Chapter 111 Slap in the Face (Second Update)
Gu Jiao had indeed planned to go to the blacksmith shop, but she encountered a little trouble.
When she first arrived in town, she had already noticed that there were many more government officials and constables. Not knowing why, she asked a steamed bun shop owner.
The owner of the steamed bun shop was a kind-hearted man. He didn't ignore her just because she didn't buy any buns: "Miss, you don't know this, do you? I heard that a prince from the capital has come to our town, and those officials are there to protect him!"
It wasn't just the officials on the surface; Gu Jiao also noticed that many skilled individuals dressed as commoners had infiltrated the seemingly inconspicuous crowd.
That's quite a grand display.
The road to the blacksmith shop was blocked, so Gu Jiao decided to go another day.
She arrived at the private school to wait for Xiao Jingkong and Gu Yan, but unexpectedly ran into Gu Jinyu.
Gu Jinyu was accompanying Miss Zhuang to town for a stroll, and the two were waiting for Li Ji's osmanthus cake.
Miss Zhuang naturally wouldn't obediently wait in line; she spent money to buy all the osmanthus cakes behind her, but the osmanthus cakes wouldn't be ready so quickly.
"Sister." Gu Jinyu saw Gu Jiao, let go of Miss Zhuang's hand, and came over to greet Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao didn't really want to pay attention to Gu Jinyu. She glanced at her indifferently and had no intention of stopping.
Gu Jinyu chased after her, calling out, "Sister!"
Gu Jiao was annoyed: "I told you I'm not your sister, so don't call me that anymore."
Gu Jinyu opened her mouth: "But..."
"Hey! How dare you talk to me like that?"
Miss Zhuang suddenly appeared beside Gu Jinyu.
Because of Gu Jinyu's gift of calligraphy and his flattery, Miss Zhuang has reconciled with Gu Jinyu and considers him a friend.
Ms. Zhuang felt humiliated that her friend spoke to someone so humbly and was met with a cold response.
Gu Jiao didn't know Miss Zhuang and had no intention of getting to know her, so she kept her distance from the two of them with a blank expression.
Miss Zhuang had never been ignored like this before, and her temper flared up: "You stop right there!"
Gu Jinyu tugged at Miss Zhuang's sleeve: "Miss Zhuang, let's forget about it."
Miss Zhuang said irritably, "What's there to calculate? How dare a commoner like her give a rich family's daughter such attitude! Who gave her the guts?"
“She…” Gu Jinyu said with difficulty, “She is my older sister.”
Miss Zhuang scoffed, "What kind of sister is she? A mere commoner doesn't even deserve to be called her!"
Gu Jinyu explained, "I didn't lie, she really is my father's child."
Miss Zhuang looked Gu Jiao up and down: "Poor and ugly... Ah, I understand now, she is your father's illegitimate daughter!"
Lord Gu only has one daughter whose identity has been acknowledged. If he has other children, they must be from his concubines, and the children born to his concubines would be illegitimate!
Gu Jinyu pulled her back and said, "No, Miss Zhuang... things are a bit complicated... I'll explain it to you slowly later..."
Miss Zhuang snorted coldly: "You don't need to speak up for her. She's just a lowly, worthless woman. Why give her any face? I've seen plenty of people like her. Just because her mother has some seductive skills, she thinks she's a proper mistress. Little does she know that a pheasant is still a pheasant. Even if she flies up a branch, she can't become a phoenix!"
These words were indeed directed at Gu Jiao, but Gu Jinyu felt as if they were directed at her, and her face burned with embarrassment.
Gu Jiao remained remarkably calm, as if she wasn't the one being scolded at all.
This made Gu Jinyu feel even more upset.
This Miss Zhuang, her insults are so hurtful to her teammates...
Miss Zhuang cursed for a long time without seeing any reaction from the other party. She felt like she had punched a cotton ball. She took a few steps forward, pointed at Gu Jiao's nose and said, "You, apologize to my friend right now!"
Gu Jiao looked at her as if she were an idiot.
This little look completely enraged Miss Zhuang. Just then, the private school let out, and Gu Yan and Xiao Jingkong came out.
The two spotted Gu Jiao immediately, and Xiao Jingkong ran over to her side.
Gu Yan couldn't run away, so he could only watch helplessly as the little monk threw himself into Gu Jiao's arms.
Xiao Jingkong hugged Jiaojiao tightly!
Miss Zhuang was close to Gu Jiao, and when Xiao Jingkong ran past her, he accidentally brushed against her skirt.
Miss Zhuang instantly bristled: "How do you walk? You've dirtied my skirt!"
Gu Jiao's eyes turned cold.
Gu Yan's expression also turned cold.
Xiao Jingkong didn't catch the sarcasm in her words. He released Jiao Jiao's little hands and meticulously examined Miss Zhuang's skirt: "Did I dirty your skirt? Let me see!"
Miss Zhuang suddenly tugged at her skirt: "Don't touch me with your filthy hands!"
Gu Yan walked over coldly, took out a handkerchief, squatted down, grabbed the little monk's hand, and carefully wiped it.
