81 Fulfillment
The details that he had deliberately ignored in the past were still vivid in his mind now that he thought about them.
There was always a light in her eyes when she saw Kang Wang;
She said that he was like a brother to her;
She told him to let her go;
!
…
She had also shouted Kang Wang's name just now. The person she had chosen was Kang Wang, not him!
The person she was protecting had always been Kang Wang, not him!
One by one, it was obvious that he had been turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to everything.
His Rong Rong had never been his. He was not in her heart at all…
Blood was still seeping from the wound, soaking his palm. His dark eyes faded to a desperate gray.
"Tick, tick!"
Blood dripped, forming a pool of dark red blood on the smooth marble floor. The thick smell of blood filled the air…
Even though Madam Gu had been through many storms, she could not help but feel terrified at this moment. Her entire body was weak, as if all the strength in her body had been sucked away, and she could not move at all.
A thought lingered in her mind: It came true. Everything came true!
Everything Gu Yanfei said had come true.
It had also happened in three days, as Gu Yanfei said.
Madam Gu's heart skipped a beat. All the blood in her body rushed to her head and she felt dizzy.
Time passed slowly in silence and the atmosphere became stiffer and stiffer. Everyone was hesitant, conflicted, and shocked. No one expected Fang Mingfeng to need a doctor.
In the end, the first person to break the silence was Prince Li.
Prince Li slammed his palm on the table. His face was as calm as water, and his beard was almost flying with anger.
"It's bad luck to see blood today. It's better to call off this marriage," Prince Li said bluntly.
Initially, Prince Li did not have many objections to this marriage. As long as the Empress Dowager and Kang Wang were willing, the Emperor would not object. However, after seeing the farce just now, he completely changed his mind.
It was a disaster to marry a promiscuous wife.
When Madam Gu heard this, the dizziness in her head intensified. Her temples throbbed violently and her head throbbed.
She took a deep breath and wanted to persuade him gently, but she heard a cat meow outside the window. "Meow!"
Madam Gu looked as if she had seen a ghost. Her pupils constricted as she instinctively looked over.
Outside the window, a red plum tree swayed crazily. Red petals fell like rain, as if a rain of blood had fallen, but there was no sign of the cat.
Gu Yanfei's words from that day echoed in Madam Gu's ears again.
Could it be that Spiritual Master Lingxiao was really some otherworldly expert, and Gu Yanfei was not talking nonsense. Could she really predict things?!
Madam Gu's eyes were dark and turbulent as her thoughts froze on Gu Yanfei's last sentence. "I'll wait for you in Yuheng Garden."
This girl was waiting for her to beg her!
Madam Gu's expression did not look too good, and Chu You's expression was even darker.
"Imperial Uncle, the marriage can't be abandoned!" Chu You forcefully stopped Prince Li, who was about to leave. His eagle eyes flickered with a cold and sinister light.
Prince Li frowned tightly, not hiding his displeasure. He felt that Chu You was simply obsessed with a woman.
"Ning Zhi, move aside!" Prince Li's voice was cold and solemn.
Prince Li addressed Kang Wang as Ning Zhi.
Chu You was naturally unhappy, and his thin lips were pursed tightly, but he did not move. He said word by word, "Uncle, the Empress Dowager has issued an imperial decree. Today is an auspicious day."
As he spoke, he released a gloomy and fierce aura.
Kang Wang actually used the Empress Dowager to suppress him?! Prince Li was not frightened. He was the royal sect's decree, and even when the previous Emperor was still alive, he would respect him.
He snatched the big red betrothal letter with the ink on it from the desk and tore it half open.
The sound was infinitely magnified in Gu Yunrong's ears, like lightning and thunder.
She could have put aside everything in the Gu family and stood higher than Gu Yanfei. No one would dare to point at her and say that she was just the child of a slave anymore. But now, it was as if a pair of hands had forcefully pushed her down from the clouds…
Prince Li threw the torn betrothal letter to the ground in disgust.
"I'll answer to the Empress Dowager for this." He ignored Chu You's pestering and walked around him.
Looking at the betrothal letter that had been torn in half, Chu You's eyes almost popped out.
He wanted to stop him again, but Prince Li's personal guard immediately stood up, his scabbard horizontal and his eyebrows raised.
Chu You could only watch helplessly and with raging anger as Prince Li left with a wave of his hand.
All of this was because of Fang Mingfeng!
Chu You really wanted to cut Fang Mingfeng into pieces, but there were priorities. He could not sit back and watch Prince Li spout nonsense in front of the Empress Dowager.
Giving Gu Yunrong a comforting look, Chu You hurriedly chased after Prince Li. "Uncle!"
Gu Jian's mouth opened and closed, and his face alternated between green and white. At this moment, he finally found his voice and shouted, "Someone, go get a doctor!"
Empress Dowager Yuan had issued a marriage decree. To the Gu family, this was originally a joyous occasion, but now, such a joyous occasion had actually ended in blood.
Gu Jian was furious, but if the British Crown Prince died in their Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, it would only make the situation worse.
"No need," Fang Mingfeng said dejectedly. He covered his wound with one hand and turned around.
...
When he turned around, he glanced at Gu Yunrong again, his eyes filled with farewell. Gu Yunrong felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
He headed out, his back wobbly and unsteady, as if he might collapse at any moment.
Gu Yunrong wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, she did not say a word.
She had to let him know that she was angry because his recklessness had ruined an important day in her life.
"Nephew, let me send you back to the residence." Gu Jian stood up with his walking stick and gave Madam Wang a look.
No matter what, they had to personally send the injured Fang Mingfeng back to the British Monarchy and give him an explanation.
Gu Yunrong was in a daze and did not notice the passage of time. It was not until she heard Madam Gu call out weakly, "Bai Lu," that she came back to her senses.
"Go and… invite the Second Lady over," Madam Gu instructed in a difficult tone. Her turbid eyes flickered as she rubbed her temples with one hand.
Everything that happened today was really ominous!
82 Satisfied
After receiving the order, a maidservant hurried out of the main hall.
Gu Yunrong's expression changed slightly. When she heard Madam Gu mention Gu Yanfei, she recalled that Gu Yanfei had previously hinted that when the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to propose marriage, her marriage with Kang Wang would definitely change…
At this moment, Gu Yunrong seemed to have been enlightened.
She had never believed in fortune-telling or illusory metaphysics.
Fate was never something that could be calculated with a flick of a finger.
So that was it!
