Zheng Fei hung his head and pleaded with Gu Qinlan, "Princess Consort, I am willing to return all my property and assets, I only beg you to spare my life and that of my family."
Gu Qinlan stared at Zheng Fei with a serious expression, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Zheng Fei, do you know your crime?"
Zheng Fei hurriedly kowtowed, his voice trembling: "I know my crime, I know my crime. I beg the Crown Princess to have mercy and forgive my whole family."
Gu Qinlan sighed, her tone softening: "Since you have admitted your guilt, then as you said, return all your property and assets. I, Gu Qinlan, keep my word and will make proper arrangements for your family."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fei burst into tears and kowtowed excitedly, saying, "Thank you for your magnanimity, Princess Consort. I, Zheng Fei, am deeply grateful!"
Gu Qinlan waved her hand, signaling the servants to escort Zheng Fei to the yamen. At this moment, Zheng Fei's wife, Wang, rushed in, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Zheng Fei: "Husband, where are you going? What will happen to our family?"
Zheng Fei looked up at his wife, his eyes filled with guilt and helplessness: "Madam, I'm sorry. The only thing I can do now is to follow the Crown Princess's arrangements and hope that she can protect our family."
Wang sobbed uncontrollably: "But we still have children, they are so young, they can't be without their father."
Gu Qinlan looked at Wang Shi and said firmly, "Don't worry, I will arrange your lives. As long as you don't make the same mistakes again, I will make sure you live a happy life."
Wang looked at Gu Qinlan, her eyes gleaming with hope. She suddenly knelt down and pleaded, "Princess Consort, please spare my husband. He committed these crimes for our sake. Please give him a chance to reform."
Gu Qinlan frowned, her tone serious: "Wang, do you know what crime your husband has committed? He betrayed the Duan Prince's Mansion and betrayed me. I cannot let him off so easily."
After hesitating for a moment, Wang said to Gu Qinlan, "I choose to leave with the child and do not want to suffer with Zheng Fei's family at the manor."
Gu Qinlan sat upright in the rosewood chair, her eyes as deep and cold as a frozen pool that had been frozen for ten thousand years.
She gently set down her teacup, her tone calm yet undeniably authoritative: "Ms. Wang, do you know what your choice means?"
Wang bit her lip tightly, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes, but she forced herself to remain calm: "I know I betrayed Zheng Fei's family, but I can't let them drag my child down."
Gu Qinlan nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with Wang's answer: "Since that's the case, I'll grant your wish. But you must remember not to reveal anything about Zheng Fei, or the consequences will be unimaginable."
Lady Wang nodded hurriedly, nervously promising, "Princess Consort, rest assured, I will not divulge a single word."
Gu Qinlan turned to the maid beside her and said coldly, "Sell off all of Zheng Fei's servants, without leaving anyone out."
The maid obeyed and left. Gu Qinlan then turned to look at Madam Wang, her tone softening somewhat: "You and the child can stay in the mansion for now. I will arrange for someone to take care of you. You can leave after things have calmed down."
A hint of gratitude flashed in Madam Wang's eyes, but she still felt some worry: "Princess Consort, if Zheng Fei's family finds out, what will they do...?"
A sharp glint flashed in Gu Qinlan's eyes, and her tone was icy: "If they dare to cause trouble, I will let them taste the power of the Prince Duan's Mansion."
Watching Zheng Fei being led away, Madam Wang felt a pang of sorrow. She turned to Gu Qinlan and said, "Princess Consort, I am grateful for your arrangements, but I would like to ask, why did you help me in this way?"
Gu Qinlan stood up, walked to the window, looked at the busy servants in the courtyard, and said, "Wang Shi, don't worry, I will arrange everything. As long as you don't reveal Zheng Fei's affairs, I will ensure that you and the child are safe."
A hint of gratitude flashed in Madam Wang's eyes. She knew that Gu Qinlan was a man of his word. She nodded and said, "Princess Consort, I will remember your kindness."
Gu Qinlan turned around, looked at Wang Shi, and smiled, "Alright, go and rest. I'll have someone arrange everything."
Wang left the room, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
From this day forward, her connection with Zheng Fei was over. But she also understood that she would never forget Gu Qinlan's kindness.
At this moment, Gu Qinlan patted her rumbling stomach and said with a smile to Hongye and Fuyu, "Hongye, Fuyu, go and clean the stone table and benches in the courtyard. We want to eat in the courtyard."
Hongye and Fuyu immediately obeyed the order and brought a basin of clean water and a clean cloth, quickly wiping the stone table and benches clean.
Before long, the kitchen servants brought out dish after dish of food to the stone table.
Gu Qinlan couldn't help but swallow hard as she looked at the delicious food in front of her. Hongye and Fuyu were also staring longingly, clearly very hungry.
Just then, a steward kneeling on the ground couldn't help but plead in a low voice, "Princess Consort, please have mercy and spare our lives! We were wrong, we are willing to be punished!"
Gu Qinlan frowned, her cold gaze sweeping over the steward as she said indifferently, "I know you're hungry, and I know you're afraid. But your crimes must be punished. I'm busy eating now; I'll deal with you later."
Upon hearing this, the other managers all knelt down and begged for mercy, their emotions collapsing.
Looking at these stewards, Gu Qinlan couldn't help but recall her own first days at the Prince Duan's residence. Back then, she was a clueless newcomer, but with the help of Hongye and Fuyu, she gradually grew into a qualified Crown Princess. These stewards before her were once her trusted assistants, but due to momentary greed, they committed irreparable mistakes.
Hongye and Fuyu sat down cautiously next to Gu Qinlan, looking at her indifferent expression, and felt sorry for the managers.
Gu Qinlan picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of braised pork, and put it in her mouth. While savoring the food, she asked, "What do you think is the proper way to punish these people?"
Hongye and Fuyu exchanged glances. Hongye said cautiously, "Princess Consort, the mistakes these people have made are indeed heartbreaking. But considering that they have served you, why not punish them with hard labor to atone for their wrongdoing?"
Gu Qinlan nodded slightly, indicating her agreement with Hongye's suggestion. She put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "Since that's the case, then let's do as Hongye says. Make them do some hard labor in the mansion as punishment. But if anyone offends again, they will not be let off lightly."
Hongye and Fuyu responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"
After the meal, Gu Qinlan asked Hongye and Fuyu to arrange matters for the stewards. She sat alone in the courtyard, watching the sunset, and secretly vowed to make the Duan Prince's Mansion even more prosperous and strong, and to prevent any force from invading it.
Night slowly fell, and the surroundings were gradually enveloped in deep darkness.
Gu Qinlan, accompanied by Fuyu and Hongye, stepped into Jinghong Garden.
Fuyu hurriedly instructed the maids serving her, "Quickly prepare hot water; the lady wishes to take a bath."
As soon as she finished speaking, she gently helped Gu Qinlan to sit down on the soft couch, and then began to skillfully massage her shoulders with just the right amount of pressure.
Gu Qinlan smiled and took Fuyu's hand: "Alright, you've all been traveling and working hard with me today, so you must be exhausted. Sit down and rest for a while."
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