Conflict (II)

Gu Wanning stepped forward to argue with her, but Gu Anwei raised her hand to stop her from speaking, so she obediently shut up and stood behind him.

"Princess, even if my sister lacks manners, my Gu family has taught her. Your actions seem to be abusing your age and bullying others. My sister is under my control in my household, and her sister-in-law spoils her. My husband and I have no objection to how she behaves in the Princess's Residence. If she offends you outside, you can discipline her. But you come here seeking offense and resort to private punishment. In this case, I must demand an explanation from the Marquis! Someone, go and invite the Marquis of Yingchuan here!"

"I'll go and invite them!" The Fourth Concubine, who had been unable to contain herself any longer, came out from the inner room.

She was willing to take a beating; she simply couldn't stand the Grand Princess bringing people to provoke Gu Wanning.

That's absolutely outrageous!

Fortunately, the prince consort was very supportive, Fourth Concubine decided to become his die-hard fan from now on.

Gu Wanning frowned upon seeing this. This simpleton, isn't he just asking for a beating by coming out now?

The Grand Princess can punish her.

She was thinking about how to extricate the Fourth Concubine from the situation when she saw the other concubines in the room, including the Second Concubine who was the most astute and worldly-wise, come out as well.

Gu Wanning was speechless.

Everyone's completely out of their minds!

"What are you doing here?" The Grand Princess indeed turned her gun on him. "As a concubine of the Marquis, you are not content to stay at home and wander around at will. What is your punishment!"

Gu Wanning never expected that the first person to face the Grand Princess's gun would be her Second Concubine.

Chapter 169 Conflict (Part Two)

The Second Concubine knelt on the ground, first bowing to the Grand Princess, and then said, "The Marquis is reluctant to part with his wife and has ordered the four of us to serve her at all times and obey her every command."

Gu Wanning: "..."

No, you can't talk nonsense.

Aren't you just adding fuel to the fire?

"Nonsense!" The Grand Princess's face darkened as Xie Yun slammed her hand on the table. "She's no longer a lady. Guards, slap her! Teach this lowly servant girl who spouts such nonsense a lesson!"

"She is! As long as the Marquis says she is, then to us servants, she is." The Third Concubine knelt down beside the Second Concubine and looked up at her.

Upon seeing this, the First Concubine also knelt down, saying, "This servant only obeys the Marquis and his wife."

Fourth Concubine muttered, "Why are you all kneeling? If I go to call the Marquis like this, it'll look like I'm deserting my post and being disloyal... Never mind you, I'm going to find the Marquis. I want Marquis to come and judge this properly! I'm leaving!"

After saying that, he dashed off like an arrow.

Despite the Grand Princess's desperate cries and attempts to stop her, she couldn't stop her at all... and could only watch helplessly as Fourth Concubine disappeared from everyone's sight.

"Fine, fine, you're all going to rebel, aren't you?" The Grand Princess clutched her chest, her breathing becoming rapid.

Xie Yun quickly tried to calm her down, saying, "Princess, please calm down. Your health is important."

"Thank goodness we still have you. Look at the Marquis's Residence without a proper mistress! Ah Yun, only when you marry into the family and take charge of this mess can I feel at ease. You are virtuous and kind, far superior to those who pretend to be phoenixes with chicken feathers!"

Gu Wanning looked at the Grand Princess with a half-smile.

The Grand Princess's heart ailment was like Schrödinger's cat, sometimes present and sometimes absent.

It will activate when you want to use it.

For others, illness is a burden; for her, it's a weapon.

She couldn't speak at this moment, lest she anger the Grand Princess and cause those three fools to suffer.

What she had to do now was to stall for time with her second brother until Xu Weibei arrived and they could take his mad grandmother away as soon as possible.

Xie Yun blushed slightly. "Please don't say that. I... I never intended to curry favor with the Marquis."

Gu Wanning: That's interesting.

It seems Xie Yun is considering backing out?

"My Marquis, your husband... and Miss Gu, there's just a misunderstanding. They can reconcile in the future, so please don't worry."

These words, instead of comforting the Grand Princess, were a painful blow.

Even if they wanted to reconcile, I would not allow it!

"The princess won't acknowledge it, and neither will the Gu family." Gu Anwei wasn't one to back down. "My sister's reputation is paramount; I hope the Grand Princess will be careful with her words."

Princess Qingyi changed her clothes and came out, leaning against Gu Anwei, head bowed and silent.

Xie Yun said, "Princess, please calm down. I had heard before that although Miss Gu has divorced the Marquis, she still maintains close ties with the concubines in the manor. It seems that Miss Gu is kind-hearted, magnanimous, and doesn't do anything jealous or petty. She is virtuous and kind. You should think this is something to be happy about. I sincerely hope that the Marquis and Miss Gu can rekindle their relationship; it would be a wonderful thing."

Gu Wanning: "... Hehe."

Tea-related words and phrases.

The Grand Princess had already shifted her attention away from the concubines, but now she's focusing on them again, and she's angry.

While she verbally expressed her hope that she and Xu Weibei reconcile, she secretly wished to take the opportunity to eliminate all the concubines so that she could marry into the new family and enjoy exclusive favor.

"You child, your demeanor is unmatched," said the Grand Princess. "The title of Lady of a Marquis isn't something just anyone can attain. Only someone like you can put my mind at ease."

This puts the marriage in the open.

The Grand Princess's statement suggests she will not go back on her word.

Xie Yun replied, "Marriage is a major life event, decided by parents and arranged by matchmakers. I dare not presume to comment; moreover, given the current circumstances, it is probably not appropriate for Your Marquis to discuss marriage again."

The Grand Princess said, "Whatever I say goes!"

Gu Anwei sneered, "If the Grand Princess wants to propose marriage with the Xie Residence, she should go Xie Residence herself. Coming here seems like she's come to the wrong place."

"I've come to sit for a while, do you dare to turn me away? This is the princess's Princess's Residence bestowed upon Qingyi by the Emperor, not your Gu family's territory!"

"I am the princess consort, and also an elder brother. I will not allow anyone to trample on my sister! If the Grand Princess feels that I have spoken rudely and contradicted you, we can certainly go before the Emperor and have a proper debate!"