Gu Qinghan felt a dull ache all over her body and vaguely heard someone calling her name.
“Hannah, don’t scare your sister like this, wake up!” The voice spoke while pinching her fair, delicate hand.
It was her cousin Gu Xu’s voice!
Still not fully conscious, Gu Qinghan instinctively shrank back, curling up in the corner of the bed and trembling.
“Miss Xu, please let my young lady rest. The physician said she suffered a fright and needs quiet recovery!” Gu Qinghan heard Chun Tao desperately trying to intervene and felt her forcefully pry Gu Xu’s fingers away.
“You insolent servant! How dare you speak to me like that? Xia Cai, teach her a lesson—show her the difference between master and servant!”
Gu Xu was furious. It was bad enough that Gu Qinghan disregarded her, but now even the servants in her room dared to show her no respect!
Gu Qinghan jolted awake and saw Gu Xu’s personal maid grabbing Chun Tao’s hand, about to strike her face.
“Cough… Stop,” she managed to utter with difficulty, her delicate face pale and almost translucent.
Seeing her awake, Chun Tao immediately shook off Xia Cai’s grip and hurriedly helped her sit up.
Gu Qinghan watched as Chun Tao skillfully placed several soft pillows behind her back to make her more comfortable, and she couldn’t help but feel her eyes well up with tears.
She remembered in her past life, six months before her wedding, she had fallen ill from overindulging in cold food. Chun Tao had taken care of her for three days, but she hadn’t stopped Gu Xu from bullying Chun Tao, naively believing it was for her own good.
In the end, Chun Tao returned to her quarters in tears, her cheeks swollen and covered with red marks. After that, Chun Tao had earnestly warned her to be careful of Gu Xu.
“Is the young lady still unwell? Is it too painful? Should this servant fetch the imperial physician?” Chun Tao’s anxious voice pulled Gu Qinghan back from her memories.
“It’s alright, Sister Chun Tao, don’t worry,” she reassured Chun Tao with a gentle smile.
Chun Tao looked at her in surprise and delight. How many years had it been since she last heard the young lady address her so affectionately?
“Well, what a touching scene of master and servant bonding! Little sister, you should be careful not to be deceived by those with ulterior motives!” Gu Xu remarked sarcastically.
Looking at Gu Xu’s face, Gu Qinghan couldn’t stop her hands from trembling. The overwhelming hatred in her heart made it impossible for her to stay calm.
She couldn’t let them off easy! She wanted them to suffer a fate worse than death!
Countless thoughts raced through her mind, but on the surface, she remained as calm and gentle as ever, just like in the past.
“Sister is right. I’ve heard that Xia Cai, relying on being your servant, has been throwing her weight around the estate.”
She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckled softly, the dimples at the corners of her lips faintly visible. Her charming demeanor made the women in the room feel weak at the knees.
Once Gu Xu regained her composure, she gritted her teeth in resentment. She couldn’t stand Gu Qinghan’s beauty, which made her feel as plain as a stone.
Gu Qinghan took a small sip of the fruit tea Chun Tao handed her, catching her breath before continuing, “I think Sister is usually too kind, which allows these wicked servants to bully their master and tarnish Sister’s reputation for virtue and grace.”
“Hannah…” Gu Xu sensed the hidden meaning in her words and tried to interrupt, but Gu Qinghan cut her off.
“Sister, haven’t you often complained to me about these lazy servants who have stolen your jewelry more than once? Let me play the villain today.”
Gu Xu was left speechless. She had indeed fabricated those stories to get her hands on some of Gu Qinghan’s jewelry.
“Guards! Take Xia Cai to the woodshed. Replace all the servants in Sister’s courtyard and send a few clever ones to serve her instead.”
Her arrangements were swift and flawless, appearing to outsiders as the epitome of thoughtfulness.
Xia Cai glared viciously at Gu Xu. “Fine, fine! After all the wicked deeds you’ve done, aren’t you afraid I’ll—”
Before she could finish, guards stationed outside the door dragged her away.
