Gu Qinlan stepped lightly into the spacious living room, her eyes sharp as she surveyed the surroundings, taking in all the members of the Zheng family.
She spoke with a firm tone and sharp gaze: "Although Jiang Ye is a steward, he was personally hired by me and is not a servant of my Duanwang Mansion. His status is no lower than any of yours."
"On the contrary, it is you who have come uninvited, trespassed into my Prince Duan's residence, and pointed fingers at me. This is the real act of rudeness!"
The faces of the Zheng family's collateral members turned extremely grim, like dark clouds before a storm.
Chief Zheng was furious. He slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "How dare you, Gu Qinlan, speak to us in such an insolent manner!"
Gu Qinlan snorted coldly, her expression stern: "I think you are the ones who are truly audacious and reckless. You dare to roar at me without even checking where you are. Although I have not received an imperial decree, I am Zheng Dinglian's legal wife and the mistress of this Prince Duan's mansion. The fact that I have not expelled you is already an act of extraordinary leniency!"
Clan Chief Zheng and the others had not expected Gu Qinlan to be so resolute and forceful.
They had assumed that a young woman from a merchant family would be naive and easily subdued with a little pressure. However, they were wrong. Gu Qinlan not only refused to yield but also tried to drive them out.
Everyone was speechless for a moment, and an awkward silence fell over the room.
Jiang Ye was deeply moved by Gu Qinlan's protection, but at the same time, he was worried that her relationship with the Zheng family would deteriorate as a result. So he smiled and advised, "Madam, please calm down. The gentlemen may not know the truth. They are only concerned about the reputation of the Duan Prince's Mansion."
A middle-aged man from a collateral branch, who was about forty years old and obese, quickly chimed in, "That's right, Princess Consort, we meant no harm."
Gu Qinlan gradually calmed down and said in a calm tone, "Since it's a misunderstanding, let's not talk about it anymore."
She walked to the main seat and slowly sat down, her gaze sweeping over everyone as she asked, "I wonder what important matter you gentlemen have to discuss with me?"
Clan Chief Zheng's face remained gloomy as he asked with displeasure, "Gu Qinlan, why did you imprison Feng Hui in the manor and prevent him from attending school? Do you know that he is the eldest grandson of the Prince Duan's manor and the future hope of the Prince Duan's manor? What are your intentions in doing this?"
Gu Qinlan raised her eyebrows slightly and asked, "I won't let Feng Hui go to school? Who said that?"
Chief Zheng replied impatiently, "You don't need to investigate who said it."
Gu Qinlan already understood that there were only a handful of people in the mansion, and apart from Zheng Huaiyu, no one else cared about Zheng Fenghui's studies.
However, she was unwilling to say more, and simply said calmly, "I don't want to explain this matter further. I'd rather let Feng Hui personally come forward to answer everyone's questions, so as to avoid any further misunderstandings."
As soon as she finished speaking, she gestured to her servants to summon Zheng Fenghui.
Before long, Zheng Fenghui, with beads of sweat glistening on his forehead, hurried over, carrying his nimble sword.
"What brings you here?"
Zheng Fenghui, whose sword practice had been interrupted, was quite displeased.
Gu Qinlan said softly, "First, pay your respects to the elders of the family. They have some questions for you."
Zheng Fenghui casually cupped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, elders. Please ask me any questions you may have. I need to go back and continue practicing my swordsmanship."
The elders looked rather grim.
Chief Zheng looked at Gu Qinlan with reproach: "Why don't you teach him a lesson for being so unruly?"
Before Gu Qinlan could speak, Zheng Fenghui preemptively replied, "What does my behavior have to do with her? She's only been in our family for a few days, how could she possibly control me?"
Although he didn't have much affection for Gu Qinlan, she had helped him yesterday, and he couldn't be ungrateful and let her suffer the harsh criticism from these elders.
Clan Chief Zheng was speechless for a moment, suppressing his anger, and slowly said, "Feng Hui, why aren't you going to the school? Is someone deliberately trying to stop you?"
As he spoke, he gave Gu Qinlan a meaningful look.
Zheng Fenghui chuckled: "You guys don't really think she's the one stopping me from going to school, do you? That's laughable. How could she possibly stop me?"
Chief Zheng was slightly taken aback, and asked further, "Then why don't you go to school?"
Zheng Fenghui answered frankly, "If I don't want to go, I won't go. I'm not cut out for studying."
Clan Chief Zheng was getting impatient: "Nonsense! Education is a long-term endeavor, how can it be treated so carelessly! Do you know the responsibilities you bear as the eldest grandson of the Prince Duan's family?"
Zheng Fenghui said nonchalantly, "I don't care about the status of the eldest grandson. I'll give it to whoever wants it. Is there anything else? I'm going to continue practicing my sword."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Zheng Fenghui drew his sword and ran away without looking back, leaving the clan chief and the others staring at each other, their faces ashen.
Gu Qinlan observed quietly for a while before calmly saying, "You all know the purpose of your visit today. To be frank, the reason Zheng Fenghui is not going to school is because he has been expelled, and no school in the city is willing to accept him. Since you all care so much about Fenghui's studies, then we will trouble you to find him a new school."
"After all, I am only a second wife in name only, and the school I recommend may not meet everyone's expectations. In order not to delay the future of our Zheng family's eldest grandson, I ask my uncles to put in more effort."
She was originally worried about how to solve this problem, but unexpectedly someone came to her door to help her out, which was a pleasant surprise.
The Zheng family elders were completely taken aback when Gu Qinlan threw this hot potato at them. They were all stunned.
After a long while, the clan chief Zheng finally came to his senses and hurriedly said, "Niece-in-law, Fenghui's studies are the foundation of our Zheng family's century-old legacy. How can such an important matter be decided so hastily..."
Gu Qinlan nodded in agreement with a serious expression: "What the clan elder says is absolutely right. That is why I intend to entrust this matter to the elders. I come from a merchant family and am still young. I have never been to prosperous places and know very little about the customs and culture of Jindu. In comparison, the elders are experienced and knowledgeable, and they are more adept at handling any matter than I am."
“Feng Hui’s studies are of utmost importance, so I must earnestly ask the elders to put in more effort.”
Clan Chief Zheng seemed somewhat anxious: "Niece-in-law, how can such a matter be handled so hastily? Feng Hui is the eldest grandson of the Prince Duan's mansion, and you, as his legal mother, should naturally preside over this matter personally."
Gu Qinlan sighed softly: "I understand this principle, but unfortunately I am too young and lack experience. Feng Hui carries the future of the Duanwang Mansion and also shoulders the expectations of the Zheng family. Now, my husband is fighting abroad, and only the old, weak, women and children are left in the mansion. If it weren't for the presence of all the elders today, I probably wouldn't have known that the Zheng family actually has so many relatives."
If they hadn't come knocking on her door to cause trouble, she would never have known that the Zheng family had so many relatives. And in the past month or so, she hadn't seen a single member of the Zheng clan come to visit.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