It was not that Gu Yanfei had calculated it correctly. She was just a rat hiding in the gutter, who had secretly set up this trap and was waiting for them to jump into it.
"Meow!"
Outside the window, there was another long cat meow. It sounded happy, excited, and impatient.
To Madam Gu, it was like a death warrant.
"Meow, meow, meow…"
Gu Yanfei came over amidst the meowing.
She saw the plum tree, scratched by the cat, and saw the blood, the dagger, and the torn letter of appointment in the main hall. Even if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she could almost piece together the entire story.
She wasn't going to hide her good mood, so she went in, smiling and amused.
The atmosphere of the main hall was heavy and everyone was silent, except for Madam Gu and Gu Yunrong.
Gu Yunrong looked at the smile on Gu Yanfei's lips without blinking, her eyes darkening.
It was her!
It was indeed Gu Yanfei!
Gu Yanfei had made Fang Mingfeng a sword to deal with her.
Gu Yunrong was so angry that her hands kept trembling, and the knuckles of her fingers were faintly white.
Madam Gu also looked at Gu Yanfei. She held the prayer beads tightly in one hand and her slightly pale face tensed up.
She wanted to ask, but she could not bring herself to do so. It was as if as long as she opened her mouth, she would be showing weakness to Gu Yanfei and begging her.
Gu Yanfei was not in a hurry. Without needing anyone to call her over, she picked a chair and sat down, then watched leisurely as the servants nimbly cleaned up the mess on the ground.
The blood on the floor was quickly wiped clean. The torn big red betrothal letter was picked up and placed on the table with the Empress Dowager's decree.
The house was neat again, as if nothing had happened.
Madam Gu lowered her eyes and slowly spun the rosewood prayer beads in her hand, one after another. Her speed was extremely slow, as if even time had been slowed down by her.
A moment later, the prayer beads in her hand stopped moving,
She raised her hand and gestured for Granny Li to send away all the servants in the main hall and guard the corridor alone.
"What do you think we should do?" Madam Gu asked without rhyme or reason, her voice dry.
"It's very simple." Gu Yanfei smiled and said gently, "If I'm satisfied with Madam, I'll make sure you'll be satisfied too."
Madam Gu's pupils constricted.
She immediately realized that Gu Yanfei was doing this for Mother Su.
She did not like to be coerced, and a hint of unhappiness disappeared in the blink of an eye. She softened her voice and coaxed, "Yanfei, you are one with the Marquis Household and are bound together…"
Gu Yanfei shook her finger and interrupted her with a chuckle. "If Madam doesn't satisfy me, I'm already unhappy, so why should I care about the life and death of the Marquis Household? Madam, don't you think so?"
As she spoke, Gu Yanfei casually picked up the bloodstained dagger from the chair beside her and sized it up.
The dagger was made of fine iron and the blade was straight and smooth. After being tempered by the flames and repeatedly hammered, the blade was extremely sharp. The blood on it had dried.
The word "Fang" was engraved on the blade near the rhinoceros horn handle, half-red with blood.
Even if no one told her, Gu Yanfei knew that the blood on this dagger belonged to Fang Mingfeng.
The cold light on the dagger was reflected in Gu Yanfei's pupils. Those unforgettable memories flashed through her mind.
Gu Yanfei stared deeply at the blood-stained dagger in her hand. Her vision was blurry, as if a layer of blood fog was spreading in front of her.
In her previous life, she had seen this dagger.
At that time, she was being forced by Gu Yunrong step by step. The two of them had already reached the point where they were like fire and water. She threw caution to the wind and wanted everyone to know that Gu Yunrong was born by a wet nurse, while she herself was the real daughter of the Marquis Household.
In order to protect Gu Yunrong, Fang Mingfeng had used this dagger to stab her. The blade had pierced into her chest, taking half her life and leaving an indelible scar on her chest!
83 Satisfied
That heart-piercing pain seemed to still be yesterday, seeping into her bones…
At the thought of this, the blood-red color in her eyes quickly dilated and flowed violently.
In her previous life, the heavens had let Fang Mingfeng off, but she would not let him off, let alone forget what he had done.
Gradually, her eyes and emotions calmed down.
!
"It's a little lacking." Gu Yanfei chuckled and casually threw the dagger on the coffee table with a clang.
Compared to the short sword Chu Yi had given her, this dagger was far inferior.
She had no particular intention, but Madam Gu listened attentively and felt that there was a hidden meaning behind her words.
"…" Madam Gu looked hesitant.
"Do you want me to calculate what will happen next?" Gu Yanfei raised her fingers again…
As soon as she saw Gu Yanfei's action, Madam Gu's heart beat uncontrollably like a drum.
Gu Yanfei pinched her knuckles two or three times and sighed softly. "Aiya, this is a sign that the shrike and the swallow will fly in different directions. The Empress Dowager is about to give Kang Wang a marriage. This bride is really unlucky."
"The peach blossoms in Gu Yunrong's life have withered…"
"Let me calculate again…"
Looking at Gu Yanfei's slender fingers, Madam Gu's expression darkened and she was distraught. It was unknown if she was afraid that Gu Yanfei would continue calculating or that she would jinx it.
Madam Gu gritted her teeth and barely controlled her emotions. She asked again, word by word, "What exactly do you want?!"
Gu Yanfei put down her calculating hand and gently tapped her index and middle fingers on the armrest. She slowly said, "There's a saying in the 'Law of Jin': Those who sell people will be punished with 100 strokes of the cane and be exiled for 3,000 miles."
Her meaning was clear.
"…" Madam Gu's pupils dilated. Her breathing and heartbeat were inexplicably attracted by the rhythm of Gu Yanfei's fingers, and her breathing became faster and faster.
"She's already been punished. Isn't that enough?" Gu Yunrong couldn't help but ask.
Gu Yanfei had already beaten Mother Su half to death, destroyed Gu Yunrong's betrothal gift, and even injured Fang Mingfeng because of her selfishness.
Wasn't that enough?!
Gu Yanfei was actually still not satisfied!
Gu Yunrong's body tensed and her expression was extremely ugly.
Even so, she did not lose her composure and speak ill of her.
Gu Yanfei's half-lowered eyelashes trembled slightly, and a trace of blood appeared in her cold eyes.
In her previous life, Mother Su had treated Gu Yunrong very well, and Gu Yunrong had been the same to Mother Su.
After Gu Yunrong married into Kang Wang's manor, she released Mother Su's family from slavery and bought them a house and land. From then on, they were surrounded by servants and lived a luxurious life. Not only that, but Gu Yunrong also hired a teacher for Mother Su's youngest son.
