“San meimei.”
Gu Jiu reacted quickly, calling out to Gu Yue as she hurried over.
Pei Yun had just warned her to avoid Zhou Yi, and before the words had even faded, Zhou Yi had slapped Gu Yue across the face.
Gu Jiu didn’t know what had started the conflict.
But she knew one thing – right now, she had to pull Gu Yue away.
Whatever quarrels they had at home, outside, they were both daughters of the Gu family. When one flourishes, both do; when one suffers, both are dragged down.
If Gu Yue clashed with Zhou Yi, she would surely come out the loser, and likely drag Gu Jiu down with her.
Gu Jiu wasn’t as petty or short-sighted as Gu Yue. She knew when to swallow her pride.
She strode forward and grabbed Gu Yue’s hand. “San meimei, taitai is calling us.”
Gu Yue resisted, glaring at Zhou Yi with anger and confusion. “You–”
Gu Jiu quickly cut in, turning to Zhou Yi with a polite smile. “This guniang, my meimei was ignorant. I beg your pardon.”
At the same time, she pinched Gu Yue hard on the arm, warning her to hold her tongue.
Gu Yue wasn’t a fool. This was the Ning wang fu, and if Gu Jiu was pulling her away so insistently… then surely this woman must be of the imperial clan, someone she couldn’t afford to offend.
Zhou Yi watched the two sisters with a mocking smile.
She asked Gu Yue, “Do you know why I slapped you?”
Gu Yue seethed with rage, face stiff, but said nothing.
“Because,” Zhou Yi said lightly, “you were in my way.”
Gu Yue was dumbfounded. In a place this spacious, how could she have been blocking the road? But thinking again, if this really was an imperial family member, better to swallow it. She bit back her words.
Gu Jiu quickly said, “Since my sister was in your way, why don’t we leave right now?”
She tugged at Gu Yue to go.
But Zhou Yi suddenly called out, “Your surname is Gu?”
Gu Jiu stopped and looked back, saying nothing.
“When I came, I was told the girl in apricot-colored robes was Gu Jiu. I’ve looked around, and only you wear apricot today. So you’re Gu Jiu, aren’t you?”
Gu Jiu smiled lightly. “That’s right.”
“Oh?”
Zhou Yi’s smile deepened as she gave Gu Jiu a slow once-over.
“So you’re the famous Gu Jiu.”
With that, she suddenly raised her hand to slap her.
Gu Jiu had been on guard. She wasn’t about to stand still and be hit. The instant Zhou Yi’s hand lifted, she stepped back.
Zhou Yi’s strike missed. Anger flared, and she moved to chase Gu Jiu down.
Gu Jiu’s eyes went cold. Her voice cracked like a whip: “Insolence!”
Zhou Yi froze, then burst out laughing. “What did you just say? Did you actually dare rebuke me? Do you know who I am?”
Gu Jiu sneered. “Does it matter who you are? This is Ning wang fu, not your Princess fu. I am the one the Son of Heaven himself decreed to be the imperial grandson’s wife. You dare strike me here, in my future husband’s fu? Believe it or not, even if I broke your arm for it, His Majesty would not punish me.”
Zhou Yi’s eyes turned icy. She scoffed. “Break my arm? His Majesty wouldn’t punish you? Where do you get such confidence, just because you’re to marry the imperial grandson?”
“Because I represent His Majesty’s dignity,” Gu Jiu shot back.
Her voice rose sharp with anger. “I will soon be of the imperial clan. And you? Once you’re married, you’ll be no more than water poured out, without rank, without title. I’ll ask you this: when we meet again, do you dare say I wouldn’t slap you across the face?”
Zhou Yi’s face flickered between light and dark. “Impressive. You haven’t even married in, and already you dare wave the tiger’s skin like a banner. And what if I strike you now?”
“Strike me, and you strike the face of Ning wang fu. Let’s see if you can walk out of these gates so easily.”
Zhou Yi laughed darkly. “In that case, better to strike first and talk later.”
At her signal, her maid lunged forward, trying to grab Gu Jiu so Zhou Yi could land a slap.
But Gu Jiu had no intention of taking the blow. If not now, when? She pulled Gu Yue with her and turned to run.
“Don’t let her escape!” Zhou Yi cried.
“Don’t let who escape?”
