Gu Ying was determined not to get involved in this matter.
Gu Shuang pursed her lips and quickly rubbed Gu Ying's shoulder with a smile, "Second sister, don't be angry. I'm just a messenger and have no intention of speaking for Gu Ming."
Gu Ying laughed softly, "I'm not angry with you, just annoyed that Grandmother can't tell right from wrong."
Grandmother had never liked flirtatious women and naturally did not favor Lady Zhao as much as Lady Liu and Lady Wang.
With Lady Liu dead, only the useless Lady Wang was left to gain her favor. As a result, she cared more about Gu Wan and Gu Ming.
At first, Grandmother had suppressed Lady Zhao. Seeing that Lady Zhao got along well with her, she was even more unwilling to make her the Lady of Dongping Earl. It was not until Lady Zhao gave birth to a son that she had no choice but to agree to Big Brother's decision and raise Lady Zhao's status.
Gu Ming was Lady Wang's son. When Lady Zhao was not yet pregnant, besides Gu Ning, he was the only male descendant of the Gu family. To ensure succession, Lady Liu specially raised Gu Ming by her side, and the whole family doted on him as the heir to Dongping Earl Manor.
After Lady Liu died, Gu Ming was moved to live in Yongshou Hall under Grandmother’s personal care. His food, clothing, and expenditures were all according to the standard for the eldest son of nobility.
Gu Ning, who had disabled legs, was sent to the Ye family. Grandmother did not even ask about him once. This showed how deeply Grandmother favored Gu Ming while disregarding Gu Ning!
Gu Ying sneered inwardly, feeling extremely sarcastic. As an elder, Grandmother was clearly too biased!
Her expression indifferent, she put down the red bean cake and said lightly with upturned lips, "If Grandmother wants Gu Ming to go to the Ye family to learn martial arts, she can come to ask me herself."
Gu Shuang responded directly, "Alright, I will remember sister’s words and visit Yongshou Hall when I return."
Gu Ying had just murmured in agreement when she suddenly sensed something strangely quiet outside.
"Fourth sister, wait!"
Gu Shuang and Yin Lan were both startled and looked at Gu Ying in bewilderment. "Second sister, what..."
Before Gu Shuang could finish speaking, a sharp arrow shot through the carriage.
Gu Shuang did not know martial arts and could not react in time. The arrow pierced her right shoulder.
The force of the arrow was so great that it nailed her to the carriage.
The carriage stopped abruptly outside, and the sound of fierce fighting could be heard.
Yin Lan anxiously held Gu Shuang’s hand, "Fourth young lady, how are you now?"
Gu Shuang was stunned. Soon, her breathing became rapid, "Ah... hurts..."
The pain rushed up quickly. Blood seeped from her sleeve, gradually staining her moon-white dress.
Yin Lan panicked, "Broad daylight, right under the emperor's nose..."
Gu Shuang looked incredulously at the arrow piercing her right shoulder and gasped in fright, her eyes instantly reddening. "Second sis...sister..."
Gu Ying remained relatively calm. Her brows furrowed as she pressed Gu Shuang’s wound. Swiftly shielding her, she said gently but firmly, "Don't be afraid, Shuang’er."
Hearing the steady voice, Gu Shuang's body trembled. Taking a long breath, she blinked back her tears and tried to calm herself. "Al...alright, I'm not afraid... Second sister... leave me... don't mind me..."
"Yin Lan, tear off the skirt."
Yin Lan responded, "Yes!"
How could Gu Ying leave her alone here now? She deftly snapped off the arrow shaft and wrapped Gu Shuang’s wound with the skirt. Then she helped her stand up.
Gu Shuang gritted her teeth in pain, her face deathly pale.
Yin Lan also frowned, supporting the injured Gu Shuang. Her eyes showed panic, "My lady, what exactly is going on? Weren't the Eldest Prince's men escorting outside... How dare anyone attack the Zhenguo Duke Manor?"
Although she had seen assassination attempts before, this was the first time she witnessed someone robbing nobles in Bianjing City.
Gu Ying's eyes darkened. "They may not have come for the Zhenguo Duke Manor."
Yin Lan tutted. Only then did she remember they were not in the Duke's carriage but the Earl's.
"It seems they came for Fourth Young Lady."
Gu Shuang's lips turned white, and soon beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead. "Second sister, Sister Yin Lan, I'm sorry..."
Gu Ying took a deep breath and stroked her belly. Listening silently to the sounds outside, she said, "Don't speak, Shuang’er. Let’s hold still for now."
After the first arrow, no more came. It was not a chaotic attack, meaning the attackers did not come to kill them.
Her eyes tranquil, Gu Ying waited in the carriage for a while. Soon, a gloomy male voice sounded outside.
"Hey slut inside, get the hell out here for me!"
Gu Shuang became even more frightened, looking at Gu Ying in panic.
Gu Ying pursed her red lips and shook her head. She gripped Gu Shuang’s pale little hand and secretly handed her the unicorn dagger hidden in her sleeve, whispering, "Fourth sister, no matter what happens later, protect your own life first. Understand?"
Tears brimmed Gu Shuang's eyes as she sobbed please no.
The man's voice outside grew increasingly impatient. "Get out now or I’ll have my men shoot arrows!"
Gu Ying squeezed Gu Shuang’s hand and exchanged a glance with Yin Lan.
Yin Lan nodded heavily in understanding.
Gu Ying lifted the curtain and bent to exit. Sweeping her gaze around, she saw the Qilin Army escorts sent by the Eldest Prince lying bloody on the ground. The carriage had stopped in a remote alley. Dongping Earl Manor’s coachman had abandoned the carriage and escaped without a trace.
The carriage was surrounded by over a dozen burly bandits, led by a man in his mid-thirties, dressed in coarse linen clothes. He had an imposing square face, slanted eyebrows, a tall nose bridge, and thick lips, exuding a murderous look.
Seeing Gu Ying, the bandit leader’s eyes instantly lit up. He strode over to Gu Ying and said, "Who's this pretty girl!"
When Gu Ying saw the bandit leader’s appearance, her heartbeat quickened as her frown only deepened.
"Are you Mu Nanfeng?"
The bandit leader narrowed his cold, slender eyes and sized Gu Ying up and down. "Little beauty recognizes me?"
Gu Ying gritted her teeth and pronounced each word clearly, "Mu Nanfeng, notorious leader of the Qingfeng Stockade bandits. Of course I recognize you."
Not only did she recognize him, she also knew this man was the heartless, notorious mass murderer!
The Dongli Dynasty court had been attacking Qingfeng Stockade for years. Finally in early June this year, Mu Nanfeng and over five hundred of his men were recruited and enlisted.
Taking advantage, Mu Nanfeng joined the city defense camp and became a petty officer.
In early July the same year, during a matchmaking for the maids of his household, Dongping Earl had given his daughter Gu Shuang in marriage to a self-proclaimed soldier, who turned out to be Mu Nanfeng.
One year later, a lifeless Gu Shuang covered in injuries had been sent back to the Gu family.
Thinking of this, Gu Ying could no longer remain calm at the sight of the man before her.
She raised her eyes, covered in bone-chilling frost.
