The Habit of Stitching Lips Shut

The man frowned slightly.

"Do you want me to send someone to look for him?" the handsome man asked hurriedly.

"No need. Thank you for leading the way today, Crown Prince Qi. I still have something to do, so I won't be meeting Mr. Liu."

"Please go ahead, young master Lan." The handsome man lowered his head slightly and looked at the two of them as they left.

Gu Zhicheng cupped his hands at the guests. "Everyone, my daughter is insensible and has made a fool of herself. Since Mr. Liu is not here, I will host another banquet for everyone another day."

His gaze stopped on the face of the handsome man, then he quickly walked up to him. "Your Highness, when did you arrive? I didn't notice. My apologies!"

"Master Gu, you don't have to worry about it. You should settle your family matters first. Since Mr. Liu has already left, I won't stay here any longer."

At the mention of family matters, Gu Zhicheng's mouth twitched uncontrollably. He respectfully sent the Crown Prince off.

The rest of the guests also bid farewell to the Gu Family Head.

Mr. Liu was now living in the Gu family's second branch and there was nowhere else for him to go, so there was still a chance to see him.

However, seeing the Gu family make a fool of themselves was a rare sight. They didn't suffer any loss after enjoying such a big spectacle today!

The bystanders realized there was nothing more to watch and dispersed.

The drama may have come to an end, but gossip about today's events in Tianjing spread rapidly in every corner.

With a stern expression, Gu Zhicheng swiftly made his way into the courtyard.

The servants of the Gu family hurriedly collected the shattered plaque from the ground and rushed back inside the main gate, feeling disheartened.

Bang!

The heavy gate was forcefully closed, cutting off any prying eyes from the outside.

However, in the sunlight, the grand entrance of the Gu family proudly showcased the words 'Jun Mansion'.

..

Inside the gates, wherever Gu Qingluan went, the servants all stepped back, keeping their distance.

Just moments ago, many people had hidden behind the gates, stealing glances, and news of Gu Qingluan's remarkable feat quickly spread throughout the mansion.

This young lady, who had once been oppressed even by the servants, now stood in a league of her own. Even the family head was intimidated by her. If she wanted to deal with them, it would be effortless.

The servants who had previously bullied Gu Qingluan were now pale with fear. They wished they could find a hole to hide in, afraid of facing Gu Qingluan's retribution.

"Luan'er, you haven't been back for so many years, and the previous courtyard is no longer suitable for living. Why don't you go to the living room first? I'll have someone clean up the courtyard, and once it's ready, you can rest there," Gu Zhicheng caught up from behind and said in a fawning tone.

"No rush, let me take a look first," Gu Qingluan replied, strolling around the residence at a leisurely pace.

The Jun Family was wealthy, and this mansion was built on a grand scale. It had hundreds of rooms inside and outside, as well as several gardens, especially the back garden, which was comparable to the Imperial Palace. The back garden extended all the way to the back mountain, which was the Jun Family's territory.

The strong were respected in the Cloud Plains Continent. Although there was an imperial system, the hierarchy was not that strict.

The Jun Family was rich and could afford to hire experts to build such a large garden.

There was a saying that "wealth should not be flaunted." In the end, the Jun Family became the target of malicious individuals and met with disaster. If it weren't for the well-built mansion, the Gu family wouldn't have shamelessly taken it by force.

Gu Zhicheng walked alongside Gu Qingluan, his eyes filled with complex emotions as he observed her.

"Luan'er, where have you been all these years? I have regretted chasing you out of the house for a long time. I often thought that you hadn't gone far. How did you manage to survive outside with a child? I sent many people to search for you, but there was no news of your whereabouts..."

Gu Qingluan felt the urge to vomit. How could Gu Zhicheng have the audacity to say such things?

Throughout her fifteen years in the Gu family, she had never witnessed him treating his eldest daughter with any semblance of kindness. He had callously expelled her from the household, and now he had the nerve to express concern?

Receiving no response from Gu Qingluan, Gu Zhicheng persisted in playing the family card, attempting to evoke emotions by mentioning her mother. "These years, I often dreamt of your mother. Your mother was the epitome of gentleness, she..."

"If you dare mention her name again, do you truly believe I won't take drastic measures to silence you?" Gu Qingluan interrupted sharply, abruptly halting in her tracks. She turned around to face him, her smile bearing a sinister edge.

The mention of Gu Jinyue crossed Gu Zhicheng's mind, and he muttered to himself, "Does that girl possess a peculiar habit of silencing people by sewing their mouths shut?"