One more to one hundred!
“Kneel down, both of you!”
Xie shi slammed the table, glaring angrily at Gu Yue and Gu Shan.
These two daughters had truly disappointed her.
Thud!
Gu Yue and Gu Shan knelt on the ground. Even with the carpet beneath them, their knees still ached.
“Do you realise your mistakes?”
Xie shi stared at them coldly.
Gu Shan lowered her head, remaining silent.
Gu Yue sobbed twice and nodded slightly. “Nü’er knows my mistake.”
Xie shi was so furious she nearly lost control. She wanted to beat these two foolish girls right then and there. But she couldn’t truly lose her temper.
She forced herself to control her anger, refusing to let her rage cloud her judgment.
Fixing her glare on Gu Yue, she harshly demanded, “Are you a pig-brain?”
Gu Yue shuddered almost imperceptibly.
“I asked, are you a pig-brain?” Xie shi suddenly raised her voice, shouting.
Gu Yue burst into tears. “Mother, nü’er knows my mistake!”
Xie shi sneered coldly.
“You always say you know your mistake, yet you keep making the same ones. San yatou, are you an idiot?”
Gu Yue shook her head frantically. “Mother, please give nü’er another chance! Nü’er swears to control my temper in the future and not act out again!”
“Enough!” Xie shi scolded. “I’ve heard these words too many times, yet again and again, you let me down. A month ago, in the northwest, I warned you repeatedly to behave properly once we arrived at the hou fu.
“Even this morning before you left, I reminded you again to restrain yourself in all matters. And yet, what did you do? Time and time again, you’re like mud that can’t support the wall—utterly useless! I had such high hopes for you, but you’re beyond saving!”
Gu Yue was both terrified and shocked, crying even harder.
Her wailing grated on Xie shi’s nerves. Furious, she roared, “Shut up! What right do you have to cry? Whenever there was something good in this household, I always ensured you got it first. And yet today, your behaviour was worse than even Gu Lin’s, let alone Gu Shan and Gu Jiu!
“You had Gu Zhen spread rumours to ruin Gu Jiu’s reputation, and then, like a fool, you personally got into a dispute with her. Do you have any idea what the people in the hou fu think of you and Gu Zhen? They think you’re both idiots—brainless fools! Do you think any noble family would still want to marry you? Tell me!”
Gu Yue only sobbed, unable to utter a word.
Xie shi looked at her with disgust. It was always the same—when causing trouble, she was the most arrogant and aggressive, unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss. But once things went wrong, all she did was cry, repeatedly claiming she knew her mistake, yet never truly repenting.
Cowardly yet stubborn—that was Gu Yue.
Xie shi snorted coldly. “You should be grateful that this happened within the hou fu and not elsewhere. At least here, the family can cover for you and prevent rumours from spreading.
“If you had caused this kind of trouble while visiting another household, in less than two days, the entire capital would know that the Gu family’s san guniang is an idiot. Then tell me, who would dare marry you?”
“Mother, nü’er truly know my mistake! Nü’er will never dare to do it again!”
“Shut up!”
Xie shi jabbed a finger at Gu Yue’s forehead. “Do you think just admitting fault is enough? How many times have you done this? Have you ever changed? Your brain is meant for thinking, not for being stupid! Now kneel here and reflect on your actions!”
Gu Yue stayed still, trembling, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. She was heartbroken.
Xie shi then turned to Gu Shan. “Shan’er, you’ve always been smart. Why, then, did you betray your own family today? In front of everyone, you embarrassed me! Are you growing bold?”
Gu Shan kept her head down, silent.
Xie shi was furious. “Speak! Usually, you’re so articulate—why are you mute now?”
Gu Shan clutched the handkerchief in her sleeves, twisting it so tightly it was nearly torn apart.
After a long pause, she finally spoke. “San jiejie has lost her temper too many times, acting recklessly and causing trouble over and over again. Yet she refuses to listen to advice. Whenever someone tries to reason with her, she just gets impatient and ignores them.
