The noisy day finally ended, and after much effort, Su Cheng's life was temporarily saved.
The sky gradually darkened, and those preparing for the medical competition were confined to the palace and forbidden to leave.
The imperial attendants arranged accommodations for them. Perhaps by design, Gu Qianying's lodging was adjacent to the three young ladies of the Su family.
This was a predicament; from now on, they would be seeing each other constantly.
Young Yi Hao returned to his room, tugged at his hair bun to one side, and pouted, venting his dissatisfaction with the day's events.
"Mother, these people are truly excessive. Brother Su merely pulled that woman's hand, and she wanted his life. And that Empress is even more terrifying, actually wanting such a cruel punishment as dismemberment."
Young Yi Hao was already sensible and could understand these things once he heard them.
Gu Qianying pulled him into her embrace, stroking his little head to comfort him.
"You truly are a compassionate little Bodhisattva. Everyone here lives like this. Isn't our purpose for entering the palace to uncover the truth and bring equality to everyone?"
Her original intention for coming here was to find Little Gu Nian. Now, her own people had not yet been found, and she had become entangled in a heap of trouble.
However, it was fortunate that Duan Xifeng was here, providing support at all times.
"Rest early. I understand your medical skills, and I believe in you. The biggest headache now is those three women from the Su family. It seems I need to find a way to make them keep their mouths shut."
Seeing her brother gnash his teeth, Gu Qianying shook her head.
"This is the palace; you must act with caution."
Indeed, she also found those people annoying. If it weren't for them, today's events would not have happened. It was likely that their future journey would be obstructed.
Thinking too much now was useless. After a day of turmoil, the palace staff, after giving instructions on what to be aware of, withdrew.
The night was deep and quiet. After the day's exertions, everyone was weary. The first night in the palace was exceptionally peaceful.
The next day's breakfast was taken together by everyone. Of course, only those from the same courtyard could sit at the same table.
Fate's irony was that Gu Qianying was having breakfast with the three young ladies of the Su family.
Seeing Gu Qianying already seated, Su Zirong gnashed her teeth and tapped the table.
"Some people truly lack manners. Sitting down at the same table before we arrived, truly lacking in upbringing." She displayed a sense of aristocratic superiority.
Duan Xifeng poured Gu Qianying a cup of tea, ignoring the woman's words.
"Alas, I said it myself. Perhaps she's a brute from some remote village. Lack of manners is inevitable, hahaha." The third young lady of the Su family joined in the mockery.
These people were truly boring. Lacking any real ability, they could only engage in verbal sparring. Was this the pleasure of young ladies from aristocratic families?
Gu Qianying couldn't understand and didn't wish to look at them any longer. She hadn't eaten anything last night and was now starving.
Most of the participants in the competition were from the noble families of the capital. Their waking hours strictly followed convention. At this time, everyone was seated, and breakfast was served by the palace attendants.
A balance of meat and vegetables; it was indeed the palace. Even without official titles yet, the hospitality and meals were not poor.
Gu Qianying picked up the food in front of her and began to eat.
"Tsk, tsk, you eat so ungracefully. Are you a pig? How many meals have you missed to be so eager to stuff your mouth?"
It is said that when one dislikes someone, everything they do will be found fault with. Second Miss Su's words were truly as unpleasant as she could make them.
The wise do not contend with the foolish. Gu Qianying had no intention of paying them any mind. Their mouths were on their faces; they could say whatever they wished. Her thoughts were solely on Su Cheng.
She wondered where this person was imprisoned and if he was being bullied.
Although the thought was strange, Gu Qianying quickly found a reason to comfort herself.
The reason she cared was solely because her son liked him, and he had been punished for the sake of Little Yi Hao.
With this realization, Gu Qianying no longer dwelled on her thoughts, only wishing to know where that person was imprisoned.
Seeing her frown and then relax, as if she were a simpleton, Su Xiuer became even more arrogant.
It seemed this person was nothing special, a mere paper tiger. Yesterday she was so defiant, and now she allowed herself to be mocked.
Some people truly pushed their luck. Believing Gu Qianying to be easily bullied, Su Xiuer ordered her servants to take away and discard any food that Gu Qianying picked up.
This person truly had no shame. Gu Qianying endured it, but Duan Xifeng behind her could no longer tolerate it.
Taking advantage of the Su family's movement to stand up and prepare to leave, he grabbed the wrist of the servant carrying the dishes.
"Hey, what are you doing?" The servant was startled and hastily cried out in accusation, while the young ladies of the Su family turned around.
"What am I doing? Are you all too much? You take away whatever my lady eats. Do you really think I, Feng'er, am easy to bully?"
These two sentences were spoken with great authority, but when paired with his current attire and appearance, they couldn't help but elicit laughter.
Seeing the mocking eyes of the second Miss Su, Duan Xifeng would not stand for it. He directly kicked out, intending to teach this person a lesson.
However, after a day, he still wasn't accustomed to walking in women's clothing. This sudden release caused his foot to slip, and he stumbled directly into Su Yuxi beside him.
The two instantly fell to the ground, but the position was somewhat unseemly.
"Ew, did those two women kiss?" People at other tables looked over, and from any angle, the two women in green robes on the ground did indeed have their cheeks pressed together.
"Pfft, hahahaha, they really did. Two women, hahahaha."
Laughter erupted from the surrounding people. Su Yuxi instinctively closed her eyes when she fell and, being startled, didn't notice the condition of the woman on top of her.
When the surrounding sounds gradually became clear, she opened her eyes and saw Duan Xifeng's enlarged pupils.
"Ahhh, you, get off me."
Others might not know his identity, but Su Yuxi did. The person who had fallen on her was not a maidservant at all, but a grown man.
Gu Qianying raised an eyebrow.
Was her brother trying so hard to stand up for her?
Duan Xifeng quickly got up. How could he have imagined he would fall again? Seeing the smile gradually appear on Gu Qianying's face, he pursed his lips and warned her with his eyes.
Little Yi Hao truly couldn't hold back anymore. Although his uncle was a man, he was still in women's clothing at the moment. Not only was his posture on the ground unsightly, but he hadn't been wearing makeup originally, yet the first young lady of the Su family had kissed him, leaving a long lipstick mark on his mouth.