Gu Qingtong heard her sarcastic laughter and was furious, but she wouldn’t be outdone: “Liang Luoxian, your family’s glory is long gone too. You’re worse off than me. What right do you have to point fingers? Are you tired of living, wanting my adoptive father to teach you a lesson?”
Liang Luoxian’s face turned pale, twisting her handkerchief in anger. Gu Qingtong’s words had struck her deeply. Moreover, with Gu Qingtong protected by her adoptive father, and Liang Luoxian relying only on herself, she couldn’t think of a vicious retort and stormed off.
Gu Qingtong hadn’t expected Liang Luoxian to be so weak. She’d accidentally struck a nerve.
Gu Qingtong completed her first marriage trial successfully, feeling full of joy. After having lunch at the Yang family, she bid farewell and left. However, as soon as she stepped out, Young Miss Yang caught up with her.
“Gu Qingniang, let me see you off.”
“I have my own carriage.”
Young Miss Yang laughed awkwardly: “I have something to tell you.” She said this while pulling her into her own carriage, instructing Gu Qingtong’s carriage to follow behind.
Gu Qingtong guessed she wanted advice and did not refuse.
But as soon as Gu Qingtong sat down, Young Miss Yang eagerly leaned close: “Did Liu Yuezhi find you yesterday?”
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Gu Qingtong was surprised, then realized she meant the third young madam of the Xie family, “Yes, the third young madam spoke to me.”
“Is she asking you for help?”
“That seems to be the case.”
“You absolutely must not help her, that wretched woman!” Young Miss Yang suddenly said viciously.
“Young Miss, what’s wrong?”
“You can’t imagine, I couldn’t imagine either, that Ling’er was actually brought by her!” Young Miss Yang furiously pounded the carriage wall, looking truly enraged.
“How could this be? Wasn’t it said that Young Master Xie bought her from outside?”
“Yes, in fact, Ling’er is a maidservant from the Liu family. She can’t stand our Yang family, thinks my father’s official rank is low, believes I’m not worthy of the Xie family, and wants to destroy my relationship with Xie Yan. So she came up with this wicked plan, actually bringing a maidservant from her natal family to deliberately seduce Xie Yan.”
“So, Gu Qingniang, you absolutely must not help her. Xie family’s third son is no good either. You absolutely must not help such a woman! Such a woman should be left to live in lifelong widowhood!” Young Miss Yang said hatefully.
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Gu Qingtong had not intended to help her anyway and found the third young madam’s actions quite despicable, slowly nodding.
“That’s good.” Young Miss Yang, satisfied with her agreement, smiled as they arrived at the Huahao Yueyuan Pavilion.
As soon as Gu Qingtong got off, she encountered the Xie family’s third young madam, Liu Yuezhi.
“Oh, Gu Qingniang, you’re back.” Liu Yuezhi affectionately grabbed her arm, but her expression turned ugly upon seeing Young Miss Yang. “Yang Mingshan, what are you doing here?”
“Why can’t I be here? Gu Qingniang tried on a wedding dress for my sister, and both families are very satisfied. I sent her back to thank her. Is that not allowed?”
“Hmph, climbing up to the Jiang family again.” Liu Yuezhi scoffed.
Young Miss Yang was not one to back down, giving her a sideways glance: “Whether it’s climbing up or not, anyone with eyes can see. But third sister-in-law, isn’t it a bit inappropriate for you to find Gu Qingniang?”
Unexpectedly, the third young master of the Xie family also arrived.
“Fourth brother, no matter what happens, let’s go back to the mansion and discuss it. Don’t embarrass ourselves outside.”
Xie Yan shook off his third brother’s hand, his face cold: “I, Xie Yan, have never cared about those empty reputations.”
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“I am who I am, but that doesn’t mean I can tolerate my own family setting a trap for me!”
“Fourth brother, mother’s health is not good. For her sake, you should go back and talk, don’t cause a scene outside,” the third young master of the Xie family said helplessly.
Hearing this, Xie Yan swallowed the rest of his words, angrily flicked his sleeve, and pulled Yang Mingshan into the carriage.
Cold sweat formed on the third young master’s forehead. After watching him leave, he glared at Liu Yuechi: “Return to the mansion!”
Liu Yuechi had wanted to say a few words to Gu Qingtu but now had no chance. Thinking about the likely upcoming storm, she secretly sent a maidservant back to the Liu residence before following the third young master.
Gu Qingtu watched them disperse, secretly sighing in relief, lifted her skirt, and went inside.
“Miss, this robe has been here for quite a while. Should we send someone to return it?” Green Fruit suddenly noticed Jiang Shangheng’s clothing and asked softly.
Although Gu Qingtu felt that meeting him privately was not appropriate, he was her life-saving benefactor. She decided to thank him properly when she had the chance: “Leave it for now. I’m going to take a nap. Don’t let anyone disturb me.”
“Yes.”
After a comfortable nap, Gu Qingtu was wondering what to do in the afternoon when Ruan Niang sent someone to request her presence.
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She had no choice but to wash her face, apply light makeup, and go.
As soon as she reached Ruan Yunju’s doorway, Gu Qingtu heard buzzing voices inside, seemingly quite lively. She wondered what Ruan Niang wanted, and could even hear scolding voices.
“Gu Qingnu, you’re here,” a maidservant near Ruan Niang greeted her as she entered the courtyard.
“What did Ruan Niang call me for?” Gu Qingtu entered and saw a circle of people, including several teenage maids and six courtesans from the Huahao Yuequan Pavilion.
“These are the newly entered Luo Xue and Luo Xiao. The older sister is Luo Xue, the younger is Luo Xiao. Choose one you like to learn etiquette from you, and the other will go to Liang Luoxi,” Ruan Niang said, pointing to two timid girls.
Gu Qingtu looked at them – two sisters around ten years old, with large eyes, small straight noses, pouting lips, and round faces. Both girls had red-rimmed eyes, clearly having just cried.
“Whichever of you wants to follow me, speak up,” Gu Qingtu said, not wanting to force them.
Everyone knew Gu Qingnu had a proud and difficult personality. Luo Xue and Luo Xiao looked at each other, neither wanting to go with her, taking small steps backward. They felt they were jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
Finally, the older sister Luo Xue, out of love for her sister, carefully stepped forward: “Gu Qingnu, I’ll follow you.”
“Mm,” Gu Qingtu responded lightly, and Green Fruit led Luo Xue behind her.
Liang Luoxi was out learning etiquette today and couldn’t choose, but even if she were present, Ruan Niang would have let Gu Qingtu choose first. So after selecting her disciple, Gu Qingtu stepped aside and watched the courtesans selecting from the six maids.
The two young girls were obviously close to the maids and began to cry, thinking about how they would be reduced to lowly courtesans because of the Leng family.
One courtesan lifted a maid’s chin: “You look so pitiful. You might as well follow me.”
The selected maid didn’t feel happy at all and cried tragically, which even made Gu Qingtu feel somewhat sympathetic.
“Hey, stop crying. I don’t like crybabies. Sister, you take this crybaby, and I’ll choose one who doesn’t cry,” another courtesan said, selecting a maid who stubbornly pressed her lips together and refused to cry.
After selecting the two most attractive maids, the courtesans left.
