Xie shi was still standing by the shore.
The prefect’s furen, Cai shi, walked toward her.
“Meimei, please don’t worry too much about this matter. Your family’s er guniang is blessed and will surely be fine.”
Xie shi nodded. “I’ll take jiejie’s kind words to heart. Today, the children in my family have made a scene and embarrassed themselves in front of you.”
Cai shi said, “Meimei doesn’t need to say that. With many children in the house, some noise and commotion are inevitable.”
Xie shi smiled lightly. “Thank you for your kind words. I am still worried about er yatou, so I’ll go over and check on her. Jiejie must be busy, so I won’t take up more of your time.”
“Go ahead, meimei. Whatever happens, speak calmly. Don’t get angry with the children. No one expected this accident to happen.”
“I’ll listen to jiejie.”
Xie shi left the pondside with her maids and elderly servants.
Cai shi watched Xie shi leave before turning coldly to ask, “Where is da guniang?”
“Furen, da guniang was here just now.”
“Mother, I’m here.”
Xu Yuanniang emerged from behind the bushes.
Cai shi snorted coldly. “Come here.”
Xu Yuanniang anxiously walked toward Cai shi.
Cai shi stared at her with a stern and rigid expression. “Last year, when Gu family’s er guniang fell into the water, did you really know about it from the beginning, as that maid said?”
Xu Yuanniang lowered her head. “Mother, nü’er…”
“Just answer yes or no.” Cai shi cut her off directly.
Xu Yuanniang became even more nervous and cautiously replied, “Nü’er knew.”
Cai shi questioned, “Since you knew, why didn’t you stop it? Gu family’s er guniang has always been weak. When she fell into the water last year, it was already deep autumn. If she hadn’t been rescued in time, did you ever consider the consequences?”
Xu Yuanniang said in a small voice, “At first, I thought Yue meimei was just joking, so I didn’t take it seriously. Later, when I saw Gu er guniang fall into the water, I got scared and didn’t dare to say anything.”
Cai shi frowned. “You are too unstable. If you had told me earlier, I would have taken precautions. Now things have escalated to this point. Even if Gu Yue won’t have a good ending, your own reputation has been damaged as well. Now, do you realise your mistake?”
Xu Yuanniang nodded repeatedly, tears welling up in her eyes. “Nü’er understands her mistake. I will never hide things from Mother again.”
Cai shi took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of Xu Yuanniang’s eyes. “It’s good that you understand. From now on, keep your distance from Gu Yue. That girl is too reckless. She repeatedly harms her own sisters—such a ruthless heart is not one of kindness. If you continue associating with her, you may end up being harmed by her.”
Xu Yuanniang was stunned. “Yue meimei isn’t…” that kind of person.
Before she could finish her sentence, Cai shi gave her a sharp look, making her stop speaking.
Cai shi sneered. “Do you really know what kind of person Gu Yue is?”
Xu Yuanniang opened her mouth but said nothing.
Cai shi continued, “Someone who dares to harm her own sisters outside the home—can she be considered kind? Since she is not kind, what makes you think she won’t harm you? Just because you are childhood friends?
“Compared to a young lady’s marriage prospects, how much does a childhood friendship really matter? If one day, both our families take a liking to the same gentleman, do you think your ‘good friend’ Gu Yue will step aside for you?”
Xu Yuanniang was speechless and could not refute her mother’s words.
Cai shi spoke earnestly, “You may know a person’s face, but not their heart. Outside, do not easily trust others.”
“Mother, didn’t you often say that Gu family’s liu shaoye is very good?”
Cai shi smiled faintly. “Gu Cheng is indeed a good man. But your marriage does not have to be with him.”
“Mother!”
Xu Yuanniang panicked and grabbed Cai shi’s sleeve.
Cai shi’s gaze instantly turned extremely cold.
Xu Yuanniang felt a chill in her heart and immediately let go of her mother’s sleeve.
Cai shi snorted coldly. “I will look at more options for you. I have also asked people in the capital to help find potential matches. Yuanniang, there are many better men than Gu Qing. The northwest is too small—it has limited your vision. In the future, if there’s an opportunity to go to the capital, I will take you to see what real noble sons are like.”
Xu Yuanniang lowered her head, feeling disheartened.
Cai shishowed no sympathy and ordered coldly, “Mama, watch over da guniang. Do not let her act recklessly.”
The mama bowed. “Furen, rest assured. I will keep a close watch on da guniang.”
Cai shi looked at Xu Yuanniang again. “You had better take care of yourself.”
With that, Cai shi left the pondside with her attendants.
Xie shi arrived at the guest room with her people.
Gu Jiu had already changed into dry clothes with the help of her maid and was leaning against the bed, looking exhausted.
“How is er yatou feeling?” Xie shi asked with concern.
Gu Jiu looked up. “Why has taitai come? I am much better now. Thank you for your concern.”
“You’ve always been weak, and now you’ve fallen into the water. If I didn’t come to check on you, I wouldn’t feel at ease.” Xie shi stepped forward, took Gu Jiu’s hand, and sat down beside her.
