Gu Qingtong saw her eyes filled with tearful light, her beautiful face almost distorted with indignation. “Orange, your father didn’t mean to; my father just lived in unfortunate times.”
“He was nothing but a muddle-headed and tyrannical emperor. My father was framed and didn’t realize it in time. If he were a wise ruler, a simple investigation would have shown that the deer herd in the hunting ground was not released by my father.” Ji Chen paused, caressing her face. “But perhaps that dog emperor had already planned everything. See how precisely he timed it: Lord Xiang was imprisoned, his wife was taken to the palace that same night, and the next day they said Lord Xiang had committed suicide out of guilt.”
Gu Qingtong had already guessed that Consort Xin was probably forcibly taken to the palace by the emperor, but hearing it from Ji Chen made her tremble with anger.
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“We would have been implicated too, if not for Consort Xin enduring humiliation to protect us. But your brother was tragically killed, and my unborn brother never got the chance to see the world.” Ji Chen began to wail.
It was then that Gu Qingtong realized Ji Chen was a girl who had suffered similar circumstances. The beautiful Consort Xin was indeed her mother, who had endured humiliation to protect two young girls. Now, Gu Qingtong understood her background, but one thing still puzzled her. After comforting Ji Chen for a while, she slowly said, “The Young Master of Yu Qing redeemed my mother’s hairpin for me, and my adoptive father gave me my mother’s most beloved jade bracelet. But the Rui Prince forcibly took my hairpin and jade bracelet. I wonder if he wants to use them to threaten my mother.”
“The Rui Prince took your hairpin and jade bracelet?” Ji Chen was shocked.
“Yes.”
“Have you told Ruan Niang about this?”
“No.”
“I’ll go tell Ruan Niang.” Ji Chen said this and ran away in a panic.
Although Gu Qingtong didn’t know what connection Ruan Niang had with the bracelet, Ji Chen’s anxious manner made her think the jade bracelet must be of great significance.
“Sister, sister!” Luo Xue suddenly shouted, rushing in from outside, kneeling at her feet, face full of tears, her voice sounding heartbreaking.
“Luo Xue, what’s wrong?” Gu Qingtong hurriedly helped her up.
“Weren’t you learning vocal music today? How did you end up like this?” She ordered Green Fruit to bring a cloth to wipe her face, but Luo Xue shook her head and knelt down again.
“Sister, please, please save my sister.”
“Your sister? Isn’t Luo Xiao at Liang Ruoxi’s place? What happened?”
“I don’t know how, but my sister angered Liang Qingniang. Early this morning, Liang Qingniang had someone strip her outer clothes and leave her in the courtyard, beating her several times with a whip. My sister is weak, and the sun is fierce today. She has already fainted on the ground. But without Liang Qingniang’s permission, no one dares to save her.”
Gu Qingtong thought Liang Ruoxi was cruel. A ten-year-old girl, who naturally doesn’t understand much, couldn’t have done anything unforgivable. Moreover, Luo Xiao was a disciple assigned by Ruan Niang, not a servant. She stood up and headed towards Luo Xi Pavilion.
“Sister, hurry up.” Luo Xue saw that her sister was willing to save her younger sister and felt slightly relieved, but thinking of her sister’s pale face, she was still worried and anxiously urged her.
If only she had known earlier that Liang Qingniang was the truly cruel one, she should have let her sister follow Gu Qingniang back then. Now she had good intentions but had caused harm.
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She never expected that Liang Qingniang would be well-served, while her sister was being beaten and starved at Luoxian Pavilion. If not for today’s incident blowing up, she would still be unaware of the hardships her sister was enduring.
Luoxian Pavilion was right next door, and Gu Qingtong saw several servants pointing and whispering. A young girl, wearing only undergarments, lay on the ground with several shocking red marks on her back and chest. She quickly ordered Lüguo and Qiulu to help Luo Xiao, but saw that her face was deathly pale, her whole body trembling, and she would frantically wave her hands if anyone touched her, afraid of being beaten again.
Gu Qingtong saw that she hadn’t even opened her eyes, yet was so wary of them, looking pitiful. She could only order Luo Xue to hold her hand and personally picked her up.
“Gu Qingtong, what are you doing!” Liang Luoxian, hearing that Gu Qingtong had come to “stand up for justice”, rushed out furiously, pointing at Gu Qingtong.
Gu Qingtong casually glanced at her: “What do you think?”
“She is my person, how dare you touch her!”
“She is your apprentice, but not your possession. As for whether I dare or not, we both know the answer.”
“You…!” Liang Luoxian’s fighting capacity was clearly not on the same level as Gu Qingtong’s, who found her uninteresting and turned to leave.
“Gu Qingtong, put her down! She is my person!”
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“She is my apprentice’s sister. My apprentice is now begging me to save her, so I cannot stand by and do nothing.” Gu Qingtong noticed Luo Xiao was starting to speak nonsense, felt her forehead which was burning, and ordered Qiulu to call a doctor before leaving the courtyard.
Liang Luoxian realized she was being completely disregarded and chased after her, grabbing Gu Qingtong’s shoulder to snatch Luo Xiao.
Luo Xue, seeing this, anxiously rushed forward and bit her hard. Liang Luoxian, in pain, heavily slapped Luo Xue, breaking free from her bite.
Gu Qingtong quickly handed Luo Xiao to Lüguo and looked at Luo Xue, raising her hand towards Liang Luoxian.
“Stop!”
Gu Qingtong heard Han Yuan’an had returned and had to lower her raised hand, bowing: “Adoptive father.”
Han Yuan’an’s face was stern as he glanced at them, understanding the situation. He pointed at the timid servants: “Take these two sisters to Yan Hong.”
“Yes.”
Gu Qingtong worriedly looked at Luo Xue, wanting to bring her back, but Han Yuan’an’s glance stopped her. She could only watch the two sisters being taken away, thinking to herself that she had been too impulsive.
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Han Yuan’an ordered someone to call a doctor for Liang Luoxian’s injury, then looked at Gu Qingtong: “Tong Tong, come with me.”
“Yes.” Gu Qingtong followed his steps, wondering about his sudden change in attitude towards Liang Luoxian.
“Yes, it is said that the princess is dissatisfied with the third young master of the Yan family because of Liang Qingniang. Previously, the princess missed her chance with Gu Qingniang. This time, she wants Gu Qingniang to come.”
“Understood,” Han Yue’an nodded.
“But the princess’s sedan chair has already come to pick her up.”
“So soon?” Gu Qingtong was startled, sensing something bad was about to happen.
“Yes, the princess wants Gu Qingniang to familiarize herself with the palace rules,” the person said, their voice softening.
Han Yue’an sighed. The previous top-tier qingniang had just retired, and Gu Qingtong had never entered the palace before, so she was bound to make mistakes. However, Princess Wan’qiu had already chosen her, so he could only make arrangements.
“Quan Zhong, personally escort Gu Qingniang over and have Lüguo watch carefully.”
Gu Qingtong wanted to return to her room to change her clothes, but as soon as she stepped out, several matrons pushed her towards the sedan chair.
After entering the palace gates, Gu Qingtong changed to a royal sedan chair and soon arrived at a palace called Yixia Hall.
