Chapter 32: Establishing Authority
Gu Huan lowered her head and knelt.
Wang also forgot to call out.
Zhou Zhilan couldn't bear it: "Madam, Miss Gu has not been feeling well these days, can you let her get up first?"
Wang glanced at the kneeling girl and saw that her face did not look very good, but the pity she had for her just now dissipated a lot.
Although she never blamed her illegitimate children, she was unhappy about outsiders interfering in the affairs of her illegitimate daughter, as it was a slap in the face of her, the mistress of the house.
But it’s not appropriate to say anything in front of the people from the Duke’s Mansion, so as not to affect Ruer.
In a light tone, he said, "Get up."
Gu Huan thanked her and was helped up by Zhou Zhilan.
Her legs were really weak and she hadn't recovered from last night's ordeal.
Gu Huan said softly, "Mother, you don't look well. Miss Shen Li is proficient in medicine. Can you let her take your pulse?"
Wang glanced at the young and cold-faced girl following behind her. What medical skills could that little girl have?
I was already feeling depressed and was in no mood to deal with her.
Without even thinking, he refused: "No need, I have my own doctor to take care of my body."
Gu Huan wanted to say something, but saw Aunt Pei rushing in.
Seeing Gu Huan standing aside, Aunt Pei became furious.
The little bitch dared to bypass her and come to see Wang first, simply not taking her seriously.
He perfunctorily bowed to Wang, and without waiting for Wang to speak, he turned around and scolded Gu Huan: "You don't know the rules at all. You don't go back to your own yard, but come here to disturb Madam's rest."
In front of outsiders, the concubine dared to humiliate the mistress. Wang's face was unpleasant, and she said in a cold voice: "Concubine Pei, I have something to ask you."
Aunt Pei didn't care about what her mistress said at all. She didn't even look at Wang, but just stared at Gu Huan.
"Madam, please ask me later. I have something important to tell you. I will take Gu Huan away first and I will be back to ask for punishment later."
After saying that, he walked forward and tried to pull Gu Huan.
Zhou Zhilan widened her eyes. Aunt Pei was so presumptuous. Did she think that the people in the Duke’s Mansion were vegetarians?
She took a step forward and protected Gu Huan.
Donghua didn't think twice and stepped forward at the same time. The two of them blocked Gu Huan behind them, one on the left and one on the right.
Wang's face darkened. Normally, Aunt Pei, relying on the Marquis's favor and the power of the household, never took her seriously.
But today, in front of the people from the Duke's Mansion, it concerns Ruer's face, and she must uphold the dignity of the mistress of the house.
She shouted sternly, "How dare you! Get down on your knees!"
Aunt Pei was stunned and looked at Wang in disbelief: "Madam, you want me to kneel down?"
Wang was always mild-mannered and turned a blind eye to her arrogance.
Did you take the wrong medicine today?
When Madam Zhou saw that her master was showing her anger, she immediately stepped forward, held Madam Pei's shoulders, and kicked her in the knee.
Aunt Pei fell to her knees, screaming in pain.
Nanny Zhou had long been dissatisfied with her and scolded her, "How dare you address me in front of the Madam?"
Aunt Pei was shocked, but she quickly reacted and said angrily, "Madam, what did I do wrong to deserve kneeling in public? I am now in charge of the household affairs. How can I convince the servants if I lose face?"
Bang!
A crisp slap made Aunt Pei's eyes sparkle.
Everyone in the room was stunned and there was silence for a moment.
Gu Huan walked straight to Aunt Pei without her noticing, and took a step back after beating her.
Zhou Zhilan gave Gu Huan a thumbs up.
Gu Huan shook her numb hands and said slowly, "Aunt Pei, that's wrong. Mother is unwell and asked you to take over the responsibility of household expenses. You dare to use this to show off in front of her. Aunt Pei has been in charge of the household for so long that you have forgotten your own weight and status, right?"
"You little bitch! How dare you hit your own mother!" Aunt Pei was so angry that her tone of voice changed.
Gu Huan said calmly, "Auntie, you said the wrong thing again. Mother, how dare you call yourself the mother of the young lady of the Marquis' Mansion?"
