Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and said, "Mother, Zheng Huiyi is a smart child, and I believe she can understand reason. Besides, she is young, and it is inevitable that she would be fooled by the evil servants. As her sister-in-law, I will not hold a grudge against a child."
Princess Duan looked at Gu Qinlan with admiration in her eyes and said, "Qinlan, I really admire your magnanimity. Zheng Huiyi is very fortunate to have you as her sister-in-law."
Princess Duan looked at Gu Qinlan with loving eyes and couldn't help but sigh, "I really didn't expect that you, Qinlan, would have such outstanding manners and poise at such a young age. Look at Huiyi, she still has a lot to learn from you."
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and replied gently, "Mother is too kind. Miss Huiyi is intelligent and quick-witted, but she still needs some time to hone her skills."
Princess Duan nodded, then her eyes lit up and she said, "Qinlan, I have a favor to ask. I wonder if you would be willing to grant it?"
Gu Qinlan was slightly taken aback, and said softly, "Mother, please speak. Qinlan will do her best."
Princess Consort Duan sighed and said, "I hope we can borrow your governess so she can properly teach Huiyi at the Duan Prince's residence. What do you think?"
Gu Qinlan pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Since Mother trusts Qinlan so much, I am naturally willing to agree. I will arrange for the nanny to come as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Princess Duan smiled with satisfaction and said, "Good, I knew you were a child who knew how to behave."
Gu Qinlan leaned close to Fuyu's ear and whispered, "Do you know that my governess was specially found for me by my stepmother, Madam Song? She is very strict, and even I am somewhat wary of her."
Fuyu blinked, a curious look on her face: "Really? Then isn't she very strict too?"
“Exactly.” Gu Qinlan nodded slightly, a bitter smile flashing across her face. “I have personally witnessed her punishing her servants, and her methods were extremely harsh. Even I myself have suffered under her.
As Fuyu listened, she couldn't help but imagine Zheng Huiyi screaming miserably under the care of the governess, and a mischievous smile flashed in her eyes: "I wonder what would happen to Zheng Huiyi if she fell into her hands."
Gu Qinlan smiled gently, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes: "I am indeed very curious whether Zheng Huiyi, with her delicate nature, can withstand the strictness of the nanny."
Princess Duan smiled slightly, looked at Granny Cen beside her, and instructed, "Go and call Huiyi over here."
Granny Cen agreed and left to carry out the order.
Before long, Granny Cen returned with her head hanging low, her steps heavy and her expression dejected. She came to Princess Duan and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the eldest young lady... she is not feeling well and does not want to come."
Princess Duan frowned, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes, before she sneered, "Unwell? That's clearly an excuse. Has she gotten into trouble again?"
Granny Cen dared not raise her head, but silently lowered it, secretly sweating for Zheng Huiyi.
Gu Qinlan gently tugged at Princess Duan's sleeve and whispered, "Mother, Huiyi may really be feeling unwell. If we go and call her again, it will only make her more resistant. It would be better to let her rest for a while, and she will come over when she feels better."
Princess Duan glanced at Gu Qinlan, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes, but still somewhat worried, and said, "How can I not worry when she keeps making excuses like this?"
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and said, "Mother, don't worry, I will handle this matter well. I won't let her act recklessly."
Princess Duan looked at Gu Qinlan and sighed inwardly. She knew that her daughter-in-law was a smart and capable woman, but could she really control Zheng Huiyi's stubborn nature?
Princess Duan glanced at Granny Cen and said, "You may leave now; there's nothing for you to do here."
Granny Cen responded and withdrew.
Princess Duan, facing the kneeling servants, coldly announced, "From this day forward, the power to manage the household will be handed over to Princess Consort Gu Qinlan. Anyone who dares to neglect this duty will be severely punished!"
After speaking, Princess Duan turned and left.
The servants looked at each other, not daring to slacken in the slightest, and all bowed their heads in agreement.
Princess Duan had only taken a few steps when Zheng Longyu's mother rushed forward, knelt down, and pleaded, "Your Highness, please have mercy and forgive Longyu this time. He only acted impulsively and made a mistake."
Princess Duan paused, glanced at her coldly, and said, "Zheng, do you know your crime?"
With tears welling in her eyes and her voice trembling, Zheng's mother replied, "This old servant knows her sins and begs Your Highness for forgiveness."
Seeing this, Gu Qinlan gave Xiangzhu a look, and Xiangzhu immediately understood. She quickly walked towards Zheng Longyu's mother and politely but firmly pulled her away. Zheng Longyu's mother looked astonished and confused, but seeing Gu Qinlan's serious expression, she had no choice but to step aside helplessly.
Zheng Longyu's face was deathly pale, his fists clenched, glaring at Gu Qinlan with an indomitable glint in his eyes. Gu Qinlan, on the other hand, remained indifferent, her gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight to Zheng Longyu's heart.
Gu Qinlan said coldly, "Zheng Longyu, do you know your crime?"
Zheng Longyu, his neck stiff, said, "I am innocent! Princess Consort, you are wronging me!"
Gu Qinlan's gaze sharpened: "The evidence is irrefutable, how dare you deny it? Guards, take Zheng Longyu to the yamen to await his fate!"
Xiangzhu (expressionless): "Yes, Princess Consort."
Zheng Longyu's mother hurriedly knelt down: "Princess Consort, please have mercy! Longyu acted impulsively, please spare his life!"
Gu Qinlan remained unmoved: "Zheng, you have failed in your duty to raise your son, which has led to this disaster. If I spare him, how can I explain this to the people of the Prince's Mansion? How can I explain this to the world?"
Zheng Longyu's mother was in tears: "Princess Consort, I was wrong! I am willing to accept any punishment, I just beg you to spare Longyu!"
Gu Qinlan said calmly, "Zheng, since you know you're wrong, then reflect on your actions. As for Zheng Longyu, he must pay the price for his behavior."
Zheng Longyu remained defiant: "I refuse to accept this!"
Gu Qinlan's face turned frosty, and she immediately ordered: "Drag Zheng Longyu and his family away, beat them with sticks, and sell their children! Let them know the consequences of betraying the Duan Prince's Mansion!"
Upon hearing this, the guards immediately dragged Zheng Longyu and his family to the ground, ignoring their struggles and pleas for mercy, and cruelly carried out the order. Zheng Longyu's parents watched all this in horror; they had never imagined that their family would be treated so badly within the Prince Duan's residence.
Zheng Longyu's father pleaded in a trembling voice, "Princess Consort, please, spare our family! We were wrong, we'll never dare to do it again!"
Gu Qinlan sneered, her eyes revealing endless indifference: "Wrong? You betrayed the Duan Prince's Mansion, betrayed me, what right do you have to beg for mercy?"
Zheng Longyu's mother, with tears streaming down her face, pleaded, "Princess Consort, our family's loyalty to you is as clear as day. Please have mercy and don't kill us all!"
Gu Qinlan glanced at them disdainfully and said, "Loyalty? What's your loyalty worth? Today, I'm going to show you the price of betrayal!"
The paddle struck Zheng Longyu's parents with a series of loud thuds. Their bodies gradually weakened until they collapsed to the ground, barely alive.
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