Duanhua did not expect Zhou Gu to be so adamant. When he was in Jiangning County, he didn’t allow her to go there. Now he has returned to the Capital City, but still doesn’t allow her to go to Jiangning County.
What does this show? It shows that he regards his illegitimate daughter’s fiancee highly and protects her strictly.
She was full of resentment, completely irritated, she threatened Ziye, "If you dare touch me, I’ll flay you alive."
Ziye truly wasn’t afraid. He pulled a long face, waved his hand and blocked Duanhua Princess’s guards along with his own. He then personally captured Duanhua Princess without the slightest hesitation, tied her up and stuffed her into a carriage.
Duanhua Princess was burning with anger. She shouted loudly: "Zhou Gu, have you gone mad? You dare let a servant lay hands on me?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Zhou Gu couldn’t hear her and didn’t want to either, he rode his horse cold-faced in the forefront.
Observing Zhou Gu’s ruthless approach, Xie Lin could not help admiring him, "Zhou Gu, you are really out of line! Aren’t you afraid of Lady Qingping’s retaliation when you return to the Capital City? And that she might report you to the Emperor and then you are admonished by him?"
Zhou Gu sneered coldly, "If I was afraid of her, I should let her dominate everything."
Xie Lin coughed, reminding him, "The princess bears a royal surname."
Zhou Gu’s face was frosty, "If she can’t discipline her own daughter, then she shouldn’t blame others for doing so."
Xie Lin was impressed and suddenly felt that it wasn’t a big deal that Zhou Gu had beat him up before. After all, Zhou Gu doesn’t even respect the Emperor’s own sister, Lady Qingping.
He turned to look at Su Xingze, who appeared calm and composed, not expressing any opinion or comment about Zhou Gu’s behavior. He thought to himself that Su Xingze was truly a formidable character. He was sure that Su Xingze had a promising future in the Capital City.
In their group of three, he felt like the odd one out, the only one who wasn’t calm and composed. Once he realized that, Xie Lin also kept quiet.
Duanhua was shouting in the carriage until her voice went hoarse. When she realized no one was paying her attention, she called for her guards. But how could the princess’s guards match the elite guards of the Duke Residence who had been through battles? Since Zhou Gu had made his orders, the princess’s guards were blocked on the periphery and couldn’t approach the carriage. Only Ziye and his men were guarding the carriage, watching over Duanhua.
Both mentally and visibly, the princess’s guards were all in a state of anxiety. If they fought, they knew they would be defeated, and the casualties would be on their side. But if they didn’t fight, given the current situation – with the Duke residence’s people holding the princess hostage – they wouldn’t be spared from punishment once they returned to the capital.
"Are you all dead or what?" Duanhua cursed, "Are you just going to stand there and watch me being bullied?"
The guards from the Princess Residence all looked at their Guard Leader.
The Guard Leader was cursing inwardly, but he knew he couldn’t just stand by. If he led his men to fight with the men led by Ziye, they’d be the ones getting hurt and, even then, they wouldn’t be able to save the princess. They knew their own capabilities, which was why the princess had been blocked by Ziye and his men for so long. Especially now that Zhou Gu was here, they didn’t stand any chance, even if they did resist. Moreover, after they fought, they’d still get punished when they return.
Therefore, he gritted his teeth and said, "Princess, there’s no point fighting a losing battle. You know Young Master Zhou’s temperament. It may be better to calm down and stop shouting. When we return to Capital City, you can ask the Princess to stand for you."
Duanhua, spoiled by Lady Qingping, could not take in his words. She was about to explode, "Go call Zhou Gu for me, make him let me go. If he doesn’t, I’ll let my royal uncle chop off his head."
The Guard Leader sighed inwardly, "Princess, the Emperor won’t behead Young Master Zhou."
Even disregarding the Duke Residence’s status, just considering the Princess herself, could she really bear to let the Emperor behead him? If that was the case, she should have already stopped liking him. Why would she be so agitated then?
Duanhua shouted again, "Zhou Gu! Zhou Gu, let me go!"
She screamed several times in a row, but outside the carriage, only the sound of horseshoes and the grinding of the carriage wheels could be heard. No one responded to her cries.
Duanhua started sobbing indignantly, her tears a mix of rage and sadness.
Zhou Gu remained expressionless, not once turning his head or acknowledging Duanhua’s existence. His heart was cold and unforgiving, showing no sympathy at all.
Listening to the crying coming from the carriage, Xie Lin felt a chill crawl up his spine. He thought to himself that he was lucky Duanhua was not attracted to him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to act like Zhou Gu. He’d probably have already succumbed to Duanhua, and this relieved him.
Duanhua cried for the entire day. She had swollen eyes and her voice had become coarse from all the crying, yet she failed to soften Zhou Gu’s heart.