Xiao Jingkong looked at Gu Yan with a blank expression.
Gu Yan threw the used handkerchief on the ground without hesitation: "Don't touch dirty things outside in the future."
Miss Zhuang stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
She didn't hear wrong, did she?
Is this guy saying her skirt is dirty?
Miss Zhuang was furious.
Just a moment ago I was admiring how good-looking this person was, but then I turned around and realized he was a big, arrogant villain!
Gu Jinyu looked at Gu Yan and said, "Yan'er, this is Miss Zhuang. She is the younger sister of Prince An."
Miss Zhuang frowned: "You know him?"
Gu Jinyu nodded: "He is my father's son, and he and my sister are twins."
Miss Zhuang glanced at Gu Yan with disdain: "Twins, so you're an illegitimate child too? I heard there was a short-lived man in the Marquis of Ding'an's mansion, are you going to be one too?"
These words were so hurtful that even Gu Jinyu's expression changed.
Gu Jiao said to Gu Yan, "You two, go wait for me over there."
"Oh." Gu Yan took Xiao Jingkong's hand and led him back to the private school.
As soon as the two disappeared from sight, Gu Jiao slapped Miss Zhuang across the face!
Miss Zhuang was stunned on the spot: "You...you hit me?"
Gu Jiao said coldly, "I'll hit you whenever I want, do I need to pick a day?"
Gu Jinyu's face paled: "Sister, you...how could you...ah—"
Snap!
Gu Jiao slapped her back!
"Would it kill you to speak properly? Are you stuttering or something? You can't explain yourself clearly in one sentence, you have to break it into three or four parts. Is there too much money in the Marquis's mansion, and it's all gone into your head?"
“You…you…” Gu Jinyu staggered repeatedly as he was rebuked.
Lord Gu and Prince An, who were enjoying tea nearby, heard the commotion from their servants and came over to see what had happened. They found that Miss Zhuang and Gu Jinyu were both swollen up like buns.
"Brother!" Miss Zhuang rushed to Prince An, showing him her injured face, and pointed at Gu Jiao, "She hit me! She hit me!"
When Lord Gu saw Gu Jiao, his head exploded.
Why is it this girl again?
Prince An's gaze fell on Gu Jiao's face. Because of the birthmark on her left cheek, her face was not considered beautiful, but the coldness between her brows gave her a more refined air than the so-called beauties in the capital.
Gu Jinyu returned to Lord Gu's side, her eyes filled with tears and her face full of grievance.
Lord Gu was heartbroken: "What happened?"
Prince An also looked over at Gu Jinyu, seemingly waiting for her to speak.
Gu Jinyu lowered her eyes and said, "There was a misunderstanding between my sister and Miss Zhuang... Actually, it's my fault for not explaining things clearly. It's all my fault, Father, please don't blame my sister."
Lord Gu was so angry he nearly fell over: "So, it really was her who hit me?"
This girl is insane! She's incredibly audacious. Not only did she beat up her own father, but she also beat up her sister and the prince's sister. Does she think she has any brains?
Isn't she afraid that the entire Marquis's mansion will be buried with her?!
Lord Gu cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Highness..."
Prince An looked at Gu Jinyu and asked, "What misunderstanding is this?"
Gu Jinyu lowered her eyes and said, "I said this is my sister, but I didn't make it clear, which caused Miss Zhuang to misunderstand that she is my father's illegitimate daughter."
Miss Zhuang glared angrily at Gu Jiao and said, "What misunderstanding? Isn't she the one?"
Lord Gu gritted his teeth, cupped his hands in a salute to Prince An, and said, "This is the bloodline of my wife and me."
Prince An's questioning gaze fell on Gu Jinyu, who felt as if she had thorns in her back, but Prince An did not press the matter further.
Miss Zhuang couldn't help but speak up: "She's the biological daughter, but what about her?"
The first "she" refers to Gu Jiao, and the second is Gu Jinyu.
Gu Jinyu's palm tightened.
Lord Gu broke out in a cold sweat and said awkwardly, "Jinyu... Jinyu is also my daughter with my wife."
Miss Zhuang asked, "So they're not twins, but triplets?"
Lord Gu wanted to say no, but when he turned his head, he saw Gu Jinyu with red eyes and a wronged look that immediately softened his heart.
He didn't say anything, so Miss Zhuang assumed she had guessed correctly.
Miss Zhuang looked coldly at Gu Jinyu: "Your own sister, can't you explain yourself clearly!"
Gu Jinyu whispered, "I wanted to say it, but Miss Zhuang didn't give me the chance..."
Prince An said, "Is it because she was mistaken for an illegitimate child that my sister spoke rudely to her?"
Gu Jinyu said guiltily, "Also... Miss Zhuang thought I was being bullied by my sister, so she stood up for me and said a few words to my sister."
Prince An looked at Miss Zhuang: "What did you say?"
Miss Zhuang's eyes flashed: "I...didn't say anything...just those few words..."
"Which sentences?" Prince An asked seriously.
Miss Zhuang muttered under her breath, "Those lines about illegitimate daughters."
