The people inside the room were almost all stunned. They were shocked and unable to react to the three consecutive slaps delivered by Gu Jianli upon entering. The elders felt humiliated, while the younger ones were terrified.
Ji Xuanke quietly watched Gu Jianli, not surprised by her actions. Too many people were deceived by her outward gentleness and kindness, but as the daughter of Prince Wuxian, she had never been one to suffer losses since childhood. She was tenacious to the core. Now, the fact that she did not use her family’s power to retaliate was simply because she disdained to rely on such power, or perhaps it was her good upbringing and the pride of a noblewoman that made her not bother to hold grudges. Ji Xuanke glanced at Ji Xinglou standing beside Gu Jianli, called a servant, and whispered a few words.
The First Madam was terrified. She was both afraid of the current Gu Jianli and heartbroken for her daughter. At this moment, she regretted having spoiled Ji Yueming too much over the years, failing to teach her properly, and indulging her previous bullying of Gu Jianli. Now, Ji Yueming was the one suffering the consequences.
Since Gu Jingyuan regained power, the First Madam had been fearful for a long time. She hastily arranged a marriage for Ji Yueming, hoping to send her away from the household quickly. With Ji Yueming’s dowry ready and her departure imminent, how could this trouble still arise?
This was not the time for regrets. The First Madam forced a smile, stood in front of Ji Yueming, and said, “Fifth sister-in-law, Yueming is young and ignorant. Please don’t hold it against her. She’s already been slapped, let’s just leave it at that.”
She did not dare to ask for the reason, choosing to plead first.
“It seems sister-in-law forgot that Sister Ming is older than me,” Gu Jianli smiled. “But don’t worry, there won’t be a fourth slap. However…”
Gu Jianli’s tone shifted, “Sister Ming needs to apologize sincerely to Sixth brother, and this matter will be over.”
The First Madam felt a sense of relief, hurriedly grabbing Ji Yueming’s wrist and said, “Quick, apologize to your fifth aunt and Sixth brother.”
Ji Yueming looked at her mother in disbelief. She knew that the Gu family had regained power and that her family was now living in fear of the Gu family’s revenge. She understood when her mother told her to avoid Gu Jianli. She also understood when her family hurriedly arranged her marriage to prevent her temper from causing further issues with Gu Jianli. But she never expected that, in front of the whole family, she would be slapped three times by an outsider’s servant, and her usually doting mother would not stand up for her but instead ask her to apologize.
“No, I won’t apologize!”
“Yueming!” The First Madam secretly pinched Ji Yueming’s wrist.
The old lady frowned and said, “Sister Ming, you need to change your temper and stop bullying Sixth brother. After all, he is your cousin.”
Although Ji Yueming had indeed bullied Ji Xinglou, no one had spoken about the ins and outs of the matter when Gu Jianli came in and started hitting people. Yet, the whole family immediately asked her to apologize without questioning anything!
Ji Yueming sneered, her eyes filled with disdain as she looked at everyone in the hall, and said coldly, “Do you think pushing me out will resolve the conflict between the two families? Do you think Prince Wuxian will forgive you? It’s not just me who has been kicking when down; you all act virtuous afterward! Hypocrites!”
“Sister Ming, shut up!” The old lady was furious and grabbed a willow branch from a decorative gourd vase, swinging it towards Ji Yueming’s wrist.
The First Madam was shocked and quickly blocked the hit, turning to Ji Yueming and saying, “Sister Ming, stop speaking nonsense!”
Ji Yueming laughed coldly, “I’ve seen through you all! You bully the weak and fear the strong, and it’s no wonder you stand by and watch as an outsider humiliates me! You don’t feel any pain, do you? You’re just relieved the slap didn’t land on your faces!”
Gu Jianli sighed softly, “Jixia.”
“Yes.” Jixia grabbed Ji Yueming’s arm and delivered another slap.
Blood flowed from Ji Yueming’s nose and mouth, mingling with her falling tears. She looked up, glaring at Gu Jianli with hostility.
“This slap was for your disrespect. Sister Ming, you are about to get married. It’s best not to repeat the words of outsiders. Today, it is your Fifth Aunt who is teaching you the rules, not an outsider. If I were not your Fifth Aunt but only the daughter of the Duke of Wu, I wouldn’t be obliged to teach you the rules, and today’s matter would not be settled with just a few slaps.” Gu Jianli spoke softly, her face expressionless and her eyes calm. As she spoke, she gently wiped the blood from Ji Yueming’s mouth with a handkerchief. She then stuffed the soiled handkerchief into Ji Yueming’s hand, her eyes growing stern. After a pause, she continued, “Since Sister Ming prides herself on being straightforward and responsible, then sincerely apologize to Sixth brother.”
Ji Yueming trembled as she looked at the handkerchief in her hand.
The old lady, worried that Ji Yueming might not heed the lesson and would stubbornly refuse to bow her head, thus implicating others in the Guangping Marquis Manor, quickly threatened, “Sister Ming, do you still want your dowry?”
Ji Yueming turned back to her grandmother in disbelief. She had already decided to yield but had not yet had the chance to speak. She never expected her grandmother to use her dowry to threaten her! She looked at her mother, seeking any sign of help, even just a glance. However, the First Madam steeled her heart and merely urged, “Hurry up!”
Ji Yueming’s heart turned cold instantly.
She smiled and lowered her head, woodenly saying to Ji Xinglou, “I was talking nonsense today and should not have laid hands on you. I apologize.”
