After personally apologizing to Old General Gu and offering some money and silver as compensation.
Nan Rong Qi's laughable sincerity made Gu Qian Ying laugh out loud, "Heh, does my nephew truly believe our Gu Manor is begging for food?"
"What does Miss Gu mean by that?"
Nan Rong Qi asked through gritted teeth, filled with hatred.
He detested Gu Qian Ying calling him "nephew" repeatedly, but given his relationship with Nangong Mo, Gu Qian Ying could address him as "nephew!" He could only grit his teeth and endure it, unable to voice any objection.
"Although our manor cannot compare to those immensely wealthy estates, we can still afford to support the two hundred and seventy-three people within. Now, His Highness the Crown Prince claims that if nothing is found in my Garden Pavilion, he will personally apologize to my grandfather and then offer some money and silver. Nephew Crown Prince, when did the people of our Gu clan become beggars in your eyes? Such a laughable act that Nephew Crown Prince speaks of, ha," Gu Qian Ying sneered to the extreme.
Nan Rong Qi's face turned ashen.
At this moment, Gu Ye Feng symbolically reprimanded Gu Qian Ying with a cold shout, "Qian Ying, that's enough. Stop this nonsense. When did His Highness the Crown Prince become your nephew? Stop speaking such nonsense!"
Gu Ye Feng had already declared his loyalty to Nan Rong Qi and naturally needed to speak in his favor at the appropriate time.
Furthermore, Gu Qian Ying's actions could also be attributed to the capriciousness of a young girl.
After Gu Ye Feng spoke, to avoid arousing Nan Rong Qi's suspicion, Old General Gu chimed in with Gu Ye Feng, saying a word for Nan Rong Qi, "Ye Feng speaks the truth. Qian Ying, stop this nonsense."
Saying this, Old General Gu looked at Nan Rong Qi and feigned a smile, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, please feel free to send your men to search. If nothing is found, then all will be well. Today's matter, this old man will certainly help Your Highness the Crown Prince investigate thoroughly. If the harmful items found by Your Highness's men are indeed cultivated by my granddaughter Gu Qian Ying, then this old man will not tolerate such a cruel and ruthless person. I will definitely apprehend this harmful culprit and personally bring them before His Majesty to atone."
With Old General Gu saying as much, Nan Rong Qi was naturally satisfied.
However, Gu Qian Ying continued to argue, "Grandfather, when did your granddaughter act nonsensically, and when did she speak nonsense?"
Gu Qian Ying walked towards Old General Gu, adopting the expression of a granddaughter acting spoiled towards her grandfather.
Old General Gu frowned and feigned a scolding at her in front of everyone. While his words were reprimanding, none of them truly blamed her.
Beside them, Gu Ming Yue watched with a mixture of envy and hatred.
And seeing Old General Gu and Gu Ye Feng both scold Gu Qian Ying, the other ladies and young ladies, instigated by the third concubine Madam Han from the shadows, began to speak in turn.
They dared not openly accuse Gu Qian Ying of being unruly and presumptuous for calling His Highness the Crown Prince "Nephew Crown Prince."
Instead, their words revolved around how the eldest daughter of the Gu family was unfilial, angering Old General Gu.
After they finished speaking, they also feigned to advise Gu Qian Ying, their general meaning being: "Do not act nonsensically anymore. You must listen well to your grandfather and elder brother."
Just as everyone thought Old General Gu would make Gu Qian Ying apologize to His Highness the Crown Prince.
Nangong Mo unexpectedly spoke, "Qian Ying is this King's betrothed princess. You cannot scold her or speak ill of her, otherwise, this King will have a good talk with you all!"
With Nangong Mo's statement, no one present dared to discuss Gu Qian Ying further, not even in hushed tones. Old General Gu and Gu Ye Feng also took this "step down" provided by Nangong Mo.
Furthermore, Nangong Mo declared that if nothing was found in the Garden Pavilion where Gu Qian Ying resided, the apology was merely the opening act. The subsequent act would be: he would call himself a scumbag and beast in front of everyone.
Conversely, if something was indeed found in the Garden Pavilion, as Gu Qian Ying's future husband, he would naturally bear all the consequences for his wife, whether it meant being arrested or killed, he had no objections and was willing.
This was the sincerity he wanted to see from the Crown Prince nephew!
Such a demand astonished everyone, and even more so Nan Rong Qi, whose face was also accompanied by anger.
Nangong Mo had actually made such an outrageous request.
Did he truly think of him as a paper tiger!
However, if this opportunity could be used to bring down Nangong Mo, it was not an impossible chance.