Xie Lin initially thought that Zhou Gu not softening was one thing, but Duanhua, being a young lady, surely couldn’t endure hardship. Being tied up and sitting in the carriage must have been incredibly uncomfortable. Probably after crying for a day she would wind down, and at the very least admit defeat to Zhou Gu. But to his surprise, Duanhua persisted stubbornly, not uttering a word of submission, refusing to stop traveling to Jiangning at all costs.
It wasn’t until nightfall when they stopped for the night at an inn. Duanhua was taken out of the carriage by Ziye, her eyes burning with resentment. Upon not seeing Zhou Gu, she issued a severe warning to Ziye: "You wretched servant, today you have offended me. Once we return to the Capital, I’ll have my royal uncle behead you first."
Ziye responded indifferently, "If the Princess really can convince the Emperor to behead me, then so be it."
They checked into an inn for the night. Once in their rooms, Ziye naturally couldn’t continue to keep Duanhua Princess restrained. He untied her and let her maids into the room to attend to her. However, he himself did not leave and continued guarding her room with his men.
He was also quite frustrated. Though he was the personal guard of the young master, he had no choice but to guard this woman.
Without resting her wrists upon being untied, Duanhua pulled out her hairpin, pointed it to her neck, and shouted, "You damn servant, go and get Zhou Gu. If not, I’ll die before your eyes."
Ziye ignored her.
The two serving girls went pale, cried out in shock and exclaimed together, "Lady Duanhua, you mustn’t!"
Duanhua rasped in anger, "You damned servant, did you hear me? If I die, I dare the imperial uncle not to chop you into pieces."
Finally, Ziye opened the door, equally surprised and troubled by Duanhua, who seemed to have gone berserk. He tried to reason with her, "Lady Duanhua, why bother? If a low-life like me dies, what is it worth? But you’re different. Being a lady of nobility, it is disgraceful to lose yourself over the death of a mere servant."
Duanhua lost all control yet she remained rational to some extent. Her eyes flashed with anger and she retorted fiercely, "If I die, your worthless life may be insignificant, but what about Zhou Gu? His life will be forfeited too, as it is under his supervision that this is happening."
Ziye was taken aback.
"Why are you still here? Go and fetch him!" Duanhua was determined to meet Zhou Gu that day, unable to believe that she wouldn’t have a chance to see him.
Ziye looked at Duanhua, calculating the chance of success if he attempted to disarm her and bind her up again without hurting her.
Duanhua knew Ziye was skilled in martial arts. She tightened her grip on the hairpin, guarding against him and leaving no room for bargaining.
After a moment of pondering, Ziye didn’t dare to act rashly. He could tie up Duanhua, but if he harmed her, he’d bring trouble upon himself.
So, he turned and went to inform Zhou Gu.
Zhou Gu was about to bathe when he heard Ziye’s report. He gave a cold sneer, "Let her wait."
Having said that, he went behind the screen to bathe.
Ziye went back and told Duanhua in a neutral tone, "My young master asks Lady Duanhua to wait for a while. He’ll be here soon."
"Tell him to come here now!" Duanhua demanded.
Ziye shook his head, "The young master is tired from a day’s travel. He needs some rest."
Duanhua grumbled, "Tell him to hurry up!"
Ziye closed the door without entertaining Duanhua any further.
Duanhua put down the hairpin she had pointed at her neck, but didn’t loosen her grip, still holding it in her hand. She sat at the table and said to the pale-faced maids, "Are you dead? Get me a glass of water."
The maids hurriedly complied, pouring her a glass of water.
Duanhua didn’t scold the maids anymore, as her throat was sore from shouting.
Zhou Gu didn’t deliberately delay. After bathing at his usual pace and changing into clean clothes, he left his room and arrived at Duanhua’s door.
When Ziye saw him, he shouted to the room, "Lady Duanhua, my young master is here."
Duanhua quickly got to her feet and said hoarsely, "Zhou Gu, come in."
Zhou Gu pushed the door open, but instead of going inside, he stopped at the doorway. He looked at Duanhua’s red, swollen eyes and disheveled hair, and his face showed clear disgust, "You’re a dignified lady, Duanhua. Aren’t you embarrassed by how you’re acting?"
Duanhua was furious, "Zhou Gu, you are the one forcing me into this."
"How have I forced you?"
Duanhua glared at him in anger, "I want to go to Jiangning County. Who are you to stop me?"
"Your intentions for going to Jiangning County are not pure, so of course I won’t let you go," Zhou Gu replied candidly and confidently, "My fiancee is in Jiangning County, living in peace. On what grounds do you want to bother her?"
Duanhua was so angry that she was about to burst into tears, her fingers trembling with rage, "Just because your fiancee lives in Jiangning County, I’m not allowed to go there? Who does she think she is?"
Zhou Gu didn’t pull his punches, "Given your irrational behavior, I fear you’ll harm my fiancee. So naturally, I have to nip this potential danger in the bud."
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