Whether you are afraid of death or not is none of my business.

Everything in the world has its own rules, and you will be punished if you don't follow them.

I will not pity you because of your fearlessness, nor will I show you mercy because of your sternness.

From a young age, I was taught to strictly follow rules. For me, good behavior is rewarded, and mistakes are punished.

Xie Zhaozhao spoke in a flat, clear, and indifferent tone, exuding the awe-inspiring and unassailable authority of a superior.

Guan Yingying looked at Xie Zhaozhao. The other party spoke gently and calmly, and her every smile and frown was charming and graceful. Her appearance was bright, generous, and elegant.

For some reason, the pride she held deep inside her crumbled completely.

The most outstanding young ladies in ancient times were like Xie Zhaozhao.

Contrary to her imagination, they were not the corrupt, feudal, and ignorant rulers she had imagined, but rather those who were extremely strict in their rules and whose excellence, both internally and externally, was terrifying.

In the eyes of a noble lady like Xie Zhaozhao, Guan Yingying was just a scurrying insect, and she would kill her without hesitation or remorse.

Even if they die, it's their own fault.

Guan Yingying was speechless, unable to utter a single word. No one wants to die a meaningless death if they can live.

Gu Chengyan glanced at her and said, "Aunt Yue, you can leave."

Guan Yingying gritted her teeth, stood up, turned and walked away quickly, her anger palpable.

Gu Chengyan looked at Xie Zhaozhao; her former gentleness was gone, replaced by a cold and obsessive demeanor.

"Third Aunt, what do you want to say?"

"I just came to see you," Xie Zhaozhao said calmly. "You were severely tortured, but Zhi Baiju lost his life."

"So what? If he wants to acquire immense wealth, he should have expected to pay the price."

"But you didn't give him wealth, let alone immense wealth. Even the courtyard that sheltered him from the wind and rain was arranged with money from your grandmother. You were just using him, squeezing every last bit of value out of this poor man."

"Third Aunt, what if I told you that his death was related to you?" Gu Chengyan said venomously, seeing her indifferent expression. "You probably don't know, but he had a crush on you! He secretly drew your portrait and hid it, and I saw it."

Xie Zhaozhao looked at him coldly: "Young Master, watch your words!"

"Be careful what you say?" Gu Chengyan said with a wicked smile. "He drew you and put your portrait in a book. I wanted to make it public, but he begged me not to tell. So I threatened him to consummate our marriage, or I would tell everyone."

Xie Zhaozhao looked at him calmly, her eyes extremely cold: "You took advantage of the small favor you did for him, and now you're demanding repayment. He's already died a tragic death, and you're still trying to smear him. You're a complete and utter scoundrel!"

Gu Chengyan laughed heartily: "Aren't you happy? Someone secretly likes you? Oh, I've always liked you too, I've even fantasized about it..."

"Be a good person. You have a whole courtyard of wives and concubines outside. Think about how to arrange their later years." Xie Zhaozhao stood up, her eyes cold. "Take good care of your son. After all, he's your only heir."

He threatened her with her reputation, and she threatened him with his only child!

Who's afraid of who!

Gu Chengyan's words caught in his throat. He shut his mouth, and his hands and lips trembled.

"Young Master, please take good care of yourself."

You must live to be a hundred years old, and watch everything that belongs to you slip away little by little.

She walked away steadily, gracefully and dignifiedly.

Zhi Baiju, who looks exactly like Gu Chengyan, once carefully and secretly drew her portrait, but was blackmailed and threatened as a result, and lost his life.

In his past life, wasn't he also discovered by Gu Chengyan to paint her portrait?

Castration was not enough for Gu Chengyan; it was far from enough!

The matter of expelling Gu Chengyan from the mansion was delayed because the old lady, Madam Tu, and Gu Boyu all fell ill one after another.

These days, Gu Chengyan has stayed indoors, and his concubines have given up on visiting him. Instead, they spend their days talking with Xie Xiangxiang in Fanghua Garden, and the mansion has been quiet for several days.

In mid-March, Lu came to Qingpu Courtyard to find Xie Zhaozhao.

She was followed by four maids and the steward, Xiao Zhang. She was increasingly displaying the demeanor of a steward and mistress.

“Third sister-in-law, someone came to the old house at noon to report the death. Our second grandmother has passed away. I discussed it with my mother, and she wants all of us women to go back to the old house for the funeral.”

Mrs. Lu said, "I haven't been to the old house for many years, and my mother also intends to ask the people from the Earl's Mansion to ease the tension with them."

The old house, which is the hometown of the old Marquis, was a place he would return to every year when he was alive to visit his second uncle and aunt who had taken care of him in his early years. After the old Marquis passed away, no one went down there anymore.

This second grandmother was the second aunt who had been kind to Lord Yu.

Xie Zhaozhao nodded and asked, "When do we depart?"

“Mother said they would set off tomorrow, and the journey would take at least five days. Second Grandmother would keep the coffin there until the Earl’s family held a memorial service before burial.”

Madam Lu said that Gu Shaoyu and Gu Zhongyu had to attend court, so they would not go this time. Gu Chengyan had just been seriously injured, so he would not go either. Gu Boyu and a group of female relatives would all go to the funeral.

Xie Zhaozhao returned to Qingpu Courtyard and said to Aunt Cui, "Tomorrow I will be going to the old mansion of Ouyang with my mother and second sister-in-law for the funeral. It will probably be twenty days before we return. The Grand Secretary will stay at the mansion. Please take care of his daily life during these days."

Aunt Cui said, "Then shall I help Madam prepare her luggage?"

"No need, I'll have Yuanyuan and Manman prepare some."

In my previous life, my second grandmother in the old house of Ouyang also passed away around this time. The original plan was to stay for about ten days, but the old lady wanted to repay the old Marquis's kindness, so she kept vigil over my second grandmother's grave for another seven days, so it took about twenty days in total.

Xie Zhaozhao sat and pondered for a while, thinking of some things from her past life, and immediately called Bei Chen over.

"Bei Chen, from now on, go to the mulberry garden and listen to what they do. Let me know when you do."

Bei Chen responded and left immediately.

Yuan Yuan meticulously prepared everything Xie Zhaozhao would need for her funeral, including two large packages.

The old lady specifically sent Taxue over, instructing Xie Zhaozhao to drive her two-wheeled carriage, along with her four guards, to the Ouyang Old Residence.

The old lady wasn't trying to take advantage of her; rather, she was trying to save face. Although the Marquis's mansion had been downgraded to the Earl's mansion, her third son was still a Grand Secretary, and her daughter-in-law was still the eldest daughter of the Xie family. This magnificent double-drive carriage bestowed by the emperor was an immense honor.

Xie Zhaozhao returned to Qingpu Courtyard, sat and pondered for a while, then called in all the servants in the courtyard.

"Yuanyuan, contact Dongqin immediately and tell him to come to Yuehu Garden to see me."

"yes."

"Manman, go to the estate immediately, contact Yunyang, and meet me at Moon Lake Garden."

"yes."

"Xu Li, is Yin Er still in the capital?"

“Yes, he, along with Second Master Li and Second Young Master Xie, spend every day with the Imperial Guards practicing martial arts under the instructors,” Xu Li said.

Xie Zhaozhao's eyebrows curved slightly. They know martial arts? Are they poaching people again?

"Call him to Moon Lake."

Once everything was arranged, she immediately said to Mo Yan, "Prepare the car."