“Stop hitting her!”
Gu Yue had been beaten almost to death by Gu daren, and Xie shi suddenly spoke up to stop him.
Gu daren turned back, his gaze cold and sharp as he stared at Xie shi. “What, are you starting to feel sorry for her now? Your precious daughter wants to kill another of your daughters, and even now you’re protecting her?”
Gu Yue collapsed to the ground, spitting frothy blood.
Xie shi looked at Gu Yue coldly. “If you really kill her, how do you plan to explain it to Haixi bo fu? Say Gu Yue died suddenly?”
Gu daren snorted and washed his hands with tea.
He said, “Gu Yue is cruel and ruthless, worse than pigs or dogs. If Haixi bo fu knew the truth, would they even want her?”
“No matter whether Haixi bo fu wants her or not, you can’t beat her to death. Or are you willing to carry the reputation of having beaten your own daughter to death?”
Gu daren frowned. “So what do you suggest I do?”
Xie shi closed her eyes, pain written on her face.
After a moment, she opened her eyes. “Lock her up. Put her in the ancestral hall to reflect. Release her after the wedding.”
Gu daren was momentarily stunned, he hadn’t expected Xie shi to finally make a firm decision and stop shielding Gu Yue.
“Are you sure? No regrets?” he asked.
Xie shi gave a bitter smile. “At this point, what is there to regret?”
Gu daren said sternly, “If you had decided earlier and given Gu Yue a proper lesson last time, or the time before that, letting her know her limits, this wouldn’t have escalated to sisters turning on each other.”
Xie shi’s expression was blank. “It’s useless to say this now, just getting wise with hindsight.”
“You?”
Gu daren was furious, how dare she call him a hindsight strategist! Her boldness was increasing.
He pointed at Gu Yue and then at Xie shi. “Everything that happened today is all because of indulgence.”
With that, Gu daren swept his sleeve and left.
Once he was gone, the servants also hurriedly departed.
Gu Jiu stood at the doorway, glancing into the bedroom. Gu Yue had clearly been beaten badly. Seeing her still moving, it seemed she wasn’t in immediate mortal danger.
Xie shi called Chun He over. “Send for a doctor to treat san guniang’s injuries. Then lock her in the ancestral hall. Two meals a day, vegetarian. Have the maids watch her strictly, no one is to speak with her, and no one is to let her out.”
Chun He was stunned, this was unprecedented severity.
Seeing Chun He hesitate, Xie shi scolded, “What are you standing there for? Hurry and do as instructed!”
“Yes, taitai.”
Xie shi looked long and hard at Gu Yue. “From now on, I’ll act as if I never had you as a daughter.”
Gu Yue opened her eyes a sliver and chuckled. “You already have Gu Shan. When did you ever consider me your daughter?”
Xie shi was deeply disappointed. All her efforts and favors over the past decade had been for nothing.
“Consider yourself warned.”
She turned and left. Passing by Gu Jiu, she didn’t even glance at her.
Gu Jiu had someone watch over Gu Yue while the doctor treated her wounds.
Gu Yue glared at Gu Jiu with hatred. “You’re laughing at me.”
Gu Jiu didn’t bother to reply and prepared to leave.
“Stop right there! You look down on me too, don’t you?”
Gu Jiu turned to her. “You still have the strength to yell? Looks like your injuries aren’t severe enough.”
Gu Yue dragged herself toward the door but was blocked by the maids.
“You dare look down on me? Why?” she roared at Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu looked at her carefully. “What is there about you that earns my respect? You turned on your own sister with such malice, calling you cruel is an insult to wolves and dogs alike. You should be grateful Gu Shan didn’t die; otherwise, you’d owe her your life.”
“Heh… heh…”
Gu Yue laughed maniacally.
Gu Jiu shook her head. Gu Yue had gone insane. She didn’t linger and left directly.
Gu Yue was locked in the ancestral hall.
Xie shi fell ill. The doctor said it was from extreme anger and depression.
Her illness came on fiercely; she slept for several days.
Gu Gong cried bitterly, fearing for her life.