Madam Gu also turned a blind eye to this.
In this life, under the circumstances of conflict of interest, could they still stick to the choices of their previous life?!
"Not enough," Gu Yanfei said calmly, meeting Gu Yunrong's eyes calmly.
Ultimately, it was extremely easy for her to deal with a mere Mother Su, and no one could stop her. However, even if she simply killed her, her mental demons could not be resolved at all.
She had to put herself in the same situation as in her previous life. She had to cut open flesh, dig out pus and blood, scrape away the bone poison… Only then could she really break out of the cocoon and be reborn.
This was the meaning of her return to this life!
It was quiet inside and outside the house, except for the occasional fallen leaves in the courtyard. It was so quiet that the soft sound of leaves falling could almost be heard.
Gu Yanfei did not rush them. She took out a handful of fragrant pine nuts from the dried fruit plate beside her and peeled the pine nuts to eat.
Crack, crack, crack…
The sound was clearly not loud, but every crack was ear-piercing to Madam Gu's ears, making her temples ache.
Madam Gu clenched her right hand in her wide cuff as she struggled with her thoughts.
Gu Yunrong's pursed cherry lips turned slightly pale.
This was an open conspiracy.
In other words, Gu Yanfei did not care if she had discovered that she was the mastermind at all. Now, she had clearly made her request.
"Don't push your luck." Gu Yunrong's eyes gradually sharpened, and a flame danced in her pupils.
She did not want Gu Yanfei to succeed!
Gu Yanfei did not look at Gu Yunrong. Her slender fingers deftly peeled another pine nut and she said briskly, "So what if I do?"
"Emperor Taizu once ordered that the imperial family can choose a marriage without asking about family background."
"However, I wonder if the Empress Dowager can tolerate a daughter-in-law who's the child of a slave?"
Ignoring her family background was not equivalent to marrying a slave as a wife.
Gu Yanfei's tone was casual, as if they were chatting.
The words "child of a slave" stung Gu Yunrong again.
This was a blatant threat. Gu Yanfei was clearly threatening her.
If she did not let the other party vent her anger, her background would be exposed to Empress Dowager Yuan.
As she thought about it, Gu Yunrong lowered her eyes, forming a shadow underneath.
She believed that she did not care about her background, and neither did Kang Wang.
Who her parents and background were was not up to her to decide, and no matter who it was, it would be the same.
...
Therefore, Gu Yunrong did not think that she owed Gu Yanfei. She was just a little luckier than Gu Yanfei, but it was not a crime to be lucky.
She did not care if Gu Yanfei told anyone about this. So what if she did? Her knowledge, talent, wisdom, and even her intelligence belonged to her, not to the Gu family's daughter.
Gu Yanfei could tell everyone for all she cared.
The words were already on Gu Yunrong's lips.
Click.
Gu Yanfei casually threw a pine nut shell on the coffee table and it happened to roll onto the blood-stained dagger, making a crisp sound.
The blood on the dagger was still bright red and shocking.
Recalling the scene of the dagger stabbing into Fang Mingfeng's abdomen, Gu Yunrong suddenly could not say anything.
She seemed to hear the sound of the betrothal letter being torn open again, and Prince Li's disgusted gaze appeared in front of her.
She did not care about her background, but the world did.
Prince Li already disliked her. What would he think if he found out that she had a biological mother like Mother Su?!
...
What would the Empress Dowager think?
If she could not reach the heavens in a single step and reach a position that could look down on everyone, she would always be the "child of a slave" Gu Yanfei mentioned and would always be inferior.
84 Abandonment
Gu Yunrong's face was pale, and her eyes were stubborn as she sat there with her back straight.
"Yanfei." Madam Gu could not stand it anymore and berated her, "Enough."
She knew that this matter would not end well.
Regardless of whether Gu Yanfei was really good at divination, once the matter of her "child" was exposed, there would be no hope of Gu Yunrong becoming Princess Consort Kang.
!
Her heart swayed violently again. After a while, Madam Gu said firmly, "Okay."
The word seemed to be squeezed between her teeth.
Gu Yunrong moved her lips but did not say anything in the end.
She did not look at Madam Gu or Gu Yanfei, as if she had finally made up her mind or given up on something…
"Ah Hui," Madam Gu called out again. Granny Li, who was guarding outside the door, entered to listen.
"Send her to the authorities." Madam Gu slowly twisted the prayer beads and instructed with a solemn expression.
Granny Li agreed respectfully.
However, just as she turned around, Madam Gu stopped her. "Wait."
Granny Li looked at Madam Gu in confusion. Madam Gu looked up and said calmly, "Break the tendons in her hands and mute her with poison."
She twisted the prayer beads in her hand, her face expressionless.
If she wanted to get rid of future troubles forever, she had to make Mother Su unable to speak and use sign language, so as to keep this secret.
Back then, Madam Gu did not want to kill Mother Su. It was also because Gu Yunrong had pleaded for Mother Su that Madam Gu treated her as a blessing for Gu Yunrong.
However, if Mother Su's existence would hinder Rong'er…
A ruthless glint appeared in Madam Gu's eyes.
Gu Yanfei did not hear him and leisurely peeled the pine nuts to eat.
Gu Yunrong, on the other hand, trembled violently. Her cherry lips were slightly open, and her thoughts were written on her face. This was too cruel!
"Yes, Madam," Granny Li replied respectfully without even raising her eyebrows.
In this huge Marquis Mansion, it was not rare for servants to be flogged and sold. Moreover, Mother Su had indeed made a huge mistake, so she was considered lucky to have lived a few extra years.
After Granny Li bowed, she turned around and left.
With one less person, the Hall for Cultivating Virtues seemed empty and fell into dead silence again.
Outside, there was a rustling wind and a strong murderous aura.
There seemed to be faint wailing mixed in with the howling wind that could not be heard upon focus.
Gu Yunrong lowered her face. The voice lingered in her ears, as if it had torn pieces from her soul…
Gu Yunrong felt pain that was soul-deep and she could no longer be distracted.
She did not look at Gu Yanfei, but Gu Yanfei was looking at Gu Yunrong.
She saw that the vibrant golden luck around Gu Yunrong had a faint gray tinge, like a peony in full bloom, except the edge of one of the petals suddenly had a hint of burning and withering.
Oh, interesting. Gu Yanfei raised her eyebrows, her eyes shining.
Madam Gu had had a smooth life for most of her life. Now, she had to lower her head to a junior. It was simply more uncomfortable than taking her life.
