Madam Zhao curled her lip in disdain: "Instead of taking the right path, you insist on going down the wrong one. That Fourth Prince's Consort is not an easy person to deal with. She will ruthlessly harm those around her at the slightest displeasure. Didn't your sister do any research beforehand?"
Gu Qinlan couldn't help but laugh. How could Gu Qinlian not understand? But when fate is against you, you really can't blame others. On the third day of the Lunar New Year, she had predicted that Gu Qinlian would be in tears, and sure enough, her words came true.
She even knew the reason why Gu Qinlian was beaten.
Because the Fourth Prince's wife's child suffers from a disease that prevents her from being exposed to sunlight, the Fourth Prince's wife suffers greatly as a result, and those around her are naturally not spared either. Gu Qinlian is lucky to have survived.
Gu Qinlian thought so too.
Therefore, her first thought upon waking from her coma was to escape.
She could no longer stay by the Fourth Prince's side, or she would die sooner or later.
However, will she be able to get what she wants?
Gu Qinlian was destined to be unable to escape.
This is not because the Fourth Prince's wife possessed extraordinary alertness.
Instead, Gu Qinlan deliberately leaked the news of Gu Qinlian's attempt to escape to the Fourth Prince's wife.
Therefore, on her way out of the capital, Gu Qinlian was intercepted by the Fourth Prince's concubine's men.
"Madam Ji, where are you planning to go?"
Cheng, the senior housekeeper by the Fourth Prince's wife's side, had a cunning glint in her eyes and a sarcastic smile on her lips.
Gu Qinlian turned pale with fright and said through trembling teeth, "I...I was planning to go back to my hometown to bury my father and mother-in-law. Granny Cheng, what are you doing here?"
Granny Cheng responded with a forced smile: "Madam Ji's filial piety is indeed touching, but let's put your filial piety aside for now. The Fourth Prince's Consort requests your presence back with me."
Gu Qinlian's face was deathly pale, and she said in a trembling voice, "Granny, I am still injured and it is really not advisable for me to go. Please..."
"Don't push your luck." Granny Cheng interrupted her mercilessly, "Gu Qinlian, once you're on this boat, turning back won't be so easy. Come back with me right now, or else..."
Before she could finish speaking, Gu Qinlian was already terrified and could only obediently board Granny Cheng's carriage.
Granny Cheng snorted coldly and ordered a return to the capital.
The carriage quietly entered the Fourth Prince's residence through the back gate. Before it had even come to a complete stop, Granny Cheng dragged Gu Qinlian out of the carriage.
Before long, Gu Qinlian, trembling, knelt before the Fourth Prince's Consort.
The Fourth Prince's Consort stared coldly at Gu Qinlian with icy eyes: "I heard you're planning to run away. Am I really that terrifying?"
Gu Qinlian kowtowed desperately, her voice trembling: "Your Highness, you have misunderstood. I did not run away. I just wanted to go back to my hometown to bury my father and mother-in-law."
The Fourth Prince's Consort refused to listen to her explanations. She stepped forward and grabbed her by the throat, saying, "You wretch, don't try to play tricks on me. You can't hide your thoughts from me!"
"Didn't you claim to be able to foresee other people's future? Why didn't you finish your sentence before, leaving me disappointed! Were you deceiving me from the very beginning?"
Gu Qinlian's throat was being tightly gripped, causing her unbearable pain, yet she dared not resist in the slightest. With a sob in her voice, she said, "I did not deceive you; I am telling the truth. I am just worried that if I tell you everything, you will kill me."
"Your Highness, I know I was wrong, and I will never dare to hide anything again. I really do know many secrets. Don't you want to use these secrets to gain some benefits for yourself?"
The Fourth Prince's wife loosened her grip slightly, a chilling smile appearing in her eyes: "Interests? What kind of interests?"
Gu Qinlian's mind raced. She wasn't usually quick-witted, but with life and death at stake, she braced herself and said with all her might, "This is because the Fourth Prince owes you something. If you can use this to help the Fourth Prince achieve certain goals, he will only feel more guilty and pity for you. In the future, when the Fourth Prince achieves great things, he will remember your sacrifice and contributions today and will surely bestow upon you the highest honor."
The Fourth Prince's wife gradually loosened her grip and asked, "Then tell me, how do you think I should take advantage of this opportunity?"
Gu Qinlian almost burst into tears; she had no idea what the answer was.
"Your Highness, though I am dull-witted, I believe such an opportunity should be used for the most crucial matters. I suggest you discuss this with the Fourth Prince; that would be more appropriate."
The Fourth Prince's Consort snorted coldly and pushed Gu Qinlian away: "Useless trash!"
"If you dare to have any more thoughts of running away, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Gu Qinlian was trembling with fear, her knees thumping loudly as she kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "This servant deserves to die a thousand deaths. From now on, I will serve the Prince Consort wholeheartedly and loyally."
The Fourth Prince's wife didn't even spare her a glance. She simply ordered a maid to fetch a cloak for her and then turned around to lead a group of people to the Fourth Prince to discuss countermeasures.
Only after the Fourth Prince's wife's figure disappeared into the distance did Gu Qinlian finally feel relieved and collapse limply to the ground.
At this moment, she was filled with remorse and deeply regretted her decision.
But her heart was filled with resentment.
She couldn't understand why people like Gu Qinlan in her previous life could gain favor with the Fourth Prince's faction, while she herself was so destitute. Not only was she beaten by the Fourth Prince's wife, but she also nearly lost her life.
She claimed that the information she provided was far more crucial than that of Gu Qinlan, yet her value seemed to have never been recognized.
Recalling the terrifying and ferocious face of the Fourth Prince's Consort, Gu Qinlian couldn't help but shudder violently once again.
In her previous life, she never had the chance to meet the Fourth Prince's Consort. Her connection with Zheng Dinglian began ten years later, when Zheng Dinglian had been living in seclusion in Jindu. It wasn't until Ji Yinli gained favor with the court that the Gu family moved to the capital. After that, she remained Ji Yinli's mistress, her status awkward, and naturally, she had no chance to meet any nobles.
Her understanding of the Fourth Prince and his wife came entirely from what Ji Yinli had told her.
However, Ji Yinli revealed very little inside information to her. Her knowledge of the Fourth Prince and his wife was limited to a few words. Later, when the Fourth Prince ascended the throne, there was widespread discontent among the people. She did not pay much attention to this, only feeling that the Fourth Prince was somewhat greedy. She also did not take the matter of the Fourth Prince's wife to heart.
If Ji Yinli had told her more inside information, she wouldn't have blindly invested herself, leading to her current predicament and life-threatening situation.
Her resentment towards Ji Yinli burned like a raging fire in her heart!
In the Fourth Prince's residence, Gu Qinlian was filled with remorse and felt as if her heart was being torn apart. At the same time, Gu Qinlian was making final preparations for the upcoming grand banquet.
Zheng Huiyi and Zheng Huaiyu followed closely behind, and learned a lot of valuable experience from her.
From the detailed preparations for the banquet, such as the renovation of the houses and the garden, to the cups and bowls in the kitchen, to the preparation of the guest list, the distribution of invitations, the drafting of the menu, and the investigation of the relationships between the guests to avoid awkward seating arrangements, every task is extremely tedious, yet no carelessness is allowed.
The entire government was busy for more than ten days before all matters were handled in an orderly manner.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
