The sunset came to an end, and the evening glow reflected in the sky. Shining brilliant orange color on the earth. It seems that the small Gu courtyard inside the huge Gu Mansion was somewhat desolate and lonely.
At the small table outside the kitchen, Su Qing stare at the rose pastry in front of her with strong expression. Her pure white fingers lightly pushed it, and there was a big crack in the middle completely broke apart.
She was disappointed: "It seems like I"m not fit to do this."
"Madam, it"s already good enough." Shuangqiao softly consoled her: "When I just learned it, I couldn"t even make it this good. You only some practices, don"t worry, you will become an expert after a few try."
"Really?" Su Qing still has some small hope in her heart.
"Of course, it"s real." Shuangqiao looked at the sky and said: "It"s getting dark, madam shall go back to care for the Seventh Lord."
Once mentioned about Gu Zifu, Su Qing"s fingertips slightly shook, she then lowered her eyes and nodded hesitantly.
The kitchen is located on the south side of the Gu Courtyard, it"s not far from the north yard, but Su Qing doesn"t want to go back early. She doesn"t want to see the mania Seventh Lord, so she makes up her mind and walked out of the little arch door on the side. She"s circling around, walking slowly along a path to the place where Seventh Lord lives. So that if he asks, she would just say sh was lost.
Although Su Qing has married into Gu Family for a few days, she rarely stepped out of the gate of Gu Courtyard. What"s more, the last time the Old Madam called her for questioning, she didn"t have a good impression about this family, so the less trouble the better. With this thought in mind, she usually doesn"t like to hang around in the mansion, fearing encountering something unclean.
While strolling, she suddenly heard a slight struggle came from the right. Listening carefully, it"s a human voice and it sounds painful.
Save? Not save?
Su Qing hesitated. People of Gu Family, she really doesn"t want to get involved.
Forget it. Su Qing bit her lower lip, making her mind and walked away. But only took a few steps before hearing a whine sound. Su Qing"s step suddenly halt.
This is….. Da Bai"s voice?
Su Qing"s heart thumped, a bad though came to her mind. No longer care about it. she quickly picked up her skirt and turned to run in the direction of the voice. She saw a person with an astonishing pool of blood and Da Bai was squatting next to that man eating something.
She heard Shuagqiao and Si Ting mentioned that Da Bai had bit people to death before. But she was a little skeptical at that time, now she totally believes it. Hurrying to press down the surprise and fear in her heart, Su Qing ran to the man, and saw the teeth mark between his neck. It"s bleeding badly.
Su Qing was panicked, she didn"t care to see who this person was, and crouched down tried to feel his breathing. Seeing that he"s still alive, she immediately got up and went to Da Bai, pulling its claws trying to drag it out.
She yelled at him with frowned: "Don"t you see what the situation is, still eating! Don"t you know….." Before she could finish her words, a shrill cry rang through the sky.
"Ah—— Murder! Murder!"
————
Those several old maids have really great strength as they usually do rough work. Su Qing has tiny and tender body is not their match. After tried to struggle a few times, she ended up knelt down in the yard. Her heart was unwilling and wanted to protest but one of the old maids gave a heavy kick on her knee, a burst of pain spread.
"Kneel for me!"
Su Qing talked back while enduring her pain: "No matter how the Old Madam should be the one who has the right to order me to kneel. When did the Seventh Madam of Gu Family need a servant to teach a master a lesson!"
"You!" The old maid furious, her hand was about to hit Su Qing, but was pulled back by another old maid next to her.
Everyone saw the Old Madam has arrived, they bowed down to greet her: "Old Madam."
Su Qing lowered her head but did not speak. She"s fully aware of Old Madam bad intention. But she just did expect this accident to happen, it turned out Da Bai has hurt the Old Madam"s youngest son, the Third Lord of Gu Mansion, Gu Lingyi. She heard that this man is unskilled, ignorant, and has l.u.s.tful nature. Under the pressure of the Old Madam, he married at a young age with a family relative, unfortunately the wife died when she gave birth to Gu Hanyue. Even though Gu Lingyi never remarried after his wife pa.s.sed away, he took women into his backyard one after another. Until two years ago, he promoted a courtesan to be his officially wife, and almost made the Old Madam die from anger.
With this Third Lord disgusting behavior, it"s better to marry the Seventh Lord. Su Qing thought inwardly.
The Old Madam with dark complexion looking at Su Qing who was kneeling in front of her and said in a stern tone: "Where is the beast that hurt my son?"
"This….."
All the servants there shrank their necks, did not dare to look at her. Lou momo stood up and said: "That beast is very fierce. After hurting several people in the yard, it ran back to Gu Courtyard. Does the Old Madam want to….."
"Dare to hurt my son, that beast should have its skin peel off already!" The Old Madam raises her hand interrupted her. Her eyes then fell on Su Qing: "Pa.s.s my order, Seventh Madam lack of discipline, punishing her 20 flogging and kneeling at ancestral hall for three days."
Hearing this, Ding shi wanted to step forward and plead for Su Qing, but she was stopped by her maid Chunshao, shaking her head at her.
Lou momo complied to her ordered and said: "Yes."
Su Qing was almost burst out in laughter from furious. This old woman is really became stupid from old age.
After calmed herself down, she nodded slightly and said softly: "Would the Old Madam listen to me say a few words?"
The Old Madam didn"t answer yet, Gu Hanyue walked in angrily and pointed at Su Qing: "What else do you need to say? If you didn"t bring that beast here, my father wouldn"t lie in coma until now. It must be you. You"re holding a grudge of last time"s matter and found opportunity teaching that beast to avenge for you!"
"Yue"er, you should call me Seventh aunt in-law."