"Slam!"
Gu Yanfei clapped her hands gently and nodded bluntly. "I'm satisfied."
"I hope Madam will always satisfy me in the future." She tilted her head and smiled brightly, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
Madam Gu suppressed the urge to slam the table and took a deep breath, then asked patiently, "There was bloodshed today. How should we resolve it?"
Her eyes were burning as she stared at Gu Yanfei.
At this point, Rong'er's marriage could not go wrong again!
Gu Yanfei casually took out a talisman from her sleeve and placed it close to the coffee table. "Burn the talisman and let her drink the talisman water."
Ridiculous! Gu Yunrong's gaze shot at Gu Yanfei like a sword. She was so ashamed and resentful that another tearing pain came from the depths of her soul.
"Believe it or not, it's up to you." Gu Yanfei had a lazy smile on her lips. She stood up, stroked her sleeve, and walked out of the main hall.
After she turned around, the smile on her lips turned into a faint mocking smile.
This talisman had no meaning and was just a piece of crappy paper.
Actually, even if she did nothing, Gu Yunrong and Chu You's marriage would definitely not go wrong.
Gu Yunrong was the favored child of the heavens in this small world, and Chu You was a blessing from the heavens for her. Their marriage was predestined by the heavens.
85 Abandonment
However, compared to her previous life, this relationship was much more bumpy.
In her previous life, Gu Yunrong had been in the limelight because she had "saved" Kang Wang in Prince Jing's Manor.
In her previous life, everyone only thought that Gu Yunrong and Kang Wang were a match made in heaven.
The world only saw the glory, but they did not know that their happiness was trampled on the flesh and blood of countless cannon fodder.
!
Gu Yanfei had only removed the seemingly perfect skin and revealed the rotten sores under it.
But she also knew that no matter how many twists and turns this marriage took, they would still come together.
It was fate.
No one could change that.
Just now, Gu Yanfei had only casually frightened Madam Gu and Gu Yunrong, but they had all given up on Mother Su for benefits.
Gu Yanfei walked down the stone steps in front of the Hall for Cultivating Virtues and did not care about Gu Yunrong's cold and stern gaze behind her.
She was greeted by a gust of wind with sand in it, which blinded her and made her eyes sting and shed faint tears.
In her teary eyes, Gu Yanfei recalled that in her previous life, Mother Su had lived a pampered life and had a deep mother-daughter relationship with Gu Yunrong. Until the moment of her death, Mother Su had lived an extravagant life.
So this was all there was to it!
A line of tears fell from the corners of Gu Yanfei's eyes and slid down her jade-like face…
The knot in her heart dissipated, as if a bubble had been gently pierced.
In an instant, Gu Yanfei felt enlightened and her eyes lit up.
Her sea of consciousness was like a vast and calm sea, a clear and cloudless sky, or a feeling of the vast sea and sky.
Gu Yanfei raised her hand and wiped the tears off her face with her fingertips.
These tears were from her previous life.
Her lips curved into a smile. It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Her smile was even more dazzling and beautiful than the light from the sky.
There was a sudden rustling in the canopy beside her. The kitten poked its head out from between the leaves and leaped down from one of the trees, landing accurately in her arms.
"Meow, meow, meow…" Qing Guang meowed happily.
"Have you seen enough?" Gu Yanfei placed the cat on her shoulder. The cat squatted down obediently and meowed again in high spirits.
Gu Yanfei patted its back and said, "It's time to go back."
The kitten was very excited and meowed again, wanting to tell her what had happened to Mother Su. Its green eyes shone in the sunlight, and it was so beautiful that it made her heart palpitate.
Unfortunately, Gu Yanfei did not understand a word it said.
They returned to Yuheng Garden with the lingering meow of a cat.
Gu Yanfei seemed to have sensed something and looked in the direction of the boudoir. She stuffed the kitten that was licking her shoulder into Juan Bi's hands and instructed, "Juan Bi, go get some boiled chicken for Qing Guang."
"Little Qing Guang, are you hungry? I'll make you something delicious!" Juan Bi happily carried Qing Guang away. When she coaxed the kitten, her voice could not help but soften, as if she was coaxing a child.
Gu Yanfei entered the house alone and went to the empty small study.
But a familiar baby face was facing her through the half-open window.
The young man in green smiled very warmly and happily without the slightest embarrassment, as if it was normal for him to climb over the wall.
"Miss Gu." Xiao Shi smiled and waved at Gu Yanfei. His tone was light as he continued saying, "My young master asked me to deliver wine to you."
Xiao Shi held a wooden tray with a pink enamel wine pot in his other hand.
He placed the wine pot and wine glass on the table by the window and looked at Gu Yanfei with a smile. Then, he reached out and made an inviting gesture.
Today was a lucky day and deserved congratulations.
Gu Yanfei poured herself a glass of autumn dew.
The Autumn Dew was named after the lotus dew brewed in early autumn. The wine was white and exquisite.
Gu Yanfei sniffed indulgently before taking a sip. Then, she drank it all in one gulp. She felt that the wine in her mouth was fragrant and sweet. The aftertaste lingered in her mouth.
"Good wine!" Gu Yanfei praised happily with her eyes narrowed.
"It's good that you like it!" Xiao Shi smiled and praised his young master. "This Autumn Dew is imperial wine that others can't drink. If you like it, I'll send it to you next time."
"Thank your young master for me." Gu Yanfei casually took a red plum from the plum bottle beside her and handed it to Xiao Shi outside the window.
Plums were in full bloom in the cold wind. Lonely and proud amidst the snow, it was quite compatible with him.
Was this flower for their young master? Stunned, Xiao Shi took the branch and felt that something was reversed.
Strange, what was it?!
Xiao Shi racked his brains and returned to the palace in a daze. Only when he handed the red plum to Chu Yi did he realize what was wrong.
As the saying went, fine wine gave heroes, and flowers matched beautiful women.
Why was it the other way around between his young master and Miss Gu?!
Chu Yi was dressed in his usual white clothes and was playing with the red plum in his hand with interest.
The red plums on the branches were as bright as fire, reflecting a hint of brightness on his handsome face, making one's eyes light up.
Chu Yi turned the red plum, and the petals trembled.
He lowered his head and sniffed. A trace of clear plum fragrance entered his nose.
For some reason, he recalled the scene when he first met her in the suburbs of Danyang City.
The girl was still so carefree in such a tragic situation. Her dress and long hair fluttered in the wind…
...
