The matter concerning Gu Rong and the others was a great disgrace for Old Master Zhan San and Young Master Zhan San, especially for Young Master Zhan San, who became the subject of ridicule by many scholars.
As they were resting in Linhe Prefecture, preparing to board a ship back to Jiangnan, they were surrounded by a group of scholars at their separate yard in Linhe Prefecture. At the entrance of their yard, they were cursed at and ridiculed, called worse than animals.
They even claimed such uncle-nephew in the Zhan Family disqualified them from being a noble family, threatening to write to the Family Heads of the Top Ten Families to have the Zhan Family removed from the noble family register, reducing them to even less than a third-rate noble family.
Linhe Prefectureâs storytellers were also adept; they had already crafted several storybooks regarding the uncle-nephew, including versions that speculated they liked the Immortal Lord, interacted with Gu Youlu, and contracted a venereal disease.
The uncle-nephew of the Zhan Family were both anxious and furious. They hadnât expected the affair from sleeping with two women to escalate to such proportions. Not only had the entire Zhan Family lost face, but it seemed likely theyâd be removed from the noble family register!
The Zhan Family lineage spanned hundreds of years, established through the blood and sweat of several generations of ancestors. If they were removed from the register, theyâd have no reason to liveâthe family would have them executed as an offering to the ancestors.
Young Master Zhan San, having grown up basking in praise, couldnât tolerate such insults. He opened the door to argue with the scholars but was met with a retort: "Ha~ Zhan San, oh Zhan San, are you still denying? Did your uncle-nephew duo not get arrested by the government office for assaulting two girls? So many people witnessed it, yet you think taking them as concubines would erase the incident?"
Moreover: "Those two girls are still in your separate yard, arenât they? If the incident is false, why keep them? Shouldnât they be discarded immediately to prove your innocence?"
A Madman, with his collar revealing his chest muscles, chimed in: "Brother Xue, itâs not just two girls, itâs the two girls and a widow. That widow is also the aunt of the two girls, and itâs heard the uncle-nephew duo competed over the widow, even fighting over her. Tsk tsk tsk, Iâm genuinely curious about how celestial her looks must be to incite Zhan Familyâs uncle-nephew into action."
Upon hearing this, Brother Xue uttered a long "oh": "A widow too, along with all three of their aunt? Zhan San, have you forsaken ethics and common sense? Touching all three aunt and nieces shows youâre worse than animals and disgraces us scholars and madmen!"
Someone took the chance to add: "Is it aunt and nieces? Rather, isnât it uncle and nieces? Arenât Zhan Familyâs uncle-nephew with Gu Youlu..."
"Shut up! We did not!" Zhan San shouted in anger, trying to explain, but no one listened. They pointed fingers and cursed him continuously.
Zhan San wasnât eloquent, helpless against such massive insults, ultimately forced to retreat into the separate yard, further ridiculed by Linhe Prefectureâs scholars.
Zhan San couldnât stay further; intending initially to remain for two days, awaiting his familyâs boat to be ready, he hurriedly packed and boarded the ship due to the incident.
Gu Rong was constantly worried that Young Master Zhan San would discard them in anger, settling only upon boarding the Zhan Familyâs large ship.
At night, she meticulously dressed up and prepared a soft-shelled turtle soup, bringing it to Young Master Zhan San.
Knock knock knock~
"Third Young Master, itâs the slave. The slave has brewed soft-shelled turtle soup for you and brought it to you personally, could you open the cabin door and let the slave in?" Gu Rong knew the matter with the Old Gu Family had nearly enraged Young Master Zhan San to death; she wisely refrained from any request for a concubine status, instead referring to herself as a slave, merely asking to serve as a maid beside Young Master Zhan San.
With her skills, being a maid for a few years could eventually elevate her to a concubine.
She wasnât rushing, as long as she had time, she was certain of a life filled with wealth and prosperity.
Sadly, her time had run out.
Young Master Zhan San was already near the brink of anger, seeing Gu Rong fearlessly coming to him, offering him the turtle soup. In the current situation, he couldnât be interested even if she poisoned him.
However, Young Master Zhan San still allowed Maid Xiao Yue to open the door.
"Come in." Xiao Yue was a maid from the separate yard, tasked with serving whenever Zhan San visited the separate yard.
Seeing Xiao Yue, Gu Rong was filled with hatred. The maid from such noble families was truly beautiful, with an alluring figure.
But she wasnât in a rush, as Gu Rong relied on her intelligence, never her looks. One day, sheâd deal with these vixens.
"Sister Xiao Yue." Gu Rong offered a hearty smile to Xiao Yue, saluting, then entered the cabin, directly kneeling on the ground, handing the turtle soup to Young Master Zhan San: "Third Young Master, this was brewed post-boarding, itâs very nourishing, please taste it, drink, then rest."
Young Master Zhan San chuckled: "Gu Rong, you think youâre clever, donât you?"
How could he sleep after drinking? Could he still sleep?
Gu Rong was startled upon hearing this, quickly saying: "The slave is dull, dares not act smart, merely wishes to wholeheartedly serve Third Young Master, hoping Third Young Master wonât reject the slave."
Slap slap, Young Master Zhan San harshly slapped Gu Rong twice, then lifted his foot with a bang, kicking Gu Rong down: "Dares not act smart? Youâve been acting smart all along! What do you take me, Zhan San, for? Some fool Young Master from a wealthy family? I, Zhan San, come from a noble family, unmatched in respect. Yet, you, a lowly maid, carry the filthy lineage of muddy feet, dare to play tricks on me."
"I initially wanted to keep you for a while, acting only upon reaching Jinning Prefecture, but you sought death yourself, canât blame me."
Terrified, Gu Rong heard these words, seeing Young Master Zhan Sanâs eyes filled with murderous intent, knowing he intended to kill her. Gu Rong was scared to despair, yet pretended to be calm: "Itâs the slaveâs fault, Third Young Master calm your anger, the slave will leave immediately."
She hurriedly rose, running towards the cabin door.
Watching Gu Rongâs survival attempts, Young Master Zhan San sneered, contemptuous, thinking she could escape him?
Indeed, Gu Rong couldnât escape; she was caught by two Shadow Guards immediately outside the cabin door.
Gu Rong looked frightfully at the sudden emergence of the two Shadow Guards. So this was a noble family? Able to train such retainers?
"Third Young Master, Third Young Master, the slave admits her mistake, begging you to spare the slaveâs life, as long as you keep the slave, she can help you deal with Gu Jinliâs house. Didnât you wish to marry her once? Iâll help you get your wish!" Out of desperation for life, Gu Rong pulled in even Gu Jinli: "Iâm Gu Jinliâs cousin, as long as I speak, coupled with letting storytellers proclaim, tarnishing her reputation afterwards, she wonât dare not to comply!"
However, Young Master Zhan San, upon hearing this, merely ordered: "Get Gu Ya and Little Sister Gu, tie up the three aunts and nieces with iron blocks, sink them!"
Immediately after speaking, several Shadow Guards appeared as if ghosts, heading towards Gu Yaâs cabin. Soon, they brought Gu Ya and Little Sister Gu, tying iron blocks to their feet.
Witnessing Young Master Zhan Sanâs seriousness, Gu Rong became nearly insane with fear, pleading tearfully: "Third Young Master, Third Young Master, I was wrong, tell the slave how you wish the slave to act, she will certainly obey."
Young Master Zhan San came out from the cabin, looking down at Gu Rong, enunciating clearly: "I, want, you, dead!"