Chapter 99: Give it up

Gu Jiu Ling lowered her head to look at the teacup she held; the tea inside was pale green like jade, though there was a lot of foam. Although it was Silver Needle from Snow Mountain, it was the lowest grade.

This is also the best tea the Gu family can presently produce to show off; before she married, she had not taken those dowries away.

Lin Qingxue used this grade of tea to reward her close maidservants, while she herself drank top-grade tea worth over a hundred taels.

Gu Jiu Ling glanced around and saw that even Gu Shangshu was drinking this low-grade tea.

The fabric of Gu Cheng's and Gu Huai's clothing had clearly dropped a grade; it was no longer Shu brocade but replaced with Su embroidery, and the vermilion hairpin on Lin Qingxue's head had become much plainer.

The most obvious change was Gu Nanxiang; previously her food, clothing, and daily use were top-notch in the capital, but now the pearls inlaid in her hairpin were ordinary pearls, forming a stark contrast with the southern pearls Gu Jiu Ling wore on her head.

Gu Nanxiang noticed Gu Jiu Ling looking at her, lifted her eyes and stared at Gu Jiu Ling with a vicious gaze, her eyes laced with poison.

It's all because of this lowly person!

She took all the silver from the Gu Shangshu's mansion and drove her to this state; in this life, if she does not slaughter this lowly person, she swears she will not be human.

Now seeing Gu Jiu Ling adorned with pearls and kingfisher feathers, looking luxurious and noble, her hatred rose to the point of vomiting blood.

What's the deal with that Prince Rui? Isn't he supposed to be wife-killing? How has he let Gu Jiu Ling live this long?

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Gu Jiu Ling turned her gaze away, took a light sip of tea, and curled the corner of her mouth in a sneer.

Without her dowry, the Gu family truly became impoverished to the point of madness.

The true aristocratic families of Shang Jing have accumulated wealth over centuries; across generations they have amassed riches, not just connections but also vast estates, shops, and an endless flow of income.

For example, the Duan family is a military merit aristocracy; the Cao clan controls river and sea transport; moreover, her maternal grandfather's Du clan previously controlled the nation's trade routes, and other families each have their own achievements.

Gu Shijie basically has no foundation; he came from the countryside and relied entirely on his father-in-law's financial resources to attain his current position.

Before he even had his fill, he learned from others to be a scumbag, killing his benefactor wife with whom he shared marital hair, and now he is scheming to take his children's silver.

She discovered that besides being able to read, this man was good for nothing.

Moreover, he sponges off others while acting tough; only her mother's foolish self is willing to support this worthless good-for-nothing.

Last time she took away almost half of the Gu family's wealth, which caused them great pain.

Now, upon suddenly receiving news that Bei Di will return part of the Du clan's property, how could these Gu family people let it go?

Indeed, when Lin Qingxue reminded him, Gu Shijie's expression eased a bit; looking at Gu Jiu Ling he said, "Forget it, you are ultimately the Gu family's eldest legitimate daughter; I cannot just watch you suffer despite our father-daughter bond."

Hah! It sounds as if you've ever managed me.

Gu Jiu Ling silently cursed in her heart, merely lowering her head to drink tea without speaking.

Gu Shijie rambled on, from Gu Jiu Ling's mother Lady Du to Gu Jiu Ling's younger brother Gu Kang, from deep father-daughter affection to family relations.

In short, he wanted Gu Jiu Ling to feel grateful for the Gu family's kindness toward her.

"Jiu Ling, without the Gu family's protection, you would not have today's glorious days."

"Although you've married out, you cannot write two Gu characters in one stroke; you ultimately still rely on the Gu family."

"That's what Father said," Gu Jiu Ling replied lightly.

Gu Shijie saw her behaving obediently and meekly, his expression softened further; he was essentially someone who couldn't hold his own in respectable company, and a few words were enough to intimidate her.

He slowly said, "Since that's the case, this time the Bei Di Crown Prince will return part of your maternal grandfather's property; you also shouldn't quarrel with your brother, after all, you are a married-out daughter—water poured out—and even if given to you, it would end up in the Rui Wangfu."

"Your brother is a male heir and still the Gu family's legitimate son; hopefully you will yield that sum of silver then!"

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her eyes to look at her father, never expecting such words to come from a father's mouth.

Yield it?

After yielding it, then what? Take it all back to the Gu family?