Seeing that Chu Yi quite liked Gu Yanfei's return gift, Xiao Shi joked, "Young Master, Miss Gu is really a straightforward person… No, a smart straightforward person!"
"It's a blessing to meet my match," Chu Yi said with a low laugh.
This time, they joined forces to play a wonderful game of chess.
86 Complaint
Xiao Shi did not understand and asked casually, "Young Master, do you want to play chess with Miss Gu?"
Chu Yi glanced at Xiao Shi lightly and said, "Go get a vase." The corners of his auspicious phoenix's eyes tilted up slightly, and his shimmering black eyes looked as if they had been carefully drawn by an artist.
Xiao Shi happily went to get a vase.
After personally placing the flower branches into a white porcelain vase, Chu Yi suddenly asked, "Are they still there?"
He did not say who he was referring to, but Xiao Shi naturally understood and smiled brightly. "Young Master, Prince Li and His Highness Kang Wang are still in the East Warm Pavilion."
Chu Yi stood up and Xiao Shi followed silently.
The master and servant went to the East Warm Pavilion against the cold wind. An eunuch guarding the East Warm Pavilion did not go in to inform the Emperor and let him in.
Everyone in the palace knew that the Emperor doted on the Eldest Prince the most, and that the pair of father and son was very close.
It was as warm as spring in the East Warm Pavilion, but the atmosphere was tense and there was a faint sparking intensity.
Prince Li and Chu You did not look too good. They each had their own opinions.
"Your Majesty, this marriage will never happen!" Prince Li's voice was loud and clear, still insisting that the marriage be annulled.
"Imperial Uncle, I've already said that Fang Mingfeng was being unreasonable today. It has nothing to do with Rong'er," Chu You argued. "The marriage decree has been issued. It's improper to issue an order in the morning and rescind it in the evening!"
"Your Majesty, you're the eldest brother. You can't just watch Ning Zhi insist on crashing into the south wall…"
"…"
The uncle and nephew became more and more agitated as they spoke, each louder than the other.
The Emperor, who was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, was sitting on the bed. He rubbed his temples with one hand and looked a little tired, and the silver strands in his hair made him look even more haggard.
Immediately noticing Chu Yi's arrival, the eunuch quietly walked to the curtain to welcome him and lowered his voice to roughly tell him about the current situation.
For example, Prince Li and Kang Wang had arrived half an hour ago because something had happened when they went to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion to propose marriage.
For example, the British Crown Prince, Fang Mingfeng, was stabbed by Kang Wang in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
For example, Prince Li felt that it was inauspicious to see blood today and wanted to end this marriage.
…
"This is really…" Chu Yi clearly knew more than the other party, but he let out a low sigh that was both surprised and sad.
He flicked his sleeve lightly, and his wide sleeves swayed gently like weeping willows. He slowly walked forward and interrupted, "I'm afraid this matter is not just about the marriage of the Seventh Imperial Uncle."
His words attracted Prince Li and Chu You's attention.
The two of them forgot their argument and looked at Chu Yi with different expressions. The former was confused, and the latter looked unfriendly.
Chu Yi walked unhurriedly to the two of them and said gently and politely, "What crime has the British Crown Prince committed?"
His words were simple, but they hit the nail on the head.
The room was silent and Prince Li looked thoughtful.
Chu Yi walked straight to the Emperor and sat down. His every move exuded an indescribable elegance and nobility that was pleasing to the eye.
In the next moment, the little eunuch served him tea and fruits. His movements were very fast and nimble.
Chu You narrowed his narrow eagle eyes, exuding a dangerous aura.
Chu Yi seemed to be oblivious and continued, "Emperor Taizu has ordered that the descendants of the imperial family should set an example. They can't bully the weak and hurt others for no reason… Otherwise, their crimes will increase."
After a pause, Chu Yi slowly repeated, "May I ask, Imperial Uncle, what crime has the British Crown Prince committed?"
This time, he looked up directly at Chu You, who was three or four feet away.
Chu You's face was ashen. The muscles in his cheeks were tense, and his gaze was colder than 10,000-year-old ice.
This rule was set by Emperor Taizu.
In Emperor Taizu's 'Living Note', Emperor Taizu had once said that when a family had more than two generations of power, they would be more arrogant, domineering, and hostile. Hence, they must be severely punished as a warning to others.
In previous dynasties, the imperial family had always been superior to others. When Emperor Taizu proposed this law, the imperial family naturally objected. However, an arm could not win against a thigh.
"Cough, cough…" Chu Yi tilted his head slightly. He placed his right fist by his lips and coughed softly.
The snow-white cloak that covered him was trimmed with mink fur, making his handsome face even thinner. His cheeks were flushed and he looked sick.
"It's the first day of the month, but you were in the cold wind when you came over?" The Emperor leaned over to look at Chu Yi with concern. "Come, drink more hot water."
The Emperor personally picked up the teacup on the coffee table for him, lifted the lid, and handed it to him. Wisps of white steam rose from the cup, and the tea was steaming.
87 Complaint
"It's fine." Chu Yi coughed again and recovered. He smiled at the Emperor and lowered his head to drink his tea.
Father and son were affectionate and the son was filial. Prince Li, who was originally angered by Chu You, softened his expression.
Chu Yi slowly took two sips of tea and heard the curtain in front of him being carefully lifted. Then a middle-aged eunuch reported in a sharp voice, "Your Majesty, the British Duke is here. He's kneeling outside."
The Emperor raised his eyebrows. His voice was low but not aged. "What is the British Duke doing?" he asked flatly.
!
His tone was neither light nor heavy, it was extremely clear and had the bearing of a king.
Chu You's thin lips pressed into a straight line, and Prince Li frowned.
A dignified first-ranked duke kneeling outside was either asking for forgiveness or seeking justice. No matter what, it would definitely cause speculation among the civil and military officials.
Chu Yi held the teacup and lowered his head to smell the fragrance of the tea, then he took slow sips.
The middle-aged eunuch who came to report lowered his head again and replied slowly, "The British Duke said that Crown Prince Fang was injured by His Highness Kang Wang. He wants to ask the Emperor to uphold justice for the Crown Prince."
Even without looking up, the middle-aged eunuch could feel Chu You's knife-like gaze on him, and his back was covered in cold sweat.
"Sigh." Chu Yi's elegant and gentle voice sounded again. "The British Duke is an old minister who founded the country. They say that all birds are hidden by the bow, but Emperor Taizu is magnanimous and never killed the meritorious officials in vain. He left behind beautiful stories about the Emperor and minister, unlike the previous dynasty's Emperor Qi…"
Prince Li was 64 years old this year. He had also followed Emperor Taizu and personally witnessed his peerless bearing.
