In the outer hall of the front courtyard,
Nangong Mo waited outside the hall for news of Ji Wuyi treating Gu Qianying inside.
Bai Qi followed behind him.
During this time, servants attending outside brought meals. Nangong Mo did not partake. His heart was entirely with Gu Qianying. He stared intently at the door. Though he could see nothing through the door, he continued to gaze quietly, waiting.
*Wife, you will be alright. You must be alright!*
Usually composed and as steady as a mountain, he was now somewhat nervous. On the surface, there was no outward difference, but his palms were sweaty, resting on the arms of his wheelchair.
The door to the outer hall was pushed open.
A woman in a pink dress, carrying a food box, walked slowly towards them.
Bai Qi turned to look at the approaching person, frowning. He was about to draw his saber, but recognizing the woman as the third young lady of the Gu residence, Gu Ziran, he sheathed his sword.
The woman approached.
She had bathed before coming and was exuding a strong, distinctive fragrance.
“Your Highness, you need not worry too much. Sister will surely be fine.”
As she spoke, her slender body leaned closer. At the same time, she placed down the food box she was holding, opened it, and presented the meal to Nangong Mo. Her voice was gentle, “Your Highness, you have not eaten all day. You must be hungry. Here, this is a meal Ziran personally prepared for Your Highness. Please partake in some, will you?”
Nangong Mo paid no attention to the woman who was so close to him. It was only when she blocked his view that he frowned and looked up, his voice as cold as ice, “Scram!”
That single, cold word turned Gu Ziran’s face pale. Meeting Nangong Mo’s icy gaze, she trembled with fear, almost fainting. She then lowered her head and glanced at the pot of wine she had brought with her. Biting her lip, she braced herself and continued, “Your Highness, Ziran has no other intentions. Ziran is merely concerned for you on behalf of my elder sister. You have not eaten for a long time. Even if it is due to worry for my elder sister’s health, you should pay more attention to your own well-being. Otherwise, my elder sister will be worried.”
Gu Ziran retreated to a second-best option. Having sensed Nangong Mo’s displeasure at her direct expression of affection, she changed her approach.
“Sit down!”
Nangong Mo spoke coldly.
Gu Ziran was overjoyed. She responded and sat down, mistakenly believing that Nangong Mo had accepted her presence. She quickly picked up the wine pot and poured a cup of wine for Nangong Mo, then poured one for herself, saying, “This is more like it, Your Highness. You are of noble birth and must not be careless. Your Highness, please eat something first. When my elder sister wakes up and recovers, Ziran will prepare some of her specialties for you both, delicious meals, how about it?”
After speaking, she waited with anticipation, hoping Nangong Mo would say something else to her.
However, Nangong Mo pushed the cup of wine placed before him towards Gu Ziran and coldly commanded, “Drink it!”
She ignored the food on the table, but her gaze lingered on the wine pot she had brought. This was as obvious as trying to hide something that was clearly visible.
How could he possibly indulge such a foolish and malicious person!
Gu Ziran’s smile froze. Her face turned a myriad of colors as she stammered, looking quite distressed, “Your Highness… Your Highness… Ziran cannot drink. Perhaps Your Highness could drink it instead.”
“Bai Qi!”
Nangong Mo had no desire to waste more words on Gu Ziran.
Bai Qi stepped forward, picked up the cup of wine on the table, turned, and walked towards Gu Ziran.
“Third Miss, forgive me!”
He abruptly gripped Gu Ziran’s chin, forcing her head up, and poured the wine into her mouth, ensuring she drank every last drop. As he removed the cup, Bai Qi released Gu Ziran.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Gu Ziran coughed violently, patting her chest. Her face flushed red. She lowered her head, trying to spit out the wine she had swallowed. At this moment, Nangong Mo coldly commanded again, “Bai Qi, throw her out!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Bai Qi went to drag Gu Ziran away. Gu Ziran finally felt a surge of fear.
“Your Highness… Your Highness, Ziran has never drunk alcohol before. I was momentarily indisposed. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness.”
Gu Ziran bowed to Nangong Mo, steadying her emotions, hoping that Bai Qi, Nangong Mo’s subordinate, would be lenient with her.
But Nangong Mo didn’t even spare her a glance.
Gu Ziran’s expression turned very grim.
Bai Qi then expelled her from the hall.
Madam Sun, pushing Gu Kun, arrived in a hurry.
Following behind them was a maidservant, who served Gu Ziran. Earlier, she had observed that things were not right outside the door and had immediately gone to inform Madam Han.
Madam Han, fearing the Ninth Prince’s displeasure due to a previous offense, had, upon learning that her daughter’s plan had failed, immediately sent for Madam Sun.
After discussing matters with Madam Sun, she instructed Madam Sun to fetch her husband, Gu Kun.
Madam Sun pushed Gu Kun into the outer hall and called for the young attendant who usually served Gu Kun. After entrusting Gu Kun to him, she turned and hurried away with Gu Ziran.
On the way, the aphrodisiac Gu Ziran had consumed began to take effect. Before they even returned, she impulsively embraced a passing attendant and began to kiss and bite him ferociously.
The attendant, whose face was pockmarked, stared in disbelief, stunned, and too frightened to react.
“Third Miss!”
Madam Sun exclaimed, rushing to pull Gu Ziran away. However, a woman’s strength was limited.
Madam Sun could not pull Gu Ziran away and was anxious, fearing that if anything happened to this third young lady while in her care, Madam Han would blame her.
Along the winding corridors, onlookers gathered both inside and out, pointing and whispering at Gu Ziran. “Look, Third Miss… what is wrong with her? Has she gone mad?”
“How can she do such a shameful thing in broad daylight? Does she not want her reputation anymore?”
“Ah, ah, ah… How could she do this… so shameless…”
The servants whispered amongst themselves, yet no one dared to step forward and inquire.
The scene was so scandalous that Madam Han quickly received the news and rushed over.
“Third Miss has been possessed by something unclean, which is why she is acting this way. Guards, quickly take Third Miss back, hurry!”
Madam Han casually fabricated a plausible excuse and ordered two servants to drag Gu Ziran back.
She then glanced at the servants gathered around the winding corridors, whispering. Her expression turned cold. “Guards, sell off all the maids and servants here. Say that they disturbed my peace.”
“Yes!”
A few guards in the manor, who answered only to Madam Han, immediately rushed forward, dragging away all the servants who had witnessed Third Miss Gu Ziran’s shameless actions, and sold them off.
“No, Madam…”
A chorus of pleas arose.
Madam Han remained unmoved, her sole concern at that moment being to protect her daughter’s reputation.
The attendant her daughter had embraced was beaten to death on the spot by her people.
After Madam Han brought Gu Ziran back, she splashed cold water on her to wake her up and calm her down.
Once Gu Ziran regained consciousness and learned of the foolish things she had done, she cried herself into a stupor. When she woke again, she was lying in Madam Han’s arms, crying and saying…