“Nü’er believes the reason san jiejie keeps making the same mistakes is because she hasn’t been properly punished. This time, no matter what, she must face the consequences and learn her lesson. That is why the full truth was told.”
Gu Yue turned her head sharply, staring daggers at Gu Shan.
She gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with resentment.
So, this was how Gu Shan was. Since Gu Shan was heartless, then don’t blame her for being ruthless too.
But Xie shi wasn’t satisfied with Gu Shan’s explanation. Instead, she asked coldly, “Be honest with me, Shan’er. Are you acting this way because I favour Yue’er more, and you’re jealous?”
“Nü’er is not jealous. Nü’er has never been jealous of san jiejie,” Gu Shan firmly denied.
Gu Yue sneered internally. Lies! Gu Shan was absolutely jealous. She was dissatisfied that Mother favoured her more, which was why she took Gu Jiu’s side today.
Gu Shan was a disgraceful traitor.
Xie shi scrutinised Gu Shan’s face, not missing the slightest change in expression.
“You truly have no jealousy towards your san jiejie?”
Gu Shan’s gaze was unwavering as she replied resolutely, “Nü’er has never been jealous of san jiejie. She is more beautiful than nü’er and older, so it is only natural she receives more attention and affection.
“Mother, everything nü’er did today was to ensure your efforts weren’t wasted. If san jiejie wants to marry into a good family, she must be disciplined from now on. She cannot be allowed to continue making the same mistakes.”
Xie shi remained expressionless, silent.
Gu Yue, however, glared at Gu Shan, hatred growing in her heart.
A two-faced snake. A backstabbing traitor. And yet she dared to claim she wasn’t jealous? Ha!
Everything Gu Shan said was deliberately calculated to ruin her.
Gu Shan wanted to humiliate her, to drive a wedge between her and their mother, so she could take her place as the most favoured daughter.
But she wouldn’t let Gu Shan succeed. She would expose Gu Shan’s schemes and ensure that Gu Shan became the one cast aside. She would make sure their mother abandoned her, marrying her off to some nobody, so that she could never rise again.
Xie shi let out a cold laugh and asked Gu Shan, “So, you’re saying you were doing us a favour? Should Gu Yue and I be thanking you?”
Gu Shan quickly shook her head. “Nü’er’s handling of the matter was not thorough enough. Nü’er admit my mistake.”
“Oh? So you do know your actions were lacking. That’s rare. Let me ask you—what’s going on between you and Gu Jiu? Are you two close?”
Gu Shan hurriedly denied it. “Nü’er and er jiejie merely maintain a surface relationship; there is no real affection between us.”
Xie shi lowered her head and chuckled. “Today, in front of everyone, you exposed your san jiejie, which essentially meant speaking up for Gu Jiu. Then, Gu Jiu stood up to contradict me, clearly stepping in to defend you. If you two are not close, why would you repeatedly look out for each other? Shan’er, Mother wants to hear the truth from you.”
Gu Shan lowered her head and whispered, “Nü’er speaks nothing but the truth and has never deceived Mother. What happened today was just a coincidence.”
“A coincidence?”
Gu Shan nodded repeatedly.
Xie shi smiled. “It’s not a problem if you associate with Gu Jiu. After all, you are sisters, and sibling harmony would please your father.”
Gu Shan was stunned and looked up at Xie shi.
“However…”
Xie shi fixed her gaze on Gu Shan and continued, “In your interactions, you must know where to draw the line. Be mindful of what you should and shouldn’t say. Moreover, keep an eye on whether Gu Jiu is secretly engaging in any underhanded dealings behind people’s backs.”
Gu Shan was left speechless. She understood exactly what her mother meant.
Her mother was asking her to get close to Gu Jiu and use that as an opportunity to spy on her.
Gu Shan bit her lip. “Mother, nü’er… nü’er…”
“Are you saying you can’t do it?” Xie shi asked softly.
Gu Shan nodded again and again.
