A woman dressed in a snow-white silk brocade robe, with her dark hair tightly bound, disguised as a man, stood in front of Gu Qianying.
Her voice was delicate, and her appearance was handsome, making it obvious at first glance that she was a woman.
Gu Qianying looked at her and asked, "Who are you, girl?"
The woman was slightly startled, her attitude arrogant: "Are you blind? I... I am a man."
Gu Qianying said "Oh" and swept past the woman, ignoring her.
The woman was slightly angry, turned around, and with her maid, who was also dressed as a man, caught up to Gu Qianying and blocked her path again: "Stop, you can't leave!"
Gu Qianying raised an eyebrow: "Why?"
"Didn't you hear what I just said?"
Gu Qianying replied indifferently: "No."
"You..." The woman stomped her foot and repeated what she had said. After finishing, she glared at Gu Qianying and threatened, "You'd better stay away from Ninth Imperial Uncle, or beware, I... I will take your dog life!"
Gu Qianying listened but showed no reaction, only sidestepping the woman and continuing to walk forward.
The woman became even angrier.
She chased after her: "Gu Qianying, why aren't you speaking? Are you scared? I'm telling you, with your lowly status, you are not worthy of Ninth Imperial Uncle. Do you hear me? Speak up!"
At the same time, on a tea house not far away, two men sat by the balcony.
Nangong Li, dressed in a dark brown brocade robe and holding a folding fan, was looking down, scratching his head: "Ninth Imperial Uncle, your Miss Gu is being bullied by that girl Nangong Xuanning and doesn't dare to talk back. Do you want to send Bai Qi down to help your Miss Gu."
Nangong Mo, dressed in a snow-white long gown, sat in a wheelchair, playing with a teacup in his hand, his expression leisurely and calm, remaining silent.
The image of a little girl who, years ago, followed him and was bullied by Du Chun, insisting that Du Chun apologize to her, suddenly flashed in his mind.
His girl had been stubborn since childhood, how could he let others bully her?
Moreover, judging by the events that had transpired at the Gu mansion in the past few days, his girl had become increasingly formidable, no less impressive than she was back then. Nangong Xuanning was no match for Gu Qianying.
Therefore, he didn't need to worry.
Bai Qi stood behind Nangong Mo and said, "Yes, Master. Shall I go down and subtly assist from the shadows? Your subordinate sees that Miss Gu is slow-witted and finds it difficult to retort."
Ever since he had personally witnessed his master bestow priceless treasures upon Miss Gu that day, he had firmly believed that Miss Gu was the future Princess Consort of their Ninth Prince's mansion.
If over ten priceless items couldn't secure a Princess Consort, wouldn't that be a loss?
"No need!"
Nangong Mo put down the teacup in his hand and uttered two words indifferently.
He knew Gu Qianying's temperament very well. Gu Qianying was by no means someone who would be bullied without retaliating.
After speaking, he instructed Bai Qi to ask the waiter to bring another plate of melon seeds and small pastries for them to enjoy.
Bai Qi's mouth twitched. He obeyed and turned to leave.
Meanwhile, Nangong Xuanning felt as if she had punched cotton when Gu Qianying ignored her.
She was so angry that she wanted to scold Gu Qianying again, but suddenly heard Gu Qianying say indifferently, "This young lady never wastes her words on beasts, so, Miss Beast, when you speak to me next time, could you lower your voice? This young lady is not deaf."
Nangong Xuanning was furious upon hearing this: "Gu Qianying, you wretched woman, how dare you call this princess a beast! Let's see how this princess teaches you a lesson!"
In her anger, Nangong Xuanning inadvertently revealed her identity.
Gu Qianying understood.
A princess?
In her previous life, she remembered that the current Emperor had only one beloved daughter, named Nangong Xuanning.
This woman was spoiled and willful, overbearing and unrestrained, and highly favored by the Emperor.
Besides, this woman was inept at everything from music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but she was only fond of medicine and martial arts.
