Before long, Zheng Huiyi led Zheng Fenghui, who had lost two front teeth, to confront Gu Qinlan. As soon as they entered Jinghong Garden, she shouted, "Gu Qinlan! If you know what's good for you, get out here right now!"
Gu Qinlan was chatting with her maids in the living room of Jinghong Garden when she heard Zheng Huiyi's voice. She frowned slightly, put down her teacup, and slowly walked out of the living room.
Gu Qinlan wore a light purple silk dress, her figure graceful and her steps light. With her beautiful face and elegant demeanor, she was clearly a lady from a prestigious family.
She walked up to Zheng Huiyi, smiled slightly, and said, "Huiyi, what's making you so angry?"
Zheng Huiyi glared at Zheng Fenghui, pointed at his mouth, and said angrily, "Gu Qinlan, look at what you've done to Fenghui! You've gone too far!"
Gu Qinlan glanced at Zheng Fenghui, her eyes flashing with displeasure, and said, "Zheng Huiyi, you need to have evidence before you speak. Don't you know how Fenghui has become like this?"
Zheng Huiyi sneered, "Gu Qinlan, don't think that just because you're the heir apparent of the Duan Prince's mansion, you can act recklessly! Today, I'm here to demand justice!"
Gu Qinlan smiled gently and said, "Justice resides in the hearts of the people. Zheng Huiyi, if you think I am wrong, you are free to go to the Crown Prince or the Princess for judgment."
Zheng Huiyi's face darkened, and she said, "Gu Qinlan, you're avoiding the real issue! I demand an apology from you today!"
Gu Qinlan raised an eyebrow and said seriously, "Zheng Huiyi, if I really did something wrong, I will naturally apologize. But if I did nothing wrong, how can I apologize so easily?"
Zheng Huiyi was so angry that her face turned purple. She pointed at Gu Qinlan and said, "Gu Qinlan, you're talking back to me!"
Gu Qinlan chuckled and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Zheng Huiyi, the Prince Duan's residence is not a place for commoners. Your behavior is far too presumptuous."
Zheng Huiyi's eyes widened, and a contemptuous smile curled at the corner of her lips: "Gu Qinlan, you're just a merchant's daughter, what right do you have to lecture me?"
Gu Qinlan smiled, her eyes revealing determination: "Zheng Huiyi, so what if you're a merchant's daughter? I, Gu Qinlan, never consider myself superior because of my status, but my upbringing taught me the difference between respect and humility. And you, as the daughter of the Prince Duan's mansion, are so rude—don't you make yourself a laughingstock?"
Zheng Huiyi blushed, her anger rising even more: "What a joke? Who dares to laugh at me, Zheng Huiyi? Gu Qinlan, you only have the title of Crown Princess, which sounds better, but deep down you're still a merchant's daughter. Do you think you can overpower me?"
A cold glint flashed in Gu Qinlan's eyes, but she remained calm: "Zheng Huiyi, you may have forgotten that I, Gu Qinlan, am not without a background. My father is an important official in the court, and my mother is the daughter of a prestigious family. The reason I married into the Duan Prince's mansion is because I have my own pride and self-respect. If you think you can easily trample on me, then you are sorely mistaken."
Zheng Huiyi sneered: "Pride? Self-respect? Do you think these things will allow you to stand in front of me? Gu Qinlan, you really don't know your own limitations."
Gu Qinlan's expression turned serious as she stared at Zheng Huiyi: "Zheng Huiyi, it's not that I'm ignorant of my place, I just can't stand your arrogant and conceited attitude. Do you think the Prince Duan's mansion is your home, where you can do whatever you want?"
Zheng Huiyi's eyes widened, her anger flaring: "Gu Qinlan, how dare you lecture me?"
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly: "I'm not lecturing you, I'm just reminding you that the Duan Prince's Mansion doesn't belong to you alone. There are rules, etiquette, and hierarchy here. If you continue to be so presumptuous, be careful that you'll suffer one day."
