Chapter 12 Reap What One Sows

Gu Zhihua was dumbfounded, so she answered intuitively with her muddled mind. As soon as she answered, Changning’s senior maid, Granny Chen, slapped her mercilessly and reproached, “How dare you stand while answering the Princess’s question?”

“I…”

Gu Zhihua was stunned and stumbled to the floor after receiving that blow. After a moment of shock, panic overwhelmed her. She wanted to explain herself, but Gu Qiang took a step forward and forestalled her with a polite bow and replied, “Your Highness, she is my younger sister.”

“Younger sister?”

Although Changning seldom met people, she recognized the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister. She then frowned and asked in displeasure, “I remember that your mother passed away not long after you were born.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Gu Qiang’s voice was light yet polite as she added reverently, “Zhihua is my stepmother’s daughter.”

Ye, who was standing in the crowd, felt everyone’s gaze upon her. With an ashen face, Ye grabbed the handkerchief in her hands tightly, almost tearing it apart.

“No wonder,” Princess Changning replied disdainfully, her voice filled with realization.

She then glanced at Gu Zhihua who was shivering on the floor. Upon noticing the conspicuous peacock dangling hairpin on Gu Zhihua’s hair, she abruptly reached out a hand and flung it off.

Clang!

That dangling hairpin shattered at once. Following that, Changning made scornful remarks, “No wonder. The child of a second wife is ill-bred as expected!”

Gu Zhihua’s face became deathly pale upon hearing that. When the dangling hairpin fell, it scratched her face, but she was completely numb to everything right now.

All she could think of was the fact that she was slapped by the senior maid from the palace in front of everyone. That meant she was despised and shunned by the entire imperial family!

Even worse, her identity as a legitimate daughter was questioned by Princess Changning!

However, Changning’s anger did not subside. She shot daggers at Ye, whose face was as pale as a sheet among the crowds, and blasted, “I have lost the mood to join this Spring feast. Get ready, I’m going back to the palace!”

“What’s the matter, sister?”

“Long live the Princess.”

When two voices rang simultaneously, Gu Qiang was first stunned, but she soon reacted swiftly and bowed at Shen Qianshan who was looking at her. “In my most humbleness, greetings to you, Your Highness.”

All the ministers and noble maidens were shocked. Only when Gu Qiang kneeled down, they regained their senses and saluted the Prince. At the same time, the ministers were more clear-headed then their wives and gasped inwardly, The Prime Minister’s Spring feast is already honoured by the presence of Princess Changning, so why did the Ninth Prince who rarely makes an appearance come as well?

It seemed that Prime Minister Gu’s power was beyond their imagination.

Shen Qianshan had no intentions to care about their thoughts. He just raised his eyebrow and spoke casually, “You may rise. I am here just to attend the Prime Minister’s Spring feast.”

He then paused for a while before exchanging greetings with Changning. After that, he repeated his question with a frown, “Why are you infuriated just now, sister?”

The previous Emperor did not have many children. In his old age, the only children he had were Princess Changning, who was from the same mother as the reigning Emperor, and Shen Qianshan, the Ninth Prince.

As their age gap was not far apart, Changning and Shen Qianshan were close. Therefore, when Shen Qianshan expressed his concern toward her, she almost cried in grievance as she could not explain her miseries. “It’s nothing… I’m just sad for my unfortunate life.”

Shen Qianshan understood immediately. Instinctively, he glanced at Gu Qiang who was standing upright, but she was not showing any signs of awkwardness. He then looked to Gu Zhihua who was still kneeling on the floor.

She was wearing a bright red floral peacock garment. Not only she violated Changning’s taboo, it was also inappropriate for the second daughter of the Prime Minister to wear such an attire.

With this thought, Shen Qianshan commanded mercilessly, “Bring her away! I don’t want to see this garment again.”

Gu Zhihua was completely frightened now after getting reprimanded by the Princess and the Prince continuously. She mustered up all her strength to bow with her wobbly legs before leaving with the support of a few maids.

“Calm down, sister. The ill-bred one is now gone. I’ll accompany you for a seat here.”

Since the Ninth Prince had offered his company, Changning willingly listened to him. Although Ye’s face was still ashen, she remained resilient and forced a smile while inviting both the Prince and the Princess to their seats. With that, the long-delayed Spring feast was finally started. The atmosphere soon became amiable after a few jokes told by the ministers and their wives.

Princess Changning’s mood was gradually lightened up after a few glasses of wine. Suddenly, she remembered something and sent people to invite Gu Qiang over for a chat. Upon hearing that, Ye, who was sitting beside Gu Qiang, turned sullen and said between clenched teeth, “It’s all your schemes, isn’t it?!”