Back when she first transmigrated, life had been incredibly difficult. Later, when she gained this golden finger, she was overjoyed to the point of tears. But it turned out she had celebrated too soon.
This thing wasn’t of much use to her—after all, she couldn’t exactly become a bandit and conquer the world through brute force. Fortunately, she could still make sachets with it, allowing her family to carry them for health and vitality. This offered her wounded heart a sliver of comfort.
Truly, it was a case of “discarding it would be a pity, but keeping it brought no real benefit.”
But now it was heating up. Whenever it grew warm, it meant danger was near.
Now that she had returned to the rear courtyard, the warmth in her palm had faded. So what had triggered its sense of danger?
Gu Qingyi couldn’t help but recall the faint, peculiar scent on the Imperial Uncle. Back when the jade tree first appeared in her palm, it was because she had encountered the unconscious Song Fengyu. Could it be that this jade tree of hers had some connection to Song Fengyu?
Gu Qingyi used her other hand to gently poke the little tree’s leaves, whispering, “Other transmigrated heroines get golden fingers like spatial dimensions or mountain springs, endless rare medicinal herbs, body cleansing and transformation—why did I end up with a tree? And a miniature one at that! At least I’ve raised you from the size of a thumb to the size of a palm—why haven’t you evolved at all?”
Dejected, Gu Qingyi flopped backward onto the bed, failing to notice the tiny leaf at the top of the tree trembling slightly as the tree vanished from her palm.
“Young Lady.”
Just as Gu Qingyi closed her eyes, she heard Zhan Xia’s soft voice. Unless it was something important, they wouldn’t disturb her lightly. “Come in,” she said.
Zhan Xia lifted the beaded curtain and entered, holding an invitation in her hands. “Miss Liang from the Liang Household of the Granary Section has sent you an invitation, inviting you to a riverside banquet.”
Gu Qingyi sat up, took the invitation, opened it, and immediately let out a cold laugh.
Liang Xiangning was nothing more than Fu Lanyun’s lackey. She must have heard about Gu Qingyi being jilted by He Runsheng and wanted to watch her make a fool of herself.
The news had spread so quickly. Then again, it made sense—He Runsheng was never broad-minded. After the humiliation she had dealt him and the embarrassment he suffered in front of the Imperial Uncle, given his temperament, he would surely make a big show of breaking off the engagement. After all, to elevate Fu Lanyun, he was even willing to call Gu Qingyi a straw bag.
Reading the words on Liang Xiangning’s invitation—how it was just for fun, not a poetry gathering, so she needn’t worry about embarrassing herself; how the rumors of her being a straw bag were all lies; and finally, the provocation that if she was afraid, she didn’t have to go—Gu Qingyi’s expression darkened.
Seeing the Young Lady’s displeasure, Zhan Xia spoke uneasily, “Young Lady, the Granary Section Head Liang is just a minor official under the Minister of Revenue. You don’t need to pay any attention to Miss Liang’s invitation.”
In the past, when the Late Emperor was alive, the Gu family was deeply distrusted by him and had no choice but to conceal their talents. Both Gu Qingyi and her brother Gu Yishu had to hide their brilliance—one pretending to be a wastrel, the other a recluse.
But now the Late Emperor had passed, the new emperor was young, and although their family had no dealings with the Imperial Uncle, they weren’t on bad terms either. It seemed they no longer needed to live with their tails between their legs.
If He Runsheng wanted to slap her in the face, she would naturally return the favor.
A straw bag?
Who was the real straw bag remained to be seen!
“Since someone has extended such a warm invitation, and many of the invited are renowned young ladies of Huikang, how could I avoid it? I’ll go, of course I’ll go.” Gu Qingyi’s eyes sparkled.
She was someone who never held grudges—she settled scores right on the spot!
As for Fu Lanyun—such a peerless white lotus—slapping her in the face would surely be even more satisfying.
Tsk tsk, if people were to find out that she and He Runsheng had long been secretly involved, one wonders whether she could still keep up that facade.