Gu Jiu, supported by Qing Mei, got onto the ox cart and set off from the general’s fu.
For the Gu family, this banquet had been nothing short of a disaster.
Xie shi boarded the carriage with a dark expression, clenching her fists so tightly that her long nails had pierced her palms, though she remained oblivious to the pain.
Ping mama attended to her. “Taitai, the plan didn’t work. Liu shaoye wasn’t even able to enter the courtyard, and Pei da guniang has already left, setting out for the military camp.”
“Where is liulang?”
“Liu shaoye returned home early.”
Xie shi scoffed, “I knew I shouldn’t have told liulang about this. That child has never weathered real storms—he’s still too naïve.”
Ping mama lowered her head. “Taitai, what should we do next?”
Xie shi’s face was stern. “We’ll deal with the matter of Gu Jiu falling into the water first before discussing anything else.”
Ping mama hesitated for a moment before voicing her doubts. “Taitai, nubi finds something odd. Since er guniang knew that it was san guniang who ordered someone to push her into the water back then, why didn’t she say anything earlier? Why did she wait until today to make the maid scream it out for everyone to hear? Taitai, could there be something more to this?”
Xie shi sneered. “It doesn’t matter what her plan is—I will make sure she gains nothing from it, that all her efforts are in vain.”
Ping mama’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Taitai, have you made up your mind?”
Xie shi nodded. “Be ready to act at the right moment.”
“Nubi understands.” Ping mama obeyed.
On the ox cart, Gu Jiu leaned against Qing Mei.
She asked, “Is everything arranged?”
Qing Mei nodded. “Li Chuan has already returned to the manor to report to laoye. Guniang, are you sure about this?”
Gu Jiu narrowed her eyes slightly. “Don’t worry.”
What happened at the banquet was just an appetiser. The real battlefield was at the fu.
Gu Jiu adjusted herself into a more comfortable position. “I’ll sleep for a while. Wake me up when we arrive.”
She needed to rest and gather her energy for the upcoming battle.
The journey back to the fu was uneventful. Gu Jiu alighted from the carriage at the second gate.
Leaning against Qing Mei, she spoke weakly, “Taitai, I’ll return to my room first.”
“Go back and rest properly, er yatou. I’ve already sent for a physician,” Xie shi said softly.
Gu Jiu bowed slightly. “Thank you for your concern, taitai. Since I fell into the water today, I’m afraid I won’t be able to visit you for some time. I ask for your forgiveness.”
Xie shi responded kindly, “Your health is more important than anything.”
“I thank taitai for your understanding. Qing Mei, help me back.” Qing Mei supported Gu Jiu as they returned to Zhilan Yuan.
Before she could rest long, Xiao Cui entered to report, “Guniang, laoye has come to see you.”
Gu daren strode in, his face grim.
Gu Ting followed behind him, his eyes blazing with anger.
Gu Jiu quickly said, “Qing Mei, help me sit up.”
“You’re unwell, stay lying down,” Gu daren said, his tone devoid of warmth.
Gu Jiu coughed lightly and leaned against the bed, lowering her gaze. “Father, I admit my mistake.”
Gu daren sat down on a chair, his face dark with authority. “What did you do wrong?”
“How could meimei be wrong?” Gu Ting protested, feeling indignant on her behalf.
Gu daren scolded him harshly, “This is not your place to speak. If you can’t hold your tongue, leave.”
Gu Ting wanted to argue, but Gu Jiu quickly intervened, “Gege, I know you care for me, but today’s incident was indeed my fault.”
“Meimei?” Gu Ting was anxious.
Gu Jiu shook her head slightly, signaling him to stay silent.
Facing her father, she spoke calmly, “Nü’er was wrong to air our family’s disgrace in public, causing harm to the Gu family’s reputation. Father, nü’er recognises her mistake. Please punish me.”
Gu daren nodded. “Since you knew it was wrong to expose family matters, why did you do it anyway?”
Tears welled in Gu Jiu’s eyes, making Gu Ting’s heart ache.
She lifted her head and met her father’s gaze. “Father, nü’er was wronged.”
Gu daren frowned.
Thud!
Qing Mei suddenly knelt on the ground with a loud noise that made even Gu Jiu’s knees ache just from hearing it.
“Laoye, please seek justice for my guniang! Guniang has suffered so much! She lost her mother at a young age, even her closest nanny, Gui mama, was driven out of the house. She grew up with difficulty, only to be pushed into the water and nearly drowned. Every time I think about how she was almost killed, I feel so aggrieved for her!”
Qing Mei cried bitterly and kowtowed repeatedly. “Laoye, please uphold justice for my guniang!”
At that moment, the steward, Gu Quan, entered the room. He glanced around hesitantly.
Gu daren snorted. “What is it?”
