Chapter 252: Cannot Offend Mei Wanying
Mrs. Gu was furious at first, angry at Lin Jixue for her recklessness in offending someone she could not afford to cross.
But seeing her covered in injuries and weeping profusely, Mrs. Gu’s heart suddenly softened.
Lin Jixue grew up in Shu and had never been to the Capital City. It was understandable that she was a bit shortsighted.
Besides, she hadn’t done anything too outrageous. She had simply failed to recognize the Princess’s identity.
She had even wanted to give the Princess a gift, which proved she had no ill intent.
Her kneeling and begging for mercy afterward was likely because she was frightened out of her wits. In her confusion, she had done something utterly unseemly.
This caning was punishment enough for her.
Mrs. Gu knew full well what kind of temper Pei Yan had. He was moody and unpredictable, and never showed mercy when punishing others.
Lin Jixue had only made a minor mistake. Her only fault was running into Pei Yan.
Anyone else might have let it slide.
Lin Jixue had just arrived and knew nothing of the social circles in the Capital City.
She hadn’t meant to cause offense.
Mrs. Gu sighed and gently patted the back of Lin Jixue’s hand. "You must rest and recover well. Don’t let this leave any permanent injury, or else I won’t know how to explain it to your mother when I see her."
The older she grew and the more she experienced, the more Mrs. Gu found herself missing the friendships of her youth.
That was her dearest childhood friend. They had been incredibly close when they were young.
For her old friend’s sake, she would forgive Lin Jixue this time.
Mrs. Gu said, "Don’t let this happen again. If you offend another Noble, we’ll be powerless to protect you, even if we wanted to."
Unsure of what Mrs. Gu meant, Lin Jixue said through her tears, "I am too ashamed to return to Shu and face my parents, and I no longer dare to have any hopes regarding Mr. Gu..."
Lin Jixue had the delicate beauty of a girl from a humble home, and her tears made her look utterly pitiful.
With tears welling in her eyes, she looked desperate and anxious, so frightened she seemed on the verge of fainting.
Mrs. Gu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
"You silly girl, you’re far too timid. The Emperor has already punished you, so the matter is now over. Just take this as a lesson and don’t make the same mistake again."
"Mr. Gu... must be so disappointed in me."
Her gaze was broken and vacant, making her look all the more pitiful.
"He’s not that petty," Mrs. Gu said. "You can rest easy."
In order to let Lin Jixue recover with peace of mind, Mrs. Gu gave her a calming pill: "I’ll have Xun come visit you often during this time."
This meant the marriage discussions would proceed as planned. Lin Jixue was so thrilled she felt like crying.
’She truly hadn’t expected the Emperor to be such an unpredictable person.’
’She had taken the initiative to admit her mistake, only to get a caning in return. Had she known, it would’ve been better to say and do nothing at all.’
’After this incident, a thorn of doubt was surely planted in the hearts of the Gu Family elders. They might turn on her at any moment and send her back to Shu.’
’She had schemed so hard, yet gained nothing.’
Lin Jixue felt she was impossibly unlucky.
The burning pain on her body shattered Lin Jixue’s unrealistic fantasies.
’She no longer dared to aim for the highest branch. Marrying into the Gu Family was already the greatest fortune she could hope for.’
’No matter what, she had to win Gu Xun’s heart!’
After giving her the calming pill, Mrs. Gu also gave Lin Jixue a stern warning. "Miss Mei and the young Princess are the apple of the Emperor’s eye. No one can afford to offend them. The next time you see them, remember to be careful with your words and actions."
Lin Jixue was a girl raised in the seclusion of her home, and with Shu being so far from the Capital City, she knew nothing of Mei Wanying and Pei Yan’s situation.
Before she came to the Capital City, her parents had instructed her on many matters, but they all pertained to the Gu Family.
They told her to prioritize the bigger picture, to be sure to please everyone in the Gu Family, and to finalize the marriage arrangement as soon as possible.
