Fifty-two jealousies

  Everyone had left, the lanterns outside the house were dimly lit, and Fan's family sat in a chair, looking at her daughter who was still crying, suddenly feeling tired.

  "Why do you have to do such a thing?" After a long time, she felt some strength in her limbs and asked Gu Qing: "How did I teach you? You don't need to step on Ninth Sister, just support her and it's done. Why can't you listen?"

  Gu Qing's heart was already filled with regret and frustration, and upon hearing Fan Shi scolding him as well, he lifted his head and cried out: "Why do you always make me endure, always make me fawn over her?! Is it just because she has a powerful and influential grandfather that we have to humble ourselves and yield to her?!"

  "What do you know?" Mr. Fan suddenly stood up, resentfully slapping her on the ear, coldly saying: "What's the result? Did you scheme against her? Now it's you who's being driven out of the house, not her! How can you be so stupid! You're being used as a knife and you don't even know!"

  Fan said that, Gu Qing suddenly thought of Liu Mama who disappeared halfway and couldn't help but cry louder. She sobbed: "Mother, I clearly designed everything well, why did I end up being the scapegoat in the end? Clearly, I didn't come up with the idea or use anyone's hands, why did Moqi admit it? I clearly never ordered her around! Everything was done by Liu Mama beside Liu Niang!"

  Fan's family fell silent for a moment, and then the face of Liu Yiniang appeared in front of her eyes. She sneered and asked: "This matter started with you, how did you get involved with Liu Yiniang? Do you dare to trust people from the second house?"

  Gu Qing felt a bit wronged, thinking of Liu Mama who had inexplicably asked for leave earlier with Gu Bo Qi. A hint of suspicion also emerged in her mind: it didn't make sense. That Liu Mama was clearly always by her side, making plans and strategies. Even when she went to set fire at the old lady's place, it was because of her unremarkable appearance and unfamiliar face that she was sent.

  But while she was saying that this matter is absolutely flawless, she had already made preparations for both hands.

  She couldn't help but feel a slight chill in her heart ----- Are these people's minds so deep and unpredictable?

  Then she had an epiphany and thought of one more person.

  "It's the eleventh sister!" She grasped Fan Shi's sleeve, saying somewhat urgently: "Eleventh sister can be my witness, Mother! Eleventh sister can testify that these things really weren't done by me, it was that Liu Niang! She clearly knew everything, it was clearly her who sent Liu Ma to set the fire!"

  Who's Gu Yan? Fan Shi was taken aback at first. Then she remembered that delicate and charming little girl who always smiled warmly at everyone.

  "Wait a minute!" She waved her hand to stop Gu Qing, who was still chattering away, and asked her: "Tell me, how did you get involved with Liu Niang? You've always looked down on the other niangs before!"

  Fan's heart had already vaguely guessed something, but she also felt that it was her own overthinking. A child so young, no matter how clever, couldn't have such a mind.

  She thought for a moment and said, "It was the eleventh sister who took me there. The eleventh sister said that the tea at Liu's place is from Nanfu, it's the best to drink, and also said that Liu has a deep grudge against Second Aunt. I thought of letting Second Aunt and Liu fight each other, who knew that servant girl Gu Man would...!" As soon as she mentioned Gu Man, she couldn't help but get more agitated, scolding loudly: "It's all her fault! If it wasn't for her, how could this matter not be settled?!"

  Fan's eyes were incredulous as he stared at her, completely unable to believe that his own daughter had so easily fallen into Liu Niang and Gu Yan's trap, or possibly even just Gu Yan's alone.

  The snipe and the clam grapple.

  I'm afraid Gu Yan is probably the real fisherman!

  She was lost in her own thoughts when she heard the door being pushed open from outside. Two women wearing green blouses came in and said respectfully, "Madam, it's getting late, Old Madam instructed us to take Fourth Miss to rest first, and we'll set off again early tomorrow morning."

  "I won't go!" Gu Qing was like a ghost, waving her hands and feet to constantly push away the two women's approach, rushing to Fan Shi for help: "Mother save me! I don't want to go to that terrible place, I don't want to go!"

  Fan's family was somewhat anxious, and she hugged Gu Qing, saying to the two old women: "Two aunts, the old lady's orders dare not be disobeyed, but we must give us mother and daughter some time, I can also help her pack up some things!"

  After all, the big wife and the old master are not small officials now. The two wives automatically settled down and looked at Fan Shi with eager eyes. Fan Shi naturally knew what to do, waved her hand and ordered Cai Hua to send over a heavy purse, before turning around and taking Gu Qing into the inner chamber.

  On the second day at dawn, Gu Yan came to see him off. Gu Qing glared with wide eyes, his face full of anger, and spat: "You scoundrel!"

  Gu Yan didn't think much of it and continued to smile as he watched Gu Qing get into the carriage, watching as the carriage rumbled out of the second gate before turning back.

  She actually had a belly full of anger and frustration: after finally coaxing Gu Qing to be the scapegoat and designing a plan, who knew it would be so easy for Gu Man to escape. And that's not all, even Madame and Gu Qing seemed to have suspicions about her, this morning Fan Shi looked at her with eyes that seemed to want to devour her.

  Moreover, there is also Gu Man lurking behind him.

  Whenever she thought of Gu Man, she couldn't help but rub her forehead with her hand. Gu Man was really difficult to deal with.

