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If Gu Yanqi could truly complete the tasks assigned by his mother, all his abilities would be enhanced, which would be a good thing for him.
However, it would depend on how Gu Yanqi handled the situation afterward. Wang Jinhe couldn’t interfere since it wasn’t directly related to her.
Gu Yanqi, feeling a bit helpless, looked at Wang Jinhe’s indifferent demeanor and said, “Don’t make it so obvious that you’re just watching a show.”
“Good to know. Some people you should deal with as soon as possible. Otherwise, they’ll keep causing trouble, coming out today and tomorrow,” Wang Jinhe said with disgust.
Gu Yanqi nodded with a smile. “You’re right, it’s indeed troublesome. I will handle the matter promptly.”
“That would be for the best.”
Wang Jinhe was about to leave when she remembered something she hadn’t told Gu Yanqi. “Oh, there’s one more thing I haven’t mentioned to you.”
“My mother has assigned you a total of four tasks, with a two-year time limit. If you fail to complete them within two years, then you have failed,” Wang Jinhe conveyed Gu Jiuning’s message to Gu Yanqi.
After listening, Gu Yanqi smiled faintly and said, “I understand.”
“Alright, I’ll take my leave,” Wang Jinhe said.
However, Yuan Xu didn’t rush to leave. Wang Jinhe looked at him curiously and asked, “Yuan Xu, what are you doing? Shouldn’t we be going?”
“Madam, our Master instructed us to protect you when he left and made it clear that we must not let you be wronged. We can’t just let Gu Sheng’s insults towards you slide,” Yuan Xu said coldly, looking at Gu Sheng.
After considering for a moment, Wang Jinhe said, “Then let him kneel here for an hour. It’s what Gu Sheng owes Madam Gu.”
“I am your father. It’s unfilial to treat me like this,” Gu Sheng said angrily.
Upon hearing Gu Sheng’s words, Wang Jinhe laughed, “Who was it that claimed last year that only Gu Xiruo was worthy? Who was it that repeatedly said I was unworthy?”
“All these words came from you, Gu Sheng, right? Now you dare to tell me that you are my father?,” Wang Jinhe sarcastically remarked.
The onlookers cast strange looks at Gu Sheng.
They never expected such a turn of events.
“Gu Xiruo is your precious daughter, not me. I have my own parents, and this person is not you,” Wang Jinhe said, looking at Gu Sheng, each word deliberate.
“It seems like you don’t want to kneel. That’s fine too. Yuan Xu, follow the rules. Give him the appropriate number of lashes, not one less,” Wang Jinhe ordered, looking at Gu Sheng.
“Yes,” Yuan Xu responded, gesturing for two hidden guards to step forward.
Seeing the appearance of the guards, the onlookers fell silent, refraining from further discussion.
The appearance of the hidden guards signaled something that everyone understood.
Gu Sheng couldn’t escape this beating.
Gu Sheng was truly foolish. Even as they were about to leave, he still uttered such words.
Kneeling for an hour would only result in sore legs for a few days. However, enduring a beating would mean being bedridden for at least ten days or even half a month, not to mention the time needed for recovery.
Didn’t he understand which option was better?
“Thirty lashes. Come back after you’ve administered them,” Wang Jinhe ordered.
As soon as Wang Jinhe finished speaking, Gu Xiruo walked in. Seeing her, Wang Jinhe narrowed her eyes. “Yuan Xu, has half an hour passed?”
“Not yet, but it’s been the time for an incense stick to burn,” Yuan Xu replied.
“If Gu Xiruo doesn’t want to kneel, then proceed with the lashes. Remember, she’s a young lady, so handle her with care. We don’t want her to have trouble going back to her husband,” Wang Jinhe instructed the two hidden guards.
The hidden guards’ expressions towards Wang Jinhe carried a hint of resignation. Their mistress treated them well, even providing them with precious health-enhancing fruits and vegetables, but she had a tendency to tease them at times. Just like now.
“Madam, if we go easy on them and master finds out later, we’ll be in trouble. Please spare us,” one of the hidden guards said helplessly.
Wang Jinhe couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, spare you this time. Proceed with the punishment.”
Gu Xiruo was shocked to hear that Wang Jinhe was going to have someone punish her. “Who do you think you are to have someone punish me? Just because you’re a princess, does that give you the right to hit people?”
Wang Jinhe looked at her with a faint smile. “How long did I ask you to kneel outside for?”
Gu Xiruo’s expression changed slightly. Wang Jinhe had instructed her to kneel for half an hour outside, where passersby would point and gossip about her. Unable to bear the humiliation, she stood up.
Little did she know that Wang Jinhe had caught her in a compromising situation.
Wang Jinhe smiled at Gu Xiruo. “It seems you’ve remembered now. So, are you willing to accept the punishment today?”
Gu Xiruo wanted to refuse, but she didn’t dare to now.
Gu Sheng couldn’t tolerate Wang Jinhe laying a hand on Gu Xiruo. He stood in front of her, looking coldly at Wang Jinhe. “If you want to strike, do it to me. Why target Xiruo?”
Wang Jinhe pointed at herself, looking surprised. “She says I’m targeting Gu Xiruo. What do you all think?”
The onlookers regarded Gu Sheng as if he were acting foolishly. Was he out of his mind?
“Family Head Gu, what are you saying? It was Gu Xiruo who was at fault first. If the princess wants to punish her, it’s justified. How did it become the princess targeting her?”
“That’s right. Is a mere adopted daughter worth the princess going to such lengths to target? She really thinks highly of herself.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if Gu Xiruo just kneels for the agreed half hour?”
The crowd’s comments left Gu Sheng speechless, unable to come up with a rebuttal.
Gu Xiruo, who had been feeling somewhat smug, found her pride disappearing as the people around her belittled her. Gu Sheng’s defense had initially made her feel superior in front of Wang Jinhe, but now the disparaging remarks from the onlookers wiped away her sense of superiority.
Wang Jinhe looked at Gu Sheng with a hint of sarcasm. “Setting aside whether I targeted Gu Xiruo or not, even if I did, what can you do about it?”
Gu Sheng’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this, his gaze towards Wang Jinhe turning into one of intense anger. “You are truly malicious.”
Wang Jinhe nodded with a smile. “Yes, you’re right. I am indeed malicious. That’s why today, Gu Xiruo and you are both in for it.”
“Hit him.”
Thinking of leaving, Gu Sheng unexpectedly sought trouble.
Since that was the case, let Gu Sheng understand what it meant to regret deeply.
Yuan Xu shook his head helplessly, realizing that Gu Sheng’s mind was truly not functioning well.
“Family Head Gu has offended the Princess. Proceed with the punishment.”
Gu Sheng received thirty lashes, feeling as if he had lost half his life.
Gu Xiruo watched as Gu Sheng was beaten until his face turned pale. She turned to look at Wang Jinhe and noticed her calm and terrifying demeanor. It was as if the person in front of her was completely detached from the situation.
Seeing Wang Jinhe like this, Gu Xiruo completely believed that she had no intentions towards the Gu family whatsoever.
“Carry on.” As Gu Xiruo pondered how to extricate herself from the situation, Wang Jinhe’s words hit her heart like a deadly spell.