Chapter 62

When Duke Gu saw Qianxue was injured, all his attention was on her, and he had long forgotten about Prince Zhao who had come with him. Hearing Prince Zhao’s voice, Duke Gu snapped to attention and quickly turned around, apologizing, “Your Highness, this official has been impolite.”

“Y-Your Highness…” Qianxue was terrified, her face instantly turning pale, her lips trembling, and her eyes darting, not daring to look up…

Her mind raced, recalling what had just happened, and she confirmed that she had not acted improperly after her father arrived. Only then did she calm down, standing obediently to the side like a wronged young wife.

If Prince Zhao hadn’t seen everything from start to finish, he would have been deceived by Qianxue’s appearance. At this moment, Prince Zhao understood what kind of woman his son had fallen for.

Such a woman indeed had her skills, but they were limited to vying for favor in the harem. Prince Zhao was immensely relieved that Gu Qiancheng had ruined the wedding, preventing Yun Chu from marrying such a woman, or else the Zhao Mansion would have been in trouble.

In gratitude for Gu Qiancheng helping the Zhao Mansion avoid a disaster, Prince Zhao was not stingy about giving Gu Qiancheng some benefits.

Prince Zhao glanced at Duke Gu and Qianxue, then sneered, “We’ll discuss that matter later.”

After saying this, without waiting for Duke Gu to say more, Prince Zhao ordered the maids, “Why haven’t you taken Lady Xue away yet?”

What a disgrace! Fortunately, it was the Gu Mansion; if it had been another household, the Zhao Mansion’s face would have been completely lost.

“Yes, yes.” Although Qianxue’s maids were from the Gu family, they were more afraid of Prince Zhao. As soon as he spoke, the two maids dared not hide anymore and stepped forward to support Qianxue, half-persuading and half-dragging her away.

Qianxue looked puzzled but did not dare to defy Prince Zhao’s order, reluctantly retreating.

Duke Gu, on the other hand, looked uneasy and urgently asked, “Your Highness, didn’t we agree on that matter? Why is there a change?”

The matter Prince Zhao referred to was making Qianxue a concubine. The Gu family had paid a significant price to get Prince Zhao’s nod, and now he was backing out. Wasn’t this a matter of life and death?

“The Zhao Mansion will not take a concubine who cannot be presented in public.” Prince Zhao glanced at Qianxue, his disdain obvious, “Such a woman is not worthy of my son.”

Prince Zhao didn’t look favorably upon Gu Qiancheng, but he looked even less favorably upon Qianxue. Of course, he especially disapproved of the Gu family, who had actually made him, a prince, deal with his son’s harem issues. Truly, they knew no rules.

“Father, Your Highness… what are you talking about?” Qianxue took a few steps, heard Prince Zhao and Duke Gu’s conversation, and quickly turned around, her eyes brimming with tears…

“Are you all dead? Why haven’t you taken Lady Xue back yet?” Prince Zhao, unwilling to speak to a woman, ordered the maids to take her away again.

But this time, Qianxue refused to accept her fate. She grabbed Duke Gu’s sleeve and pleaded desperately, “Father, help me, explain to the prince. It was the elder sister, she attacked me first, I was just defending myself, Father… the elder sister wanted to kill me, I was just retaliating.”

“Your Highness, I apologize for the spectacle. My eldest daughter is spoiled and has always been domineering. Qianxue was only defending herself after being bullied.”

Duke Gu tried his best to defend Qianxue, but Prince Zhao wasn’t as blind as he was. He glanced at Gu Qiancheng, who was silent, and said impatiently, “Longyuan, let the children handle their own affairs. It’s getting late, I should be going.”

Prince Zhao was tired of talking to Duke Gu, who couldn’t see the situation clearly, and turned to leave without a second glance at Duke Gu and Qianxue…

If Prince Zhao of the Zhao Mansion disagreed, who could change it?

“Your Highness, wait, listen to my explanation…” Duke Gu, in a panic, hurried after him, trying to change Prince Zhao’s mind.

Qianxue stood there in a daze, only now realizing what she had lost…

“Ah… Gu Qiancheng, I hate you.”

Qianxue’s heart was filled with regret, bleeding. Why did she choose today to cause trouble for Gu Qiancheng? Why did she let Prince Zhao see…

“Gu Qiancheng, it’s all your fault, you wicked woman, you keep hurting me, you will not die a good death!” Qianxue, like a madwoman, lunged at Gu Qiancheng…

“Madwoman.” With no one else around, Gu Qiancheng had no need to pretend. Before Qianxue could even reach her, Gu Qiancheng struck first…

Gu Qiancheng took a step forward, crouched down, and swept her leg. There was a loud thud as Qianxue fell straight to the ground, her forehead hitting the floor hard…

The two maids stood there in shock, only reacting when they saw the blood flowing from Qianxue’s forehead. They screamed, “Murder, murder,” and ran out as if being chased by a ghost…

Gu Qiancheng glanced at them but did not stop them. Instead, she crouched down and turned Qianxue over…

Qianxue’s fall was severe, her forehead hitting the ground, but it was not life-threatening. Whether it would disfigure her was not within Gu Qiancheng’s concern; she just didn’t want to kill anyone.

Gu Qiancheng took out a handkerchief, folded it into a strip, and tied it around Qianxue’s wound to stop the bleeding…

When the Fifth Prince and Qin Yunchu heard the maids’ screams and arrived with their people, they saw Gu Qiancheng tending to Qianxue’s wound. Qin Yunchu, who was about to scold her, swallowed his words.

“What’s going on?” he asked, still in a bad mood.

“Just as you see, Your Highness.” Gu Qiancheng tied the knot, stood up, and bowed to the two men, her left cheek swollen and red: “Greetings to the Fifth Prince and the Young Master.”

“Rise.” The Fifth Prince spoke, his voice clear and smooth. Seeing Gu Qiancheng’s injury, he hesitated but pretended not to notice.

Qin Yunchu, however, did not see Gu Qiancheng’s injury. He glared at her fiercely, “Gu Qiancheng, if anything happens to Qianxue, I will not let you off.”

One must consider the owner when punishing a dog. Qianxue, after all, was his woman. Gu Qiancheng had hit her without hesitation, treating him as if he were nothing.

“How will you not let me off, Young Master? Kill me?” Gu Qiancheng paid no heed to Qin Yunchu’s threats, “Let me remind you, Young Master, murder is illegal. Even if you are the Young Master, I can still sue you.”

Before Qin Yunchu could speak, Gu Qiancheng pointed to the hairpin on the ground and continued, “Young Master, the hairpin on the ground should be familiar to you. Your concubine just used that hairpin to stab me. If I were to report her to the authorities for attempted murder, what do you think my chances of winning would be?”

Gu Qiancheng’s face was playful, but Qin Yunchu and the Fifth Prince saw the seriousness in her eyes. If pushed too far, Gu Qiancheng would do anything.

“You’re threatening me? Gu Qiancheng, who do you think you are, daring to threaten me!” Qin Yunchu’s face turned red with anger. Seeing Gu Qiancheng, he thought of the woman who had left in her wedding dress, proud and haughty.

This woman had actually said that he, Qin Yunchu, was a man she didn’t want.

Bah!

It was he who didn’t want Gu Qiancheng. What was there for her to be proud of?