However, in her childhood, while diligently studying medicine, she had inadvertently caused several physicians to die of anger.
And this woman's martial arts were even more disastrous. Yet, even so, she was a troublemaker in the palace whom no one dared to provoke.
However, it was rumored that no matter how serious the trouble this woman caused, the Emperor would not blame her.
Instead, he would severely beat those who caused her to get into trouble.
Thus, no one dared to provoke Nangong Xuanning, even if they were knocked down, they feared being implicated by this woman's reckless behavior.
Over time, this woman developed an arrogant and overbearing personality.
In a moment of panic.
Nangong Xuanning suddenly took out the long whip she usually played with from her sleeve and, without any explanation, fiercely whipped it towards Gu Qianying.
"Miss!"
Lu Zhu, who was rushing over with a pile of gifts from the calligraphy and painting shop, cried out in alarm, and all the calligraphy and paintings in her arms fell to the ground.
As she was about to rush forward, she saw Gu Qianying suddenly turn around, raise her hand, grab the other end of the whip that was being swung at her, apply slight force to her wrist, and then let go.
With a thud.
Nangong Xuanning's body leaned backward, and she fell to the ground in a most comical posture.
The maid behind her was knocked aside by her fall, almost losing her wits. After she recovered, she quickly got up from the ground to help Nangong Xuanning: "Princess, are you alright?"
The maid accidentally blurted out, also revealing Nangong Xuanning's identity.
Nangong Xuanning did not expect Gu Qianying to be able to dodge her whip and instead make her fall. She was furious. After being helped up by the maid, she swung the whip in her hand again: "How dare you fight back, you're courting death!"
Similarly, the whip did not land on Gu Qianying.
This time, Gu Qianying used a bit of internal energy.
The whip in Nangong Xuanning's hand seemed to disobey her command and instead slashed towards the fruit stall on the side.
"My heavens!" The fruit vendor, terrified, scrambled away.
The fruits on the stall were smashed into pieces.
It could be seen that the power of the swung whip was still considerable.
"You wretched woman, if you have the guts, don't dodge."
Nangong Xuanning was almost driven mad by Gu Qianying's continuous dodges.
Gu Qianying stood to the side, looking at Nangong Xuanning's wild and ferocious appearance, wanting to whip her to death, which was truly amusing. She suddenly felt a desire to tease her.
In her previous life, she remembered that Nangong Xuanning, this often troublesome princess, was not inherently bad. She was simply infatuated with the Ninth Prince. It was rumored that she often broke into the Ninth Prince's mansion and frequently confessed her love to Nangong Mo.
However, it was a case of unrequited love.
Nangong Xuanning withdrew her whip and swung it continuously at Gu Qianying.
Gu Qianying, as if teasing, either dodged or slightly exerted her strength, using her internal energy to make Nangong Xuanning spin around.
A moment later.
Nangong Xuanning was exhausted.
Gu Qianying, impatient and seeing that it was getting late, lost her desire to tease.
She waved her hand lightly, then turned around and quickly left with Lu Zhu.
"You wretched woman, don't go!"
*Screech.*
As Nangong Xuanning's words fell, her clothes seemed to be cut, tearing into strips and scattering on the ground.
"Ahhh!"
Nangong Xuanning instinctively covered her chest and screamed.
"Princess!"
The maid beside her quickly took off her outer garment and draped it over Nangong Xuanning.
Looking at Gu Qianying's retreating back disappearing into the crowd, Nangong Xuanning roared, "Gu Qianying, you wait for me! This princess will definitely kill you!"
Her roar attracted guards who had come out from the palace to look for her.
The guards escorted Nangong Xuanning back.
As Nangong Xuanning rode back to the palace on horseback, she encountered Gu Mingyue kneeling on the ground, blocking the carriage.
"Your Highness Princess, this commoner has a grievance. I implore Your Highness to uphold justice for this commoner."