Xie shi chuckled lightly, not the least bit angry. “If you can’t do it, then simply distance yourself from Gu Jiu. That girl is nothing but bad luck. Every time I cross paths with her, I end up seething with rage.”
Gu Shan responded with a soft “oh” and said, “Nü’er will listen to Mother and keep distance from er jiejie.”
Xie shi nodded. “That would be best. You may leave now.”
Gu Shan stood up, discreetly rubbing her aching knees.
She bowed and retreated. Before leaving, she glanced at Gu Yue.
Gu Yue kept her head lowered, her expression unreadable.
Once Gu Shan was gone, the room fell silent.
Xie shi sat in the main seat, deep in thought, her brows furrowed.
Gu Yue cautiously lifted her head and stole a few glances at Xie shi before quickly lowering it again.
Her heart was in turmoil—she wanted to speak, but she was afraid of provoking Xie shi‘s anger.
Xie shi’s earlier scolding had left her shaken.
Calling her a fool over and over again—was she really that stupid?
She had only been unwilling to accept it, had only thrown a few barbed words at Gu Jiu.
It was Gu Jiu who showed no regard for sisterhood, humiliating her in public—she was the one who truly deserved to be punished.
Yet in the end, Mother let Gu Jiu go without so much as a proper reprimand.
Gu Yue felt deeply unwilling to accept this.
Xie shi opened her eyes and looked at Gu Yue. “Have you reflected on your actions?”
Gu Yue gave a small nod, appearing meek and obedient.
Xie shi asked again, “Do you now understand where you went wrong?”
“Nü’er failed to control my temper and acted recklessly.”
“And what else?”
Gu Yue hesitated, struggling internally before saying, “Even knowing nü’er wasn’t a match for Gu Jiu, nü’er still provoked her. Nü’er overestimated myself—not only did nü’er disgrace myself, but also caused Mother to lose face in front of our relatives. Nü’er deserves to be punished.”
Xie shi let out a cold snort. “You don’t deserve punishment—the one who deserves to die is Gu Jiu.”
Gu Yue’s head shot up abruptly, her mouth slightly open in shock.
Xie shi continued, “It’s not that you can’t provoke Gu Jiu; it’s that you shouldn’t provoke her at a banquet. You all live under the same roof—there are plenty of opportunities. But you don’t know how to judge the situation and act recklessly instead. That’s why I call you foolish.
“Secondly, I want you to put away your jealousy. Jealousy clouds your judgment and makes you act foolishly again and again.”
Gu Yue argued, “Nü’er is not jealous of Gu Jiu.”
But her voice lacked conviction.
Xie shi let out a cold snort. “Whether or not you’re jealous of Gu Jiu, no one knows better than you. The capital is not the northwest. The northwest is a small place where people lack knowledge. No matter what you do there, as long as it doesn’t spread to the capital, it won’t affect your future.
“But the capital is the wealthiest place in the world. Apart from a few exceptions, most noble families here follow strict rules—especially for their daughters. The expectations are far stricter than in the northwest. Today, you have met the young ladies of the hou fu. Look at how they conducted themselves, then compare yourself. Do you really think you are better than them?”
Gu Yue bit her lip, unwilling to admit that the hou fu’s daughters had all behaved impeccably—clearly from distinguished families.
Compared to them, was she really inferior?
Xie shi patiently advised, “It’s fine if there’s a gap; what matters is that you work hard to catch up. But first, you must stop making mistakes over and over. A single mistake can be excused as youthful ignorance. But making mistakes repeatedly will only make people resent you. Don’t forget—you still rely on the hou fu for your marriage prospects.”
“Does nü’er’s marriage really depend only on the hou fu? Can’t jiujiu’s family help?”
“Don’t bring up your jiujiu’s family.”
Xie shi suddenly raised her voice, visibly angry.
Gu Yue trembled and lowered her head. “Nü’er will listen to Mother.”
