Not far from Fangcao Hall, in Zhilian Yuan, Wang Yi suddenly pointed to the sky. “Fire!”
Hearing this, Gu Jiu hurried out of the house.
From the direction of Fangcao Hall, thick smoke was billowing.
“Quick, put out the fire! Go to the outer courtyard and get help!”
Saying this, Gu Jiu ran forward first.
At the entrance of Fangcao Hall, the maids and housemaids were crying and screaming, completely flustered.
Gu Jiu grabbed one of the maids. “What happened?”
The maid, crying, said, “Si guniang… si guniang is still inside and hasn’t come out.”
Gu Jiu’s face changed.
With such a big fire, how could they save her?
“Nubi will go in and save her,” Wang Yi volunteered.
Gu Jiu shouted, “Quickly get a quilt and a bucket of water!”
Once the quilt and water were ready, Wang Yi draped the quilt over herself, and Gu Jiu poured water on it.
She warned Wang Yi, “Be careful. If it’s too dangerous, get out immediately.”
Wang Yi nodded firmly. “Nubi understand.”
Taking a deep breath, she rushed into Fangcao Hall.
“Wuwu… I hope my guniang is okay…”
The maids inside Fangcao Hall were all crying, terrified.
Gu Jiu scolded them, “Quiet! Tell me, what exactly happened? Do you not know fire can spread quickly? Why did this fire start? Explain clearly!”
“We don’t know! By the time we realized, the fire had already started. Er guniang, it’s really not our fault!”
Gu Jiu, frowning, said, “You claim it’s not your fault, but where did the fire start? Surely you know that.”
“It started in the main room, nubi is certain,” a maid replied.
“If si guniang doesn’t get out… if anything happens… nubi wouldn’t want to live either,” the maids wailed.
Gu Jiu, seeing that she couldn’t get more information, ignored them.
The news of the fire quickly spread throughout the mansion.
More and more people rushed to Fangcao Hall.
Steward Gu Quan organized people to fight the fire.
Hearing that Gu Shan was still inside, he stomped his feet in anger.
Xie shi arrived in a panic. When she learned that Gu Shan hadn’t been rescued, she began wailing and immediately grabbed a bamboo stick to hit the maids.
“Si guniang is still inside, and you dare come out? I tell you, if anything happens to her, you’ll go with her!”
“She’s out! She’s out!”
The fire-fighting servants shouted.
Wang Yi carried someone out.
Xie shi rushed forward. “Is it Shan’er? Shan’er, are you okay?”
Gu Shan had indeed been rescued by Wang Yi. “Si guniang still has breath,” she said.
She tried to rush back inside.
Gu Jiu called out, “What’s going on?”
Wang Yi said, “There’s still someone inside.”
“Someone else?”
“It’s Hong Ling… Hong Ling is still inside.”
Hong Ling was Gu Shan’s maid.
A servant blocked Wang Yi. “Don’t go in. Let us do it.”
The servant took the quilt from Wang Yi, soaked it with water, and rushed inside.
Xie shi, holding Gu Shan, cried, “Quick, someone call the doctor!”
“Dimei, don’t worry, we’ve already sent someone to fetch the doctor.”
Zhang shi arrived with Xiao Zhang shi at Fangcao Hall.
Xiao Zhang shi said, “Er shenniang, don’t worry. We’ve already sent word to er shufu. He should arrive shortly.”
Gu Jiu, with a stern face, went to the unconscious Gu Shan.
Fang mama stopped her, shaking her head slightly.
Gu Jiu whispered, “Don’t worry, mama, I know what I’m doing.”
Fang mama hesitated but didn’t stop her further.
Gu Jiu stepped forward and first checked Gu Shan’s pulse.
Her pulse was weak but stable. It seemed Gu Shan hadn’t inhaled too much smoke.
Wait… the hair at the back of Gu Shan’s head was matted.
Gu Jiu parted her hair to examine it.
Suddenly, Xie shi shouted at her, “Stop! What do you think you’re doing? What are your intentions?”
