Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Ambitious Servant

Gu Xingnuo had lived to 26 without ever dealing with matters of the inner courtyard. When Gu Chen suddenly gave him this miserable task, he couldn’t help but ask, “What about grandmother?”

Gu Chen gave a cold snort and left without a word.

Gu Xingnuo could only follow behind him and say, “Grandson understands.”

—

Soon enough, the servants brought Yu Xiaoxiao breakfast. She who had lived her life to fill her stomach was in great spirits as she stuffed herself at the table. Wang momo only drank two sips from her own bowl of congee. She didn’t have much of an appetite.

“Princess,” she said, “How can you be so lenient?”

Yu Xiaoxiao swallowed a few mouthfuls of glutinous rice congee before refilling her bowl and muttering back, “This is tasty.”

Ever since Her Royal Highness had recovered from her illness, she praised everything edible as “tasty.” Wang momo sighed and drew closer to her. “Are we just going to forget Old Madam’s clamoring last night?”

“Isn’t everything all right now?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

“She was showing gross disrespect!” Wang momo fumed. “We can’t just leave it at that.”

“Then should we thrash her once?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

Wang momo’s breath caught. Could the Old Madam endure a slap from her princess?

Meanwhile, Yu Xiaoxiao polished off two bowls of congee and moved onto some deep-fried eggs.

“We can’t just let the old woman stick her nose up in the air!” Wang momo was unresigned. Yu Xiaoxiao simply stuffed her face and glanced at her. Wang momo couldn’t meet the princess’s starved gaze head on. Every time she ate, Yu Xiaoxiao’s eyes shone like stars. What is she fussing about?!

Yu Xiaoxiao recalled the barren hill full of skeletons and how the Defender General’s estate had been thoroughly executed in the last timeline. She remembered how the cruel female emperor had spoken to the bones of Gu Xinglang, and how he’d been staked to death by the nail in his skull, then gave a long sigh.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Their entire family is rather pitiable,” Yu Xiaoxiao told Wang momo.

They’ve been faceslapping you all night, and you say they’re pitiable? Wang momo was at a loss for words. It didn’t seem worth it to anger herself to death.

Meanwhile, the various doctors were in the main hall of the Gu Estate to explain Gu Xinglang’s injuries to Supreme Commander Gu and Old Madam. Once they were done, the old Supreme Commander twirled his white beard between his fingers and said, “You’ve all worked hard last night. Many thanks from me.” Then he cupped his fist at them.

Even though Gu Chen was technically a commoner now, none of the doctors dared to accept his thanks head on. They all drew to the sidelines.

The old doctor told Gu Chen, “Supreme Commander, one must listen to Her Royal Highness regarding Third Young Master Gu’s injuries. He is still young; things like losing his legs and being bedridden for the rest of his life will sound hopeless to him.” He couldn’t help but feel lingering fear from last night. If Princess Linglong had been distracted by Old Madam’s caterwauling and failed the surgery, then that would have been a double tragedy.

Gu Chen rose to his feet and bowed. “Many thanks to you, doctor.”

The doctors exchanged a few more greetings with the couple before bidding their farewells. Once they left, Old Madam simply sat there without saying a word.

Gu Chen looked at her and asked, “Do you want our family to go back to the prisons again? Or will you only be happy after forcing the princess to leave?”

“H-how was I supposed to know that the princess had medical skills?” Old Madam protested.

“Xinglang is her husband!” old Supreme Commander said, “Would the princess hurt him? Have you gone senile?”

Old Madam did her best to defend herself. “Before, I heard that the princess dumped Xinglang’s medicine out. If she has no intention to spend her days with Xinglang, then she–”

“Shut your mouth already,” Gu Chen couldn’t listen any longer. “If the princess didn’t want to spend her life with Xinglang, why would she marry below her station to him in the first place? Do you think he’s still whole enough for every girl in the capital to be chasing after him?”

“Then why did she spill Xinglang’s medicine?” Old Madam asked stubbornly.

“It was that servant girl who told you so, wasn’t it?” the old Supreme Commander’s voice turned cold.

“Qingyu…”

“I don’t care what kind of jade (yu) she is,” Supreme Commander Gu waved a hand. “I’ve already ordered Xingnuo to drive her out as soon as possible.”

Qingyu was an established servant of the Gu Clan. Her mother had served Old Madam before her, and the old woman had watched the girl grow up. Although they were mistress and servant, their feelings ran far deeper than that. Old Madam was truly reluctant to see the old Supreme Commander chase her out.

“I’ve already promised Qingyu to Xinglang,” Old Madam said, “Where are you sending her off to? Aren’t you afraid of criticism or back-biting?”

“Why should I keep a servant that disturbs the peace of my household?” the old Supreme Commander argued. “You don’t need to ask any more questions. Her Royal Highness has shown my Gu Clan a favor. I’ll say the same thing as before: don’t mix up good and bad.”

Old Madam knew she’d made a mistake, but it was hard to maintain her composure in the face of the old man’s scolding. With a huff, Supreme Commander Gu left the room.

Old Madam called out, “The princess still has to pay her respects with tea. Where are you going?”

Supreme Commander Gu didn’t even look back. He walked through the doors, saw Qingyu kneeling on the ground as punishment, and ordered, “Take her away.”

Qingyu trembled before she kowtowed to Supreme Commander Gu. “Supreme Commander, this servant was wrong. This servant was only acting for third young master’s sake, may Supreme Commander forgive Qingyu once!” After only two to three kowtows, Qingyu’s forehead was already bleeding, her blood staining the flagstones.

A steward ran forward to drag her outside.

“Old Madam, Qingyu knows her wrongs,” Qingyu shouted at the old woman inside the house. But Old Madam only sat there wordlessly. Supreme Commander Gu was the master of the house and had already given his decision, so how could she interfere?

The steward hauled Qingyu out of the courtyard and ran straight into Gu Xingyan and Lady Lin. The former had just recovered from last night’s drinking bout and heard the latest news from his wife. He was both happy and furious–the former because his third brother would recover, the latter because he couldn’t believe his grandmother was incited by a mere servant girl. Lady Lin took one look at Qingyu before tugging on Gu Xingyan’s sleeve.

“Second young master,” the steward paused to pay his respects.

“Where are you taking her?” Gu Xingyan asked.

Before the steward could reply, Gu Xingnuo and Lady Sun arrived one in front of the other. Hearing the question, Gu Xingnuo said, “I’ll drive her out in a bit.”

“In a bit?” Gu Xingyan echoed. “Just sell her off.”

Qingyu never expected things to end up like this. She only wanted to incite discord between Old Madam and the eldest princess so that Old Madam would rely on her more once she entered Gu Xinglang’s household. This way, the princess wouldn’t crush her beneath her heel. “Eldest young master…”

Before she could plea for mercy, the steward moved to muffle her mouth.

Lady Lin could understand Qingyu’s thoughts precisely and only smiled frostily at her bloodstained face. “This is what happens when a servant harbors ambitions that are too high.”

“What are you waiting for?” Gu Xingyan asked the steward, who looked towards Gu Xingnuo.

Gu Xingnuo only waved a hand at him and said, “Sell her off.”