Chapter 86 [VIP]

"You crazy woman! You crazy woman!"

"Sister, sister, quickly pull her away. Sister."

Old Master Xu shouted loudly, his neck covered in blood, with a deep red tooth mark clearly visible.

He grabbed Mrs. Xu's hair fiercely, pulling her head back sharply.

The hairpin fell off, and a large clump of hair was pulled off along with the scalp. Mrs. Xu cried out in pain and subconsciously let go of her mouth. Mr. Xu took the opportunity to press her head down and slam it to the ground.

Mrs. Xu flailed her arms and legs wildly, and the two women began to fight.

Xu watched all this calmly, closed her eyes wearily, and said indifferently, "Selling a good family's son is punishable by hanging according to the laws of Daqi."

"After they finish fighting, send them all to the Jingzhao Prefecture."

When she looked at Granny Sun, a hint of heartache was hidden in her eyes.

Ms. Xu always believed her. She said that her daughter had no birthmarks and that the marks were from the firelight at the time, and she believed her.

If Xu Shi hadn't seen the birthmark on Jiao Jiao's body that she had seen countless times in her midnight dreams, if Yao Yao hadn't told her that Granny Sun had "accidentally" scalded Jiao Jiao with hot water, if Granny Sun hadn't been acting suspiciously and furtively ever since Jiao Jiao moved in... she probably wouldn't have suspected anything.

Madam Xu originally intended to have a frank discussion with Granny Sun after Xu Ge'er's third-day celebration, but who would have thought that they were so eager to ruin Jiao Jiao.

"She sent it along with the other items."

Granny Sun hunched over, her face ashen, and did not beg for mercy.

Upon hearing the name of the Jingzhao Prefecture, Master Xu stopped in his tracks, then shouted, "Yes, yes, send her to the authorities!" He hadn't stolen the child; it had nothing to do with him. "I'm divorcing this crazy woman!"

Ignoring his clamor, Madam Xu finished speaking in one breath: "The Xu family was originally a small wool merchant in the north. It was only because of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion that we have our current business."

“Brother, sell all your property and give the money to Bixia Yuanjun Hall in the suburbs. If the Prefect of the Capital finds you innocent, take the entire Xu family back to the North and never leave the North for the rest of your life.”

Bixia Yuanjun Hall is under the name of Taiqing Temple, and the hall is full of abandoned baby girls.

At first, only occasional baby girls were abandoned in front of the temple gate, and the temple took them in. Later, as the number of baby girls increased, the abbot opened this Bixia Hall.

The girls were taught to read, write, and practice Taoism, as well as skills like needlework, weaving, and medicine to make a living. When they grew up, they could leave the temple to marry, become nuns, seek their own livelihood, or remain in the temple to care for newly arrived children.

Bixia Hall has been open for almost thirty years now.

"No way. All the Xu family's money belongs to my precious son." Mrs. Xu said shrilly, her mouth full of blood. "No one can even think about taking a piece of it."

Old Master Xu was incredulous, his lips moving incessantly: "Sister, the Xu family is your maternal family. If you personally suppress your maternal family, who will support you in the future?!"

Xu looked around.

Her kind-hearted mother-in-law was speaking to Jiao Jiao with gentle eyes.

Her niece, who was not yet of marriageable age, sat there silently, only offering her an encouraging smile when she needed it.

Her children entertained guests outside, supporting the Duke's mansion with their small shoulders.

They are her source of confidence.

...

And what about her family?

They stole her daughter, treated her like dirt, and even went so far as to kill her for the sake of their own son's future, sucking her bones and marrow.

Should we support her? Does her family background even matter?

If the Xu family looks down on girls and despises them, then let them take out all their savings and give them to the helpless girls of Bixia Hall!

Xu walked up to them, stared at her brother's bleeding neck, and said coldly, "If you can't do it, I'll do it for you. It'll be a good deed for you."

With a flick of her sleeve, she said without any further hesitation, "Drag it away."

She clapped her hands lightly, and several old women came in from outside. Without saying a word, they immediately dragged the person away.

Mrs. Xu screamed in anguish, while Mr. Xu scolded her for being heartless and for ruining the Xu family by acting on her own initiative.

The couple kicked and bit each other until they were dragged out by the strong old women.

Granny Sun kowtowed twice in the direction of Madam Xu, then silently got up and followed her out, only to be stopped by Gu Zhizhuo.

She asked, "...Who taught you to use a handkerchief to create the illusion that Jiao Jiao had ulterior motives, forcing the Gu family to kick her out?

Granny Sun had been in the Gu family for over ten years, so Gu Zhizhuo knew her to some extent.

If she had that kind of brain, she wouldn't be so stupid.

Upon hearing this, Madam Jia raised an eyebrow and looked over.

Gu Zhizhuo repeated, "Who is it?"

Granny Sun shrank back and stammered, "It was Miss Ji." Then she quickly explained, "However, she wasn't talking to me. Last time she wanted to remind the young master, but he ignored her, so she stood there talking to herself."

