Five years had passed, and the hatred in Gu Ying's heart was slowly being healed by the prince and the little one.
After sending the little one to her father, she decided to go visit that person at Yongshou Hall.
Her father had not returned to Bianjing for many years. Even though Grandmother favored the eldest son, he could not bear to leave his old mother's side, wanting to fulfill his filial duties in front of her.
Gu Ying wanted her father to live in Zhenguo Duke Manor, but he was reluctant to leave Grandmother behind, so he had been living in Dongping Earl Manor all along.
Gu Ying walked towards Yongshou Hall with Yin Lan.
Gu Wan had married last year, but was not treated well by her in-laws and often returned to her maternal home.
As it happened, just as Gu Ying stepped through the door of the Buddhist hall at Yongshou Hall, she saw Gu Wan and Wang walking in together.
The Buddhist hall was tranquil. Grandmother never allowed others to be present when she prayed, so today there were no servants inside or outside the hall.
Yin Lan said, "Mistress, shall we go in now?"
Gu Ying thought for a moment and said, "Let's wait a little longer before going in."
Although she and Gu Wan's mother and daughter had no deep hatred, Gu Wan harbored great resentment towards her. Gu Wan had teamed up with her elder sister, always trying to make things difficult for her.
Unfortunately, at Gu Wan's wedding last year, Gu Jia had fallen ill and died in the backyard of her husband's home. Her body was wrapped in a straw mat and dumped in a mass grave.
Since then, Gu Wan rarely came around to bother her.
Gu Ying stood quietly in the yard, thinking that the little one must be happily pestering his father for a red-tasseled spear. The corners of her lips curved up slightly.
But soon, the quarrel coming from the Buddhist hall drew her attention.
She concentrated and listened. Wang was crying, "Mother, please help Wan'er. If nothing else works, swallow your pride and go to Zhenguo Duke Manor to beg that person to allow Wan'er to divorce her husband's family. If Wan'er continues to stay with her in-laws, she will surely end up like elder sister, dragged to death by that man sooner or later!"
Sobbing could be heard from Gu Wan inside the room.
Grandmother calmly replied from within, "That was her own fate. How can we interfere in matters between husband and wife?"
Wang's voice became increasingly pitiful. "But you are Wan'er's grandmother! You are the old madam of Dongping Earl Manor! If even you won't help her, then what can I, her mother, do?"
"A married daughter is like spilled water. Stay properly in the Earl Manor. Gu Wan, don't come back frivolously in the future without good reason. Letting outsiders see would lead to gossip about our manor's daughters. Why can't you be more like Rong'er? I had the least hopes for her initially, but in the end she married well into the Ye Family. It's only been five years and she already has Ye Qingchi under control. It seems I was mistaken about you girls in the past."
"Why must Mother be so cruel and heartless!" Wang's voice suddenly grew louder, hysterical, "If you won't help my Wan'er, then I'll spread word about what happened with Ye Zhuoning!"
"You-- What nonsense are you speaking!"
"Aren't you guilty about Ye Zhuoning's death, Mother?!"
Gu Ying's heart tightened and her brows knitted. She abruptly turned her head and looked coldly towards the Buddhist hall.
Golden sunset rays shone through the secluded windows, illuminating a panicked silhouette inside.
The old woman was provoked to cough violently. Flustered, she said, "Don't you dare speak recklessly..."
Gu Ying's mind went blank for a moment. Upon hearing it concerned her mother, her feet flew swiftly into the hall.
Inside, the three women's tempers were raging. Wang's eyes were bloodshot, Gu Wan looked shocked.
Seeing Gu Ying arrive, all three had panicked expressions.
Gu Ying glanced over their faces and sneered coldly. Staring into Grandmother's sharp old eyes, she questioned, "Grandmother, please tell me, is Wang speaking nonsense?"
Wang opened her mouth but fearfully lowered her head without speaking.
The old madam glared furiously at Wang. Her iron-grey face turned to the rashly appearing Gu Ying, scolding her, "Why have you come here! Without my permission, what are you doing barging in?!"
Gu Ying nearly laughed from anger. At this critical juncture, the grandmother she respected actually still had the mood to change the subject?
"What words can't granddaughter hear, that Grandmother doesn't allow her to come?"
"Nonsense! There are none!"
"Then Grandmother, please talk nicely with A-Rong about what happened when my mother passed away."
The old madam seemed pricked in a sore spot. Somewhat stamping her feet, she said, "Gu Ying, you've become very bold now, your wings have hardened, daring to defy your grandmother!"
