Hearing the commotion on the shore, Liu Zhao said, “It seems the argument is over.”
“Is it already over?”
Gu Jiu stretched her neck and looked toward the shore. “I must leave immediately.”
“Where are you going? I’ll take you there.”
Gu Jiu’s brows twitched. She was genuinely annoyed by Liu Zhao.
“Thank you for your kindness, Liu gongzi, but I need to return to the shore.”
Liu Zhao asked directly, “Going back to the shore directly—aren’t you afraid of being exposed?”
Gu Jiu: Heh!
Could you not put it so bluntly?
What do you mean by ‘exposed’?
She was clearly the victim here.
Liu Zhao’s face remained expressionless, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
He said, “Why don’t I help you?”
Gu Jiu shook her head repeatedly. “Thank you, Liu gongzi, but I have already made arrangements on the shore to ensure everything is foolproof.”
Liu Zhao suddenly frowned. “So you’re saying you still need to get into the water?”
Gu Jiu nodded.
Liu Zhao was displeased.
As for why he was displeased, no one knew. He just was.
“You don’t need to get into the water. I’ll leave this boat for you.”
Gu Jiu was surprised. “What about you?”
Liu Zhao snorted coldly, his gaze turning even colder.
“Bengongzi has a way. No need for you to worry.”
Gu Jiu: “…”
Imperial family members truly were unpredictable. Better not provoke them!
The lotus leaves parted, and the guard, Zhao San, pushed a small boat forward.
Gu Jiu suddenly understood. So that’s how it was.
Liu Zhao stood up and jumped onto another small boat.
The boat didn’t even sway in the slightest.
Gu Jiu was amazed. Could it be that Liu gongzi knew qinggong and could move swiftly at will?
Liu Zhao glanced back at Gu Jiu, his expression full of disdain. But when he saw her shivering, he couldn’t help but frown.
“If you’re weak, stop trying to act tough. The ‘injured strategy’ doesn’t work every time.”
Gu Jiu was momentarily stunned, then smiled with curved brows. “Thank you for the advice, Liu gongzi. Here is your cloak. I appreciate your help today.”
Liu Zhao stared at the cloak in Gu Jiu’s hands, his expression becoming even more disdainful. “Keep it.”
With that, his boat cut through the water like an arrow and quickly disappeared.
Gu Jiu watched in amazement.
Zhao San clung to the edge of the boat. “Gu guniang, I’ll take you back to the shore.”
Gu Jiu watched as Liu Zhao’s boat disappeared around a bend.
Curious, she asked Zhao San, “How does your gongzi move his boat forward?”
Zhao San chuckled. “Even if I told you, Gu guniang, you wouldn’t understand. Sit tight.”
Zhao San guided the boat forward and reached a quiet spot on the shore.
He whispered, “Gu guniang, I will leave you here. Take care.”
Gu Jiu looked around. This was indeed a good place—secluded, with no one around, but not far from where she had fallen into the water.
She should be discovered soon.
She said to Zhao San, “Thank you for today, Guard Zhao. Please take this cloak back. If I keep it, I’m afraid it will raise suspicion.”
Zhao San glanced at the cloak. After a moment of hesitation, he decisively took it.
His young master’s visit to the general’s fu must not be exposed. If the cloak stayed with Gu guniang, it could cause trouble and reveal his master’s whereabouts.
It was better that he handled it himself.
“Gu guniang, farewell!”
Zhao San cupped his fists in farewell and disappeared in an instant.
Gu Jiu thought for a moment, scooped up some water, and splashed it on her face to make herself look even more miserable and pitiful.
Then, she lay on the boat and waited to be discovered.
It wasn’t long before someone arrived.
“Come quickly! Gu guniang has been found!”
A pozi was the first to spot Gu Jiu.
Soon after, the crowd rushed over.
“Guniang! Guniang, are you alright?”
Qing Mei threw herself onto Gu Jiu.
Qing Zhu, Xiao Cui, and Jiang Yan all gathered around the boat, conveniently blocking everyone’s view.
Gu Jiu opened her eyes and looked at Qing Mei.
Qing Mei sobbed as she secretly nodded to Gu Jiu.
It worked!
Gu Jiu let out a small sigh of relief.
Then, everyone heard her groan weakly in pain.
