Duke Jiang looked extremely ugly, and Lady Jiang beside him was also full of worry.
With a fierce look in his eyes, he first glanced at Jiang Yingyue, who was crying loudly, then walked in and glared fiercely at Gu Liyue. Then he bowed to Gu Junyan and said, "I've put you in a difficult position, Junyan. It's all because your uncle failed to manage the household well that such a ridiculous thing happened in our family. This girl is just a embroiderer favored by your aunt on a whim. I never thought she was so ambitious that she dared to dream of becoming the legitimate daughter of our duke's mansion. Such audacity has caused trouble. As your uncle, I can't tolerate it. But my daughter Yingyue is in poor health. I wonder if Junyan could allow your uncle to take Yingyue back first."
Gu Liyue looked up but didn't look at Duke Jiang. Instead, she stared at Lady Jiang. Lady Jiang looked pained. Was it for her or for Jiang Yingyue? A feeling of desolation welled up in her heart. Lady Jiang avoided her gaze, lowered her eyes and remained silent, allowing Duke Jiang to slander her at will.
If Lady Jiang still remembered the little affection between them, how could she act like this?
After hearing Duke Jiang's words, Gu Junyan just shook his head and said, "Since this matter has come to me, there's no possibility of showing favoritism. Moreover, it's not yet clear whether it was Gu Liyue who coerced Jiang Yingyue or Jiang Yingyue who tried to harm Gu Liyue. Once the truth comes to light, I will surely give justice to the duke's mansion."
Duke Jiang glanced at Lady Jiang, and then Lady Jiang spoke up. "Junyan, to be honest, this is a family matter of our duke's mansion. There's no need to make such a fuss. You've all worked hard today. I've already asked someone to prepare refreshments for everyone to have a good rest. Yingyue and Liyue are both my juniors. Maybe due to my partiality, they had a quarrel. It's just a small matter. Later, I'll surely punish them and confine them to their rooms. This kind of thing won't happen again in the future."
Gu Liyue sighed silently. She had thought Lady Jiang was deceived, but now she was sure that Lady Jiang had actually guessed what had happened and just wanted to gloss over the matter.
Without waiting for Gu Junyan to speak, Lady Jiang walked up to Gu Liyue and whispered, "Liyue, you've always been the most sensible and obedient girl. For many things, just give in a little and it will pass. Why do you have to make such a big deal out of it? Explain it to Assistant Minister Gu. Just say that you were just playing around with your sister and didn't expect it to turn out so serious."
Gu Liyue half-opened her mouth. "Madam, why don't you say it was she who was playing around with me?"
Impatience flashed in Lady Jiang's eyes. "Liyue, why have you become like this?"
Gu Liyue knew what she meant. It wasn't that she had changed, but that she was no longer willing to follow Lady Jiang and Jiang Yingyue in everything like before. On ordinary days, when there were just minor squabbles, Lady Jiang just regarded them as two cats vying for her favor. But after all, even the flesh on the palm and the back of the hand has its differences in thickness, let alone the fact that she didn't even count as the back of the hand.
Lady Jiang tried to soften her tone. "Liyue, be a good girl. Later, I'll recognize you as my daughter. How about that?"
Gu Chengzhi sneered. "Madam, what do you mean by that? Are you just going to let this case be settled muddle-headedly?"
Lady Jiang frowned and said, "For a case to exist, there must be someone who has been harmed, someone who has died, or someone who has filed a complaint. This is just a minor dispute among young girls. No one has filed a complaint, and no one has died. Out of the blue, where is there any case?"
Gu Chengzhi stared with wide eyes. "You can't be serious, Lady Jiang. You're just talking nonsense with your eyes open, aren't you? Didn't Jiang Yingyue get injured? And if it weren't for good luck today and me patrolling, it's not certain whether Jiang Yingyue and Gu Liyue would still be alive in front of you today."
Lady Jiang bowed to Gu Chengzhi. "In that case, thank you, Fourth Young Master Gu."
Gu Chengzhi stepped back repeatedly, avoiding her courtesy. "Madam, you can't do this..."
Ignoring him, Lady Jiang still pulled Gu Liyue. "Liyue, tell me yourself. How have I treated you in the past six months?"
Gu Liyue sighed deeply. "Madam has treated Liyue like a reborn parent."
Lady Jiang bent down and stroked her face. "Liyue, if you and Yingyue can't go home, what should I do? I'm already... at this age. Do you still want me to worry about you?"
Gu Liyue looked at her and it took a long time before she opened her mouth. "Madam, I... want to go home."
Lady Jiang immediately hugged her. "Good Liyue, I'll take you home. Let's go home right now."
Tears welled up in Gu Liyue's eyes. She was so eager to go home, extremely eager, but not here. She wanted to go back to her home, the home that belonged to her and Yunniang. She didn't want to come here anymore, never again.
"Will you let me go?"
Lady Jiang paused and let go of her. "What did you say?"
Gu Liyue just shook her head. Then she turned around and kowtowed heavily to Gu Junyan. "My lord, the commoner girl and the young lady were just playing around. Please don't pursue this matter..."
Gu Junyan said seriously, "Gu Liyue, do you know that once you leave here, no one will seek justice for you anymore?"
Gu Liyue's eyes were red. Biting her lip, she said, "I know."
Gu Junyan added, "This matter has caused such a big stir. If you go with them today, tomorrow you'll be condemned by everyone. They'll say you were jealous of Jiang Yingyue and tried to harm her. Aren't you afraid?"
Gu Liyue wiped away her tears and looked at Gu Junyan.
Gu Junyan didn't know why, but seeing this girl seemed to touch all the softness in his heart. The last time he had such a feeling was two years ago when his eldest son was born. When he saw that tiny, soft baby, he had felt such tenderness and wanted to protect him and keep him safe.
Now, this strong feeling welled up in his heart again. And it was for this strange girl.
Gu Junyan frowned and stood up. "I'm the assistant minister of the Court of Judicial Review. I'm the most fair and just. Once a case falls into my hands, I'll never settle it lightly."
Lady Jiang frowned and called out, "Liyue!"
Gu Liyue kowtowed three loud times. "My lord, the commoner girl admits her guilt..."
Gu Junyan's eyes narrowed. He straightened up and squinted at her. She admitted her guilt?
"For the sake of kindness?"
Gu Liyue forced a bitter smile. "Madam has been extremely kind to me. This matter was actually caused by me. If I hadn't come to the capital, none of this would have happened. If my lord can't close the case, the commoner girl admits her guilt. I did this all by myself."
Gu Junyan looked up at Lady Jiang and saw that she just turned her face away, covering her face and sobbing. Then he looked at Jiang Che outside. Jiang Che had already let go of Jiang Yingyue's hand and was staring blankly at Gu Liyue kneeling on the ground.
Duke Jiang immediately stepped forward and patted Gu Junyan's shoulder. "Junyan, you enforce the law impartially, which is worthy of admiration. But since ancient times, there's always room for mercy outside the law. Moreover, Yingyue is also your cousin. As for Gu Liyue, she's not completely useless. At least she knows how to repent."
Gu Chengzhi couldn't understand at all. How could this family just reverse right and wrong like this?
However, Gu Junyan reached out and firmly grabbed Gu Chengzhi. He just looked at Gu Liyue and asked, "Gu Liyue, this is the last time I'll ask you. Do you really want to go with them?"
Gu Liyue gritted her teeth. "The commoner girl admits her guilt!"
Gu Junyan took a deep breath, waved his hand and said, "Since this is a family matter, Duke and Lady Jiang, please take them away by yourselves!"