Gu Qianying blocked the doorway, stopping her. "After three years, do you still wish to find Xiao Xuan?"
Xiao Xuan was a scholar from a poor family. Three years ago, he had met Gu Ziran on the street. They got to know each other, fell in love, but Madam Meng disagreed with Gu Ziran's relationship with Xiao Xuan. She hired people to beat Xiao Xuan severely and threatened to cause trouble for Xiao Xuan's parents.
Filial piety was paramount. Fearing that his affairs would implicate his parents, Xiao Xuan fled overnight with his parents to a distant land to seek refuge.
All information about them vanished, and from then on, their family had no news.
The two words "Xiao Xuan" made Gu Ziran tremble all over.
"You... how do you know about him?"
Gu Qianying did not respond to Gu Ziran's question. Instead, she said, "I can help you find Xiao Xuan and allow you to live the life you desire with him. However, I have a condition... From this moment on, I need you to be my accomplice."
Her words left Gu Ziran stunned for a long time.
After a long while, she looked at Gu Qianying. "I also have a condition. You cannot harm my mother."
Gu Ziran did not know what grievances Gu Qianying had with her mother, but from Gu Qianying's words, it seemed she intended to seek revenge on her mother.
No matter what Gu Qianying did, she only hoped her mother would be safe.
"Agreed. However, if one day I gain control, I will expel your mother from the Gu residence and let her live a simple, self-reliant life. This is my greatest concession to your mother, and it is all because you are willing to be my accomplice."
"If one day? Are you so sure that day will come when you will control my mother's fate?"
"If I say it will, it will!"
Gu Qianying's determined expression made Gu Ziran look at her differently.
Never had anyone made Gu Ziran feel that the aura emanating from her was so powerful.
Beneath her determined gaze, the reflection of herself in Gu Qianying's eyes was like a brilliant light, something she could not ignore.
"When can I see him?"
"If you agree to my condition, I can arrange for you to see him the moment you wish."
"Really? You're not lying to me?"
The hand holding the handkerchief trembled.
"I've told you everything. Do you think I would lie to you?"
"Alright, I agree. Can I see him right now?"
Gu Qianying gestured for Gu Ziran to move closer to her. Gu Ziran complied.
Gu Qianying leaned slightly and whispered something into Gu Ziran's ear.
Upon hearing this, Gu Ziran was overjoyed and quickly said, "I'll go prepare now. You must keep your word!"
When Gu Ziran left, her expression had returned to its previous coldness.
Third Concubine Han saw her emerge and quickly stepped forward to ask, "Did Gu Qianying hurt you?"
Gu Ziran shook her head.
"Then what did you say to her?"
Gu Ziran, following the words Gu Qianying had taught her, replied, "She wants to win me over, to befriend me and be my friend."
As she spoke, Gu Ziran took out a box of fine rouge and powder that Gu Qianying had given her and showed it to Third Concubine Han.
Third Concubine Han's eyes turned cold.
To win over her daughter with a box of cheap rouge and powder, hmph! What did she take her daughter for? A beggar?
Gu Qianying had returned the betrothal gifts personally delivered by the Ninth Prince. While it was said to be "returned," everyone knew that if the Ninth Prince did not permit it, Gu Qianying would not have had the audacity to treat him in such a manner.
In the end, the Ninth Prince had no interest in Gu Qianying, and Gu Qianying was not fortunate enough to become the Ninth Prince's consort.
Currently, within the residence, the person one would consider a friend was the Second Miss, Gu Mingyue. Who was Gu Qianying to be compared?
Third Concubine Han thought this, then glanced at Gu Yumei and said in a cold tone, "You may return. In a couple of days, I will ask your father to allow you to visit your mother's grave."
"Thank you, Third Concubine. I shall take my leave then."
Gu Yumei, who had intended to listen further, had no choice but to bow to Han Shi and withdraw.
Today, she had used the excuse of "visiting her mother's grave" to specially implore Han Shi to persuade her father to allow her to leave the residence in two days.
