Chapter 680 Humiliation

Upon hearing this, Yun Yichen coughed awkwardly. In his heart, the little girl was still young, and he couldn't let her be corrupted.

"Young Master Xu is a free and easy person, but my wife and I have other matters to attend to, so we will be leaving now."

As Yun Yichen spoke, he pulled Gu Shuyan to leave. Xu Rao saw this and his gaze fell on the hands that Gu Shuyan and Yun Yichen were holding.

After glancing at Yun Yichen's deliberately disguised face, I felt a pang of sadness for some reason.

"Master, those lanterns!"

When the shopkeeper saw that the two men knew Xu Rao, he suggested that Xu Rao intervene and have the two men leave the lanterns behind.

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Rao's cold gaze swept over him.

“Since someone else won the prize through their own merit, you should keep your promise and give it to them. If something similar happens again in the future, you won’t be able to continue as the manager.”

After reprimanding the shopkeeper, Xu Rao turned and left the shop.

Upon hearing Xu Rao's words, those who had previously dared not speak burst into enthusiastic applause.

The shopkeeper asked his employees to help sell the lanterns, while he himself slunk back into the shop.

He clearly meant well by wanting the shop to do better business and make more money, but his good intentions not only failed to bring about good results, but also earned him a scolding from the owner.

Gu Shuyan and Yun Yichen walked to the end of the lantern market with the lanterns in hand. Seeing that it was almost time, they slowly headed towards the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Anguo's mansion was bustling with activity.

Because many guests were invited, the banquet hall of the Duke of Anguo's mansion was soon packed with people.

Some of these people were acquaintances of both Meng Wei and Gu Yuxin; most of them were the legitimate daughters of various high-ranking officials.

They were dressed in gorgeous, brightly colored clothes.

Although they hadn't completely escaped the bitter cold, they all took off their thick coats and cloaks.

Although Gu Yuxin was also wearing the clothes that Ji Shi had made for her today, because she disliked bright colors, she instantly looked like an unloved child standing in the crowd.

"Isn't that the illegitimate daughter of the second branch of the Gu family? Why is she here too?"

Someone glanced at Gu Yuxin, who was standing in an inconspicuous corner with Meng Wei, and made no attempt to hide the disdain in their eyes.

Upon hearing this, the people around couldn't help but look over.

"It was one thing to go out with Miss Gu in the past, but now she dares to go out alone."

Some people clearly look down on Gu Yuxin. In the past, because of Gu Shuyan, no one dared to speak ill of Gu Yuxin in front of Gu Shuyan.

Now that Gu Shuyan isn't here, these people only think Gu Yuxin is easy to manipulate, so they keep talking about her.

"Little sister, how about we go for a walk somewhere else?"

Meng Wei heard what those people were saying and looked at her with some concern.

Gu Yuxin naturally knew what Meng Wei was worried about. The young ladies hadn't said it to their faces, but what they had said was just too nasty.

Meng Wei was of low status and had a strong sense of the bigger picture, so she could only find some comfort in this way.

"good!"

Gu Yuxin glanced at the faces of the young ladies, finally nodded, and walked out with Meng Wei.

Since Gu Zongjie was assigned to another role, this is a good opportunity to go and check on the situation and give Gu Zongjie a few instructions.

Gu Yuxin suppressed her frustration and decided to go see Gu Zongjie.

But as soon as the two women entered the courtyard, they heard several hearty laughs.

"I never expected that the Gu family, which prides itself on being a pure and upright family, could produce such an idiot who even licks my feet. It's really too funny."

Gu Yuxin looked over at the sound and saw a young man in brocade robes with a big smile on his face.

And who else could be standing beneath his feet but Gu Zongjie!

Gu Zongjie was kneeling in front of the boy, struggling to lick his feet with his tongue.

"Smack!"

Before anyone could react, Gu Yuxin had somehow appeared behind Gu Zongjie and, catching everyone off guard, slapped the boy hard across the face.

"You dare hit me?"

The boy covered his face and looked at Gu Yuxin, who quickly helped Gu Zongjie up.

To be honest, Gu Yuxin never treated her younger brother sincerely. She even thought about killing Gu Zongjie as well.

But when she actually saw him licking someone's feet with such a silly and simple-minded look, Gu Yuxin felt a sharp pain in her heart.

Perhaps the siblings didn't get along, but how could Gu Yuxin tolerate her own brother being humiliated like this, with the other person speaking ill of the Marquis's mansion?

When Gu Zongjie saw Gu Yuxin arrive, tears streamed down his face.

"Sister, they said you can't eat anything if you don't lick their feet."

Gu Zongjie was initially quite aggrieved, but seeing Gu Yuxin's angry expression, he had no choice but to shut his mouth.

After glancing at the boy's bare feet, Gu Yuxin turned and slapped him across the face again.

Meng Wei was surprised that her gentle younger sister, Gu Yuxin, could be so mature, and she was momentarily taken aback.

Once she finally came to her senses, Meng Wei hurriedly stepped forward and tugged at Gu Yuxin's sleeve.

"Sister-in-law, it's Zongjie!"

Gu Yuxin felt frustrated. She thought Meng Wei was going to tell her to be patient, just like before, and then apologize to resolve the matter.

But who would have thought that Meng Wei, who was always the most knowledgeable and polite and forgiving, would say, "Although my Marquis's family is not related to the royal family, it is not easy to let my third young master be bullied like this."

"I will definitely report today's events to my father and grandmother when I return, and have them come and have a good discussion with the young master's family."

Meng Wei didn't know any young masters of high status, but with a little inquiry, she would surely find out their identities.

With the prestige of the Marquis's mansion, surely they can handle these two little brats?

"No, no, we were wrong. We shouldn't have bullied Young Master Gu."

The young master originally wanted to bully Gu Zongjie, and since the other party was now an idiot, he wouldn't tell anyone.

But who knew that he would be beaten up and caught red-handed halfway through his bullying?

The group politely apologized, but Meng Wei did not forgive them.

"If I were to order you all to kneel before my third brother and lick his feet as he just did, would you be willing?"

The group exchanged bewildered glances, especially the boy whose feet had just been licked, whose face turned a deep purplish-red.

How could someone as proud as him possibly lick the feet of a fool?

Meng Wei already knew their answers, so she didn't say anything more and left with Gu Yuxin and Gu Zongjie.

Before leaving, Gu Yuxin glanced back at the boy, her eyes filled with icy coldness.

"Mrs. Gu, please wait a moment!"

Just as the three were about to leave, a young man appeared out of nowhere and bowed to them.