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After hearing Gu Sheng’s words, the elders left in a huff. Let them go. Could they not find out where the Imperial Prince Yu’s Mansion was located?
“Don’t take their words to heart, Xiruo. Just remember that you are your parents’ precious daughter. I will always stand by you, no matter what,” Gu Sheng said, concerned that Gu Xiruo might overthink things, trying to reassure her.
Gu Xiruo did indeed overthink, but her thoughts were focused on Gu Sheng’s position as the head of the family and the impending demise of the elders. From their attitude towards her just now, even if Gu Sheng were willing to pass on the position of family head to her, those stubborn elders would oppose it. With them around, she would never succeed in becoming the head of the Gu family. The only way forward was to wait for their demise to have a chance.
“Dad, I just remembered something I need to take care of. I’ll come back to see you and Mom in a few days,” Gu Xiruo said with a smile.
Because of Gu Sheng’s protection, she felt a bit more genuine towards him. Regardless of how the people of the Gu family treated her, Gu Sheng had been undeniably good to her.
“Alright.”
After the elders left Gu Sheng’s courtyard, they went directly to the Royal Mansion to find Wang Jinhe.
“You just wait. We’ll go ask the master,” the gatekeeper said to the people from the Gu family. He didn’t have much goodwill towards them. A few old men had come, and he didn’t want to make things difficult for them.
“The elders from the Gu family have come to see you, Your Highness,” the servant reported. It seemed that they wouldn’t leave until they had seen the princess.
“Where are they?”
“They are at the gate. Would you like to see them, Your Highness?”
“Let them in, and also go and fetch the prince,” Wang Jinhe instructed.
“Understood.”
In the study, Su Yu was discussing the matter of King Yan with Yuan Bao, contemplating how to gain control of his military power. Upon learning that the elders from the Gu family had come to see Wang Jinhe, he set aside his work and quickly went to meet them.
“Why are you thinking of meeting with the elders from the Gu family?” Su Yu thought that Wang Jinhe had no fondness for the people from the Gu family, but it turned out he was mistaken.
“I just want to see what the elders from the Gu family have to say to me,” Wang Jinhe said with a sly smile, rubbing her chin.
Her words left Su Yu with a knowing expression.
This is typically how Wang Jinhe behaves when she’s plotting something.
Soon, the elders from the Gu family were brought in and they knelt down to pay their respects. “Greetings to the prince and princess,” they said.
“Why have you come to see me?” Wang Jinhe frowned as she looked at the kneeling individuals, clearly displeased with them.
“We have come to ask the princess to return to the Gu family. The princess is the true member of the Gu family and should return to us,” one of the elders said sternly, looking at Wang Jinhe.
Wang Jinhe pointed at herself and then turned to Su Yu. “Are they trying to command me?”
Whom are they trying to impress with this cold and haughty attitude?
“They might be trying to assert their authority over you, so that you won’t defy them in the future,” Su Yu responded in a supportive manner.
Wang Jinhe clicked her tongue. “Their idea is quite clever, but unfortunately, they’ve chosen the wrong target.”
“Exactly.”
The elder who had proposed the visit to Wang Jinhe nearly stumbled upon hearing the response.
“Your Highness, please don’t mind him. That’s just his nature, very unlikable,” another elder said.
Wang Jinhe shrugged in response to the elder’s words. “If you’ve come to ask me to return to the Gu family, there’s no need to even bring it up. I will not go back to the Gu family, as I have no relation to them.”
She had no relation to the Gu family, only to Gu Jiuning. The fact that her mother was unwilling to return indicated that the people of the Gu family had also hurt her in the past. And she wouldn’t do what they wanted.
“Your Highness, no matter what, you are still of the Gu family’s bloodline. The bloodline of the Gu family should not be left outside. Please come back with us,” the elder said respectfully, but only he knew how much sincerity was behind his words.
“You don’t want the bloodline of the Gu family, you just want what I have. After all, what I have is worth a fortune. Even if you envy it, what can you do? You simply don’t have the opportunity,” Wang Jinhe said, seeing through their intentions.
“You are a member of the Gu family, and as a member, it is only right to act in the family’s interest,” the person who had previously asserted authority over Wang Jinhe spoke up.
He disliked both Gu Xiruo and Wang Jinhe. In his eyes, Wang Jinhe was even more intimidating than Gu Xiruo, not only because of her status, but also because of the enigmatic aura she exuded. He had only seen such an aura in Gu Jiuning.
“I am still a Xuan Empire citizen. I haven’t even seen my brother, the emperor, ordering me around. You are just a defeated family, and yet you dare to command me?” Wang Jinhe retorted, questioning their audacity to demand her allegiance to the Gu family.
How could these people be so audacious as to speak in such a manner?
“I wonder who gave you the courage to speak to me in this way? Was it Gu Sheng, or was it your own decision?” Wang Jinhe asked sarcastically, looking at the elders with a cold gaze.
At this moment, Wang Jinhe seemed to understand why Gu Jiuning was unwilling to return. Would there be any future for a family like this? A family that had decayed from top to bottom was truly beneath her contempt.
“As long as you return to the Gu family, we will give you the position of family head.”
Wang Jinhe burst into laughter, then turned to Su Yu and asked, “Husband, now that someone is openly trying to steal your thunder, do you have anything to say?”
She playfully poked Wang Jinhe’s face, and Su Yu, feeling exasperated, replied, “Stop fooling around.”
“I’m not fooling around. I’m genuinely curious and quite annoyed. Don’t you want to satisfy my curiosity?” Wang Jinhe looked at Su Yu with bright eyes.
Someone was trying to compete with him.
“Despite knowing that I’m still carrying two children, they still say such things. Do you think they’re trying to take away both your son and daughter?” Wang Jinhe looked at Su Yu, adding fuel to the fire without any reservation.
The fire wasn’t burning hot enough. How could these self-righteous elders play with fire like this?
“Yuan Bao, take the person who disrespected the princess just now and give them twenty lashes,” Su Yu said, holding Wang Jinhe’s hand and squeezing her delicate, fair fingers, his voice cold and stern.
“Are you trying to abuse your power?”
“This isn’t abuse of power; it’s just a small punishment for a grave offense,” Su Yu said with a sardonic smile.
“Just a member of a prestigious family, yet they dare to raise their voice at my princess. I didn’t even use a commanding tone when speaking to her. Who do you think you are to order her around?” He was almost doting on Wang Jinhe, but these people truly didn’t know their place.
Regardless of the person’s identity or age, Yuan Bao dragged them away without hesitation.
The others who had come along quickly pleaded, “Please, show mercy, Your Highness.”