Prince An looked at the crowd and casually pointed to a commoner: "Come here and speak."
The man was brought before Prince An's guards, looking terrified. He had just heard the master call him Prince An, and he was the prince from the capital!
"What did she say?" Prince An looked at the commoners, glancing at his younger sister.
The man was initially afraid to speak.
“I forgive you for your innocence,” said Prince An calmly.
The man glanced at Miss Zhuang, who threatened him with her eyes. Although Prince An's tone was amiable, he inexplicably felt that Prince An was more dangerous than Miss Zhuang.
He confessed, his face covered in cold sweat: "She...she called that girl an illegitimate child...a lowly wretch...she called that girl's mother a vixen...and...she also insulted someone else...saying, 'The Marquis of Ding'an's mansion has a short-lived ghost, you wouldn't be a short-lived ghost too, would you?'"
It doesn't matter who the other person is anymore; anyone could tell from her line, "There's a short-lived ghost in the Ding'an Marquis's mansion," that she was cursing Gu Yan.
Gu Yan had been ill since childhood, and the imperial physician predicted that he would not live past the age of fifteen. However, the imperial physician's diagnosis was one thing, but being ridiculed as a short-lived ghost was another.
That girl was the direct descendant of Lord Gu and Madam Yao, making her Gu Yan's elder sister.
She called people illegitimate children and sluts, called their mothers vixens and their younger brothers short-lived ghosts. Who else should we punish but her?
Lord Gu fell silent.
Prince An raised his hand and bowed slightly to Marquis Gu and Gu Jiao: "My sister's words and actions were improper. I apologize to the Marquis and Miss Gu."
Lord Gu quickly helped him up: "No! No! It's just a quarrel between young girls, Your Highness need not take it to heart."
Prince An said sincerely, "I will discipline my younger sister properly in the future."
Lord Gu said awkwardly, "Your Highness is too kind..."
As he agreed, he winked at Gu Jiao, signaling that it was time for her to apologize as well, explaining that he had acted impulsively and hit the person.
Gu Jiao ignored her gaze the whole time and turned away.
Lord Gu: "..."
Miss Zhuang retorted angrily, "You, you... I won't let you get away with this! I don't care if you're the legitimate daughter of a marquis's family! You hit me, and I'll remember you! You'd better kowtow to me right now and admit your mistake! Maybe I'll take pity on you and let you off! Otherwise, when you return to the capital, I'll make sure you see this!"
Lord Gu's eyelids twitched incessantly!
Gu Jiao continued to ignore her and walked towards the private school.
Miss Zhuang was furious: "Outrageous! Do you know who I am? Grand Tutor Zhuang is my grandfather! The Empress Dowager is my great-aunt! When I return to the capital, I will make sure the Empress Dowager punishes you with death!"
Lord Gu was so anxious that he broke out in a cold sweat.
The ruthless Empress Dowager Zhuang was notoriously protective of her own; if anyone bullied her grandniece, she could literally twist their head off...
This brat, what would happen if you just gave in a little?
Does it really have to cost me my head?!
"Shut up!" Prince An coldly rebuked, then said to the guard beside him, "Escort the young lady back to the manor!"
"yes!"
Miss Zhuang was so angry she jumped up and down: "I'm not going back! I don't want to! Where did this bastard come from, daring to touch me! I'll chop off your hand!"
"Excuse me!"
The guard took a cloak from the maid and draped it over Miss Zhuang's arm, then "sent" her onto the carriage through the cloak.
Prince An nodded slightly to Marquis Gu, his gaze sweeping over Gu Jinyu's face. Gu Jinyu lowered her head, and Prince An said nothing before getting into the carriage.
Miss Zhuang was furious when she saw her older brother: "You broke your promise! You said you wouldn't help outsiders bully me anymore!"
Prince An said softly, "Let my brother take a look."
Miss Zhuang turned her back: "Come on! You don't care about me at all!"
Prince An: "Brother will give it to you..."
Miss Zhuang covered her ears: "No, no, I don't want the gift! Don't even think about bribing me again! I want to go back to the capital, I want to see my parents, I want to see the Empress Dowager! I want to tell them that you colluded with outsiders to bully me!"
Prince An sighed softly, "I originally planned to take you to play in town for a few more days, but since you insist, let's set off back to the capital. It just so happens that your fourth uncle is also returning to the capital soon, so let him test your studies and see if you have made any progress?"
Upon hearing that Governor Zhuang would be testing her studies, Miss Zhuang fell silent.
She removed her hands from her ears and said weakly, "Then... how about... we play for a few more days?"
Prince An said, "Then you must not cause any more trouble."
"I know, I know!" Miss Zhuang replied perfunctorily, but secretly vowed that once she returned to the capital, she would immediately go to see the Empress Dowager and have her drag out that little hussy from the Ding'an Marquis's mansion and slap her a hundred times in public!
Xiaoxiang has monthly pass red envelopes, remember to claim them, mwah!
Note: "I'll hit you whenever I want, do I need to pick a day?" is a line from the Hong Kong drama "Beyond the Realm of Conscience".
(End of this chapter)
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