail gongzi? It was humiliating.
Worse still, he had clearly felt the immense strength in Liu Zhao’s arm, far surpassing his own.
He had sworn to stand up for his meimei, but instead ended up humiliated. If word of this spread, how would he ever face people again?
Gu Ting sneered twice. “You know very well what you’ve done. My sister had barely stepped into your fu as a guest when someone tried to slap her. All of this stems from you.”
Liu Zhao frowned. “Someone tried to strike Gu Jiu? Who?”
When he asked this, his voice suddenly turned icy.
His woman, and someone dared to lay a hand on her? Were they tired of living?
Gu Ting ground his teeth. “You know full well what you’ve done!”
Expressionless, Liu Zhao replied, “I’ve done plenty of good deeds. How am I to know which one you mean?”
Facing Liu Zhao head-on, Gu Ting found himself utterly defeated.
Liu Zhao released his fist.
Gu Ting staggered back several steps, his expression ugly.
Wiping his hands, Liu Zhao said coldly, “I’m pleased that you want to stand up for Gu Jiu. But you’ve picked the wrong target. Whatever happened in the inner quarters, I’ll investigate it thoroughly. You may go.”
Gu Ting retorted, “You will marry my sister, so you must take responsibility for her. If you treat her poorly, I’ll be the first not to forgive you.”
Liu Zhao fixed him with a cool, sharp gaze before replying, “Gu Jiu will be my wife. Her affairs are not yours to meddle in. You should concern yourself first with how to establish your own footing.”
“You…”
Gu Ting wanted to argue back, but upon reflection, he knew all he had now was thanks to his family background. To truly stand on his own in the army, he still had a long way to go.
But even if defeated, he could not lose face. So he declared, “Xiao Jiu is my sister. Her affairs are mine as well. I won’t allow anyone to mistreat her.”
Expressionless, Liu Zhao replied, “Whether she is treated well or not is not for you to judge. In any case, Gu Jiu will be my wife, and you will one day be my brother-in-law. I will give you the respect you’re due.
“But I ask you not to interfere in matters between me and Gu Jiu. Once we are husband and wife, what lies between us is for us to resolve.”
Grinding his teeth, Gu Ting said, “Gongzi Zhao, I’ll keep my eyes on you, always. If my meimei suffers even the slightest grievance, then no matter how overmatched I am, I’ll fight to make you pay.”
“Commendable courage. With a brother like you, Gu Jiu’s painstaking devotion is not in vain. See him out!”
At Liu Zhao’s order, the young eunuch came in to escort Gu Ting away.
Gu Ting snorted twice, then left of his own accord.
“Lin Shuping.”
“Your servant is here.” The attendant Lin Shuping stepped up to Liu Zhao’s side.
Liu Zhao’s face was dark, clearly displeased.
“Send men to find out exactly what happened around Gu guniang. Who dared to lay a hand on my people in Ning wang fu?”
“Gongzi, this servant has already dispatched men to the inner court. We should have news very soon.”
Liu Zhao cast him a glance. “Quick action. Good.”
Lin Shuping smiled. “Knowing you were concerned for Gu guniang’s safety, how could I dare delay? As soon as Gu shaoye said she had been bullied in the inner court, I immediately arranged for an investigation.”
“Excellent.”
Soon, the scouts returned with their report.
“Reporting, gongzi: it was Zhou Yi guniang from Princess Fuming’s fu who tried to slap Gu Jiu guniang. Luckily, er furen arrived in time and stopped her. But Gu Jiu guniang was frightened; apparently, she ran around the Flower Hall in distress.”
“So it was Zhou Yi.” Liu Zhao sneered coldly.
Lin Shuping said, “Gongzi, Zhou guniang has a domineering nature and repays every slight. I fear she will stir up more trouble.”
Expressionless, Liu Zhao replied, “Bengongzi won’t give her the chance.”
After a pause, he added, “Send people to look after Gu guniang well. Bengongzi don’t want to see any more accidents.”
“As you command.”
In the wang fu’s inner quarters.
A maid came to summon Gu Jiu. “Gu guniang, the wangfei requests your presence in the main hall.”
