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Just as Shen Ning was about to speak, a hurried voice suddenly sounded from outside: “Your Highness, My Lady, Miss Gu has taken her own life!”
As soon as the words were spoken, the room fell silent.
The rare, intimate atmosphere that had been cultivated was instantly swept away.
Ji Yucang’s expression suddenly turned cold, his eyes showing disgust, as he got up and put on a robe.
“Why did she suddenly take her own life?” Shen Ning suppressed the heat rising in her ears and gradually calmed down, “How did you deal with Gu Yanran after the poisoning incident last time?”
Ji Yucang fastened his belt, his tone as steady as ever: “I betrothed her to one of my generals, a man nearing forty, widowed, with a bad temper, and a difficult mother-in-law at home.”
Shen Ning was taken aback, then nodded slowly: “Someone like her indeed deserves a man with a bad temper.”
Although Gu Yanran was Ji Yucang’s cousin, her repeated actions had crossed Ji Yucang’s bottom line. The initial provocations were not counted, but the final act of poisoning was unforgivable.
If not for the sake of his late mother, Gu Yanran would have been executed. Sparing her life and marrying her to a general with a bad temper, even as a second wife, was already a great act of mercy.
If she could properly serve her husband, raise her children, and care for her mother-in-law, and live a peaceful life, it was likely that even the worst-tempered man would not treat her too harshly, out of respect for the Regent.
But Gu Yanran obviously didn’t see it that way.
Shen Ning pondered: “When is the wedding?”
“I told them to get married within half a month. Yang Ming should have already rushed the preparations. Gu Yanran has been under house arrest these past few days. It’s probably that as the wedding day approaches, she decided to take a desperate gamble and threaten with her life.” As Ji Yucang spoke, he turned and walked out.
Outside the palace, at the bottom of the stone steps, stood the stewardess of the royal estate. Seeing Ji Yucang come out, she knelt down in fear: “My Lord.”
Ji Yucang said coldly: “Gu Yanran attempted suicide?”
“In response, My Lord, Gu Yanran has been refusing to eat for days, and she has lost a lot of weight. However, no one in the estate dared to spread the news of her hunger strike. Neither you nor the Lady were aware. Unexpectedly… Unexpectedly, when Gu Yanran saw that her hunger strike was ineffective, she attempted to hang herself tonight…”
“Is she dead?”
“No, not yet…” The stewardess quickly shook her head, “Gu Yanran had just kicked away the stool when the maids outside heard the commotion and rushed in, preventing a tragedy.”
“Since that’s the case, pass on my words. The servants in Gu Yanran’s residence are not to pay any attention to her. If she wants to die, let her be.” Ji Yucang’s voice was cold and merciless, without a trace of emotion, “Just make it clear to Gu Yanran that she won’t receive a proper burial if she dies. I will have someone prepare a straw mat for her and have her body thrown into the mass grave.”
The stewardess was so frightened by these words that her face turned pale. She kowtowed repeatedly in agreement: “Yes, yes, I will go immediately.”
Ji Yucang turned and returned to the room. Shen Ning had already lain down, she was not concerned about Gu Yanran’s fate.
Her body was weak now, and her only task was to focus on recovering.
But Ji Yucang obviously wanted her to know.
He took off his clothes, lifted the covers, and lay back down, pulling her into his embrace and wrapping her in his arms: “Yang Ming has a daughter who married in March this year. So, after Gu Yanran marries into the family, she won’t have the chance to bully his daughter. Instead, it will be Yang Ming’s formidable mother-in-law who will give her a hard time and curb her temper.”
“Does General Yang only have one daughter?”
“Mm.” Ji Yucang greedily inhaled the scent of her hair, feeling her inquiries in his arms, his voice unconsciously softening, “Back then, Yang Ming’s first wife suffered bodily harm after giving birth to this daughter. For many years after, she could not conceive again and did not give birth to a son. She suffered from her mother-in-law’s harassment for many years, which led to her early demise.”
Shen Ning frowned: “Setting aside Gu Yanran, isn’t General Yang’s mother too…”
“Even an incorruptible official finds it hard to adjudicate domestic affairs.” Ji Yucang said, “Yang Ming’s mother wants a grandson, but Yang Ming has spent years in the military and has never taken a concubine, unable to fulfill her wish for a grandchild. The old lady at home constantly made things difficult for her daughter-in-law, eventually leading to the daughter-in-law’s long-term depression and her early passing.”
Shen Ning made a sound of acknowledgment, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Indeed, outsiders could not interfere in domestic matters.
Moreover, the eagerness to have grandchildren, like that of Yang’s mother, was common in many families.
It was just that after Gu Yanran’s marriage, she would probably have to endure some hardships.
Shen Ning thought of Gu Yanran’s foolish and self-righteous nature. If she was cornered, who knew what extreme actions she might take?
She reminded him: “It’s fine to let her marry, but it’s best to arrange for two people to keep an eye on her, so she doesn’t have the chance to act out desperately.”
“Don’t worry.” Ji Yucang murmured into her neck, drawing in her fragrance, his voice relaxed, “Let alone her, whether she lives or dies is up to her own fate. After her marriage, she will no longer have any connection with the Regent’s residence. You don’t need to concern yourself with her.”
Shen Ning silently gazed at the canopy, wondering if she should ask if he was holding her too tightly?
How was she supposed to sleep like this?