Kneeling and Apologizing

Ji Beiyuan sat beside Ji Beichen, calmly glancing at Gu Shiyan, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. What a way to repay in kind.

Gu Jingwen's temple throbbed. From a small perspective, this was disrespectful to the Fifth Prince, but from a broader perspective, it was disrespectful to the royal family.

Gu Yunshang was frightened. She tightly held onto Madam Wei's sleeve, tears streaming down her face. "Mother, please believe me!"

Madam Wei, with a protective demeanor, raised her head and looked at Gu Jingwen.

Gu Shiyan's eyes flashed with a chilling intent. Why did Gu Jingwen not conceal Gu Yunshang's identity? Because a daughter raised in the countryside for thirteen years was nothing but a joke, a disgrace, far less valuable than her.

Gu Jingwen warned Madam Wei with her eyes and politely addressed Ji Beichen, "Please forgive us, Fifth Prince. It was my daughter's hysteria that led to such behavior."

Gu Yunshang became proud. Her father must be referring to Gu Shiyan. Just wait! Whether it's Father or the Fifth Prince, neither will let her off the hook.

Gu Shiyan gave her a contemptuous look. Hmph! What an idiot.

Following that, Gu Jingwen added, "Shang'er, come and apologize to the Fifth Prince. Bow down to him until he forgives you."

"What?" Gu Yunshang could hardly believe her ears. It was clearly Gu Shiyan who had caused harm to her.

"Why? Why would you treat Shang'er like this? You can't do this to her," Madam Wei protested.

The three Gu brothers furrowed their brows. "Father..."

Without waiting for them to finish, Gu Jingwen sternly rebuked, "All of you, keep quiet."

At this point, Shang'er had already been involved.

Did they have to sacrifice Gu Shiyan, the puppet they had carefully nurtured for thirteen years, as well?

The princes were already of marriageable age. What a group of fools they were.

Gu Yunshang stood there in a daze.

"Sister, didn't you hear Father's words? He wants you to apologize to the Fifth Prince. Why are you still standing there? Do you want to defy Father's words?" Gu Shiyan lightly tugged at Gu Yunshang's sleeve, a cold light shining deep within her eyes.

Anything that Gu Yunshang desired, she would destroy piece by piece.

At the moment, what she desired the most was to have her own name written in the family genealogy.

Gu Jingwen's gaze suppressed them all.

Gu Yunshang's heart trembled as she tightly clenched her fingers, quickly regaining her composure.

She couldn't cause any more trouble.

If she disgusted her father, she would truly be finished.

"I beg the Fifth Prince for forgiveness. It was this unfilial servant's lack of manners that disturbed the Fifth Prince," Gu Yunshang said respectfully as she knelt before Ji Beichen.

"The Fourth Miss, seeing so many people all at once can indeed cause confusion. It is a trivial matter. The Fourth Miss, there is no need to take it to heart," Ji Beichen said, not allowing Gu Yunshang to kowtow, and he personally helped her up.

Gu Yunshang looked at his gentle and jade-like appearance, and her heart became chaotic. Gu Shiyan glanced at them, suppressing the coldness in her eyes. Wretched people and dogs always belonged together, no matter the circumstances.

Ji Beichen truly sold Gu Jingwen a favor.

Second Prince Ji Beizhou and Ji Beiyuan were also watching!

The royal family was always suspicious. Would they not think too much about it?

Thus, the recognition banquet came to an end.

In the end, Gu Yunshang's name was not written in the family genealogy.

As the event dispersed, Ji Beiyuan's gaze lingered on Ji Beichen for a moment!

...

On the way back, Gu Shiyan casually plucked a hibiscus flower. She slowly crushed it, and the bright red juice blossomed like blood, strikingly eye-catching!

Returning to Ranxiang Pavilion, she didn't say a word. She swept all the porcelain off the table.

"Please spare us, Miss!" Her sudden outburst made Yunxiang, Chaxiang, the maidservants serving her all kneel in fear.

Gu Shiyan brushed off the dust from her sleeve and calmly sat down. With a seductive smile, she looked at the shattered pieces on the floor and said, "All four of you, kneel there until you have figured things out."

Coldness emanated from her eyes.

Whether it was in her past life or this life, she remembered everything clearly. That cup of tea with added ingredients was handed to her by Yunxiang, the letter was passed by Chaxiang to Gu Yunshang, and it was Nanny Wang and Nanny Shen who helped her into that room.

"Yes." The four of them dared not defy her command and all kneeled on the broken porcelain.

Gu Shiyan slowly closed her eyes.

This was Gu Family, no matter how many people were replaced, they were all under Madam Wei.

What she needed to do was to tame them.

...

Youzhu Garden.

"Mother, my name wasn't written in the family genealogy today. I am not a true member of the Gu family. In the future, when I go out, others will inevitably look down on me and gossip about me. I'd rather die." As soon as they returned to the room, Gu Yunshang threw herself into Madam Wei's arms and burst into tears.

Seeing her distress, Gu Qingci, Gu Qingfan, and even Gu Qingning followed suit.

They comforted her with concern, "Sister, don't be afraid. With your brothers protecting you, no one can bully you. After a few days, we will persuade Father to include your name in the family genealogy."

Madam Wei gently stroked her back, her face showing a fierce expression. "Shang'er, you don't need to worry about anything with your mother here. It's all that wretched Gu Shiyan's fault. If only we could make her obedient. Although the Fifth Prince didn't blame you for today's incident, it still tarnished your reputation. If only she could publicly clarify things for you."

Suddenly, Gu Qingning stepped forward and coldly said, "Mother, I have a way to make her obedient."