As evening approached, Zheng Huiyi's head maid, Lidong, came to the door.
As soon as she entered, Li Dong knelt before Gu Qinlan, pleading with tears streaming down her face, "Madam, please have mercy and send some food to the eldest young lady. She hasn't eaten or drunk anything for a day and a night. If this continues, she'll probably collapse from exhaustion."
Gu Qinlan asked calmly, "Did she send you, or did you come on your own?"
Li Dong choked back tears as she replied, "I came of my own volition."
Gu Qinlan waved her hand, signaling her to leave: "Then go back. Wait until she personally asks you to come and beg me before you talk."
Li Dong sobbed uncontrollably, saying, "Madam, I understand that you mean well for the eldest young lady, but such punishment..."
Gu Qinlan looked at her sharply: "Do you think my methods are too cruel? You think I'm too heartless just because I starved her for a few meals?"
Li Dong hurriedly kowtowed to Gu Qinlan, saying in fear, "This servant dares not, this servant really dares not."
Gu Qinlan said sternly, "Before, you were willing to help me, saying she would learn etiquette, and I thought you were a reasonable person. But now it seems you're nothing special. Do you know how serious her mistake is? A governess is like a mentor; which family doesn't treat her with great respect? If this matter gets out, not only will Zheng Huiyi's reputation be ruined, but the girls of the Zheng family will also be implicated! I only let her go hungry for a few meals; that's already being very lenient!"
As Li Dong's face turned as white as snow, she prostrated herself on the ground, her voice trembling as she confessed, "This lowly servant deserves to die a thousand deaths; this lowly servant was foolish and incompetent."
Gu Qinlan's face was as cold as ice, and her tone was icy: "You may leave now. Come back to me when she is willing to beg and plead. Remember, it is beg and plead."
She had absolutely no interest in witnessing Zheng Huiyi's madness.
Li Dong hurriedly replied, "This lowly servant will remember it."
After Lidong left, Gu Qinlan immediately signaled the servants to set out dinner.
Xiao Han carefully helped Gu Qinlan to the table and sat her down. She handed her chopsticks and served her food. Noticing that Gu Qinlan might have lost her interest because of what had just happened, she smiled and advised, "Madam, the fresh vegetables and fruits sent from the estate today are the first batch. They are brightly colored and have a crisp and tender texture. Why don't you try them?"
Gu Qinlan was not affected by the previous events. She picked up a piece and took a bite. It was indeed crisp and delicious.
Winter's harshness makes fresh vegetables scarce. Although the Gu family owns a hot spring estate where they grow some seasonal vegetables, how could Madam Song possibly allow her to enjoy such precious produce?
Therefore, throughout the winter, she could only fill her stomach with various dried vegetables and radishes.
Even after arriving at the Prince Duan's residence, her situation didn't improve much. Zheng Huiyi had squandered the entire manor; how could she possibly have the resources to support vegetable cultivation at the hot spring estate? Therefore, this was indeed the first time Gu Qinlan had tasted fresh leafy green vegetables in half a year.
After tasting several bites, Gu Qinlan asked, "Did the three young ladies also receive some?"
Xiao Han replied with a smile, "Madam, you can rest assured, everything has been arranged properly."
Zheng Fengyun moved back to his residence a few days ago, and all the servants in his courtyard have been replaced. Gu Qinlan specially sent Jiang Ye to personally select them, and these new servants all seem quite reliable.
After dinner, a servant rushed in to report: "Madam, your uncle's family has arrived. Steward Jiang sent me to inform them that he has made arrangements for his family and will bring your uncle and the others to pay their respects tomorrow."
Gu Qinlan immediately stood up: "They've finally arrived. I knew they would arrive in the next couple of days. It's already late, so where can my cousin arrange for them to stay? Perhaps an inn? Hongye, quickly prepare a few carriages to pick up my uncle's family. There are no spare rooms at home, so why make them stay at an inn?"
In her past life, she had an extremely close relationship with her aunt, who treated her like her own daughter, allowing this child who had lost her mother's love to experience the warmth of maternal love.
In this life, she vowed to do everything in her power to repay her aunt's deep affection! If it weren't for the late hour, she would have even gone out herself to greet her uncle's family.
Upon receiving the instructions, Hongye immediately began making meticulous arrangements.
Gu Qinlan urgently instructed her maid, Xiaohan: "Quickly arrange for people to thoroughly clean the guest rooms and replace all the bedding with brand new ones. In addition, tell the kitchen to expedite the preparation of a sumptuous meal, make plenty of it, and remember to prepare dishes suitable for children. Also, make sure to boil plenty of hot water. My uncle's family has traveled a long way and needs a good bath to relieve their fatigue."
Xiao Han smiled and readily replied, "This servant will arrange it right away."
The servants throughout the mansion bustled about, and lanterns were lit one by one along the road from the main gate to the guest rooms, demonstrating Gu Qinlan's respect and importance to her uncle's family.
Zheng Huiyi was so hungry that her stomach was sticking to her back. Hearing the commotion outside, she mistook it for the arrival of Gu Qinlan, so she started throwing things around inside the house and cursing loudly.
She wanted to make Gu Qinlan understand that Zheng Huiyi was not someone to be trifled with! Mere hunger could not make her submit!
As Li Dong listened to the vile curses coming from inside the house, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly.
Her young lady certainly doesn't know how to appreciate kindness.
After a moment's thought, she walked to the door and whispered through the crack, "Miss, Madam has not come. Please don't make any more trouble and be careful not to hurt yourself."
Zheng Huiyi was quiet for a moment, then suddenly rushed to the door, screaming at the top of her lungs: "What did you say? She didn't come? Why didn't she come? She made me suffer so much, why won't she show herself! Go again! Go tell her to come see me!"
Li Dong patiently comforted her, "Miss, Madam is currently overwhelmed with other matters. Her relatives have just arrived and are being entertained."
She dared not tell the truth, lest Zheng Huiyi lose control of her emotions. So she chose another reason.
Unexpectedly, Zheng Huiyi became even more agitated upon hearing this, pounding on the door with deafening force: "That vicious woman, Gu Qinlan! How dare she treat me like this! She imprisoned me here, making me suffer hunger and thirst, while she herself entertains others! Vicious woman! Vicious woman!"
Li Dong pleaded, "Miss, please calm down, or you will hurt yourself. I will plead with Madam again, please wait a moment."
After saying this, Lidong hurriedly left again.
Just as Li Dong stepped out of the courtyard, she bumped into Gu Qinlan, who was walking towards the gate.
Before Lidong could even speak, Gu Qinlan asked first, "Has your young lady caused such a ruckus again?"
Li Dong sighed and nodded: "Madam, this servant really doesn't know what to do. Please, have mercy and send someone to bring some water to Miss."
Even if we don't give her food, some water would be better than nothing. We can't let her starve to death.
As Gu Qinlan felt a deep longing for her uncle's family who had come from afar, she couldn't help but think that if Zheng Huiyi continued to make a racket, it would disturb her uncle's family's peaceful rest and make it difficult for them to settle down.
So she ordered in a deep voice, "Then send someone to deliver some food and drinks to her, but make sure she is still kept under close surveillance."
In this matter, Zheng Huiyi must be severely punished as a warning to others.
Upon hearing this, Li Dong immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly to Gu Qinlan, saying, "This servant is deeply grateful; Madam's kindness is as heavy as a mountain."
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