“Sister is truly too kind-hearted. It’s one thing for such a lowly servant to remain unrepentant, but to dare slander you as well! Keep a close watch on her—no one is allowed near her! Cough… cough…”
Gu Qinghan wore an expression of shock and anger, her words punctuated by fits of coughing.
Before long, news spread that Gu Qinghan, despite her illness, had stood up for Gu Xu. The story traveled from the Gu residence to the noble households across the capital.
People marveled at Gu Qinghan’s kindness while simultaneously blaming Gu Xu for disregarding her younger sister’s health by allowing her to seek justice on her behalf.
Meanwhile, Gu Xu remained in a daze, unable to snap out of her shock.
Gu Qinghan took her hand through a handkerchief.
“What’s wrong, sister? Were you frightened by these servants? Since I’m in charge of the Gu household now, I won’t let anyone bully you.”
Her tone carried an innocent, childlike simplicity, yet each word pierced Gu Xu’s heart like a needle. Gu Xu’s smile nearly faltered before she hastily bid farewell and retreated to her room.
She didn’t see it—the moment she stepped out, the handkerchief that had touched her fingers was burned to ashes by a candle flame.
Chun Tao quietly brought a basin of warm water, helped Gu Qinghan wash her hands, and then stood by the bedside, watching her with concern.
“Chun Tao, I was just—”
“Did someone bully you, miss?”
Just as Gu Qinghan was about to explain, Chun Tao’s question caught her off guard—it was the opposite of what she had expected.
Seeing her stunned expression, her almond-shaped eyes wide with surprise, Chun Tao couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Miss is so kind and pure-hearted. If you hadn’t been hurt, you wouldn’t have noticed so much.”
“If there’s anything Chun Tao can do for you, miss, I would gladly give my life a thousand times over!”
Looking at Chun Tao’s earnest yet youthful face, Gu Qinghan remembered that she was only a year older but had endured so much humiliation for her sake.
“Don’t say such things! Your miss is clever enough—she doesn’t need you to die for her. That fate is reserved for others!”
Tears welled in Gu Qinghan’s eyes, her delicate nose wrinkling. The flush of emotion tinged her cheeks pink, and every movement resembled a fairy from a painting.
Even though she saw this face every day, Chun Tao’s heart was still struck by her mistress’s beauty.
Noticing beads of fragrant sweat trickling down Gu Qinghan’s temples, Chun Tao patted her own cheeks to snap herself out of it.
“Miss, I’ll go to the small kitchen and prepare some milk-flavored Zhenxue and glazed ice cakes.”
Seeing the sparkle in her mistress’s almond-shaped eyes, Chun Tao couldn’t help but smile. She arranged for three skilled maids to massage Gu Qinghan’s shoulders, neck, and calves.
Gu Qinghan drifted into a deep sleep under the gentle kneading of the maids. Seeing this, they softened their touch even further, while the faint scent of incense filled the room.
Suddenly, for a moment, the incense was overpowered by a cold fragrance.
Eastern Palace.
A shadow guard suddenly appeared before the desk, bowing his head. “Your Highness, Miss Han of the Gu family has awakened, but…”
Behind the desk, a man held a scroll in his hand. His fingers were long and slender, his knuckles distinct. His white robe was embroidered with subtle golden patterns.
“Continue.”
“Miss Han suddenly became furious on her sister’s behalf, disciplined the servants of the second branch, and replaced them all with her own people.”
The Crown Prince paused while turning the pages, lifting his head to reveal a handsome face. Beneath his sword-like brows were a pair of deep eyes. With just a slight furrow of his brow, the shadow guard immediately knelt on the ground.
“Is she feeling better now? Getting angry over such worthless things…”
His thin lips parted slightly as he let out a cold snort, causing the shadow guard to tremble uncontrollably.
“Miss Han is in good spirits. She chatted with her maid for a while and then fell asleep.”
“Keep watching her. Send in a few personal maids—ones with good martial skills…”
He paused before continuing.
“And good looks as well.”
He thought to himself, Qingqing had always liked only beautiful things. Only what was beautiful could ever be worthy of Qingqing.
The shadow guard received the order, knelt in farewell, and vanished into the night.
“Qingqing…”
A whisper so soft it could barely be heard also faded into the night.