A young matron stepped into the flower hall, halting Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi frowned.
It was Ouyang shi, the second young mistress of the Ning wang fu.
Though she had married the second son, a shu-born child, she was currently the only daughter-in-law of the house, a woman of considerable standing. And being born to a family of generals, she was not one to endure humiliation.
Besides, as the mistress of this hall, even Zhou Yi had to show her some respect.
“Greetings to biaosao,” Zhou Yi muttered, unwillingly bowing her head.
Seeing the turn in events, Gu Jiu stopped fleeing and stepped forward. “Greetings, er furen.”
Ouyang shi studied her. “So you’re the fiancée da ge chose himself?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Yes, I am Gu Jiu.”
Ouyang shi smiled faintly. “And what was all this? I saw you running.”
Gu Jiu quickly explained, “This Zhou guniang struck my san meimei the moment she walked in, for no reason at all. The excuse was that my sister was standing in her way.”
“I originally didn’t want to cause more trouble; I only wanted to take my sister and leave. But I didn’t expect that as soon as she heard I was Gu Jiu, she wanted to hit me again. She had more people with her, and I wasn’t her match, so I could only run away quickly.”
When Ouyang shi heard the last part where Gu Jiu said she wasn’t a match and could only run away, she couldn’t help laughing.
In that instant, she developed a liking for Gu Jiu.
Being able to clearly recognise her own disadvantage, without stubbornly clinging to pride, this was knowing when to advance and when to retreat. Not bad at all.
Ouyang shi nodded and said to Gu Jiu, “Gu guniang has been wronged. I invited you as a guest, yet you nearly got beaten up; that is our wang fu’s fault. I’ll handle this matter.”
Zhou Yi frowned. “Biaosao, how will you handle it? Shouldn’t Gu Jiu be beaten?”
Ouyang shi’s face turned cold. “Whether Gu guniang should be beaten, I don’t know. Zhou biaomei, let me remind you, this is Ning wang fu, not Princess Fuming’s fu. You dare to strike a guest of our fu inside our walls? Do you even have Ning wang fu in your eyes? Do you believe I won’t break your hand?”
“You dare!” Zhou Yi roared in fury.
Ouyang shi gave a cold snort. “Just see if I dare. What, you want to run crying to the Princess? Go ahead. In fact, I’d be happy for Her Highness to discipline you properly. To visit someone else’s home and immediately raise your hand to strike people, you think you’re the young madam of this wang fu? Hah!”
Her words were extremely blunt, practically a slap across Zhou Yi’s face.
Zhou Yi’s face flushed red and she was about to order her maids to act.
Ouyang shi immediately rolled up her sleeves. “Anyone who dares to make a move in this fu, I’ll beat her to death myself.”
That one phrase “beat to death” was enough to scare Zhou Yi’s maids into stepping back.
Zhou Yi shouted angrily, “Ouyang Fu, what do you mean by this?”
Ouyang shi sneered. “What I mean is, you are here as a guest, so behave yourself. Otherwise, don’t blame me for giving you no face. Even if you blow this matter up, it doesn’t matter. I’ll just invite wangye to come and see how he’ll deal with his dear niece.”
Zhou Yi’s face turned pale.
Ning wang was not someone who cared about family affection, nor about giving or saving face. He didn’t even care for his own sons, let alone a niece.
If he learned of the matter, he definitely would not punish Ouyang shi. On the contrary, he would praise her for acting properly and upholding the dignity of the wang fu.
Yes, Ning wang was that kind of strange man, one could not judge him with common logic.
Even in his fifties, he could throw tantrums and roll around in front of the Emperor; clearly, he had no shame at all. To measure his actions with ordinary reasoning was only to court disaster.
Zhou Yi clenched her teeth. “Fine, you’re ruthless. Today I won’t make a move. But once we’re outside this fu, you won’t be able to control me.”
As soon as the words fell, she glanced at Gu Jiu, full of malice and provocation, as if to say, Just you wait.
Ouyang shi said, “I naturally won’t interfere outside the fu. But you’d better be careful you don’t trip in a gutter.”
She looked at Zhou Yi with a half-smile, clearly anticipating her making a fool of herself.
Zhou Yi frowned but didn’t speak further. She glared once more at Gu Jiu: Just you wait.
Gu Jiu: Heh!
