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Don't Dare to Offend
Translated by atsam
Edited by atsam
Gu Yue was stunned. Only now did she know that Gu Jiu could cry so much.
Gu Shan pulled Gu Yue’s sleeve. “San jiejie, quickly apologise to er jiejie. Both father and mother said that no one was allowed to mention this matter, but you still spoke about it in front of er jiejie, accusing her of being ungrateful.
“You upset er jiejie so much that if her condition deteriorates, and father finds out, father will definitely punish you.”
When hearing that father would punish her, Gu Yue subconsciously trembled.
At the same time, her heart was brimming with resentment towards Gu Shan.
She shook off Gu Shan’s hand abruptly and lowered her voice so that only the two of them could hear. “You think you are so smart! You are really loathsome, disgusting!”
Gu Shan’s face turned green. She trembled all over. Why was she so unfortunate to have such an older sister who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong?
Gu Yue didn’t care about Gu Shan’s feelings at all. She argued loudly, “Okay, okay, stop crying. I was wrong. Er jiejie, if you keep crying, I will leave. It will be as if I never came.”
Gu Jiu suddenly stopped crying, then continued to sob.
She held her handkerchief, wiping her tears. “Is san meimei sincerely admitting her mistake?”
Gu Yue said impatiently, “Yes, ah! Yes.”
Gu Jiu smiled tearfully. “I knew that san meimei wouldn’t be so bad. It is impossible that you would want to hound me to my death.”
Gu Yue choked on her words, her complexion unsightly. Da guniang Gu Zhen bowed her head, hiding her smile. Seeing Gu Yue deflated, she felt a lot of pleasure.
Gu Jiu looked at her sisters again. “I feel grateful that all of you have sincerely come to visit me. I spoke wrongly earlier. Da jiejie and several meimei, please don’t be offended.”
“Er jiejie thinks too much. Is your body alright?”
Gu Zhen looked at Gu Jiu worriedly.
Gu Jiu slowly shook her head, her small face pale. “Many thanks for da jiejie’s concern. I’m alright. As long as san meimei doesn’t say those hurtful words, I think my body will recover very quickly.”
Gu Yue was driven insane with anger.
“Er jiejie, your words are too unpleasant. What hurtful words are you talking about? Explain clearly.”
Gu Jiu looked frightened and shrank back in her bed.
“San meimei, don’t be this way. Was your apology earlier false? I knew that san meimei didn’t say the wrong words before but said what she thought in her heart.”
Gu Yue’s anger overflowed. She pointed at Gu Jiu. “You are leaving me no face…”
Gu Shan hurriedly pulled Gu Yue, afraid that she would speak inappropriately again.
“San jiejie, don’t be angry. Er jiejie is ill.”
Gu Yue shook Gu Shan’s hand off and sneered, her head as proud as a hen’s. “Er jiejie, only today did I understand that you can cause such a havoc.”
Gu Jiu looked timid and weak but her words were like a knife. “San meimei is angry with me and has caused my illness to become worse. You’re still not allowing me to speak the truth. Truly despotic. I don’t dare to offend you. Third sister, please leave.”
Gu Yue raised her brows and smiled, “Relax, I will leave at once. But before leaving…”
Gu Yue scrutinised the bedroom, laughing triumphantly. “Er jiejie must certainly be lacking some servants. But don’t worry, mother has already arranged it well.
“I have already explained to the middleman that he can bring some servants to the fu after some days. I can personally choose several clever servants for er jiejie and deliver them to Zhilanyuan.”
After speaking, Gu Yue walked out arrogantly.
Gu Shan stamped her feet secretly. This idiotic san jiejie.
“Er jiejie, you recuperate well. I will visit you another day.”
Gu Shan finished speaking and hurried away, chasing after Gu Yue.
Gu Jiu hung her head, raising her brows. Xie shi was so concerned about picking servants for her. What was she up to?
But she was still grateful to Gu Yue for letting her know of this matter.
Gu Zhen and Gu Lin remained in the room.
Gu Jiu waved at them. “Da jiejie, wu meimei, come over and sit. If you don’t disdain my company, let us sisters have a good chat.”
Gu Zhen laughed and said, “How can we regard you with disdain? I’m looking forward to remaining here.”
“Er jiejie, are you okay? Don’t take third sister’s words to heart. She is exactly that kind of person. Her words are always like knives. Second sister must pay attention to the body.”
Gu Lin sat at the edge of her bed, looking cautious.
Gu Jiu smiled gently. “Thank you for your concern, wu meimei.”