The silver Mother left for Gu Kang has probably all ended up in the pockets of other Gu family members; the Gu family mansion was built by hired hands from the Du clan, and all daily necessities in the house were funded by Mother's silver.

Now that they support such a large household, the only ones they cannot support are Du clan's two biological children?

A chill flickered in Gu Jiu Ling's brows and eyes; bullying people isn't done like this.

That was the silver left by Old Master Du for his two grandsons, not meant to be spent by those who destroyed her daughter's family and even drove her daughter's mistress's family to death.

This scumbag!

Gu Jiu Ling endured extreme hardship before refraining from vulgarity; she coldly laughed and said, "Father, the Bei Di Crown Prince is not someone easy to deal with; giving silver for no reason is indeed strange."

"The horoscope hasn't even had a single stroke yet; whether it will be given or not is uncertain; Father, you're being too anxious."

"What are you saying?" Gu Shijie's face darkened as he asked, "Could it be that you really intend to compete with your brother?"

"You've already taken so much from the Gu family; what more do you want?"

Gu Jiu Ling laughed and said, "Father, there's no need to be angry; I also haven't said I won't give."

"Miss," Lin Qingxue hastily took out a blank sheet of paper and pushed it before her, saying, "This time the Bei Di envoys have come probably to seek friendly relations with our Southern Qi; naturally they are sincerely returning the items your maternal grandfather left behind in Bei Di."

"This deed, sign it and it will serve as a guarantee for our family's Kang'er."

"You are now the Princess Consort of Rui; the silver in your hands is more than you could ever spend, so why quarrel with your own brother?"

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes flashed as she lowered her head to look at the deed before her; instantly a cold smile rose in her heart—Lin Qingxue has become clever, intending to seize her leverage?

Gu Jiu Ling slowly rubbed the deed before her, then lifted her gaze to her silent younger brother Gu Kang.

"Gu Kang, what do you mean?"

Gu Kang lifted his neck and said coldly, "Naturally it all belongs to me; what are you? Back when I wasn't there, you took all Mother's money, you bullied me, and actually thought no one would stand up for me!"

Gu Jiu Ling's brows knotted tightly as she glared at his face, which somewhat resembled hers, scanning the surroundings once: "Who told you that? Saying I took all Mother's money and left with it?"

Gu Kang instinctively glanced at Lin Qingxue, but held his neck stiff and said, "Isn't that so? You are a woman whose conscience is utterly ruined; Mother raised you, yet you repay her with wolfish heart and doggish lungs, you also bullied the second sister, nearly causing her death."

"Gu Jiu Ling, you really make me feel disgusted!"

With a clatter! Gu Jiu Ling slammed her teacup onto the ground, stood up, and stared at Gu Kang, saying each word deliberately: "If you've got the guts, say it again!"

Gu Kang had been somewhat afraid of this woman, but earlier Xiao Yin had cut off a segment of his finger; that grudge was now settled, and he pointed at Gu Jiu Ling and hurled abuse.

"Gu Jiu Ling, you lowly woman! Am I wrong in what I said?"

Mom treats us so well, you bully Mom, you bully Second Sister, and you even rely on Xiao Yin, that bastard's power, to bully our whole Gu family.

You've already taken so much money from the Gu family, and now you still want to argue with me—what do you think you are!

The Du clan never should have borne you, you unfilial daughter—you ought to just go die!

Smack! Gu Jiu Ling strode up to Gu Kang and landed a hard slap on his face; Gu Kang, caught off guard by her move, was sent staggering.

He instantly flew into a rage, charging at Gu Jiu Ling's belly.

Everyone stared in shock; Gu Nanxiang's eyes lit up. 'Exactly—charge over, knock her down, kill that wretched Gu Jiu Ling, and knock the child in her womb out too. See how she can still be arrogant!'

Seeing that he was about to crash into Gu Jiu Ling's belly, Gu Kang suddenly saw a graceful figure flash past and kick him flying.

With a crash, Gu Kang slammed into the table.

Yun Duo stepped in front of Gu Jiu Ling, coldly staring at the fallen Gu Kang on the ground; the dagger in her hand was already drawn, shedding a cold, chilling light.

'Rebellion! Are you all rebelling?'

'Come! Where did this wild girl come from, daring to cause trouble in my Gu family's main hall? Seize her!' Gu Shijie pointed at Yun Duo and shouted angrily.

'Minister Gu, what grand airs—you even want to detain people from my Prince Rui's manor?' Dressed in a purple brocade robe, Xiao Yin slowly stepped into the main hall.