Princess Duan gently patted her daughter's shoulder, gesturing for Zheng Huiyi to sit down. She sat on the stone bench, picked up a cup of tea, and began to speak slowly.
“Huiyi, I know you feel wronged. But Gu Qinlan’s behavior recently has shown me her good qualities. Moreover, she has already married your older brother and become your sister-in-law. It is only right and proper that you call her sister-in-law and get along with her.”
Zheng Huiyi stared wide-eyed at her mother in disbelief: "Mother, how can this be? Were you deceived by her words?"
Princess Duan sighed, her eyes filled with endless care: "Huiyi, I know you're upset. But you must understand that everyone encounters setbacks in life. We must learn to be tolerant and give others a chance to make amends. Besides, Gu Qinlan is now your sister-in-law, and we should respect her."
Zheng Huiyi lowered her head and remained silent.
"By the way, Mother, why isn't Granny Gui serving you?" Zheng Huiyi was puzzled when she saw Princess Duan alone in the courtyard and didn't see Granny Gui.
As soon as Zheng Huiyi finished speaking, Princess Duan frowned slightly, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She slowly raised her head, her gaze fixed on Zheng Huiyi, her tone calm and deep: "Huiyi, don't you know? Granny Gui has been expelled from the manor."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Huiyi's face turned pale. She looked at her mother in disbelief: "Mother, is this true? What mistake did Granny Gui make that she was kicked out of the manor?"
Princess Duan sighed softly, her expression somewhat weary: "This is what happened. Granny Gui acted on her own initiative and overstepped her bounds, which was discovered by her daughter-in-law, Gu Qinlan. In a fit of anger, Gu Qinlan had Granny Gui beaten dozens of times and expelled her from the Duan Prince's residence."
Zheng Huiyi's face grew paler and paler. She bit her lip, her eyes flashing with angry fire: "Mother, how can this be! Granny Gui has served you in the manor for many years. Even if she has made a mistake, she shouldn't be treated like this. Gu Qinlan has gone too far. How could she be so disrespectful to you!"
Princess Duan shook her head gently, a resolute glint in her eyes: "Huiyi, you still don't understand. Granny Gui did say things she shouldn't have, and she didn't respect me, that's a fact. Although Gu Qinlan's punishment was too harsh, her intention was to protect my dignity."
Zheng Huiyi clenched her fists tightly, tears welling up in her eyes: "Mother, what about you? Are you just going to let her treat Granny Gui like this? Granny Gui was my and my brother's wet nurse. She accompanied you as you grew up. Are you just going to watch her be kicked out like this?"
Princess Duan's expression grew increasingly solemn. She looked at her daughter and said firmly, "Huiyi, I know you care about Granny Gui, and I understand your feelings for her. But in this household, there is a strict hierarchy that cannot be overridden. Since Granny Gui has made a mistake, she must be punished. Moreover, Gu Qinlan is my daughter-in-law, and she was only trying to uphold my dignity. As her mother-in-law, I cannot lose my temper with her just because she punished Granny Gui."
Hearing her mother's words, Zheng Huiyi felt even more resentful. Her eyes widened, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "Mother, what about me? I am your daughter. Don't I have the right to plead for Granny Gui?"
A hint of tenderness flashed in Princess Duan's eyes as she gently patted her daughter's hand: "Huiyi, I know you are a kind child, and I understand your concern for Granny Gui. But in this mansion, you must learn to respect everyone's status and decisions. Granny Gui has already made a mistake, and what we need to do now is accept reality."
Zheng Huiyi's eyes widened, tears blurring her vision. She looked at her mother, her heart filled with disappointment and helplessness.
Princess Duan was caught in a dilemma, unsure how to persuade her daughter to accept Gu Qinlan.
Zheng Huiyi looked worried and said to Princess Duan, "Mother, haven't you noticed Gu Qinlan's domineering behavior? If she were truly a virtuous sister-in-law, how could she disregard the rules of our Duan Prince's Mansion and act so arbitrarily?"
Princess Consort Duan frowned slightly. She sat upright on the mahogany chair, her eyes showing a thoughtful expression. She gently stroked the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand and slowly spoke: "Huiyi, you may have misunderstood Gu Qinlan. Since she married into the Duan Prince's Mansion, although her style of doing things is different from ours, she has not overstepped any boundaries."
Zheng Huiyi stood up hurriedly and walked to Princess Consort Duan. Her beautiful face was full of anxiety: "Mother, how can you be so lenient? Today she is pruning flowers and trees in the garden, and tomorrow she may be interfering in the affairs of the mansion. If this continues, won't she destroy all the rules of the Duan Manor?"
Princess Consort Duan gently shook her head, looking at her daughter with affection: "Huiyi, you don't yet understand the ways of women getting along. Gu Qinlan may have her faults, but she is doing it for the good of the Duan Prince's Mansion. If you are really worried, why not try to communicate with her and understand her thoughts?"
Zheng Huiyi bit her lower lip. She knew her mother was a gentle person who disliked family disputes. But she simply couldn't tolerate Gu Qinlan's actions. She took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly, "Mother, tonight you were supposed to inquire about Gu Qinlan and my brother's consummation of their marriage, but you were delayed by her evasiveness. Don't you think she was deliberately avoiding the question?"
Princess Duan's expression finally turned serious. She put down the prayer beads in her hand and looked sharply at Zheng Huiyi: "You're right, she does seem to be avoiding us. But we can't entirely blame her; perhaps she has her own reasons."
Zheng Huiyi said urgently, "Mother, you are too kind. If I hadn't reminded you, you would have almost forgotten about this. My brother's marriage is a major event for the Duan Prince's Mansion. We cannot let Gu Qinlan treat it so carelessly."
“But…” Princess Duan bit her lip, hesitating.
Zheng Huiyi pouted and continued to stir things up, saying, "Mother, you can't underestimate Gu Qinlan. She appears gentle and virtuous on the surface, but she is actually cunning and ruthless. If she is not restrained, she may pose a great threat to our Duanwang Mansion in the future."
Princess Duan frowned, her face filled with worry.
Zheng Huiyi was telling the truth, but she had always felt that Gu Qinlan was a virtuous and kind woman and shouldn't be treated this way. However, Zheng Huiyi's analysis forced her to take the issue seriously.
“Yi’er, you’re right, we can’t let our guard down. But Gu Qinlan is your sister-in-law after all, we can’t be too harsh on her,” Princess Duan said hesitantly.
Zheng Huiyi sneered: "Mother, don't forget, Gu Qinlan is ambitious. If she gains power, our lives will be difficult. Moreover, if she really takes control of the Duan Prince's Mansion, it will also threaten the status of our family."
Princess Duan bit her lower lip, a resolute glint in her eyes. She could no longer hesitate; she had to take measures to guard against Gu Qinlan.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