If nothing was found in Gu Qian Ying's residence, he would absolutely not do as Nangong Mo said.
But he was the Crown Prince of a nation. If he did not agree to Nangong Mo's words, would he not be ridiculed by others for lacking courage and decisiveness?
Therefore, after much deliberation, Nan Rong Qi felt that if he did not give Nangong Mo a chance to fall into a "fire pit," how could he prevent Nangong Mo from ever being able to rise again?
With this thought.
Nan Rong Qi secretly signaled to his men.
A moment later, his men paused in the crowd for a moment before returning. When they reappeared before Nan Rong Qi, Nan Rong Qi subtly hooked his lips.
At this time, he readily agreed to Nangong Mo's outrageous demand.
However, he specifically emphasized that if anything was found, Nangong Mo would not only bear all the consequences that Gu Qian Ying should have borne, but he would also have to kowtow three times to him, the noble Crown Prince, in front of everyone. Moreover, he would have to exclaim: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, may you live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
Nan Rong Qi intended to use his own methods to retaliate and insult Nangong Mo.
Similarly, Nangong Mo also agreed to Nan Rong Qi's outrageous demand.
Seeing the undercurrents between Crown Prince Nan Rong Qi and Ninth Imperial Uncle Nangong Mo, everyone became more cautious and began to consider their allegiances.
This naturally included several princes who had not yet revealed their "ambitions."
Thus, the struggle between the two "kings," Ninth Imperial Uncle Nangong Mo and Crown Prince Nan Rong Qi, began anew.
Watching their unyielding expressions, Gu Qian Ying, who took in every detail of their faces, subtly curved her lips.
Originally, she had been contemplating how to deepen the conflict between Nangong Mo and Nan Rong Qi in the future.
Now, it seemed unnecessary.
With the thought that "Nangong Mo will surely lose," Nan Rong Qi decisively had his eunuch lead several people to the Garden Pavilion for the search.
Meanwhile, the other members of the Gu family, who had already prepared, quietly left the crowd unnoticed before Nan Rong Qi's men proceeded to the Garden Pavilion.
During this time, Gu Ming Yue, disregarding her own pregnancy, eagerly followed Nan Rong Qi's dispatched personnel with her maid.
Along the way, she even incited Nan Rong Qi to accompany her.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, my eldest sister did not intend to harm them. Perhaps she was momentarily distraught. In the end, those two insulted my eldest sister first. Your Highness the Crown Prince, Ming Yue hopes you can spare my eldest sister, considering the close relationship between your Ninth Imperial Uncle and my eldest sister. Even if you wish to punish my eldest sister Ming Yue, please be lenient."
Gu Ming Yue's words, while seemingly pleading for Gu Qian Ying, had actually placed the blame of murder on Gu Qian Ying. Not only that, but she also specifically mentioned the intimate relationship between Gu Qian Ying and Nangong Mo in front of Nan Rong Qi.
Nan Rong Qi, who had just been humiliated by Nangong Mo, looked particularly displeased upon hearing Gu Ming Yue's words.
He had originally intended to use Gu Qian Ying as a suspect to teach Nangong Mo a lesson.
After all, with Gu Ye Feng and Old General Gu's allegiance, he had to show some respect to the eldest son of the Gu family and Old General Gu. No matter how much Gu Qian Ying acted out, he would simply dismiss it as foolish actions by a foolish woman being manipulated by Nangong Mo.
As the Crown Prince of a nation, why would he bother with a foolish woman!
However, upon hearing Gu Ming Yue's words at this moment, he suddenly changed his mind.
A foolish woman who willingly allowed herself to be used by others, repeatedly disrespected him, and insulted him with the tone of an elder deserved to die!
Gu Ming Yue was extremely satisfied seeing the murderous intent flash in Nan Rong Qi's eyes.
This foolish woman, Gu Qian Ying, was finally reaching her end!
The distance between the Garden Pavilion and the front hall was not far. Gu Ming Yue and Nan Rong Qi and others followed suit.
The remaining people also wanted to ascertain whether the eldest daughter of the Gu family was indeed the villain who cultivated the small white insects, and thus followed along.
Nangong Li pushed Nangong Mo, with Bai Qi following behind.
Gu Ye Feng and Old General Gu followed Crown Prince Nan Rong Qi.
As everyone proceeded along the path, they passed through the backyard.
The backyard featured rock gardens, flowing water, fragrant flowers and plants, filling the air with a rich aroma, yet no one appreciated it.
Just as everyone arrived at the Garden Pavilion where Gu Qian Ying resided, a sudden cry of "Help!" came from within.