Gu Jiu was surprised. “Why does niangniang suddenly summon me to the main hall?”
“Both gongzhu have arrived. Hearing that Gu guniang was here, they wished to meet you. Please come quickly, lest the wangfei and Their Highnesses be kept waiting.”
Here, when someone is addressing or talking about a gongzhu, I will use gongzhu. But for the princesses themselves, I will style the name as ‘Princess Fuming’ or ‘Princess Fuya’.]
Gu Jiu asked, “You said both gongzhu? Besides Princess Fuming, who else?”
“Why, Princess Fuya, of course. Hasn’t Gu guniang heard of her?”
Gu Jiu smiled faintly. “Of course I have. Lead the way.”
She followed the maid to the main hall doors. After being announced, she entered.
“This is Gu Jiu.”
No sooner had she stepped inside than Ning wangfei, Pei shi pointed her out in introduction.
“Gu Jiu, come quickly and pay respects to the two gongzhu.”
Gu Jiu lifted her head slightly and glanced to the right.
There sat two richly dressed, unfamiliar middle-aged women. They resembled each other somewhat; both carried themselves with imperious airs, their eyes sharp.
“Chennü, Gu Jiu, pays respects to Your Highnesses.”
Princess Fuming gave a slight grunt. “So you are the one Liu Zhao personally chose as his wife. Hmph. Nothing remarkable.”
Pei shi arched her brow but held her tongue.
Princess Fuming fixed her eyes on Gu Jiu. “Why don’t you speak? Are you guilty at heart? Or do you already realise you’re unworthy of Gongzi Zhao?”
Gu Jiu dipped in a graceful curtsy, then lifted her head, meeting Princess Fuming’s gaze directly.
“Your Highness, at first, chennü too thought myself unworthy of Gongzi Zhao. Whether in family background, learning, or looks, chennü is far inferior to the noble ladies of the capital.
“But then chennü thought again, Gongzi Zhao is the dignified imperial grandson, the eldest di son of Ning wang fu, raised from childhood under the strictest guidance. How could his judgment be poor?
“He must have seen in chennü some quality that others overlooked, and that is why he chose chennü as his wife. Therefore, chennü believes I am indeed worthy of Gongzi Zhao.”
Pfft!
Someone in the hall could not hold back and laughed aloud.
Even Pei shi revealed a rare smile.
Gu Jiu had not disgraced the wang fu, this alone was commendable.
Not only had she not shamed them, she had even subtly mocked Princess Fuming. That was excellent, better still.
Pei shi nodded inwardly. This girl Gu Jiu is clever after all, quick-witted, composed in her responses. No wonder she was taught in the hou fu’s study hall.
Princess Fuming’s gaze grew dark, and she glared as if she could devour someone.
She snapped at Gu Jiu: “How dare you! Are you mocking bengongzhu for having no eye, unable to judge people?”
“Chennü doesn’t dare,” Gu Jiu replied. “That Gongzi Zhao chose me as his wife must have his own reasons. As for what they are, chennü only made a small guess, nothing more.”
Princess Fuming sneered coldly. “Such a sharp tongue! If I do not punish you, will you not overturn the heavens? Attend me, slap her mouth.”
“Wait!” Pei shi’s eyes flashed with displeasure as she fixed them on Princess Fuming. “Fuming, this is Ning wang fu, not your gongzhu fu. And Gu Jiu is no stray cat or dog from the street; she is the future daughter-in-law of benwangfei. For you to order her beaten here, what do you mean by that? Do you take no regard for benwangfei at all?”
Princess Fuming arched a brow and smiled. “Saosao truly regards her as your daughter-in-law?”
Pei shi answered respectfully, “His Majesty personally decreed the marriage. How could that be false?”
“Nothing but an imperial edict of bestowal…”
“Fuming, be careful with your words,” Zhao wangfei reminded her, displeasure in her eyes.
Princess Fuming faltered, then laughed coldly. “How curious. Just a mere girl, yet she draws the protection of two saosao. What merit does she have?”