Gu Zhen looked at Gu Lin with a smile that wasn’t a smile. “Wu meimei doesn’t suffer less under san meimei‘s anger. I didn’t expect that she would speak for san meimei today. Wu meimei is really broad-minded.”
Gu Lin looked at Gu Zhen. “I’m also learning from da jiejie. Da jiejie praising me is praising yourself. Da jiejie is truly thick-skinned.”
Gu Zhen laughed unnaturally, covering up her embarrassment with her handkerchief.
Gu Lin said to Gu Jiu, “Er jiejie, the matter that san jiejie spoke about before leaving, you must have an opinion. Mother wants to choose servants for er jiejie so you have to plan well as soon as possible.”
Gu Jiu smiled lightly. “Many thanks for your reminder, wu meimei. I will plan this carefully.”
Gu Zhen asked, “Next month, there will be a banquet at the magistrate’s fu. Will er meimei go?”
Gu Jiu shook her head, saying, “Next month is my late mother’s death anniversary. My brother and I will go to the monastery and transcribe scriptures in front of Buddha, offering sacrifices in her name.”
“Ah? Er jiejie’s body has still not recovered. Will you go out anyway?”
Gu Lin looked at Gu Jiu in surprise.
Gu Jiu nodded. “Doctor Chen said that I could go out and walk around by next month. If I drink my medicine on time, my body will recover.”
“Er jiejie should still pay attention to your body.”
Gu Jiu picked up her handkerchief and wiped the corner of her eyes, her expression mournful, looking distressed.
“The last few years, I haven’t been able to offer sacrifices to my mother. I have really been unfilial. This year, come what may, my brother and I will both go to the monastery and sincerely copy scriptures and burn incense for mother in front of Buddha.”
Gu Zhen and Gu Lin fell silent at once. Both of them felt embarrassed.
Su shi was Gu daren’s late wife. In theory, Gu Zhen and Gu Lin also had to call her mother.
At this time, Gu Jiu grieved for her deceased mother saying that she was unfilial, they too ought to follow Gu Jiu to do their filial duty.
But there was still Xie shi in the position of mother in the family.
Even if they were given ten points courage, they wouldn’t dare to offer to do their filial duty to their mother while Xie shi was still alive.
Gu Zhen smiled awkwardly. “After chatting for so long, er meimei must be tired. Wu meimei, let us go. We cannot tire out er meimei.”
“Da jiejie is right. Er jiejie, take care of your body. We will visit you again.”
Gu Jiu yawned, rising from the bed halfway politely. “Da jiejie, wu meimei, take care. Qing Mei, see them off on my behalf.”
Once everyone left, the room was finally peaceful.
Gu Jiu massaged her forehead. Her head ached from quarrelling with Gu Yue.
There was no cause for concern about Gu Yue. Gu Jiu cared more about Gu Shan.
In the original owner’s memory, Gu Shan was a quiet person who didn’t speak much and wasn’t valued by Xie shi.
Xie shi doted on Gu Yue instead because Gu Yue resembled her and also because when Gu Yue was born, Xie shi obtained the status of the wife.
Today, the few words spoken by Gu Shan revealed her astuteness, steadiness and thoughtfulness.
Qing Mei returned to the room, worrying about Gu Jiu.
“Guniang, don’t be angry.”
Gu Jiu laughed. “Why would I be angry?”
“San guniang said such hurtful things. Da guniang and wu guniang have no filial piety for the first taitai. Isn’t guniang not angry?”
Gu Jiu smiled and said, “How could I get angry about such a small matter?”
“Isn’t guniang anxious about the matter that san guniang spoke about?”
Gu Jiu laughed lightly. “Are you talking about taitai wanting to add servants to Zhilanyuan? This is a good thing. There really aren’t enough servants to order about. If we add more people, they can also share your responsibilities.”
Qing Mei stomped her feet anxiously. “Isn’t guniang afraid that the madam will play dirty tricks?”
Gu Jiu’s brows bent. “Tao Hong was carefully trained by the madam. See what end she reached. There is no need to worry about a few servants being bought from outside. Right, how are Xiao Hong and Xiao Cui?”
“Their wounds have healed. Their waiting for instructions from guniang.”
Gu Jiu flipped through the book and thought for a while. “Send Xiao Hong away. Arrange for her to do some needlework. Rub her nose to the grindstone, polishing her temper. As for Xiao Cui, let her continue to serve me.”
Qing Mei was uneasy. “Is it appropriate for Xiao Cui to serve guniang?”
Gu Jiu smiled. “It is.”