Xie shi took a deep breath and said, “Your marriage depends only on the hou fu. You cannot count on your jiujiu. Remember, your surname is Gu, not Xie. When dealing with your cousins from your jiujiu’s family, be mindful of boundaries and don’t speak carelessly.”
Gu Yue was puzzled. “Mother, did jiujiu offend you?”
“Hmph! Your jiujiu didn’t offend me—he offended your father and made him very unhappy. Now do you understand why you can’t rely on him?”
Gu Yue was surprised.
But Xie shi did not elaborate.
There were many things she could not tell Gu Yue.
Still, some warnings had to be given.
Thinking about the messy entanglement between Gu Yue and Xie Xian, Xie shi grew irritated again.
She continued to reprimand Gu Yue, “You are forbidden from associating with Xie Xian. Do you understand?”
Gu Yue lowered her head guiltily. “Nü’er understands.”
Xie shi added, “If you must meet Xie Xian, make sure others are present. It’s best to bring your si meimei along. Don’t underestimate your si meimei. Think carefully—has she ever lost her temper with anyone? It’s not that she has a good temper; it’s that she is smart. She knows how to assess situations and acts with restraint, unlike you.”
Gu Yue felt indignant. Seeing that Xie shi wasn’t angry at the moment, she dared to argue, “But si meimei sided with outsiders today…”
Xie shi sharply cut her off, “Shut your mouth! Anyone else can criticise your si meimei, but not you. Regardless of whether she is jealous of you or has other motives, you cannot deny that what she said today was reasonable. You are in dire need of discipline.
“In the past, I indulged you too much, making you reckless and fearless. You always think that as long as you admit your mistakes to me, everything will be forgiven. Today, let me be clear—going forward, not only must you admit your mistakes, but you must also deeply reflect on them. Stay kneeling. Until I say otherwise, you are not to get up.”
Gu Yue felt utterly wronged. Tears rolled down her cheeks as her shoulders trembled.
Xie shi snorted coldly, unmoved.
This daughter of hers needed a firm hand; otherwise, she would keep making trouble.
Gu Yue sobbed, “Nü’er accepts her punishment for her mistakes. But there is one thing nü’er doesn’t understand—why doesn’t Mother punish Gu Jiu? Did she do nothing wrong?”
Xie shi’s expression darkened. “Are you accusing me of being unfair?”
“Nü’er is only confused.”
Xie shi let out a cold laugh. “Gu Jiu should be punished—but not for today’s events.”
Gu Yue was baffled.
Xie shi fixed her gaze on her. “If today’s matter spreads, it will damage your reputation. If I punish Gu Jiu now, it will escalate the situation. The main branch—or even the hou fu next door—might step in. If your father gets involved, what do you think will happen? Do you think it will end well for you?”
Thinking of her father’s stern face, Gu Yue shuddered. “Nü’er understands. Thank you, Mother.”
“I hope that after today, you will learn your lesson and stop making me worry.”
Xie shi rubbed her forehead, then stood up to rest in her room.
She ordered Chun He to keep watch over Gu Yue, ensuring she did not rise and instead reflected properly.
Chun He bowed and obeyed. Then she asked, “Taitai, da guniang and wu guniang are still kneeling in the courtyard. It’s already dark—should they be allowed to get up?”
Xie shi’s face remained stern. “That wretched girl Gu Lin is just like her yiniang. Tell both of them to copy the family rules one hundred times. I will inspect their work in three days.”
Chun He was startled.
The Gu family’s rules contained over a hundred clauses. Copying them one hundred times and finishing within three days—this was practically a punishment meant to exhaust Gu Zhen and Gu Lin.
Xie shi was still furious. Chun He had no ties to Gu Zhen or Gu Lin, so she quickly realized there was no need to plead on their behalf.
She promptly responded, “Nubi will inform da guniang and wu guniang to return to their rooms and begin copying the family rules.”
Xie shi sat by her bed, replaying the day’s events in her mind. She felt a pang of worry—how would the hou fu view Gu Yue after this incident?
Would they still be willing to arrange a marriage for her?
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