The First Counterattack

Gu Shiyan felt as if her body was ablaze, with even her blood boiling. In a daze, it seemed as though someone was incessantly tugging at her garments.

"Hiss!" She abruptly opened her eyes, only to find a person pressing down on her, engaging in inappropriate behavior. It was him, the Third Prince, Ji Beiyuan!

Taking in her surroundings, Gu Shiyan's eyes widened in astonishment. Even if she were reduced to ashes, she would recognize this place—it was the ancestral residence.

Wasn't she already dead?

"Either the Third Prince dies, or he releases me," she rasped, her voice hoarse, her gaze sinister, as she reached out and gripped Ji Beiyuan's throat.

Just then, the sound of footsteps drew nearer.

It felt as though the situation had returned to the day of Gu Yunshang's adoption ceremony.

Mother had gone out for a while, claiming that Gu Yunshang had saved her life and insisting on adopting her as her goddaughter. A grand ceremony was held, publicly recording Gu Yunshang's name in the family genealogy.

She, out of spite, refused to attend and hid in a guest room in the front courtyard. Unexpectedly, she was violated by a drunken servant boy. She had been terrified at the time, but her mother and Gu Yunshang managed to suppress the matter.

Could it be that she had been reborn? A mad smile played on Gu Shiyan's face as she swiftly pulled out the hairpin from her hair, ruthlessly stabbing it into her own palm, forcing herself to regain clarity, and then fiercely plunging it into Ji Beiyuan's thigh.

"You are… the Fifth Miss Gu," Ji Beiyuan said, his composure returning. He grabbed Gu Shiyan's neck with his other hand.

"Third Prince, we have both been manipulated. Why do you still want to continue?" Gu Shiyan raised her hand, hooking her finger under his chin, her smile devilish.

"Well, it's not impossible, but the people catching the adulterers will be here soon. Does the Third Prince mind an audience?"

Although she was only thirteen years old and still appeared quite innocent, she managed to adopt a bewitching demeanor.

Ji Beiyuan's face darkened, and he released his grip on Gu Shiyan.

Bang!

Just then, the door was rudely kicked open by someone.

"Sister, are you here? It's my fault. I made you angry. Don't worry! I will never compete with you for Father and Mother's favor. I just hope you won't be angry anymore. The recognition ceremony is about to start. If you don't come out, Grandmother and the others will be upset." Gu Yunshang walked towards the inner room, a hint of malice flashing across her face.

Because everything that Gu Shiyan possessed was supposed to be hers.

"Ah..." Before Gu Shiyan could even clearly see the scene inside the room, she screamed, "Sister, how can you do this to the face of the Gu Chancellor Residence? I know you must be seeking revenge on Father and Mother, blaming them for recognizing me as their goddaughter! But how could you do this?"

"Shi'er, you have such audacity. How could you engage in an illicit affair?" Madam Wei, the wife of the Left Chancellor, followed closely behind.

Gu Shiyan hid behind the curtains, her face blooming with a bloodthirsty smile, resembling a vengeful ghost.

Indeed, everything was calculated by them, all to have leverage against her.

The group of maids and servants were puzzled. The Fifth Miss was not here at all! There was only the Third Prince in the room.

"Your humble servants pay respects to the Third Prince!" They approached in fear and began to bow.

Madam Wei and Gu Yunshang were astonished. They saw Ji Beiyuan's cold face. "Is this the way the Gu Chancellor Residence treats guests?"

The seventeen-year-old young man had a commanding presence with his star-like eyes and sharp eyebrows. He exuded a sense of authority without showing anger. "This prince came specially to attend today's recognition ceremony. The tea accidentally spilled on my robe, so I borrowed this guest room for a moment. Did you all come barging in to assassinate this prince?"

A colossal accusation was made.

Madam Wei and Gu Yunshang's faces turned pale. They immediately knelt down and apologized, "In response to the Third Prince's words, we never had such intentions. We were just overly worried about Shi'er, so we recklessly came in. We hope the Third Prince will forgive us."

Ji Beiyuan chuckled. "Madam Wei, are you accusing this prince of secretly hiding the Gu Chancellor Residence's Fifth Miss? Do you want to personally inspect and see if she's in this prince's room?"