Pei shi smiled faintly. “Fuming, this matter has nothing to do with Gu Jiu. But here in benwangfei’s fu, you would punish someone without benwangfei’s permission, do you not think yourself too presumptuous? Other wang fu may fear you, but our Ning wang fu does not. If you come as a guest, benwangfei welcomes you. But if you deliberately seek trouble, do not blame benwangfei for turning harsh.”
Her face serious, Pei shi put Princess Fuming in her place.
Princess Fuming’s expression was ugly. Gu Jiu thought she would explode, but unexpectedly, in the next moment, she smiled.
“Haha! Look at saosao’s stern face, so frightening! I was only joking, yet saosao takes it seriously.”
Pei shi gave a contemptuous smile. “If you are serious, benwangfei will take it seriously. If you are joking, benwangfei will take it as a joke.”
At that, Princess Fuming could not press Gu Jiu any further.
Gu Jiu marvelled silently. As expected, imperial family members can bend and stretch. One moment, they glare like vajras, the next, they smile like merciful Guanyin.
To change faces so swiftly, and still banter easily after tearing tempers, that is a skill I cannot match.
To survive in the imperial family without such tricks, one would hardly last two rounds.
She reminded herself sternly: I must never be careless. There is still much I must learn.
Then Princess Fuya, who had kept silent all this time, suddenly asked Gu Jiu, “I hear you studied under Master Luo?”
Gu Jiu bowed. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“How is Master Luo these days?”
Gu Jiu replied, “Master Luo suffers from the summer heat, of late, with the weather so hot, she has grown a little thinner.”
“Is that so?” Princess Fuya’s expression was unreadable, and she said no more.
Pei shi waved her hand. “Gu Jiu, you may withdraw.”
“I obey.”
As Gu Jiu stepped out, she happened to run into Xiao Qin’er.
Xiao Qin’er’s face was wreathed in smiles, but when she saw Gu Jiu, her smile stiffened briefly; then she smiled even more brightly.
“Why, if it isn’t Gu guniang! You’ve already met wangfei niangniang? Surely she must like you very much.”
Gu Jiu smiled softly. “So it’s Xiao guniang. Don’t keep niangniang waiting, best go in quickly.”
Xiao Qin’er pursed her lips in a smile. “Why, Gu guniang even acts as a maid delivering messages now. Rest assured, I’m going right in.”
She swept past Gu Jiu and entered the hall.
Qing Mei was indignant, but Gu Jiu held her back, forbidding her to act rashly.
She shook her head. “Don’t be impulsive. Let’s go.”
When they were far enough away, Qing Mei complained, “That Xiao guniang is too much! Comparing you to a maid. You are to marry the wang fu’s eldest di son, she is no better than you.”
Gu Jiu chuckled softly. “She deliberately provoked you, and you really took the bait. If she calls me a maid, does that make me one? It’s nothing but cheap words. What use is that? Don’t be upset. Come, let’s go to the flower hall, have tea and some pastries. The pastries here are excellent.”
Inwardly, Gu Jiu thought: One day, if I open a pastry shop, I’ll poach the pastry chefs from this manor. If they refuse, I’ll poach their apprentices instead.
After that, everything went smoothly until the noon banquet; no one came to cause her trouble.
Gu Jiu thought to herself, Could it be that her luck was starting to turn?
When the banquet began, everyone moved to the Taotie Pavilion to dine.
Gu Jiu sat together with her sisters.
Gu Zhen asked with concern, “Er meimei, are you all right?”
“Thank you for your concern, da jiejie. I’m fine. What about you? Have you gotten used to this place? Did anyone make things difficult for you?”
Gu Zhen shook her head slightly. “No one tried to trouble us, but no one paid us any attention either. It feels as if our presence here is completely unnecessary.”
“You’ve been wronged, da jiejie. Things won’t be like this in the future,” Gu Jiu said solemnly.
Gu Zhen smiled. “Actually, I don’t mind at all. If I really had to socialise with the imperial princesses and noble ladies, I’d feel uncomfortable all over. No one paying attention to us suits me just fine. At the very least, we’ve had the chance to witness the wealth and splendour of the wang fu.”
