"Such audacity!"
Gulp.
The butler was kicked flying, staggering and falling to the ground. He lay there, his gaze falling upon a pair of cloud-silk embroidered shoes. He slowly raised his head, his voice trembling, "Young... Young Miss."
Gu Qianying's expression was as cold as ice. She ignored him, and as she passed him, her palm brushed lightly.
Puff!
The butler spat out a mouthful of blood, his body went limp, and he fainted on the ground.
From the outside, it appeared he had suffered internal injuries from Gu Qianying's kick. But no one knew, no one saw, that he was actually injured by Gu Qianying's strike.
When Gu Qianying emerged, she exuded a chilling aura, like a winter snow cave.
This made the two male servants holding the First Madam tremble with fear. They quickly released the First Madam and retreated in unison.
Gu Qianying approached the First Madam and tidied her hair.
Seeing Gu Qianying, the First Madam's eyes reddened. She was about to speak when Gu Qianying stopped her.
Gu Qianying gave her a reassuring look, then turned to Gu Kun, her voice laced with coldness, "Father comes to see his daughter with such a grand display. If outsiders were to witness this, they would think Father intended to kill his daughter!"
Her words carried hidden meanings, veiled accusations.
Gu Kun's expression flickered. Before he could speak, the Second Concubine beside him chimed in with a smile, "Qianying, so you were in your room. We were making such a commotion outside, and you didn't even come out. We thought you weren't here.
I say, at this early hour, where else could you be if not in your room? Unless, as the rumors in the manor suggest, you were up all night, sneaking out to play?"
The Second Concubine's words were not overtly harsh, but their implication was venomous.
A young lady of the boudoir going out to play in the middle of the night? How different was that from sneaking out to meet a wild man in the dark?
Hmph!
Gu Qianying glanced at the Second Concubine, then with a cold look, walked towards Gu Mingyue.
Slap!
A resounding slap echoed in everyone's ears.
Everyone turned to look, seeing Gu Mingyue's cheek slightly swollen. She glared furiously at Gu Qianying, "Gu Qianying, on what grounds do you hit me!
Is it because you have ill intentions, deliberately spreading rumors to ruin my reputation! Is it because you brought the third and fourth sisters to my Garden Pavilion and personally tortured my personal maid, Lu Zhu! Is it because you disrespected the First Madam of the Gu Manor, and is it because you colluded with your mother to force my mother, the First Madam, to her death!"
Gu Qianying's words were sharp and precise.
Gu Mingyue's face gradually turned pale.
She ran towards Gu Kun, her eyes red, and said aggrievedly, "Father, your daughter did not do that. In the morning, your daughter was merely visiting her elder sister with the third and fourth sisters, wanting to be closer to her elder sister..."
Gu Kun naturally believed Gu Mingyue's words when she said this.
"Your father knows."
Gu Qianying spoke at this moment, "Coming to my Garden Pavilion to be close to your elder sister, yet bringing several old women, maids, and your second sister? This is a peculiar way of being close!
Gu Qianying's words were sarcastic.
Gu Mingyue's face was a canvas of shifting colors.
At this moment, the Second Concubine, feeling sorry for Gu Mingyue, interjected, "Qianying, you've misunderstood Mingyue..."
Before she could finish, Gu Qianying coldly interrupted, "When I, as the eldest daughter, discipline my concubine-born sister, what right do you, a mere concubine, have to speak!"
The Second Concubine's expression froze, her face extremely unpleasant.
Even though she was highly favored by Gu Kun, she could not escape her status as a concubine.
Even Gu Qianying, the unfavored legitimate daughter, held a higher status than her.
This was a permanent thorn in her heart!
"Qianying, Concubine..."
The Second Concubine, unwilling to let go after her daughter was slapped, was about to reprimand Gu Qianying, but was again silenced by Gu Qianying's cold shout, "What? Second Concubine, do you wish to watch how I, the eldest daughter, continue to discipline my concubine-born sister? Or perhaps, Second Concubine, you, a concubine, wish to act presumptuously before the First Madam!"
Gu Qianying invoked her mother's status, leaving the Second Concubine speechless and forced to bow slightly, "This concubine dares not."
As she bowed, her movements were clumsy and awkward. The Second Concubine took the opportunity to collapse into Gu Kun's arms, her voice weak, "Master, my stomach hurts a little, Master..."
Gu Kun, thinking the Second Concubine had miscarried, became extremely anxious, "Someone, quickly fetch a physician!"
He glared fiercely at Gu Qianying, "Gu Qianying, if anything happens to your Second Concubine, your father will hold you accountable!"
Gu Kun was about to help the Second Concubine up when he suddenly heard Gu Qianying say, "Father, Grandfather valued the distinction between nobility and commoners the most, as does our current Emperor. You indulge your concubines and neglect your wife so much. Guess, will your official career end because of this in the future?"
Gu Qianying's words caused Gu Kun's expression to change drastically.
He, who was about to escort the Second Concubine back, immediately let go of her, summoned two maids, and ordered them, "Send the Second Concubine back to her room, summon a physician to examine her, and take good care of her."
"Yes, Master."
The maids helped the Second Concubine.
"Master, this concubine..."
The Second Concubine did not want to leave but heard Gu Qianying say indifferently, "Second Concubine, the child in your belly is far more noble than your status as a concubine. If you do not protect it well, what if..."
Gu Qianying did not finish her sentence.
But everyone present understood.
Gu Qianying was not only mocking the Second Concubine but also reminding her.
The Second Concubine's handkerchief was almost twisted into shreds, but she dared not retort to Gu Qianying.
Because what Gu Qianying said was the truth.
At this moment, seeing Gu Kun's displeased expression, she dared not continue to babble and pester. She could only be helped away by the maids.
Before leaving, she glanced at Gu Mingyue, without a word.
After the Second Concubine left, Gu Mingyue behaved very meekly, not mentioning the scolding she had just received from Gu Qianying.
Instead, she acted cute in front of Gu Kun, "Father, recently, your daughter has learned to make lotus seed porridge. Mother says it tastes good. Your daughter wants to make it for Father to try, may she?"
That hateful woman Gu Qianying, she would definitely get revenge for that slap!
"Good!"
Gu Mingyue gave Gu Kun an excuse to back down, and Gu Kun took it.
In recent days, although Father has been busy with official duties in the military camp, he would still know some of the household matters.
He naturally did not want any bad rumors to reach his father's ears.
"Father, the third sister brought people to beat the servants in my Garden Pavilion and disrespected the First Madam. Will this matter just be let go?"
Gu Qianying watched as Gu Kun seemed inclined to let the matter of her mother being bullied slide. How could she let it go!
"Qianying, even if Mingyue did something excessive to your maid, your maid is, after all, just a maid. A maid who sassed her master, not being beaten to death is already a great kindness to her.
And Mingyue's disrespect to your mother today was due to circumstances, it's not a big deal. Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, let this matter be dropped. In the future, you four sisters should still get along well."
"Elder Sister, it was Mingyue's fault just now. Mingyue apologizes to the First Madam and Elder Sister here. Father is right, Elder Sister, we are sisters after all, and we should get along well."
Gu Kun and Gu Mingyue wanted to "smooth things over" and ignore Gu Qianying's pursuit of the matter of Lu Zhu and her mother being bullied.
"Indeed, we are sisters after all, and we should get along well!"
Gu Qianying said softly, then, under everyone's watchful eyes, she suddenly picked up a wooden stick dropped by a small servant in the courtyard and fiercely beat the maids and old women who had tortured Lu Zhu.