Zheng Huiyi trembled with rage. She gritted her teeth and glared at Gu Qinlan: "Gu Qinlan, you just wait and see, one day I'll make you pay."
Gu Qinlan shrugged dismissively and said, "Zheng Huiyi, since you are my sister-in-law, you should know the meaning of respect. I am Zheng Dinglian's wife, your sister-in-law, and you should respectfully address me as 'sister-in-law'."
A flash of anger crossed Zheng Huiyi's eyes, but she suppressed her displeasure and sneered, "Gu Qinlan, you're just a merchant, what right do you have to put on airs in front of me?"
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly, a hint of arrogance in her eyes, and said, "So what if you come from a merchant family? I, Gu Qinlan, have known etiquette and shame since childhood, while you, Zheng Huiyi, as the eldest daughter of the Duan Prince's Mansion, do not even know the most basic rules. Today, I will teach you how to behave."
Zheng Huiyi's face grew increasingly grim. She bit her lower lip, suppressing her anger, and said, "Gu Qinlan, are you lecturing me?"
Gu Qinlan smiled gently and said, "I wouldn't dare. I'm just reminding you that if you don't know the rules in the Prince's mansion, you might be kicked out one day. You should know that the Prince's mansion is not your backyard where you can run wild."
Zheng Huiyi's eyes widened as she glared at Gu Qinlan and said, "You dare!"
Gu Qinlan's eyes turned cold, and she said firmly, "I dare! If you don't restrain yourself, I will definitely let you know the rules of the Duan Prince's Mansion."
The atmosphere between the two became increasingly tense, and the maids standing by dared not utter a sound, for fear of offending their two masters.
Zheng Huiyi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and said, "Okay, I respect you, please bow."
As she spoke, she bowed slightly, her voice carrying a hint of displeasure: "Sister-in-law."
Gu Qinlan looked at Zheng Huiyi, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes. She nodded slightly and said, "Alright, since you know you've made a mistake, then let it go. But if you do it again in the future, don't blame me for being impolite."
Zheng Huiyi straightened up, her eyes still holding a hint of dissatisfaction. She stared intently at Gu Qinlan, as if trying to find a flaw in those calm, watery eyes.
"Gu Qinlan, how dare you lay a hand on my brother like this? Do you really think that just because you are the heir apparent of the Duan Prince's mansion, you can act with impunity?" Zheng Huiyi's voice was sharp and full of anger. She clenched her fists so tightly that her fingertips turned white.
Gu Qinlan smiled gently, her smile calm and composed. She said slowly, "Huiyi, you misunderstand. As the wife of the Prince of Duan and the mother of Zheng Fenghui, I naturally have the responsibility to teach and punish him. He has violated the rules of the Prince of Duan's mansion this time, and I have no choice but to punish him severely."
Zheng Huiyi's eyes widened, her anger burning. She stepped forward and pointed at Gu Qinlan: "Are you teaching Feng Hui a lesson, or are you showing off to me?"
Gu Qinlan's eyes turned cold, and her tone was firm: "Zheng Huiyi, don't you understand? The rules of the Duan Prince's Mansion are not child's play. Anyone who violates them should be punished. Zheng Fenghui has offended the dignity of the Duan Prince's Mansion. As his mother, what's wrong with me severely punishing him?"
Zheng Huiyi curled her lips into a sneer, her tone full of sarcasm: "Gu Qinlan, you've really dared to dream of being on par with the Prince Duan's family. Today, I'll show you that your position is nothing but a decoration."
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes. She gently straightened her clothes and calmly replied, "Zheng Huiyi, why are you being so aggressive? My status is lowly, but it doesn't warrant such contempt from you."
Zheng Huiyi's eyes turned cold as she glared at Gu Qinlan: "Don't you understand? In this Prince Duan's mansion, you're just an outsider. If it weren't for the slight affection you have for my elder brother, do you think you could stand here so peacefully?"
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