Gu Liyue was not allowed to go out. After having a fever for two days, Yuanyuan wanted to call a doctor for her, but she refused. She just hugged the water jar and drank for two days, and unexpectedly got better.
Yuanyuan was very surprised. "You had such a high fever, but you got better on your own. Miss, you're in good health."
Gu Liyue also smiled. She had been in poor health since childhood, and it was the first time she had heard someone say that she was in good health. Maybe it was because she had been well taken care of in the Jiang family. However, when she was a child, she could only endure her illness on her own. How could anyone call a doctor for her?
After her fever subsided and she heard from Yuanyuan that Jiang Yingyue had recovered and was sent back to her own courtyard by Madam Jiang. She was also not allowed to go out these days.
It was also a form of house arrest.
Yuanyuan said indignantly, "Madam must know that she has a guilty conscience, so she treats her so coldly. Otherwise, how could she be put under house arrest just like that when she's still injured?"
Gu Liyue didn't comment. She just continued embroidering, working on the same embroidery as before.
Yuanyuan was making the bed. She picked up a small pendant from beside the pillow. "Hey, Miss, where did this come from? Did Madam give it to you? It doesn't seem to be silver, and the quality is not very good..."
Gu Liyue quickly reached out to take it. She said in confusion, "How did it fall off..."
"Help me put it on." She stroked it for a while and said to Yuanyuan. "It's mine. Nanny Yun said it was a relic from my father."
Yuanyuan had heard Gu Liyue talk about her background several times. She was a bit curious and just asked, "Miss, what kind of person was your father?"
Gu Liyue shook her head. "I don't remember. But all the things left by my parents are gone, and only this one remains. Nanny Yun said it was worthless, so my aunt and the others left it... It's just a keepsake."
Yuanyuan put the pendant around Gu Liyue's neck and tied a careful knot.
The matter of Jiang Yingyue's injury ended quietly like this. It seemed that Gu Liyue had been punished, but also seemed not. However, everyone in the Jiang family treated Gu Liyue differently, especially Jiang Che. Every time he saw Gu Liyue, he would scowl at her. After being scolded by Madam Jiang several times, he simply left home for a long - distance journey.
Gu Liyue became more and more taciturn. Usually, besides embroidering in the courtyard, she would very occasionally go to the sewing room to visit Nanny Yun. When Jiang Yingyue invited her to go out and play again, she always refused.
Lin Zhijie also came to invite her several times, but Gu Liyue always declined, saying that she was not feeling well.
In the twelfth lunar month, approaching the New Year, Madam Jiang would go up the mountain to Anfo Temple to pray for blessings every year at this time.
Gu Liyue sat quietly in the carriage, showing no curiosity about anything around her.
Yuanyuan secretly lifted the curtain and looked out. She said excitedly, "The New Year is coming soon. The capital is more lively than before. Miss, you might as well ask Madam for permission to go out and have a stroll in a few days."
As soon as they reached the outskirts, the convoy stopped. Soon, they heard hurried footsteps in the front.
Yuanyuan inquired and whispered to Gu Liyue, "Miss is not feeling well. She suddenly started vomiting and having diarrhea. She looks really bad."
Gu Liyue still remained silent.
After a while, Yuanxiao came back to report, "Miss, Madam asks you to get off the carriage."
Gu Liyue got off the carriage as told. She greeted Madam Jiang but didn't get close to Jiang Yingyue's carriage.
Madam Jiang looked worriedly at Jiang Yingyue's side. She held Gu Liyue's hand. "Liyue, today is your maternal grandmother's anniversary. I come to Anfo Temple every year on this day. It's getting late. If I don't go now, it will be too late."
Gu Liyue nodded. "Is Miss not feeling well?"
Normally, when Gu Liyue called her "Miss" in front of Madam Jiang, Madam Jiang would always be unhappy. But since Jiang Yingyue got injured last time, Madam Jiang seemed to have given her tacit approval.
Madam Jiang pointed at Jiang Yingyue with a worried look. "Yingyue is not feeling well. I'm really worried. Liyue, could you..."
Gu Liyue subconsciously withdrew her hand.
Madam Jiang sighed slightly. "Liyue, I know you have a grudge against Yingyue, but now you're the only one I can trust. Liyue, could you take her back? In a while, your elder brothers will come back. I'll officially recognize you as my daughter. How about that?"
Gu Liyue said, "Madam, actually the guards and nannies in the mansion handle things properly. Whether I'm there or not, they can take Miss back safely."
Madam Jiang said helplessly, "Normally it would be like that, but Yingyue is scared. They are all servants. Without someone in charge, how can Yingyue bear it?"
Gu Liyue looked at Madam Jiang. It seemed that she had to go. She didn't know if this was Madam Jiang's own idea or if Jiang Yingyue insisted on it.
Her eyes flashed. She pursed her lips and said, "Madam Jiang, you've been kind to me. I'm extremely grateful. Actually, I have an idea, a request..."
Madam Jiang didn't have time to think carefully. She just nodded immediately. "I'll agree to you. If you take Yingyue back, I'll agree to anything you ask for."
Gu Liyue looked at Madam Jiang, nodded with a smile, and didn't refuse anymore.
She rode in the same carriage with Jiang Yingyue. Although Jiang Yingyue was vomiting and having diarrhea, the maids had dealt with it in time, and the incense in the carriage smelled very nice. There was not a trace of strange smell.
Gu Liyue sat in the corner and looked at Jiang Yingyue silently.
Jiang Yingyue was pale. Leaning in a maid's arms, she glanced at Gu Liyue and sneered. "What, are you scared?"
Gu Liyue didn't even lift her eyebrows. She just nodded indifferently. "Naturally, I'm scared."
Jiang Yingyue let go of the maid and leaned towards Gu Liyue. She stroked Gu Liyue's face with her hand. "Gu Liyue, tell me why you're doing this? You're overestimating yourself. Do you really think that the prestigious Duke's Mansion is something a country girl like you deserves? Even if you become the young lady of the Duke's Mansion, I have ways to make you fall into an abyss of despair."
Gu Liyue looked at her and asked, "You hurt yourself just to frame me?"
There was still a faint scar on Jiang Yingyue's forehead. She casually tossed her hair. "You don't need to worry. Aunt gave me the best medicine from the palace. She went to beg the Empress herself. I should even thank you. If it weren't for this incident, I wouldn't have known that Aunt loves me so much, while you're just a joke."
Gu Liyue took a deep breath, frowned, and remained silent.
Jiang Yingyue pinched Gu Liyue's chin. "Gu Liyue, who do you think you are? Do you really think you can be above me?"
"What else do you want?"
Jiang Yingyue was slightly stunned and retorted, "Since you're scared, why did you agree to Aunt?"
Gu Liyue frowned and said, "Madam has been kind to me. I'm just repaying her kindness. After today, I'll tell her my feelings and ask her to let me go back."
Jiang Yingyue didn't believe it. "You want to leave?"
"What else? Jiang Yingyue, I know you don't like me, and I don't like it here either. After I leave, I'll cut off all ties with this place. I don't ever want to see you or anyone else here again."
Jiang Yingyue's eyes flashed. After a long time, she began to laugh loudly. "Gu Liyue, I don't care if you're sincere or not. You made a mistake by getting in my carriage today. Do you think you can leave unscathed? You're dreaming. As long as you're alive, Aunt will always miss you and may take you back. I will never allow such a thing to happen!"