Chapter 9

When Gu Qiancheng returned, she encountered many servants, but they acted as if they hadn't seen her, walking past her without even a word of inquiry. Gu Qiancheng didn't get angry; she maintained a calm smile on her face and walked at a steady pace. Occasionally, a bold maid would whisper behind her back, calling her a "madwoman," but Gu Qiancheng pretended not to hear.

What did it matter if she heard? A fallen phoenix is no better than a chicken. What did it matter if she was the eldest daughter of the Gu family, born to the main wife? A daughter who had been expelled was even less than a maid.

It took Gu Qiancheng nearly half an hour to slowly make her way back to her courtyard. The courtyard was cold and desolate, a stark contrast to the bustling activity in the Gu residence.

Pushing the door open, Gu Qiancheng thought no one would be inside, but she saw a middle-aged woman dressed as a servant carefully packing up some of her small personal items.

"Auntie Sun," Gu Qiancheng recognized that Auntie Sun was her wet nurse, the only person left who had stayed by her side, left to her by her mother.

"Miss?" Auntie Sun quickly turned around, surprised. "Miss, what happened to you?"

Auntie Sun hurried forward, grabbing Gu Qiancheng's hands and examining her up and down. "Miss, what happened? Are you hurt anywhere? Do you feel unwell?"

"No, I'm fine." Gu Qiancheng shook her head and held Auntie Sun's hand.

In this household, only Auntie Sun truly cared for her and had her best interests at heart.

"That's good, that's good." Auntie Sun sighed in relief, but then her expression changed. "Miss, today is your wedding day. The auspicious time has already passed. Why are you here? Where is your wedding dress? Miss, did Lady Gu make things difficult for you?"

Auntie Sun bombarded her with questions, not waiting for an answer before saying she would rush out to find the old master to stand up for Gu Qiancheng.

In this household, only the old master would consider his reputation and be somewhat fair.

Gu Qiancheng quickly pulled Auntie Sun back and recounted what had happened at the wedding hall, including Lady Gu's order for her to go to the nunnery that day.

Before Gu Qiancheng finished, Auntie Sun was already in tears, more heartbroken than Gu Qiancheng herself. "Miss, you've been wronged. The master and Lady Gu are not human. How could they treat you like this? You are the master's own daughter, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Gu family."

"Money moves people. My mother left me too much dowry; how could they not be tempted? Auntie Sun, don't cry. Pack up, we need to leave." Gu Qiancheng had already grieved. She no longer considered the Gu family her true family and didn't care what they did.

"Leave? Miss, you can't leave. If you leave, you'll never come back. You'll spend the rest of your life with a lamp and a Buddha. No... Miss, wait, I'll go find the old master. He will stand up for you. Today, you are the one who has been wronged." Auntie Sun was quick to act, wiping her tears and heading for the door.

"Auntie Sun, don't go." Gu Qiancheng sternly commanded, startling Auntie Sun, who froze at the door, turning back in a daze. "Miss?"

Gu Qiancheng was usually timid and weak, never daring to speak loudly. Her sudden sternness frightened Auntie Sun.

Gu Qiancheng sighed and softened her tone. "Auntie Sun, I was indeed wronged today, but I also disgraced the Gu family. The old master is still angry. If you go to him now, he won't help me. Auntie Sun, if you truly want to help me, do as I say."

If she didn't have a plan, she wouldn't have come back so obediently. Gu Qiancheng was never one to accept her fate. Otherwise, she wouldn't have refused the family's arrangements and insisted on studying medicine.

Gu Qiancheng was usually indecisive, so Auntie Sun always stood up for her. Now, seeing that Gu Qiancheng had a plan and was more assertive, Auntie Sun was overjoyed.

"If Lady Gu were here, she would be very happy to see Miss becoming more sensible. This is how a legitimate daughter should behave." Auntie Sun was so happy that she forgot about the Zhao Wang's last-minute bride swap.

Gu Qiancheng felt a pang of bitterness, unsure whether to blame her stepmother for being too cruel, suppressing the legitimate eldest daughter to such a weak state, or to blame herself for being too incompetent, a legitimate eldest daughter who didn't know how to fight back.

But those were things of the past. Now, as Gu Qiancheng lived in the Gu family, she would not allow her stepmother and stepsister to bully her again.

Gu Qiancheng gestured for Auntie Sun to come forward and help her lift the bed. Auntie Sun didn't know why, but seeing Gu Qiancheng's calm demeanor, she obediently followed.

She trusted her Miss.

"Miss, what is this?" Auntie Sun pointed to the wooden box under the bed, looking surprised.

She had been with Gu Qiancheng for so many years and never knew there was something under the bed.

Gu Qiancheng took the box and said mysteriously, "This is something to save our lives."

It was the straw that would keep her in the Gu family!