Gu Jiu felt uneasy. Was Xie shi trying to act like a loving mother?
She tried to pull her hand away, but before she could exert any force, Xie shi had already let go.
Indeed, Xie shi did not like holding her hand either.
Xie shi glared at Gu Yue, who was standing at the door. “Why are you still standing there? Come in and apologise to your er jiejie.”
Gu Yue didn’t move. Why should she apologise to Gu Jiu?
Gu Jiu coughed lightly. “San meimei is here too? Thank you for coming to visit me.”
Gu Yue snorted coldly. Who wanted to visit her? If not for Gu Shan dragging her along, she wouldn’t have come at all.
Xie shi frowned and reprimanded, “Gu Yue, do you not even listen to me now?”
Gu Shan pushed Gu Yue forward.
Gu Yue stepped into the room, glared fiercely at Gu Jiu, and then said loudly, “Mother, I was wronged! I didn’t push er jiejie—she’s framing me! Please, Mother, uphold justice for me.”
“You are being outrageous!”
Xie shi was furious. This ungrateful girl—did she want to anger her to death? Did she not realize what kind of situation they were in?
The two servant girls from the prefect’s fu exchanged glances, unsure whether they should leave or stay.
Xie shi abruptly stood up. “I will go take my leave from the prefect’s furen. The rest of you, pack up immediately and return to the manor.”
Staying here any longer would only bring further humiliation.
Gu Yue belatedly realised that she had misspoken and caused trouble.
She looked at Xie shi nervously. “Mother?”
Xie shi snorted coldly. “We will talk about this when we get back.”
With that, she led her people out of the guest courtyard.
The two servant girls from the prefect’s fu exchanged another glance before hurriedly leaving as well.
Gu Yue stomped her foot in frustration and pointed at Gu Jiu, shouting angrily, “It’s all because of you! You set me up on purpose! I won’t let this go!”
Gu Jiu laughed. Though her body was weak, it did not dampen her good mood—especially seeing Gu Yue so furious that she was practically jumping with rage.
Smiling, Gu Jiu said, “San meimei, you’re already losing your temper, and this is just the beginning. When we return home and face Father, what will you do then?”
“You—you want to tell Father? I won’t allow it!”
Gu Yue glared at Gu Jiu with hatred.
Gu Jiu chuckled softly. “That’s not for you to decide.”
“Gu Jiu, I hate you! I won’t let you get away with this!”
In her fury, Gu Yue wanted nothing more than to scratch Gu Jiu’s smiling face.
Gu Shan quickly stepped forward and grabbed Gu Yue’s arm. “San jiejie, come with me. Er jiejie is unwell. If you stay here, you will disturb her rest.”
“Gu Shan, whose side are you on?”
Gu Yue roared, venting all her anger on Gu Shan.
Gu Shan remained expressionless. “What nonsense are you talking about, san jiejie? Of course, I’m thinking of you. Er jiejie is weak. If she falls even more ill because of your presence, wouldn’t the blame fall on you again?”
“You… you… you…” Gu Yue pointed at Gu Shan, so enraged that she was speechless.
Gu Jiu chuckled lightly. “San meimei, I suggest you listen to si meimei. Gather your things and prepare to return home. Don’t keep taitai waiting too long.”
Gu Yue shot a venomous glare at Gu Jiu. “Don’t think you’ve won! I won’t let you succeed. We’ll see about that!”
After leaving her parting words, Gu Yue stormed off in a huff.
Gu Shan stepped forward and said to Gu Jiu, “Er jiejie, there were many times in the past when I treated you poorly. I apologise on behalf of Third Sister. Please be generous and don’t hold it against her.”
Gu Jiu shook her head slightly. “This has nothing to do with you, si meimei. Why should you apologise for san meimei? The one who should apologise is her.”
Gu Shan lifted her head and met Gu Jiu’s gaze. “San jiejie and I are born of the same mother. I cannot stand by and do nothing.”
Gu Jiu smiled faintly. “In that case, we have nothing more to talk about. Si meimei, you should leave.”
Gu Shan frowned. “Must er jiejie be like this?”
Gu Jiu let out a mocking laugh. She supported herself on Qing Mei’s arm and slowly sat up, speaking softly:
“Si meimei, I have come back from the gates of death. You can’t expect me to be kind anymore—that would be the cruellest thing you could ask of me. You should teach san meimei to learn kindness instead.”
Gu Shan was at a loss for words.
Gu Jiu continued, “I have no prejudice against si meimei. In fact, I rather like you. So this time, I hope you can be a quiet bystander.”
“I…”
“Or do you, like san meimei, also wish for my death?”
Gu Jiu’s sharp question made Gu Shan’s face pale with panic.
“Must er jiejie be so aggressive?”
Gu Jiu scoffed. “You all forced me to be like this. Do you only care about taking sides, without considering right and wrong?”
Gu Shan bit her lip, struggling, hesitating, torn. Finally, she said, “I understand now. Er jiejie, farewell.”
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