Gu Qianying’s eyes snapped open, startling Madam Han.
After Madam Han stumbled back a few steps, Gu Qianying slowly sat up.
When she turned her head and saw the noble young ladies from other households in the room, her expression showed a slight surprise. Immediately after, in front of everyone, she removed the two small balls of cotton that had been stuffed into her ears.
Seeing her actions, the expressions on everyone’s faces turned as varied as a palette, looking extremely unpleasant.
It turned out that Gu Qianying had not heard a single word of the insults and mockery directed at her. Moreover, when she saw everyone approaching, her expression was only slightly surprised, and her demeanor was calm, showing no trace of fear or trepidation at their arrival.
At this moment, Gu Qianying’s expression formed a stark contrast with those of the others. Looking at each other, they felt as if their efforts were like punching cotton, and they themselves resembled a group of clumsy, leaping jesters.
At this point, Gu Mingyue and the third concubine, Madam Han, had even more unsightly expressions than the others.
It was originally their instigation that brought everyone here to help them insult Gu Qianying and drive her away.
Yet, before any action could be taken, they had already lost face in front of everyone. This was quite infuriating.
“Qianying, you scared your aunt to death! I thought you had fainted from crying due to excessive grief!”
Seeing Gu Qianying open her eyes and sit up, the third concubine, Madam Han, immediately attributed Gu Qianying’s unusual behavior to having fainted from excessive grief.
Beside her, Gu Mingyue, maintaining her dignified image as a future consort to the Crown Prince, followed Madam Han’s lead. After speaking a few words of sisterly affection, and with the intention of planning for the child in her womb, she advised Gu Qianying, “Eldest Sister, Second Sister knows you naturally wouldn’t want to leave the manor. However, for the sake of Second Sister’s child in her womb, you will have to endure this hardship for a few more days. But rest assured, after you leave, Second Sister will send people to regularly look after Eldest Madam…”
Gu Mingyue’s words, while seemingly considerate of Gu Qianying, were understood by everyone present as a subtle coercion for Gu Qianying to leave voluntarily.
After all, she was carrying the child of Crown Prince Nan Rongqi.
Everyone thought that even if Gu Qianying did not wish to leave, she would have to.
However, Gu Qianying reacted as if she hadn’t heard Gu Mingyue’s words, remaining unresponsive.
She stood up, got out of bed, and under everyone’s watchful eyes, suddenly looked at Gu Mingyue. Before Gu Mingyue could figure out what she was about to do, Gu Qianying swiftly raised her hand and slapped Gu Mingyue across the face twice.
The room instantly fell silent, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Gu Mingyue, covering half her face, stared at Gu Qianying in shock.
“Gu Qianying, why did you hit me?”
In her fury, Gu Mingyue’s long-held image of grace and elegance could no longer be maintained.
Initially, everyone expected Gu Qianying to offer an explanation in front of so many people. However, she merely uttered a casual sentence: “This young lady has her reasons for disciplining you!”
Everyone gasped.
Gu Mingyue was choked with anger!
Such an infuriating explanation almost drove her mad.
Suppressing the urge to bite Gu Qianying to death, her eyes red, before she could speak, another sound of “slap, slap!” rang out beside her ear.
Everyone looked and was shocked again.
This time, Gu Qianying had slapped the third concubine, Madam Han.
Madam Han, covering her face, froze on the spot.
Before she could ask Gu Qianying for an explanation, Gu Qianying spoke, “You are merely a concubine, yet you are dressed so grandly today, which violates the rules of the manor. That is the first reason!” Gu Qianying glanced at everyone and continued, “You did not inform the Eldest Madam or myself, this嫡小姐, in a timely manner when guests arrived at the manor, causing me to neglect them. That is your fault! This is the second reason.”
As she spoke, Gu Qianying approached Gu Mingyue: “Third, my second sister is currently pregnant, and moreover, carrying the Crown Prince’s child. Her status is now so noble, she should be extremely careful. Yet, you brought her around casually, showing such disregard for her condition. Should you not be taught a lesson?”
As Gu Qianying spoke, her voice gradually rose, and the aura she exuded grew stronger, causing everyone to feel a sense of fear.
No one among the crowd spoke, and even the young ladies who wanted to speak up for the second daughter of the Gu family lowered their voices.
However, Gu Mingyue, who had just been slapped, had not yet received an acceptable explanation from Gu Qianying and was naturally unwilling to let it go.
Furthermore, she was now an unbetrothed concubine of Crown Prince Nan Rongqi. This status was indeed nobler than Gu Qianying’s status as the嫡小姐. Therefore, in her eyes, Gu Qianying hitting her was disrespect towards Crown Prince Nan Rongqi. However, she would not say this openly.
“Eldest Sister, if Second Sister has done anything wrong or made a mistake, you can point it out, and Second Sister can correct it. But Eldest Sister, disregarding my delicate condition, bullied me like this in front of everyone. Second Sister feels extremely wronged and truly unconvinced. If Eldest Sister does not give Second Sister a sufficient reason today, Second Sister will report to Grandfather and let him see how overbearing and tyrannical his嫡孙女 is!”
Gu Mingyue’s words conveyed as much grievance as possible.
Her tearful appearance was precisely what Nan Rongqi, who had arrived with Gu Yefeng, witnessed.
Instantly, his desire to protect the weak woman became even more apparent.
“Miss Gu, you are quite capable!”
The voice followed.
Everyone turned to look back.
Their gazes were met with considerable shock.
Gu Yefeng wore a purple robe embroidered with green patterns. He, who often favored purple attire, walked in the sunlight, as if gilded with a golden halo. Today, he looked exceptionally handsome.
Nan Rongqi, who walked beside him, was clad in a brocade robe with golden trim. Compared to Gu Yefeng’s purple robe, he appeared overly ostentatious and vulgar.
Behind Nan Rongqi followed the Fourth Prince, Nangong Yi, and the Fifth Prince, Nangong Shi, both similarly dressed in magnificent attire.
“This subject… greets His Highness the Crown Prince,” greetings to His Highness the Fourth Prince, greetings to His Highness the Fifth Prince.”
After paying their respects, everyone stood obediently to the side, clearing a path.
Although the faces of the young ladies maintained the composure expected of them, their hearts were in an uproar.
The Crown Prince? The Fifth Prince? The Fourth Prince?
These important figures, rarely seen on normal days, had all appeared today. They were naturally overjoyed.
If they could also see the Ninth Prince, then their visit today would not have been in vain.
However, in terms of appearance and demeanor, everyone felt that Gu Yefeng, the eldest son of the Gu family, was the most handsome among the men, although his status was not as high as the other three.