Gu Quan bowed. “Laoye, taitai has arrived with the san and si guniang. They are waiting outside.”
Gu daren ordered coldly, “Let them in.”
“Yes!”
Soon, Xie shi entered with Gu Yue and Gu Shan.
Xie shi quickly assessed the situation and said, “Laoye, I have brought san yatou here. She should apologise to her sister. Yue’er, quickly apologize to your er jiejie.”
Gu Yue lowered her head, appearing timid. She stole a glance at Gu daren’s expression, feeling extremely nervous.
Xie shi glared at her, and Gu Shan nudged her forward. Finally, Gu Yue stepped up and said, “Er jiejie, I have come to apologise.”
Gu Jiu looked at Gu Yue indifferently. “You’re very considerate, san meimei.”
Gu Yue frowned slightly. What was this expression? Was she looking down on her?
Suddenly, Gu Ting spoke out, “San meimei, since you came to apologise, are you admitting that it was you who ordered someone to push er meimei into the water last year?”
Gu Yue was stunned and turned to look at him.
Gu Ting pressed on angrily, “Gu Yue, in front of everyone, tell us the truth. Was it you who had er meimei pushed into the water last year? Why did you want to harm her? You knew she was weak, yet you did something that even pigs and dogs wouldn’t do. Did you want to kill her from the start? Speak up!”
Gu Yue was questioned repeatedly by Gu Ting and she suddenly panicked.
Flustered, Gu Yue blurted out, “I didn’t! You’re falsely accusing me! Gu Jiu fell into the water herself today. She just wants to frame me! Father, Mother, you must believe me!”
“Silence!” Gu daren’s voice was filled with suppressed fury, about to erupt.
“Shut up!” Xie shi snapped.
She was nearly in tears from frustration. Before they arrived, she had warned Gu Yue repeatedly. Why had she lost control the moment she saw Gu Jiu?
Gu Shan covered her face, unable to watch any longer.
Xie shi scolded Gu Yue, “Yue’er, what are you doing?”
Realising her mistake, Gu Yue turned back to see Gu daren’s icy gaze and was overcome with fear.
Gu Yue was nervous, yet aggrieved. “Mother, nü’er didn’t lie. What happened today has nothing to do with me.”
Gu daren asked coldly, “Did last year’s incident have anything to do with you?”
Gu Yue, terrified, curled into herself and shook her head frantically, too scared to speak.
“Answer me! Did you order someone to push Xiao Jiu into the water last year?”
Gu daren’s sudden outburst startled everyone in the room.
Gu Yue finally broke down and wailed, “Father, I was wrong.”
“So last year, you really pushed Xiao Jiu into the water.”
Gu Yue kept crying but dared not reply.
Gu daren let out a chilling laugh. “What deep hatred do you hold against Xiao Jiu that you would try to kill her? I don’t expect you to love each other, but I will not tolerate siblings harming one another.”
Bang!
He slammed his palm onto the table, causing the teacups to jump.
Everyone shuddered in fear.
Even Xie shi looked uneasy.
“Laoye, it was qieshen’s fault for not disciplining Yue’er properly,” she pleaded.
“Of course you are at fault,” Gu daren said coldly. “Look at the good daughter you raised. Er yatou is frail, yet your daughter showed her no mercy, almost putting her to death and pushing her into the water in the cold autumn. Today, she did it again. Do you take benguan to be a dead person? Do you think benguan can’t even protect a daughter?”
Xie shi was shocked. “Laoye, qieshen is wrong. Qieshen will definitely discipline san yatou.”
“I didn’t push er jiejie today,” Gu Yue still insisted.
Xie shi was furious. “Yue’er, shut up!”
Gu Jiu said softly, “San meimei, you really pushed, did you forget?”
Gu Yue yelled at her, “That wasn’t pushing. Don’t accuse me unjustly!”
Gu daren’s face was sullen. He said furiously, “Matters have reached this stage and you still don’t repent! Someone, come! Take san guniang away and give her a severe beating!”
“Wah…” Gu Yue burst into tears. The mere mention of being punished with a beating terrified her. “Father, I know I was wrong!”
Xie shi also panicked. “Laoye, you mustn’t! Yue’er is a young lady—how can she endure being beaten? What if she is seriously hurt?”
She hadn’t expected Gu daren to be so furious, to the point of ordering such a harsh punishment for Gu Yue. A young lady’s body was delicate—one strike with the paddle could be disastrous.
Gu daren spoke sternly, “Benguan’s decision is final. Do not speak of this again.”
Xie shi grew even more anxious. “Laoye, you… I… Ah—”
“Taitai? Taitai, what’s wrong?” Ping mama cried out in alarm.
Xie taitai clutched her stomach. “My stomach… my child…”Ping mama’s face turned pale with fear. “Taitai is unwell! Someone, come quickly!”
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