Chapter 105: Chapter 57 There’s No Such Thing as the Worst, Only Worse_2
Everyone looked at each other and collectively lowered their heads.
However, Xiao Cui, after holding back a few times, made one last struggle to whisper a warning to the Little Meat Bun beside her, “Young Master, don’t listen to Lady Changsheng. Bringing joy to others is how you create good karma, as the begging Monk would say.”
Little Meat Bun Gu Ze steadied his wobbly little calves and shook his head, “My mother says, ‘Good begets good, evil begets evil,’ is complete nonsense. Heavenly Father also has his moments of dozing off! I’ve also heard the fable about the farmer and the snake.”
With such a Lady Changsheng, how could they hope not to lead the Young Master astray? This truly was, too challenging! The responsibility was heavy and the road was long.
“My son is just so clever. It’s already quite good that we’re not kicking someone when they’re down. Just obediently wait and watch the drama unfold,” Gu Changsheng squinted his eyes and looked towards Uncle Song, who was hurrying back, asking silently.
“Lady, something isn’t quite right. The fire is getting fiercer, and though no lives have been lost, that family’s home is mostly burned down…”
Having heard this, Gu Changsheng sniffed his nose, now their courtyard was also filled with the scent of smoke. Had they perhaps taken the game too far?
“Go have another look,” Gu Changsheng frowned and waved his hand.
“Yes.” Uncle Song obeyed and withdrew, but this time he returned even quicker, with two people following him.
Gu Changsheng looked at Hu Tiandong, who immediately “thud” knelt to the ground upon seeing her, and then at the medical book that had returned to her hands.
“Tsk tsk, Chief Hu really knows how to imitate. It’s lamentable,” Gu Changsheng shook his head repeatedly, admiringly speaking out loud, Hu Tiandong’s current state—how could the word ‘miserable’ even begin to describe it? Bruised and swollen faced, not an inch looked intact. It was a live reenactment of the reality that Gu Changsheng would hit someone right in the face.
Hu Yihai really had the heart to lay such blows!
“Lady Changsheng, my miscreant son has sinned. I, as an elder, have brought him to accept his punishment, I beg you, on account of my only son, the sole continuation of my line, to be the bigger person and spare him this once,” Hu Yihai stood on the side, bowing ceaselessly.
“Lady Changsheng, the medical book has been returned intact. As for punishing this unworthy son, it is all up to you, but I beg of you, please spare his life.”
“Chief Hu, I just like dealing with smart people like you, who know the way of things, when to advance and when to retreat,” Gu Changsheng sat with one leg crossed over the other, glanced at Hu Tiandong on the ground, “Since you’ve already beaten him to this state, it saves me the trouble of doing it myself. Hu Tiandong?”
“Lady Changsheng, I realize my mistakes. I shouldn’t have coveted the Gu Family’s medical book, I shouldn’t have incited Gu Saner, I shouldn’t have plotted against you…” Hu Tiandong supplicated thoroughly, incessantly knocking his head like a pecking chicken.
Gu Changsheng curved the corner of his mouth and shook his head, “Chief Hu, such a shrewd person as yourself, teaching a son , it shows that ‘like father, like son’ is also nonsense. Was it you who started the fire in the back alley?”
Hu Tiandong and Hu Yihai looked at each other and nodded.
“Giving them a little lesson, I don’t mind, but this fire you set, wasn’t it a bit too big?” The noise from the back alley was incessant, indicating that the fire had yet to be put out. Hu Yihai’s move, though satisfying for her, was ultimately a bit too much.
Just at that moment, a rotund figure tumbled over the wall and rolled to a stop right in front of Gu Changsheng and his group.
“Lady Changsheng, that rascal’s house is on fire!” Eunuch Yuan Bao stated, dusting off the ash that adhered to his body, as if he was bringing news that everyone was already aware of.
A light flashed in Gu Changsheng’s mind, and the corners of his lips twitched, again and again, struggling to find his voice, “And so?”
“And so, I poured some oil on it.” Eunuch Yuan Bao patted his chest, unabashedly confessing.
Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but cough, Yuan Bao, this guy, indeed, was really something else!
Hu Yihai recognized the person and, breaking out in a cold sweat, knelt down next to his son. It was the Grand Steward of the County Prince’s Mansion, Eunuch Yuan Bao!
“If I report this blatant arson and murder to the government office, will there be a reward?” Gu Changsheng asked the three culprits pointedly, his eyes sharp. Although the whole affair started with her, she didn’t even count as an accomplice.
“Lady…” Hu Yihai and Hu Tiandong pleaded in unison.
“Lady Changsheng, I did this to vent your anger. Adding oil to the fire is very dangerous, look, my face is all blackened…” Eunuch Yuan Bao pointed to his soot-stained round face, his eyes brimming with entreaty.
Gu Changsheng glanced at his pitch-black face and couldn’t help but shake her head in schadenfreude, “Alright, Gu Saner met with disaster, and I’ve been looking forward to it!”
“What belongs to me, Gu Changsheng, can only be thrown away when I don’t want it. There’s no way it can be schemed away by others. With this fire burning, any smart person would know it’s related to me, but so what?”
“Hu Yihai, take your son and leave. You’re a smart man. I’ll take the blame for you this time. I won’t quibble with you over the medical book either. Go home and teach your son not to always do such brainless things.” Gu Changsheng waved her hand at Hu Yihai on the ground, signaling Uncle Song to see the guests out.
Hu Yihai, feeling as if he had been granted amnesty, expressed his thanks and left with his son.
“Did you see Eunuch Yuan Bao? Now you know, you don’t mess with Lady Changsheng,” Hu Yihai glared at his son resentfully, secretly relieved that he had acted decisively. Otherwise, it would have been their Hu Family getting charred in the fire!
“Father, I realize my mistake…” Hu Tiandong was scared witless, truly, the Grand Steward of the County Prince’s Mansion had saved his life.
All they wanted was to set fire to Gu Saner’s firewood shed, to teach him a lesson. But then Eunuch Yuan Bao had to go and pour oil on the fire, burning down the whole back street of the Gu Family!
Their actions were swift! Ruthless! Accurate!
“Lady Changsheng, I’ve taken your anger out for you. Let’s turn swords into plowshares, shall we? Please stop making things hard for me, okay?” Yuan Bao pleaded with a smile, although he didn’t even know what swords were.
“That’s right, others light the fire and you pour the oil. As a Eunuch in charge, you can’t even pass messages properly. You’re only good for sneaky stuff. Lose the bet, and take your turn washing my clothes,” Gu Changsheng said, looking toward the fading noise outside. The fire must have been brought under control, but the back street of the Gu Family was probably now just ruins.
“Well, now someone will be joining us in some major construction work!” Gu Changsheng frowned slightly.