"What's so hasty? I think it's not hasty at all! Hmph."
Gu Qianying's lips twitched. Such a reply was indeed… unique.
"Your Highness, everything requires human and material evidence. While you have human witnesses, where is the material evidence? Furthermore, it's not impossible that the witness you found could be bribed to falsely accuse this humble lady."
"Gu Qianying, do you think this princess is like those concubines in the palace who only resort to petty tricks?
This princess tells you, I disdain to frame you, hmph!"
Nangong Xuanning, as proud as a peacock, glared at Gu Qianying with arrogance.
Although she hated Gu Qianying and wished she could be torn to pieces, she would never stoop to framing someone, as it was beneath her as a noble princess.
Gu Qianying looked at Nangong Xuanning and twitched her lips.
She naturally knew that someone with Nangong Xuanning's personality, if she wanted to harm her, would not use such cunning methods. It was likely that she had been manipulated by someone else.
The person who used Nangong Xuanning, in her opinion, was likely one of Gu Mingyue, Gu Yumei, or the Third Concubine.
Who exactly it was, looking at the expressions of the three just now, Gu Mingyue seemed the most probable.
And after her deliberate trick to provoke Gu Mingyue earlier, she was even more certain that Gu Mingyue was behind this incident.
Thinking of this, a cold glint flashed in Gu Qianying's eyes.
Since someone was so eager to court death, why should she be polite!
"Your Highness is noble and broad-minded, naturally disdaining to frame this humble lady. However, it's possible that someone else exploited the situation."
"What do you mean by that?" Nangong Xuanning raised her chin. "Are you indirectly calling this princess foolish, that I fell into someone's trap and was used by others?"
"..."
Gu Qianying found it a miracle that Nangong Xuanning had survived in the ruthless imperial palace until now.
Gu Qianying did not respond to Nangong Xuanning. Instead, she asked, "Does Your Highness know the name of the woman who intercepted your carriage that day?"
Nangong Xuanning pointed to the middle-aged man kneeling on the ground and said, "Didn't he say it? Her name is Axiang."
"Anyone in this world can be called Axiang. Such a common name, and Your Highness believes it? Even if that woman's name was indeed Axiang, Your Highness, did you get a clear look at Axiang's appearance? And what was her accent? Was she from the capital or a resident from elsewhere? Furthermore, what was the most compelling evidence she presented when pleading for her brother's innocence? Where did you find the witness you brought today? If Axiang brought him, why didn't she point out this humble lady herself? Is she unable or unwilling to appear, to prevent this humble lady from seeing through her scheme? Have these things ever occurred to Your Highness?"
Gu Qianying's barrage of questions left Nangong Xuanning stunned.
After a long pause, she angrily retorted, "How would this princess know all that? I don't care. Today, this princess is here to plead for Axiang's brother and arrest you, a murderer."
No matter how Gu Qianying defended herself, Nangong Xuanning firmly believed that Gu Qianying was an unashamed murderer.
Officially, she stood by her father the Emperor's side, unable to tolerate someone like Gu Qianying living safely in this world. Privately, for the Ninth Imperial Uncle, she had even more reason to arrest Gu Qianying.
"No need for further nonsense. Guards, take Gu Qianying away for this princess!"
Gu Yefeng stood protectively behind Gu Qianying, his cold eyes fixed on Nangong Xuanning, a hint of anger in his voice. "Your Highness, with insufficient evidence, you wish to take away my sister. Do you think the people of our Gu Manor are easy to bully?"
Nangong Xuanning glared at Gu Yefeng. "This princess has no intention of bullying the people of your Gu Manor. I merely want to arrest Gu Qianying. I can overlook everything else. Do you understand?"
"This subject does not understand. This subject only knows that while protecting his sister, he must also remind Your Highness to bring your brain when you go out, otherwise, it will be very tiring."
Gu Qianying looked at Gu Yefeng.
Well, her brother's tongue was quite sharp.
However, she liked it very much.
"You… you actually called this princess brainless! Ahhh, this princess will kill you!"
Nangong Xuanning drew the long whip from her waist and lashed it fiercely at Gu Yefeng.
Gu Yefeng, with his agile movements and superior martial arts, was no match for Nangong Xuanning.
Gu Yefeng dodged with incredible speed.
Nangong Xuanning missed several times.
In a fit of rage, she threw down her whip and charged forward with her bare fists.
Gu Yefeng grabbed Nangong Xuanning's wrist, intending to push her down, but Nangong Xuanning suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
With her feet and hands working together, Nangong Xuanning hooked Gu Yefeng's calves and exerted force.
With a thud.
Both of them fell heavily to the ground.
Nangong Xuanning landed in Gu Yefeng's arms. Coincidentally, their faces were close, their lips brushing.
Both of them froze.
The onlookers were dumbfounded.
Crown Prince Nan Rongqi and several other princes immediately pushed through the crowd to rush over.
Nangong Xuanning was the Emperor's beloved daughter; they could not stand by and do nothing.
When the princes arrived, Nangong Xuanning, blushing, quickly scrambled out of Gu Yefeng's arms.
"Xuanning, are you alright?"
Nan Rongqi led the group.
Nangong Xuanning shook her head at them, then picked up the whip from the ground and glared at Gu Yefeng. "You scoundrel, how dare you be so disrespectful to this princess! This princess will kill you!!"
Nangong Xuanning's repeated provocations of Gu Yefeng were, in his eyes, completely unreasonable. If not for her status as a princess, Gu Yefeng would have already injured her.
The onlookers, including Nan Rongqi and the other princes, had lost their patience with the spectacle.
"Grandfather, Your Highness came to cause trouble today, clearly showing no regard for you. Are you just going to let her do as she pleases and not intervene?"
Gu Mingyue, seeing that Nangong Xuanning was taking too long to arrest Gu Qianying, was extremely anxious. In her haste, she went to Old General Gu's side to stir up trouble.
Gu Mingyue had expected Old General Gu to be angered by Nangong Xuanning's repeated provocations. However, all she heard him say was, "The more enemies fight, the better."
Gu Mingyue: "..."
Seeing her plan to deal with Gu Qianying slipping away, Gu Mingyue grew increasingly anxious. Helpless, and disregarding the suspicion she might arouse, she quickly spoke up. "Your Highness, Mingyue believes you must have misunderstood Eldest Sister. How could Eldest Sister be such a shameless and heartless woman?"
Gu Qianying narrowed her eyes coldly, a cold smile playing on her lips.
Seeing that someone couldn't wait any longer, it was time for her to counterattack!
"Yes, Your Highness, my second sister speaks the truth."
As she spoke, Gu Qianying walked up to the middle-aged man still kneeling on the ground like a "wooden figure," looking down at him. "Do you know who I am?"
The man did not look up and replied, "The eldest daughter of the Gu Manor."
"Was the woman you saw that day consorting with an outsider me?"
"It was you."
"How did you know my identity? Did you know it from the start, or did someone tell you later?"
The man remained silent for a moment before saying, "I knew it at a glance."
Gu Qianying smiled. "You are a village head, and this young lady is the eldest daughter of the Gu Manor, and she is still in seclusion, rarely venturing out. Yet you have seen me. Don't you find your statement contradictory?"
The man panicked slightly and quickly said, "I learned of your identity later."
Gu Qianying nodded, then asked with a smile, "Later? Who told you?"