Princess Consort Duan snorted coldly, about to speak, when Granny Gui raised her voice and interrupted, "Princess Consort, how dare you! How dare you stand up before the Princess Consort has spoken! What kind of behavior is this!"
Gu Qinlan sneered, a sharp glint in her eyes: "Granny Gui, when did you become so bold as to dare to reprimand me?"
Granny Gui was stunned, not expecting Gu Qinlan to dare to contradict her like that. She said angrily, "Princess Consort, don't forget, this is the Duan Prince's residence, not your Gu family. Here, you must abide by the rules of the Prince's residence."
Gu Qinlan raised her chin slightly and ordered her maid Fuyu: "Fuyu, give Granny Gui a few slaps."
Fuyu was taken aback, not expecting Gu Qinlan to give such an order, but she still carried it out without hesitation. She rolled up her sleeves, raised her hand, and slapped Granny Gui several times.
Granny Gui's cheek swelled up immediately after the beating. She stared at Gu Qinlan in disbelief, her eyes filled with anger and terror. She immediately knelt on the ground, pleading with the Princess Consort of Duan for justice: "Your Highness, you must do me justice! The Crown Princess…"
Princess Duan's face was ashen. She looked at Gu Qinlan and asked coldly, "Qinlan, why are you so bold as to slap Granny Gui?"
Gu Qinlan replied calmly, "Your Highness, it's disrespectful for Gui Mama to reprimand me as the Crown Prince's consort. I was merely letting her know that the Duan Prince's residence is not a place where a wicked servant like her can arbitrarily reprimand her master."
Princess Duan's face darkened further. She hadn't expected Gu Qinlan to dare to talk back to her like this. She said angrily, "Qinlan, you are challenging my authority!"
When Granny Gui saw Gu Qinlan being reprimanded by Princess Duan, she immediately curled up the corners of her mouth. But her happiness was short-lived, because Princess Duan suddenly turned her head and glared at her with eyes as cold as ice. Granny Gui couldn't help but shiver.
Princess Duan said coldly, "Granny Gui, what are you laughing at?"
Granny Gui was taken aback, hurriedly suppressed her smile, and bowed her head, saying, "Your Highness, please calm down, this servant only..."
"Just what?" Princess Duan's voice grew even colder. "What do you think this place is? How dare you act so presumptuously in the Duan Prince's residence?"
Granny Gui's face was pale, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
Oh no! The princess saw my smugness just now, and I'm afraid I'm going to get into big trouble.
At this moment, Gu Qinlan sneered and said, "Your Highness, Granny Gui's behavior has been going on for quite some time. She takes it all in stride because she is Prince Duan's confidante."
Princess Duan's face grew increasingly grim. She slowly said, "Qinlan, you're right. Granny Gui, tell me, why do you dare to be so disrespectful?"
Granny Gui was terrified and hurriedly knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly. She said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, please spare me! I will never dare to do it again. Please have mercy on me. I was just carried away by my pride and had no intention of offending you."
Princess Consort Duan snorted coldly and said, "Getting carried away by your momentary triumph? What do you take the Duan Prince's Mansion for? Do you think I will protect you forever?"
With tears streaming down her face, Granny Gui kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Your Highness, please spare me! I know I was wrong. Please give me a chance to reform."
Gu Qinlan watched coldly from the sidelines, secretly amused.
This time, Granny Gui has truly fallen from grace. She deliberately provoked Princess Duan to make the princess more aware of Granny Gui's crimes, so that she would not be instigated by her again in the future.
After all, Granny Gui had served Princess Duan for many years, and the two had a deep bond. When Princess Duan saw Granny Gui kneeling on the ground begging for forgiveness and crying her eyes out, she couldn't bear it.
Princess Duan had originally resolved to severely punish Granny Gui, but Granny Gui's tear-streaked face was like a sharp blade, piercing the softest part of her heart.
She hesitated for a moment, about to speak, when she heard Gu Qinlan speak slowly, her voice calm and firm: "Mother, although Granny Gui has been with you for many years, her honest advice is hard to hear. If you ignore Granny Gui's mistakes because of a moment of soft-heartedness, it would not be a wise move."
Princess Duan paused slightly, then turned her gaze to Gu Qinlan, whose brows exuded an undeniable air of authority.
"Gu Qinlan, are you trying to teach me how to do things?" Princess Duan's tone clearly carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly, her expression humble: "Mother, you misunderstand. Your daughter-in-law is only worried that your momentary kindness might become a factor detrimental to the Duan Prince's Mansion. Right now, the Duan Prince's Mansion is going through a turbulent period. If Granny Gui continues to sow discord between us, and the rumors of discord between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law reach the ears of the Heir Apparent, it might affect his mind, and the consequences would be unimaginable..."
Princess Duan remained silent for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She looked up at Granny Gui, who had tears in her eyes and a face full of guilt.
"Granny Gui, tell me, did you commit treason and deliberately sow discord?" Princess Duan asked sternly.
Granny Gui trembled and quickly kowtowed: "Your Highness, this old servant is indeed at fault, but this old servant really did not mean it. Please have mercy, Your Highness."
Gu Qinlan coldly interjected, "Granny Gui, if you truly cared for the Princess Consort, how could you have repeatedly made such grave mistakes?"
Granny Gui stared wide-eyed at Gu Qinlan in horror, seemingly not expecting her to point out her mistakes so bluntly.
Princess Duan struggled internally. She knew Gu Qinlan was telling the truth, but she couldn't bear to harm Granny Gui. So, she looked at Gu Qinlan, a pleading look in her eyes.
Gu Qinlan glanced coldly at Granny Gui, and said to Princess Duan in a righteous and stern tone, "Your Highness, Granny Gui knowingly committed the crime, which is truly outrageous. If she is not severely punished, it will be difficult to convince the public."
Upon hearing this, Princess Duan's face darkened, a resolute glint flashing in her eyes. She slowly spoke, "Qinlan is absolutely right. Granny Gui has repeatedly broken the rules and should indeed be severely punished. Issue an order to drag Granny Gui away and punish her according to the rules of the manor."
At this moment, the atmosphere in the lobby was tense and heavy.
Princess Duan sat at the head of the table, her expression serious, flanked by a group of burly servants. Gu Qinlan stood beside Princess Duan, her sharp gaze fixed on the panicked and uneasy Granny Gui.
Granny Gui was dragged down to the hall by the servants. She struggled and screamed, trying to break free. However, the servants showed no mercy and pressed her firmly to the ground.
"Granny Gui, do you know your crime?" Princess Duan asked coldly.
Granny Gui raised her head, looking at Gu Qinlan with resentment, and said through gritted teeth, "What crime have I committed? It was just a momentary lapse in attention that led to a small mistake."
Gu Qinlan raised an eyebrow, her tone icy: "Granny Gui, you knowingly committed a crime, instigating the Princess Consort behind the scenes to sow discord between the masters and disturb the peace of the Prince's mansion, and you still claim it was just negligence?"
Granny Gui glared at Gu Qinlan with wide eyes: "Gu Qinlan, you are just a newly arrived princess consort, how dare you treat me like this!"
Upon hearing this, Princess Consort Duan's eyes turned cold, and she shouted, "Granny Gui, how dare you! How can you be so insolent in the Duan Prince's residence!"
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