Chapter 43 Why did Miss Zhao cause me to be so disrespectful?
Compared to Xu Shulan, with whom he had little contact, Gu Nanxiao disliked women like Shen Yujiao even more—women who were both stupid and vicious. He hadn't forgotten the rules he had established before.
It was at her instigation that his mother tormented Yunxi. If Shen Yujiao hadn't broken her leg and been relatively well-behaved lately, he would have already taken action.
Gu Nanxiao angrily flicked his chopsticks, pushing the food out of his bowl. Just as the princess was about to scold him, he reached out and placed a piece of crispy duck on her plate, saying in a gentle tone:
"Mother's birthday is approaching, and I plan to hold a grand banquet for you, with a hundred tables to be set up in the manor. I have already sent out invitations to distinguished families from all over the capital. What do you think, Mother?"
Upon hearing this, the princess's anger vanished instantly, and she nodded with a soothing expression, saying, "It's up to Xiao'er to decide. Your mother is someone who doesn't like to worry, so I'll enjoy my son's blessings from now on."
The princess's gaze swept over Consort Xu and her son, a sense of superiority welling up within her. Look at the two good-for-nothings Consort Xu had given birth to. They were almost of marriageable age, yet they could only survive on the monthly stipends from the household.
How could anyone compare to her son, who had official rank, noble title, and now, immense wealth? Thinking of wealth, the princess turned her gaze to Yunxi.
She was well aware that the shops her son had recently opened were all raking in money. She never expected this young concubine to be so capable.
No wonder Xiao'er likes her so much. Well, she won't be that villain anymore, lest she needlessly cause a rift between mother and son.
After the princess came to her senses, she ordered the maid behind her to bring a plate of steamed fish to Yunxi, and said with a touch of arrogance, "Since my son has taken a liking to you, then my birthday banquet will be yours to prepare..."
Before the princess could finish speaking, Xu Shulan, who was standing next to Yunxi, cried out in pain and spilled the wine on her dress.
When everyone's eyes turned to her, she looked at Yunxi with a pitiful expression and said, "Why did you touch me, Miss Zhao? You made me spill wine all over myself, which is so embarrassing for me in front of everyone."
Yunxi glanced at Xu Shulan, utterly disdainful of such low-level green tea tactics, but since she had been singled out, she could only coldly retort:
“I didn’t touch Miss Xu, so if you spill your wine or behave inappropriately in front of others, it has nothing to do with me.”
Seeing Yunxi's composure, Xu Shulan adopted the tone of a kind and earnest mistress, lecturing her: "You are such a dishonest maid."
Even if you made me spill the wine, no one would say anything. Why lie in public? What's wrong with just admitting it?
At this moment, Consort Xu spoke up, "Shulan, why are you arguing with a servant girl? It's beneath your dignity. You should quickly go with the maid to change your wet clothes."
When Gu Nanxiao saw this play, he felt as if he had instantly returned to his childhood. Back then, he spent all his time watching his mother and Consort Xu scheme, trip each other up, and frame each other in their struggle for favor. Those days were incredibly miserable.
He still remembered when Consort Xu's two children fell ill, his father rushed to Consort Xu's room with great concern. His mother, seeing this, was extremely jealous.
So they dressed him in wet clothes and pushed him to stand in the wind. Sure enough, he fell ill, but when his father found out, he blamed his mother for not taking good care of him.
That night, his father and mother had a huge fight. His father stormed off, his mother cried uncontrollably, and he, lying sick in bed, was completely ignored.
Therefore, he detested women vying for his favor and had no time to watch their dramas. Gu Nanxiao picked up a wine cup from the table, flicked his wrist, and splashed it all over Xu Shulan's face.
While everyone was still reeling from his actions, he said sarcastically, "Now that your makeup is ruined, why don't you just touch it up?"
When Yunxi saw Gu Nanxiao protect her without any doubt, the softest part of her heart seemed to be touched. This feeling of being protected so domineeringly was something she had never experienced before.
In order to make her the most outstanding heir of the family, her grandfather often told her to be brave and strong, and to have the ability to shoulder great responsibilities.
Therefore, she was used to always being the first to act and trying to solve any problems on her own. Her father and mother both highly praised her ability to handle things independently.
In the eyes of elders, a qualified successor must be indomitable, and when faced with difficulties, he should not run away or complain. Reasonable difficulties are called training, while unreasonable difficulties are called tempering.
But no one knows, and often envies, those little girls who can be pampered by their parents and loved by their elders. Yet she knows all too well that her status as an heir has robbed her of such rights.
Yunxi's thoughts were interrupted by the warmth of the hand covering her. She turned her head and met Gu Nanxiao's concerned gaze. His large hand enveloped Yunxi's small hand, as if it were also enveloping her heart.
Yunxi indicated that she was fine and was about to serve Gu Nanxiao some of her favorite dishes when she suddenly realized that she had never known what Gu Nanxiao liked to eat.
Yes, she had always treated Gu Nanxiao as a tool on her path to revenge, and had never been willing to put much effort into him. Thinking about Gu Nanxiao's efforts for her, she actually felt a little guilty.
So, she followed Shen Yujiao's example, picked up a piece of stir-fried lily bulbs with her chopsticks, and put it in Gu Nanxiao's bowl. Gu Nanxiao immediately ate it without hesitation.
This scene infuriated Shen Yujiao, who was standing nearby. It was the same dish, but when she picked it up, her cousin threw it away, while when that bitch picked it up, her cousin ate it.
Even worse was Xu Shulan, who had been splashed with wine. After being treated so roughly, she had to watch them flaunt their affection without a care in the world. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore and ran out crying.
Seeing Xu Shulan being humiliated like this, both Xu's mother and son were indignant. Gu Nanyue, out of fear of her eldest brother, dared not speak up.
But Gu Nanwen couldn't help but say, "How can you treat your fiancée like this, brother? Shulan is a young lady. How can she face herself after being humiliated like this in public?"
Gu Nanxiao had just ladled a spoonful of pineapple soup for Yunxi when he said without even lifting his eyelids, "As a man, instead of thinking about serving the court, you're acting like a woman in the inner quarters, spending all your energy on these trivial matters. Don't you feel ashamed?"
Gu Nanxiao put down his chopsticks, glanced at the two brothers with disdain, and said in a slightly cold tone, "Come to think of it, it seems like it's been a long time since I, as the eldest brother, have sparred with you two."
I don't know if it's your boxing skills or your weapons that have improved. Why don't we go to the training ground and have a spar later?"
He then chuckled and continued, "But don't worry, I won't bully anyone. I'll let you all come at me together. You can choose any of the long spears or short swords; I'll just fight bare-handed."
After hearing Gu Nanxiao's words, Prince Yong strongly disagreed and said, "What's the point of sparring? Fists and feet have no eyes. What if your brother gets hurt?"
Even though Yunxi had long heard of Prince Yong's favoritism, she was still shocked by his words. The brothers Gu Nanwen and Gu Nanwu, armed with weapons, were fighting against Gu Nanxiao, who was unarmed, yet Prince Yong was worried that Gu Nanxiao would hurt them.
It's hard to say whether King Yong had too much confidence in his eldest son or simply didn't care about him at all. There's a saying that it's not scarcity that's worrisome, but inequality; even as an observer, she felt suffocated by this kind of paternal love.
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