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Getting up and preparing to go out with her maid, Gu Xiruo was stopped at the courtyard gate and forbidden to leave.
With a slightly cold expression, Gu Xiruo looked displeased at the person in front of her and asked, “What are you doing?”
“Madam, Young Master instructed last night for you to reflect on your actions in the courtyard. You are to stay inside until you realize your mistake,” the guard at the gate said sternly.
The incident where Madam Qing fainted due to Young Madam’s actions was known to everyone in the Qing residence.
Madam Qing had truly fainted, not pretending or anything else. It was said that when the doctor came to check on her, they advised against upsetting her further, as it could lead to serious consequences. Upon learning this, Young Master ordered them to guard the area and prevent her from leaving again.
Recently, Young Madam had been too much. Madam Qing had been a good mother-in-law, and she managed to upset her to this extent. It’s truly baffling what’s going on in her mind.
“How could he restrict my movements? Step aside, I need to see him,” Gu Xiruo couldn’t believe that Qing Yukong, who loved her so much, would do such a thing.
“Young Madam, please don’t make it difficult for us. Young Master gave clear instructions for you to stay indoors until you acknowledge your mistake,” the guard insisted.
“I did nothing wrong; she was just pretending.”
She never fainted before, but chooses to faint now, and expects us to believe it wasn’t intentional?
“Last night, Young Master summoned a doctor for Madam Qing. The doctor diagnosed it as a case of anger-induced illness. She had a high fever last night and is still bedridden today.” This doctor was brought in by Young Master from outside, not the household doctor. If Madam had been pretending, she would have been caught immediately, wouldn’t she?
“Madam, no offense, but you have truly gone too far recently. Madam Qing has been accommodating you in every way, yet you remain unsatisfied. You’ve managed to upset her so much during the festive season,” the guard expressed discontent.
Madam Qing has always treated the servants well, and they hold her in high regard. Unlike other mistresses, she doesn’t look down on them. Naturally, they’re displeased seeing her in such a state because of Young Madam.
Looking at the guard, Gu Xiruo coldly stated, “You’re just a servant, daring to lecture me?”
“Get out of my way. I’m leaving.” She didn’t care about the old woman’s well-being; she was determined to go out, and nobody was going to stop her.
She needed to return to the Gu family and inform her father about this matter; it was all part of that old woman’s scheme against her.
During the argument with Gu Xiruo, someone had already gone to fetch Qing Yukong.
“Young Master, please check on Young Madam. She insists on leaving, and we can’t stop her at all.”
Upon hearing this, Qing Yukong’s expression darkened, and he furrowed his brow.
“Did you inform her that I ordered her to stay put?”
“We did, we told Young Madam that she could only leave when she acknowledges her mistake. However, she insists she did nothing wrong and is determined to go out.” They didn’t want to confront her directly, so they came to ask Young Master to handle the situation.
One of Qing Yukong’s attendants frowned and remarked, “Young Master, she’s being too unreasonable. Madam is still in bed sick, and she still believes she did nothing wrong.”
He had investigated recent events and observed how Madam Qing had been accommodating to Gu Xiruo, but instead of toning down, she had escalated matters, showing a lack of regard for Madam Qing’s well-being.
This is truly going too far.
“Let’s go and see.” Qing Yukong harbored some dissatisfaction towards Gu Xiruo.
If it were his mother causing trouble and being unreasonable, he would undoubtedly support Gu Xiruo. However, after witnessing Gu Xiruo’s actions that had caused his mother to faint, he began to question whether his mother was plotting against Gu Xiruo. Therefore, he had brought in an external doctor to examine his mother, confirming that she had indeed fainted due to Gu Xiruo’s actions.
Last night, Qing Yi had also investigated the events following his departure, revealing that during his absence, Gu Xiruo had been unreasonably arrogant towards Madam Qing. Despite his affection for Gu Xiruo, he wasn’t blinded to the point of not distinguishing right from wrong, especially considering his deep filial piety towards his mother.
Qing Yukong, accompanied by Qing Yi, arrived at Gu Xiruo’s courtyard and witnessed Gu Xiruo behaving aggressively, unjustly striking one of the guards.
“Stop.” Qing Yukong’s voice thundered angrily as he intervened, seeing Gu Xiruo about to strike again.
Gu Xiruo, upon seeing Qing Yukong approach, showed no signs of urgency and bluntly questioned, “What do you mean by restricting my movements?”
“Shouldn’t you be restricted for wrongdoing?” Qing Yukong coldly asked Gu Xiruo.
“What have I done wrong? She was pretending; I did nothing wrong,” Gu Xiruo maintained her stance, not admitting any fault even in front of Qing Yukong.
Observing Gu Xiruo’s demeanor, Qing Yukong furrowed his brow, wondering how the gentle and kind girl had transformed into someone so unreasonable.
“I won’t be restricted, Qing Yukong. I’m going home now,” Gu Xiruo asserted confidently, standing before Qing Yukong.
Qing Yukong, feeling increasingly disappointed, remarked, “Xiruo, do you not realize your recent actions? Despite my mother’s continuous forbearance towards you, is this how you treat her?”
“How have I mistreated her? It was clear that she caused trouble for me while you were away. Is there something wrong with me retaliating?” Gu Xiruo seemed to have forgotten that it was always she who intentionally provoked Madam Qing, while Madam Qing never initiated any conflicts with her.
She believed Qing Yukong was unaware of everything happening at home, which emboldened her to speak recklessly.
“Xiruo, I had everything investigated thoroughly yesterday. The notion of my mother causing you trouble is completely unfounded. It’s always been you causing trouble for my mother, and despite her patience, Xiruo, when did you become so comfortable with lying without batting an eye?” For the first time, Qing Yukong found the Gu Xiruo before him to be utterly unfamiliar.
She was so unrecognizable to him.
“You… Qing Yukong, you actually don’t believe me? You went behind my back to investigate me?” Gu Xiruo was furious, unable to believe that her words had led Qing Yukong to doubt her.
“Yesterday, to prevent my mother from plotting against you, I specifically brought in an external doctor to examine her. The result was that she truly fainted due to your actions. Regardless, my mother is your elder, your mother-in-law. Your behavior shows a blatant disregard for the Qing family.” As Qing Yukong spoke, his anger grew, his gaze piercing as he looked at Gu Xiruo.
“I investigated these matters out of concern that you might be wronged, but it turns out it was my mother who suffered. She has always been accommodating to you, while you have been overbearing. Until you come to your senses and sincerely apologize to my mother, you are not to go anywhere.” This time, Qing Yukong spoke directly without any reservations towards Gu Xiruo.
After speaking, he turned to Qing Yi beside him and instructed in a cold tone, “Summon the guards to stand watch.”