The servant from Gu Nanyin’s side was also displeased. Clearly, it was the other party who had been driving too fast, yet now they were trying to find fault with them instead. Was there any justice left?
“What’s going on?” A young woman’s voice came from the opposite carriage. The previously haughty servant immediately put on a fawning smile. “Miss, someone nearly crashed into our carriage.” He made no mention of the fact that it was his own reckless driving that had nearly caused the collision.
“Oh? Who has the nerve to dare crash into our family’s carriage?” When she lifted the curtain and saw Gu Nanyin’s carriage, the disdain on her face was identical to that of her servant.
Sitting inside her carriage, Gu Nanyin listened calmly to the arrogant words of the master and servant opposite her, sighing inwardly. Even on a rare outing, she still encountered troublesome people.
The pink-clad young woman opposite, seeing no reaction from Gu Nanyin’s side, immediately felt her pride wounded. When Gu Nanyin lifted the curtain, revealing her breathtakingly beautiful face, the girl’s jealousy only intensified.
“You didn’t even apologize after nearly crashing into someone. Truly, you come from a lowly household. With that shabby appearance, you’re simply unfit for any respectable occasion,” the pink-clad girl said spitefully.
Gu Nanyin had already learned the full story from her own servant and asked unhurriedly, “May I ask which noble family the young lady belongs to?”
Hearing this, the pink-clad girl thought Gu Nanyin was afraid of her and grew even more smug. “I am Wei Linger, the eldest daughter of the Commandant’s Estate. If you know what’s good for you, kowtow to me today, and I’ll pretend nothing happened and spare you.”
The Commandant was merely a fourth-rank official—such positions were a dime a dozen in the vast capital. What was even more amusing was that the Commandant was under her uncle’s jurisdiction, though separated by several ranks.
Gu Nanyin simply lowered the curtain, not even bothering to look at her. “Judging by the young lady’s tone earlier, I thought you must at least be a princess of the royal family. I never imagined you were merely from a minor Commandant’s Estate. After all, you’re still young, acting so recklessly and without discretion. I wonder if the Commandant knows his daughter bullies others, unable to distinguish right from wrong.”
Wei Linger was the treasured pearl of the Commandant’s Estate, accustomed to being spoiled and arrogant. How could she tolerate someone humiliating her like this? She only regretted not bringing more men with her when she left the estate today. However, seeing that Gu Nanyin’s side consisted entirely of women, while she had several servants with her, she immediately ordered, “Tie them up and take them back to the Commandant’s Estate. Let’s see if this woman still dares to defy me.”
Gu Nanyin hadn’t expected Wei Linger to dare order a kidnapping in broad daylight. “Miss Wei, have you thought this through? I can accompany you on this trip. But whether your father’s official hat remains afterward is another matter.”
Gu Nanyin’s words were polite, but in reality, if she were to make this trip, the Commandant’s Estate would cease to exist from tomorrow onward.
Wei Linger merely thought Gu Nanyin was bluffing and paid no heed. However, Wei Linger’s mother inside the carriage was startled upon hearing this.
She didn’t mind her daughter bullying others, but surviving in the capital required keen judgment—one must not offend those who shouldn’t be offended.
Wei’s mother softened her tone and asked, “May I ask which estate the young lady belongs to?”Gu Nanyin had never been fond of attending gatherings among noble daughters in the capital. In contrast, Gu Qinglian sought to befriend sons and daughters of influential families through such banquets. Thus, it was no surprise that Madam Wei did not recognize her.
Qiuzhi knew it was her time to step forward and immediately declared loudly, “My young lady is the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Personnel’s household.”
At that moment, Madam Gu also lifted the carriage curtain. “Madam Wei, you truly have a short memory for important matters. Do you not recognize me?”
When Madam Wei heard that Gu Nanyin was from the Minister of Personnel’s household, she still clung to a sliver of hope. The Minister of Personnel was only one rank higher than her husband. Although a higher rank could be oppressive, one was a civil official and the other a military officer, with no direct official interactions. Even if they sought revenge, they likely wouldn’t do anything drastic to her husband.
But when she saw Madam Gu, she remembered the Minister of Personnel’s influential in-laws and realized that today’s matter might not end peacefully. Madam Gu’s father was a first-class noble of the court, and her elder brother was her husband’s superior, outranking him by who knew how many levels. In the past, she could clean up after her daughter’s willful behavior, but this time, she had encountered someone she couldn’t afford to provoke.
Madam Wei quickly dragged Wei Linger out of the carriage and performed a deep bow to Gu Nanyin’s side. “My daughter is young and ignorant, and she has offended you, Miss Gu. I hope you will be magnanimous and not hold it against her. I apologize on her behalf.”
Gu Nanyin did not consider herself a particularly tolerant person, especially since she believed in not provoking others unless provoked. Just moments ago, Wei Linger had intended to have them tied up and taken home.
If she were truly an ordinary commoner, who knew what treatment she would have faced or whether she would even survive?
Gu Nanyin looked at Wei Linger with a mocking gaze. “I won’t force anyone to do anything unreasonable. Let’s just follow what Miss Wei demanded of me earlier. If Miss Wei kowtows to me, I’ll pretend this never happened.” Hadn’t Wei Linger said that if Gu Nanyin kowtowed, she would let her go? Now it was her turn, and Gu Nanyin wondered if she would be willing.
Wei Linger immediately cried out upon hearing this, “How dare you ask me to kowtow to you? Never!” She had been pampered and indulged all her life and would never submit to such humiliation.
“If Miss Wei refuses, then forget it. Let Wei Qingdu wait for news at home,” Gu Nanyin said lightly, glancing at her.
Madam Wei was torn. Her daughter was born after ten months of pregnancy and had always been deeply cherished. But she understood the threat in Gu Nanyin’s words all too clearly. If her husband lost his official position, how would they live? How could they establish themselves in this vast capital?
Madam Wei looked at her daughter and, suppressing her heartache, weakly ordered two servants, “You two, help the young lady kneel.”
Wei Linger stared at her mother in disbelief, but Madam Wei silently turned her head away, unable to meet her eyes.
Wei Linger watched helplessly as the two servants forced her to kneel. She struggled violently and shouted, “Take your filthy hands off me! How dare you touch me!” These servants, who had always been respectful in her presence, now dared to subject her to such humiliation.
No matter how fiercely she struggled, she was no match for the strength of two men. It had rained the day before, and the mountain road was muddy. Wei Linger lay on the ground, her brand-new dress covered in mud, looking as wretched as a stray dog.Her eyes seemed to be poisoned with venom, her heart filled with deadly hatred. She had always been the one bullying others—when had it ever been her turn to be bullied? This was truly going too far.
Gu Nanyin watched this scene, a mocking smile on her face. “Meeting Miss Wei today is also fate. I’ll be generous and teach you a lesson. Next time Miss Wei wants to throw her weight around, she should first find out the other person’s background. After all, for a minor official like Wei Qingdu, there are far too many people he can’t afford to offend.” With that, she boarded the carriage on her own. Those who insult others will always be insulted in return. If Wei Linger still doesn’t learn her lesson, she’ll face even more hardships in the future.