Nangong Mo's gaze was cold. The right hand resting on the wheelchair's armrest was about to press the button.
Suddenly, two hands appeared behind him, pushing his wheelchair and pulling him back.
Lan Qingqing fell directly onto the ground.
"Ah!"
Instead of the imagined warm chest and embrace, she met the cold floor. She was injured and the impact of falling heavily felt as if her entire body had fallen apart.
Lan Qingqing let out a scream, a mix of embarrassment and disgrace washing over her.
Lan Qingqing's face turned a mottled hue, like a palette.
The onlookers were stunned.
Du Chun quickly helped Lan Qingqing up. "Qing'er, are you alright?"
"Brother Du, it hurts so much. Qing'er hurts so much. How could Miss Gu treat Qing'er like this?"
Lan Qingqing, aiming to gain sympathy from the crowd by portraying herself as a victim and thus incite them to condemn Gu Qianying for her lack of compassion, had tears welling in her eyes, appearing frail and pitiable.
The onlookers looked at Gu Qianying with varied expressions.
Du Chun took the bait. "Miss Gu, what do you mean? If you dislike Miss Qing'er, you could have said so directly. Why would you harm her like this?"
"Heh."
"Harm? When did I harm her? Or perhaps, in Doctor Du's opinion, not allowing Miss Lan to succeed in her scheme and fall into my husband's arms is considered harming her?"
Gu Qianying looked at Du Chun, a mocking smile on her lips.
"Miss Gu... you!" Du Chun was so angered he couldn't retort, his face flushed red.
"Miss Gu, Qing'er did not. Qing'er just can't stand the sight of blood. Qing'er faints at the sight of blood."
Saying this, Lan Qingqing feigned a pained expression.
"Oh, so you faint at the sight of blood, which is why you took the opportunity to lean into my husband's arms?"
"Qing'er did not,呜呜, Qing'er really did not."
Lan Qingqing was exasperated. She dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, looking utterly heartbroken, like a pear blossom in the rain.
Du Chun shielded her behind him, glaring at Gu Qianying. "Miss Gu, show mercy where mercy is due. Miss Qing'er was merely misled by rumors and did not intend to slander you..."
Nangong Mo coldly interrupted him. "Du Chun, shut up and get back."
Du Chun did not listen.
Nangong Li quickly stepped forward, tugging at the hem of Du Chun's robe, signaling him to stop talking.
Du Chun pushed him away and continued, "Moreover, everything has been revealed now. You haven't suffered any losses, have you? Then, Miss Gu, could you, for my sake, let Miss Qing'er go?"
Judging from Gu Qianying's actions towards the old monk, she would absolutely not let the innocent and kind Qing'er off. The incident just now showed that Gu Qianying intended to deal with Qing'er next. He lived with Qing'er in the Ninth Prince's mansion and had been friends for many years, so he naturally wouldn't abandon her.
As soon as Du Chun finished speaking, Gu Qianying coldly retorted, "Not intentionally, but harm has been caused. In Doctor Du's eyes, perhaps only killing or harming someone counts as harming another?
Then what about these rumors? They are like hidden knives, killing without bloodshed. Does Doctor Du not think that unless I, this Miss, commit suicide under the insults and slander of the common people, proving my innocence with my death, then I have not been harmed by this seemingly gentle and kind Miss Lan behind you?"
Gu Qianying's rhetorical question left Du Chun speechless. "This..."
"However, for the Prince's sake, I can let her go. Who told me to be kind-hearted? But, no fault is without consequence. The party at fault must bear the lessons they deserve. Of course, these should be decided by the Ninth Prince. However, according to the established imperial rules, I, as the Princess Consort who has already entered the household, can discipline any servant in this mansion, including... Miss Lan among the servants!
Therefore, I sentence Miss Lan to be a third-class rough maid in my Princess Consort's chambers from now on. Tasks like shelling walnuts, dealing with cat feces, and cleaning up filth will be your responsibility!"
For some who have harmed you, the method of revenge is not necessarily to annihilate them completely to feel satisfied. Keeping them under your watch, tormenting their minds, and letting them suffer endlessly can also be a pleasure.
"Gu Qianying, you..."
Lan Qingqing, upon hearing this, was so angry she called out Gu Qianying's name directly.
Du Chun was also furious, but before they could speak, Gu Qianying cut them off again. "I, no, this Princess Consort is now the Ninth Princess Consort. I hope Doctor Du will mind his words."
Saying this, Gu Qianying looked at Lan Qingqing, pressing her further. "If Miss Lan is not satisfied with the punishment this Princess Consort has given you, you are welcome to leave. Leave the Ninth Prince's mansion. After all, you have no contract of indenture here, nor are you a concubine or a bed warmer. You are free to come and go."
"Your Highness..." Lan Qingqing looked at Nangong Mo with immense grievance, tears streaming down her face.
