Listening to her mother speak these doting words, Gu Qianying’s eyes welled up with tears. She lowered her head slightly, not wanting her mother to see her in this state.
In her past life, her mother had doted on her immensely, but tragically, she had been beheaded because of a few scoundrels.
Gu Qianying raised her head, the resilience in her eyes evident.
In this life, she was determined to protect her mother well!
Hu Po knelt before the First Madam, babbling incoherently as she admitted her mistakes.
She had fallen out with the eldest young lady, and the second young lady had not taken her away. The First Madam was kind-hearted and would surely not abandon her.
Seeing that Hu Po could no longer speak, the First Madam wanted Doctor Zhou to examine her, but Gu Qianying stopped her.
“Mother, I do not wish to keep disloyal people!”
Gu Qianying’s words were pointed. The First Madam, with her keen understanding, quickly grasped her daughter’s meaning. She looked at Gu Qianying, feeling that her daughter was somehow different after waking up.
With her daughter’s words, the First Madam did not interfere with Hu Po’s matter.
Gu Qianying ordered Nanny Wang to tie up Hu Po and send her to the Gong Fang to serve as a maid. Before sending her away, she fed her a dose of poison.
A poison that caused immense pain but was not fatal.
In her past life, this pain had constantly ravaged her body. At first, she thought she was gravely ill, only to later discover that it was poison administered by Hu Po.
After Nanny Wang dragged Hu Po away, Gu Qianying was left without a personal maid. There were not many usable maids in the Garden Pavilion.
After much thought, Gu Qianying promoted Lu Zhu, a third-class maid, to be her first-class personal maid. Lu Zhu was simple-minded and had always maintained a pure heart. After her grandfather was imprisoned in her past life, the Gu family’s fortune plummeted. All the servants who had signed deeds of sale in the manor scrambled to steal back their deeds and flee, seeking other opportunities.
Only Nanny Wang and the young maid Lu Zhu remained in the manor, working diligently without any misconduct.
From this, it was clear that Lu Zhu was a reliable maid.
In the Garden Pavilion.
Gu Qianying was dressed in a white long dress that trailed to the ground. Her slender waist was cinched with a cloud belt, emphasizing her delicate figure. A seven-treasure coral hairpin adorned her hair, making her face appear as radiant as a hibiscus.
However, this attire caused the First Madam, standing beside her, to frown: “Qianying, why are you dressing so plainly, child?”
“Mother, I like it.” Gu Qianying replied to her mother while secretly slipping the prepared items into her sleeve.
In the palace, and even within the manor, there were many women dressed in vibrant colors. Conversely, a woman dressed like her would appear unique.
After Gu Qianying was fully dressed, she instructed Nanny Wang to inform the third concubine’s daughter, Gu Ziran, and Gu Yumei, who was raised by the second concubine.
“Yes, Eldest Young Lady, this old nanny will go now.” Nanny Wang was filled with doubt, but being an experienced elder, she did not ask further questions.
After Nanny Wang left, Gu Qianying glanced again at the treasures she had prepared.
A faint smile touched her lips. With these items, her plan could truly begin.
In the Spring Pavilion.
Gu Mingyue had dressed herself in vibrant colors and was about to leave with her maid when she encountered Gu Yumei, who was also leaving with her maid.
Gu Mingyue’s expression immediately changed upon seeing Gu Yumei dressed even more splendidly than herself.
“Where are you going, you little slut!”
With no one else around, Gu Mingyue no longer bothered to pretend. She lunged forward, pushing Gu Yumei to the ground without mercy, and then kicked her fiercely in the stomach several times.
Gu Yumei cried out in pain, clutching her head. The maids following behind her knelt on the ground, heads bowed, not daring to intervene.
Gu Yumei was originally the daughter of a concubine from the fourth branch. However, the concubine from the fourth branch died in childbirth while giving birth to her. The concubine from the second branch adopted Gu Yumei, presenting herself as a benevolent figure, and doted on Gu Yumei excessively in front of outsiders.
In reality, Gu Yumei was merely a scapegoat for Gu Mingyue and her mother.
“Little slut, dressing up so beautifully, who are you trying to seduce?” Gu Mingyue viciously yanked out all the wooden hairpins from Gu Yumei’s hair, threw them on the ground, and stomped on them several times. She then tore Gu Yumei’s clothes until Gu Yumei looked as pathetic as a stray dog before Gu Mingyue finally stopped.
“Second Sister, Yumei received a message from Eldest Sister, asking me to accompany Eldest Sister to the palace to welcome Grandfather.”
Unable to bear Gu Mingyue’s torment any longer, Gu Yumei confessed everything.
“What? That idiot wants you to go too? No, you can’t go, get back!” Gu Mingyue roared at Gu Yumei.
Why should a lowly concubine’s daughter accompany her to the palace? Gu Qianying, that fool, was one thing; after all, her status as the legitimate daughter meant that even if she was unwilling, she couldn’t stop it. But Gu Yumei was different; she was merely a lowly concubine’s daughter.
“Second Sister, your sister dares not disobey Eldest Sister’s orders!” Gu Yumei endured the pain, her heart filled with hatred for Gu Mingyue. They were both concubine’s daughters, yet her life was as cheap as grass, while Gu Mingyue was treated like a precious pearl. Why!
While resenting Gu Mingyue, Gu Yumei was also jealous and hateful towards Gu Qianying.
If Gu Qianying hadn’t summoned her, why would she have to endure such torment?
“Heh, you dare not? You little slut, you’ve grown bold enough to talk back to me. Shameless little slut, watch as I beat you to death!”
When Gu Yumei retorted, Gu Mingyue, unable to stand it, was about to strike when she was stopped by the maid behind her.
The maid whispered a few words into Gu Mingyue’s ear. Upon hearing them, Gu Mingyue immediately became furious: “What? That little slut from the third branch is also going? What is Gu Qianying trying to do?”
The little maid whispered again. Afterward, Gu Mingyue looked at Gu Yumei, who had gotten up from the ground, and said impatiently, “Get back to your room, re-dress, and then come out again. Remember, don’t dress too beautifully, or you’ll regret it!”
With that, Gu Mingyue turned and walked back to her own chamber.
Gu Yumei watched Gu Mingyue’s retreating back, a flash of coldness in her eyes.
One day, she would kill everyone who had bullied her, including Gu Qianying. Anyone better than her deserved to die!
Not far away, Gu Qianying, hidden in a corner, observed everything.
A faint smile touched her lips.
This was exactly the effect she wanted.
In her past life, after Gu Yumei ran away from home, she became a famous performer in the Hundred Flowers Garden. She was a ruthless woman, and to take revenge on the Gu family, she became a plaything of Prime Minister Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan opposed her grandfather and had often kicked them when they were down during the Gu family’s decline. This was not only on the orders of Crown Prince Nan Rongqi but also largely due to the influence of Gu Yumei, who was by his side.
Now, instead of directly dealing with Gu Mingyue, it was better to let Gu Mingyue and Gu Yumei fight like dogs.
Neither of them was easy to deal with, and there would be plenty more drama in the manor later!
Gu Qianying withdrew her thoughts and silently left the Spring Pavilion.
Outside the Gu manor, three carriages were parked.