Ji Xinglou glared at her, rolling his eyes and turning his head away, showing no intention of accepting the apology.
The First Madam, seeing her daughter being beaten and forced to apologize, felt heartbroken. She had been holding back her pain and now finally spoke up, “Sixth brother, your elder sister has apologized. You should politely say it’s okay and forgive her.”
Ji Xinglou glanced at Gu Jianli, hesitated for a moment, then stubbornly said, “No!”
The First Madam admonished, “Our Sixth brother is a sensible child…”
“Big Sister-in-law,” Gu Jianli interrupted, “Sister Ming did wrong. She was punished and apologized, and her matter is settled. However, whether Sixth brother accepts her apology is Sixth brother’s business. We are not Sixth brother and have no right to forgive on his behalf, nor can we force him to forgive.”
Ji Xinglou looked at Gu Jianli in surprise.
The First Madam opened her mouth but could only smile and say, “Yes, yes, you are right, Fifth Sister-in-law.”
Gu Jianli slightly bowed to the old lady, “I will take Sixth brother back now. Everyone, please continue selecting materials.”
The people in the hall had complex feelings but smiled as they saw Gu Jianli to the courtyard gate.
Once outside, Gu Jianli asked Jixia, “Does your hand hurt?”
“No, it was quite enjoyable to hit her!”
Jixia was delighted! In the past, she used to follow the lady and hit anyone who disrespected her. It was great that the Prince had regained power!
Gu Jianli glanced at Jixia’s hand, feeling curious. She spoke slowly, “When I first married in, I slapped Ji Yueming once. It didn’t hurt her much, but my hand went numb.”
Jixia was stunned and quickly said, “Now that the Prince supports you, you will never be alone again. Wherever you go, Jixia will follow. If someone harms you, I’ll die with you and help you fight in the afterlife!”
Changsheng, who had been bored following behind, glared at Jixia and asked, “Are you stupid?”
“Spit, spit, spit!” Jixia, her face pale, spat several times and quickly said, “The madam will surely live a long life!”
Gu Jianli couldn’t help but smile and didn’t argue with Jixia about these matters. She lowered her head and patted Ji Xinglou on the back of the head. Ji Xinglou looked up, snorted lightly, and muttered, “I don’t want to thank you.”
Although he said this, his tone was soft.
Gu Jianli nodded and said, “I want to tell you that when someone bullies you, you don’t necessarily have to confront them head-on to get back at them right away.”
Ji Xinglou looked at her skeptically and asked, “Like complaining?”
“Not necessarily. You’ll have to figure it out yourself,” Gu Jianli said, repeating words her father had told her when she was young.
Ji Xinglou fell silent, half understanding.
They walked a little further, and Gu Jianli was surprised to see Ji Xuanke waiting on the road ahead. He had obviously taken a shortcut to wait there.
Gu Jianli hesitated for a moment, then calmly walked forward, not avoiding him.
“In the northern region, I got some effective medicine for external injuries. Apply it to Xinglou’s ear two or three times, and it should be fine.” Ji Xuanke reached out and handed Gu Jianli a green porcelain bottle.
Gu Jianli’s gaze lingered on Ji Xuanke’s severed finger for a moment. With calm eyes, she accepted the small porcelain bottle and said, “Thank you, Third brother.”
She didn’t converse with Ji Xuanke any further but instead lowered her head, patted Ji Xinglou on the shoulder, and said to him, “Hurry up and thank your third brother.”
Ji Xinglou hesitated for a moment, thinking that since Gu Jianli had just helped him, he should give her some face. Reluctantly, he said, “Thank you, third brother.”
Ji Xuanke looked at Gu Jianli, who stood right in front of him yet seemed a thousand miles away. Suppressing his emotions, he said in a normal tone, “In a few days, there will be a Hundred Flowers Banquet. The palace will send you an invitation. Be prepared, as His Majesty is likely to announce the decree to confer you the title of county princess on that day.”
According to the customs of Great Ji, Gu Jianli would have been conferred the title of county princess on her coming-of-age day. However, due to the incident with Gu Jingyuan, it was postponed. Now that Ji Xuanke brought it up, Gu Jianli was quite surprised. Not at the conferment itself, but at Ji Xuanke knowing about it. However, Gu Jianli didn’t ask further and merely said calmly, “Thank you for informing me, Third brother. I will take Sixth brother back now.”
Ji Xuanke nodded and stepped back to make way.
He looked at Gu Jianli and said, “I know what you are worried about.”
Gu Jianli, just passing by him, paused.
“It won’t happen,” Ji Xuanke said with a self-mocking smile. “That reckless Ji Shao is already dead.”
Gu Jianli pressed her lips together, didn’t turn back, and continued walking forward.
Ji Wujing’s wheelchair stopped, and he gazed meaningfully at Gu Jianli and Ji Xuanke talking in the distance. He tugged at the small pigtail on Ji Xinglan’s head and said slowly, “So Xuanke has returned home, huh.”
“Yes,” Ji Xinglan nodded. “We even saw third brother when we were flying kites!”
“Is that so?” Ji Wujing lifted the corner of his mouth in a slight smile.
Ji Xinglan looked at her father in confusion, not understanding why his smile seemed a bit strange.
Gu Jianli also noticed Ji Wujing. She paused for a moment, her brows furrowing slightly before quickly relaxing. She then walked towards Ji Wujing calmly.
