Chapter 277: 157 Scapegoat (Second Update)
“What happened?” asked the Yao Family.
The young maid fretted, “Second Miss barged into the crown prince’s study and shattered the artifact left by the late Madam! Right now, both the Second and Third Young Masters have arrived, and the Third Young Master wants to punish the Second Miss!”
If she really damaged the legacy of the late Madam, those three stepsons will probably wage war on Jin Yu.
The Yao Family was worried, “Does the old lady know yet?”
The young maid shook her head, “The old lady is resting, no one dares to wake her, she should still be unaware of this.”
The Yao Family decided to go and have a look.
“I’ll go with you,” offered Gu Jiao.
“No need, you wait for me here, no, you better go back home first.” The Yao Family didn’t want her daughter to be pulled into the dispute within the Marquis Residence.
“It’s alright.” Gu Jiao responded.
It was a spectacle after all, she had to check it out.
Once Gu Jiao insisted on something, hardly anyone could dissuade her, so the Yao Family reluctantly took her to Gu Changqing’s courtyard.
Gu Changqing was still practicing his swordsmanship on the Back Mountain and hadn’t heard the news yet. The only ones present in the courtyard were Gu Chengfeng and Gu Chenglin, who had rushed over after hearing the news.
Both the Yao Family and Gu Jiao heard the roar of Gu Chenglin from afar, “How dare you deny it! Did you do it on purpose? You actually shattered the keepsake of my mother!”
“I didn’t! Third Brother, I truly didn’t! Believe me! I didn’t break the vase!”
Those were the desperate rebuttals from Gu Jinyu.
Gu Chenglin sneered, “Only you and cousin Shuixian were in the room at the time. If it wasn’t you, could it be cousin Shuixian?”
Gu Chenglin didn’t particularly despise his stepsister, but he liked his sister from the Ling Family much more.
If he had to choose one from the two sisters, of course, he would believe in Ling Shuixian!
Having heard some of the argument, the Yao Family more or less knew what happened. She was no longer the weak and oppressed person she used to be. She took a deep breath and entered the courtyard with dignity and grace.
As soon as Gu Jinyu saw her, she quickly approached and said grievously, “Mother, I didn’t break the Madam’s vase! Not me! When I came in, the vase was already shattered!”
Ling Shuixian snorted, “What do you mean by ‘it was already broken when you came in’? Are you trying to say… that I broke it? I told you not to follow me, not to enter my elder cousin’s study, but you didn’t listen! Now you’ve caused trouble!”
Teary-eyed Gu Jinyu shook her head, “Mother, it really wasn’t me…”
The Yao Family was frustrated, “What did Mother remind you of? Why won’t you listen to me?”
Gu Jinyu sobbed, “I know I’m wrong, but… I really didn’t break the vase…”
Of course, she didn’t break the vase.
Of this, Gu Jiao had no doubts.
Actually, this incident had appeared in her woeful dream of returning to the residence.
Only the victim was not Gu Jinyu, but herself in that dream.
Upon her return to the Marquis Residence, without the protection of her mother and brother, she had spent a substantial amount of silver to please her cousin, Ling Shuixian, in order to better integrate into the Marquis Residence.
Ling Shuixian saw her generosity and didn’t refuse her dealings, and in her happiness even brought her to Gu Changqing’s courtyard.
She thought she could get closer to her elder brother, but she ended up being framed by Ling Shuixian before her brother even showed up.
Ling Shuixian didn’t initially want to frame her. It was only when the items in the study were accidentally damaged by Ling Shuixian herself, and she feared the aversion of Gu Changqing, did she lie and say that she was the one who broke them.
Her situation at that time was exactly the same as that of Gu Jinyu, no one believed her!
However, what Ling Shuixian knocked over in the dream was not an ordinary artifact but the urn of the late Madam.
The wrath of Gu Changqing and the rest of the household could easily be imagined.
Even the Marquis, who didn’t love the late Madam, felt she had gone too far, and his affinity to her decreased immensely.
The moment she saw Ling Shuixian today, she was reminded of that dream.
She had given Gu Jinyu a chance.
It was Gu Jinyu who didn’t take it.
So, who could be blamed?
Gu Jinyu regretted it, she really, really regretted it!
If she knew this would happen, she would have agreed to go with Gu Jiao to see her mother!
Now, not only did she not won over her elder brother, but she also offended her elder brother, second brother, and third brother!
Who would have guessed that this well-behaved cousin would be so shameless as to resort to such acts!
Now she was a county princess personally bestowed by the Emperor, even if Gu Chengfeng and Gu Chenglin were angry, they wouldn’t dare to discipline her with domestic punishments.
But if this matter spread out, her reputation would be damaged.
She couldn’t bear such an unwarranted blame.
The Yao Family shielded Gu Jinyu behind her, and confidently faced Gu Chengfeng and Gu Chenglin, “Who broke it will be investigated thoroughly when the Marquis returns. Jin Yu is not only the daughter of Duke Ding An, but also a county princess personally bestowed by the Emperor, you can’t punish her casually!”