Gu Changwei was caught off guard.
Reacting, Gu Changwei, enraged, waved his hand, blocking Dong Ningxin's attempt to grab him again.
He was strong.
Dong Ningxin fell backward.
A scream rang out.
A pool of blood lay beneath Dong Ningxin.
The maids cried out in alarm, descending into chaos.
Gu Changwei’s brow didn't even twitch; he looked coldly at Dong Ningxin.
This wasn't his fault. If she hadn't come out to cause trouble, this wouldn't have happened. Besides, she had hit him.
Dong Ningxin was in excruciating pain. Seeing that Gu Changwei was indifferent, the maids had no choice but to alert the Old Madam Gu.
When the Old Madam Gu arrived, supported by a maid, she saw the pandemonium and, in her fury, grabbed her walking stick and began hitting Gu Changwei.
"No matter what, she is your concubine now. How could you treat her like this? Are you even human?" the Old Madam Gu exclaimed, beside herself with anger.
Gu Changwei stiffened his neck, remaining silent.
The Old Madam Gu quickly sent for a physician.
Then, she ordered Dong Ningxin to be helped back to her room.
Before anyone could leave, a young servant who had been guarding the Dali Temple returned, panting, "My Lord Duke, bad news! The eldest young master has been convicted and sentenced to exile three thousand li away, to the extreme northern lands."
A flicker of emotion crossed Gu Changwei's face.
Dong Ningxin's wails also abruptly ceased.
"Explain it clearly," Gu Changwei demanded sternly.
"I saw the notice posted outside the Dali Temple. It clearly states that Li An is to be executed, and the eldest young master exiled," the servant said.
Si Ya's health had always been delicate. The journey of exile would be fraught with too much hardship, and he feared she wouldn't be able to endure it.
Dong Ningxin, on the other hand, was thinking, without Gu Si Ya, who would speak well of her to Gu Changwei?
For a moment, she didn't even feel the sharp pain in her abdomen.
The Old Madam Gu's brow twitched, but she remained silent.
"I'm going to find Xie Chen," Gu Changwei declared, and then hurried away.
It must be Xie Chen, seeking personal revenge to avenge Ting Xue.
The Old Madam Gu couldn't stop him, so she decided to let it be. After all, things had already escalated to this point; how much worse could they get?
This scoundrel, who had no idea of the immensity of heaven and earth, deserved to be taught that not everything could go his way.
Gu Changwei rode his horse to the Dali Temple, galloping all the way, knocking over the stalls of many small vendors.
By the time Gu Changwei arrived at the Dali Temple, the small vendors who had been chasing after him also arrived shortly thereafter.
Gu Changwei strode directly into the Dali Temple. When a bailiff tried to stop him, the enraged Gu Changwei struck him down.
Xie Chen received the news and came out personally.
His martial skills were far superior to Gu Changwei's, so it took him only a few moments to subdue Gu Changwei.
"Lord Gu, you are trespassing in the Dali Temple. I can have you arrested," Xie Chen said, his face cold.
"Xie Chen, don't try to scare me with that. I ask you, it was you who determined Si Ya's sentence, wasn't it?" Gu Changwei questioned.
"So what if it was, and so what if it wasn't? Now that the notice has been issued, Gu Si Ya's guilt is sealed. What use is it for Lord Gu to say these things? You might as well think about how to prepare some useful items, lest the eldest young master find the journey of exile too difficult!" Xie Chen taunted.
"You are abusing your power for personal revenge. I will report you to His Majesty," Gu Changwei said.
"Feel free to do so. You are welcome," Xie Chen replied.
He couldn't even see the Chongwen Emperor a few days ago, and now he thought he could? How naive could Gu Changwei be?
"My Lord, many small vendors have gathered outside, demanding that the Dali Temple hand over the person who damaged their stalls," a bailiff entered from outside.
Xie Chen was unaware of Gu Changwei's recent actions and assumed it was a bailiff of the Dali Temple who had done something. He frowned and asked, "What is going on?"