I got into a good rhythm

Xiao Lan was angry, not because he was angry at Sun Xianzhu and Hua Lingteng for being disgraceful, but because he hated Gu Jinning.

She was the emperor's darling since childhood, enjoying all the emperor's favor. But Gu Jin Ning stole all the limelight from the moment she was born, easily gaining honors that she had never had before.

How could she bear to be outshone by a mere princess, especially one who was an ill-mannered, uneducated, and domineering brat?

Her hatred began to overflow when she was forced to marry Consort De's nephew for power, while Gu Jinning arrogantly demanded the annulment of the engagement.

"How dare the host treat his guests so poorly, Captain Gu? Is this how the Duke of Dingguo's mansion treats its guests?"

Gu Xueshu felt ashamed. He hadn't expected Gu Jinning to be so indifferent. Otherwise, he would have dragged her along earlier. He defended her, saying, "My sister has been busy all morning and really hasn't had time to come over."

Xiao Lan snorted coldly, "If you ask me, her behavior today is entirely due to your spoiling. The Gu family is, after all, the head of a prestigious family, and for generations, they have been exemplary ladies. How could such a vile woman have emerged from them?"

Gu Xueshu's face suddenly turned cold, and he said solemnly, "Princess, be careful what you say."

Xiao Lan realized she had spoken out of turn, her eyes darting around, but she continued, "This princess is telling the truth. In the entire Xiao Kingdom, who is as dissolute and ill-mannered as her?"

"Hey, who is this, gossiping about other people's homes?"

Gu Jinning walked in from the side hall, wearing a pomegranate-colored dress and her hair casually styled in a high ponytail, with Gu Xuewen beside her.

"Oh, it's Princess Anning."

Gu Jinning leaned closer to Xiao Liu, tilted her head, put her hands on her hips, and squinted her eyes to observe him for a while. She then said with a sigh, "The princess used to be so noble. How come she has become as noisy as a gossip after becoming a wife?"

"you!"

Xiao Ling raised her hand to strike, but Gu Xueshu quickly shielded Gu Jinning behind her, saying, "Princess, please calm down. My younger sister is used to being rude. She was just being impolite. Please forgive her."

Xiao Lei's hand froze in mid-air. He was still furious at Gu Jin Ning's arrogance and Gu Xue Shu's protection, so he slapped his hand across Gu Xue Shu's face.

This sudden strike caught everyone off guard, and everyone was shocked.

"Xiao Zi!"

Gu Jinning was furious and rushed forward to demand justice, but Gu Xueshu grabbed her and signaled her not to be impulsive.

Gu Xuewen was still young and was frightened by the scene. She felt sorry for her brother being beaten and was about to cry while holding onto Gu Xueshu's arm.

Gu Jinning had never suffered such humiliation before. She gritted her teeth and warned, "Xiao Anning, this is my Princess's residence. You have no right to be presumptuous. Don't cause me any trouble."

Xiao Lan glared fiercely at Gu Jinning, as if he wanted to devour her. "What, you dare to disobey me?"

She arrogantly said, "I hit him because they spoiled you rotten, which was disrespectful and disgraced the royal family."

"Fine." Gu Jinning nodded through gritted teeth, turned around and tried her best to hold back, but she couldn't hold back her anger any longer. She turned back and slapped the old woman next to Xiao Liu across the face, startling the old woman so much that she covered her face and knelt down, completely bewildered.

Xiao Ling was taken aback. "Gu Jinning, how dare you!"

Gu Jinning said firmly, "I hit her because she, as the princess's nanny, failed to think from the princess's perspective, causing the princess to hit someone herself and hurting your hand."

As she spoke, she walked around to the back, hitting each of the row of maids one by one, saying, "I hit them because they can't share your worries and just stand there watching you get anxious."

"And these others, they failed to protect their master and deserve to be punished."

After beating the maid, Gu Jinning beat up the guards, circled around, and then slapped Sun Xianzhu.

Sun Xianzhu was stunned by the blow and covered his face, asking, "Why did you hit me?"

Gu Jinning waved her hand and replied, "Sorry, I just kept hitting it."

Sun Xianzhu's eyes widened, "Gu Jinning, you..."

Gu Jinning retorted, "What do you mean, 'what ...I'? You just watched your cousin get bullied without saying a word. Shouldn't you be punished?'"

"Gu Jinning, you're being completely unreasonable."

Sun Xianzhu felt truly wronged and turned to Xiao Liao for a decision. Seeing that Xiao Liao's face was flushed with anger, he turned to Xiao Liao instead.

Xiao Liao's face turned slightly green, as if he was also holding back his anger. Sun Xianzhu dared not say anything more.

Xiao Ling warned, "Gu Jinning, you are provoking the imperial authority. Don't forget, you don't have the surname Xiao."

