Steward Qi pushed the door open and entered. He was still wearing a moon-white robe without any accessories. His once handsome and dashing face was now covered in knife marks, bloody and mangled. Although the wounds on his face had been roughly treated, patches of blood were still visible.
His appearance was ruined, and as he walked in, the hatred in his eyes was evident.
"Wang Fei, these are the account books for some of the household expenses. Please review them."
Steward Qi placed the household expense account books on the table. Then, he knelt at Gu Qianying's feet, his attitude sincere. But only he knew how much he wanted to kill the woman before him at this moment.
However, no matter what he thought in his heart, he dared not show any of it on his face.
After what had just happened, he had experienced Gu Qianying's ruthlessness firsthand.
With just one sentence, she could have taken his life.
Such a woman was terrifying.
Her slender, fair fingers slowly lifted his chin.
Gu Qianying looked at Steward Qi and sneered, "Look at this face. It's truly a shame. However, your method of disfiguring yourself is quite ruthless. I wonder, if Miss Lan sees your face, will she still throw herself into your arms and act spoiled?"
Her words made Steward Qi's face change drastically.
His body tensed, and a chill ran down his spine. Gu Qianying did not release her hand, and he dared not move, allowing Gu Qianying to examine him so nakedly.
Gu Qianying's gaze was so cold that Steward Qi felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
She removed her hand and stood up. She walked around Steward Qi, her gaze sweeping past the scenery outside the window. Outside, peach blossoms bloomed on every branch.
"I beg Wang Fei to spare my life."
Steward Qi prostrated himself on the ground, pleading.
Gu Qianying did not turn around, only saying, "If this Wang Fei does not spare you, what will you do?"
Steward Qi's hand, hidden in his sleeve and holding a dagger, tightened.
"If Wang Fei does not spare my life, I will have no choice but to fight to the death."
Gu Qianying turned around and sneered, "Heh! Fight to the death? Do you have the qualifications for that?"
Steward Qi's other hand, not holding anything, clenched into a fist.
Just as he was about to draw out the dagger, Gu Qianying looked at him. "What? You want to kill this Wang Fei here?"
Steward Qi raised his head, suddenly took out the dagger from his sleeve, and offered it with both hands, kneeling sincerely.
"Replying to Wang Fei, this servant dares not have such wicked and unfilial thoughts. This servant also knows that Wang Fei does not intend to kill this servant, otherwise, she would not have spoken up for this servant just now. This servant seeks an audience with Wang Fei now, firstly to show loyalty, and secondly, to offer the knife and beg Wang Fei to vent her anger as she pleases. This servant is willing to accept punishment."
"Oh? Is that so? In that case, this Wang Fei will not be polite."
Gu Qianying snatched the dagger from Steward Qi's hands, spun it in her palm, and then, holding the dagger, pressed it against Steward Qi's neck. "Just a light cut here, and you will lose your life."
The sharp tip of the dagger almost broke his skin. Even so, Steward Qi did not dare to move an inch.
"If it can appease Wang Fei, this servant is willing to die."
While speaking words of loyalty, only Steward Qi knew that he had goosebumps and his hair stood on end from fear. He had never felt death so close before, with one foot already on the path to the underworld.
He was terrified in his heart, and it showed.
The beads of sweat dripping from Steward Qi's forehead made his body tense even more.
With a clang.
Gu Qianying threw the dagger to the ground, stood up, and looked at Steward Qi. "This Wang Fei likes talking to smart people. Get up."
Steward Qi bowed. "Thank you, Wang Fei."
As he got up, Steward Qi took out a letter from his sleeve and respectfully handed it to Gu Qianying. "Wang Fei, this is a letter that Miss Lan entrusted this servant to take out. Please review it."
Gu Qianying did not take the letter, only asking, "For whom?"
Steward Qi replied truthfully, "A letter for the Empress."
Gu Qianying looked at Steward Qi, her delicate eyebrows furrowed. She opened the letter in Steward Qi's hand and read its contents, her lips curling coldly. "I never expected that Lan Qingqing would have backing."
She walked to the desk and held the letter under the candlelight, letting it burn slowly. "It seems that your Wangye's mansion is not peaceful either."
The letter turned to ash.
Gu Qianying waved her hand, and the ashes scattered.
Her palm strike landed on the desk, causing it to crack.
Steward Qi looked over and was immediately scared pale, his face ashen.
With his meager skills, he never imagined that the newly arrived Wang Fei of the mansion was an expert.
"Steward Qi, what should you do next, do you understand?"
Gu Qianying approached Steward Qi and looked at him, her meaning clear.
Steward Qi immediately knelt again. "This servant is foolish. Please enlighten me, Wang Fei."
After a moment of observation, he felt that the eldest daughter of the Gu family was too intelligent, and he dared not speculate casually.
"Your Wangye needs you. He is the master you should be loyal to. As for this Wang Fei, you can also appropriately convey some information to this Wang Fei through your Wangye's mouth, do you understand?"
Nangong Mo was inherently suspicious, and he was certainly not a fool.
During the meal just now, Nangong Mo would definitely send people to investigate thoroughly the deliberate difficulties Gu Qianying had put Steward Qi through.
And some things, if hidden, were not good.
Moreover, what she knew at the moment was not something she originally wanted Nangong Mo to know, so there was no need to hide it.
Although Gu Qianying's words had hidden meanings, she knew that Steward Qi was not a fool.
"Yes, Wang Fei, this servant understands." Steward Qi's heart was as clear as a mirror.
"Mm, you may go."
Steward Qi stood up and was about to leave when Gu Qianying suddenly said, "As for Miss Lan, you can continue to string her along. Oh, and, I have poisoned you. But you can rest assured, the poison on you will not harm you. Instead, it will harm others. Do you understand?"
Steward Qi's body trembled. His fear of Gu Qianying deepened.
This woman, Gu Qianying, was too terrifying.
"This servant understands,"
Steward Qi quickly replied.
"Mm. You may withdraw."
Steward Qi walked out of the main hall, passed through the winding corridors, and leaned weakly against a colorful pillar, his legs feeling like jelly and his palms sweating, as if he had witnessed something extremely frightening.
A maid working in the mansion walked over. "Steward Qi, Miss Lan seemed to be looking for you just now."
For household chores, the wet nurses, governesses, and maids would all come to Steward Qi for advice.
Therefore, it was perfectly normal for Lan Qingqing to seek out Steward Qi to ask something.
"Slap!"
Steward Qi raised his hand and slapped the maid. He berated, "You dog! Why are you speaking so loudly? I'm not deaf."
The maid covered her cheek and cried.
Her voice was not loud at all; it was just that Steward Qi, unable to vent his anger, had taken it out on someone else.
Gu Qianying remained in the sleeping quarters. Not long after.
A strange maid came to invite her.
"Wang Fei, Wangye requests your presence?"
Gu Qianying put down her teacup and glanced at the maid. The maid lowered her head, her legs trembling slightly.