Gu Jiu, expressionless, said, “Si meimei has an injury at the back of her head, as if she was struck.”
“What did you say?”
“Dimei, put Shan’er down immediately.”
Following Zhang shi’s command, the housemaids and maids pulled Gu Shan from Xie shi’s arms and placed her on a stretcher.
Xie shi wailed, “What are you going to do to Shan’er? What are you planning?”
Zhang shi comforted her.
Gu Jiu took the opportunity to examine Gu Shan’s injury, it was indeed a blunt force injury.
This was likely the real reason Gu Shan was unconscious.
A young maid approached Shaoyao to report something.
Shaoyao’s expression changed immediately.
She hurried to Zhang shi. “Taitai, someone saw san guniang coming out of Fangcao Hall when the fire started.”
Zhang shi’s face froze. “Are you sure?”
Shaoyao shook her head. “It should be correct.”
Zhang shi gritted her teeth. “Arrest all the maids and housemaids from Fangcao Hall and interrogate them one by one. Also, find Gu Yue.”
“Yes, taitai,” the maid replied.
Xie shi stared blankly at Zhang shi. “Dasao, what are you doing? You think this has something to do with Yue’er? What nonsense are you talking about?”
Zhang shi’s face was stern. “We’ll know if it’s nonsense once we ask.”
At that moment, the servant who rescued people returned.
Gu Shan’s maid, Hong Ling, had been rescued.
Gu Jiu stepped forward to check, she wasn’t dead yet; there was still a breath of life. But she had inhaled too much smoke.
Gu Jiu was just thinking about which remedy to use when Qing Mei pulled Xiao Cui over to her.
“Guniang, it’s serious. Xiao Cui just got some big news. You’ll be shocked when you hear it.”
Gu Jiu looked at Xiao Cui. “What news?”
Xiao Cui was so nervous she stammered.
Fang mama gave her a pat on the back, and she regained her composure.
Once calm, Xiao Cui hurriedly said, “Someone saw san guniang coming out of Fangcao Hall when the fire started. No one can find san guniang now, so it’s very possible she set the fire.”
“Gu Yue started the fire?” Gu Jiu frowned.
Xiao Cui nodded emphatically. “Absolutely. The da taitai has already sent people to look for san guniang.”
Gu Jiu asked, “Are we certain san guniang wasn’t in her room?”
Xiao Cui nodded again.
Gu Jiu wiped her hands with a handkerchief. “Let’s go. Come with me to the Zizhu Yuan.”
Zizhu Yuan was where Gu Yue lived, not far from Fangcao Hall.
Fang mama quietly asked Gu Jiu, “Guniang, do you suspect san guniang is hiding in there?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “I do. Since no one saw her leave through the back or second gate, she must be either in Zizhu Yuan or…”
Gu Jiu turned and looked toward the distant garden. “Or she’s hiding in the garden. Let’s search Zizhu Yuan first.”
Gu Yue actually dared to harm someone, and set a fire. She truly had the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard.
Didn’t she know the consequences? Didn’t she know that if anyone discovered this, she would be finished?
Shaoyao was already leading people to search Zizhu Yuan.
Seeing Gu Jiu, she stepped forward and saluted. “Greetings, er guniang. Why have you come?”
“Shaoyao, have you found Gu Yue?”
Shaoyao shook her head. “Not yet.”
“I’m just taking a look, won’t delay you.”
“Please do as you wish, er guniang.”
Gu Jiu entered the study and casually flipped through the books on the desk.
Most of them were brand new, clearly Gu Yue didn’t care for reading.
But one book on family rules was worn and frayed.
Thinking of how Gu Yue had been punished to copy the family rules repeatedly, Gu Jiu understood.
She casually flipped through the family rules and was shocked by the content.
Each character for “death” (死) was like a knife, flashing sharp, cold light.
How much hatred and anger must Gu Yue have accumulated to write so many “death” characters?
The neat characters at the beginning became increasingly sloppy at the end, with heavier strokes, reflecting the accumulation of Gu Yue’s suppressed negative emotions.