"Pah, don"t think that giving a little face, you really treat yourself as a master. If it weren"t for the palace…."
"I remember, Yue"er is sixteen this year, still not married yet, not even a marriage proposal." Even though u Qing kneeling, her back and waist were straightened. He gaze fell on Gu Hanyue, with a smile she continued: "Although I just married into Gu Family, as you all knew this marriage was brought out by the Crown Prince, it showed that no matter how busy he is, he still care about this little sister of his. I heard that the young miss of Gu Family is beautiful and has good origin, but hard to find a good match. At first I didn"t believe it when people talked about it, but now looking closely at it, it does make sense."
"Su Qing!" Gu Hanyu was in rage.
Regarding her marriage is Gu Hanyu biggest pain.
Where the h.e.l.l this bluestone slab came from, why is it so hard? After kneeling for a while, she started to feel pain, as well as the place where that old servant kicked. Su Qing moves her body, changing her posture and continued: "Yue"re, this time even if you call me Seventh aunt in-law is no use, this matter is not me who said. If you don"t believe me, you can ask the Old Madam."
Once she heard Su Qing mentioned the Old Madam, Gu Hanyue was shocked. She quickly changed her fierce behavior, lowered her head, sobbing: "Old Madam, but my father …my father…."
The Old Madam gave her a sideways glance, Gu Hanyue was so scared that she didn"t dare to utter a sound. She then took a few steps forward, seeing this Lou momo quickly rushed to support her.
"I didn"t know the Seventh Madam had such a sharp mouth."
Su Qing smiled revealing her dimples and said cheerfully: "It"s all thank to Old Madam good teaching."
Seeing that the Old Madam ignored her, Su Qing pretended nothing happened, propped up from the ground and said: "If the Old Madam has nothing else, this daughter-in-law will have to rush back to serve the Seventh Lord. As for the Third Lord, I will come to apology tomorrow.
The sound of her voice hasn"t fallen yet, a cold lazy voice came from the distance.
"Well, my wife still knows to go back."
Su Qing was startled. She looked up subconsciously, but didn"t pay attention to her feet, stumbled and fell to the ground again.
Hi Zifu walked from a distance watching Su Qing in a mess lowered her head looking down. He felt somewhat taking pleasure in others" misfortune: "How embarra.s.sing, making a fool of yourself! They let you knelt you just knelt ah."
Su Qing bowed her head and her face flushed from embarra.s.sment. Biting her lip not opening her mouth.
When the crowd saw Gu Zifu, their faces instantly turned white and consciously backed away, making way for him.
The Old Madam was not much better than the rest, but she still tried to open her mouth with expressionless face: "The Seventh rarely come out to see people, what kind of wind blows you to this old body"s place today?"
Hi Zigu said carelessly: "What kind of wind this Seventh Lord doesn"t know, but I only know that regarding to Gu Lingyi hurt my family Da Bai, how should we count it?
Hurted Da Bai?
Not only people there were stunned, Su Qing who was sitting on the ground was also staring blankly at him.
"Gu Zifu!" The Old Madam exclaimed: "Do not talk nonsense around here. The one lying inside is your third brother. If you don"t want to see him, you can leave now. Lou momo, send off the guest!"
She was hardly finished speaking when the “whoosh” sound swept across the Old Madam"s neck, and nailed directly to the door behind her.
That"s the Three-headed Zhu Ran arrow!
"Old Madam!" Everyone was thrown into chaos.
Luo momo hurried to help her: "What are you all doing here, quickly help the Old Madam in!"
Although the Old Madam"s age is not very old, after all she"s just a married woman in the boudoir. What she"s seen the most in her daily life is inner yard fighting and tricks, but never seen a real sword. She raised her hand and felt a burning pain in her neck. Once looking at the bloodstain on the handkerchief, she almost fainted on the spot.
"Old Madam, Old Madam …what are you still standing, quickly go call the doctor…."
"….Going, going right away…."
Gu Zifu didn"t think it"s messy enough, he bent down and picked up a few small stones, and hit everyone on their knees.
Very accurate, everyone fell to the ground.
Gu Hanyue stumbled on her feet and lost her balance. Let out "Ouch" sound and fell directly into the Old Madam. Both of them fell to the ground, her mouth bleeding as she hit the threshold.
It was messy outside, inside was also messy.
Suddenly heard a painful moan from inside room. Then came the exclamation of the woman, followed by the sound of porcelain falling to the ground.
"Hurry…hurry go and see the Third…." The Old Madam"s face changed instantly after she was finally helped up, hurriedly held Luo momo"s hand and walked inside.
The remaining people also found reasons to leave.
Looking at the chaotic scene, Gu Zifu"s eyes appeared ridicule. He uttered a snort laughed, then his gaze fell on Su Qing who was still in a daze. Walking toward her, and kicked her on the leg.
"Still not get up?"
Only one sentence from him, she immediately came back to her mind.
He stood in front of Su Qing, and his shadow cast over her. She has no doubt that as long as the Old Madam did not stop saying something he didn"t like to hear, the three head arrow would deviate a little bit, and takes the Old Madam"s life on the spot.
For some reasons, she suddenly remembered the story Gu Zifu mentioned on that night—- the skin lantern.
"Human—skin lantern." She murmured. Gu Zifu didn"t hear clearly. He frowned and kicked her again, Su Qing shuddered with fear, and her voice volume was also increased, unconsciously, repeated what she just said.
Gu Zifu was stunned for a moment, then his eyes gradually became excited with blazing hot, giving people a feeling of absolute terrified.
He crouched down, and his cold fingers slightly touched her chin, which made her tremble all over her body.
"QingQing, this lord has only done making the bone painting fan. Speaking of this, you should call her Yi Niang." (one"s father"s concubine)