The person standing before Gu Qianying had a peculiar expression. Dressed in a dark, long robe, he stood before the crowd, not even lifting his eyelids, filled with disdain for everyone present. He stood on a raised platform, surveying the people below, then spoke in a cold voice, "You have all come here today. From now on, you must remember that you are servants of our Sheng Yu family. No matter what you do, the family comes first."
"There is one more thing," his voice boomed again, carrying a threat. "You have no relation to anything within the family. Control your hands and feet. Do not touch what you should not touch."
"Otherwise," the man's eyes slowly darkened, his words laced with menace as he spoke, "we will chop off your hands and feet. Your families, old and young, will also face dire consequences. If this is your choice, then I will fulfill it. Let's see what you do."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qianying clearly saw the men beside her trembling, appearing extremely frightened. Gu Qianying was currently disguised as a man. Her face was completely blackened, she wore a skullcap, and her clothes were made of coarse cloth. To further enhance her disguise, Gu Qianying even sported a small mustache at the corner of her mouth. In her current state, even her own mother might not recognize her.
Gu Qianying stood upright in the crowd, cautiously observing the person on the high platform who had been threatening them. This man was named Nan Pei. Standing beside Nan Pei was a very gentle woman, befitting someone from a prominent family; she was adorned with gold and silver jewelry, and her clothes were specially made. In the sunlight, she shimmered brilliantly, exuding beauty.
Peeking out from beside them was a cherubic girl, her eyes full of innocence, her skin fair and tender, as if she had been raised in milk. Her eyes were large, and though she was still young, her striking beauty was undeniable. This peeking child, however, seemed unaware of her surroundings, appearing exceptionally innocent and pure.
After the assembly finally dispersed, everyone was scattered to various parts of the family estate. Along the way, some people were whispering amongst themselves.
"Did you hear? A few days ago, Bai Yu Feng, our young master, killed several people because he was in a bad mood."
Gu Qianying was startled by this. She approached them and tentatively inquired, "You sirs." She deliberately deepened her voice, making it sound rough, as if she had swallowed stones. Only by doing so could she avoid suspicion about her identity. Gu Qianying composed herself and beckoned to them. "Which courtyard have you brothers been assigned to?"
The men chuckled. "We just guard the gates. We can't touch anything in the master's rooms. Where are you headed, brother?"
Gu Qianying had only received a token, on which a place name was written. Gu Qianying looked closer. The words inscribed were Qing Zhu Xuan. She clicked her tongue in surprise, wondering how such a place could have such an elegant name. It was truly astonishing.
The men were taken aback. After reconfirming, they looked at Gu Qianying with evident pity. They sighed, placed a hand heavily on Gu Qianying's shoulder, and said regretfully, "Such a good person, how could they suffer such misfortune? It's truly pitiful, so pitiful."
Gu Qianying was bewildered. "What do you two brothers mean? Why is it pitiful?"
The two men looked at Gu Qianying with surprise, their eyes widening. "Don't you know whose room Qing Zhu Xuan is?" Gu Qianying had no idea; the situation had arisen so suddenly. Gu Qianying had only bribed a few people to get inside, but she did not know the specifics of her task.
The men glanced around to ensure no one was nearby, then lowered their voices, as if they were thieves, and bowed their heads. "This room belongs to the eldest young master of the family. You've struck gold. This eldest young master has a capricious temper. When you go there, you must be extremely careful and never give him any reason to find fault." As they spoke, they suddenly felt a sense of dread. They quickly shook their hands, saying nervously, "That eldest young master has stained his hands with so much blood. You must be sensible."
Although their acquaintance was brief, Gu Qianying could feel their concern for her from their tone. "Is that so?" Gu Qianying slowly tightened her grip on the token. A smile suddenly flashed in her eyes. For Gu Qianying, wasn't this exactly what she wanted? Gu Qianying had been worrying about what to do. Going to Bai Yu Feng's side and serving him now would mean being close to him, which was indeed excellent.
Gu Qianying's face lit up instantly. She quickly bowed to the men, smiling and saying, "Thank you, brothers. I understand." Seeing Gu Qianying's demeanor, the two men found it truly strange. Gu Qianying took three quick steps, eager and impatient, and immediately walked away. The two behind her shook their heads.
"Is this person foolish? That's the eldest young master; he could take my life." The person beside him also sighed. "He's probably truly foolish! Thinking he can gain anything by being by the eldest young master's side. This one is likely to be unlucky." The two men exchanged glances, then curled their lips and slowly walked towards the entrance. They were quite at ease. After all, they were just gatekeepers; why bother with these matters?
Gu Qianying first reported to the back courtyard. The people inside were exceptionally fierce, their eyes gleaming with shrewdness. They looked at Gu Qianying with expressions of disdain. A plump old woman threw some things at Gu Qianying. This woman swayed her hips as she approached Gu Qianying, her eyes filled with contempt. "Where did this boy come from? So thin, and so fair. He looks more like a pretty boy. How dare he come to serve the young master?"
Gu Qianying quietly touched her cheek. Looking at the black powder on her fingertips, she ensured the color was still there and breathed a slight sigh of relief. She then quickly parted her lips, smiling foolishly. "No, I'm very strong, Auntie. Don't underestimate me! I'm serious." Gu Qianying's eyes darted to a stone on the ground. Decisively, she pulled it up. Everyone was startled, watching in amazement as Gu Qianying, with her small frame, lifted a large stone and threw it directly onto the ground. With a crack, everyone swallowed in astonishment.