Aunt Pei stared at her as if she had seen a ghost and was speechless for a long time.
Wang and Nanny Zhou were stunned for a long while without reacting.
Gu Huan seemed like a different person.
In the past, she had never been close to the Madam and only listened to Aunt Pei. She was always submissive when rarely seen in public.
Why would he fight against his own mother on behalf of his wife today?
Aunt Pei was so angry that she was about to stand up and hit someone, but was kicked away by Nanny Zhou.
"Kneel down obediently! Madam hasn't asked you any questions yet. The second young lady knows the rules, you should learn from her."
Aunt Pei was furious, but she didn't dare to do anything because the mistress wanted to establish her authority.
Wang was getting a headache and just wanted to finish her questions quickly: "When you requested to let Sister Huan enter the Duke's Mansion, you said that you wanted her to learn how to manage the household from Ru'er, but Sister Huan said that you asked her to sign a slave document and stamped it with my private seal. What's going on? Where did you get my private seal?"
Aunt Pei's face changed.
It would be a big deal if this matter were exposed.
Seeing her expression, Wang guessed it was true and her face changed drastically: "How dare you!"
Aunt Pei rolled her eyes and said, "Madam, please allow me to report that Gu Huan envied the eldest daughter for marrying a good husband and asked me to find a way for her. She would rather be the eldest brother-in-law's concubine. I feel sorry for my daughter and hope that she can have a good family. I was confused for a moment and agreed to her ridiculous request. I begged Madam and the eldest daughter to allow her to enter the Duke's Mansion as a maid with the dowry, without any private seal."
Gu Huan knew that she was shameless, but she didn't expect that she was so shameless as to lie to her face.
Her eyes were red with anger, and she pointed at her, "Mrs. Pei, you are lying! You locked me up for three days without food or water, and forced me to sign the slavery document! I never said I wanted to be my brother-in-law's concubine! You let me enter the Duke's Mansion, saying that you wanted me to learn housekeeping from my eldest sister so that you could help me find a good marriage. I saw the private seal on the slavery document with my own eyes."
This was her best chance to regain her status as a good citizen, and she didn't want to miss it.
Wang was shocked: "Locked up for three days without food or water? Pei, Sister Huan is the daughter of the Marquis's mansion and your biological daughter. How dare you treat her like this?"
Zhou Zhilan sighed and said mockingly, "I didn't expect that the Gu family, which claims to be a noble family, is actually rotten inside. They allow a concubine to jump around, not distinguishing between superiors and subordinates, and even let the concubine secretly turn the young lady into a slave. I have never heard of it. I wonder how the censors will view Marquis Gu's management of the family after hearing this."
Wang's face darkened: "Miss Zhou, be careful with your words! This is the Gu family's family affair, outsiders should not interfere. Besides, you are just a servant of the Duke's Mansion."
The implication is that you are just a slave.
Zhou Zhilan raised her eyebrows: "The servants of the Duke's Mansion are more discerning than the masters of your Marquis' Mansion..."
"Who dares to be so arrogant in the Marquis' Mansion!" A man shouted, interrupting Zhou Zhilan's words.
Following the sound, two men strode in.
They looked and saw that it was Wenchang Hou Gu Yuan and Zhou Chunyu.
They had just heard half of what Zhou Zhilan said.
Lord Gu's face was gloomy and terrifying. He glanced at Zhou Zhilan coldly, then frowned and glanced at Gu Huan.
The second daughter was the best born among his three illegitimate daughters, but she always acted like a slave, was petty, and was unwilling to go out and see people, so he didn't like her very much.
Zhou Chunyu just came to visit him and told him about inviting Gu Huan. He was skeptical, so he followed Zhou Chunyu to the lady to ask what was going on with Gu Huan.
But Gu Yuan was extremely protective of his reputation. Even if he wanted to curry favor with the Duke of Yong, he would not allow his servants to step on his head and act wildly.
"Butler Zhou, didn't you say that Duke Yong ordered you to come and give gifts so that my second daughter could copy the documents? Why are the servants from the Duke's Mansion coming to my Marquis' Mansion to give orders? What do you want to do?"
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