In the carriage.
Gu Qinghan’s delicate face was tense, her brows furrowed with worry.
She replayed the details of her wedding night over and over in her mind, from the guards at the door to the maids who attended her—each face flashed through her thoughts.
How could Gu Xu and Xiao Yinghuai have such power to turn the people around her and the Crown Prince against them?
When had Chundie joined their side? Did she not know about the affair between Xiao Yinghuai and Gu Xu?
It seemed that in her past life, not only had she been betrayed, but even the Crown Prince had been ensnared in their schemes.
Ye Muyan… Gu Qinghan’s eyes grew misty at the thought of his name, her heart softening.
In this life, she would not only seek revenge for herself but also repay Ye Muyan tenfold for the pain he had suffered in their previous life!
“Hmph, it seems they won’t meet a good end.”
Gu Qinghan couldn’t help but sneer, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. If anyone who had seen the Crown Prince before were to see her now, they would be startled by her resemblance to him.
The same coldness.
Gu Rongxin and Chun Tao looked at her with concern. After today’s events, they had become even more aware of Gu Xu’s malice.
Chun Tao couldn’t hold back her tears.
She had never known that her young mistress had endured so much ill will, her sincere heart trampled upon so cruelly.
She still remembered the joy and happiness Gu Qinghan had felt after helping Gu Xu.
Gu Qinghan had never expected anything in return. Raised in luxury and showered with affection since childhood, she had six maids just to attend to her morning ablutions, let alone everything else.
General Gu and Madam Gu had finally been blessed with a daughter in their later years, and they cherished her as if she were a treasure—afraid she might melt in their mouths or slip from their hands.
Since the General and Madam were often away guarding the borders, they couldn’t always be by her side, which left Gu Qinghan overly naive, unable to recognize malice even when it stared her in the face.
Her decision to save Chundie had stemmed from her kind nature and innocent impulsiveness.
Yet, who could have imagined that Chundie would bite the hand that fed her and conspire with Gu Xu?
After a moment of thought, Gu Rongxin also understood the truth.
She slammed her hand down on the small table in the carriage.
The loud “bang” startled the other two.
Seeing Gu Qinghan’s surprised look, Gu Rongxin flushed and said, “Sister, I never imagined they were colluding like this! I won’t let them get away with it!”
Chun Tao quickly nodded in agreement.
Hearing this, Gu Qinghan smiled gently, her voice soft and calm. “They were never destined for a good end. It won’t be long before they’re left with no chance of recovery.”
With that, she gently took both their hands.
“Thank you. Let’s go eat our fill first. There’s still a good show waiting for us back at the manor.”
After spending the day leisurely enjoying themselves, the three of them returned to the manor in the carriage as dusk began to fall.
Gu Rongxin accompanied Gu Qinghan back to her courtyard.
No sooner had the three of them sat down than they heard a commotion outside.
From the sound of it, it seemed to be people from the Second Branch of the family. They had even brought their own guards, but unfortunately for them, the guards at Gu Qinghan’s courtyard had been carefully selected by her parents.
No matter how hard the Second Branch tried, they couldn’t force their way in.
Gu Qinghan looked toward the courtyard gate and saw several people with disheveled hair from the struggle, drenched in sweat.
Her Second Aunt—Gu Xu’s birth mother, who always looked down her nose at others—had even turned pale.
After watching for a while, Gu Qinghan finally felt she had seen enough and called out clearly, “Let them in.”
Only then were the Second Branch able to enter the courtyard. But when they tried to step into Gu Qinghan’s main chamber, they were stopped by the maids at the door.
The members of the second branch had not expected the seemingly delicate maid to possess such strength. They were so furious they shouted.
“Gu Qinghan! Is this how you treat your elders? The maids and guards in your courtyard are truly formidable!”
Second Uncle Gu Jun bared his teeth in anger, while the mistress of the second branch, Yu Ling, glared fiercely at Gu Qinghan.
Gu Qinghan put on an innocent expression.
“Uncle and Aunt, you’re frightening Han’er with such behavior. My guards have all fought on the battlefield—when have they ever witnessed such a scene?”
She covered her mouth with a light laugh, yet her words carried a sharp mockery of the second branch.