"It's been more than a day or two that I've defied Grandmother." Gu Ying mocked disdainfully, ignoring her questioning and glancing at Gu Wan's swollen face and the scars on her neck and wrists. She turned and walked up to the pitiful Wang, her eyes filling up with icy chill. "Auntie Wang, rather than begging Grandmother about Third Sister's matters, you might as well come directly to me. I can help Third Sister divorce on her behalf, and find her another good family in Bianjing to remarry. As long as you're willing to tell me what really happened to my mother back then..."
Wang shrank back, uncomfortable with glancing at the old madam's dark glowering face.
Frightened again by the warning in the old madam's eyes, her body shook. Not daring to open her mouth, she whipped her head back around.
Gu Ying was filled with disappointment. Things had already reached this point, so there must have been more to her mother's death.
Deep down, she still held a pathetic shred of hope--
hope that the grandmother she had once desperately craved love from had not harmed her mother...
Her eyes reddening, she grabbed Wang's wrist, saying to her, "Tell me, otherwise I can make Gu Wan roll out of Bianjing tomorrow, never letting you mother and daughter meet again."
Wang was terrified, immediately opening her mouth, "No! Your mother didn't die from illness that year!"
The words had just left her mouth when the old madam fiercely slapped Wang's face with a loud crack, spinning her like a top.
Wang's vision went dark from the slap, unable to stand steadily. She staggered back several steps.
Covering her swollen cheek, blood flowed from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes blazed with anger, shooting sparks. "By this point, I've got nothing left to hide... A-Rong, your mother was killed by the old madam that year! As for the reason, I'm afraid you'll find it laughable once you hear it!"
"Wang Shi! If you dare spout more nonsense, I'll have you die here today!"
The old madam's face was black with anger. She raised her palm high again, charging over in a rush.
Gu Ying stretched out her hand to shield Wang, her cold gaze falling on the old grandmother's piercing brows and eyes.
Grandmother and granddaughter's eyes met. The old madam didn't dare to actually strike down with her palm in the end.
The air froze for a moment. The old madam's face was filled with fury, panic and unease.
Gu Ying didn't know what heavy feelings she held as she slowly walked towards her. Her eyes grew moist. "Yin Lan, please make Grandmother be quiet."
Yin Lan ruthlessly walked up and gagged the old madam's mouth with a handkerchief, twisting her hands behind her back with her youthful strength, not letting her speak a word.
Only then did Gu Ying turn to Wang, allowing her to speak without restraint.
Five years had passed, and the hatred in Gu Ying's heart was slowly being healed by the prince and the little one.
After sending the little one to her father, she decided to go visit that person at Yongshou Hall.
Her father had not returned to Bianjing for many years. Even though Grandmother favored the eldest son, he could not bear to leave his old mother's side, wanting to fulfill his filial duties in front of her.
Gu Ying wanted her father to live in Zhenguo Duke Manor, but he was reluctant to leave Grandmother behind, so he had been living in Dongping Earl Manor all along.
Gu Ying walked towards Yongshou Hall with Yin Lan.
Gu Wan had married last year, but was not treated well by her in-laws and often returned to her maternal home.
As it happened, just as Gu Ying stepped through the door of the Buddhist hall at Yongshou Hall, she saw Gu Wan and Wang walking in together.
The Buddhist hall was tranquil. Grandmother never allowed others to be present when she prayed, so today there were no servants inside or outside the hall.
Yin Lan said, "Mistress, shall we go in now?"
Gu Ying thought for a moment and said, "Let's wait a little longer before going in."
Although she and Gu Wan's mother and daughter had no deep hatred, Gu Wan harbored great resentment towards her. Gu Wan had teamed up with her elder sister, always trying to make things difficult for her.
Unfortunately, at Gu Wan's wedding last year, Gu Jia had fallen ill and died in the backyard of her husband's home. Her body was wrapped in a straw mat and dumped in a mass grave.
Since then, Gu Wan rarely came around to bother her.
Gu Ying stood quietly in the yard, thinking that the little one must be happily pestering his father for a red-tasseled spear. The corners of her lips curved up slightly.
But soon, the quarrel coming from the Buddhist hall drew her attention.
She concentrated and listened. Wang was crying, "Mother, please help Wan'er. If nothing else works, swallow your pride and go to Zhenguo Duke Manor to beg that person to allow Wan'er to divorce her husband's family. If Wan'er continues to stay with her in-laws, she will surely end up like elder sister, dragged to death by that man sooner or later!"
Sobbing could be heard from Gu Wan inside the room.
Grandmother calmly replied from within, "That was her own fate. How can we interfere in matters between husband and wife?"
Wang's voice became increasingly pitiful. "But you are Wan'er's grandmother! You are the old madam of Dongping Earl Manor! If even you won't help her, then what can I, her mother, do?"