Gu Shan dragged herself, still unwell, to visit Xie shi, which helped her recover a little.
Xie shi held Gu Shan’s hand. “I’ve wronged you. Don’t blame your mother.”
Gu Shan shook her head repeatedly. “Mother, take care of yourself. I blame no one. This time, I’m lucky. Such a big fire didn’t harm me. I… really don’t hate anyone.”
“Good child. Mother always knew you were forgiving.”
Xie shi held Gu Shan’s hand, moved.
Gu Shan lowered her head, avoiding her mother’s gaze.
Afterward, Xie shi gradually began to recover.
Gu Cheng carried a food box to the ancestral hall to visit Gu Yue.
Gu Shan stood at the window, looking toward the hall, expressionless.
A maid came to summon her. “Guniang, return to bed. You haven’t fully recovered.”
Gu Shan shook her head. “I’m fine. Don’t worry unnecessarily.”
The maid fretted, how could she not worry?
Gu Cheng arrived at the ancestral hall. The maids initially refused to open the door. Gu Cheng offered some silver, and the maids reluctantly opened it.
The maid warned him, “Liu shaoye, be quick. Don’t waste too much time inside.”
Gu Cheng nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll be out soon.”
He stepped inside, and the door slowly closed behind him.
Gu Yue lay on the straw mat, staring at the ceiling.
Hearing the door, her eyes rolled.
“So it’s liu ge. You’re here to punish me?”
A few days had passed, and Gu Yue’s injuries had improved, though her body was still bruised and swollen, looking unpleasant.
Gu Cheng shook his head slightly, took out the food from the box, and said, “Eat.”
Gu Yue sat up but didn’t move.
Gu Cheng said, “Mother became seriously ill because of your actions. Shan’er’s health hasn’t fully recovered, and even Gu Gong, who loves you the most, was hurt by you. San meimei, don’t you feel you’ve done something wrong?”
Gu Yue shook her head expressionlessly. “What wrong have I done? Mother is biased, why shouldn’t I vent my feelings?”
“By killing someone to vent?”
“She didn’t die, did she?”
Gu Cheng frowned. “Have you considered the consequences if this reaches the Haixi bo fu?”
Gu Yue, having been confined in the ancestral hall for days, had clearly thought through all the consequences. She said decisively, “I don’t care. At worst, I’ll remain an old maid for life.”
Gu Cheng stared at her suspiciously. Could she really accept being made an old maid?
Gu Yue buried her head in her knees. “You can leave. Don’t come back. Take the food too, I don’t need it.”
Gu Cheng, incredulous, asked again, “You really have no remorse at all?”
Gu Yue remained silent and flopped onto the straw mat, ending the conversation.
Gu Cheng took a deep breath, feeling disappointed and dejected. His sister, headstrong and willful, yes, but he never imagined she could commit acts of murder and arson.
He carried the food box out of the ancestral hall.
Gu Yue lay on the straw mat with her eyes closed, a single tear sliding down her cheek.
Outside the hall, Gu Cheng saw Gu Shan.
“Si meimei, your health hasn’t fully recovered, how did you come out?”
Gu Shan stared at the food box in Gu Cheng’s hands, silent.
Gu Cheng opened the box. “She hasn’t eaten anything.”
Gu Shan whispered softly, “Because she doesn’t deserve to.”
Then she suddenly raised her head. “Liu ge, after what she’s done, do you still consider her your sister?”
Gu Cheng frowned. “Si meimei, don’t overthink it.”
Gu Shan shook her head slowly. “I’m not overthinking. If you have time, visit me more, or read more books. Please don’t go to see her again, okay? You’re just rubbing salt in my wounds, you know that?”
Gu Cheng was taken aback; it was the first time he had heard Gu Shan speak so harshly.
“Si meimei, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Gu Shan forced a bitter smile. “Of course you didn’t. You always assume I have a good temper, that I’m magnanimous, that no matter what happens, I won’t be angry. Just like this time, Mother pressured me, I didn’t blame her.