Finally, today, something must have triggered her, and she erupted.
Gu Jiu picked up the book and handed it to Qing Mei. “Keep this safe. Let’s go to the garden.”
Fang mama followed, whispering, “Guniang, Gu Yue is very dangerous right now. You should keep your distance.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “I know. Thank you for the warning, mama. I’ll stay away from her.”
Gu Yue’s act of harming Gu Shan and setting the fire may have been a moment of passion.
At this moment, Gu Yue was hiding like a frightened bird. Whether she regretted it or not was unclear, but she must be terrified.
Many people were in the garden; Gu Quan personally led the search for Gu Yue.
Since no one had seen her leave through the back or second gate, it was highly likely she was hiding somewhere in the garden.
Xiao Zhang shi kept a close eye on the searchers. “Every spot must be checked. We must find san guniang.”
“Why is dasao here?” Gu Jiu asked as she approached.
Xiao Zhang shi’s expression softened when she saw Gu Jiu. “Er meimei is here. You must have heard what happened.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Yes.”
Xiao Zhang shi said, “Whether or not Gu Yue set the fire, the priority is to find her. If we delay, I’m afraid an accident could happen.”
“This has troubled dasao.”
Xiao Zhang shi shook her head. “It’s my duty. Er meimei, perhaps you should return to your room and wait for news.”
“No, I’ll wait here.”
Gu Jiu observed her surroundings.
She often came to the garden, but her favorite spot was the flower bed; other areas were less familiar.
Xiao Cui secretly told Gu Jiu, “Guniang, I know there’s a small stone cave inside the rockery. Could san guniang be hiding in there?”
Gu Jiu said, “Let’s go check.”
Gu Jiu led people to the rockery.
The servants had already searched it but found no one.
Xiao Cui and Wang Yi requested, “Guniang, let us go inside first. You stay outside and wait for news.”
“Be careful.”
Wang Yi smiled. “Don’t worry, guniang. With us there, san guniang can’t hurt anyone.”
Xiao Cui and Wang Yi went into the rockery.
Gu Jiu stood outside waiting.
Fang mama said, “When san guniang did this, at first it seemed shocking. But thinking it through, it’s just like her. She always acts rashly. Today, something must have triggered her, making her strike si guniang so viciously.”
Gu Jiu said with a blank expression, “No matter her reasons, anyone who dares to harm others and set fires must bear the consequences.”
Fang mama whispered, “With such a large-scale search, this can’t stay secret. If news reaches Haixi bo fu, I fear the marriage there may be canceled.”
Gu Jiu said sternly, “Even if the marriage is canceled, it’s Gu Yue’s own fault.”
“Guniang, we found her!”
Xiao Cui ran out of the cave. “San guniang was hiding in the innermost part. It took us a long time to find her.”
Soon, Wang Yi dragged Gu Yue out.
Gu Yue was alone, utterly disheveled.
Gu Jiu walked up, said nothing, and raised her hand to slap Gu Yue’s face.
“How dare you hit me? On what grounds?”
Smack!
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Gu Jiu struck Gu Yue seven or eight times, leaving her too stunned to speak, both cheeks swollen.
“Just a few slaps is mild. Given what you did, I wouldn’t be wrong even if I beat you to death.”
“Ahhhh… how dare you hit me!”
Gu Yue roared.
At this moment, hurried footsteps sounded behind them.
Xie shi and Zhang Shi had arrived.
Xie shi’s face was ashen. She rushed forward and slapped Gu Yue, who fell to the ground.
Xie shi remained silent, then attacked again, hitting and stepping on her.
If Xie shi had shouted, Gu Yue might have had a chance to fight back, but now… she had no hope.
Now, with Xie shi’s silence, it was clear that Gu Yue had effectively been sentenced to death in her eyes.
Seeing Gu Yue beaten until her face was bruised and swollen, Zhang shi hurriedly ordered someone to restrain Xie shi.
“Take san guniang away, bring her back to her room and settle her. We’ll deal with this when er laoye returns.”