Lin Jixue knew that the Emperor was a long-lost member of the Royal Family who had been found later in life, and she also knew of his connection to the Gu Family.
Beyond that, she knew very little.
She asked subconsciously, "Miss Mei?"
’That woman had been so intimate with the Emperor; they had clearly been physically involved.’
’But Mrs. Gu called her ’Miss.’ Could it be that she hadn’t entered the palace and had no official title?’
At this thought, most of the jealousy in Lin Jixue’s heart faded.
’She was a pitiful woman, too.’
’Without a title or status, she was even worse off than me, the daughter of a minor official.’
Not wanting Lin Jixue to make another mistake that could implicate the Gu Family and Xun, Mrs. Gu decided to lay out all the convoluted details for her plainly.
"Miss Mei and the Emperor were childhood sweethearts. She holds immense importance in his heart. She is the only woman by his side, and the only one to have borne him a child."
Mrs. Gu lowered her voice. "As long as Miss Mei agrees, she could enter the palace to serve the Emperor at any moment. She is the one who is unwilling, it’s not that the Emperor won’t grant her a title. You must remember that."
’The world is full of fools,’ Mrs. Gu thought. ’There are always those who think that just because Mei Wanying hasn’t entered the palace or received a title, the Emperor doesn’t value her.’
’If her daughter hadn’t been made a Princess, a slap in the face to all those people, they might have spread rumors about Mei Wanying, or even... provoked her!’
Mrs. Gu continued, "If you offend someone else, there might be room for negotiation. But if you offend Miss Mei and the young Princess, even if they don’t hold it against you, the Emperor will punish you severely. Today’s caning was a lesson. You must remember it."
The more Lin Jixue listened, the more terrified she became in retrospect.
’She really had wanted to provoke Mei Wanying.’
’She had been so close to doing something irreversible.’
’Thankfully, there were so many people present. Even if it was just for show, she had to act kind and harmless.’
’If so many eyes hadn’t been on her, she would have certainly made a terrible mistake!’
At this thought, Lin Jixue’s face grew even paler, and a fine sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead.
It was from the pain.
And from fear.
’No wonder Father said the relationships in the Capital City were a tangled web. He told me to watch my words and actions, to keep quiet if possible, and above all, never to act on my own initiative.’
’I should have listened to him.’
Filled with anxiety, Lin Jixue apologized to Mrs. Gu. "I was reckless today. I will never make that mistake again."
Mrs. Gu said, "You meant well, wanting to give the young Princess a gift."
She told Lin Jixue to focus on her recovery. "When you’re feeling a little better, I’ll have a governess come teach you the proper etiquette. The Capital City is different from other places. You must study hard, so you don’t cause any more trouble for your parents."
’This time, the Gu Family could forgive Lin Jixue, writing it off as her being inexperienced and her behavior unrefined.’
’But if she made another mistake, it would only prove she was a fool.’
’And a fool could not become a daughter-in-law of the Gu Family.’
’If it truly came to that, she would no longer consider her old friend’s feelings. She would send Lin Jixue back to Shu without a shred of mercy.’
Lin Jixue understood the unspoken meaning behind Mrs. Gu’s words.
She grew even more anxious.
And felt a little lost.
’This place was so far from Shu. She didn’t even have a single relative to consult about important matters.’
’She had to make her own decisions. What would she do if she made another mistake?’
This time, Mrs. Gu didn’t try to console Lin Jixue further. She wanted the girl to feel this apprehension; only then would she be truly careful.
’It was for Lin Jixue’s own good.’
’Anyone else would have sent her packing long ago, not bothered to teach her how to conduct herself in society.’
Mrs. Gu felt she had already done more than enough. If Lin Jixue still failed to be sensible, she would have no reason to feel guilty toward her old friend.
"Tonight’s family banquet is canceled. You just focus on your recovery."
’The family banquet would have been a perfect opportunity for her to make a good impression on the Gu Family, but now this had happened.’
’Lin Jixue knew in her heart that the path ahead would be difficult.’