“But you, too, assumed I wasn’t deeply hurt and that I wouldn’t be angry or resentful, as if such emotions could never arise in me.
“Liu ge, have you forgotten? I’m human too, I have feelings. I feel pain, I feel sadness, I can even feel hatred. Please… let me be, okay?”
“Si meimei, you speak too heavily. I came to the ancestral hall today just to ask if san meimei had any remorse.”
“How could she possibly have remorse?”
Gu Shan sneered. “She’ll never repent, never. Liu ge, you think too highly of her. Stop wasting your time visiting her. Consider this me begging you.”
Gu Cheng looked at Gu Shan. Her eyes were full of pain. He realized he had truly hurt her.
He nodded heavily. “Alright, I promise. I won’t visit her anymore.”
Gu Shan exhaled deeply and suddenly collapsed weakly.
“Si meimei, what’s wrong?”
Gu Cheng reacted swiftly and caught her.
Gu Shan had fainted.
He hurriedly carried her back to her room and called for a doctor.
Gu Shan’s body was weak, and she had fainted from dehydration after being exposed to the sun.
After giving her several large cups of water, her condition finally stabilized.
Gu Cheng felt deeply guilty. Gu Shan had fainted because of him. If he hadn’t held onto a shred of hope and gone to see Gu Yue, she wouldn’t have run out and collapsed.
Even Gu Gong, upon hearing what happened, angrily said to him, “Liu ge, why did you even bother with her? Wouldn’t it have been better to leave her in the ancestral hall to fend for herself?”
Gu Cheng looked at Gu Gong. “I remember you used to be closest to san meimei.”
Gu Gong snapped, “That was before. Now she’s no longer my san jiejie, she’s a venomous woman with a serpent’s heart.”
Gu Cheng was shocked.
Gu Gong snorted. “I’m not as kind-hearted as you, liu ge. I see things clearly. She dared to commit arson and murder, killing her own sister! I could never forgive her in a lifetime.”
Gu Cheng smiled wryly. In terms of right and wrong, he wasn’t even as discerning as Gu Gong, how shameful. But what could he do? He was bound by blood to Gu Yue.
He wiped his face and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t go to the ancestral hall again.”
Gu Gong said softly, “Even if you do, she won’t appreciate it.”
Gu Cheng shook his head with a smile. “You understand Gu Yue better than I do.”
“Hmph, of course. I know exactly what kind of person she is.”
In the past, Gu Yue’s cruelty was mostly directed at others. But this time, her viciousness fell upon her own sister, Gu Shan, and Gu Gong could not accept that, no matter what.
Gu Yue dared to harm Gu Shan like this. In the future, if someone angered Gu Yue, Gu Yue would certainly not hesitate to strike back.
Just thinking about it sent a chill down one’s spine.
So, Gu Gong was determined to keep clear boundaries with Gu Yue. Once Gu Yue married, he would have no further contact, no interaction.
When Gu daren learned that Gu Cheng had gone to see Gu Yue, he called Gu Cheng into the study and scolded him harshly.
He ordered Gu Cheng to return to the academy immediately and stay out of the affairs of the inner mansion.
Gu Cheng had no choice but to pack his belongings and prepare to return.
Before leaving, he first went to see Xie shi and spoke with her for a while. Then he went to see Gu Shan, urging her to take care of her health.
Gu Shan asked, “Gege, are you leaving?”
Gu Cheng nodded. “I was at fault last time. Si meimei, can you forgive me?”
Gu Shan lowered her head. After a long moment, she said, “As long as liu ge doesn’t go to the ancestral hall, I forgive you.”
“Thank you, Fourth Sister. I promise I won’t go again.”
Gu Shan clutched the quilt and asked, “Any news from Haixi bo fu?”
Gu Cheng shook his head. “Not yet.”
“After such a big incident, is it possible Haixi bo fu hasn’t heard?”
Gu Shan found it hard to believe.
Gu Cheng said, “Perhaps the news really hasn’t spread. That’s fine, once the wedding day comes, we’ll just send Gu Yue away.”
Gu Shan thought, that would be too easy on Gu Yue.