Gu Yue pursed her lips and gave a light cough. “The wang fu truly is magnificent. Many of the items here I’ve never even seen before. And these are just ordinary objects put out for guests to admire.
“I can only imagine what rare treasures must be displayed inside the wangye and wangfei’s private chambers; calling them priceless treasures would not be an exaggeration.
“Er jiejie, this year you’re to marry into such a wealthy fu. Have you made your preparations?”
Gu Jiu raised her brows and smiled. “Thank you, san meimei, for your concern. But whether I’m prepared or not, does it really matter? Barring any accidents, in the end, I will marry into this wang fu.”
Gu Yue gave a soft laugh. “If you’re prepared, at least you won’t embarrass yourself. If you haven’t made even the most basic preparations, I worry that when you enter the wang fu, you won’t know how to conduct yourself.”
“What san meimei says is reasonable. Why don’t I toast san meimei with a cup?”
A maid stepped forward to pour the wine.
Gu Jiu lifted the cup, brought it to her lips, and prepared to drink it in one go.
The next moment, her expression shifted slightly, but she quickly returned to normal.
She raised her hand, covering her mouth, and while no one was looking, she secretly poured the wine onto the floor.
There’s something wrong with this wine.
The taste wasn’t right.
She couldn’t say exactly what the problem was, but one thing was certain – it must not enter her mouth.
Seeing Gu Yue about to drink, Gu Jiu acted quickly, leaning over. “San meimei, let me smell your wine. Is it more fragrant than mine?”
Gu Yue looked at her with disdain. “Er jiejie, you really are going too far, you won’t even let me drink my own wine. Why not stop me from eating as well? So much for offering a toast; it was just empty words.”
Gu Jiu laughed. “I was only teasing you, san meimei. Don’t take it seriously. Please, drink to your heart’s content.”
Gu Yue’s wine was fine; its colour and aroma were perfectly normal.
Only her own wine had been tampered with.
Yet both cups of wine had been poured from the same jug. Why was her cup poisoned, while Gu Yue’s was not?
And more importantly, who was trying to harm her?
Was it someone from the wang fu? Zhou Yi? Or Princess Fuming?
The maid who poured her wine was from the wang fu. That maid had kept her head lowered the whole time, and Gu Jiu hadn’t gotten a good look at her face. Now, the maid was gone.
Gu Jiu looked around at the maids in the hall, but it was hopeless. Every maid wore the same uniform; there was no telling who was who, nor which one had poured her wine.
Gu Jiu picked up her cup again. Was it her cup that had been tampered with, or the wine jug itself?
She sniffed the rim of the cup. The lingering scent confirmed her suspicion; it was indeed wrong.
Still, she couldn’t be sure whether the cup had been treated or the jug. But her instincts told her the jug had been tampered with.
The maid who served her earlier was also suspicious.
Meanwhile, Gu Yue had already finished her wine, her cheeks turning slightly red.
Seeing Gu Jiu staring at her cup, she said, “Er jiejie, if you want to drink, just say so. Why put on airs, gazing at the wine like that?”
Gu Jiu laughed. “San meimei is right, I ought to drink another cup.”
As she spoke, she flicked her fingers ever so slightly. The wine cup slipped from her hand, tumbling onto the carpet, making not the faintest sound.
Gu Zhen looked at her strangely. Er meimei had always been the best at observing proper etiquette; she shouldn’t have made such a mistake. Could it be that she was too nervous?
Gu Zhen nodded inwardly. Yes, this was the wang fu. It was only natural for er meimei to feel nervous.
The wang fu’s maids were well-trained. Seeing that Gu Jiu had no cup before her, one quickly stepped forward.
“Gu guniang, allow this servant to fetch you another cup.”
Gu Jiu smiled politely. “Thank you for the trouble.”
“It’s no trouble.”
This time, Gu Jiu took care to memorise the maid’s face.
The maid picked up the fallen cup and soon brought her a new one. With permission, she poured fresh wine.
Gu Jiu lifted the cup, raised it to her nose, and sniffed.
This cup of wine was fine, completely normal.
So it wasn’t an accident. Someone really had tried to harm her.
But who was it that poisoned her wine?
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