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Yuan Bao spoke earnestly, “Rest assured, princess. I’ll be more cautious next time.”
Wang Jinhe shook her head helplessly, realizing that Yuan Bao was risking it all for nothing.
“As long as you’re happy.” If even someone like Su Yu couldn’t influence him. What else could she do? She would just go with the flow.
Gu Xiruo was seething with anger, while Gu Sheng looked at her with a faint, enigmatic smile.
Some things couldn’t be manipulated through threats.
“Disappointed, aren’t you? You’ve forgotten that Wang Jinhe and I have a strained relationship. Whatever you do, whatever information you hold about me, she won’t care,” Gu Xiruo sneered at Gu Sheng.
Gu Xiruo glared at Gu Sheng fiercely and said sarcastically: “In the end, it’s because you are a waste. You can’t even handle Wang Jinhe.”
Gu Sheng was furious, on the verge of action, but Gu Xiruo provocatively leaned in, “Dare to lay a finger on me and see what happens?”
“You…”
“Gu Sheng, others may not know the significance of that item, but you should. Touch me, and who gave you the audacity?” Gu Xiruo observed Gu Sheng’s raised hand, her eyes filled with disdain, not for his reluctance to act but for his overall feeble demeanor.
Indeed, Gu Sheng understood the implications of that item. It was his knowledge that made it puzzling why it was in Gu Xiruo’s possession.
“If you want to know why I have this item in my hand? I won’t tell you. What can you do to me?” Gu Xiruo arrogantly confronted Gu Sheng.
Gu Sheng turned and walked away, choosing not to engage further with Gu Xiruo to avoid losing control and resorting to violence against her.
Watching Gu Sheng depart, Gu Xiruo’s eyes reflected her disdain. A coward indeed, backing down now?
As she left, she had other matters to attend to.
Upon reaching the courtyard’s entrance, Gu Xiruo glanced back at the room where Gu Yanqi was confined.
Gu Yanqi must die.
Returning to her quarters, Gu Xiruo summoned Ming Ye.
“I won’t help you.” Before Gu Xiruo could speak, Ming Ye preemptively interjected.
Gu Xiruo, with a grim expression, stared at Ming Ye. “What do you mean by this? Don’t forget the promise you made to me.”
“Indeed, I promised to protect you, but I never agreed to assist you in random killings. You, Gu Xiruo, are not worthy for me to dirty my hand in such matters,” Ming Ye stated firmly.
“I am not your slave, so I ask you to show some restraint,” Ming Ye coldly addressed Gu Xiruo.
Despite her frustration, Gu Xiruo had no leverage over Ming Ye.
Ming ye was right. She had no right to ask him to help her kill Gu Yanqi.
“Gu Xiruo, you better think carefully before proceeding with this. Don’t lead yourself into irreparable disaster,” Ming Ye, considering their long-standing relationship, couldn’t stand by and watch her go down this destructive path, so he felt compelled to offer a cautionary reminder.
“He must die. Since you won’t assist me, don’t meddle in my affairs here,” Gu Xiruo glared displeasedly at Ming Ye, clearly unhappy with his words.
Ming Ye couldn’t help but chuckle in response to Gu Xiruo’s irritation.
No wonder Gu Xiruo had been dealt with so easily by the Princess several times. Now, he seemed to understand why.
Gu Xiruo was excessively arrogant and presumptuous.
“Just don’t regret it,” Ming Ye advised Gu Xiruo, seeing no need for further discussion after her response.
Since she had been warned, there was nothing more for him to say. If she regretted it later, she shouldn’t come seeking his help.
Glancing at Ming Ye, Gu Xiruo questioned, “What do you mean by that?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Ming Ye replied before fading into the shadows, unwilling to engage further with Gu Xiruo.
It was as if continuing the conversation with Gu Xiruo would lower his own intelligence.
“Ming Ye, come out. I have something for you to do,” Gu Xiruo remembered she had a task for Ming Ye to complete.
However, Ming Ye was nowhere to be found.
Despite calling out to Ming Ye several times, Gu Xiruo couldn’t summon him, which made her very angry.
“Ming Ye, don’t forget your words.”
Ming Ye couldn’t be bothered with Gu Xiruo and let her deal with things on her own.
Frustrated, Gu Xiruo had no choice but to seek help elsewhere.
In the evening, when Gu Xiruo returned with her companions, Ming Ye suddenly appeared before her. Seeing him there, Gu Xiruo was furious to the core.
When she needed Ming Ye’s help, he was as good as dead. Now that she didn’t need him, he showed up.
“Are you deliberately defying me?” Gu Xiruo coldly stared at Ming Ye.
If Ming Ye continued to be disobedient, she would consider leaving him behind here.
Ming Ye sensed a slight emotional shift in Gu Xiruo.
His gaze fixed on Gu Xiruo.
Before Gu Xiruo could conceal the coldness and the faint hint of murderous intent in her eyes, Ming Ye caught them.
Mockingly, Ming Ye remarked, “Do you want my life?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Gu Xiruo retorted coolly.
Observing Gu Xiruo, Ming Ye only spoke up when she became agitated, “Gu Xiruo, this is why you can’t compare to the Princess.”
As Ming Ye vanished into the darkness, Gu Xiruo, filled with anger, fiercely smashed a cup onto the ground.
Since Wang Jinhe appeared, everyone around her changed.
Even Qing Yukong, who had always doted on her, seemed like a different person.
Thinking of Qing Yukong, Gu Xiruo belatedly realized that despite her prolonged absence, Qing Yukong had never come to see her.
It was as if she never existed to him.
This realization altered Gu Xiruo’s expression.
At this moment, she couldn’t afford to let Qing Yukong drift away from her like Lu Lingfeng and the others.
After coming to terms with this, Gu Xiruo took her maid and headed to the Qing residence.
“Young Madam, Young Master instructed that until you apologize to the Madam, you can’t return home.”
“How dare you speak to me like that?” Gu Xiruo’s face darkened instantly.
“Young Madam, we are just following orders. Please don’t make things difficult for us,” the gatekeeper said, though his eyes held a strange look while speaking to Gu Xiruo.
Gu Xiruo had intended to leave, but as she turned, she saw Qing Yukong returning with his guards.
Wearing a gentle smile, Gu Xiruo walked up to Qing Yukong, took his arm, and plaintively said, “They are all bullying me and won’t let me go back.”
Qing Yukong lowered his gaze to Gu Xiruo, gently removing her hand.
In the uneasy atmosphere of the gatehouse, Qing Yukong finally spoke up, saying, “It was my instruction.”
The hurt expression on Gu Xiruo’s face stiffened, “You…”
“I said, apologize to Mother, then you can come back.”
“Why should I apologize?”
“Shouldn’t you apologize when you’ve done something wrong? I never imagined you were these kind of person,” Qing Yukong said coldly.
“My mother always indulged you, yet you managed to upset her to the point of illness and still think you’re not at fault. Is this how a daughter-in-law should behave? Since you married into our family, I believe no one has wronged you, but how have you treated us?” Qing Yukong calmly questioned Gu Xiruo.