He loved to hear about Emperor Taizu's deeds the most. Every time he recalled the past, his blood would boil with passion.
"Well said!" Prince Li slapped his thigh heavily. He suddenly looked several years younger and was in high spirits. "Your Majesty's breadth of mind is extraordinary!"
In comparison, Kang Wang was not like his ancestors. He shouted to kill for some romantic reasons and even dared to attack the descendants of the founders!
When Prince Li looked at Chu You again, he shook his head and sighed. Then, he frowned and said in a low voice, "Ning Zhi, you injured the British Crown Prince today. Others will only say that a descendant of the imperial family injured the British heir. If this goes wrong, someone might think that the Emperor is using this as an excuse to kill the founder of the country."
Just as Chu Yi had said, Emperor Qi of the previous dynasty discarded a worthy person when he has served his purpose. In less than ten years after the founding of the country, he had killed more than half of the founding officials. It was bone-chilling.
"…" The corners of Chu You's eyes twitched.
The Emperor slowly stroked his beard and was about to ask the eunuch to call the British Duke in when Chu Yi said, "Father, I'll go take a look."
The Emperor had always doted on Chu Yi and agreed without hesitation. "Alright, go and comfort the British Duke."
Chu Yi elegantly covered the tea lid and placed the teacup back on the coffee table. He turned to look at Chu You and asked with a smile, "Seventh Imperial Uncle, do you want to come with me?"
Chu You responded with practical actions and stood up with a dark expression.
They passed through the double curtains and arrived at the entrance to the East Warm Pavilion.
Fang Huairui, who was wearing a first-grade embroidered scarlet robe, knelt on the cold ground with his head half lowered and his face dark.
When he saw a pair of white boots enter his field of vision, the corners of Fang Huairui's mouth tightened. When he looked up, his round copper eyes were red with tears.
"Your Highness, my son was injured by Kang Wang and is still unconscious. His fate is unknown…"
"I have to seek justice for my son no matter what!"
Fang Huairui wailed at Chu Yi. Towards the end, his voice was hoarse, but his cries were 60% fake and 40% real.
Fang Mingfeng was Fang Huairui's eldest son and had once been his pride.
Seeing his son injured, Fang Huairui's heart ached. At this moment, when he faced Chu You, his eyes were filled with resentment and dissatisfaction, as if he would rush up and punch Chu You in the next moment.
There was no need for him to act out this at all, and his emotions were quite on point.
"Fang Mingfeng reaped what he sowed," Chu You said coldly.
"Your Highness, Kang Wang has really gone too far!" One moment, Fang Huairui pointed at Chu You, and the next moment, he wiped his tears with his sleeve. "My son is a little rash, but it's understandable. His Highness Kang Wang used a sharp weapon to hurt someone without a word. He's really gone too far…"
Thinking back to the entire matter, Fang Huairui felt a little complicated.
Chu Yi's plan was not hidden from him. In fact, Fang Huairui had turned a blind eye to Fang Mingfeng's ability to sneak out of the British Mansion this morning.
Mingfeng had had a smooth life since he was young and had never encountered setbacks. As a result, he had developed such an arrogant personality. Recently, he had become more and more outrageous, so it was time for him to suffer and learn.
It was better to suffer now than lose his life in the future.
A sharp glint flashed across Fang Huairui's eyes.
Seeing that Fang Huairui did not know how to appreciate favors, Chu You's expression darkened.
Chu Yi took another step forward and advised politely, "British Duke, go back first. Father already knows about this and will give you an explanation."
His voice was as clear as the wind, filled with the power to comfort one's heart.
However, to Fang Huairui, Chu Yi's words were cold.
The corners of Fang Huairui's eyes twitched violently. He pretended to wipe his tears again and sighed. He had really boarded a pirate ship!
The Eldest Prince looked gentle and harmless on the surface, but he was actually a black-hearted lotus. He was probably unable to get off this pirate ship.
He could have watched coldly as Chu Yi and Chu You fought. He did not have to get involved in this mess.
The more Fang Huairui thought about it, the sadder he became. At this moment, he really wanted to cry. He could not help but vent his anger on Kang Wang. He said, "Your Majesty, please seek justice. A life for a life…"
88 Condemnation
"Enough!"
Chu You could not stand it anymore and interrupted Fang Huairui with a voice as cold as ice.
He was a martial artist and knew very well if that dagger would kill him. The British Duke was clearly being unreasonable.
Fang Huairui lowered his right arm that was wiping his tears and maintained his kneeling posture. He shouted without care, "Your Highness Kang Wang is only a prince, yet he wanted to kill an old minister who founded the country!"
He spoke each word louder and louder, wishing most of the court could hear him.
The veins on Chu You's forehead throbbed, and even on his neck.
"My father and I are loyal to the Great Jin Dynasty. Even if we don't contribute, we have worked hard. Your Highness Kang Wang's actions have really disappointed me!"
What a ruffian! These words could not help but appear in Chu You's mind. He flicked his sleeve and left.
Instead of returning to the East Warm Pavilion, he strode past Fang Huairui. Fang Huairui's loud wails came from behind. "Your Majesty, please seek justice for me."
Chu You walked faster, his head held high.
He did not believe that the Emperor could do anything to him!
Fang Huairui knelt for an entire day and night without eating or drinking. The next morning, he finally fainted from exhaustion.
Kang Wang had stabbed the British Crown Prince, causing the fate of Crown Prince Fang to be unknown. The British Duke only had one legitimate son and was in tears. He would rather give up his title to punish the murderer.
When the censors heard the news, they finally could not hold back.
They swarmed to the East Warm Pavilion and presented several letters to the Emperor. They impeached Kang Wang, Chu You, for injuring someone and asked the Emperor to take the appropriate measures. They also said, "Kang Wang is in the wrong, so he has to take responsibility. Otherwise, won't the world think that the Emperor condoned the imperial family's murder!"
The Emperor looked at the memorial and did not comment. He only instructed the eunuch to seek an audience with Kang Wang.
Those aristocratic families who supported Kang Wang exchanged glances and decided to suppress the arrogance of these censors so that these poor scholars from poor families would not be impudent in front of their aristocratic families.
Therefore, the Minister of Revenue, Wang Kangyin, retorted, "Censor Li, Kang Wang has always been careful with his words and actions. The previous Emperor also praised him for being magnanimous. There must be a reason why he took action."