Wait then. Who’s afraid of who?
Once she became the imperial grandson’s wife, she would surely hoist that banner high and thoroughly put Zhou Yi in her place, so she’d never dare provoke her again.
Gu Jiu was always one to repay grudges.
If it weren’t for Zhou Yi’s current status as the eldest di daughter of the Princess fu, the Emperor’s granddaughter, she wouldn’t even wait until marriage.
For a little woman’s revenge, ten years would be too long, ten days would already feel late.
She sent Zhou Yi a look: Bring it on.
Zhou Yi sneered. “Such nerve.”
She said no more and left with her maids and attendants.
Gu Jiu hurriedly said to Ouyang shi, “Thank you, er furen.”
Ouyang shi smiled faintly. “Gu guniang is too polite. We’ll be seeing more of each other in the future.”
“Still, I must thank you. If not for you, I would have been humiliated today.” Gu Jiu spoke softly.
Ouyang shi smiled and, spotting Pei Yun in the crowd, beckoned her over.
Pei Yun walked up. “Xiao Jiu meimei, are you all right?”
“Thank you for your concern, Pei jiejie. I’m fine.”
Ouyang shi said, “You should thank Pei Yun. If she hadn’t called me over in time, I wouldn’t have been able to help you out.”
Ah, so it was Pei Yun who had summoned Ouyang shi.
Gu Jiu quickly said, “Thank you, Pei jiejie. You’ve helped me a great deal.”
Pei Yun smiled. “It’s what I should do.”
Ouyang shi said, “I’m busy, so I won’t keep you company. Pei Yun, look after Gu guniang for me.”
“Go ahead, biaosao. I’ll stay here.”
Ouyang shi left with her attendants.
Gu Jiu let out a long breath. “Er furen arrived just in time. I truly owe Pei jiejie.”
Pei Yun considered for a moment. “Gu meimei, do you know why Zhou Yi is targeting you?”
Gu Jiu had no idea what nerve had gone wrong with Zhou Yi, but when she heard Pei Yun’s question, a sudden flash of insight came to her. She said, “Could it be because of Gongzi Zhao?”
Pei Yun nodded. “Exactly. Back then, she thought I would marry Liu Zhao, so she targeted me everywhere I went. I didn’t want to argue with her and cause trouble for my father and brothers, so most of the time I just avoided her.
“I never expected that as soon as she arrived today, she would target you, and even wanted to hit you. Simply outrageous. Fortunately, Gu meimei managed to stall her for so long, just enough time for biaosao to arrive.”
Gu Jiu clenched her teeth. So, once again, it was Liu Zhao’s fault.
That bastard Liu Zhao, just how much trouble had he brought upon her?
If Liu Zhao were here right now, Gu Jiu would kick him flat to the ground.
Not a single good thing had come her way because of him; instead, she kept getting dragged into endless messes.
Truly, Liu Zhao was a walking disaster.
Pei Yun comforted her: “You don’t need to worry that Zhou Yi will come looking for you again in private. I’ll have someone inform Liu Zhao of this matter. Let him handle it.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Yes, this is indeed something Liu Zhao should deal with.”
If she were to suffer even the slightest injury because of Zhou Yi, Gu Jiu would resent Liu Zhao for life.
Yes, that’s right, for life.
Nothing less could quell the bitterness in her heart.
Someone was calling for Pei Yun.
Pei Yun and Gu Jiu took their leave of each other.
Gu Jiu ordered Qing Mei to find a way to get word to Gu Ting in the outer court and have him send for Wang Yi.
Without Wang Yi by her side, Gu Jiu felt no sense of security.
If she had known she would run into this lunatic Zhou Yi, she would have brought Wang Yi along instead of Qing Zhu.
With this lesson learned, Gu Jiu resolved that from now on, no matter where she went, she would always take Wang Yi with her.
Gu Jiu then went to look for Gu Yue and the others.
As she left the flower hall, she spotted Gu Yue along the corridor.
Gu Yue was completely alone; not even a maid was with her.
Gu Jiu frowned slightly, walked forward, and asked, “San meimei, why are you here?”
Gu Yue sneered coldly. “That slap I took, wasn’t it all because of er jiejie? You provoked that Zhou Yi woman, and I ended up taking the slap for you.”