"Third Prince, you're joking. It was a misunderstanding on my part. I will take my daughter and leave." Madam Wei hurriedly pulled Gu Yunshang and left.

"Come out!" Once they left, Ji Beiyuan spoke in a calm voice.

Gu Shiyan slowly emerged from behind the curtains. The room had no trace of the previously burnt incense. Nothing remained.

"It seems these days even the life of the Fifth Miss of Gu Chancellor Residence is not that easy after all!" Ji Beiyuan looked at her with a smile that was more like a sneer.

Gu Shiyan raised her gaze slowly, a hint of mockery in her beautiful eyes. "Indeed, the Third Prince's days don't seem much better than mine."

As she spoke, she took a step forward and lightly touched Ji Beiyuan's chest.

Ji Beiyuan stepped back in displeasure. What a bold little sister-in-law.

Gu Shiyan laughed, gripping his collar. Her eyes were sharp yet carried a hint of a young girl's softness. "Third Prince, you've hugged me and kissed me. How can you try to shirk responsibility now? I am an innocent girl. Shouldn't you be responsible for me?"

Ji Beiyuan's eyes gleamed with a hint of sharpness. "So, you want to be the Third Prince's consort?"

Gu Shiyan smiled, smoothing out the creases on his robe. "I don't need to be the Third Prince's consort. I know the Third Prince doesn't look highly upon me. I only hope that in the future, if I encounter any trouble, the Third Prince can show me some pity. It would be even better if you lend a hand to help me. After all, we've had an illicit affair. Isn't that right, Third Prince?"

She wanted to deal with Ji Beiyuan, Gu Yunshang, and the entire Gu family.

A golden opportunity was right in front of her. She was determined to seize it.

With those words, she walked a few steps to the window and agilely climbed out.

Ji Beiyuan, Gu Yunshang—she would make them pay with blood...

Leaving Ji Beiyuan alone, his narrow phoenix eyes narrowed.

How audacious she was!

Was he just being toyed with earlier?

And who was behind today's scheme?

…

In the front courtyard, there was a lively atmosphere as all the invited guests had taken their seats. The auspicious time for the recognition ceremony was about to arrive. Everyone from the Gu family was present, except Gu Shiyan and Gu Yunshang. Gu Jingwen seemed displeased, "Why haven't Shang'er and Shi'er arrived yet?"

Madam Wei immediately instructed Aunt Pei to go and find them.

Just then, Gu Shiyan arrived panting, holding a brocade box in her hands, with a bright and innocent smile on her face. "Father, Mother, I'm sorry for being late. Today is Fourth Sister's recognition ceremony, and I specially found a gift for her."

With one glance, she spotted Ji Beichen.

In that instant, every pore on her body seemed to scream with madness, urging her to rush forward and obliterate him.

Fortunately, she restrained herself.

No rush.

She wanted to take away everything that Ji Beichen and Gu Yunshang cared about piece by piece, trample them under her feet, make them taste the bitterness of a fate worse than death, and finally dismember them piece by piece.

"Daughter pays respects to Grandmother, Father, Mother!" Shortly after, Gu Yunshang arrived. She wore a pink dress, graceful and charming, exuding a gentle and captivating aura.

Curiosity filled the hearts of onlookers as they looked at her.

"Fourth Sister, you're here. I have a gift to give you." Gu Shiyan walked towards her with the brocade box in her hands, a smile on her face.

Gu Yunshang paused for a moment. "Thank you, Fifth Sister."

As Gu Shiyan approached, a subtle and elusive fragrance entered Gu Yunshang's nostrils. However, she didn't pay much attention to it.

A faint glimmer flashed in Gu Shiyan's eyes as she silently counted in her heart, "One, two, three..."

She had only counted to three when she reached Ji Beichen. Gu Yunshang suddenly stopped.

Ji Beichen cast a sidelong glance. What was this Fourth Miss Gu planning to do?

Seeing that something was off in Gu Yunshang's expression, Madam Wei called out to her, "Shang'er."

But the next moment, as if she had gone mad, Gu Yunshang rushed forward and unexpectedly embraced Ji Beichen's neck, kissing and nipping at his face.