"How can you listen to the British Duke?"
What he meant was that Fang Mingfeng had misbehaved.
To put it more clearly, if the censors still had any objections, they would be questioning the previous Emperor.
It had been less than a year since the late Emperor passed away. Even the current Emperor had to abide by the rules and not change his father's will after three years.
The censors were momentarily speechless by Wang Kangyin's words. Even the Emperor seemed to be in a difficult position as he repeatedly stroked his beard.
A moment later, the Emperor cleared his throat with a dry cough and said, "Kang Wang and the British Crown Prince are both young and impetuous. That's why they argued and pushed each other a few times."
At the side, Duke Wei, who had a straight face, saw that those aristocratic families insisted on dragging Fang Mingfeng down, and the emperor still wanted to be a peacemaker. His expression darkened and he was unhappy.
That would not do!
Duke Wei snorted coldly and said unhappily, "How dare he hurt someone with a knife in broad daylight? How can you easily understate the word 'pushing'?!"
As soon as Duke Wei expressed his stance, the nobles who had only come to join in the fun immediately became solemn.
After the founding of the Great Jin Dynasty, Emperor Taizu conferred him a meritorious man, and he was named the Fourth Duke.
According to the laws of the Great Jin Dynasty, the noble titles were decreased by one grade for three generations. Only the titles of the four noble families were hereditary and would never be demoted. They were above the other nobles, so the nobles vaguely followed the "Fourth Duke".
Duke Wei continued angrily, "Fang Mingfeng is the only legitimate son of the British Duke. If anything happens, won't there be no one in the British Monarchy to inherit the title!"
Usually, although the Fourth Duke would occasionally argue and not be convinced of each other, they would support each other in the face of common interests.
After hearing that the British Duke had fainted, Duke Wei specially went to see him to comfort him. In the end, the British Duke cried buckets and held his hand to complain. What he meant was that Kang Wang was from a noble family and did not care about them. Today, he dared to stab his son for no reason. If he really ascended to that position in the future, he might even cut off their titles to make room for those noble families…
The more Duke Wei thought about it, the more frightened he felt. His voice also became louder. "Kang Wang simply has ulterior motives!"
89 Condemnation
His words enlightened the nobles present and they nodded repeatedly in agreement. So this was what Kang Wang was after. He really had ulterior motives!
The Eemperor stroked his beard in thought and asked slowly, with the demeanor of a benevolent ruler, "What do you think, Duke Wei?"
Duke Wei naturally felt that Kang Wang deserved punishment, but how to punish him was also a difficult problem.
Chu Yi, who was sitting at the bottom, asked indifferently, "There are serious punishments. I wonder how the British Crown Prince's injury is?"
"…" Duke Wei was stunned.
How could he know how injured Fang Mingfeng was? He only heard the British Duke crying that his son had been stabbed and was bleeding profusely, causing his fate to be unknown.
However, the Eldest Prince's words reminded him that there were serious punishments.
Duke Wei's old eyes lit up and he made a decision. He said seriously, "The old Emperor said that if an imperial family has broken the law, the crime will be increased by one level. Since Kang Wang stabbed Crown Prince Fang, let Crown Prince Fang stab him back twice, and we'll consider it even."
The other nobles looked at each other, all in high spirits. They felt that Duke Wei's idea was simply amazing.
They couldn't wait to agree and were extremely united.
The officials led by Wang Kangyin were all dumbfounded. They immediately felt that the situation was not good and could not be bothered to mention how the late Emperor had praised Kang Wang.
"Your Majesty, you must not. If we really do as Duke Wei said, I'm afraid Kang Wang's safety will be unpredictable after these two slashes. This is too harsh a sentence…"
The British Monarchy probably already hated Kang Wang. If Fang Mingfeng stabbed Kang Wang twice, Kang Wang's life would probably be in danger!
However, before he could finish, he was interrupted by the rough voice of a burly middle-aged noble. "He's just stabbed twice. He didn't say anything about gouging his flesh!"
"That's right, that's right."
"The old Emperor also said, 'Who doesn't get stabbed when they're in the pugilistic world?' Since he had the ruthlessness to stab someone, he has to know the feeling of being stabbed!"
"…"
The nobles spoke one after another, each louder than the last.
The Great Jin Dynasty had only been established for 50 years, and most of these noble titles had only been passed down for two to three generations. Usually, those aristocratic families would secretly mock them for not washing the mud off their legs.
However, when these people stood in a line, their power was also astonishing. Anyone who put in a good word for Kang Wang would be scolded by them.
Neither could convince the other, and sparks of animosity flew in the air.
Amidst the commotion, Chu Yi sighed softly. "Two slashes are too heavy. It's not good to exchange blood for blood."
His clear and calm voice was like a clear spring.
When the officials of the aristocratic families heard this, it was as if they had obtained a treasure. They echoed with joy, "Yes, yes, yes. The Eldest Prince is right."
Chu Yi elegantly put down the blue and white porcelain teacup in his hand and looked at Duke Wei and the others. He said, "However, the evidence of the Seventh Imperial Uncle's crime of assault is conclusive. If we don't pursue the matter, it will also violate the old Emperor's legacy."
"Yes, yes, yes!" The nobles responded repeatedly.
Chu Yi gently knocked the knuckles of his right hand on the coffee table twice. His warm gaze turned to the Emperor at the head of the table and he said gently, "Then demote him."
After that, there was silence in the East Warm Pavilion.
Before the others could react, the Emperor raised his hand and slapped the table, echoing, "Alright. Let's lower his rank to the Prince of the Second Rank."
Duke Wei was stunned at first, but then he thought about it. That's right. It would only hurt for a while if Kang Wang was stabbed twice, and he would probably forget about the pain after his scar healed. How could it be as satisfying as being demoted?
Wonderful! It was a wonderful punishment!
It was also to prevent Kang Wang from having designs on their noble titles. He would let Kang Wang suffer first.
"Your Majesty is wise!" Duke Wei was the first to shout, beaming with joy.
Since Duke Wei had agreed, the other nobles were not dissatisfied. They all shouted, "Your Majesty is wise," their voices as loud as thunder.
Some people were happy, and some people's expressions were stiff as they looked at the curtain embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon behind them.
Kang Wang, Chu You, who had been summoned by the Emperor, was standing in front of the curtain. His face was as calm as water, and his entire body exuded a cold aura.
Before Kang Wang could speak, the Minister of Revenue, Wang Kangyin, answered first, "Your Majesty is wise. Punishments should be given to those who have made mistakes."