Gu Yue had deliberately tried to kill her, yet she would still proceed with the wedding and be sent to Haixi bo fu. Such a thing hardly happens in the world.
Gu Shan said to Gu Cheng, “Gege, you should leave quickly, don’t waste time. Remember to come back for da jiejie’s wedding.”
“I will. Si meimei, take good care of yourself.”
Gu Cheng left, but after a moment’s thought, he turned toward Zhilan Yuan.
Upon learning of his arrival, Gu Jiu put down her work and instructed someone to invite him in immediately.
“Liu ge, why are you here?”
Gu Cheng said, “I’m returning to the academy today, so I came to see you.”
“Liu ge, have some tea.”
“Thank you.”
Gu Jiu observed his reaction. “Liu ge seems troubled?”
Gu Cheng nodded. “Nothing escapes er meimei. Yesterday I went to the ancestral hall, you already know, right?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “I heard a bit. Si meimei also went and fainted, I hear.”
“All my fault,” Gu Cheng said, full of self-reproach. “I didn’t expect that going to the hall would hurt si meimei.”
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow. “Normally, you probably don’t pay much attention to si meimei, do you? So you neglected her feelings.”
Gu Cheng bowed his head deeply. “It’s my fault. I neglected her feelings.”
Gu Jiu continued, “Si meimei’s presence in the mansion is indeed subtle. She’s not as boisterous as Gu Yue, quiet, well-behaved, proper, hardly anyone notices her. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have feelings. When hurt, she feels pain, she feels resentment. Isn’t that natural?”
Gu Cheng grew even more ashamed. “Yes… I neglected si meimei.”
Gu Jiu asked, “Do you think that just because a child is obedient and well-behaved, she won’t feel pain when hurt, or resentful when someone sets fire? Only someone loud and dramatic like Gu Yue feels pain?”
Gu Cheng covered his face. “Er meimei, don’t say anymore. I know my mistake. I will pay more attention to si meimei from now on, and never neglect her again.”
“A wounded heart doesn’t heal quickly. Give si meimei time to calm down. Liu ge, don’t rush, everything will be alright.”
Gu Cheng nodded. “Thank you, er meimei. There’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
“Liu ge, please go ahead.”
“Please, when you have time, visit si meimei more often. She listens to you. Help me comfort her, will you?”
Gu Cheng looked at Gu Jiu earnestly.
Gu Jiu nodded. “Don’t worry, liu ge. I’ll visit si meimei regularly.”
“Thank you! Thank you!”
Gu Cheng thanked her solemnly and took his leave.
Gu Jiu sighed. Gu Yue used sharp knives to harm, while Gu Cheng used soft knives to wound.
Gu Shan must be feeling so heartbroken.
Just as Gu Jiu was about to go see Gu Shan, Fang mama returned.
She whispered to Gu Jiu, “Guniang, Gongzi Zhao has been injured.”
Gu Jiu’s expression stiffened. “Injured? Seriously?”
“The extent of the injuries, I haven’t learned yet,” said Fang.
Gu Jiu hurriedly asked, “How did it happen?”
“Apparently, in the military camp, he fought with the Eldest Imperial Grandson1,” Fang replied.
The warning the Wei lao furen gave her had come true.
Although the Eastern Palace seemed quiet on the surface, in private, various small maneuvers were constant.
The Eldest Imperial Grandson and Liu Zhao fighting was not a good sign.
“Where is Gongzi Zhao now?”
“He has returned to the wang fu.”
Gu Jiu gritted her teeth. “Fang mama, how do you think this will develop?”
Fang mama said, “There’s another piece of news. The Eldest Imperial Grandson was also injured.”
Mutual destruction!
Gu Jiu’s heart tightened. “Fang mama, keep a close watch on the wang fu, the Eastern Palace, and the Imperial Palace. Report immediately if anything happens.”
“As you command, guniang. Also, regarding the matter you mentioned last time, there’s a lead now.”
- Refers to the crown prince’s eldest son, an important character with greater screentime later. ↩︎
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