She believed that her Brother A'mo would definitely stand up for her.
Nangong Mo raised his eyes to look at Gu Qianying, his expression still indifferent.
Seeing him like this, Lan Qingqing desperately believed that Nangong Mo was displeased and angry because Gu Qianying had punished her.
Nangong Mo slightly raised his arm.
Lan Qingqing was overjoyed and extremely excited.
Hit her, hit that bitch Gu Qianying!
She knew her Brother A'mo would definitely stand up for her.
The "slap" did not fall. Instead, she saw Nangong Mo's well-defined hands land on Gu Qianying's wrist, gently pulling her closer. At this moment, they were even closer.
Lan Qingqing felt a pang of anxiety, unable to figure out what Nangong Mo intended to do with Gu Qianying.
Meanwhile,
Nangong Mo looked into Gu Qianying's eyes and asked, "Tell me, what are you to this Prince?"
Gu Qianying's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a little nervous.
Could it be that Nangong Mo was angry and wanted to settle scores with her?
Regardless of what she thought, since things had come to this, Gu Qianying could only brace herself and say, "Princess Consort."
"Then what did you call this Prince just now?"
Seeing Nangong Mo's icy cold face, Gu Qianying swallowed nervously and uttered, "Your Highness."
Nangong Mo's face immediately darkened. "This Prince didn't hear clearly. Say it again!"
Gu Qianying was stunned.
Everyone held their breath in fear.
Lan Qingqing's false hope of Nangong Mo punishing Gu Qianying for her sake reignited.
Gu Qianying thought carefully and tried to say two words, "Hus... Husband."
"Hmm, say it again. This Prince likes to hear it." Nangong Mo suddenly said this, a smile that had never appeared on his face curling his lips.
Beneath his stunningly beautiful features, he had never smiled so gently in front of anyone. His smile was like the long-awaited sunlight breaking through the ice-covered winter, shining down and warming the heart.
The ruthless and decisive King Yama, Nangong Mo, was smiling so tenderly at a woman.
This was the biggest "hot topic" in the capital.
Gu Qianying was mesmerized.
So were the surrounding onlookers.
Even Nangong Li, who had navigated the world of romance without ever being truly involved, was momentarily stunned.
However, with his innate understanding of love and relationships, he quickly grasped why his Ninth Imperial Uncle was displaying such a captivating smile.
He stepped forward, pushed Du Chun aside, and also pushed away the incredulous Lan Qingqing.
Then, he glared at the crowd. "What are you looking at? Hurry up! Continue the wedding banquet. Eat and drink well, and then get lost! My Ninth Imperial Uncle and Ninth Imperial Aunt are going to the bridal chamber!"
Upon hearing this.
The crowd finally reacted. Simultaneously, Nangong Li's words sent them scattering like wild horses. In a moment, only a few servants who wanted to sneak away but dared not leave remained in the hall.
All the others had disappeared.
However, it was worth mentioning: As the gossiping ladies left the Ninth Prince's mansion with their husbands, each of them bore the imprint of a deep slap on their faces. Some faces were even swollen by the guards. Their crime: insulting the Ninth Princess Consort, eighty slaps!
At this moment,
Lan Qingqing stood opposite Nangong Mo and Gu Qianying. She still couldn't believe that Nangong Mo was serious about Gu Qianying.
"Your Highness!"
Nangong Mo glanced at her.
She wiped her tears, her face full of grievance. "Qing'er..."
"When you go to work in the Princess Consort's chambers, cover your face. She doesn't like seeing you!"
Lan Qingqing's body stiffened. Her tear-streaked face contorted with ferocity.
Her hatred for Gu Qianying, like a sprouted seed, took root deep within her heart.
As she looked up, her expression of hostility towards others hidden beneath a mask, she said softly, "Yes, Your Highness, Qing'er understands."
Watching Lan Qingqing's retreating back, Gu Qianying's pupils were filled with a cold light.
"If you want to force her to leave the mansion, you don't need to worry about this Prince. Just do it."
Nangong Mo's gaze never left Gu Qianying.
He wanted to fulfill all her wishes.
Gu Qianying looked at Nangong Mo, her brows slightly furrowed, without speaking.
She was somewhat unable to understand Nangong Mo.
Logically, Lan Qingqing had lived in the Ninth Prince's mansion for many years. Her relationship with Nangong Mo must have been one of childhood sweethearts, or even more than that.
And she, to Nangong Mo, and even to the entire Ninth Prince's mansion, was merely an outsider, an outsider with some ulterior motives.
Yet, why was Nangong Mo treating her like this?
Lost in her confusion.
Someone tugged at her sleeve.
Gu Qianying followed the gaze and looked over.
A voice whispered in her ear, "Wife, it's time to go to the bridal chamber with your husband."
Gu Qianying: "..."