Two days later would be the anniversary of her mother's death, and also the triennial disciple selection day for the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall. On this day, many influential families, and even some imperial princes, would gather outside the gates of the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall.
Although this grand ceremony had nothing to do with them, the young ladies of the residence, if they were fortunate enough to catch the eye of some wealthy and influential young gentlemen on that day, it would be excellent.
With this thought, Gu Yumei bowed to Han Shi and left alone.
Meanwhile.
Third Concubine Han watched Gu Yumei walk away before immediately pulling Gu Ziran and hurrying back to her courtyard.
After dismissing all the maids and servants from the room, she closed the door and approached Gu Ziran. "Daughter, your mother must tell you, you cannot befriend that girl Gu Qianying at this time. Gu Qianying is a cunning woman. Who knows what she is plotting."
"I understand, Mother. I know what to do."
Gu Ziran's words were casual and perfunctory to Han Shi, but in her heart, she already greatly feared Gu Qianying.
Her mother's reaction and the words she spoke were so similar to what Gu Qianying had said.
This showed that Gu Qianying was meticulous and deeply scheming. To provoke such a person would surely lead to disaster.
Seeing Gu Ziran so obedient, Third Concubine Han felt much relieved.
She then gave her daughter some more instructions before leaving.
As she left, Third Concubine Han sent her personal maid to quietly spread false news in Yangchun Pavilion, claiming that Gu Qianying had been slandering Gu Mingyue behind her back.
Today, she had not witnessed Gu Qianying's downfall but was instead filled with anger by Gu Qianying. She was very displeased.
She had to get revenge!
Gardening Pavilion.
After watching Gu Ziran leave, Gu Qianying quietly sent her trusted maid with a letter written in her own hand to find a man five miles outside the city.
The man was handsome, refined, and exceptionally good-looking.
The maid was highly efficient. Upon finding the man, she handed him the letter and said, "Young Master Xiao, my lady has arranged a new residence for you. You and your parents can go there together."
Saying this, the maid presented the land deed and money she had brought out of the residence to the man. However, the man did not accept it. Seeing this, the maid said, "Young Master Xiao, my lady also said that a true man knows what to do and what not to do. You are from the capital, but you had to flee to a distant land due to some trouble. This is not the act of a true man. To not resolve or face issues is the act of a coward. If Young Master Xiao wishes to be a coward for his entire life, my lady has nothing more to say."
With that, the maid turned to leave.
The man's tone was displeased as he stopped her. "Who is your lady?"
"The Third Miss of the Gu family, Gu Ziran."
The man's body trembled violently. The words he was about to utter in anger got stuck in his throat, unable to be spoken.
Seeing the man like this, the maid continued as her lady had instructed, "Young Master Xiao, my lady asked me to ask you if what you said to her back then was true? Do the promises made then still count? Were the vows of eternal love merely illusions? My lady also said that no matter how you view it, she has taken all of this to heart, only hoping that you would love her as she loves you, and she would never fail your affection!"
The man stood frozen on the spot, lost in thought for a long time, due to the maid's words.
It was not until the maid's figure disappeared from sight that the man's eyes welled up, and he covered his head and wept.
At the same time.
Ninth Prince's Mansion, outside the main hall.
Maids and servants knelt in the courtyard.
The ground in the courtyard was covered in blood.
Returning from the Yingxing Pavilion in the back courtyard after receiving their punishment, the hidden guards who knelt outside the hall begging their master to calm his anger fainted one after another. As they were dragged away, they still thought, "May the master calm his anger and take care of his health!"
At this moment, Nangong Mo, seated in the main hall and exuding an icy aura, coldly stared at the hidden guards kneeling on the ground, afraid to even breathe.
His voice was as cold as ice. "Half of the betrothal gifts were returned to me? Is she trying to break off the engagement?"
He had asked this question several times.
The hidden guards lowered their heads, not daring to respond.
Yet, they dared not not respond. They could only brace themselves and cautiously say, "Master, please calm your anger. Perhaps the eldest daughter of the Gu family acted impulsively and is not entirely sane, which is why she did such a thing."
"Acted impulsively? Not entirely sane?"