Steward Qi brought warm wine and presented it to Gu Qianying, saying in a low voice, "Your Highness, please enjoy."
Gu Qianying looked up, her gaze lingering on Steward Qi's face for a moment, unspoken.
Steward Qi bowed, his head lowered, not daring to raise it. He still held the cup of warm wine, but his hand trembled slightly.
Gu Qianying did not take it immediately.
Nangong Mo looked over, his brows furrowed, "What is it?"
"Nothing, I just suddenly feel that this steward looks very much like a friend of this Highness's."
Gu Qianying took the warm wine from Steward Qi's hand.
Steward Qi immediately knelt, his hands flat on the ground, "Your Highness flatters this humble servant. How could this lowly appearance be worthy of resembling Your Highness's friend? This humble servant is terrified."
Hearing this, Gu Qianying smiled, "A person's appearance is given by their parents. If there is a resemblance, it is fate. What does it have to do with being worthy or not? Get up."
Steward Qi kowtowed, then rose, "Thank you, Your Highness."
He quietly retreated a few steps. He thought he was no longer needed and intended to be invisible.
However, after taking a sip of the warm wine, Gu Qianying looked at him again, "By the way, what is your name?"
Steward Qi was stunned. He quickly replied, "Replying to Your Highness, this humble servant's name is Qi Zhenhong."
"Qi Zhenhong? That's a very good name," Gu Qianying praised him.
Steward Qi was so frightened that he was about to kneel again, but Gu Qianying stopped him, "Enough, stop kneeling at every turn. It affects this Highness's mood."
Steward Qi dared not kneel.
But he felt a chill emanating towards him.
Steward Qi cautiously looked up and immediately, trembling, knelt on the ground again.
It's over! He's finished!
Nangong Mo cast a cold glance in his direction, his eyes filled with killing intent.
Gu Qianying also noticed the coldness in Nangong Mo's eyes, but she acted as if she didn't see it.
"Your Highness, this concubine finds Steward Qi to be steady in his work, and moreover, he is quite good-looking. Why not let him serve by this concubine's side? This concubine does not have many people serving her yet."
Upon hearing this.
Steward Qi was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat. He stammered, "Your Highness, this humble servant... this humble servant..."
It's over! It's over! It's completely over!
"He is a man, it is inconvenient. This Highness will have Bai Qi find some maids to come over."
Nangong Mo refused Gu Qianying's request.
Not to mention the distinction between men and women, based on Steward Qi's face alone, he would absolutely not agree.
"No need, it will be him. If Your Highness finds it inconvenient, you can turn the inconvenience into convenience."
A cold glint flashed in Gu Qianying's eyes.
She picked up a piece of food for Nangong Mo and personally poured him a cup of warm wine.
She had a remedy to save the wet nurse in the manor and Nangong Mo's legs. With such leverage, she believed Nangong Mo would agree to a mere servant.
Indeed, Nangong Mo agreed.
However, Nangong Mo agreed simply because Gu Qianying had served him food and personally poured him a cup of warm wine.
"Alright, this Highness understands."
He naturally understood the implication of Gu Qianying's words.
And his single sentence turned Steward Qi's face pale. He kowtowed heavily to Gu Qianying, begging for mercy, "Please spare this humble servant, Your Highness. This humble servant's status is low and unworthy of serving Your Highness."
"Look at what you're saying. You can serve your own Prince, but you're unworthy of serving this Highness?" Gu Qianying asked with a smile, but her smile held a hidden killing intent.
Steward Qi knelt on the ground, trembling, and for a moment did not know how to reply.
Nangong Mo's eyes were like ice, and he coldly commanded, "I'm asking you, speak!"
Steward Qi trembled all over and quickly said again, "This humble servant is foolish and misspoke. I beg Your Highness for forgiveness."
Gu Qianying glanced at him, picked up another piece of food with her chopsticks, and ate it slowly, "Such a foolish servant, if left by this Highness's side, who knows what mistakes they would make."
Implying her meaning.
Nangong Mo said coldly, "Bai Qi, drag this person out and have him beaten to death."
Steward Qi's face turned ashen, and he slumped to the ground.
Having been in the Prince's manor for many years, he understood the Prince's temper.
Once the Prince gave an order, it was irreversible.
Bai Qi walked over, dragged Steward Qi, and was about to lead him out.
At this moment, Gu Qianying put down her chopsticks and looked at Nangong Mo, "Your Highness, let's forget it. It is indeed inconvenient for this Highness to keep Steward Qi here, and Steward Qi has served Your Highness in the manor for many years. Even without merit, he has rendered service. Please let him go, Your Highness."
As she spoke, she served Nangong Mo another piece of food.
Nangong Mo frowned and looked at her, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment.
"Alright."
Nangong Mo withdrew his gaze and looked at Bai Qi.
Bai Qi released Steward Qi, but in his heart, he wondered if the Princess's head had suffered some shock, making her a bit abnormal.
He secretly glanced at Gu Qianying and shook his head in his mind.
No, it wouldn't be. If the Princess wasn't crazy, then she was unsatisfied and unhappy.
After all, their Prince was currently unable to do that sort of thing.
Then, Bai Qi secretly glanced at Gu Qianying a couple more times, seeing Gu Qianying still eating leisurely, but her eyes occasionally fixed on Steward Qi.
At that moment, he understood. It was because Steward Qi was too handsome that the Ninth Princess disliked him.
He quietly touched his own face.
He was very grateful that he was not good-looking.
After kowtowing his thanks, Steward Qi remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to leave.
Nangong Mo looked over impatiently, especially when he saw Steward Qi's face, he became even more impatient, "Why aren't you rolling away quickly!"
Steward Qi shivered in fear and quickly scrambled away.
After finishing their meal, Nangong Mo originally intended to take Gu Qianying to see the wet nurse. However, after they finished their meal, Nangong Mo's wet nurse sent someone to invite Nangong Mo alone.
Nangong Mo frowned and grabbed Gu Qianying's wrist, "Come with this Highness. This Highness will speak to the wet nurse."
The reason he had not informed the wet nurse that Gu Qianying could treat her was that, in his eyes, his marriage to Gu Qianying was without any ulterior motive.
Even if, in Gu Qianying's eyes, their relationship was merely a transaction.
That was only Gu Qianying's perception.
And if Gu Qianying was willing to treat his wet nurse's illness, he would naturally be pleased.
But if Gu Qianying was unwilling, he would not force her.
If that were the case, he would continue to seek renowned physicians for his wet nurse.
"Your Highness, it's alright. This concubine is also tired today. I will go back and rest for a while. After Your Highness has persuaded her, this concubine will go to pay respects to the wet nurse."
With that, Gu Qianying turned and returned to the main hall.
Nangong Mo watched her retreating back and said nothing.
Back in the main hall, Gu Qianying sat alone on a soft rug, holding a cup of tea and sipping it lightly.
At this moment, a figure flashed past the window.
She did not look, but said faintly, "How was this Highness's play today?"
There was no response from outside the door.
Gu Qianying was not in a hurry. She waited calmly.
Some people, when driven to desperation, will find a way to survive.
For example, someone still lingering outside the door.
After a moment,
The figure outside the door reappeared.
"Your Highness, this humble servant requests an audience."
Gu Qianying's lips curled into a cold smile. Having anticipated this, she waited a few breaths before slowly saying, "Enter."