Chapter Twelve: Resolution

Seeing Su Zhinian lost in thought right in front of them, Gu Lingxuan was incensed. She reached out to pull Mother Wang up and began to cajole Gu Shijin.

"Brother! Mother Wang watched us both grow up. How can you bear to see her bullied like this?"

She looked at Su Zhinian with eyes full of hatred. She and Gu Heng were deeply in love, and she didn't care that he had nothing; what right did this bitch Su Zhinian have to take charge and drive him away?

Watching the expressions on the three people before her, Su Zhinian let out a cold laugh.

"Mother Wang’s etiquette was improper. As the lady of the house, I was merely offering a reprimand, yet I am being attacked by all of you. If an outsider were to see this, they might think I had committed some heinous crime against the entire Gu family."

Though that was only a matter of time.

"Su Zhinian! You are just twisting words!" Gu Lingxuan stomped her feet in anger.

"Xuan'er!" Gu Shijin cast an unhappy glance at her. How had this girl become so lacking in decorum lately? She must have been spoiled rotten by their mother.

"Brother, why are you speaking up for her?" Gu Lingxuan, teeth clenched in frustration, looked at her brother in disbelief. "Brother, have you forgotten about Sister Xixi?"

"Gu Lingxuan!"

Ren Xixi was Gu Shijin’s Achilles' heel. Infuriated, he instantly radiated a chilling, murderous aura that left everyone trembling in terror.

Seeing that too much time had been wasted and that there was nothing to gain from Su Zhinian, Mother Wang stepped in to play the peacemaker. "General, Second Young Miss, this is not a big deal. The Old Madam is waiting for us; shall we head over now?"

Her display of sensibility earned Gu Shijin’s favor, while Su Zhinian’s constant excuses made her appear all the more contemptible.

"Hmph, let's go." For once, Gu Shijin did not stubbornly insist that their lady offer an apology.

Just as Yushu breathed a sigh of relief, Su Zhinian spoke coldly, "This matter cannot end here."

"Su Zhinian, Mother Wang has already conceded. What more do you want?" Back then, it was this same aggressive posturing that had forced Gu Heng away. She wondered how he was doing now. Thinking of her beloved, Gu Lingxuan felt a pang of heartache and glared viciously at Su Zhinian.

Even Gu Shijin looked impatient. "What else do you want? I have already given you a way out. Are you deliberately trying to defy me?"

She was simply unreasonable! Compared to the clever and sensible Xixi, she fell far short.

Su Zhinian raised her hand, her sleeves sliding down to reveal fair, slender wrists. She pointed a delicate finger at Mother Wang’s face and spoke, word by word:

"Mother Wang is a servant by the Old Madam’s side; she represents not just the Old Madam, but the face of the entire Gu family. Yet, her etiquette is flawed. If word of this gets out, it will be said that the General has become arrogant after his military successes, that he holds others in contempt, and that he condones the lack of discipline of a servant in his own manor."

At these words, Mother Wang turned deathly pale and collapsed to her knees. Before she could speak, Su Zhinian continued:

"The General has just returned, and everything requires discretion. If someone were to seize upon such a small oversight, the impeachment of the Censorate would be no laughing matter. Now, General, do you still think I am making a mountain out of a molehill?"

Su Zhinian lifted her gaze to look at Gu Shijin, her expression cool and upright, inexplicably commanding trust. Yushu, standing to the side, was dumbfounded; her mistress was truly brilliant.

Gu Shijin, however, felt a chill creep down his spine. He was currently at the height of his influence; many wanted to win his favor, while others viewed him as a thorn in their side. If they were looking to find fault with him—and the current Emperor was sensitive and suspicious, especially wary of his military power—it would not be a matter of mere gossip.

The more he thought about it, the heavier his heart sank. He looked at Su Zhinian with surprise. He had never realized before that she was so astute. Furthermore, she must love him to the core to be constantly concerned for the safety of the Gu manor. His heart warmed just a fraction.

"General, General, have mercy! This servant had no such intention!" Seeing the situation turn against her, Mother Wang began kowtowing frantically.

But Gu Shijin was in no mood to give her a chance. He waved his hand in disgust. "Someone, drag this ill-bred slave away and give her thirty lashes!"

Thirty lashes! Mother Wang felt as if the sky were collapsing. At her age, thirty lashes might well cost her her life!

"General, I am the Old Madam’s personal servant!" Mother Wang tried to use the Old Madam as a shield.

Su Zhinian curled her lips in mockery; the woman was truly in a hurry to die. As expected, Gu Shijin was even more incensed. "What is this! How dare you use the Old Madam’s name! After the lashes, cast her out!"

Boom—Mother Wang’s mind went blank. She could not fathom how she had ended up in such a state. Gu Lingxuan didn't dare utter a word; she feared that if her brother’s blood was up, he might have her whipped too. She could only glare at Su Zhinian with resentment. She had underestimated this bitch. To be able to make her brother cast out Mother Wang, who had served the Old Madam for so many years—this woman was truly calculating!

Yushu felt her head spinning. What had just happened? After her mistress spoke a few home truths, the General had cast Mother Wang out. Had the General finally come to his senses? It was simply unbelievable.

"Very well, let us go to the Pine Crane Residence." Gu Shijin’s expression returned to normal, his gaze sweeping over Su Zhinian. Seeing her head bowed as if in thought, her hair fluttering in the breeze, he was momentarily stunned. The current Su Zhinian seemed shrouded in secrets that made him oddly curious.

Gu Shijin strode ahead. Gu Lingxuan glared at Su Zhinian with pure hatred.

"Second Sister, don't forget, I am still the General’s wife. If you stir up any more trouble, I will have Gu Heng killed," Su Zhinian said, stepping close to her and lowering her voice.

At these words, Gu Lingxuan’s face turned white as a sheet. "You wouldn't dare?"

"After all, money can make the devil turn the millstone..." Su Zhinian ignored her and turned to leave.

Behind her, a malevolent, poisonous gaze clung to her like a viper.

"Mistress, why risk offending the Second Young Miss? If the General doesn't support you in the future, won't she bully us even more?" Yushu asked, filled with worry.

"We have already offended her deeply; it makes no difference if I threaten her once more." Besides, Su Zhinian had her own plans; she needed Gu Lingxuan to escalate this matter.

As expected, upon entering the Pine Crane Residence, they saw Gu Lingxuan clinging to the Old Madam. Seated below were Mother Gu, née Lin, and Father Gu, Gu Jingyuan.

"Grandmother, you have no idea how arrogant sister-in-law is. She convinced Brother to punish even Mother Wang, who serves you!" As she spoke, Gu Lingxuan shot a hateful glance at Su Zhinian.