Then, Zhang shi tried to calm Xie shi. “Dimei, stop hitting. We don’t know all the facts yet; wait until we clarify before doing anything.”
Breathless from exertion, Xie shi pointed at Gu Yue, her voice hoarse. “You’re not my daughter. I’ve never had a daughter as vicious as you.”
Gu Yue said nothing, her lips swollen, eyes burning with resentment as they stared at Xie shi.
Xie shi let out a cold, mocking laugh and raised her hand to strike Gu Yue again.
Zhang shi immediately intervened, scolding the servants. “What are you all standing there for? Quickly take san guniang away. Tell Gu Quan to issue a seal of silence. Anyone who speaks out of turn, I’ll tear their mouth apart.”
Shaoyao received the order and left.
Gu Yue was also taken away.
Xie shi’s body sagged, collapsing to the ground.
“Dimei, are you alright?”
“Taitai? Taitai, what’s wrong?”
Gu Jiu checked her pulse. “She’s overexerted, plus the heat, showing slight signs of heatstroke. Take her to her room, let her cool down, and give her some medicine to relieve the heat.”
“Listen to er guniang. Quickly get your taitai downstairs,” Zhang shi scolded Chun He and the others, irritated that they were standing around doing nothing.
The chaos gradually subsided, the fire was extinguished, leaving only wisps of smoke.
Fangcao Hall was completely destroyed and would need to be rebuilt. It was currently uninhabitable.
Gu Shan had inhaled less smoke, and the wound on the back of her head was minor; with medicine, she would recover quickly.
The maid Hong Ling’s head wound was more serious; having inhaled too much smoke, she would require time to recover.
Xie shi took the heat-relief medicine, drank water, and cooled down, recovering slightly.
Chun He informed her, “Taitai, laoye has returned. He’s on his way.”
Xie shi’s face was pale. “Help me up. We’re going to Zizhu Yuan.”
“Taitai, your health?”
“I’m fine. This matter must be handled immediately.”
Xie shi and Gu daren arrived at Zizhu Courtyard almost simultaneously.
The couple exchanged a glance, saying nothing.
Gu Jiu came out of the room. “Paying respects to Father and Madam. San meimei is confined to her room.”
Gu daren nodded. “Er yatou, you may step aside. Benguan will handle this.”
Gu Jiu bowed and stepped out, but she didn’t leave. She stood under the eaves, listening to what was happening inside.
Gu daren and Xie shi entered the bedroom together. All the maids and servants waited outside.
The atmosphere inside was tense.
Gu Yue lay on the bed, unconscious, seemingly dead.
Gu daren approached silently, grabbed Gu Yue’s wrist, yanked her off the bed, and threw her onto the floor.
Gu Yue felt the pain but didn’t utter a sound.
Gu daren sneered. “And now, you still dare to put on this face. Benguan truly regrets not throwing you into the latrine to die when you were born.”
Gu Yue raised her head, looking at Gu daren and then at Xie shi.
“Do you really treat me like your own daughter? Gu Jiu’s dowry is forty thousand taels; mine is twenty thousand, I accepted that because she married the Imperial Grandson. But why does Gu Shan also get forty thousand? Why? We share the same father and mother; why am I treated as inferior? You’re biased, and you forbid me from being angry?”
Gu daren glanced at Xie shi.
Xie shi froze for a moment, then realized immediately. Gu Yue must have overheard her talking with Chun He.
Xie shi sneered. “Just because of this, you want to harm your own sister? You truly have a cruel heart.”
Gu Yue shouted in anger, “I learned it all from you! What goes up comes down; you taught me well, so I learned your ways.”
Smack!
Without a word, Gu daren slapped Gu Yue across the room.
“Even now, you won’t repent. I’ll beat you to death, you heartless wretch.”
Gu Yue rolled on the floor, roaring, “If I’m a wretch, then I’m a wretch born that way!”
Gu daren was enraged beyond measure. Today, he was determined to beat Gu Yue to death.
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