Gu Chengyan lay in Qinyaxuan, while his personal servant Ping An shed tears at the courtyard gate.
Upon seeing Xie Zhaozhao approach, he scrambled to his feet, his eyes red-rimmed, and bowed to her, saying, "Third Madam."
"Is the young master alright?" Xie Zhaozhao asked casually.
Ping An shook his head. "He's already a eunuch, how is that alright?"
When Xie Zhaozhao entered, she saw Xie Xiangxiang, Aunt Yue, Aunt Hua, Aunt Bai, Aunt Xiang, and Aunt Mei in the courtyard—a complete set of one wife and five concubines.
Xie Xiangxiang didn't cry. She sat on the chair by the door, basking in the spring sunshine, lost in thought.
Seeing Xie Zhaozhao approach, Xie Xiangxiang stood up and called out, "Elder sister."
Xie Zhaozhao asked, "Who's inside?"
"Only when Shao Qin is here, the young master doesn't let anyone else in." Shao Qin is another servant in Qinyaxuan, who serves Gu Chengyan along with Ping An.
Xie Zhaozhao asked Yuanyuan to knock on the door.
Gu Chengyan remained silent, his face gloomy.
Suddenly, he let out a wicked laugh and said, "Let Third Aunt in!"
Shao Qin immediately opened the door, bowing and scraping as he said, "Third Madam, please come in."
Xie Xiangxiang didn't move, but Guan Yingying slipped in. The other concubines peeked in through the door, but dared not come in without Gu Chengyan's permission.
Guan Yingying sat next to Gu Chengyan, glaring at Xie Zhaozhao.
Xie Zhaozhao glanced at her indifferently and said, "Aunt Yue, please leave. I have something to say to the young master."
"What do you have to say? Did you come here to laugh at us?" Guan Yingying roared angrily, "I hate you all, I hate you all, I hate you all!!"
Xie Zhaozhao looked at her and said, "I'm letting it go because I know you're worried about the young master. But if you dare to be disrespectful again, I won't let you off easily."
Guan Yingying, her brows furrowed and eyes blazing, said in a desperate gamble, "So what if you don't forgive me? Hit me? At worst, I'll die. What's so scary about that?"
Xie Zhaozhao glanced at her indifferently, her eyes devoid of emotion: "If you don't follow the rules, I will execute you! It's no different from crushing an ant, unrelated to spring and autumn, unrelated to romance."
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