“Is er yatou alright?”
Xie shi stood on the shore, full of concern.
Her hands were hidden in her sleeves, clenched into fists, veins bulging—she was absolutely furious.
Qing Mei cried out, “Guniang, you’re finally awake! Nubi was so scared, afraid you would end up like last year, unconscious for three days, hovering at death’s door while the true culprit got away with everything!”
On the shore, Gu Yue’s face turned pale.
She felt all eyes on her.
Everyone was pointing fingers at her.
Gu Yue was so angry and flustered that she wanted to step forward and scold Qing Mei.
But Gu Shan reacted quickly and grabbed Gu Yue’s hand, shaking her head slightly.
“San jiejie, don’t.”
Gu Yue gritted her teeth and held back her fury.
“Qing Mei, don’t speak nonsense,” Gu Jiu reprimanded weakly.
“Guniang, nubi is not lying!” Qing Mei argued loudly.
Gu Jiu looked exhausted, weak, and helpless. “You foolish girl, how many times have I reminded you that some things must be kept secret even if you know them? Have you forgotten?”
Oh!
The people on the shore had a look of realisation.
So Gu family’s er guniang actually knew who had pushed her into the water last time.
But since her stepmother was in charge of the fu, as a stepdaughter, she didn’t dare to speak out and demand justice for herself.
If it weren’t for Gu Yue being so reckless today and pushing er guniang into the water again, that maid named Qing Mei wouldn’t have blurted out the truth.
Everyone present believed they had uncovered the real story.
And this was exactly the ‘truth’ Gu Jiu wanted them to believe.
Qing Mei cried. “Guniang, you endure so much, but for what? If you think nubi did something wrong, then punish nubi!”
“You… what am I supposed to do with you?”
Gu Jiu sighed softly, appearing even more fragile and helpless.
She lifted her head and looked at Xie shi on the shore. “Taitai, please forgive Qing Mei. She only spoke out of concern for me. If anyone should be punished, it should be me.”
Saying this, Gu Jiu lowered her head, looking as if she was prepared to be punished.
Many people thought to themselves:
Gu family’s er guniang truly suffered as a stepdaughter. Her life in the fu must be incredibly difficult.
Xie shi’s expression softened with kindness. “Er yatou, what nonsense are you saying? Hurry and get up! You’re soaking wet—go inside and change. Your health is weak as it is. If you fall ill, what will we do? Why are you all standing around? Help er guniang up!”
Qing Mei and Qing Zhu supported Gu Jiu onto the shore.
Gu Jiu curtsied slightly. “I have troubled taitai. It is my fault.”
Xie shi sighed. “You child, you never let people have a moment’s peace. It’s summer, and while it’s fine to play around with your sisters, you must be careful. See? You ended up falling into the water. Go change your clothes.
“If you feel unwell in any way, make sure to speak up. Don’t be like last year, when you were sick but didn’t tell the doctor, and your condition worsened. Your father and I were so worried.”
Gu Jiu lowered her head and smiled faintly.
Xie shi was trying to distort the truth and clear Gu Yue’s name, shifting the blame for last year’s incident onto Gu Jiu herself.
But it was too late.
Now, everyone knew it was Gu Yue who had ordered people to push Gu Jiu into the water last year.
No amount of whitewashing could change that.
Gu Jiu leaned against Qing Mei, completely drained of strength.
At this moment, she didn’t need to pretend to be weak—she truly was weak.
In a feeble voice, she said, “Thank you, taitai, for your teachings. I will keep them in mind. Qing Mei, I’m cold.”
Just then, a gust of wind blew past.
Gu Jiu couldn’t help but shiver twice, looking even more pitiful.
It was human nature to sympathise with the weak.
At this moment, the scales in everyone’s hearts tilted in Gu Jiu’s favour.
“Guniang, let nubi help you to your room,” Qing Mei said, speaking through tears as she carefully supported Gu Jiu.
Seeing this, Xie shi’s eyes filled with concern, and she immediately ordered, “Chun He, follow them and take good care of er guniang.”
Chun He bowed and accepted the order.
The prefect’s furen, Cai shi, also spoke up. “Send two people to attend to Gu er guniang properly. Also, take my invitation and summon a physician. The rest of you, disperse.”
The crowd gradually dispersed.
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