  She gazed at Gu Man standing under the plum tree from afar, as the snowflakes gently fell all around her, making her look even more elegant and refined.

  When he saw her coming, Gu Man slightly nodded and turned around to leave, without any lingering attachment.

  It seems like there's a place for oneself, and Gu Man doesn't deign to set foot in it.

  She clenched her teeth in hatred and twisted the handkerchief in her hand into a ball.

  Just you wait! One day, I'll make you taste the flavor of jealousy too!

  The days passed quickly, and on another snowy day in Shengjing, the 30th of the last month of the lunar year finally arrived.

  The entire Hou Mansion was filled with joy, from top to bottom. The servants either received rewards or new clothes, and some even got a holiday. The smile on their faces couldn't be hidden, adding a touch of festivity to the mansion.

  Gu Man pushed open the door and window, only to see that outside had been covered with a thick layer of white quilt again. An early-rising old woman was sweeping snow with a large broom. When she saw her come out, they all smiled and greeted her.

  Gu Man was also infected by such an atmosphere and became a little excited. She couldn't help but get excited too.

  This is the first year since rebirth, and it should be spent well. The days that follow will only get better.

  Unfortunately, as soon as she entered the Qingjiang Hospital, the smile on her face couldn't help but disperse again: Wang's body was lying on the table, next to a brazier, and on the kang there was still a neatly arranged new set of clothes - it was Gu Boqi's.

  It's likely that Wang Shi stayed up all night to help Gu Boqi make new clothes, which made her a bit heartbroken. Gu Boqi didn't lack or look down on these things, and this morning he even wore the silver fox fur cloak sent by Liu Niangniang with a showy attitude, where would he appreciate Wang Shi's needlework?

  She was hesitating whether to wake up Wang Shi when she heard Wang Shi murmuring and slowly waking up.

  As soon as she saw her coming, Wang's face lit up with a smile and he hastily beckoned to her, saying: "A Man, come over quickly!"

  Gu Man hastily walked over to the past, and saw Wang Shi take out a set of clothes from a trunk on the kang, urging her: "Hurry up and try it on, see if you like it!"

  Gu Man felt a sour taste in her heart.

  The Wang family's needlework has always been good, this time they made her a white silk jacket with a light green lining, paired with a yellow skirt.

  It's so delicate, it's almost making her want to cry.

  She had endured for a long time, but finally couldn't help but complain to her: "These clothes and other things, let the servants do them. Why did you have to do it yourself? Father went out visiting friends this morning wearing the clothes Liu's wife gave him, full of energy and spirit. Mother worked so hard to make new clothes for him, but he wouldn't even notice."

  The smile on Wang's face gradually faded away. She glanced at the new clothes on the table with a pale complexion and said, "This is what I should do."

  Gu Mansu fell silent for a moment. Then he heard Wangshi say, "Today your third sister is back, don't mention these things that will make her sad. Later you can play with your third sister together. Mother still has to busy herself with tonight's New Year's Eve dinner."

  Ku Man suppressed a belly full of anger, then suddenly stood up and stormed out the door.

  She knew Wang was angry and was angry with herself for not showing Gu Boqi the respect a daughter should show her father.

  But how can such a father be respected by his own children?

  Gu Zhaozheng was busy sorting out the gifts to be sent to each room, and when she saw her rushing in, she looked at her and motioned for Hua Yan and Ye Yu to leave. She poured herself a cup of tea and asked, "What's wrong?"

  This is the first time Gu Man has had a direct conversation with Gu Zhao in this life.

  Gu Man shook his head and said nothing.

  In her previous life, Gu Zhao had married well and become the princess of Bei'an, but she was not particularly close to herself or Wang Shi. In fact, she didn't really like this sister of hers.

  Gu Zhao saw that she wasn't speaking, so he personally went over and grabbed her hand, sighing: "Are you still angry with your father?"

  Gu Man looked at Gu Zhao with some surprise. She thought that Gu Zhao was someone who didn't care about anything, and only wanted to live a good life for herself.

  Gu Zhao saw her shocked expression, and couldn't help but chuckle, reaching out to gently scratch her nose, saying with a mischievous tone: "Let me guess, did your mother scold you just now?"

  Gu Man had never seen Gu Zhao so affable before, she always thought that Gu Zhao didn't like her very much. But when Gu Zhao smiled like this, there were two deep dimples on his cheeks, and no matter what, people couldn't help but forgive him. She felt a bit down and leaned on the table, saying: "How did you know? Don't you only like your grandparents?"

  Gu Zhao's smile on her face turned into helplessness, she reached out to touch Gu Man's hair, and her tone was somewhat desolate: "A Man, there are some things you don't know yet. You don't like Father, do you? I don't like him either." She looked at the slightly surprised Gu Man and continued: "Many times I've thought, why can't our father be as good to us as Uncle is? I even envied Fourth Sister and her sisters, at least their father cared about them."

  Gu Man's eyes widened in surprise.

  "Our father, the one he loves most is not anyone else, but himself." Gu Zhao's eyes were filled with ridicule and sarcasm as she said: "So I never try to curry favor with him, because I know it's all useless."

  Huh? The long passage I just typed is gone!

  Did what I just said get through or not everyone? Please support me and subscribe.