Gu Zhizhuo's heart sank, and he asked, "What did she say?"

“She said…” Granny Sun’s mind was a little slow to catch up, but her memory was excellent. “She said, ‘If Miss Xu doesn’t want to get married, she must find a way out for herself. You are the heir apparent and the future Duke, so you are the best way out for her. However, if she really has such thoughts, she will definitely be driven away, right?’ That’s what she said.”

Gu Zhizhuo let out a sneer: "That's exactly the kind of thing she would say."

Every word and sentence is clearly instigating.

Granny Sun glanced at her and added, "Young lady, I overheard this; she shouldn't have seen me."

Gu Zhizhuo didn't believe it at all.

Even if what Granny Sun said was true, it only meant that she hadn't seen Ji Nanke.

Gu Zhizhuo was seething with anger. She quickly curtsied and left Ronghe Hall. She originally intended to go straight to the courtyard where Ji Nanke was currently staying, but then she thought that Xie Jing had come. She wondered if Ji Nanke had gone out to see him. So she asked an old woman to inquire. Sure enough, Ji Nanke was in the front courtyard. So she turned and headed towards the ceremonial gate.

Along the way, guests were gradually leaving, clearly the banquet was over. All the carriages were parked at the outer gate, and the stewards were busy but orderly leading the way.

Ji Nanke was once pampered and spoiled in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Even now, there are always people who can't help but look at her. Gu Zhizhuo asked a few servants and quickly found Ji Nanke.

She wore a light blue dress, her black hair was tied up with only a single pearl hairpin, and her face was lightly powdered. She stood under the moon gate and looked over, her figure slender, her eyes filled with melancholy, exuding an otherworldly and refined air.

Their eyes met in mid-air. Ji Nanke gazed at her face, which was covered by a thin veil, and said in a tone that carried a subtle sense of detachment: "Cousin Zhuo."

Gu Zhizhuo was too lazy to be polite with her sisters and questioned her sharply: "Ying'er has never provoked you."

Not only Jiao Jiao, but even Gu Zhizhuo himself, not wanting to be struck by lightning for no reason, has kept his distance from her ever since that incident. They haven't even met.

Ying'er? Ji Nanke suddenly understood, as if a blessing had been bestowed upon her.

"Yes, I instigated it."

Ji Nanke raised her head; it was she who did it, and she wouldn't deny it.

"To elevate someone to a high position and then crush them into the dust, isn't that what the Gu family likes most?"

That's how it is with my aunt.

The same goes for her.

First, they let her enjoy wealth and luxury, and be admired by everyone, then kicked her down from the clouds. They even specially replaced her with a cousin, just to tell the world that Ji Nanke was just a pet cat or dog kept by the Gu family, to be played with when they were happy, and kicked away when they were unhappy.

These past few days, she has experienced enough of the coldness and indifference of human relationships.

They also endured countless scornful looks and ridicule.

"hypocritical!"

Ji Nanke raised the corners of her mouth in a provocative smile and said, "This time, I'm afraid we'll have to find another young lady."

Gu Zhizhuo: "..."

To be honest, Gu Zhizhuo had never quite understood her thoughts since his previous life.

Why could she, after enjoying everything the Gu family had given her, so casually say that the Gu family had defied the Emperor's grace and the people of the world, and that she couldn't disregard right and wrong simply because the Gu family had been kind to her? Why could she, after the entire Gu family had perished, use the Gu family's money to provide relief to the earthquake victims in Qingzhou, and then, to Xie Jing, express her gratitude, saying that she was finally no longer indebted to the Gu family for their nurturing?

A glint of obsessive pleasure flickered in Ji Nanke's eyes, and her red lips parted slightly: "What, did I hit the nail on the head?"

Gu Zhizhuo raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

Snap!

At the same time, Gu Zhizhuo felt a sudden, heart-wrenching pain in his chest.

She was prepared, and didn't even flinch.

Caught off guard by the blow, Ji Nanke's body slumped to one side. She covered her face, her clear eyes initially filled with disbelief, followed by a sharp glint in them.

Gu Zhizhuo suppressed the throbbing pain in his chest and sneered, "I've been putting up with you for a long time!"

"Ke'er".

Xie Jing had arranged to meet Ji Nanke here, and he came over as soon as the banquet ended.

Witnessing this scene from afar, he exclaimed and ran over, pulling Ji Nanke into his arms.

"Ke'er, are you alright?"

Xie Jing hurriedly pulled away her hands from her face and was shocked to see her flushed cheeks with a clear five-finger mark on them.

Ji Nanke's fair skin made the fingerprints stand out even more, a truly shocking sight.

He was quite far away just now and wondered if he had seen it wrong, but now the fingerprint clearly reminded him that he hadn't.

Xie Jing gently touched her cheek with his fingers; his fingertips were slightly damp, and the cold tears burned his whole body.

