Gu Dingli angrily pointed at the trembling servant: "You, speak!"
The servant was terrified and kowtowed repeatedly in his panic, like a leaf falling in the wind: "Master, please have mercy! I really knew nothing. Granny Wu instructed me to open the door for that person, claiming that he was a distinguished guest summoned by the madam. How could I dare to delay? I even personally escorted him on his way."
He was truly unaware of the conspiracy behind it all, and was simply faithfully carrying out his master's orders, never expecting that this action would almost cost him his life.
Gu Dingli strode forward and kicked Song Shi hard in the chest: "You wicked woman! What are you plotting! Qin Lan is already a married woman, why do you still harbor ill intentions towards her?"
Song was kicked and fell heavily to the ground. The excruciating pain in her chest made her see stars and everything went dark.
But she didn't dare to protest. She struggled to her feet, clung tightly to Gu Dingli's leg, and begged for mercy with tears streaming down her face: "Master, I was momentarily blinded by the sweet words of the Sheng family mother and daughter. Sheng Mimi suffered a loss in front of the eldest young lady and harbored resentment, so she devised a plan to take revenge. I... I dare not disobey, after all, her father is the clerk. What if she goes back and talks nonsense, and if Clerk Sheng speaks ill of us to you, Master? What will we do then?"
“I know I was wrong, but I didn’t dare offend them, so… so I instructed my servants to deliberately lead Song Buren astray, hoping he would get lost somewhere else. Who knew he would accidentally stumble into Qin Lian’s courtyard…”
She thought to herself that since Gu Qinlan seemed to be safe and sound, Song Buren probably hadn't actually entered Gu Qinlan's courtyard. As long as she stuck to this story, she might be able to escape punishment.
However, Gu Qinlan spoke calmly and slowly: "But Song Buren did indeed step into my courtyard, and he was carrying clothes he wanted to give me. The claim that you deliberately led me astray is probably untenable."
Madam Song's eyes widened in astonishment: "What did you say? Song Buren really went to your courtyard?"
Gu Qinlan nodded gently: "Yes, he did go, but I scared him away in time. By the way, I also gave him a pill, which was a poison I had prepared a few days ago. Although it is not fatal, it is enough to make him suffer a lot of pain when it takes effect. If Father does not believe me, he can send someone to the yamen to check his pulse."
The reason she drugged Song Buren was to prove that she had indeed been in contact with him, so that Song would have no way to deny it.
Song's face was pale. She tried to struggle and explain, but was struck again. She fell to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, looking utterly miserable.
Gu Dingli showed no pity, angrily pointing at her and rebuking her: "You ignorant, vicious, and wicked woman! What you have done is truly outrageous! Immediately order someone to imprison this wicked woman in the woodshed, and send her to the nunnery tomorrow so that she can reflect on her actions and practice Buddhism!"
Terrified, Madam Song hurriedly knelt down and hugged Gu Dingli's leg, crying and begging for mercy: "My lord, please have mercy! I was indeed impulsive and lost my mind. I am willing to repent and will never dare to do it again."
Gu Dingli coldly pushed her away, his tone resolute: "How could I let you off so easily! If I forgive you, how will I explain to my in-laws, how will I explain to my son-in-law!"
Madam Song immediately understood his meaning, hurriedly turned to Gu Qinlan, knelt down and kowtowed, pleading, "Qinlan, I was wrong, please be magnanimous and forgive me this time. I promise I will never make the same mistake again. I will agree to all the compensation you ask for, I only ask for your forgiveness this time."
Gu Qinlan bent down to help Madam Song up, and gently comforted her: "Madam, there's no need for this. I have never intended to hold a grudge against you. If I had intended to pursue this matter, I wouldn't have let it go so easily in front of so many guests today. Although Madam's behavior displeased me, as a woman of the Gu family, I must consider the family's reputation. Therefore, as long as the truth comes out today, that's enough. As for how to deal with it, it's entirely up to Father to decide."
Gu Qinlan's words were like a stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples one after another. She casually threw back the difficult question that Gu Dingli had previously thrown at her.
She understood perfectly well that although Gu Dingli was indignant about Song's absurd behavior, he had no intention of severely punishing her. However, with her change of status, if she were to be implicated in the crime of plotting against the family members of a high-ranking official, the entire Gu family would be mercilessly implicated.
Therefore, Gu Dingli had to adopt a serious demeanor, as if he were handing over the power to handle the problem entirely to Gu Qinlan.
Gu Qinlan had publicly expressed her trust in Madam Song, but then immediately punished her. Others would surely criticize her for being inconsistent and even insubordinate. Don't forget, Madam Song is her stepmother; according to etiquette, how could a junior like her argue with an elder?
This was a strategy, a strategy of retreating to advance, forcing Gu Dingli to personally state that he would no longer pursue Song's responsibility.
But is Gu Qinlan someone who can be easily manipulated?
Perhaps she had this kind of personality in her past life, but in this reborn life, she would never tolerate it.
Gu Dingli couldn't help but feel a little angry when Gu Qinlan cleverly kicked him back.
He once thought his eldest daughter was a sensible and understanding young woman, so how did she become so aggressive now? Did she have to force him to severely punish Song before she would stop?
However, he made his anger clear, after all, Gu Qinlan now had a prominent status and was in the right in this matter.
So, he desperately suppressed his anger and tried to discuss the matter with Gu Qinlan: "Qinlan, we've finally managed to calm this down. If we punish Song Shi severely now, it might arouse suspicion from the outside world, and the Gu family's reputation will be damaged. You also have several younger sisters. If this matter affects them, their marriage prospects will likely become more difficult. You've always been a sensible child; you should understand your father's predicament, right?"
Gu Qinlan smiled gently and said firmly, "Ten thousand taels of silver, plus two prime shops on Chonglong Street."
She didn't want to play word games with Gu Dingli anymore. If the Gu family wanted her to let things go, they had to offer substantial compensation. Want her to let go without paying a single penny? Such a good deal was impossible!
Gu Dingli's face darkened when he heard her outrageous demands. He wanted to discuss it with her, but then he noticed a sly glint in Gu Qinlan's eyes.
He understood that Gu Qinlan was doing this on purpose.
There are only two choices: either pay the price or severely punish the Song family; there is no other room for maneuver.
So Gu Dingli swallowed back the words he had originally wanted to discuss, his face darkened, and he said, "Then let's do it your way. I hope you won't bring this up again in the future."
Gu Qinlan readily agreed: "Father, please rest assured, I am not the kind of person who is greedy and insatiable."
Suppressing his anger, Gu Dingli instructed the steward to fetch the banknotes and property deeds and hand them to Gu Qinlan.
Just as she stepped across the threshold, Jiang Ye eagerly handed her two heavy letters: "Madam, these were sent back by a special messenger from afar by the General."
Gu Qinlan glanced at it casually and said indifferently, "This is probably addressed to the old lady, right? Remember to send a servant tomorrow to deliver the letter safely to her."
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