"So what?" Gu Jinning raised an eyebrow arrogantly, each word dripping with venom, "Madam Xu!"

Xiao Lei's head was buzzing, his chest was heaving, and the hatred that had been building up between his fingers was hard to digest, so he was about to strike with his palm.

Gu Jinning swiftly grabbed her raised hand and slapped her across the face. Several red marks instantly appeared on Xiao Lan's cheek. The other servants knelt down, heads bowed, not daring to utter a sound.

Gu Xueshu exclaimed in surprise: "Jin Ning!"

Xiao Heng'an, Ji Lin, and Li Ranyi, who entered the mansion from behind, witnessed this scene as Quan Zichu, who had just arrived from the side hall, was also present.

Xiao Lei was stunned by the beating and stared blankly at Gu Jinning.

Xiao Liao finally spoke up, saying, "Cousin Jin Ning, this is going too far."

Gu Jinning pouted and retorted confidently, "Princess Anning just said to follow the rules, and then she hit me. That's very impolite. I had no choice but to discipline her."

Xiao Lei laughed angrily, "You've committed insubordination; I can have you imprisoned."

Gu Jinning rubbed her sore hand and said casually, "Who's arresting whom? By seniority, His Highness Prince Jin is your uncle, and he's also my fiancé. You should call me Aunt. Is it impolite of me to discipline a junior on behalf of your uncle?"

Xiao Lan was taken aback when Gu Jin brought up Xiao Heng'an. He was stunned for a moment, but then, not wanting to lose face in front of so many people, he arrogantly said, "You're underestimating me by using Prince Jin to intimidate me."

Everyone knows that the most favored person in the world is her mother, and the one who holds the most military power is her brother Xiao Liao, a mere Prince of Jin, the son of a servant. How dare he be compared to them?

"Guards!" Xiao Liang commanded, "Bring Princess Jin Ning..."

"What has Princess Jin Ning done this time that warrants such a grand display from Princess An Ning?"

Xiao Heng'an spoke up at the right moment, strolling over from among the servants. Ji Lin followed closely by his side, Li Ranyi took a half step back, walking alongside Yang Yu, followed by Song Ming and Song Hui.

Although Xiao Heng'an was not as old as Xiao Liao and Xiao Liu, he was still of a higher generation, so Xiao Liao and Xiao Liu still had to show him proper respect.

Xiao Liao dodged the question, saying, "It's just some minor squabbles, nothing serious."

Xiao Lan said aggrievedly, "Brother Wang, she hit me."

Xiao Liao rebuked, "You accidentally injured Young Master Gu first, so that's considered compensation."

Xiao Liao was puzzled as to why the usually decisive Xiao Liao was so biased towards Gu Jinning and even wanted to argue. He was stopped by Xiao Liao's sharp gaze and then restrained himself, glaring at Gu Jinning with displeasure, "I have nothing to say."

Gu Jinning returned a victor's smile, "Oh dear, Princess's makeup is ruined, go and touch it up quickly. Once I've prepared the banquet, I'll definitely apologize to the Princess properly."

Having said this, Xiao Liao couldn't leave in a huff, so he went to the side room to touch up his makeup. Xiao Liao and his party then dispersed as well.

Gu Jinning was in a great mood and warmly welcomed Xiao Heng'an.

"Your Highness Prince Jin is a true lifesaver, saving me from imprisonment. Thank you so much, please come inside."

She strolled up to Li Ranyi, a smile playing on her lips, "Who is this beauty? She looks so familiar."

Gu Xueshu reminded him, "She's your cousin."

Gu Xuewen happily went over and hugged Li Ranyi, affectionately calling her "cousin".

Gu Jinning exclaimed, "So it's Cousin Li! I've often heard my aunt say that Cousin Li is just as good as any man when she's on the battlefield, and she's even more beautiful than before. Her natural beauty is truly enviable."

Li Ranyi curtsied and looked directly into her bright eyes, his affection evident in them. "The princess is still as witty as ever."

"Not at all," Gu Jinning waved her hand casually, then went to chat with Ji Lin, "This beauty is unfamiliar, which family does she belong to?"

Ji Linfu straightened up, about to reply, when Gu Jinning guessed to herself, "The one who came with Prince Jin must be Miss Biao. She's really beautiful; Your Highness is blessed."

Ji Lin swallowed back the words she had prepared, and could only nod and smile, "Your Highness is too kind." But a sense of inferiority welled up inside her.

People all talk about how arrogant and domineering Gu Jinning is, never mentioning her appearance. This is because in their eyes, Gu Jinning is the embodiment of a spoiled brat, and they avoid her, thus ignoring her good qualities.