Wang Kangyin was not stupid. He could tell that the Emperor wanted to demote Kang Wang's title this time.
With these nobles here today, if they did not lower his rank, the Emperor would probably take advantage of the situation and let the British Duke stab Kang Wang twice.
In this situation, Kang Wang could only blame himself for being too impulsive and insisting on offending the nobles.
Wang Kangyin gently pinched his sleeve and nodded imperceptibly at Chu You, indicating that he should lower his head to the Emperor.
"Seventh Brother," the Emperor looked through the crowd at Chu You behind him and asked indifferently, "Do you have any objections to my decision?"
"…" Chu You's ears buzzed, and monstrous anger surged in his narrow eyes.
At this moment, he wanted to leave angrily, but a trace of rationality told him that he could not leave.
If he left just like that today, he would offend all the nobles.
And the current him could not afford to offend them!
Chu You clenched his fists tightly. His tall figure was straight like a spear, and his heart was fighting fiercely.
His mood was extremely complicated, and a thick fishy sweetness filled his mouth. He felt as if an invisible pusher was pushing him into this dilemma step by step!
He told himself that in ancient times, there was Gou Jian and Han Xin. Those who achieved great things would endure a moment of humiliation!
Even Emperor Taizu had once been despised by others when he was young and even said a heroic phrase, "Don't bully the poor."
…
For a long time, Chu You did not move and stood rooted to the ground.
The silence spread and the atmosphere grew oppressive.
After an unknown period of time, he said with difficulty, "I accept the decree."
...
He lowered his head to hide the deep anger in his eyes and suppressed it.
As the words fell, the dust settled.
Chu You walked out of the East Warm Pavilion with a dark expression, his entire body exuding a forbidding aura. He held his breath and continued walking out of the palace in large strides.
The weather in the capital today was gloomy, and the wind was strong.
After leaving the palace, Chu You rode straight back to Prince Kang's Manor. He spurred his horse and ran around in circles against the cold wind…
He urged his horse around three or four times. A pageboy came running at full speed, panting and shouting.
"Your Highness, the Emperor has sent someone to issue an imperial edict."
"They, they still want to tear down the door of the mansion!"
90 Regret
What?! Chu You suddenly pulled the reins. The black horse under him raised its front hooves high, and white air blew from its mouth and nose.
"Slam!"
In the next moment, he swung his whip heavily on the horse's rump and urged it towards the gate as fast as a gale.
When Chu You arrived at the main entrance, one of the gates of the manor had been removed, and a few imperial guards were dismantling the other.
!
The commotion here was too great and attracted many passersby who were watching the commotion. All of them pointed in the direction of the manor.
"Your Highness Kang Wang!" The eunuch who had come to pass the decree bowed politely to Chu You with indifferent eyes. "I'm here to pass the decree."
Of course, he came to pass on the imperial decree to reduce Kang Wang's title from the Prince of the First Rank to the Prince of the Second Rank.
The eunuch took the bright yellow imperial decree from the tray and read it without caring if Chu You knelt. "By the heavens, the Emperor has issued a decree. The decree says: Kang Wang, Chu You, is young and impetuous…"
Chu You's ears buzzed and he didn't hear the rest. He just watched as they completely tore down the vermilion door of the prince's manor.
According to the rules of the Great Jin Dynasty, the door of the Prince of the First Rank's manor was nailed in nine rows and seven columns, while the number of nails in the Prince of the Second Rank's manor was reduced to nine rows and five columns. Therefore, since Kang Wang had been demoted, the original door of the manor naturally could not be used.
Not only that, but even the pair of Qilin Stone Beasts in front of the door had been carried away.
The entrance to Prince Kang's Manor became empty. At first glance, it looked as if a decree had been issued to confiscate the house.
"Regards."
After reading the last two words, the eunuch closed the imperial edict and said indifferently, "Your Highness, the Emperor said that there's no need to mobilize people for the changes of the house regulations."
The eunuch immediately changed his address to "Your Grace." Kang Wang was no longer a Prince of the First Rank, so he was not qualified to be called "Your Highness."
"Your Grace, please accept the decree," the eunuch said as he handed the imperial edict to Chu You with both hands.
Chu You gritted his teeth tightly, his expression sinister.
He wanted to wave away the imperial decree, but he also knew that he would be charged with disobeying the decree and it would become evidence for him to be criticized by others.
Now that things had come to this, he decided to endure it for a while.
"I thank His Majesty for his kindness," Chu You said with a dark expression. He took the imperial edict with both hands, and a chill rose in his heart that quickly spread and expanded in his body.
So what if the house regulations did not change? The world only cared about how it looked on the outside.
He had been demoted.
He had been conferred the title of Prince of the First Rank by the late Emperor when he was 10 years old, but now it was gone.
Chu You's dark eyes were filled with humiliation as he clenched his fists.
He watched helplessly as the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs removed the plaque that had been placed on the door with the words "Prince Kang of the First Rank's Manor" and replaced it with a new plaque with the words "Prince Kang of the Second Rank's Manor".
The plaque was personally written by the late Emperor and was the glory given to him by the late Emperor.
But now, that glory has been taken away.
Chu You slowly knelt down, bit by bit, bit by bit… Finally, his knee hit the ground hard with a thud.
He watched in a daze as the plaque that meant so much to him faded into the distance. He felt the weight of the imperial edict in his hand.
For a moment, he felt a little regretful…
As soon as this regret surfaced, it was suppressed by another stronger emotion.
He told himself that for Rong'er's sake, he would have no regrets!
After the eunuch issued the imperial decree, he left in a mighty manner with his men. The commoners outside the manor who were watching the commotion scattered.
These people also spread the news that Kang Wang had been demoted as a topic of leisure. That day, everyone in the capital knew about this.
This news also spread to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
Madam Gu locked herself in the small temple hall and focused on chanting scriptures.
She did not go out for a few days and told her juniors not to greet her in the morning.
After enduring for a few days, Madam Gu finally could not help but instruct her trusted aide, Granny Li, to make a trip to Yuheng Garden.
"Second Lady, Madam wants you to go to the Benevolent Harmony Hall to talk about the Third Lady."
When facing Gu Yanfei, Granny Li's attitude was extremely respectful and polite, her face full of smiles.
"I won't go." Gu Yanfei's indifferent voice came from behind a screen embroidered with a big red peony.
Granny Li's expression froze and her heart sank.
Through the hazy screen, she could vaguely see Gu Yanfei putting on her clothes one by one, accompanied by a faint rustling sound.