Gu Jiu frowned. “What are you trying to say, san meimei?”
“You owe me.” Gu Yue gnashed her teeth as she spoke.
Gu Jiu shook her head. “I don’t owe anyone, including you. If anyone else had stood in your place today, Zhou Yi would have slapped them too. It just so happens that you bear the surname Gu, that you are called Gu Yue, and that you happen to be my san meimei.”
Gu Yue’s face twisted viciously. “Do you think I want to be your san meimei? If I had any choice, I’d never want to be tied to you. Every time, I’m the one who suffers while you’re the lucky one. Why?!”
Gu Jiu chuckled softly. “Simply because I am Gu Jiu, so I’m luckier than you. And besides, I wasn’t born lucky. The luck I enjoy today is all earned through my own effort. Your so-called luck? That’s nothing more than fortune dropping from the sky.”
“You’re spouting nonsense!”
“Whether it’s nonsense or not, you know best in your heart.”
Gu Yue’s expression darkened. She stared at Gu Jiu fiercely. “You’re just trying to crush me, aren’t you?”
Gu Jiu sneered. “Do you really think that?”
Gu Yue bit her lip but stayed silent.
Gu Jiu smiled lightly. “Anyway, neither of us can convince the other. Talking more is just a waste of breath.”
Gu Yue let out a cold laugh and turned into the Flower Hall, where Zhang shi, Xie shi and the others were gathered.
Meanwhile, Qing Mei had bribed her way to the outer court of the wang fu and found Gu Ting.
“San shaoye, could you have someone return to the fu to summon Wang Yi? Guniang truly cannot do without her.”
“What happened? Did something happen to meimei?” Gu Ting asked anxiously.
Qing Mei glanced around, pulled Gu Ting into a corner, and explained everything that had happened.
After listening, Gu Ting’s face turned grim. “That Zhou Yi, she dared to lay hands on my sister? Is she seeking death?”
“San shaoye, please be cautious with your words. Zhou Yi is the eldest di daughter of the Princess fu, His Majesty’s own granddaughter.”
Gu Ting’s face hardened. “I know. I’ll send someone right away to fetch Wang Yi and have her guard meimei.”
But in his heart, he had already made up his mind, he would give Liu Zhao a proper beating.
After all, this whole mess stemmed from Liu Zhao. Because of him, his sister had almost been struck. How could he swallow this insult?
Unless he pummeled Liu Zhao, he would never be able to vent his rage.
After sending Qing Mei off, Gu Ting began searching everywhere for Liu Zhao’s whereabouts.
The esteemed da gongzi of the wang fu, shouldn’t he be out greeting the guests?
Finally, he ran into the guard Zhao San.
“Guard Zhao.”
Zhao San froze for a moment before finally recognising Gu Ting.
“So it’s Gu shaoye. Why aren’t you having tea in the Flower Hall? What brings you out here?”
Gu Ting narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Where is Gongzi Zhao?”
“Gu shaoye wants to see my gongzi?”
Gu Ting nodded. “He’s engaged to my meimei, but I’ve yet to meet him. Since I have the chance today, there are some things I want to say to him.”
Zhao San thought for a moment. Gu Ting was, after all, their gongzi’s future brother-in-law. Meeting him was appropriate.
“Please follow me, Gu shaoye. I’ll take you to him.”
“Thank you, Guard Zhao. Does Gongzi Zhao usually not come out to greet the guests himself?”
“Greeting guests is the duty of the officials of the wang fu. There’s no need for my gongzi to appear.”
Gu Ting secretly clicked his tongue. The pomp of the wang fu’s gongzi was indeed extraordinary.
Zhao San led Gu Ting to the Eastern Court’s Wenshu Garden. After making the report, he invited Gu Ting inside.
Gu Ting stepped into the study within the Wenshu Garden and finally saw Gongzi Zhao.
It was his first time seeing Liu Zhao so closely. He looked him up and down, silently nodding; indeed, the man had a fine appearance.
Liu Zhao, in turn, was scrutinising Gu Ting. So this was Gu Jiu’s elder brother? Big, burly, and not looking particularly clever.
“You wanted to see me?”
Gu Ting nodded, stepped forward, drawing closer and closer to Liu Zhao.
When only two steps separated them, Gu Ting suddenly swung his fist straight at Liu Zhao’s face.
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