"A married daughter is like spilled water. Stay properly in the Earl Manor. Gu Wan, don't come back frivolously in the future without good reason. Letting outsiders see would lead to gossip about our manor's daughters. Why can't you be more like Rong'er? I had the least hopes for her initially, but in the end she married well into the Ye Family. It's only been five years and she already has Ye Qingchi under control. It seems I was mistaken about you girls in the past."
"Why must Mother be so cruel and heartless!" Wang's voice suddenly grew louder, hysterical, "If you won't help my Wan'er, then I'll spread word about what happened with Ye Zhuoning!"
"You-- What nonsense are you speaking!"
"Aren't you guilty about Ye Zhuoning's death, Mother?!"
Gu Ying's heart tightened and her brows knitted. She abruptly turned her head and looked coldly towards the Buddhist hall.
Golden sunset rays shone through the secluded windows, illuminating a panicked silhouette inside.
The old woman was provoked to cough violently. Flustered, she said, "Don't you dare speak recklessly..."
Gu Ying's mind went blank for a moment. Upon hearing it concerned her mother, her feet flew swiftly into the hall.
Inside, the three women's tempers were raging. Wang's eyes were bloodshot, Gu Wan looked shocked.
Seeing Gu Ying arrive, all three had panicked expressions.
Gu Ying glanced over their faces and sneered coldly. Staring into Grandmother's sharp old eyes, she questioned, "Grandmother, please tell me, is Wang speaking nonsense?"
Wang opened her mouth but fearfully lowered her head without speaking.
The old madam glared furiously at Wang. Her iron-grey face turned to the rashly appearing Gu Ying, scolding her, "Why have you come here! Without my permission, what are you doing barging in?!"
Gu Ying nearly laughed from anger. At this critical juncture, the grandmother she respected actually still had the mood to change the subject?
"What words can't granddaughter hear, that Grandmother doesn't allow her to come?"
"Nonsense! There are none!"
"Then Grandmother, please talk nicely with A-Rong about what happened when my mother passed away."
The old madam seemed pricked in a sore spot. Somewhat stamping her feet, she said, "Gu Ying, you've become very bold now, your wings have hardened, daring to defy your grandmother!"
"It's been more than a day or two that I've defied Grandmother." Gu Ying mocked disdainfully, ignoring her questioning and glancing at Gu Wan's swollen face and the scars on her neck and wrists. She turned and walked up to the pitiful Wang, her eyes filling up with icy chill. "Auntie Wang, rather than begging Grandmother about Third Sister's matters, you might as well come directly to me. I can help Third Sister divorce on her behalf, and find her another good family in Bianjing to remarry. As long as you're willing to tell me what really happened to my mother back then..."
Wang shrank back, uncomfortable with glancing at the old madam's dark glowering face.
Frightened again by the warning in the old madam's eyes, her body shook. Not daring to open her mouth, she whipped her head back around.
Gu Ying was filled with disappointment. Things had already reached this point, so there must have been more to her mother's death.
Deep down, she still held a pathetic shred of hope--
hope that the grandmother she had once desperately craved love from had not harmed her mother...
Her eyes reddening, she grabbed Wang's wrist, saying to her, "Tell me, otherwise I can make Gu Wan roll out of Bianjing tomorrow, never letting you mother and daughter meet again."
Wang was terrified, immediately opening her mouth, "No! Your mother didn't die from illness that year!"
The words had just left her mouth when the old madam fiercely slapped Wang's face with a loud crack, spinning her like a top.
Wang's vision went dark from the slap, unable to stand steadily. She staggered back several steps.
Covering her swollen cheek, blood flowed from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes blazed with anger, shooting sparks. "By this point, I've got nothing left to hide... A-Rong, your mother was killed by the old madam that year! As for the reason, I'm afraid you'll find it laughable once you hear it!"
"Wang Shi! If you dare spout more nonsense, I'll have you die here today!"
The old madam's face was black with anger. She raised her palm high again, charging over in a rush.
Gu Ying stretched out her hand to shield Wang, her cold gaze falling on the old grandmother's piercing brows and eyes.
Grandmother and granddaughter's eyes met. The old madam didn't dare to actually strike down with her palm in the end.
The air froze for a moment. The old madam's face was filled with fury, panic and unease.
Gu Ying didn't know what heavy feelings she held as she slowly walked towards her. Her eyes grew moist. "Yin Lan, please make Grandmother be quiet."
Yin Lan ruthlessly walked up and gagged the old madam's mouth with a handkerchief, twisting her hands behind her back with her youthful strength, not letting her speak a word.
Only then did Gu Ying turn to Wang, allowing her to speak without restraint.