My guards have survived the brutality of the battlefield—how could they be accustomed to your uncivilized conduct?
Upon hearing this, the faces of the second branch flushed red with anger. They wanted to retort but found the words stuck in their throats.
“You may speak in the courtyard, after all, my chamber cannot tolerate any foul odors.”
Gu Qinghan casually covered the tip of her nose with a handkerchief.
Standing outside the door, the second branch looked utterly disheveled. They too could smell the unpleasant odor on themselves—a result of their overly agitated struggle with the guards when they barged in earlier.
Hearing Gu Qinghan’s remark, they hurriedly straightened their clothes, attempting to regain an air of haughtiness.
As they adjusted their attire, their eyes wandered to the rare treasures inside Gu Qinghan’s chamber, as well as the famous paintings and precious scrolls carelessly scattered on the floor—many of which were priceless.
The venom of jealousy once again surged within the hearts of the second branch.
“I heard you forced your elder sister to buy you many things,” Second Uncle Gu Jun snorted through his nostrils. “How could you be so calculating, not even sparing your own cousin?”
Yu Ling, the mistress of the second branch, quickly added, “Yes, at such a young age, you are already so malicious. You humiliated your cousin in public—do you intend to ruin her marriage prospects?”
Gu Qinghan rested her chin on her hand, watching them with a gaze as if observing ants, making them deeply uncomfortable.
When had Gu Qinghan ever looked at them like this? Wasn’t she supposed to be the easiest to manipulate?
Gu Jun and Yu Ling exchanged glances, both feeling a sense of unease.
But thinking of the silver they had withdrawn from the treasury today, they gritted their teeth and spoke again.
“You framed your cousin, and now you show us no respect—utterly shameless! Your cousin treated you so well, yet this is how you repay her. Her already meager monthly allowance was spent buying things for you…”
Chun Tao and Gu Rongxin could barely contain their anger upon hearing this.
“Indeed, her monthly allowance is truly meager,” Gu Qinghan chuckled lightly, her eyes devoid of any emotion.
“So you admit it! Hurry and return all the silver you spent today to your cousin. Leave those items with her as your apology,” the second branch regained their haughty demeanor, seemingly convinced that Gu Qinghan would yield.
Gu Qinghan curled the corner of her lips. “Second Uncle, Second Aunt, if my cousin’s monthly allowance is so meager, how did she acquire the sapphire and kingfisher feather hairpin she wears? And the red jade droplet earrings, the Su embroidery moonlit brocade gown…” She picked up a lotus leaf teacup and took a leisurely sip of tea.
“These items—not to mention my cousin, I doubt even Second Uncle’s annual salary could afford a single piece, could it?”
“Could it be that my cousin stole these things? Oh, right—she took them from her own younger cousin.”
Upon hearing these words, the faces of the two from the second branch flushed crimson, especially Gu Jun, whose forehead was beaded with large drops of sweat.
Gu Qinghan widened her eyes, feigning astonishment. “That worthless son of yours, who can’t even recognize ten characters—his current official position was bought with money from the very niece you call wicked!”
“I see. Second Uncle and Second Aunt have come today to repay the debt. Were you just joking earlier?”
Gu Jun, hearing his precious son insulted, finally couldn’t hold back.
“You, Gu Qinghan, know how to read? Don’t celebrate too soon—your parents might not even make it back alive! Who knows if they’ll be struck down by a Xia soldier’s sword…”
Before the word “dead” could leave his mouth, Gu Qinghan struck his lips with a bamboo rod.
Gu Jun’s mouth instantly turned purplish-blue, with faint traces of blood visible. Seeing this, Yu Ling cried out, “Gu Qinghan, how cruel you are, striking an elder! I think my husband is right—your parents…”
Before she could finish, she too was struck with a rod.
Both blows landed on the same spot for the couple—half their faces, aside from their mouths, swelled up high.
Stunned by the beating, they gaped in disbelief at Gu Qinghan.
Where was the gentle, ingratiating demeanor from before? All that remained on Gu Qinghan’s face was icy coldness and a murderous aura.
Simultaneously, they thought: This is it—we’ve kicked an iron plate this time.