Ji Nanke brushed away his hands that were cupping her cheeks, and said with a hint of anger, "Your Highness, please don't get too close to me. I don't want to be slapped again."

Her words were ambiguous, but the implication was that Gu Zhizhuo slapped her because of Xie Jing. Gu Zhizhuo was furious and laughed, then grabbed her by the collar and dragged her out in front of Xie Jing.

Ji Nanke's lips were tightly pressed together. She stubbornly raised her head, only her trembling eyelashes and the tears on them revealing her vulnerability. This was like a knife stabbing into Xie Jing's heart. He became anxious and blurted out angrily, "Gu Zhizhuo, aren't you afraid I'll reveal your secret?!"

"secret?"

"Tell me, what secrets do I have?"

Xie Jing stared at the veil covering Gu Zhizhuo's face and said, "You know medicine! So, you discovered the problem with the ointment early on, and you weren't injured at all. You are..."

Deceiving the emperor!

Xie Jing wasn't truly stupid. Although Chief Minister Song always said he lacked talent, a royal youth couldn't possibly be completely naive and ignorant.

He had long harbored suspicions, especially after Gu Zhizhuo demonstrated his medical skills and saved Prime Minister Song in front of him, which confirmed his suspicions even more.

He had been tricked by her; from the day of the Autumn Festival, he had fallen into her trap.

From the very beginning, she harbored the intention of breaking off the engagement with him, gradually drawing him into her trap. He was furious when he realized the truth, but he held back, after all, he was the one who had fallen for Ke'er first. However, she could hate him, but why did she have to treat Ke'er so cruelly?

"Isn't it fun that you're toying with me?"

Gu Zhizhuo shoved Ji Nanke to the ground and strode towards Xie Jing.

The aggressive manner of the approach startled Xie Jing, who instinctively took a step back and demanded, "What do you want to do?"

Her slender figure enveloped him, exuding a formidable and oppressive aura.

"I won't……"

Xie Jing wanted to say that he wouldn't tell anyone, but she was also forbidden from bullying Ke'er anymore.

They are cousins ​​and live under the same roof, so why don't they get along well?

Before she could even speak, Gu Zhizhuo ripped off her veil, revealing her stunning beauty. Her face was fair and delicate, without a single scar.

"You really are..."

"What exactly am I?"

Gu Zhizhu smiled, her lips curving into a wild, almost manic smile. She drew the sword from Xie Jing's waist and, without hesitation, stabbed him.

"Miss Gu, you mustn't!"

Grand Secretary Song, who was accompanying Xie Yingchen to the ceremonial gate, happened to witness this scene. He turned pale with fright and began to shout. Not only him, but also some guests who were about to leave were also present in the distance.

Xie Jing's eyes widened. With a "bang," the back of his head slammed into the wall of the moon gate. The sharpness of the saber flashed in his pupils. The tip of the saber deflected slightly the moment it touched his skin and stabbed into the stone wall behind him. The sound, so close to his ears, made Xie Jing's ears ring.

Premier Song breathed a sigh of relief, having almost collapsed from fright.

Gu Zhizhu sneered, lowering her voice to whisper in his ear, "What, just because I wasn't disfigured, does that mean you didn't poison me?"

"Your Highness, since you have done it, you must bear the consequences."

She raised her waist knife, the tip slicing through his hair, a strand of black hair falling down the blade and scattering fine strands on the ground.

"You're right, I do want to break off our engagement."

"As for Ji Nanke, she deserves it."

Do you understand?

Xie Jing was still in shock. For a moment, he really thought that she would stab him to death.

That's enough.

Ji Nanke's eyes flashed with intense emotion.

"Don't push your luck, Gu Zhizhuo." Ji Nanke got up from the ground, her hair disheveled.

Her dignity was trampled upon, and the intense sense of humiliation made her feel like a helpless young animal.

Her face was ashen, and she squeezed out the words through gritted teeth: "If the Gu family raised me to humiliate me, then I would rather the Gu family had never raised me."

“Alright, give me back the money.” Gu Zhizhuo held out his hand to her.

Ji Nanke bit her lower lip, stubbornly refusing to lower her head.

"You only talk the talk, but your body is honestly enjoying everything the Gu family gives you." Gu Zhizhuo sneered repeatedly. "Or are you just so short-sighted that you can't bear to part with these riches?"

Seeing that Gu Zhizhuo had his eye on Ke'er, Xie Jing hurriedly said, "I'll give you ten thousand taels every month..."

"You paid ten or twenty thousand yuan, and you expect the Gu family to treat her like royalty? You're dreaming."

Gu Zhizhuo toyed with his waist knife, a half-smile on his face, and said, "The Gu family only paid gold and silver. It is indeed the Gu family's fault for forcing you to give your true feelings. I will have the accountant calculate how much silver you have actually spent from the Gu family."

"Miss Ji, I hope your integrity matches your sharp tongue!"

A note from the author: