“I dare not take Taitai’s words lightly,” Gu Jiu said earnestly.
Xie shi chuckled. “Child, you can be too serious at times. After a whole day’s journey, you must be exhausted. Go back and rest well. Until you recover, there’s no need to come and pay respects every day. I know you’re filial.”
“Thank you, taitai, for your understanding. I’ll take my leave now.”
Gu Jiu slightly curved her lips, turned around, and left with her four maids.
The atmosphere in the room eased immediately.
Gu Zhen and Gu Lin were relieved that they hadn’t been dragged into the fray. Gu Yue and Gu Shan were thankful their mother had held back and hadn’t actually ordered Gu Jiu to be beaten.
The moment Gu Jiu walked out, Xie shi’s previously smiling face dropped entirely.
“I’m tired. Everyone, leave,” she said coldly. Gu Zhen and Gu Lin hurriedly stood up and left as if pardoned from punishment.
Gu Yue and Gu Shan stayed behind. “Mother, are you all right?”
Xie shi clenched her teeth and let out a derisive snort. “Send for Doctor Xu.”
The two sisters grew even more worried, fearing that Gu Jiu’s antics had worsened their mother’s health.
Xie shi waved her hand dismissively. “I’m fine. You don’t need to worry. Stay and chat with me for a while.”
“As you wish, Mother,” they replied, sitting back down, and chatted with her.
Meanwhile, Gu Jiu returned to Zhilan Yuan with her four maids.
Inside the study on the east side, Qing Mei finally exhaled the breath she had been holding.
Phew!
She looked nervous, still shaken. “Nubi was nearly scared to death by guniang. Guniang should have held back a little at shangfang, letting her words go in one ear and out the other. After all, she’s the taitai, the mistress of this fu. Guniang has told us before: patience is key. But today, guniang was too impulsive.”
Gu Jiu leaned back in her chair. “Was I really that impulsive today?”
The four maids nodded in unison.
Qing Zhu spoke up, “It was satisfying to see taitai flustered, but nubi is worried that she’ll make life harder for guniang in the future. Especially when it comes to your marriage—there’s no avoiding her involvement.”
Gu Jiu laughed. “You’re mistaken. In today’s situation, holding back was not an option.”
“I don’t understand,” Qing Mei said.
Gu Jiu’s face was calm as she explained, “The circumstances are different now. In the past, taitai had absolute authority in the fu and was highly regarded by Father. Back then, I had no choice but to endure. Now, there’s a rift between taitai and Father. There’s no need to tolerate her like before.”
“But isn’t guniang worried about the future? Offending taitai will surely make life more difficult for guniang,” Qing Mei asked.
Gu Jiu tilted her head and looked at her four maids. “When I endured everything before and didn’t dare to offend taitai, was my life any easier? Were your lives any better? Did my words count in Zhilan Yuan?”
At this, Qing Zhu and Xiao Cui nodded vigorously.
Qing Zhu said, “Guniang is right. Back then, no matter how much guniang endured, life wasn’t any better. Instead, guniang was constantly restrained and nearly killed by that wretched servant Taohong. Now that guniang doesn’t give taitai face, even if things get tough, it won’t be worse than when Taohong was around.”
Qing Mei added, “But guniang must be mindful of propriety. If guniang is accused of being unfilial, it could harm guniang’s reputation, and laoye might have objections.”
Gu Jiu smiled and nodded. “Qing Mei’s warning is correct. Propriety is important. Honestly, even if taitai had decided to beat me today, it wouldn’t have mattered much. I simply wasn’t willing to accept it.”
Qing Mei said immediately, “But guniang has just returned and isn’t in good health. If taitai had punished you, laoye would’ve been furious.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Exactly. If I had been beaten, taitai wouldn’t have had a good day either. The conflicts and misunderstandings between taitai and Father would only deepen from here.”
“But guniang wasn’t punished,” Qing Zhu pointed out cautiously. “Guniang knew that getting punished would have ultimately backfired on taitai, yet guniang still persuaded her to change her mind. Could guniang be afraid of pain?”
Gu Jiu’s lips twitched, feeling a bit embarrassed at being called out.
Jiang Yan sneaked a glance at Qing Zhu. Qing Zhu jiejie was really honest, daring to say something like that.
Qing Mei nudged Qing Zhu’s sleeve, gesturing with her mouth. Really, you’re too straightforward! At least spare guniang’s dignity.
Qing Zhu only then realised her mistake, blushing at her blunder.
“Guniang, nubi didn’t mean any harm. Please punish if nubi has overstepped,” Qing Zhu said sheepishly.
Gu Jiu waved her hand, laughing. “You’re not wrong. I’m terrified of pain, so I absolutely wouldn’t accept being beaten.”
Being beaten was out of the question—never in either of her lifetimes. Gu Jiu’s fear of pain was genuine. In her previous life, she endured daily medications and injections. People often said one would grow accustomed to the pain, but how could anyone ever get used to that?
Every time she saw a needle, she instinctively turned her head away, unable to look. The moment the needle touched her skin—ugh, the pain was unbearable.
However, she feared death even more than pain.
So, no matter how painful, she endured the treatments, though she ultimately died from complications. Thankfully, the heavens gave her another chance at life.
This time, she was fortunate not to have congenital heart disease or inherited illnesses. She only had a naturally weak constitution, exacerbated by poor care.
With proper nourishment, she would soon have the healthy body she had longed for in her past life. Having the healthy body she dreamed of in her previous life was her greatest luck.
So Xie shi dreaming of punishing her? Ridiculous. In this lifetime, she wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. She was most afraid of pain, and being hit by a paddle hurt so much. Whoever dared to hit her, she would repay them doubly.
So, even if she knew that being beaten would bring great benefits, she still refused firmly. Now that she had grasped Xie shi’s handle, there were plenty of opportunities in the future, so there was no hurry.
“Gu Jiu, come out here!”
“Who’s yelling out there?” Gu Jiu asked curiously, finding the voice unfamiliar.
“Nubi will go and check,” Xiao Cui said, hurrying out before rushing back in.
“Guniang, it’s bad! Ba shaoye is here!”
Ba di? Gu Gong? What was he doing here?
Curious, Gu Jiu got up and walked out.
The moment Gu Gong saw her, he jumped up.
“Gu Jiu, are you even human? You upset Mother so much she’s bedridden. Apologise to her immediately, or I won’t let you off!”
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow. Is he brainless?
“Ba di, what did you just call me?”
Gu Gong glared at her fiercely. “Gu Jiu! Don’t think I’m afraid of you just because Father protects you. If you don’t kowtow and apologise to Mother, I’ll beat you up!”
With that, he raised his fists, trying to look intimidating.
Gu Jiu laughed. Gu Gong was truly brainless.
“What are you laughing at? If you dare to laugh again, I’ll really hit you!”
Gu Jiu chuckled. “Then hit me. I’m standing right here. Do you dare?”
“Mother fed and clothed you, raising you with great effort. Instead of being grateful, you made her upset. Someone like you deserves to be punished!”
Gu Gong’s righteous declaration was accompanied by his fist flying toward Gu Jiu.
“Ahhh!”
The maids shrieked in fear, not expecting him to actually strike.
“Who dares hit my sister?!”
Smack!
Gu Ting’s punch sent Gu Gong sprawling on the ground, groaning in pain.
Standing over him like an enraged guardian, Gu Ting glared fiercely, his eyes like copper bells.
“You dare lay a hand on my sister? I’ll beat you to death!”
With that, he raised his fist again, aiming for Gu Gong’s face.
Terrified, Gu Gong forgot to react and could only instinctively shield his face.
“Gege, wait!”
At the critical moment, Gu Jiu stopped Gu Ting.
Gu Ting paused, dissatisfied. “Meimei, stay out of this. This brat needs a good lesson!”
Gu Jiu replied, “Gege, hear me out. If you must hit him, don’t do it in my courtyard. Take him outside—I don’t want my place dirtied.”
Huh?
This reaction wasn’t what either of them expected.
Both Gu Ting and Gu Gong were dumbfounded.
Gu Gong had thought she’d stop Gu Ting to protect him. Instead, she simply didn’t want her courtyard sullied.
How heartless, how cold, how practical.
No love here! He wanted to cry!
Scratching his head, Gu Ting said, “Fine, I’ll take him outside. Meimei, are you okay? Did lao ba scare you?”
Gu Jiu smiled. “Thank you for your concern, gege. Ba di is just a child. He can’t scare me.”
Despised!
Gu Gong felt as if he’d been stabbed in the heart.
He glared at Gu Jiu. I’m so imposing, so fierce. How could I not scare you? You’re clearly terrified!
Gu Jiu laughed again. “You? Scary? Not at all. Just a bit silly.”
Thud!
In just a few words, Gu Jiu thoroughly crushed Gu Gong’s spirit.
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