To be fair, Gu Jinning is beautiful. She doesn't have the delicate charm of a girl from a good family, nor the heroic spirit of someone who has fought on the battlefield, nor the noble air of someone who has been born into a wealthy and powerful family. Instead, she has a transcendent and free-spirited beauty that is bright, flamboyant, and lively.

Ji Lin, always sharp-minded, saw through Gu Jin Ning's true nature in just a few glances, realizing that her perceived beauty was so easily shattered, and she couldn't help but feel resentful and upset.

After exchanging a few polite words, Gu Jinning led everyone to the garden.

Because the garden was some distance from the front gate, and the servants in the mansion were very perceptive, the commotion from earlier did not reach the garden, which remained peaceful.

When Xiao Liao saw Xiao Heng'an again, he remained outwardly amicable.

"Uncle Wang, would you mind having a chat in the pavilion?" Xiao Liao took the initiative to raise his hand in invitation.

Xiao Heng'an guessed that it was about the guards of the Heavenly Prison, so he gladly accepted the invitation and waved for Yang Yu and the others to disperse.

Li Ranyi also took Ji Lin away, and together with Gu Xuewen, they strolled around to look at the surroundings.

"Cousin." Quan Zichu took the opportunity to tug at Gu Jinning, tilted his head, and the two of them made a tacit escape.

With only Gu Xueshu remaining in the garden, he had no choice but to help Gu Jinning with social engagements.

Quan Zichu pulled Gu Jinning to a secluded spot and pleaded, "Cousin, just lend me the money for two days, and I promise I'll return it to you as lively as ever."

Gu Jinning refused, "No way. Last time I lent you Ah Huang, it died in two days. How dare you lend it to me again?"

Quan Zichu muttered, "Didn't I compensate you with money? You didn't seem to care when you were eating meat."

Gu Jinning raised her hand and gave him a flick on the forehead, "You still say that fighting chicken is old and tough, and tastes awful!"

Quan Zichu cried out "Ouch!" and clung to Gu Jinning's arm, pestering her relentlessly. "Cousin, just this once, I guarantee I'll win. How about this, I'll pay for it? Double the price."

Gu Jinning squinted, seemingly moved, then shook her head.

Quan Zichu said, "Five times the price."

"Ten times, that's the highest we can go."

Gu Jinning clapped her hands, "Deal! One hundred taels of silver in total."

Quan Zichu was overjoyed and dragged Gu Jinning to watch the cockfighting, muttering, "If it weren't for your clever chicken, I wouldn't have become this unfortunate child."

Gu Jinning said it was a worthwhile purchase, and happily led him to the cockfighting arena, waving her hand dismissively.

"Look, this is all the territory I've built. Every single one of them is a carefully selected breed, and you can choose any one you like."

Inside the arena, a dozen fighting cocks were kept in separate cages, each one strong and powerful, with a proud and arrogant air about them.

Gu Jinning was very proud. She loved cockfighting and cricket fighting, but dared not openly raise them in the Gu family mansion, so she kept them in the princess's mansion. On weekdays, she would let the servants let them out to run freely, which helped her develop a good leg muscle.

Wow!

Quan Zichu was amazed by the fighting cocks' imposing presence and couldn't wait to run over, looking at this one and that one, wanting them all.

"Cousin, I like them both so much, which one should I choose?"

Gu Jinning pointed to the one with the flowery feathers, "Ahua was last year's fighting cock champion, her prowess is undiminished, I guarantee you'll win."

Quan Zichu lingered near the white feather, remarking, "This one looks pretty good too."

"Then let's go with Xiaobai. It's the one with the most standard weight." Gu Jinning opened the cage, took it out, and pinched its leg, saying, "Look how sturdy it is."

Gu Jinning tossed the little white dog out, and it flapped its wings and landed steadily. Its neck was straight, its tail held high, displaying the posture of a victor.

Quan Zichu liked its confidence and immediately decided, "This is it."

Gu Jinning clapped her hands, and Xiaobai flapped its wings and flew into Gu Jinning's palm.

Gu Jinning gestured for Quan Zichu to reach out, and the little white paw stepped into Quan Zichu's hand.

Quan Zichu staggered slightly, then quickly scooped up Xiaobai with both hands, admiring it. "It's really heavy."

"Come on, let me take you to a spacious place to practice your skills."

The two left the cockfighting arena and walked back along the flower path.

Gu Jinning instructed, "Go back and feed it more crickets and cicadas. If nothing unexpected happens, it will definitely be in the top three."

Quan Zichu said, "We must win the championship."

Gu Jinning patted Quan Zichu on the shoulder and praised, "No wonder you're my cousin, just like me."

As they were talking and laughing, a white figure suddenly darted out from the flower bushes and pounced on Quan Zichu.